The wooden bridge launched between the two ships was wide enough for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder. On either side of the bridge was a small railing to stop people from being easily pushed over.

Roseus was the first onto one of the bridges, with Petyr beside him.

On the other bridge, Dawn charged with Jackson at her side.

Adriana and Kruger both stood at the start of the bridges with their weapons raised, ready to give their allies backup when necessary.

Silius continued to steer the ship, with both sisters, Lavender and Lyna, keeping watch over the sea in case any other threats appeared.

Whilst this was all going on, Pip and Lucas were performing a separate manoeuvre...

...

Roseus and Petyr came face to face with two men charging from the opposite side of the bridge. Both parties paused as they stepped just out of range.

Captain Roseus eyed the two men down. Both were standard navy sailors, holding standard navy cutlasses. They had thin silver blades with golden handles.

However, when Roseus faced off against them, the urges coming from the Ring Of Unfavourability drew him toward the two figures who waited on their deck, watching the battle take place from behind the safety of their railing.

Lieutenant Bushwight and Executive Officer Aeros.

He wanted them.

Roseus gritted his teeth and lunged forward.

"Out of my way!"

As he roared, he thrust his blade forward with incredible speed, amplified by his father’s cutlass.

The navy sailor, who was already feeling hesitant due to the purple rain splattering against him, couldn’t react to the attack in time.

He attempted to lift his sword to defend, but there was no use. Roseus’s cutlass slid into the man’s chest, gliding perfectly between the gaps in his ribcage and puncturing something important.

The navy sailor’s eyes went wide as he felt his life being torn from him.

His ally to the right tried to avenge him, swinging his sword at Roseus, but Petyr was already there, ready.

The fencer thrust his blade into the sailor’s neck like a needle. Once he pulled it out, blood squirted onto the bridge, mixing with the purple rain.

Using his free hand, Roseus grabbed a tight hold of his opponent’s jacket and lifted him off his feet, just enough to throw him over the railing.

Petyr did the same, and a few moments later, they heard the bodies splash into the water.

[You have defeated, Rookie Human]

[Common Soul Absorbed +1]

[The Ocean Beckons You...]

By the time Roseus looked back up, there was already another navy sailor charging down the bridge with his cutlass raised.

This man seemed more intimidating. The bulges of his muscles could be seen through his sleeves.

Unfortunately for him, before he could arrive, a piercing round flew from Kruger’s gun and took him in the head. Immediately, his body fell limp to the ground.

Roseus took a glance over toward the other bridge. There, Dawn and Jackson were in a standstill against some navy enemies of their own. They didn’t seem to be seeing as much success as the other side.

That didn’t matter. Roseus already planned to circle around and give them aid from behind once he broke through onto the navy deck.

It was clear to them exactly why the pirates had the advantage in this fight. All of the ranged forces of the navy were currently being affected by the purple rain, unable to fire their guns. That left the melee forces without backup. On top of that, the navy forces had to worry about trying to capture the pirates alive, whilst the pirate had no qualms with taking lives.

Roseus found himself grinning as he continued charging up the bridge. There was a free pathway, as no other navy sailors had stepped foot onto it.

He broke through, and his boots landed on the deck. His sword was raised high, ready for combat.

Then... the rain stopped.

The sun shone through a gap in the clouds, which was quickly followed by the clouds dispersing at an unnatural rate.

Immediately, the effects of the purple rain were lifted, and the frightened ranged fighters regained their desire to fight.

"Fuck!" Roseus cursed, looking around.

On the furthest side of the navy ship, he saw the reason for the dispersing clouds.

There, Aeros stood with his arms outstretched as though he was trying to hug the world. His head was lifted toward the heavens, and a faint ray of light shone from his body and stretched into the clouds.

Beside him was Lieutenant Bushwight, nodding proudly.

It’s him... My brother is controlling the weather using a weather sense skill.

It was something Roseus had not considered. He cursed himself for being such a foolish captain.

At this point, numerous ranged weapons were aimed toward him and Petyr as they stood on the deck with no way to defend themselves.

Kruger had his revolver aimed at the ship, but his firepower alone wouldn’t be enough.

Meanwhile, Dawn, Jackson, and Adriana had no way to provide aid, as they were already locked in battles of their own.

Captain Roseus wondered if he should go out in a final stand and attack the two figures his ring urged him to attack.

Then, he was stopped by a voice that spoke.

"Leave the red-hair. I will capture my brother."

---

Meanwhile, on the underdeck of the navy ship...

After using her ability, Ship-to-Ship, which granted her increased leap distance when jumping from one ship to another, Pip had managed to make it onto the navy ship and down below deck.

She had performed the jump with Lucas on her back so that she didn’t have to go alone. However, such a task had led to her injuring her ankle.

Now, Pip had to be carried by Lucas as they travelled through the underdeck, heading toward the boiler room.

The plan they had been given was simple: shovel out as much of the coal as possible in order to prevent the ship from running off steam.

The plan Captain Roseus had given them was never to completely defeat the navy in battle. It was to bring them to a state that would allow the Redflower Pirates to escape.

"We’re almost there... I can smell the burning coal!"

Lucas cheered as they pushed open a door labelled ’COAL ROOM’.

There, they found what they were looking for. Furnaces used to burn coal, which would then be used to bring the water to a boil, transferring the produced steam to power the engines.

However, Lucas’s cheers quickly died down as they found a man sitting by the furnace.

The navy had placed a guard over the important room.