The General's eyes darted anxiously, recognition flickering within them as if the name had stirred distant memories.

"The Whip of the Sea, sunk deep to the bottom, with his ship long ago. Such a thing is impossible," he uttered, his words laden with disbelief.

His query hung in the air, awaiting an answer, but I too found myself compelled by curiosity, echoing his question.

"Do you know him?"

Realizing my yearning for an explanation, the General turned towards me, recognizing the need to shed light upon our adversary. With a measured breath, he embarked on the tale, weaving a narrative that would illuminate the nature of our foe.

"In my time, he was a captain whose exploits reverberated across the seas. However, he was no ordinary captain. He faced legendary sea creatures with unwavering resolve, capable of decimating four ships with his own. Ruthlessness coursed through his veins, sparing none in his wake. Thus, he earned the moniker 'The Whip of the Sea'."

"Yet, his insatiable ambition drove him further. In a grave misstep, he challenged the creature of the fourth epic, the mighty creature of the deep. The clash, it is said, ended before it truly began, as the beast obliterated his vessel in a single devastating blow."

The General's gaze shifted to the wooded expanse before us, his voice laden with a weighty pause before resuming.

"Like any captain worth his salt, he refused to abandon his ship, descending alongside it into the abyss. Since then, no word of him has reached our ears. Yet, it is undeniably intriguing that he stands before us now."

The captain, his attention fixed upon the verdant panorama, listened intently as the tale unfolded. As the General concluded his narrative, the captain turned his gaze towards us, his countenance enigmatic.

"That was not a story being told, that was just ignorance," he retorted, his voice resonating with an enigmatic confidence.

With a measured tone, he continued, his words resonating with conviction and purpose.

"Thanks to our alliance with the epic, I was spared and bestowed with newfound strength. I knew that one day, I would reclaim my rightful place. For our objective is to restore order to the world, to return the creatures to their rightful domains."

Hiroshi regarded him gravely, his expression serious as he posed a pointed question.

"Do you intend to slay a creature that is allied with your own kind? Are you seeking to vanquish the Fourth's creature?"

"Ally? All Epics harbor a deep-seated enmity towards one another. Were it not for the constraints imposed upon them, they would have torn each other asunder long ago," the captain replied, his voice tinged with a hint of disdain.

He continued, a note of indifference coloring his words.

"But let's not think about that right now. When we conquer these seas, creatures just like you are now will be dead. And I will rule the seas as I please."

I swiftly rose from my position, assuming a determined fighting stance, a fire ignited within me.

"Now it's your turn to feel the weight of worry, for we shall prevent your sinister plans," I declared, my voice firm and resolute.

"It is far too late for any of you. There is no turning back from this point," the captain retorted, his tone laced with an eerie certainty.

With a subtle motion of his head, the captain signaled the masked woman, known as Poison, to carry out her designated task. His words resonated through the air.

"Poison, release the smoke. It is time to commence."

As soon as the captain issued the command, the four-armed elite soldier shattered an object within her palm, hurling it towards the forest below.

Initially, I was unable to discern the unfolding events, bewildered by the sudden chaos. But within seconds, an immense explosion rent the air, birthing a colossal green mist that billowed upwards. It was a noxious cloud, both repugnant in odor and appearance, akin to a deadly poison gas. This virulent haze swiftly enshrouded the entire expanse of the forest surrounding the castle, an insidious ploy to trap Princess Mila and deny her any means of escape.

With his right hand raised high, the captain bellowed his next command with unwavering determination.

"Summon the soldiers! Slay them all! Their lives shall not be spared!"

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As those words hung in the air, the four-armed elite soldier lunged towards me, launching an onslaught of furious attacks. Her fists blurred in a flurry of motion, driven by a fervor that had been awaiting this order. Initially, my surroundings were a blur, obscured by the barrage of her strikes. Then, with startling speed, she reared back and propelled her hands towards me like cannonballs. I instinctively evaded the assault, throwing myself backward to avoid the crushing blows.

Meanwhile, Hiroshi was locked in a fierce duel with the fox-like elite soldier, skillfully parrying the adversary's relentless strikes.

Amidst the chaos, the captain issued a direct order to Poison, his voice cutting through the clamor.

"Bring me the princess!"

Without hesitation, Poison leaped from the ship, her destination set on the castle, wasting no time in her pursuit. Meanwhile, the general, seizing the opportunity, aimed his sights at the captain's back.

Harnessing his strength, the general unleashed a powerful punch, directed towards the captain. Yet, in a startling twist, a rope snaked forth, entangling the general's foot, thwarting his attack. With a swift pull, the rope hoisted him upward.

It was as if the rope possessed a will of its own, moving with an uncanny autonomy. We could not leave the general at the mercy of this treacherous device; we had to intervene.

Urgently, I called out to Hiroshi, my voice filled with urgency.

"We must halt that rope! Otherwise, it shall spell our doom!"

Responding without hesitation, Hiroshi unleashed a precise shot, his aim unwavering as he struck the rope entangling the general's foot. The sudden release caused the general to tumble back to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, he formulated a plan, addressing me as he turned his head towards me before descending.

"Ryuu! I require your assistance!"

With unwavering comprehension of the general's intentions, I summoned every ounce of my strength, forcefully shoulder-bumping the elite soldier who stood before me, creating an opening. Swiftly, I maneuvered beneath the descending general, gathering him in my hands, providing support from below. And with all my might, I propelled him towards the captain.

As the general soared through the air, he extended his hand, aiming to deliver a powerful blow to the captain. Our confidence soared, convinced that the general's strike would find its mark as the captain once again turned his back on us. Yet, with astonishing agility, the captain swiftly pivoted, his hand grasping the hilt of his formidable sword. In one seamless motion, he intercepted the general's punch with his sword, halting the attack flawlessly.

An eerie expression etched across his face, the captain cast a piercing gaze upon the general, his voice laced with menace.

"Think twice before disrespecting me aboard my own vessel, you senile general."

With a deft movement, the captain withdrew his sword, poised to strike once more. The general, attempting to defend himself, maneuvered to evade the impending sword stroke. However, in a breathtaking display of agility, the captain materialized on the opposite side, delivering a powerful blow to the general.

Though the general possessed resilience, allowing him to swiftly regain his composure, before he could retaliate, the captain bellowed a command that reverberated throughout the ship.

"Forward!"

In response, the entire vessel surged forward, leaping through the air, carrying us all in its wake.

The captain had commanded a colossal ship and its accompanying army to heed his words and charge forth. Dozens of individuals emerged from the ship, some descending to engage in battle, while others rallied to aid the captain in our defeat.

How was it possible for him to exert such control through mere speech? How had he mastered the manipulation of such colossal forces? My mind wrestled with these perplexing questions, unable to find swift resolution, as the captain launched yet another assault on the general.

The sudden movement of the ship caused the general's strike to miss its mark, providing the captain an opportune moment to unleash a devastating blow upon him. This time, the impact was far more severe, leaving the general dazed and incapacitated, sprawled upon the ground, struggling to rise.

Without delay, I sprinted towards the fallen general, desperation tingeing my voice.

"No! General!"

But before I could reach him, the four-armed elite soldier abruptly seized me by the waist, leaping off the ship's edge, hurtling into the unknown depths below.

With a clear intent to isolate me from the others, his actions unveiled his true objective. The sudden descent sent us spiraling through the air, our world turned upside down, leaving me paralyzed in motion.

Summoning my inner resolve, I instinctively drew my limbs inward, thrusting my head backward with force, colliding it against his own. His grip loosened, granting me a fleeting moment of freedom. Seizing the opportunity, I delivered a swift kick, dislodging myself from his clutches and decelerating my descent, eventually landing unscathed upon the solid ground. Meanwhile, the elite soldier tumbled into a separate location, separated from my immediate surroundings.

As I rose to my feet, my gaze scanned the tumultuous scene, only to witness Hiroshi's descent from the ship as well. A momentary sense of surprise gripped me, as if mirroring my own trajectory. Reacting swiftly, I propelled myself into the air with every ounce of strength I could muster, intercepting Hiroshi's mid-air descent, ensuring his safe arrival.

Together, we had escaped unharmed.

Hiroshi, displaying a nonchalant shrug, expressed his gratitude, breaking the brief silence.

"Thanks, kid. I was suddenly entangled by a rogue rope and flung into the abyss. I suppose we didn't choose the most auspicious location for our confrontation."

"There's something peculiar about this ship," I responded, my voice laced with suspicion.

"You're right. The old man won't hold up much longer against that deranged Captain. We need to make our way back onto the ship and assist him," Hiroshi replied, his tone resolute.

Just as his words hung in the air, the fox-like figure leapt from the ship, executing a graceful landing next to us. Despite the daunting height from which he descended, he emerged unscathed, displaying an uncanny ease that belied the fall's potential peril. As the settling dust veiled him momentarily, he commenced a deliberate advance toward us, each step punctuated by a chilling crunch of bones.

The two of us could have handled him with relative ease. However, our path to the ship was swiftly obstructed as the four-armed elite soldier swiftly rose to his feet, positioning himself beside the fox man, effectively barricading our route. Reaching the ship without engaging them in combat had become an insurmountable challenge.