---

Swish, slash!

There I was, wildly swinging my sword and taking down pirates left and right. The minions were so weak that I could take their lives with just a single strike. After dropping about twenty of them, it seemed they decided enough was enough, and the remaining pirates began to flee back to their ship at a surprising speed.

The battle on the ship ended surprisingly quickly. But I could hear cheers from the crowd around me.

“Wow!!”

“Thank you, young hero!!”

While everyone else struggled, I had been cutting down foes like I was strolling through a field of sheep. I could say I single-handedly took them down.

I examined the casualties on the ship. A couple were dead, and about ten were injured. That was quite a bit of damage from such a short fight, indicating the pirates knew how to wield a blade. Of course, my skills were far beyond any pirate’s, so while I went on a rampage, for the average escort or captain, this level of combat would be too much.

The Lord of Seogung Escort Agency approached me with a worried look. “Young hero, those guys might shoot fire arrows; we can’t let them!”

Following his lead, I looked around and noticed the pirate fleet circling our area, looking for their chance to attack. The Lord of Seogung seemed convinced that the pirates would indeed fire arrows.

“Aren’t they just after the trade goods? Should we try lighting their ship on fire?” I asked, to which the Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association shook his head.

“If you think your skills can stop them in close combat, we might have to sink their ship first and just pick up survivors to sell as slaves. Or they could follow us and look for more chances to attack.”

“Hmm.” I pondered for a moment. “If we can just block the fire arrows, we should be good for the rest.”

The Lord of Great Dragon and the Lord of Seogung were clearly on edge. It made sense, given that the Blood Blade Group seemed larger and more dangerous than they initially thought. It’s not every day you see three large pirate ships.

I gazed at the pirates’ ship and briefly thought. Then I spoke, “It’s too far to act now, but if they come closer and start firing arrows, I’ll jump over and try to block them.”

“Even if they shoot arrows, aren’t there about fifty of them? Do you really think you can handle that?”

“Just get me a small boat, and if we can get a little closer, it just might work.”

“Understood!”

Before long, I had webbed myself into a small emergency boat, ready for action. Two rowers came along; they looked experienced but were on high alert. The rowers said, “We believe in you!”

“That Blood Blade Group is the largest and most vicious gang in the Yellow Sea. We hope we can escape!”

I grinned, “Don’t worry. This is nothing.”

They looked terrified, and to be fair, a teenager covered in pirate blood didn’t inspire confidence. But after all the monsters I had faced, human pirates were just minor nuisances.

“Here they come!”

Then, the largest ship from the Blood Blade Group came right towards us. With bow-wielding archers on deck, it looked like they were indeed going to shoot arrows, just as the Lord of Seogung had predicted. I heightened my focus, examining their movement closely; the arrows were plain iron ones, not even dipped in oil for fire.

‘Not fire arrows, huh.’ I realized they were circling us to take down the enemies on deck with their arrows first.

“Here we go!”

With a swift swing, the rowers deftly cut the ropes, and we charged forward against the waves. I steadied a spear in my hands, preparing for the oncoming shots. As soon as the pirates spotted our little boat, arrows came flying towards us in a flurry.

Ping! Ping!

I knew long poles were better for redirecting long-range shots. Quickly activating the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, I elegantly parried the oncoming arrows away from me and the rowers. The rowers looked stunned, amazed none of the arrows hit us.

I took a glance at the water’s surface, knowing one could estimate distance by its color. Once we closed the gap to about twenty feet, I leaped onto the water’s surface.

Activating Thunderclap breathing, my internal power surged to its limit. I couldn’t jump twenty feet high at once, but at about ten feet, I propelled off the water’s surface.

With a splash!

I soared above the sea, creating a massive spray of water. Although I wasn’t at peak level yet, collecting my Thunder Spirit Technique in my feet allowed me to bounce off the surface. As I landed on the pirate ship’s deck, all eyes turned toward me.

I wasted no time wielding my spear, swiftly taking out the three archers that had been stationed nearby. As the spear skimmed through the air, human flesh tore apart.

“Aaaaah!”

“Ugh!”

I quickly glanced at the rowers to see what they were doing. They seemed busy maneuvering the small boat. As long as I secured the deck, I thought their lives would be safe, so I let out a Lion’s Roar.

[You are all dead men!!]

“Uaaaaah!”

The thunderous roar echoed through the ship, causing the pirates to scream and drop to the ground. My full power struck without mercy, shattering their eardrums as blood streamed from their ears. Maybe it was a bit harsh, but given how brutal these pirates were, I quickly dismissed that guilt.

With the archers down, the remaining pirates looked panicked. Even the giant ship in front was feeling the pressure, causing other ships to hesitate as well. I scanned the deck for more victims, and then a horde of pirates wielding red blades burst from inside the ship.

“Die!”

They came pouring out, swinging their daggers without hesitation. Over thirty of the Blood Blade pirates rushed out, which was impressive for a ship of this size.

Clang! Clang!

I blocked strikes coming from all directions, the pirates began to look bewildered as even with this many attackers, they couldn’t land a hit on me.

“What the?!”

“How can a kid like this be this strong?!”

I could quickly gauge the strength of these pirates; surprisingly, their average skill level was rather high, with a good number of capable fighters mixed in. Any reasonable First-Class Expert would think twice about facing this combined assault.

But I decided that this was enough exploring, and I gathered my killing intent.

“Time to die!”

As I swung my spear in aspiral motion, a buzzing sound echoed like a swarm of bees. This was the basic technique my mentor, Samjeol Lee Kwang, taught me. By colliding different energies and techniques, I could unleash a terrifying force. Despite not having a fancy name, using this technique properly could potentially rival any ultimate technique.

Thud!

With a flourish of my spear, I tore through five pirates within a ten-foot radius. The sound was a heavy, thunderous crash, not unlike a giant’s strike, creating fierce wind pressure all around. The pirates stood frozen in shock at the carnage unfolding. I charged in, swinging the spear five more times in quick succession.

Slosh!

“Guuuah!”

Human bodies shattered, creating a blood-soaked battlefield. In an instant, the deck was drenched in crimson, and brain matter and guts splattered everywhere. With fifteen bodies sent to the afterlife, the remaining pirates instinctively dropped their weapons, terrified.

Clang!

“H… he’s a monster!”

I had no desire to spare them. These were scoundrels who raided ships and sold people into slavery or worse. Ending their lives so easily was the kindest thing I could do. With an indifferent expression, I thrust my spear, skewering three of them like kebabs.

Pop!

“Uhggh!”

“Aaaaah!”

With a sinister smile, I spun the spear again and, in the process, disemboweled the remaining pirates, creating a gory scene. Once I finished dealing with the pirates, I stood alone amidst the sea of blood.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and called out, “Aren’t you guys coming to play?!”

“……”

Three Blood Blade figures gripped their blades and stared straight at me, eerily wearing similar red masks that concealed their faces. They had to be the leaders of this pirate group, so I casually taunted them.

“Are you the bosses?”

“That’s right.”

“Come at me, and I’ll make it quick!”

“Who are you to interrupt us?”

“What does it matter who I am? You’re gonna die anyway!”

Not seeing the point in chatting, I charged toward them. Suddenly, the three pirate captains released their own intimidating killing intent.

“What the?!

I was taken aback as their power surged.

BAM!

‘What? These pirate bosses use this level of energy?’

Energy is not something just anyone can use. Only the most skilled practitioners among the elite martial artists, after years of grueling training, can tap into that level of prowess. Even if one had solid foundation work, it was shocking for pirate leaders to utilize such power.

“Cough!”

But these guys couldn’t take on my raging energy. They spewed blood and stumbled back; without my full power, one of them might have been defeated.

I glared at the staggering captains as they tried to regain their footing.

“What are you guys?! Who taught you such skills?”

From just one clash, it was clear these leaders had highly refined martial arts systems. It didn’t make sense for pirate leaders to possess such skills; they could pass themselves off as elite in the martial world, and yet here they were pillaging ships for a living.

“Urrgh!”

“Kyaaa!!”

They didn’t respond, only screeching like wounded animals and charged back at me again. I felt their powers spike sharply, which had noticeably increased since we last fought. They were undeniably more formidable than before.

‘Some real tough cookies, huh?’

Cling! Clang!

Surprised, I managed to maintain my calm despite dodging their newfound strength, engaging cautiously as we exchanged blows for over twenty seconds.

Should I not have defended properly, my spear could’ve easily snapped under their overwhelming might. It’s a given that strength naturally boosts martial arts, so I focused completely to match their tempo.

Suddenly, I noticed a gap in their defenses and took the chance to stab through one’s chest, shattering it with a satisfying crunch. A fist-sized hole formed as he looked in disbelief.

I readied for his collapse.

“Kiiieeeek!!”

But instead of falling, he only grew stronger and charged toward me. Completely blindsided, I quickly backpedaled to avoid getting cornered. This was odd; a vital blow that would incapacitate any normal human and yet he stood there, unharmed!

“Hey… what the hell are you? Why aren’t you dead?”

“Kuwaaaa…”

Upon closer look, they weren’t screaming—just a series of weird, fishy noises, and it was unclear if they understood human language. Their eyes, wide and vacant, reminded me of a dead fish—creepy.

It hit me; these creatures were beyond reason. Now that I was closer, I felt a dark presence underlying their being, an aura of evil that seemed to be corrupting my internal power.

But maybe it was because I just killed one, as I felt the dark energy dissipate a little. The toxins they emitted were making me keenly aware of the surrounding corruption. Grasping the situation, I trudged forward.

As I made my way into the ship’s interior, I found regular humans diligently rowing, in stark contrast to the freakishly aquatic-like pirates outside. I pointed my spear at one of them, declaring, “Your captain is dead. Surrender!”

A crew member gasped in surprise, “What? He’s dead?”

“Yep.”

“Fine. I yield. Just spare my life!”

The surrender came swiftly, and the rest of the crew immediately laid down their paddles and weapons. I realized that even these pirates were likely coerced into this life.

With the remaining pirates, my threatening presence and simple demands led to their quick defeat. Raising the flag of surrender, the other pirate ships drew close, and I swiftly took down another twenty or so before they submitted en masse.

Returning to my main ship, I was met with the Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association, who beamed at me.

“You are a hero! I can’t believe you decimated the Blood Blade Group single-handedly!”

Yet, his expression faltered slightly. Given the gruesome numbers I had just slain, it was no wonder I was covered in blood. I wiped the dried blood from my face and said, “Lord, I need to discuss something. Is that alright?”

“Ha ha… of course.”

“Could you ask the Lord of Seogung to join us?”

“Me too? Alright.”

As the room buzzed with the return of the crew, I ushered the two lords into a private quarters. Once inside, I revealed the severed heads of the Blood Blade leaders, wrapped in cloth, laying them matter-of-factly on the table. As the fabric fell away, the pungent stench of rotten fish permeated the air, and both men’s faces turned pale.

“Ugh!”

“What… what is this monster?”

I said calmly, “These three are the captains I just killed from the Blood Blade Group. I brought their heads here; they shouldn’t be seen by the others.”

“Ugh, please wrap them back up. It’s too much for me.”

“Alright.”

As I rewrapped the heads, the Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association muffled his nose and stammered, “You’re not lying, right? Those monsters were the pirate leaders?”

“You need to see their bodies to believe it? I hid their bodies, but if you want to look yourself, that’s on you.”

“Oh, no. I trust what you say.”

The fear was evident all over their faces. Then, the Lord of Seogung, who had been silently pondering, spoke up.

“I think I’ve heard of creatures like these.”

“What do you mean?”

His expression paled as he continued, “Rumor has it the Blood Blade Group is related to the Sea God’s clan, and they’ve gained strange power to threaten trading groups in the last few years. This could very well be connected.”

“So if these monsters are gone, is it ended?”

“Not quite. They are likely based on a pirate island; they must have supply lines running from land.”

“So there are more of them lurking?”

“Most likely…”

The room fell into a heavy silence, an ominous chill sweeping over us. The Lord of Great Dragon broke the quiet first, waving his hands dismissively.

“Enough! I don’t want to get involved. My job is to bring goods to Goryeo and make trades. Anything else should be left to the navy to deal with.”

The Lord of Seogung nodded in agreement. “I think you’re right. We should bury this for now and focus on eliminating the pirates to uncover their base.”

“And throw these heads into the sea.”

“……”

“Young hero, once again, thank you for everything. I’ll be sure to repay you.”

I felt the matter was spilling over, yet the unease nagged at my mind.

‘The Sea God’s clan?’

From my experience, these monsters were definitely of a different species, possibly linked to another realm. The freakish strength and vitality I faced suggested they might live under the sea!

Time passed smoothly, and soon the surrendered pirates were tied up on the main ship while the pirate leaders’ corpses were unceremoniously thrown overboard at night.

About four days after, I arrived in Gaegyeong, the great port of Goryeo. Merchants began bustling around with goods as I stealthily mixed with them in the crowd.

“Ha ha! Let’s have a drink!”

That evening, after the day’s events died down, Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association joined us in a foreign merchant inn for a drink. He’d invited both me and the Lord of Seogung and I couldn’t turn the offer down. As we enjoyed Goryeo delicacies laid out generously, he asked, “So, what are your plans now?”

“I plan to settle in Goryeo and learn the language and customs for a few years. This is a fascinating land, and I want to explore for a while.”

“Hmmm… I won’t stop you, but…”

He hesitated slightly before getting to the point, “Why don’t you join our merchant association as a senior member? We could offer you more authority and wealth.”

“What?”

Lord of Seogung chimed in, “I agree! If you’re with us, future trading endeavors could be safe. If both of us support you, you could be one of the richest in Shandong in no time.”

“……”

“Please, join our association!”

I chuckled weakly, declining their offer. “I’m sorry.”

“Hmm…”

“I have matters to attend to.”

If I settled in Shandong, riches, fame, and beautiful women would be at my feet. But that wasn’t what mattered at this moment. I could waste time, but I couldn’t afford it. A journey in search of the Sea God would take a long while, and I had to say no.

Understanding, the Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association said, “Then I wish you good fortune. If you wish to live in Gaegyeong, I can speak to the nobles on your behalf.”

“You are friendly with Goryeo’s nobles?”

“Of course! By the way, the noble clans here underwent restructuring after a certain king’s decree; now the Jeong clan is in power instead. I’m quite close with them and can arrange an introduction in a few days.”

This wasn’t an empty promise. He provided a significant reward for my help and arranged for a house in Gaegyeong. Plus, he set me up with a meeting with the prominent Jeong clan, the top noble family of Goryeo.

 

---