(Harper's pov)

"Is it wise doing this? Burying up our money? This plan of yours is going to work Harper, and yet... your acting as if we've already lost."

Wiping the sweat off my brow, I turn to Madison and reply back to her words. "Lets just say I'm taking... precautions." I was in the middle of burying the treasure in our possession, which would also serve as our treasury for this pirate and African maroon enterprise. Tulio, Miguel and Chel were present as well as they watched me bury the treasure in the ground, the ebony haired con turned to Madison and nodded at her. "Harper's right. If all else fails? Then the British seize this fortune and we'd have no means to purchase what we need to survive, thats if our enemy doesn't kill us all first."

"Thats not going to happen!" I said firmly at Tulio, I then gestured to the chests filled to the brim with gold and continued. "This is just a precaution, nothing more." I then proceeded to shovel up piles of dirt to cover up our wealth, while looking up at Tulio, who had a worried look on his face. "If we live by days end? We'll dig it back up Tulio, you needn't worry."

"Easy for you to say kid, you're burying my share of that gold in the ground, and I don't even know if I'll live long enough to ensure I can spend any of it." Tulio said with a childish pout, causing Madison, Miguel and Chel to roll their eyes and murmur under their breaths, about how the ebony haired con was acting like a child. Once I had finished burying or shared treasury, I wiped the sweat off my brow and exhaled while looking up into the evening sky, stars glistening in the darkness and the full moon shone its elegant rays down upon us, bathing us in its silver gleam.

Turning back to Madison and the three captains of the El Dorado, I nod at them and spoke firmly. "Our scouts informed us that the British forces will be arriving by dawn, they'll deploy their troops on the sand only to find us slowing them down with the defenses we've set up on the beach. We won't waste our time fighting them directly, when one line of the defense has fallen? We lead them to the next one and the next one until their numbers are all but depleted. Meanwhile, I've received word from Nu via carrier owl that her ship as well as Darius's fleet should arrive just in time to surprise our enemies from the rear."

"What of Sinbad and Marina? Do you believe they'll arrive on time to aid us?" Madison asked, turning to my woman, I smile lightly at her and nod. "The Chimera is a fast ship, I'm sure he and Marina will arrive with Captain Shih and her Red Sail Fleet." Madison approached me and grasped my hands, causing me to interlace her fingers through mine and we looked into each others eyes. "I want you and your crew to be the last line of defense for the maroon city." Madison frowned at my words and shook her head. "No. I will stand by your side and see this fight finished."

"I only request this because I wish to see you out of harms way--"

"Your concern is duly noted and appreciated my love, but I will not permit this."

I caressed Madison's cheek lovingly, causing her to lean into my touch and kiss my hand. "I suppose there's nothing I can do to change your mind is there?" I asked teasingly, Madison merely smirked and pecked my lips. "No, I'm afraid not." She replied, nodding, I turn to the El Dorado captains and dismiss them, they nod and took their leave.

"Come, let us go to bed." Madison purred. "The sun will be up in a few hours, and its going to be a very trying and bloody day." She added, causing me to nod in agreement, she then led me back towards where we were staying in the maroon city. During the walk back to our hut, I couldn't help but think about my parents, who were murdered in cold blood by my own countrymen.

Tomorrow would be the day where I would fight tooth and nail to avenge their deaths, tomorrow would be the day where I would unleash great violence upon King George's men and tomorrow would be the day where every pirate and former African slave would cripple an empire who threatened our freedom, liberty and well being.

(Vaughn's pov)

"Sir! I think you should see this!!"

I approached the railing of my ship and laid eyes on a sloop drifting, looking down to my gun crews, I gave them orders. "Open the gun ports, load the cannons and prepare to fire. This may be a trap." The gun crews got into position and aimed the cannons down at the drifting sloop. That's when I noticed something nailed to the mast of the sloop, taking out my telescope, I gazed at the sight of Johann's head nailed to the mast and large parchment nailed beneath his head.

"Such is the fate to all traitors."

I merely smirked as I lowered my telescope and nodded. "Haddock." Chuckling to myself, I then order the wheelman of my ship to continue on our course to Sharks-lane. Pulling out my locket that held portraits of my family, I smiled at the portraits and kissed them. "Its almost time. The pirates will soon be eradicated and I would've avenged your deaths." Looking out towards the horizon, I nodded firmly and murmured to myself.

"Its almost time."

(Normal pov-- Sharks-lane Isle, the following morning)

Harper and about one thousand pirates stood on the sand and laid eyes on the hundreds of British navy and hunter ships anchored and longboats filled to the brim with British soldiers were coming directly their way. The pirates however were being bombarded by cannon fire from the British ships, they had built cover with bags filled to the brim with sand and limestone to reinforce it, but the cannon fire ripped their cover apart and killed any man unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire.

An explosion sent sand, debris, blood and gore flying everywhere, causing Harper to shield his eyes and pant heavily. Looking towards the water, the young pirate captain could see the British longboats making their landing on the beach, the soldiers on board exited their launches and raced up to the sand and got into their company positions.

"Company! Make ready!!"

One line of British soldiers took a knee, while another line stood and aimed their muskets where Harper and the pirates were. The British company leaders then gave the order for their respective companies to open fire, causing gunshots to boom in the air and hit the makeshift cover the pirates built. While the British companies were reloading their muskets, Harper and the pirates launched a counterattack and revealed they had cannons set up, the young pirate captain turned to his brethren and roared out.

"FIRE!!!"

The pirates cannon fire obliterated the British lines and caused the rest of the British forces that were now making their beach landing to stand by and wait for the pirates cannon fire to cease. Quickly beginning the process of reloading their cannons, the pirates took up muskets and continued bombarding the incoming British forces with gunfire, Harper laid eyes on British soldiers carrying mortars. "Not good." Harper murmured to himself, he then barked out to the pirates. "Mortars!! Concentrate fire on the mortars!!" Redirecting their fire towards the soldiers carrying the mortars, slowing them down for the time being.

"RELOAD!!!"

Moving as quickly as they could to reload their muskets, that gave the British more than enough time to load their mortars and fire. Series of explosions sent the pirates flying back, bloodied or dismembered, Harper could see more British soldiers arriving and he cursed under his breath. Turning to his pirate brethren, Harper barked out orders to fire cannons, quickly racing to the cannons, they killed great many scores of British soldiers with their cannons, but no matter how many they killed? More would come and their numbers were overwhelming the pirates.

A pirate raced to Harper and barked out. "Captain Haddock! The beach is getting overrun, we have to retreat!!" Shaking his head, Harper barked back. "Not yet!!" As British soldiers advanced on the pirates, Harper turned to a handful of men who held onto rope. "NOW!!" Harper roared out, the pirates tugged the rope, resulting for built in latches to be yanked free and caused dozens of British companies to fall into holes that held sharp wooden pikes that impaled them.

This resulted leaving a sizable gap between the pirates and British, Harper then ordered the pirates to throw smoke bombs, once the smoke was deployed? It created a screen large enough for the pirates to fall back to the next line of defense and drag their wounded to safety. As Harper sprinted into the woods, he wondered why the British simply didn't deploy their entire forces and overwhelm entirely, there were clearly dozens of ships that bore His Majesty's Navy colors on the water.

"Perhaps Vaughn is aware that reinforcements are coming to aid us." Harper murmured to himself, he prayed that the British's attention would be focussed entirely on them and not whats coming, he had faith in his allies abilities, but right now he had to focus for the next battle to come.

As Harper and the pirates made it deeper into the woods, the auburn haired man laid eyes on Camicazi and her crew of hardened women. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." Harper said in a teasing tone, causing Cami to roll her eyes, yet smile at her friend. "We're ready. The forest holds plenty of traps to thin the British forces numbers and since we know the land? It'll be guerrilla warfare foe us." Cami stated, causing Harper to hum in agreement. "Well then, lets prepare for our enemies to arrive." Cami nodded and gestured for her crew to take their positions, the men and women who were Harper on the beach too got into positions and prepared for the incoming British forces that would be arriving soon enough. Taking cover behind a bush, Harper and Cami ensured their flintlocks were loaded and ready and simply waited.

"So, hows Madison?"

Turning to Cami, Harper cocked his head in question. "Beg your pardon?" He asked, Cami snickered lightly and repeated. "How's Madison? How do you find her?" Harper raised his eyebrows at his friend and playfully scolded her. "Are we really having this conversation right now?" Cami shrugged and smirked. "Just trying to strike up some friendly conversation." Nodding, Harper licked her lips and answered her earlier question. "She's... everything I could ever want from a woman-- beautiful, caring, loving, strong and fierce." Harper said in a contented tone while smiling. "When Astrid and I split apart? You remembered how I succumbed to alcoholism." Cami nodded in acknowledgment, remembering she had to Harper stop drinking and be more active.

"Getting my head back in the game, earning my crew significant and valuable prizes and building fearsome reputation throughout the known world helped me. But... what I desired more was a partner. And then Madison came into my life that day at Dragon's Edge." Harper recalled with a warm smile. "She's without a doubt the greatest thing to happen to me." He confessed, causing Cami to smile warmly. "Good. You deserve to be happy Harper." She said, the two friends shared a quick side hug and smiled warmly at each other.

Harper then pulled out a ring and showed it to Cami. "What is that?" She asked curiously, Harper smiled and answered. "This is Madison's engagement ring. I've been working on it at the forges here and I plan to ask for Madison's hand in marriage." Cami's eyes widened in surprise and happiness. "She's definitely going to say yes." Cocking his head slightly, Harper then asked. "How can you know for sure?" Cami merely shrugged and answered. "Because despite your devilish charms, your strength in a fight and ability to lead men? You're one of the most compassionate, selfless and kindhearted men I've ever met."

"Thank you Cami." Harper said, causing the busty blond pirate to smile and nod. "You're very welcome, my friend." The two then returned their attention back to the forest as they heard the barking of orders. Soon enough, British soldiers came into view and they all were looking around the vast forest for any sight of the pirates who ran into it not long ago. Harper and Cami shared a firm nod and then the auburn haired pirate placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly, signaling to begin the attack.

Poisoned darts came flying out of nowhere and struck the British soldiers in their necks, causing them to scramble for cover or to shoot blindly into the forest, hoping they would hit something. Then volley after volley of arrow fire descended down on the British soldiers, causing the sharpened steel to pierce muscle, flesh and bone and to kill the Englishmen where they stood. For the British soldiers who were fleeing, they were stopped by the African warriors of the maroon city, showing no mercy to those who've enslaved and killed thousands of their kind, the maroon warriors hacked them down and let out animalistic roars as they brandished the British soldiers heads to the next company of soldiers inbound.

The sight of such barbarity caused the incoming British soldiers to run away in terror, but they weren't permitted to flee, because they were all gunned down by the pirates who were hidden in the brushes. Removing himself from cover, Harper let out a sigh and approached one of the African warriors, and informed them. "More will be coming soon. I have the bulk of my pirate brethren defending your home, meanwhile its up to us to slow our enemy down as much as we can." The African warrior nodded in understanding. "Will your pirate allies join us in our fight?" They asked in a thick accent, Harper shrugged and replied with a smile.

"All we can do is pray they'll arrive here on time."

(Vaughn's pov)

Exiting the longboat that rowed me and about a dozen of my strongest hunters to the sands of Sharks-lane Isle, I made my way towards Preston Black who was speaking with his lieutenant. "Do what you must to flush that filth out of the forest, burn it down if you must." The lieutenant nodded and began relaying Black's orders to the men, Preston turned to me and snorted lightly. "Mr. Grimborn. I trust you can come up with a plan to flush the pirates out of the forest?" Looking into the forest, I narrow my eyes upon it and grunted before responding to Black.

"That forest is vast and we're at a disadvantage, not knowing the land. That and its likely that forest has traps that'll only thin our numbers." I can see thousands of British soldiers standing at the ready and then gesture towards them. "Are these all the soldiers from London?" Preston nodded in confirmation, I too nodded and then gave him orders. "Burn that forest to the ground, we won't waste time by sending full companies of our own men into that forest, only to have them march to their deaths. With luck? The fires we start should clear us a path and perhaps even lead us towards the maroon settlement."

"I fear we haven't the manpower to take that settlement Grimborn. The inhabitants of this island know it far better than we do, they'll use our numbers against us by picking off company after company of my men until none are left standing and we're humiliated by... filthy slaves." Preston spat out, looking into my eyes, he raised his eyebrows before adding. "Not only that, but we have to consider the possibility that pirate reinforcements are en route to this place as we speak, our British brethren from the colonies may have provided us with additional support, but it may not be enough to repel whatever is coming."

Sighing heavily and pinching the bridge of my nose, I then look back into the forest and snorted out. "I will not allow us to be defeated by these band of rabble and filth! If we are to achieve victory here? We shouldn't waste our time attempting to fight the body of this force. The only way to defeat our enemy, is to cut off its head-- Haddock." Preston approached me and crossed his arms behind his back and rose his eyebrows. "That man will be accompanied by Harden pirates and African maroons. Do you have a plan to lure him away from his friends and allies?"

Looking into the commodores eyes, I give him a sinister smile and nod. "Leave that to me." I then turn to the dozen of my best hunters and address them. "Come. We're going hunting." They nod at me, drawing out their swords and flintlocks while following me into the forest.

"You're going in that deathtrap of a forest while we're burning it?!"

Turning back around to Preston, he gives me a look as though I'm mad, I however smile at him and nod at him. "You have your orders Commodore Black. High seas piracy ends today." That being said, my men and I enter the forest and are determined to destroy this enemy and ensure that it will never rise again.

(Sinbad's pov)

Captain Shih and her vanguard were accompanying us on board the Chimera, while her flagship was captain by her quarter master and the rest of the Red Sail Fleet was right behind us, the winds were definitely in our favor and we were able to return to the West Indies in just three days, rather than weeks. As I was steering my ship, Shih approached me and asked. "What is he to you?" Turning to the infamous pirate, I cocked my head in question. "Beg your pardon?" She then clarified. "What is he to you? Haddock." Nodding in understanding, I lay eyes on Marina and Kale helping handfuls of my men to man the Chimera in the intense winds that were aiding us to reach Harper faster.

"Harper is the son Marina and I never had." Was my answer to Shih, she rose an eyebrow and looked down at my woman with curiosity. "She's had miscarriages?" She asked, I snorted lightly and nodded in confirmation. "I don't know why she hasn't been able to give birth without losing the child, perhaps its fate informing me that we already have a son that we've happily adopted. Harper Haddock III." Turning to the Chinese warlord, I smile lightly at her and shrug. "Who knows, maybe after this war is over, then perhaps fate will bless Marina and I with a child."

Shih looked out towards the horizon and smiled lightly. "I've fought so many nations who were stupid enough to cross me and my fleet-- Spanish, Portuguese and now the British. I've heard of Harper Haddock's growing reputation and infamy in the West Indies, and right now? The British fear him and want him dead, as well as any man or woman who sails beneath the black." Shih looked into my eyes and smirked. "I only pray the British give us a challenge, if they wish to see us dead."

I chuckled lightly and nod. "I have no doubt the British will give us a challenge. But if we manage to regroup with Bludvist and his own pirate fleet? Our numbers will eclipse that of our enemies and they'll be nothing more than sheep in the pen, awaiting slaughter." Shih hummed in agreement, before she could respond, one of my men roared out.

"SAILS!! Straight ahead!"

Shih and I shared a look, she then pulled out her telescope and laid eyes on the sails ahead of us, turning to the Chinese warlord, I ask. "What colors are they flying?" Lowering her telescope, Shih turns to me and answered. "They're flying Bludvist's colors." I then have one of my men take the wheel while I pull out my own telescope and look out towards the horizon. As Shih said, thousands of ships bearing Bludvist's banner flapped in the winds, as I lowered my telescope, I barked out to my crew. "Its Darius's Bludvist's fleet lads!! We're an army that rivals that of our enemies!!" My crew cheered and got back to their stations with renewed vigor, Marina made her way up the stairs that led to where Shih and I were and joined us.

"No doubt Bludvist is aware we're behind him. Do you think he'll send someone to catch up with us so we can discuss what to do once we arrive at Sharks-lane?" Turning to Marina, I shrugged. "Perhaps. But all that matters is that Harper was able to send word to us via carrier owl of where this battle is taking place, and that Bludvist is joining this fight as well. Two of the largest pirate fleets in the world combining together, along with the rest of the crews from the Edge as well as the maroons of Sharks-lane will be the end of the British forces sent to kill us." I then turn to my wheelman and nod at him. "Lets not delay, lets keep a respectable distance from Bludvist's ships and follow Harper's directions to Sharks-lane to the letter."

"Aye, captain."

(Harper's pov)

We had to retreat deeper into the forest because the British we're burning it to the ground and attempting to flush us out, but there was no way I was going to die like this, not when I have a reason to live. The fire however was spreading rapidly and had consumed thousands of acres, causing smoke to fill our lungs and causing us all to cough violently, not only that but the fire was splitting the massive trees and causing them to collapse down on us, forcing us to evade them or risk being crushed to death.

The fire roared and sent embers flying everywhere, some of the pirates who fought by my side on the beach collapsed because the smoke filled their lungs, preventing them from breathing. We didn't have the time or energy to drag our unconscious brothers to safety and it made my heart ache as I watched those I called friends and brothers being consumed by the fire. My vision was getting foggy and I was wheezing heavily as smoke continued to filled my lungs, I then fell to my knees and began coughing violently, I then felt someone lift me up. I turned to my right to see Cami as my savior and she helped me run through the burning forest.

"Don't you dare die on us now Haddock!" Cami barked out over the roaring fires and collapsing trees, she then looked into my eyes and nodded. "You not only have the responsibility of leading us to victory here, but also to proposing to Madison when all is said and done." All I could do was nod while still coughing violently, as Cami quite literally dragged me out of harms way, I noticed a massive tree breaking apart and about to come down on us, Cami noticed it too and cursed out loud. She then looked back to me and gazed right into my eyes. "Don't die. And stay alive!" Before I could speak, she pushed me away and all I could was scream in horror as I watched one of my closets friends being crushed to death by a burning tree.

There was no time to mourn, I kept moving until I spotted the handfuls of pirates and maroon warriors jumping off a ledge, running as fast as my legs could carry me, I too made it to the ledge and saw water below, I inhaled sharply and jumped. As soon as I entered the water? I let out a sorrowful and enraged scream, which was muffled. Rising back up to the waterline, I cough violently and look up to see burning embers slowly descending down to the water and the smoke reaching to the heavens.

Tears slide down my cheeks and I curse out loud while striking the water, I then see my allies swim for the shore, following their example, I too swim towards the shore and pull myself up out of the water and look back towards the ledge which I jumped off of. "I'll avenge you Cami, I promise." I murmured to myself as I join my allies and make our way towards the next major line of defense on the island.

When I first arrived at Dragon's Edge as a child? Camicazi and met when I was fishing a week after my parents were murdered by King George's thugs. She became the sister I never had and I became the brother she never had, our bond was strong, unbreakable and familial. As we grew up? We sailed together amongst Sinbad's crew and learned the prosperous trade of high seas piracy, day by day, month by month and year by year. And when we became eighteen years old? We formed our own crews and I became one of the most legendary pirates in the West Indies.

And now I've lost my oldest and closest friend in the world.

Our enemy's will pay in blood.

"Harper!!"

Looking up, I saw Madison, Astrid, Heather and handfuls of hardened pirate women, as Madison was arms length of me, she could immediately sense my foul demeanor. "Harper? What is it?" She asked, I looked up into her eyes and felt more tears slide down my cheeks. "Ca-Cami's dead." I sobbed out, Madison frowned at this news and embraced me, causing me to immediately return her embrace. Astrid and Heather too shared a frown and approached me. "Oh, Harper. I'm so sorry." Astrid said with genuine condolences, I looked into her ocean blue eyes and nod at her in thanks, Heather placed a hand on my shoulder gave me an affectionate kiss on the cheek. "I'm sorry Harper." Pulling out of Madison's grasp, I quickly wipe away my tears and nod furiously. "All that matters is that we secure victory today and ensure her death wasn't in vain." I said sternly as I walked past the three women.

Madison quickly caught up to me and grasped my wrist. "Don't cast us aside Harper. Don't cast me aside." I turn to my woman and I could see her face was twisted with worry for my state of being. "I know how much Cami meant to you, she was your sister, though not by blood but through the friendship you two have built since you were children." She gently cupped my chin and spoke in loving, yet firm tone. "There will be time to pay her proper tribute, but right now? We need to prepare for our enemy's next move." I nod at her in agreement and shrug. "Do you have a plan?" She gave a warm smile and nodded.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

(Vaughn's pov)

About three hours had past once the fire died down and the smoke cleared, though the scent of burnt earth as well as flesh was heavy in the air. Me and my hunters proceeded into the now leveled forest while searching the corpses of charred pirates for anything that might help us bypass the traps the slaves laid out deeper in the forest and to if perhaps one of these deceased pirates were stupid enough to carry a map of the maroon settlements location.

"Sir!!"

Turning towards one of my men, I raced towards them and joined them on a ledge, looking down there was a pool beneath us. But then I laid eyes on an African maroon who was completely covered in crimson war paint and had in hand a spear and shield, that maroon quickly raced deeper into the forest, one of my men aimed their flintlock to shoot them down, but I stopped them. "No." I said firmly, turning behind me, I turned to two of my men and give them orders. "Send word for Commodore Black and his troops. We're going to press into that forest." The two hunters nodded at me and raced back towards the beach where the rest of our English brothers were located.

"Why not just burn the forest down again?"

One of my men asked, I turn to them and shake my head. "It'd take too long and force our enemy to fall back towards the maroon settlement, who knows what fortifications are there." I sigh heavily and growl out. "It would appear we have no choice but to march into a trap laden forest and defeat our enemy the hard way." I then turn to another two of my men and give them orders. "Return to the Reaper, signal our fleet that we're going to need more men." Those two men nodded and they too raced back towards the beach. Nodding to myself, I turn back towards the forest and shake my head.

"Run all you want Harper, but you and the rest of the filth on this island will all be put to the sword. I will see to it personally."

(Normal pov-- Sharks-lane Isle, on the water)

As the British fleet from the American colonies were anchored several yards away from Sharks-lane itself, they were given orders to watch the horizon for any signs of pirate reinforcements. One of the British commanders, a man named Milton Ferguson, whose ship was called the Buck, was in his mid seventies and was commander of British forces from the Massachusetts colony and when he was offered to rid the New World of high seas piracy? He gladly accepted the offer. So, Commander Ferguson stood on the deck of his ship along with his men and they all watched from afar as black smoke rose to the heavens and saw as the forests were consumed by the vast fire.

That was until bells were rung from the other British ships from Massachusetts; alerting Commander Ferguson that trouble was incoming.

Quickly turning around, the old Englishman pulled out a telescope and nearly soiled himself at the sight of of thousands of pirate warships, galleons and sloops fast approaching. Lowering his telescope, Milton cursed under his breath and then screamed out orders. "Man your stations!! Ready the guns!!" The British crew wasted no time and quickly manned their stations as the pirate vessels were now nearly in firing range. As the pirate fleet came into position? Commander Ferguson roared out.

"FIRE!!!"

As the Buck opened fired on the incoming pirate fleet, Milton was dumbstruck as he watched as his ships gunfire didn't even pierce the pirate vessels, the shots simply... bounced off and sunk into the water. Cursing under his breath, Milton became rambling to himself before turning to his men and nodding furiously at them. "Prepare to be boarded!!" The British soldiers on board the Buck armed themselves and prepared themselves to fight the incoming pirates.

A massive pirate vessel smashed into the Buck, causing the ship to groan and shake violently, causing the British men on deck to lose their footing. Soon enough, handfuls of bombs landed on the Buck's deck, with their fuses lit and the British men couldn't take cover in time as the bombs exploded; sending debris, blood and gore flying everywhere.

Milton then watched in horror as handfuls of hardened pirates leaped off the railing of their massive warship and landed on the Buck's rails and began engaging his men. Pulling out a flintlock, Milton fired at a charging pirate armed with a tribal war mace, causing that pirate to drop dead. Commander Ferguson then laid eyes on a hulking pirate with long ebony hair which were done in dreadlocks, he was without a left arm and he was accompanied by a handful of equally hulking men all armed with blunderbusses and had battle axes strapped to their backs.

"B-Bludvist."

Ferguson stuttered to himself, this was a pirate whose reputation and infamy eclipsed that of the legendary Blackbeard, this was a man who has reeked untold violence throughout Spain and British controlled colonies. Steeling his nerve, Milton pulled out a secondary flintlock and aimed it at Bludvist, however before he could take the shot? His hand was severed off his arm, causing the old man to scream in agony and clutch his now heavily bleeding stump.

Looking up, Milton laid eyes on a sword stained with blood and mere inches from his face, a woman with braided ebony hair gave the British commander a murderous gaze and then stepped aside as Bludvist approached, causing Milton to whimper in fear. Towering over the old British commander, Bludvist cocked his head slightly and drew out his cleaver like sword and pointed it directly at Milton's face, causing the old man to whimper in terror.

"Where is Grimborn?"

Bludvist snarled out, Milton let out a shuddering breath and pointed towards Sharks-lane. "H-He and Commodore Preston Black are engaging Harper Haddock and his allies now." Bludvist nodded in acknowledgment and then proceeded to plunge his sword straight through Milton's throat, killing the poor old man within seconds; causing blood to spray out of his neck and soak the Buck's floor.

Looking out towards the horizon, Bludvist could see his fleet bombarding the reserved British ships with cannon fire; raking them down from deck to stern and eliminating Vaughn Grimborn's reinforcements. However, there was still a sizable British hunter fleet as well as Royal Navy ships anchored to deploy hunters and soldiers on the sands. Once dealing with every British soul on board the Buck, Darius ordered his men to return to the Conquerer and to charge the remaining British ships.

While Bludvist and his fleet pressed the British ships, Sinbad sailed the Chimera through the mayhem surrounding him, as his ship neared Sharks-lanes sand, he ordered Kale and his crew to open the gun ports, ready the guns and aim them at the thousands of British soldiers on the beach.

"FIRE!!!"

Sinbad roared out, the Chimera's crew lit the cannon fuses and the beach got bombarded with heavy cannon fire; sending waves of sand and dismembered English soldiers flying everywhere. Marina readied the Chimera's vanguard and readied a longboat, Captain Shih signaled her flagship to do the same. Sinbad gave his man Rat, command of the Chimera while Sinbad himself would his vanguard to shore.

"Alright people lets move!!"

Sinbad barked out, as he, Marina, Shih and his vanguard entered the longboat and were lowered down on the water. As the vanguard rowed, they made sure to keep their heads down as British soldiers still littered the beach and were returning fire. Shih laid eyes on another longboat that consisted of her men, as well as hundreds of others right behind her vanguards longboat. As Sinbad's longboat touches down on the beach, the pirates quickly exited their longboat, drew their weapons and pulled out guns to return the British soldiers fire.

Shih drew out three throwing knives and hurled them with deadly accuracy, successfully killing three British soldiers. One of the soldiers charged Mistress Ching with sword in hand, quickly drawing out a katana, Shih ducked as the soldier swung at her head and quickly swatted away a series of attacks the soldier threw her way and then proceeded to run her sword straight through the soldiers throat, causing blood to spray out of the soldiers throat. Drawing out a flintlock strapped to her thigh, Shih fired her pistol at a charging soldier, right in the face, immediately killing them. Turning towards her fellow Chinese pirates, Shih boomed out to them in their tongue.

"Wǒ de xiōngdì jiěmèi, wèi nín de zìyóu ér zhàn! Zhēngqǔ bàochóu luò zài lúndūn de dìxiōngmen! Wéi shènglì ér zhàn!"

Those pirates let out battle cries and began slaughtering the remaining British soldiers on the beach without compassion or mercy. With the increasing pirate numbers swarming they beach, the British forces were being overwhelmed and retreated into the burned down forest to rally behind Vaughn Grimborn.

Looking towards the water, both Blusvist and Shih's combined fleets completely annihilated the British ships and sank them to the depths of the sea, as well as picked off surviving soldiers and hunters surfacing the water.

A longboat that carried Darius, Krogan and the Conquerer's vanguard landed on the sand and the pirates on board exited their transport and approached Sinbad, Marina and Shih. The three pirates approached Bludvist and nodded at him in greeting. "Nice of you to join us Bludvist." Sinbad said with a smirk, Darius eyed the Chimera's captain from head to toe and then grunted. "Yes, well I've appeared to have deprived my men from a fight long enough, and if I deprived of one for any longer? I fear I wouldn't be captain over the men who've thrown their lot with me."

"Well, better late than never." Marina states with a smile, Darius simply smirked and nodded in agreement before looking into the burned forest. "I believe that is where we will find Haddock." Sinbad hummed in agreement. "Quite right big man, lets not waste anymore time and finish this fight." The large group of pirates proceeded to charge into the forest and hellbent on defeating their enemy.

(Harper's pov)

We were engaged in a heated battle with British forces that managed to catch up with us, soldiers and hunters. Madison led a large group of hardened pirate women, alongside Astrid and Heather, the sight of women inflicting such violence and death on their brothers caused the British moral to drop, a fatal opening we would exploit and then deliver the killing blow.

Many of Sharks-lanes inhabitants who were warriors, all of which were covered in crimson war paint used the knowledge of their land to further thin the enemy's numbers. Red Death led a large number of her people to completely overwhelm the British commodore leading his men, a man named Preston Black. That man met a most gruesome end by being ripped to pieces by Red Death's two pet gorillas, without their commodore? The remaining soldiers fled, either they'll be hunted down by the maroons or will get killed by the trap ladened forest.

"COWARDS!!! YOU HAVE A DUTY AND YOU FLEA FROM PIRATES AND SLAVES?!!!!"

Grimborn.

I laid eyes on the man and saw him covered in blood, grime and filth. His skin was sleeked with sweat, his hair was a mess and his eyes were twitching, neck bulging and cheeks flushed with rage towards the cowardly British soldiers.

Thats when he turned towards me, he bore his teeth and snarled; like a predator who's been cornered. And thats precisely what Vaughn's predicament was, he was alone and surrounded by both pirates and African maroons who wanted to tear him to pieces.

"I will not surrender to the likes of you!!" Vaughn spat out with hatred, looking right into my eyes, he lifted up his blood soaked sword and barked out. "I challenge you to single combat Haddock!!"

Scoffing at Vaughn, I smirk at him and then gesture to myself as well as the thousands of pirates and maroon warriors. "You're in no position to do so. You're heavily outnumbered and do not deserve such a mercy of single combat." Vaughn's face twisted with an almost... unnatural look of anger, but then a sinister smile spread across his face. "Oh, I forgot to mention this during our last time seeing each other in Haiti, I was one of the men who killed your father and one who raped your mother to within an inch of her life."

My smirk is long removed from my face and I'm hit with shock, disbelief and anger. Vaughn however continues to speak in vivid detail of how he raped my mother.

"She moaned like a whore, beginning me to fill her with my cock..."

The way he spoke... he was taunting me. Taunting my family name and further disrespecting my long dead mother.

"A pity to lose such a beautiful woman, I certainly miss her on occasion..." Vaughn licked his lips and smirked wickedly. "...I especially missed her warm and soft lips around my cock."

That pushed me over the edge.

Vaughn couldn't react in time as I grabbed a loaded blunderbuss off the ground and fired right at his face, well... half of his face anyway. That shot ripped off the flesh and hair off the left side of his face and it was most successful in wiping that sadistic smirk off his face. Letting out animalistic like roars of agony while clutching his heavily bleeding face, I then advanced on Grimborn and bashed the butt of the blunderbuss right where my shot hit him, causing my mothers rapist to continue wailing in agony.

"You call yourself a man?! DO YOU?!"

I roared out in his face, when Grimborn's response was an agonized whimper, I gave him a sadistic smile of my own and spoke in a cool tone. "Since you're so determined on making me and those who sail beneath the black monsters? I will be your monster." I then drew out a dagger and tomahawk, held both weapons in hand and spoke. "My ancestors were Vikings from Scandinavia, and one of their most perfected methods of killing someone from royal blood or that of high standing was drawing Blood Eagle." That caused Vaughn's already pale skin to grow paler and I could see that he was terrified.

Good.

"Let it be done."

That being said, two hulking pirates seized Vaughn and prepared him for his gruesome demise. I noticed a club with two nails on the ground and a war hammer resting besides the two nails, so sheathing my dagger and tucking in my tomahawk, I grab the nails and war hammer.

I then approached behind my soon to be dead mothers rapist, the two hulking pirates unclenched Vaughn's hands while I placed the first nail on the top of his hand, he then began to hammer the nail into Grimborn's hand.

The man screamed in agony, trying to break free, but my men kneed Vaughn's stomach; knocking out the air and fight out of him.

I moved on to the next hand and hammered the nail into his hand, Vaughn gritted his teeth and squealed in pain, I turned around to see Madison, Astrid, Heather, my pirate brethren and African allies watching with satisfaction, pride and approval. I turned to my vanguard: Tau, Flint, Rachel, Timothy, Sean and Eli, they all nodded at me in approval.

I nodded back at them, I then drew out Inferno and pierced Vaughn's back, I cut parallel to the spine, from the uppermost rib to the lowest, Vaughn made no sound, apart from the occasional sharp intake in breath. I made two more cuts, one each along the highest and lowest rib. Then, as though skinning a rabbit, I peeled the flesh from my mothers rapist back. I could hear Vaughn gritting his teeth, trying to hold back a scream. But he failed and screamed as Inferno burned at nerves, muscle and bone.

I savored Grimborn's screams, I wanted this man to suffer for what he did to my mother. Taking pride in raping a woman? It makes me sick and I'm doing the world a favor by ridding it of true monsters, like Vaughn Grimborn.

I then handed Inferno to Madison, who immediately replaced it with a bone saw, curtesy of the African maroons. I took the instrument, usually only used in dire circumstances where the loss of a limb would allow the owner to survive, to one of Vaughn's ribs. As I cut the bone, Vaughn screamed. The painful vibration as the saw moved back and forth, biting bone and flesh, became too much.

I was surprised Grimborn hadn't passed out yet looking at my blood covered hands and my shaking enemy. He should be on his way to hell soon enough.

I had cut through the first rib, now came the worst part. With one hand steadying the spine, I gripped the severed rib.

And pulled.

One moment the bone was where it should be. The next it was pointing skyward. And Vaughn was screaming with all his might. It was a loud, wordless scream, telling of pain so awful that agony was too mild a description. I forced myself to listen to the scream. I wanted this animal who dares to call himself a man to feel every ounce of pain and I want him to feel absolute defeat.

Only when the scream subsided did I once again take the saw to bone. Tears leaked from Vaughn's eyes as the second rib was cut. Though I gritted my teeth, I once again closed my eyes and pulled on the bone and another primal scream escaped Vaughn. And I then moved to the third rib.

Again I cut through the bone. Again I closed my eyes. Again I pulled on the rib, pointing it at the sky. Again Vaughn screamed. I grasped a fourth rib and, without sawing through the bone, broke it, aligning it with the others.

Vaughn wailed.

I started on Vaughn's other side, grabbing hold of the rib opposite the first to be broken. With a snap it joined the others.

"N-No... N-No... mo-more...!"

"Words my mother wailed too." I snarled into Vaughn's ear. I broke a sixth rib. "Did you spare my mother? No. So expect no quarter from me."

"No..." Vaughn sobbed, he wanted to prove to his country, his men and king that he would end high seas piracy. But he failed. Miserably. It was obvious that all the strength Vaughn had, surprising as it was... gone. He didn't even scream as the seventh rib was pulled from his back. He couldn't.

I gripped another bone. It was nearly over; this would be the last break. I looked down at the bloody mess that had been Vaughn Grimborn. Still alive, still breathing; barely. Still conscious, still suffering.

I shook himself. It was time to end it. I broke the eighth rib as he had done for the others. Grimborn barely reacted this time. Perhaps he was finally losing his grip on life.

The four ribs jutting out from either side of Vaughn's back, which looked like bloody wings. The Blood Eagle. But there was one more thing to do.

I put my already blood covered hands into the holes I had made Grimborn. I pulled at two lumps of meat. The lungs. For a moment Vaughn panicked, not being able to breath. Then he relaxed and finally, death took him.

Breathing heavily at the gruesome sight, I could hear approaching footsteps, turning around, I laid eyes on Sinbad, Marina, Darius Bludvist, Krogan and a Chinese woman I assumed was Ching Shih. My adoptive parent approached me and embraced me, causing me to surrender to their embrace hold on to them. Madison too joined the embrace and held me like I would slip from reality itself.

"Its done Harper." Madison cooed in my ear, I nodded slowly and murmured. "Yeah, I guess it is." Once my loved ones broke off, I laid eyes on Bludvist and extended a hand out, he took it with his right hand and shook firmly. "And here I was thinking you're all talk." He said, but then smirked. "Glad to see I was wrong." I returned Darius's smirk and nodded. Ching Shih approaches me and bows her head in both greetings and respect. "Harper Haddock, a pleasure to finally meet you." I returned Shih's now and replied back. "Likewise, Mistress Ching. Glad you can join us."

"Indeed. But I believe I speak for everyone when I say what our next move is."

Everyone turned to me and awaited my answer, I felt Madison interlace her fingers with mine and she gave me a warm smile. "Whatever you decide my dear, I stand with you." I returned Madison's warm smile, raised our interlaced hands, kissed her knuckles and answered Shih's question.

"Now? We go out there tear down civilization."

A/N: Thats it for pirates life y'all! I'm taking a break and I'm back in college too, so I'm gonna be busy, but I will get my homework done on weekdays to ensure I can update weekends. Thanks for tuning in and I'll see in my newest book!