Angel's clothes were soaked through, clinging tightly to her body. Seawater dripped from her pale golden mid-length hair, and her features, enhanced time and again by Potions, were laid bare before the pirates. Yet she inspired the same fear as a Siren singing praises to death.
She slowly climbed the stairs from the lower deck. This meant that the companions stationed below had either been killed by her or thoroughly routed, without even having time to raise the alarm...
"An intruder!"
At Captain William's roar, the nearby pirates instinctively raised the weapons they had been aiming at the distant Blue Mountain Rose. Shrieking to bolster their courage, they charged at Angel.
Those farther away were more clearheaded. Some used their companions as shields as they drew single-shot muskets and secretly took aim, while others shoved people aside and cheered on the pirates bold enough to advance.
Bang! Bang!
Several rapid gunshots rang out. Amid the thick smoke, Angel's graceful figure was nowhere to be seen.
"She's up there!"
William's First Mate, "Button" Jason, was a two-meter-tall giant completely at odds with his nickname. Frowning, he looked toward the billowing sails overhead. Concealed by the blinding sunlight, Angel used invisible threads to pull herself down like lightning. The Sword of Dawn in her hand drew a snowy white blade of light as it slashed toward Jason.
At that critical moment, "Lucky William" beside Jason once again displayed the alertness and luck that had repeatedly allowed him to survive naval battles. He kicked away the First Mate, who weighed nearly twice as much as he did, and used the recoil to leap in the opposite direction.
The next second, Angel's heavy slash struck where they had been standing, smashing a huge hole straight through the thick fir deck. The entire stern of