Naval battle, part two

The ship arrived at the port, and the members of Black Storm disembarked onto the soft, yellow sand. The demon boy paid Eugene the remaining agreed amount.

Before Eugene left, Alex opened a portal to transport him from here to his own port. They bid Eugene farewell, and just before departing, he said, "See you later, you maniacs, and thank you for that terrifying adventure. I'll miss you."

After Eugene left, the demon boy, still bearing a proud expression, said, "I sense a village nearby. Let's go and rest at any inn or restaurant there."

Kaiyo replied, "Yes, we need rest and food to continue our journey."

They headed towards the village until they reached its outskirts, where the villagers gave them strange looks. As they approached each house, the occupants closed the windows as if they feared them or strangers in general. They found an old inn near a church at the end of the village. The village was old, and poverty was evident among its residents. There was a metal pole with a red cross sign.

The team entered the inn and sat down, waiting for the waiter, but the kitchen was in the middle of the small inn. The cook said indifferently, "Serve yourselves."

Saji stepped forward, entered the kitchen, and asked from the kitchen window, "What can I serve you, gentlemen? Please note we only have fish."

Kaiyo, followed by the Golden One, said, "Serve us the best you have, with a fine drink befitting a great team like ours."

The cook went to the pantry, and Saji started cooking for them. However, from afar, there was a creature with a thirst for blood emerging from the water and approaching them.

Saji finished cooking and served the food. They all began to eat, except for the demon boy. The Golden One asked him why he wasn't eating, but the demon didn't answer; he was deep in thought. Kaiyo and Vantine praised Saji, calling him a skilled cook with delicious food.

The demon boy sensed something approaching them, its aura resembling those creatures.

He stood up and said, "I'm going out for a smoke and will be back soon," leaving everyone puzzled by his changed behavior since disembarking from the ship.

The demon boy went out, lit his cigarette, and began contemplating the sea, its waves, and the moonlight reflecting on it. He glanced at the church, remembering the torment he endured there and his confrontation with Nazak.

But his contemplation was interrupted by the creature, which said in a frightening voice, "Cursed demon...the forbidden books are with you. Give them to me."

Annoyed, the demon boy replied, "It seems I won't get any rest tonight. If you want the books, come and take them." He pulled out the Book of Weapons, drew a long sword with a bone handle and a skull on it, and swiftly decapitated the creature. His eyes turned blood-red, and he opened his mouth, licking his teeth. "It seems I've found my special meal," he said.

He began devouring the creature's flesh voraciously, tearing it with his teeth, which had become sharp like those of a demon. His face changed to one of frenzied delight, savoring the taste of the flesh. He continued eating until he was full, standing with blood covering his mouth, his terrifying gaze making him look like a demon.

But a sharp pain pierced his heart, leaving him in agony and screaming. He held his head in pain, hearing a voice in his mind continuously saying, "Free me...free me as you did with Alex...free me now."

The demon boy stood still, and tattoos of pride appeared, covering his body. His facial features changed, indicating that the pride personality had gained awareness and its own identity. In a calm, proud, and grand voice, it said, "Finally, I've taken control of the boy's body, but it won't last long. His annoying willpower can restrain me if he wants, so I must act quickly."

Due to the ominous aura emanating from him and the Book of Weapons, deep in the Dead Sea where moonlight does not reach and darkness prevails, countless corpses tell the tale of those who drowned and were devoured alive. A black eye with a red pupil opened and began swimming upward.

Meanwhile, everyone sensed the danger. Liana asked, "Where is that ominous aura coming from? Could it be that the masked one has returned?"

They rushed outside to find out what was happening, but as soon as they did, the demon boy grabbed the Golden One by the neck and said slyly, "To get out of this body, I need you. You saw the dance that freed Alex, now perform it and free me."

Saji quickly froze the demon boy's legs, and Kaiyo freed the Golden One from his grip. Hiroshi asked, "Who are you and what have you done to the demon boy?"

The response came, "I am Barbarian, the Sin of Pride, just like Alex. I have my own consciousness. Unlike that pink one, I am evil. Now, Golden One, use that dance before I start killing you all."

Vantine, puzzled, asked the Golden One, "What dance?"

He replied, "A dance from the forbidden book that separates the soul from anyone, dividing it into two or more. Alex is the same person as the demon boy, but with a different personality and consciousness, and this one is the same."

Barbarian broke the ice and grabbed the Golden One again, flying to the top of the church and saying, "Now, dance! Free me before I kill all your friends."

Everyone rushed to stop him, but a giant, winged, tentacled creature emerged, terrifying the villagers.

In a loud, terrifying voice, it said, "Who among you possesses the forbidden books?" Looking at Barbarian, it continued, "What do we have here? The demon boy, the embodiment of sins. It seems the wager is about to end."

Barbarian replied arrogantly after throwing the Golden One off the church, "You must be the King of the Dead Sea, ruler of demons and sea nymphs. If you want the books so badly, come and take them from me."

The king charged at him, shouting, "You arrogant fool! I am the King of the Seas."

With his massive size and wings that pierced the sky, he struck Barbarian with his giant hand, causing the church to collapse. Everyone feared he was dead, but to their surprise, they found him standing on a rooftop.

Barbarian, with pride, said, "King? You're just a big octopus."

He swiftly attacked the king, dodging his punches and climbing his giant hand. A swarm of monsters emerged from the king's hand, but Barbarian drew two swords and ran toward the king's head, slicing through his hand and the monsters.

At the same time, a swarm of sea demons, led by Kavrid, attacked the village. Hiroshi commanded, "Protect the village, I'll help the demon boy."

They engaged in battle with the sea demons, with Liana using her physical strength and sword to cut through them effortlessly. Suddenly, a giant snake emerged from the sand, trying to devour her, but Alexander grabbed her, standing in the snake's mouth to keep it open.

He said, "Don't worry, becoming fish food is the last thing on my list."

Liana stabbed the snake's mouth with her sword, causing it to spit them out. As it burrowed back into the sand, Alexander, holding Liana, looked at her with love and said, "I won't let anything hurt you, but don't be reckless."

Barbarian fought fiercely, cutting off all the king's limbs, but the king's face delivered a powerful blow that sent Barbarian flying, smashing through several trees, with the trunk of one piercing his heart...

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