On the merchant ship
The remaining four pirate ships found themselves in a desperate situation.
They couldn't run, yet staying meant certain death.
One pirate clenched his teeth and proposed the only plan he could think of:
"We're not getting out of here. The Crux Fleet has already blocked every escape route.
Our only chance is to take hostages!"
His idea immediately won frantic support.
"Right! If we fight them head-on, we'll die for sure. Hostages are the only way!"
After witnessing their companion ships get blasted into pieces by the Crux Fleet's cannons, the pirates had panicked.
But ironically, those who had already boarded the merchant ship felt lucky—
Yes, boarding was dangerous, but at least Beidou's fleet wouldn't dare bombard the ship with civilians on it.
So the pirates hardened their resolve.
They rushed onto the merchant vessel, waving curved blades and crude weapons, forcing the passengers out onto the deck like herding sheep.
Their plan was simple:
Use the civilians as bargaining chips.
If possible, disembark at an island ahead, scatter the hostages to slow the Crux Fleet down, then escape in the confusion.
Some even planned to change clothes and blend in with the civilians.
Honestly…
For pirates, it was a surprisingly decent plan.
If no unexpected variables appeared, a few of them might really escape.
Unfortunately for them—
A very unexpected variable was present.
A group of pirates banged on the doors of the private cabins one by one, dragging passengers out.
Inside the deepest cabin, watching everything through the window, Eula exhaled calmly.
"Good. With the hostages evacuated to the deck, we can fight without endangering bystanders."
She tightened her grip on her claymore, anticipation flashing in her icy eyes.
During her Knightly missions, she often ran into trash like these pirates.
Usually, she dealt with them on the spot.
Now they had delivered themselves right to her door.
Perfect timing—
She could test the new strength she obtained last night.
Minutes later…
A violent kick smashed open the door.
Four or five pirates stood at the entrance.
"You! Come out! Don't make me—"
Their words died in their throats.
Because inside the room—
❄ A glamorous, icy-blue-haired beauty—Eula.
✨ A cute silver-haired maid—Noelle.
💜 And finally, a voluptuous purple-haired mature woman—Raiden Makoto.
The pirates stared, slack-jawed.
"Wh—where did this guy get so many high-quality women?!"
Their eyes then fell on the man sitting between them—Lory.
After a moment of stunned silence, they grudgingly admitted:
"…Actually, they kinda do match him…"
But before they could continue drooling—
Eula moved.
Her blade flashed like a dancer's step, elegant yet lethal.
In a single swing, she decapitated all of them.
The blood never splattered—
because the corpses froze solid mid-air.
Eula flicked her heel lightly.
Crack—!
The frozen bodies shattered into glittering shards across the floor.
The pirates died without even raising their weapons.
Eula turned toward Lory.
"Lory, I'll assist on deck."
He nodded.
Then he looked to the maid beside him.
"Noelle, go with her. Treat it as a real-combat test of your training."
Sparring could only do so much.
A real battlefield forged strength far faster.
Momentarily shaken by Eula's merciless efficiency, Noelle steadied herself, nodded firmly, and readied her weapons.
Eula placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Don't be afraid. Stay behind me."
"Yes, Eula-sis!"
Together, the two girls dashed out of the ruined doorway.
Lory and Makoto didn't bother going out to watch.
To them, the pirates were nothing more than chickens awaiting slaughter.
Lory had already foreseen everything long before the attack began.
Even without a single Vision among them, Eula alone could clean up.
And besides…
Lory's gaze drifted toward a shape speeding across the sea—
The Alcor, Beidou's flagship.
"Well, this is interesting," he murmured.
"I didn't even reach Liyue yet, and I already ran into the famous Captain Beidou."
Her legend was widespread.
Even before she received her Electro Vision, she had slain a sea monster with nothing but human strength.
A peak among mortals.
And after receiving her Vision, she became one of the greatest warriors in all seven nations.
What Lory really wondered was—
"Is Kaedehara Kazuha with her yet?"
By this time line, the young wandering swordsman should have already fled Inazuma because of the Vision Hunt Decree.
If so… that would make things complicated.
Makoto noticed his thoughtful stare.
"What is it?" she asked softly.
"Nothing major," Lory replied, eyes gleaming.
"It's just… we may soon meet the descendant of an old friend."
Makoto blinked.
"Old… friend?"
Her curiosity was piqued.
Lory didn't tease her—he answered plainly.
"The Kaedehara Clan. Remember them?"
Makoto's expression softened with nostalgia.
"Yes… a family of honor and valor."
The Kaedehara were once among Inazuma's storied noble houses.
Their contributions—opening land, shielding villages, purging monsters—were numerous.
Makoto still vividly remembered sending Chiyo, the Kujou forces, and the Kaedehara Clan to confront an ancient Abyss disaster.
"Is it truly a Kaedehara descendant…? How nostalgic."
Lory resisted the urge to sigh.
Nostalgic, yes.
But also ironic.
After all… Makoto's sister was the one who struck down Kazuha's friend, and her Vision Hunt Decree had forced him into exile.
Of course—
Kazuha didn't resent Ei or anyone else.
His friend had lost honorably in a duel and chose to die without regret.
Kazuha only fled to protect the Vision left behind.
And that
was where his long wandering began.