Chapter 245: Resolve
The tension on The Sonata's deck was palpable. Each person still standing was bleeding from multiple wounds, while Greldo and Rindiri stood a few steps beside Irwin. Greldo's eyes were gleaming dangerously, and his lips curled up a snarl. Rindiri's face was completely emotionless, but her eyes burned with a cold fire as she glared at the pirates.
Pieplionyr was holding Irwin's gaze, his eyes filled with hatred. He was holding Boohm in a death choke.
"Last warning," Irwin said as he raised his head to his full height, glaring down at Pieplionyr and the pirates. "Let him go and take your chances with the guard, or I'm coming."
He took a step forward, his fists clenching and unclenching. As nervous as he was for Boohm, he knew that there was only one way out of this. If he gave even a tiny bit of evidence he would not act, Pieplionyr would either leave with Boohm as collateral, or worse.
"If I let him go, you will let us go," Pieplionyr shrieked.
Irwin took a step forward, preparing himself to cross the final distance with all the kinetic energy raging through his body. If he struck Pieplionyr with all his strength, he might be able to stop him from snapping-
The Cabin door was shoved open, slamming into Pieplionyr and Boohm, causing them to stumble forward. Irwin moved, exploding across the small distance and raising his knee against Pieplionyr's face. There was a snapping sound as the bird-like man's head changed angle, his entire body shooting a few feet in the air. Boohm slumped to the ground, but Irwin barely noticed.
His soulcard seemed to snap back into focus, all his skills with them. There was a startled shout that was cut short, replaced by a crunching sound. Irwin looked to the side to see Coal dropping a pirate from between his jaws, the man's face mauled by his massive razor-sharp teeth.
The other two pirates were backing up, weapons on the grounds and arms raised.
"We surrender!" one of the said, hate-filled eyes flicking about.
Irwin took a deep breath as he turned to Boohm, who was lying on the ground, drawing in ragged breaths.
"Just… because… we don't… need… a lot of… air," Boohm grunted between his breathing, his voice oddly hoarse and lacking its normal explosive quality. "Doesn't… mean we don't… need… any!"