After boarding Drake's ship, the "Golden Hind," Ritsuka and the others contacted Chaldea. Thanks to the influence of the Holy Grail, which the captain possessed, the connection was restored, and they briefly reported the situation.
"We just transferred – and already the Holy Grail?!" Roman exclaimed. "But why hasn't the human order been restored yet?"
Ritsuka and Mash merely confirmed his words with nods.
Back on the island during the feast, Ritsuka had asked Drake for permission to touch the Grail, but nothing happened.
"Strange. According to the data, this is the genuine Holy Grail," Roman rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought. Then, as if remembering something, he addressed Drake. "May I ask where you got it?"
"In Atlantis," Drake replied. "I heard it was the treasure of the sea god Poseidon, so I couldn't resist. You should have seen the face of that guy who thought he was the god of the seas! He lost the chalice and was quieter than a mouse. It was hilarious! 'Lord of the oceans,' indeed, hahaha!"
Roman, his expression saying "I thought so," began to explain to Ritsuka:
"It seems this is not the Grail that Professor Lev sent there. This is a genuine artifact that existed in that era."
"A real Grail?" Ritsuka tilted his head in confusion.
"I don't know all the details myself, but there are rumors that in rare cases, at certain stages of history, the Holy Grail could manifest on its own. This is probably one of them."
This meant that there were at least two chalices in this singularity.
"So, the clash of the forces of the genuine Grail and Lev's one is slowing down the collapse of the human order?" Mash speculated.
If so, then time was on their side for now. Moreover, since they had the genuine Grail, even if the enemy had already obtained the second one, the situation was not hopeless.
"The task is simplified," Ritsuka said. "We only need to find one more chalice."
However, he knew that when things go too smoothly, you can always expect a catch. A vague unease lingered.
"What difference does it make where it came from? The main thing is that it's a real Holy Grail!" Deadpool interjected. "Hey, cap! Ask him for a mountain of gold or some other treasure."
Drake chuckled and casually tossed the chalice to Deadpool.
"Do you think I haven't thought of that? I'm a pirate and an adventurer. Easy gains always taste bitter. The real treasure is what's obtained at the end of a deadly path!"
"Our sister is the best! Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo!"
Impressed by such philosophy, the sailors roared with delight.
"Listen, captain, can I make a wish then?" Deadpool stared at her like a devoted puppy, except he wasn't wagging his tail. It seemed Red Hack had something on his mind.
"And what do you desire so passionately?" Drake inquired curiously.
Instead of answering, Deadpool climbed onto the deck railing and struck a dramatic pose, squatting down.
"Spidey... I want Peter Parker..."
"No!" Roman exclaimed in alarm. "Not that!"
"...or at least the cute Tom Holland..."
"Sony and Disney will crush us! Stop immediately-y-y!"
The story almost ended before it began. Deadpool pouted displeebly.
"What about my copyright?! You're using me without permission!"
"Well, with you, it's simple," the author thought. "...Whatever you do, you can always say: 'It's Deadpool...'"
"'20th Century Fox' will find out – you'll be in trouble! Do you know they're buddies with Mickey Mouse now?"
"Who cares about this little non-profit fanfiction?"
"Are you belittling your own creation now?! Aren't you ashamed in front of the seven hundred readers who subscribed for my jokes?!" By the way, speaking of which... Thank you all so much for reading this nonsense.
"Oh, and thank you from me too. I'll try to write more diligently."
"And you write, don't get distracted! You unfinished Fate fan!" You couldn't even pull Drake in gacha, loser!"
"Well, that's too much. Why hit where it hurts? That's it, I'm offended. I won't write. I'm going on hiatus. Right now..."
"Pfft! If you don't write, I will! The fourth wall is like toilet paper to me, you failed author!"
"Hey, Wade?"
Deadpool, who was again arguing enthusiastically with the void, turned at Ritsuka's call.
"Don't bother me! I'm having issues with the Creator here."
"That's not what I mean! Cannonball!"
"What cannonball...?"
Ritsuka pointed at an approaching black projectile. The cannonball, at breakneck speed, embedded itself directly into Deadpool's stomach and dragged him with it, breaking through the deck.
"Captain! Pirates on the horizon!"
"I see," Drake calmly took the helm and spun it, presenting the port side to the source of the attack.
"One ship. But it's... very large."
"Everyone to your stations, you fools!"
After the report from the lookout, the crew stirred with perfect coordination.
"Senpai, look at the flag!"
Mash pointed at a banner that differed from the usual "Jolly Roger."
"Hold on, I'm analyzing! A full-body skeleton… a spear in its left hand and a heart… Oh my god! It's the 'Queen Anne's Revenge'!"
Romani almost fainted from terror.
"Queen Anne's Revenge," the ship of the most notorious pirate, rumored to have sold his soul to the devil.
"Edward Teach… So it's him," Drake muttered under her breath, frowning.
"We're in danger, aren't we?"
"It's alright, senpai. We have Captain Drake with us," Ritsuka reassured Mash, deflecting another cannonball with her shield.
"Oh, you're a reliable lass!" Drake shot a glance at the sailors. "What are you gaping at?! Fire on my command!"
The gunners below deck fired a salvo. Several cannonballs, arcing through the air, slammed into the hull of the "Queen Anne's Revenge."
"Direct hit! But the enemy isn't slowing down."
"Wouldn't expect them to. That guy won't let go that easily!"
The distance between the ships rapidly closed. From the enemy's deck, wild pirate yells preparing for boarding could already be heard.
"Board them, lads!!"
The sailors drew their boarding sabers. Mash shielded the wounded Ritsuka, raising her shield.
"Aaaaaah! Come on, then! Taste the power of 'The World' from an enraged Canadian mercenary!! Oops, I think I accidentally awakened my 'Alter'!"
Deadpool, whose body had just recovered from a direct cannonball hit, leaped out of a breach in the deck, brandishing his swords and going berserk like a madman.
"Tear them to shreds!"
"U-a-a-a-a!"
As soon as the hulls touched, Drake's sailors, swinging on ropes, surged onto the enemy deck with shouts. Teach's pirates responded in kind. A bloody brawl ensued.
The clang of steel, the roar of muskets and pistols, and the acrid smell of gunpowder filled the air.
"Don't let them gain a foothold on the deck!"
Drake, abandoning the helm, threw off her captain's coat. Drawing muskets from her bandolier, she plunged into the thick of the fight. Gracefully dodging enemy blades, she struck down pirates at point-blank range with both barrels.
"You'll regret stepping onto my ship!"
In the heat of battle, Drake resembled a fire demon dancing in smoke and flames.
"Hey, Red Pants!" she shouted to Deadpool.
He had just pinned an enemy's hands to the deck and was aiming between his legs, intending to castrate him.
"You wanted a ship, right? There it is, take it! Do whatever you want with it!"
Deadpool's eyes gleamed fanatically. After firing a few more bullets into the crotch of the unfortunate pirate, he leaped onto the adjacent vessel.
"Oh yeah! Time to party! Liiiii-rooooy Jeee-ee-enkins!!"
With that cry, he landed on the deck of the "Queen Anne's Revenge." Fierce pirates immediately surrounded him, pointing blades and guns.
"Alright, gentlemen… I'll give myself ten minutes. Just ten minutes – and I'll show you a captain-switching trick!"
Deadpool raised his pistols, crossed his arms, and opened fire. He spun like a top, firing in all directions – diagonally, right, left – mowing down the surrounding enemies.
"Who's in charge here?! This is a mutiny, you sea rats! I'll bring a tank and blow your stupid heads off!"
In response to this challenge, a huge brute emerged from the captain's bridge, leaning casually on the railing.
"C-Captain!"
One of the terrified sailors tried to run past, but the giant, without looking, snatched a musket and shot the subordinate in the forehead.
The other pirates froze, watching the execution. The hulking man with a long vertical scar on his nose grinned and spoke:
"Dyu-hu-hu-hu! I've come for this old lady's collection of golden goblets!! And I'll get a kiss from that cute girl with the shield too! Ak-ha-ha-ha!"
Blackbeard versus Deadpool: a battle of two titans (of intellect).
Blackbeard, you scoundrel! Why do you get all the glory?!
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan