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Chapter 33: Shocking Change
🕑 Added 2025-06-30 13:28:15 +0000 UTCIgnoring the growing commotion from the hundreds of pirates in the pit below, Boss Moore showed the first glimmer of genuine interest. He leaned back in his throne-like chair, his one good eye fixing on the representative from the [Night Owl] crew.
"Explain," he said, his voice a lazy drawl that carried more menace than a shout.
The [Night Owl] representative's face was a grim mask. He shot a hateful glare at his accuser from the [Red Rose] crew before turning back to Moore, his head bowed respectfully. "Boss Moore, it is true we made contact with the humans. But it was all in service of your plan, Boss Moore."
Moore's lips curled into a slight smile. "Is that so? Then I suppose I should be thanking you?"
The representative froze, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his temple. "We wouldn't dare presume, Boss! We would never betray you. We are faithfully following your grand design… for the counterattack on Blue Star."
Counterattack Blue Star!
Down in the crowd, the words struck Russell's team like a physical blow. Their pupils constricted in shock, but years of training and discipline held them perfectly still, their faces betraying nothing.
"We leave the moment we get back to the [Dry Bones] base," Zane whispered to Leo, his voice barely a breath. "You cover our exit."
This was intelligence of the highest possible priority. Moore, the strongest entity in this realm, was already touching the threshold of the silver level. A direct confrontation would be catastrophic. Cardmakers were precious, irreplaceable assets to the Federation. In recent years, with more and more secret realms appearing across the Federation, their numbers were stretched thin. Otherwise, a bronze-level realm like this would have been decisively purged long ago, not painstakingly explored by small teams like Zane's.
Leo gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. He understood the stakes.
On the stage, Moore seemed to accept the [Night Owl] representative's explanation. He shifted his gaze, addressing the three delegations at once. "So, what have your bosses decided? Are you willing to merge into our [Black Flag] pirate fleet?"
The representatives secretly cursed in their hearts. You hypocritical monster. If we had the power to refuse, do you think any of us would willingly become your dogs?
But on the surface, they remained respectful. "Our bosses have agreed, Boss Moore." "But," one of them ventured, "after we join, what will our bosses' positions be?"
Moore understood their pathetic jockeying for status. Even as they were being assimilated, they needed to establish a pecking order. But there were more important matters to attend to.
A cruel, knowing smirk spread across Moore's face. "We can discuss that later. First, we need to deal with a few little rats that have scurried into our midst."
Instantly, the [Red Rose] representative, thinking he understood, slammed his hands on the table and shot to his feet. He pointed a trembling finger at the [Night Owl] crew. "You bastards! I knew you were up to no good!"
Before the accused could even refute the claim, Moore slowly rose from his chair and placed a heavy hand on the man's shoulder, pressing him back down. "This has nothing to do with them," he said softly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd and landing directly on Mogi. "...right, Mogi?"
Mogi, who had been a silent observer until now, was startled to hear his name. "Boss Moore, I…"
Before he could finish his question, a lance of searing pain shot through his head as Leo's hypnotic suggestion shattered.
Down in the pit, the moment Moore spoke, Russell and his team knew their cover was blown. There was no more hesitation. In perfect sync, they summoned their cards.
Kaneki's ferocious centipede kagune erupted from his back, sweeping in a wide, vicious arc that instantly cleared a circle around Russell, shredding several pirates into bloody ribbons. Without a moment's pause, Russell's mind registered the faint gleam of light from their dissolving bodies.
Iron-Grade Material [Rookie Pirate] (Green) x11.
Jackpot!
Suppressing the flash of excitement, Russell moved to regroup with his team. The surrounding pirates, stunned by the sudden explosion of violence, stared in shock before a primal, maddening rage filled their eyes. They were humans!
"Kiiiill them!"
With a unified roar, hundreds of pirates drew their cutlasses. But before the iron-level grunts could take a single step, a wave of shimmering, colorful clouds washed over them. It was an attack from Zane's card. When the beautiful mist dissipated, every pirate caught within it had crumpled to the ground, no longer breathing.
Standing beside Zane was a pale old man in flowing white robes and a tall, black scholar's hat: [Chen Tuan, the Ascetic] (Purple).
On the stage, the agony faded from Mogi's face, replaced by shame and fury. He bowed deeply to Moore. "My apologies, Boss Moore. I was careless and let these rats slip past me."
Moore just waved a dismissive hand, his gaze fixed on Zane's card with fascination. "Now this is an interesting card," he murmured to himself.
In a single leap, he vaulted from the high platform, landing silently on the ground directly opposite the team. The next instant, a snow-white blade of pure energy shot from his hand, whistling through the air.
Chen Tuan's expression hardened. A swirling Tai Chi symbol materialized before him, deflecting the energy blade just in time. CRASH! The deflected blade scythed through the forest bordering the amphitheater, felling a dozen trees in a single, clean cut.
Seeing their leader engage, the three pirate representatives on the stage leaped down to join him. "Boss Moore, shall we assist?" Mogi asked, his voice low and eager for revenge. Moore nodded slightly. "The leader is mine. The rest are yours." "Yes, sir!"
With their orders given, Mogi immediately charged toward Russell's group. Chen Tuan moved to intercept, but was blocked by Moore. Leo found himself facing down the representatives from the [Red Rose] and [Night Owl] crews simultaneously.
Russell's face was grim. "Looks like we're on our own."
"You don't have to remind us, rookie," Yara sneered, though she immediately summoned her own card. She recognized overwhelming power when she saw it. "You're the main attacker," she added, nodding toward Kaneki. "Caleb and I will support you."
A humanoid shrimp holding a long spear, Yara's iron-level purple [Shrimp Soldier], materialized. At the same time, Kaneki shot forward like a bullet, aiming directly for Mogi. Yoriichi Tsugikuni remained unsummoned, held in reserve by Russell to guard against any stray pirates.
Kaneki's black and red centipede kagune stabbed forward like a lance. Mogi met it with his weapon—a massive, spiked mace. BOOM! A dull, metallic clang echoed as Kaneki's kagune was brutally swatted aside by Mogi's raw strength.
Seeing an opening, the Shrimp Soldier darted in and thrust its spear at Mogi's side. The tip connected, but only penetrated halfway before Mogi's iron-hard muscles clamped down, trapping the weapon. With a roar, Mogi swung his mace in a terrifying arc, smashing it into the Shrimp Soldier and sending the card flying, nearly shattering it in one hit.
Yara's face went pale.
Just then, a faint white light enveloped the grievously wounded Shrimp Soldier. Across the battlefield, Caleb's card, an [Apothecary Monk] (Iron-level Purple), was rhythmically grinding herbs in a copper mortar and pestle. As he worked, healing energy flowed from him, and the hideous wounds on the Shrimp Soldier began to slowly knit themselves back together.
"Hah... thanks, Caleb," Yara breathed, relieved. "Without you, he'd be out of the fight."
Russell glanced over at the other two battles. Zane was being pushed back by Moore's relentless attacks, and Leo was struggling to hold off two opponents at once. He turned back to his own fight, his voice low and urgent. "We have to end this fast. Zane and Leo can't hold out for much longer."
(End of this chapter)
