Van Augur remained calm, holding his rifle in firing position as he watched the man at the warship's bow through his scope.
He was certain of his accuracy. The shot would hit.
And no one could survive a bullet between the brows.
"Captain, this shot won't miss."
"The sea wind is strong, so the bullet will take a little longer, but you'll see him fall soon."
Van Augur's voice was calm.
But Blackbeard still looked grim, his fists clenched in tension.
Every member of the Blackbeard Pirates aboard the raft stared at the warship ahead, waiting for the result.
Suddenly, they saw the man's head jerk before he toppled backward.
"Got him!"
Van Augur's eyes flickered. Through his scope, he clearly saw a bloody hole appear between the man's brows. Even the spray of blood was plainly visible.
He lowered his rifle and smiled at his captain. "He's finished, Captain. You can relax now!"
But the moment he finished speaking, his companions beside him cried out in alarm.
"Quick, turn us around! Run, now!"
Marshall D. Teach turned and roared, his face deathly grim.
Jesus Burgess froze, then began working the oars frantically, his hands spinning like fan blades. The raft, already battered by the blast of air, rocked wildly, looking ready to fall apart at any moment.
Confused, Van Augur looked toward the warship.
The bloody hole between the brows of the man he had just shot was gone. His head had risen again, and his cold eyes were fixed on Van Augur.
Even across that great distance, Van Augur went cold all over, as though his blood had stopped flowing.
He could not believe it. How could anyone survive a shot between the brows?
"That man can't be killed, Van Augur!"
"Next time, don't act on your own!"
Blackbeard's grim voice reached him.
"You'll put us all in danger!"
Van Augur nodded slightly, his eyes grave as he continued watching the man aboard the warship.
He had felt how uncanny his opponent was. A bullet had pierced his forehead, yet in less than a breath or two, he had returned to normal.
Just then, through his scope, he saw the man suddenly raise his hand, holding a lead bullet between his thumb and forefinger and aiming it at him.
Van Augur's expression shifted. He recognized the bullet from his own rifle.
"Your turn!"
The man's lips moved slightly, forming those words.
The next instant, the bullet shot from his fingers.
Van Augur's face changed drastically. He could even see ripples spreading through the air around the bullet as the man flicked it.
That meant the bullet was moving even faster than when it had left his rifle's barrel.
How much strength in his fingers would that take?
Whoosh!
A sharp whistle rang in their ears.
Marshall D. Teach heard it. Every member of the Blackbeard Pirates heard it. Their expressions changed abruptly, and they spun around.
Thud!
As they turned, they saw the bullet punch through Van Augur's shoulder and strike the mast behind him.
Bang!
The mast burst apart, and the pole bearing their skull flag snapped and fell.
The force of the bullet sent Van Augur's entire body flying five or six meters backward before he landed on the deck with a thump.
"Damn it!"
Blackbeard growled.
The others hurried to check on Van Augur. Blood rapidly soaked his shoulder, and more trickled from his mouth. He lay motionless, his face pale.
His eyes were filled with shock, disbelief, and fear.
"Captain!"
Just then, Jesus Burgess shouted.
"He's coming!"
At those words, every member of the Blackbeard Pirates shuddered and looked toward the warship opposite them.
River was running toward them through the air, each step producing a swirling gust beneath his foot.
"He's actually walking on thin air!"
Marshall D. Teach's face was grim as he shouted in a low roar, "Row, Burgess! Give it everything you've got!"
Fighting that man out here at sea would mean certain annihilation.
"Yes, Captain!"
Jesus Burgess roared, his arms whirling like a cyclone.
The raft of lashed logs shot forward, racing like an arrow over the heaving sea.
River strode through the air, his expression icy as he looked down at the raft fleeing frantically ahead.
Even he had to admit that this group had some ability. Their stamina and strength had to be formidable to row a raft that fast.
His right hand shifted, settling on his sword's hilt the next instant.
Then, with a ringing scrape, a long sword with a slender, jet-black blade appeared in the air.
"Since you attacked me, you should be ready to pay the price!"
River spoke coldly.
As his words fell, he swung the long sword.
Hum!
The air trembled as an arcing slash burst forth. After traveling five or six meters, it swelled with a hum, expanding to dozens of meters across.
Two or three breaths later, the slash erupted with purplish-red light and struck the sea.
Whoosh!
A sharp sword cry rang through the air. The waves split in two, parting outright, and a deep chasm opened across the sea's surface.
Without losing momentum, it hurtled toward the raft carrying Blackbeard and the others.
"You've got to be kidding!"
"He split the sea with one slash!"
"We can't dodge it!"
Chaos erupted aboard Blackbeard's raft. River's slash left them stunned.
"This is nothing! You haven't seen him at his strongest!"
Blackbeard shouted.
"Hurry up and think of a way to escape!"
"I don't want to get cornered by him out here at sea and fight to the death!"
Jesus Burgess rowed with all his might, his muscles bulging, sweat pouring off him, and his panting as loud as thunder.
But no matter how hard he strained, the slash behind them kept closing in.
Finally, with a thunderous crash, it split the raft in two. Standing at its center, Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, shuddered as blood burst from his body and he screamed repeatedly.
"Captain?!"
"Teach!"
Jesus Burgess, Doc Q, Lafitte, and Van Augur all cried out, their expressions changing drastically.
The next instant, seawater churned and surging waves engulfed the entire vessel.
The Blackbeard Pirates were swallowed by the waves, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
River stood in the air and sheathed his sword. He gazed down at the sea for a long while before finally turning away.
"You hit him!"
Once he returned to the ship, Crocodile spoke in a low voice.
"That man's hard to kill. He won't die!"
"We'll meet again!"
River's eyes flickered as he spoke softly.
Then he raised his head and looked up at the dark clouds overhead.
The rising current had dissipated. Rain poured down, and the sea was gradually returning to calm.
But now he had to consider how to reach Sky Island.
Without a doubt, that would be a very troublesome task.
About three hours later, waves crashed against the shore, washing five people one after another onto the beach of an unnamed island. Bright red blood quickly stained the sand.
"Captain, wake up!"
"Van Augur, are you still alive?"
After stumbling upon River and firing the first shot, Blackbeard's crew was now enduring its most panic-stricken moment.
Before you continue