Kraken II: The Pirate Lord Returns

Heavy rain pounded the deck of the Flying Crimson as powerful winds howled around the crew.

With the storm raging around them, the cannons and ballista bolts were now practically useless, leaving the crew without any weapons capable of seriously damaging the Kraken.

One by one, the exhausted crew members lowered their weapons as everyone reached the same conclusion.

Defeating the Kraken was impossible.

Suddenly, Lina and Skayla burst into laughter.

Everyone slowly turned toward them in confusion.

“If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, you know this plan could easily get every one of us killed, right?” Lina asked. “Using something like that in the middle of the ocean might be the stupidest idea we’ve ever had.”

“Isn’t that part of being an adventurer?” Skayla replied with a grin.

A series of loud pops echoed as the Kraken began breaking free from the restraints created by Aqua Bind.

Without wasting another second, Skayla retrieved her magic bag from her item box and dumped several dozen steel-shafted spears onto the rain-soaked deck.

“I’m glad we stocked up before leaving port,” she said.

Skayla sat cross-legged on the wet planks and rapidly enchanted one spearhead after another. Once she finished, Lina sheathed her sword and packed the spears into two burlap sacks.

“I feel a little guilty using something this expensive so recklessly,” Skayla admitted, handing Lina one of the enchanted spears. “Each one costs nearly four dozen silver coins, and we’re about to use them like they’re wooden skewers.”

“Klarisa knew what kind of danger might be waiting for us,” Lina replied. “That’s why she spared no expense preparing us for this trip.”

Lina stretched out her arms and rolled her shoulders before twirling the spear several times, getting a feel for the unfamiliar weight of its steel shaft.

“Okay, I’m good to go!” Lina shouted.

She pulled the spear back before hurling it toward the Kraken with all her strength.

A powerful BOOM! erupted from Lina’s throw, blasting away the falling rain around her and Skayla.

As the Kraken’s tentacles lunged toward the defenseless crew, the enchanted spear tore through the air and pierced deep into the Kraken’s body.

The impact sent the colossal creature reeling backward until it crashed into the sea with a thunderous splash.

The Kraken immediately released a painful shriek.

Barbarossa frantically searched the horizon, wondering if another ship had fired the devastating attack. When he saw nothing, he slowly turned toward Lina.

“Yeah, throwing them one at a time isn’t going to work,” Lina said, rolling her aching shoulder. “I’m going to have to do this the old-fashioned way... up close and personal.”

Lina cracked her knuckles, causing Skayla to twitch at the familiar sound.

Skayla slowly raised her head and saw an unsettling grin spreading across Lina’s face.

“Uh-oh... Lina’s switch has been flipped,” Skayla thought.

Whenever Lina found someone—or something—worth fighting seriously, she would crack her knuckles before going all out, just like her Master.

Barbarossa fought through the wind and rain as he approached them.

“What madness are you two cooking up now?!” he shouted after seeing Lina hoist the two sacks of enchanted spears over her left shoulder. “We need to find a way to get the hell out of here while that bastard is down!”

“Get the hell out of here?” Lina repeated, raising an eyebrow. “That’s pretty rich coming from the cuckoo pirate who once rode a towering wave straight into battle against us.”

She gave him a teasing grin.

“The Barbarossa I remember would’ve laughed his ass off at odds like these and charged straight in,” Lina continued. “I guess three years of playing model citizen really changed you, huh?”

Barbarossa stepped back as Lina’s words struck a nerve.

“W-W-What the hell is that supposed to mean?!” he asked.

“Nothing,” Lina replied innocently. “Just making an observation.”

She brushed past Barbarossa and raised her right hand into the air.

“By the Realm of Eternal Frost, Niflheim, where winter bears no end... Let thorns and vines take root, let roses bloom upon this land, and let all they embrace be sealed in ice. I call upon thee—Niflheim’s Rime Rose Garden!”

An eerie ringing filled the air as the temperature suddenly dropped. Every breath turned white, and the falling rain froze before shattering against the deck.

The Kraken writhed as dozens of thorn-covered rose vines spread across its enormous body. They coiled around its tentacles and tightened, driving their thorns deep into its flesh.

All at once, countless frozen roses bloomed across the Kraken.

Frost rapidly covered its body, trapping the monster in temporary stasis as the sweet scent of roses filled the battlefield.

Lina dropped to all fours, gasping heavily as the advanced spell took its toll on her. One of the burlap sacks slipped from her shoulder and fell onto the frozen deck.

She slowly raised her head toward the immobilized Kraken.

“I was really hoping that spell would kill the bastard,” Lina said with a weak chuckle. “Looks like all I did was put it into a frozen sleep.”

“Use this!” Skayla shouted, tossing a medium-sized mana potion toward her.

Lina caught it, pulled out the stopper, and chugged the entire potion before wiping her mouth and forcing herself back onto her feet.

“Thanks. I’ll be back,” Lina said, giving Skayla a cheerful smile.

She picked up the fallen sack and slung it over her shoulder.

Lina took several slow breaths, gradually adjusting her lungs to the bitterly cold air surrounding the immobilized Kraken.

After one final inhale, she lowered her body into a running stance.

The moment Lina pushed off with her right foot, the ice cracked beneath it.

Lina sprinted across the frozen deck, cracking the ice beneath her feet with each step.

With one final step, she launched herself toward one of the massive frozen rose vines connecting the ship to the Kraken.

Lina landed on the vine and immediately began climbing toward the creature’s enormous body, pulling enchanted spears from the sacks and driving them deep into its frozen flesh along the way.

Barbarossa walked over to Skayla and opened a parasol above her, hoping it would offer some protection from the falling hail.

“What exactly is she doing?” Barbarossa asked. “Actually, what in the seven seas are you two planning?”

“Need Not to Know,” Skayla answered, pressing her right index finger against her lips.

Barbarossa stared at her in confusion, but Skayla spoke again before he could question her.

“Hey... Captain,” she said calmly. “How long are you going to stand there like a spectator?”

Skayla slowly looked up at him, her expression calm and innocent.

“You told us you’ve spent nearly thirty years hunting the bastard who killed your wife,” Skayla continued, never breaking eye contact. “So why are you still standing around asking questions?”

Barbarossa’s heart began beating erratically.

Inside his soul, a frightened child sat alone in the darkness, staring at a tiny candle flame that was barely staying lit.

“If the legends about the Pirate Lord are true...” Skayla continued. “Do you really think someone like him would stand around like a frightened, confused child?”

The tiny flame grew brighter with every word.

“Or do you think he would be taking command of his ship right now?” Skayla asked, pointing toward the frightened crew.

Barbarossa followed her finger and saw his men standing helplessly across the deck. Everyone remained focused on Lina as she continued climbing the Kraken alone.

A sudden pain struck Barbarossa’s chest, causing him to drop to his knees as the cutlass slipped from his hand.

The old blade struck the frozen deck beside him with a metallic ring.

“Tell me, Captain...” Skayla said.

Skayla slowly rose, picked up the fallen cutlass, and stood before Barbarossa.

She stared directly into Barbarossa’s tired eyes and held the cutlass out toward him.

“What should you be doing right now... Captain Barbarossa?” Skayla asked.

Inside Barbarossa’s soul, the frightened child leaned toward the candle and prepared to blow out the flame before it could grow any larger.

The child took a deep breath.

Before he could blow it out, the tiny flame suddenly erupted into a roaring fire.

The darkness around the child disappeared as the flames grew brighter.

Then, a cheerful tune began to echo from somewhere beyond the fire.

“Yo-ho... yo-ho...”

The tune grew louder as a figure appeared within the flames.

A tall old man stepped forward with a weathered black coat resting across his shoulders. A cutlass rested loosely in his right hand as he walked to the rhythm of the old sea shanty.

“Yo-ho... yo-ho...”

A wild, fearless grin spread across the face of the man who had once ruled the Southern Sea.

Back on the deck, Barbarossa reached forward and closed his right hand around the cutlass.

He slowly rose to his feet as that same fearless grin spread across his face.

“Now then...” Barbarossa cackled, resting the cutlass across his shoulder. “Where be me scallywags?”

And with that, Pirate Lord Barbarossa returned to the glorious battlefield.