Chapter 180 - Tragedy Has Arrived

It was morning, and the docks of the Womva Isla were filled with life and energy. Eager nobles were getting ready to leave the barren island. Most were disappointed in their failure but happy nonetheless to leave the island. Captain Sparrow and Vivi sat on the ship's deck. They were experiencing hangovers after a night of drinking. Vivi's orange hair was a mess, with the locks pointing out in all directions. Sparrow was barely any better. He staggered as he walked across the ship, despite his balance being always perfect when on the high seas.

Borvo and Sun arrived at the ship with their luggage. They shouted for the two to lower the bridge. Sparrow shouted at the boys, "Hold up, give a minute." He took a bucket filled with dirty water and dipped his face inside. The water was cold and tasted bitter, and it was enough for Sparrow to regain some of his energy and reason.

Sparrow got the platform out and threw overboard. Sun caught it and placed it perfectly on the ship. Then they carried their belongings. "Where are the girls?" Vivi asked while rubbing her eyes.

"They'll be here soon," Borvo said. "They're saying bye to some of the friends they made."

"I'm surprised Shuja made any friends." Sun jokingly said.

"I'm surprised for Cirona the most." Borvo said with great sincerity, "It's good to know that she is coming out of her shell. And I have Shuja to thank for it."

Vivi pulled out a glass bottle from her person and drank its strange contents. "Great to know they're getting along," She said before burping. Mana poured out of her hands, and she used it almost like a gel, fixing her frizzy hair back in place. "But be careful. The more friends they get, the braver they become."

"I see no problem with that," Borvo said.

"Maybe for you, but I know of other men that would agree with me." Vivi looked at them, "But it doesn't look like you're those type of men. I can say the same with that drunk." She pointed with her eyes at Sparrow, who was leaning as far off the ship as possible to avoid puking on it. "But then again, he only has his eyes on the sea and the sh.i.p.s he sails."

After the boys got the luggage inside, Shuja and Cirona arrived on the ship with a bag filled with gifts from the other noblewoman. Shuja was embarrassed to receive so many without anything to give back. Thankfully, Cirona came prepared and offered to share the name behind her gifts. There was also Shuja's amazing archery which she showed to the ladies and gentlemen to entertain them in exchange for the lack of gifts. It was a great experience overall for both women.

Once everyone was accounted for, the captain untied the ropes tethering the ship to the docks, and the boys pulled the anchor back to the ship. The sails were released, and the winds pushed the ship forward. The White Pearl's small size allowed it to slip past the other larger sh.i.p.s. And its lightweight made it the first to leave the cove and reach the open sea.

And following behind them was another ship. Larger in size, it slowly followed the humble little ship. Most of its cargo was left at the docks so it could sail fast enough to keep its sights on the White Pearl. On the ship were Lo and Kee. They were after the ship for only one purpose: to enact their revenge on Sun and Shuja.

And unbeknownst to all of them, another group was following them. Above the sea was a small island made of clouds and dirt following the White Pearl. And on top of the cloud island were two Entente members. A beastkin woman by the name of Morgeux stood at the edge of the clouds looking through her binoculars. She was petite, with her green tail wrapping around her waist. She wore a gray habit and an emerald crown underneath the hood.

She spied on the White Pearl like an eagle targeting its prey. Areia was at the center of the flying island. He stood behind the wheel, piloting the clouds. The amount of mana he was pouring into the island could poison ten men, killing them in seconds. Although one of ten men would most likely explode before the mana could kill their brain.

He was wearing a black cassock underneath a white robe. He kept an eye on Morgeux, one of the Morgans, a group of sisters in the Entente. They were known for their cruelty, although this reputation was mostly built around made-up rumors. Still, one can't deny that their methods can be in the extreme end even comparing them to the rest of the Entente. To ensure that the plan succeeds, a veteran in the elite Paladin Guard accompanied them. Kreg Kovacs was a giant of a man with a muscular build that surpassed what is acceptable among scholars. His muscles are as hard as marble, and with nearly no fat on his body, he was like a living statue. Ironic considering Morgeux's strange ability.

"Golly! It looks like they're about to reach our artificial island," Morgeux said. "Time to summon the storm." Morgeux threw her binoculars and stabbed the ground with her arm. Her mana surged out from her c.h.e.s.t and traveled through her arm and into the flying island. The clouds beneath them grew in size and became darker.

On the White Pearl, Sparrow looked up and saw the thunder clouds forming before his eye. "What the hell?" He said, "Sun, Borvo! Drop the sails. We have a thunderstorm.

Sun climbed to the top of the sails and saw an unfamiliar island. It was never there before, so where did it come from? "Sparrow, we got another problem. There's an island ahead!" He yelled.

"An island!" Everyone responded dumbfoundedly.

Vivi took out her telescope, looked through the looking glass, and saw the island seemingly appearing before them. "That's impossible. There was nothing there before."

Then the storm began, but fortunately, the White Pearl was inside the eye of the storm. Or rather, they underneath the sky island the Entente were riding on. "Looks like we are safe," Sparrow said. But as the storm moves, so too did the ship. And it carried it towards the artificial island. "Or maybe not."

The ship was pushed by the waves and forced the ship to the beach. The White Pearl was stuck on the white sand. The group jumped out and stared at the storm and the ship. "I guess we're stuck here until the storm ends," Vivi said.

They sat on the beach, passing the time with idle talk. Suddenly, Cirona saw a large ship coming out of the storm. She got the group's attention by flailing her arms about, then pointed at the ominous ship sailing at an incredible speed towards their island. "Oh shit, that ship lost control too!" Sparrow yelled.

The giant ship crashed onto the island's beach. Its crew fell from the ship due to inertia. One of the passengers was also sent flying away, and Sun recognized him. It was the sneaky Lo. "It looks like we got trouble," Sun said. But the trouble he thought was here has yet to arrive. Once both of the sh.i.p.s beached, the storm began to soften.

Morgeux and Areia teleported on the island, behind the trees and bushes. They switched their clothes, disguising themselves as pirates. They came out from the bushes, "Hello! Welcome to our island!" Morgeux yelled.

"Are those pirates?" Sparrow wondered. He reached for his folded crossbow.

"Golly! I think you need help to get your sh.i.p.s back to the ocean. You guys want our help?"

Lo's head was stuck on the sand. Areia grabbed him by the collar and pulled him out of the hole. "Thank you," Lo looked at the stranger that helped him out of the sand, and he quickly regretted being pulled out. He recognized the stranger. It was an Entente. And it was not just him. He saw the woman behind Areia and recognized her as one of the Morgans. "Oh no. Please have mercy." He quickly pleaded for his life.

"Oh," Areia was surprised that Lo knew who he was, "I guess this disguise was useless." He threw Lo towards his crew. Lo looked he saw death because he practically did. When Ententes are seen moving together, it only means one thing, tragedy.