A ferocious explosion erupted, sending a column of fire and smoke so high it seemed to pierce the heavens. Johny’s magic, Luna thought, her eyes wide as she watched the incandescent fireball—pure energy shaped by the haze of anguish—slice through the air and strike the left side of the Diana, just above the waterline. The impact obliterated part of the upper deck and tore a massive hole in the ship’s side.

The acrid scent of charred wood and gunpowder filled the air, and Luna felt the ship shudder beneath her feet. The high-pitched wail of the hull tearing apart echoed in her ears as she turned to find Aiko amidst the chaos.

His graying hair, tied back in a ponytail, whipped in the wind, framing his weathered, sun-darkened face—a face still youthful but hardened by years at sea. The taut muscles beneath his white linen shirt looked like tempered steel, and his dark eyes burned with a quiet, contained fury that could tear through mountains. Aiko surveyed the damage with quick precision, already calculating their next move.

“They’ve got a battle mage!” Jack shouted, pointing toward the Sofie. “It has to be that bastard!”

“Do you think we can still escape, Jack?” Luna asked, her voice barely rising above the din of crashing waves and cannon fire.

Jack hesitated, and Luna’s gaze bore into him, unyielding. His broad shoulders were slightly hunched, and his dark skin, slick with sweat from the fight, reflected the fiery glow of the magic streaking across the sky.

“I don’t know, Captain,” Jack admitted, his deep voice tinged with a heavy sadness. He pushed his damp brown hair out of his face. “The Diana’s groaning like a wounded beast, pushing itself to the limit. I don’t know how much longer she can hold together before splitting apart. Even with your... friend helping us, I’m not sure we’ll make it out of this.”

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Before Luna could respond, the world erupted around her. Shrapnel flew in all directions, and she dropped to the deck just in time. A chunk of debris the size of her head hurtled past, so close she could feel the searing heat against her skin. The impact made the Diana lurch dangerously, the hull releasing a piercing creak—an anguished protest against the relentless onslaught.

Saltwater gushed through the gaping holes, and the Diana fought desperately to stay on course. Amid the chaos, the Sofie seized the opportunity, maneuvering into a strategic position to flank the Diana on the the left. The two ships now faced each other like duelists, poised to strike the final blow.

And then Luna saw him.

Johny stood at the bow of the Sofie. His long hair and beard, white as snow, whipped about in the merciless sea wind. His pale face, etched with cold and severe features, framed eyes of a dark, stormy blue—like tempests trapped within, glowing with an almost otherworldly intensity.

He wielded a sword wreathed in flames that danced as if they were an extension of his very being. The contrast between the icy detachment in his expression and the fiery energy surrounding him made his presence utterly terrifying. Johny’s muscular frame, still strong despite his advanced age, was taut, but what struck Luna most was his gaze. It was unwavering, filled with an implacable determination devoid of hesitation.

“Captain!” someone called out to Luna, but the voice felt distant, muffled by something stronger than the chaos around her.

She blinked, trying to shake off the oppressive sensation pressing down on her. The world seemed to sink into a deafening silence, broken only by a persistent ringing that pulsed in her ears.

Luna shook her head, searching for clarity. It wasn’t fear—this was something deeper, more primal. A fierce and seething rage bubbled within her, threatening to boil over. Her fists clenched tight, and she planted her feet firmly on the swaying deck, bracing against the unrelenting barrage of cannon fire. Her eyes burned, her entire body coiled like a spring about to snap.

“Damn it… damn it… damn it!” she muttered, teeth clenched as if to hold back a scream.

Another blast struck the Diana, sending tremors through its frame. Luna tasted the metallic bitterness of fury on her tongue. Why is that cursed old man here? she thought, the rage churning inside her like a storm.