Chapter 8: Chapter-8
Raven walked up to the pirate ship docked at the port and spotted two pirates standing guard on the deck. This would be his chance.
He strided to the pirates and stared at him with looks of disbelief and annoyance.
One with a hook for a hand scoffed, rolling his eyes. "And I'm the King of Pirates. Don't waste our time with your tall tales, boy."
"Silence, Pirates!" Raven retorted, feigning indignation. "I would not lie about my royal status. I am here to offer you, scoundrels, the opportunity to earn billions of berries."
The pirate captain emerged from below deck, taking in the scene with a frown. "Is there a problem here?" He glanced at Raven, unimpressed. "And who might you be, making such outrageous claims?"
He puffed up his chest and declared, "I am Prince Raven of the Goa Kingdom, and you must be the captain I have heard about."
The pirate captain wore a tattered yellow coat and a crooked tricorne hat, like a scruffy, cynical chicken.
Raven froze, looking at his ridiculous appearance, "And... you must be ... Feared Captain Bradley!"
The pirate captain cut him off with a rough laugh. "Let me hear you out, Bring him in."
'Just act like a royal prick. It's almost too easy to be like them. I must have looked like king material right there.'
The pirates glanced at each other, clearly suspicious. But after a few moments, one of them nodded.
***
As he was led through the ship, he noticed how the pirates averted their eyes and whispered to each other, with guns tucked under. Most seemed middling and unremarkable, but he spied a few unusual ones - one with a hook for a hand, another with a patch over one eye, and another with faded tattoos running down his neck.
"Well, shiver me timbers! Looks like I've stumbled upon a pirate's paradise. I hope you guys are ready for some high seas hijinks, 'cause I'm all in!" Raven said, winking at the pirates.
The pirates exchange sceptical glances and mutter amongst themselves. One of them turned, looking crept out.
Finally, he was brought before the captain's chamber, a heavy door with an ornate brass handle. The pirate who guided him knocked and waited for a gruff "Enter!" before pushing the door open.
The chamber was dimly lit by a lantern, cluttered and cobweb-filled. And there, amid the mess, stood the chicken-dressed captain Bradley, regarding Raven with that same cynical sneer.
Raven sat casually on the chair, kicking his legs up. "Here's the deal, Chicken boy!"
The captain held the gun, pointing the gun at him.
"Relax, I don't bite. Unless provoked. Then there might be some nibbling. But you seem like an understanding dude!" Raven said with a cheeky grin, raising his hands in a placating gesture.
"Hah... You are dealing with pirates Boy, Behave or this might be the last time you act all high and mighty." The pirate captain threatened, looking angered.
"Pirates? Now really, you make it sound so dramatic," Raven said dismissively, waving his bound hands.
The pirate captain growled, clearly annoyed by Raven's flippant attitude.
Raven stood up and walked up to him. Bradley observed him warily, hands on his pistol.
Raven drew back swiftly and landed a hard punch on Bradley's face. Bradley collapsed with a grunt, dropping his pistol.
As Bradley slumped on the ground, Raven grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head back. "Not so talkative now, are we?" He said in a cheerful tone.
Bradley gasped, struggling in vain. Raven grabbed his tongue with his thumb and index finger, pulling it out. Bradley's eyes widened in terror and pain.
With a swift jerk, Raven snapped Bradley's tongue in two. Blood spurted out as Bradley let out a choked scream.
Raven flung the mutilated tongue across the room in disgust. Bradley gazed up at him, shock and horror in his eyes, unable to speak.
"Oh no, Captain Bradley, please don't hurt poor me. I am just so scared, Mamamama." Raven screamed, his voice travelling to the deck. 'I sound like big mom.'
"Can you feel the sarcasm oozing from my pores?" He whispered in the captain's ears. "Scream however you like."
Enraged at the audacity of the boy, Bradley lunged at Raven, fist swinging. Raven dodged just in time, and Bradley's fist grazed his cheek.
Raven grabbed Bradley's arm and twisted it behind his back, slamming him against the wall. Bradley cried out in pain as his shoulder dislocated.
Raven headbutted Bradley, dazing him. While Bradley was stunned, Raven delivered a flurry of vicious punches to his torso and face.
Bradley crumpled to the floor, face bloodied and battered. But he was still conscious, whimpering in fright.
Raven kicked him viciously in the stomach, eliciting a pained shriek. "Is that all you've got, you pathetic scum?" He taunted as he rained more kicks and blows. "Come on, I was expecting a bit more from you. You attacked us in our hideout, what did you expect? A warm welcome with tea and cookies?"
Bradley tried to shield himself weakly, but there was no protection from Raven's wrath. His ribs cracked under the assault, one by one.
By the time Raven was done, Bradley was almost unrecognizable. His face was a bloody pulp, ribs broken, limbs bent at unnatural angles. But he was still somehow alive, barely.
Raven spat on Bradley's ruined form in disgust.
"I hear it's lovely this time of year. Don't wait up for me! You can leave the world first." He thrust the dagger into his neck, killing him.
The pirate crew outside ignored the screams. "He is at it again, Though the boy deserved that. Cocky Royal scum."
Unknown to them, who was now a mangled corpse, killed by the very one they thought screamed.
***
Raven emerged from the brig, covered head to toe in Bradley's blood. His clothes were drenched and clung to his body, as he walked with a odd limp.
The pirate crew stared at him in stunned silence. At first, they felt pity for him, "He must have been beaten within an inch of his life.
'It's almost too easy to watch them wronged and pity when their predictions turn out to be dead wrong.'
Raven looked at them with a grim smile, eyes glowing. "You know what? Fuck all of you. I should have known better than to make a deal with a bunch of backstabbing, thieving pirates."
"Hahaha... Whiny little loser!" Pirates laughed.
'Ha! I bet those losers never saw me coming. They thought they could take on the kid with a Mouth and live to tell the tale? They must be dumber than they look. Almost makes me feel bad for them...nah, not really. Let's go cause some more chaos!'
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone