The air was thick with smoke and blood, still crackling with the residue of the lightning sphere that had killed the girl. Her body lay limp on the wooden dock, and Vanthelis stared at it—at her—his fists trembling, his eyes burning beneath the Wraith Pact.
Across the ruined pier, the storm-wielding man grinned arrogantly, lightning arcing lazily from his fingertips.
"You dare to be a hero, huh?" he taunted, raising a brow. "If you just let that one man have his way, there'd be no mess. She would've been sold to a noble house, became some rich man's wife. Maybe even live longer than you. But no, you didn't want that. You wanted her to die. Admit it."
Vanthelis's teeth ground together as his rage boiled.
Without a word, he lifted his hand toward the half-destroyed ship behind them and silently activated his connection. A pulse of dark energy surged from his core.
He deployed his ghouls from his mind as they moved.
The deck of the ship shuddered. Crates fell. Then the rotten boards cracked open as undead arms burst through. Ghouls emerged from the lower deck, snarling, their hollow eyes filled with a ravenous hunger.
The pirates who are protecting the entrance of the gate now found themselves ambushed. Screams rose as ghouls leapt, clawing through flesh, biting into exposed throats. Chaos erupted along the harbor as the undead tore into the living.
Vanthelis took a deep breath and looked at the man with a cold, furious smile. "You talk too much."
Then he hurled his rusted sword.
The blade spun, glinting in the sun, and grazed the storm man's cheek before embedding itself in the ground behind him. Blood trickled from the wound.
Before the man could retaliate, Vanthelis turned and ran.
"Ishlar! Now!" he shouted.
Both darted into the alley behind the marketplace. Vanthelis could feel the Wraith Pact beginning to weaken—its power fading with every heartbeat. They needed to disappear.
Through twisting alleys and broken fences, they dove into a small, rundown building nestled between two warehouses. The shop was empty, the owner still inside—until Vanthelis plunged his dagger into the man's neck. No witnesses.
Ishlar knelt, panting. His cloak was scorched, his armor dented.
"Hide here. I have a plan," Vanthelis muttered.
Ishlar nodded without argument.
Vanthelis stepped away, activating his Morph ability for the first time since obtaining it.
A ripple surged through his body. His muscles twisted, bones cracked. His skin darkened, and his hair shortened. His entire physique shifted, becoming leaner, taller. In seconds, his features matched the storm-wielding man who had attacked them.
Cronus.
His face now bore the same tattoo markings and confident smirk.
Vanthelis stepped out of the shop with a relaxed swagger, adjusting the stolen cloak over his back. As he walked toward the chaos, he heard voices rise again.
"FIND THEM! They must be hiding! Search every corner! They can't escape from the Thunder Bird Pirates!"
The voices grew louder as pirates stormed through the alleyways and shops, flipping carts, kicking down doors.
One of them turned a corner and came face-to-face with Vanthelis. He froze, blinking.
"Cronus sir? W-Why are you here?"
Vanthelis forced a tired sigh, narrowing his eyes in annoyance. "Why are you questioning me? They aren't here, idiot. Check the other buildings. Move!"
"Y-Yes, sir!" the pirate stammered, scrambling away with a group.
Vanthelis exhaled slowly, the rush of relief nearly betraying his expression. The Morph worked.
In his mind, he whispered, "System."
The transparent screen appeared before him, revealing his new identity.
Name: Cronus Met (Vanthelis Blackthorn)
Title: Cronus (Thunder Bird Pirate Captsin)
Skills:
Thunder Affinity — Can control thunder freely.
Sword Skills
Massacre — Intimidate and weaken enemies when surrounded by allies.
Morph — Take on the identity of a person that has been seen.
Vanthelis blinked at the screen. The skill set was powerful. Too powerful.
Just the Thunder Affinity alone was a threat, reminiscent of ancient elemental wielders. And the Massacre skill could make him seem like a demon if leading a horde. He felt like a child wearing a king's crown. But right now, that illusion could save them.
"So this is what he truly had," he murmured to himself. "No wonder they follow him."
He made his way back into the winding alleys, now confident, even casual.
A group of pirates came into view. They had bloodied axes and splinters on their clothes, still searching for Vanthelis and Ishlar.
"Oi, Captain Cronus!" one shouted. "We didn't find 'em. Maybe they went to the water?"
Vanthelis stared at them with annoyance. "You think they can swim past those waters? Use your brains. No. They're here. With me. Follow."
He turned sharply and walked toward the next alley.
"Y-Yes sir!"
Four followed him. Perfect.
The moment they turned the corner with him, away from sight, he struck.
Vanthelis pulled a short dagger from his belt that is made from the lion's tooth and drove it into the neck of the first pirate. Before the others could react, he grabbed a stone and smashed the second's skull in, then twisted and slash his sword toward the other two pirstes sweeping their head.
They collapsed like sacks of meat.
Vanthelis looked down at the blood now soaking his arms.
"Thunder Bird Pirates... I'll make your name rot in the soil."