Behind the island, on a stretch of beach, lay a massive sailing ship. The stench emanating from it, coupled with the skull and crossbones flag fluttering from its mast, clearly marked it as a pirate vessel.
The ship was eerily quiet, as if deserted. But it was impossible for a vessel of this size to have so few people on deck. Indeed, along the beach, a primeval forest stretched inland. Even from a distance, the clash of swords, the crack of gunfire, the roar of men, and the screams of the wounded could be heard.
Beyond the forest lay a village, not overly large but not small either. The tranquility and peace of yesteryear were long gone. Figures were locked in combat everywhere. There were pirates in grey, exuding ferocity; sailors in white, fighting a retreating battle; and strong men clad in ancient attire, wielding primitive weapons, their appearance perfectly suited to the ancient village. Their fierce engagement filled the air with chaos and the scent of blood.
In the nearby houses, women huddled in corners, their faces contorted in fear, their hands clamped over their children's mouths to stifle any sound. In the open spaces before the houses, many figures lay still – pirates, sailors, and men in ancient garb. Though all were prone, they shared a common trait: they were lifeless.
These pirates were clearly seasoned in such brutal acts, their ferocity undiminished. Their numbers far surpassed those of the sailors and the village guards. While they couldn't immediately conquer the village, with each passing moment and the increasing number of fallen sailors, it was only a matter of time before they prevailed.
Further inland, past the village, stood the tall, ancient structures that Kong Tai and his companions had glimpsed from above. Inside one of these buildings, in a corridor, a low, mocking voice suddenly echoed.
"Run? Let's see where you run."
"Hahahaha!!"
The laughter belonged to a man clearly of a different caliber than his henchmen trailing behind him or the pirates engaged in battle outside. He was a giant of a man, a colossal mace slung over his shoulder, his steps shaking the very ground. His immense strength was evident.
"Captain, that little lass is quite a beauty. I wonder…"
Beside the brute, a scrawny, lecherous man gazed ahead, his eyes burning with unbridled greed.
"Worry not."
The giant chuckled, glancing around with a glint of malice and avarice in his eyes. "This place looks ancient and full of history. Perhaps there are many treasures within. As for the women…" He licked his lips, a cruel smile twisting his face. "When this captain has had his fill, if she's still alive, you can have your way with her."
"Heh heh! Thank you for your generosity, Captain."
The scrawny man bowed quickly to the giant, then hurried forward, holding a torch aloft. Lost in thought, his pace quickened.
At the very end of the corridor lay a dead end. There were no gold or jewels, nor anything else of value, only a very ancient door. It lacked a door itself, possessing only a frame. Faintly visible on the frame were carvings of ancient patterns.
Beyond it was a spacious, empty room. The walls were adorned with the same intricate patterns as the door frame. Against the far wall, at the base, rested a very ancient stone coffin.
If one could see through it, a long sword, covered in green rust, would be seen lying peacefully within. Its length was comparable to A Tao's Mirror Flower Water Moon, but it lacked a scabbard and was broader. Its magnificence far surpassed Mirror Flower Water Moon. Though the great sword was covered in rust, seven large gems, emitting a soft green luminescence, were embedded in its blade, elevating its value considerably.
Two figures stood by the sword coffin: a man and a woman. The man, with silver hair and clad in a wine-red coat, was slumped by the coffin, gasping for breath. Blood dripped from his mouth and body onto the ground. In the dim light, unnoticed, the blood was absorbed by the floor. Meanwhile, the great sword within the coffin, previously still, trembled slightly, as if something yearned to emerge from it.
"Saka, are you alright!"
Beside the man, the woman, supporting him, her beautiful face etched with concern. She wore a red miko outfit, her sea-blue hair tied in a miko bun. Two strands of slightly disheveled hair by her ears were damp with sweat.
"I'm fine, Maya."
Saka wiped the blood from his lips. Hearing the approaching footsteps, he forced himself to his feet, took a deep breath, and shielded Maya behind him. His right hand hung limply by his side, while his only functional left hand clutched a dagger tightly.
Before they even appeared, a powerful, low voice boomed.
"Run, keep running!"
"Hahahaha!!"
Accompanying the laughter was the hulking man with the mace, whose mere presence exuded an overwhelming pressure. Behind him were several lecherous small men. Without even glancing at Saka, their eyes were fixed on Maya, their dark pupils glinting green in the dim room. Their undisguised greed and lechery caused Maya, standing behind Saka, to flinch and take a small step back.
Saka rose, his eyes bloodshot, his gaze fixed on the giant. He seethed with self-hatred for his own weakness, lamenting his inability to master the sword with his left hand. In his prime, facing pirates who only dared to raid remote villages, even if he couldn't defeat them quickly, he wouldn't have ended up like this. But since his right hand was crippled, his lifelong swordsmanship was reduced to a fraction of its former glory. Now, he could barely fight them.
He didn't fear death, but he feared for the woman behind him. She had saved him, and she was the first woman in years for whom he had harbored thoughts of a future together. Though he was only seventeen. Therefore, he would risk his life to protect her.
"Haha! Not running anymore, am I? Then I'm coming for you!"
The giant's eyes held a chilling disregard for life as he stepped forward, raising his mace and swinging it towards Saka's head.
*Boom!*
There was no surprise. Though he dodged a fatal blow, the heavily wounded Saka was nonetheless sent flying by the giant's strike, his trajectory aimed directly at the sword coffin behind them.
"Saka~"
Maya cried out in distress as Saka was hammered away. She tried to rush to his aid, but as she moved, the giant stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder, immobilizing her. Helpless, she could only watch with anxious eyes as Saka, bleeding profusely, slumped onto the sword coffin.
"Haha! Little beauty, let's see where you run now."
The giant shifted his gaze from Saka to Maya, his face contorted with avarice. He licked his lips and sneered, "Now, tell me, where are your treasures hidden!"
Under the covetous gazes of the giant and his lackeys, no one noticed Saka's blood seeping into the cracks of the sword coffin and being inexplicably absorbed.
At that moment, a flash of green light flickered, and the lid of the sword coffin slid open automatically, revealing the great sword lying peacefully within, emitting a soft green glow. This sudden radiance immediately captured everyone's attention. The green light, as if possessing a magical allure, drew their gazes, its seductive aura instantly eclipsing their lust for Maya and focusing it on the sword.
Naturally, the green light also caught Maya's eye. She stared at the glowing great sword in the coffin, her pupils contracting, a look of unprecedented terror on her face. Seeing Saka about to touch the sword, which clearly exuded an evil aura, she cried out urgently, "No, Saka~" Evidently, she was the only one who knew what this sword truly was.