Pirates: Invincible from the Start

The guards had shot the child dead. That was why he had been so sure of himself.

But now...

He pulled his gaze back and sprang to his feet, looking toward the cannon. His eyes followed its barrel out over the distant sea.

One look.

Just one look.

And he froze where he stood, as if someone had cast a spell on him.

"No way."

"No... I can't be that unlucky."

He stared ahead, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Hey!"

The little boy looked up at the captain of the guards and kicked him hard.

"What are you doing? Get moving."

"Go on!"

He kicked him again. When the captain still did not move, the boy looked past him.

Every guard who had risen with the captain stood frozen too.

The boy's face darkened. "What's wrong with you guards? Do you all want to die?"

A savage glint flashed in his eyes.

In the past, that look had made the guards tremble. Now it had no effect at all.

The captain ignored the boy.

He stared straight ahead, his pupils contracted to pinpoints.

Drip!

Drip!

Drip!

Sweat poured from the guards, soaking their clothes in moments. It ran down their foreheads, gathered at their chins, and fell in a steady stream of drops.

By then, even the boy sensed that something was wrong.

The guards were terrified—more terrified than they ever were when he or his father flew into a rage.

It was as though...

As though they had seen the most frightening thing in the world. They looked unable to move.

The boy was cruel, but he was not stupid.

Whatever could frighten the guards this badly had to be a formidable pirate.

At the thought, he shuddered. He stepped forward, seized the captain's clothes, and shook him. "Hey! Snap