Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

[Name: Samu’dra]

[Title: Butcher of the Shallows]

[Race: Naga]

[Class: Naga’s Champion (???)]

Jake’s eyes narrowed.

’It has... a name and title?’

But before Jake could think any further, Samu’dra suddenly moved.

Its muscular arm bulged as it hauled the massive greatsword back up, then brought it crashing down in another vicious slash.

The movement was astonishingly fast.

Despite the weapon’s enormous size, Samu’dra wielded it with such ease that it barely looked like a greatsword at all.

It was almost as though the giant naga were swinging nothing more than a simple wooden sword.

WHOOSH!

The greatsword came crashing down.

Jake immediately raised his sword to meet it.

CLANG!!!

The two blades collided, sending a violent shock through Jake’s arm.

"Ughh...!"

But this time, he didn’t try to stop the attack head-on.

He twisted his wrist and angled his blade, letting the greatsword slide along its edge.

With a sharp movement, Jake redirected the massive weapon to the side, allowing its momentum to carry it past him instead of taking the full force of the blow.

Samu’dra’s single eye widened slightly.

The sudden change in direction disrupted its balance.

Its massive body shifted sideways, its footing becoming unstable for the briefest moment.

That opening was all Jake needed.

He immediately stepped forward.

His muscles tensed as he poured all his strength into the swing.

KRRRING!

His sword scraped violently against the giant blade, sparks bursting from the point of contact as Jake swung with all his might.

Using the momentum of his movement, Jake forced the greatsword even farther aside before suddenly breaking away.

SHING!!!

His sword of light tore through the air with tremendous force, cutting straight toward Samu’dra’s neck.

The force of the swing alone sent dust billowing from the ground.

But the giant naga reacted instantly.

It sharply tilted its head to the side.

TING!

The blade of light grazed the side of its neck, tearing through a handful of scales before slicing past its target.

At that moment-

Samu’dra countered without hesitation.

Its second sword flashed forward.

Unlike the massive greatsword, the slender blade in its massive hand looked almost like a short sword.

But despite its appearance, it moved with frightening speed.

Jake’s eyes narrowed.

He barely had time to turn his sword sideways.

CLANG!

The slender blade struck his sword of light and slid across it, sending a shower of sparks flying.

Before the sparks had even finished scattering, Samu’dra was already moving again.

It dragged its massive greatsword across the ground, the blade carving a deep groove through the earth as it gathered momentum.

Then, with a powerful twist of its arm, Samu’dra ripped the sword upward and swung it in a wide arc from the opposite side.

BOOM!

The enormous blade tore through the air with such speed that Jake’s expression changed.

There was no pause between the two attacks.

One sword had been deflected, and the other was already coming in.

Jake immediately pulled his sword back and raised it to block.

CLANG!!!

The impact exploded into a violent shockwave, forcing Jake’s feet to slide backward across the ground.

Jake gritted his teeth and pushed the greatsword away.

Before Samu’dra could recover, Jake stepped forward and swung his sword of light toward its chest.

CLANG!

Samu’dra raised its slender blade and caught the attack.

Jake immediately twisted his wrist, changing the direction of his sword as he tried to cut around the slender blade.

But Samu’dra reacted just as quickly.

Its greatsword suddenly came sweeping in from the side.

Jake’s eyes widened.

He quickly pulled his sword back and blocked.

CLANG!!!

The impact shook his entire body.

"Uhh...!"

Jake didn’t retreat.

Instead, he used the force of the collision to knock the greatsword aside before immediately stepping inside Samu’dra’s range.

His sword flashed toward the naga’s stomach.

Despite its massive body, Samu’dra twisted with surprising flexibility, narrowly avoiding the blade.

ZING!

At the same time, its slender sword moved with it, thrusting toward Jake’s exposed side.

Jake quickly turned his sword and deflected the incoming blade.

CLANG!

He immediately followed with another slash.

CLANG!

Samu’dra parried.

Jake attacked from the opposite side.

CLANG!

The giant naga blocked again.

Jake didn’t give it any time to counter.

He stepped forward and swung once more, forcing Samu’dra to raise its slender sword to intercept.

CLANG!

The moment their blades separated, Jake changed his grip and slashed toward Samu’dra’s shoulder.

But the naga’s greatsword suddenly came sweeping in.

Jake’s eyes narrowed as he quickly pulled his sword back to block.

BOOM!

The two weapons collided with a violent shockwave.

Samu’dra immediately followed with its slender sword.

SHING!

Jake twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the thrust as the blade passed alongside him.

’What the hell... there is no opening...’

Every time he tried to attack, Samu’dra was already prepared to respond with its other sword.

Neither of them gave the other even a moment to breathe.

Their blades collided again and again, sparks and flashes of light filling the cavern as their movements grew faster.

Sometimes Jake attacked three times in succession, only for Samu’dra to parry each strike with precise movements.

Other times, Samu’dra would suddenly interrupt Jake’s attacks with its slender blade, forcing him to change his stance just before the greatsword came crashing down from another direction.

CLANG!

BOOM!

CLANG!

The sound of their weapons echoed throughout the cavern.

Jake’s expression gradually became more serious.

’This guy... knows how to use both swords... and very well at that too.’

Initially, Jake believed the massive naga was relying solely on its immense strength.

However, he was mistaken.

Each movement was precise and intentional.

The greatsword dictated the flow of the battle, its sheer size and power demanding Jake’s full attention with every swing.

Even blocking it head-on sent a powerful shock through his entire body.

And while Jake was dealing with the greatsword, the slender sword was constantly searching for openings.

A quick thrust toward his chest.

A slash toward his arm.

A sudden strike toward his neck.

The attacks came from completely different angles, forcing Jake to constantly adjust his position.

Worse, Samu’dra didn’t treat the two swords as separate weapons.

The two attacks flowed into each other naturally.

If Jake blocked the slender sword, the greatsword followed.

If he avoided the greatsword, the slender blade was already waiting.

And if Jake tried to attack during the brief opening between the two strikes, Samu’dra would simply use one sword to defend while immediately counterattacking with the other.

It was utilizing two entirely distinct weapons simultaneously.

And somehow, it made them function flawlessly.

Jake’s expression became even more serious.

Even though he hadn’t fought many monsters before, he could tell that this one was... bad news.

’This guy...’

Jake narrowly avoided another slash from the slender sword before blocking the greatsword that followed.

CLANG!!!

The impact sent another shockwave through the cavern.

Jake’s eyes narrowed.

’He doesn’t feel like a monster at all.’

There was no wildness in Samu’dra’s movements.

Every step, every swing, and every transition between its two swords had a clear purpose.

Jake’s grip tightened around his sword.

And for the first time since the battle had started, Jake stopped thinking about defeating Samu’dra quickly.

He started treating it like a real opponent.

Jake suddenly pushed off the ground and leaped backward.

He landed several meters away, his sword held firmly in front of him as he watched Samu’dra carefully.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Samu’dra simply stood there.

Then its single eye narrowed.

Something had changed.

The naga’s breathing became heavier, its massive chest rising and falling as it stared at Jake.

Its mouth slowly pulled back, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

There was no longer any trace of restraint in its expression.

It looked excited.

No... It looked more like it was hungry.

The battle had awakened something feral inside it.

Every clash of their blades seemed to make its blood burn hotter. Its muscles tensed as its fingers tightened around both swords, almost as if it were struggling to contain itself.

A low growl escaped from its throat.

"Grhhh..."

Then it laughed.

"Kh... KHAHAHAHA!"

The rough laughter echoed throughout the cavern.

Its single eye was wide with a wild, almost feverish excitement.

It wasn’t merely enjoying the fight; it craved more... more clashes, more danger, more of that exhilarating feeling of battling an opponent who could truly challenge it.

Jake’s eyes narrowed.

’This guy is a... battle junkie.’

Then Samu’dra suddenly lowered its body.

Its massive legs bent slightly as it sank into a predatory stance.

Both swords were drawn behind its body, crossing over each other like a pair of hidden fangs waiting to snap.

Jake’s expression changed.

’What is this guy planning to do...?’

He could feel it.

The atmosphere around Samu’dra had completely changed.

The wild excitement in its eye was still there, but beneath it was something far more dangerous.

Its killing intent had become concentrated and... focused.

And for the first time since the battle began, Jake felt his instinct warning him.