The mood of everyone on the ship instantly brightened once they heard Liam's signature laugh. Even I could feel confidence welling inside of my body. However, I started wondering when will I be able to have that effect on people by just being around.

(Sigh...I really need to become stronger...somehow)

I clenched my fist tightly as I nodded at Gideon which he promptly returned before we rushed back up onto the main deck. The crew members were gathered near the bow of the ship where Liam was standing with his arms crossed.

"Ian!"Ellie called me over to her after she had noticed my return.

"Hmm?" I walked over to her to see what she wanted, and she would immediately grasp my hand.

"Are you ok?" Ellie seriously asked as she stared up into my eyes. I could feel my cheeks heat up as I try moving my hand away.

"Hahaha...What do you mean? Of course, I'm ok. There isn't a scratch on me!" I averted my eyes.

"Ian...Seriously..."Ellie's tone softened as she was genuinely worried for me.

"I'm...fine really. Thanks...for worrying about me."I slightly smiled as I looked straight at her.

"But-"

"Gahahaha! Boy! I know you are up here. Come to where I am!"Liam had cut Ellie off mid-sentence with his calling for me. I would then use more strength to pull my hand away.

"I got to go. Get some more rest ok?"I jumped off of the quarterdeck and made my way across the main deck, avoiding the crew members that were in the way. I would then overhear Liam talking with Derek.

"The queen is definitely more monstrous then what I remember, but if I'm right. It's not my place to finish her off."

"But Captain! The kid isn't ready! After what happened he..."Derek thought about the scene Fay described to him and others. He was deeply concerned about the kid's wellbeing despite getting on their nerves all the time.

"I know what happened, but I can't do as you say! This is his battle!"Liam stood firm with his decision.

My body felt like it was thrown into the glacial waters as I knew what Liam was suggesting immediately after hearing his voice.

(He wants me to fight that alone?! No way No way NO WAY!)

I felt my body unconsciously shrink back.

"Ian.."

Liam appeared in front of me just as I was about to run, and I instantly became like a statue.

"Ian, were you thinking about running away? You?"Liam glared at me as he released a bit of his killing intent which frightened me out of my frightened state.

(Me?...I'm even running away now?...I)

"Ian, answer me!"Liam was losing his patience as he grabbed the collar of my shirt, hoisting me up into the air.

I averted my eyes away, and Liam would immediately get his answer from my silence.

"I'm disappointed in you...I thought you were going to be a true man, but your nothing but a coward."Liam flung me down onto the floor of the ship without care. I gritted my teeth as I became sickened with myself.

*HISSSSHRAAA!!!*

The queen finished up charging its magic, and the ball of water was massive! It was about the size of a mini mountain!

All of Liam's veins seemed to bulge as he completely released his killing intent. He was definitely outraged, he had thought he prepared the boy better than this!

The massive ball of water was then released from the queen, and it instantly flew through the air faster than any standard cannonball despite its size.

Liam suddenly jumped in the air as he shouted, "Burning...Lion's Roar!!"

A bright red aura appeared around Liam's body as he flexed his muscles. He would then roar almost as loud as the Queen Qualze. Vast quantities of fire released from his mouth.

The collision of the flame and the massive water ball generated enormous amounts of steam that made it hard to see. Several moments later the water ball was absolutely gone! Liam overpowered it with his strength alone!

I stood there stunned at the scene as I knew Liam was strong, but not that strong.

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(And yet...I'm here laying on the floor like some...coward!)

"Hahaha! That's our captain!"

"No one can defeat him!

The entire crew cheered for their capable captain, but he wasn't happy at all as he landed back onto the ship. Liam gradually made his way back to where I was laying on the floor.

"Get up on your damn feet boy!"

"Yes, captain!" I nodded my head as I stood up on my feet.

"You must know there is nothing wrong with being afraid...But shrinking back when you knew you could do something...That I can't forgive! Clench your teeth boy!" Liam barred his teeth as he instantly sent a punch to my face right after I clenched my jaw shut.

I groaned in pain as I was sent flying into the front of the bridge. Liam had definitely held back, but it still hurt so much. I slid down onto my bottom as I held my right cheek which stung from the impact The mood of the ship quickly plummeted again.

"Ian!" Ellie shrieked as she wheeled herself over to me and placed her hands onto my arm.

"W-what are you doing?!" Ellie shifted her gaze at Liam who was walking over to me.

"Get up boy!"Liam merely ignored Ellie's question as his eyes stared right into mine.

"Didn't you hear m-"Ellie had shut her mouth as Liam released his unrestrained killing intent. She would bite her bottom lip as she became quite terrified of the man before her. I would then shrug away from Ellie's hand, and stood up onto my feet.

I stared right back into Liam's eyes as I could feel myself gradually returning to my usual self.

"What are you!?

"A man!"

"You haven't been acting like that at all... So what are you?!"

"A fierce pirate from the famous Axe Lions! I never shrink away from my duties! I will fight until I breathe my last! A true man!"I shouted at the top of my lungs as I could feel confidence brimming from my body. I placed my hand against my head as I saluted Liam.

".....Gahahaha! That's my boy!"Liam began to laugh as he gripped his stomach. The crew members laughed merrily along with him as they all looked at the young boy in front of them.

"Ian...I have to say it doesn't get any easier than this. But I promise you...you'll get through this."Liam placed both his hands onto my shoulders as he frowned slightly.

"We will be here with you every step of the way. So don't lose hope so quickly and constantly strive to be a true man!"Liam grinned as his grip tightened on my shoulders.

"I...I won't let you down, Captain!" I clenched my fist tightly as I smiled at Liam.

"Oi, everyone I need you to strap yourselves down again. Assist the young lady too!" Liam laughed as he pointed at Ellie, who would blush from embarrassment. She honestly looked like Ian's longtime lover just now, but of course, everyone thought they really were!

"Aye, Captain!" The crew hastily executed what Liam commanded.

I instantly moved my feet towards the entrance of the bridge, and the door would open right before I entered.

"It still completely looks the same..." I haven't been in here for months because I never felt the need to come back. I looked at the familiar console with the skull marking behind the glass panel. I then placed my hand upon it without hesitation! My eyes were becoming multi-colored as blue light filled the room for a moment.

"Bzzzt...Captain key confirmed! System startup!"The familiar robotic voice said.

"Power...I demand power!"I could hear the voice inside of my head again as it tried to take over my body.

I gritted my teeth and fought back with every possible ounce of strength in my body!

"Shut the hell up! This is my body! I determine my fate!"The power within me flared as my eyes became especially bright. The voice quickly quieted down soon after.

"Viewing system activated! Controls are now available!"The robotic voice said as the windows opened, letting me see the outside. The first thing I could see was the queen was covering its body with massive amounts of water again. It was going to try to ram us!

"Controls!" I shouted as blue particles formed the shape of a wheel in front of my very eyes.

"That...." I placed my hand onto it and was surprised to see it was solid. I nodded my head as I put both my hands onto the wheel, but before I could achieve anything the wheel moved by itself!

The ship turned directly towards the Qualze Queen!

"Captain! What is he doing?! We don't have anything on this ship that can kill the queen!"Derek shouted as he strapped himself to the side of the ship with a rope.

"Gahahahaha! That is where you are mistaken!"

"What!?" Both Ellie and Derek said.

"Although this ship was only used as an escape vessel, the creator of the ship actually deemed it as a failure!"

"Why was it deemed as a failure?"Ellie asked as she was finally strapped down beside Derek.

"Gahahahaha! Because the ship was tampered with by my Captain!" Liam puffed out his chest as felt pride whenever he spoke about Captain Xander.

The two stood there in disbelief as Liam carefully explained everything about the tampering. And their only thought was how dumb could his captain be?!

"Danger! Large amounts of magic aimed at the ship are detected! Energy low...Now using the captain's energy...Activating Skull Rush!"

"Huh?" I didn't know what that meant, but I could feel my power being drained through the console.

"Guh...What's happening?!"I could feel myself becoming more weaker than the last time. I could then see large amounts of the familiar blue particles gathering in front of the ship until it formed into something like a battering ram with a giant blue skull used as the head.

In the presence of dangerous magic being aimed at the ship, the ship will automatically turn towards that danger and crush it without fail! The booster started charging up by itself.

*HISSSSHRRA!!!*

The queen leaped into the air after charging her attack, and she instantly flew through the air at insane speeds! The ship then flew forward at the same time as if it was a speeding bullet, heading directly towards the Qualze Queen!

"Gahahahaha! I missed this familiar feeling!" Liam stood there right at the bow of the ship without being strapped down at all, and even at the extreme speeds, his body didn't budge an inch.

Suddenly the two powers collided with each other, and for a brief instant, the world froze for me.

I started to realize that my life was definitely not going to be easy anymore, but it's definitely going to be one hell of a ride!

My strength was returning to my body as I smiled from ear to ear. After being connected to the ship again, I somehow knew what this ship was called!

"Go! Gaultier! Crush that ugly bastard!"

*HISSSSSSSHR-!!!*

The brief collision swiftly ended with the ship's battering ram crushing the magic around the queen. After the magic was gone, the queen was instantly smashed into pieces by the battering ram, leaving its pieces to sink into the ocean.

The ship continued to fly for sometime before I could finally see it.

The bright, familiar sun that has always brought light into Delfar and the familiar sight of the glittering ocean entered my eyes.

I sighed in relief as my eyes returned to normal, "Finally Out!!"