Chapter 33
In just ten minutes, the Bonney Pirates free nearly two thousand prisoners—pirates, slaves, and civilians—from the prison. They pour out of the dark cells like a flood, charging into the town.
It doesn’t take long for the already-rowdy town to spiral into chaos. Most of the freed prisoners are pirates locked up by Kryhiss, so their first move is to grab weapons. In a place like this, brimming with black-market goods, weapons are easy to come by. Armed to the teeth, they rampage through the streets, smashing everything in sight and shouting for Kryhiss’s head.
From a high slope on the town’s east side, I stand with the others, watching the madness unfold below. Fires light up the streets, and the screams of black-market merchants echo through the night. Soon, Kryhiss’s pirate guards—his so-called “royal” forces—pour out to meet the rioters, and a fierce battle erupts.
“Well, that’s got Kryhiss’s crew tied up,” Bonney says, shaking her head as she surveys the chaos. “There’s gotta be, what, three thousand people down there?”
“Probably,” I say. “Which means Kryhiss’s little fortress is down to a few hundred guards at most.”
Mark nods, turning to the crew behind us. “With our numbers now, we can storm the place head-on.” The prison break was a game-changer. Our crew, once barely fifty strong, has swelled to nearly two hundred after Bonney’s recruitment pitch. Some of them, like that Hammer Jon guy, are no pushovers.
“Hey, the timing’s about right, isn’t it, John?” Bonney glances at me, her eyes sharp despite her little-girl form. Mark looks my way too. Over the past few days, he’s started treating me like the real brains of this operation, even though Bonney’s the captain. Can’t blame him—she’s not exactly the reliable type sometimes.
“Yeah,” I say, a grin tugging at my lips. “Let’s move.”
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On the other side of the island, in Kryhiss’s fortress, a massive figure—a five-meter-tall, potbellied human tank—smashes everything within reach in a fit of rage. Crash!
His lackeys, dressed like typical pirates, stand frozen, too scared to breathe.
“Useless! All of you, useless!” the giant bellows. “How does-Whitney does an entire prison of captives just break free?!”
One of his men steps forward, forcing a nervous smile. “Don’t worry, uh… King! Our guards are already moving to handle the escapees. It won’t take long to put them down.”
Kryhiss lets out a heavy breath, trying to calm himself. “The damage is done, but keep it under control. Order the guards to crush this riot as fast as possible. Capture who you can, kill the rest. I won’t let them wreck my town—my life’s work!”
“Y-Yes, sir!” The pirate nods frantically, bowing.
“What are you waiting for? Go relay the order!” Kryhiss glares at the others, his small eyes blazing. “And the rest of you, get back to your posts!”
The pirates shrink back, scurrying out like frightened rats.
Alone in the grand hall, Kryhiss clenches his fists, still fuming, his anger barely contained.
Then—boom!—the hall’s double doors fly open. I stride in, tall and steady, with Bonney right behind me. She’s back to her usual form—pink hair, green captain’s hat, radiating confidence and defiance. We stand in the center of the hall, a pair of troublemakers ready to take on the so-called king.
“You must be the infamous South Blue King, Kryhiss, right?” I say, my voice low and steady.
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