Chapter 7: A Proper Pirate Welcome (With Explosions)

The air was thick with tension. The enemy pirates stood in a loose semi-circle, their weapons trained on Henry and his crew. The leader, Scarhead (a name Henry mentally gave him because he refused to bother learning names of people about to lose), grinned as if he had already won.

"Well, Captain Nobody," Scarhead sneered, "why don't you and your little band of misfits drop your weapons and walk away? Maybe I'll even let you keep your boots."

Henry gave a dramatic sigh, rubbing his chin. "Hmm… tempting offer, really." He looked at his crew. "What do you guys think?"

Scarlet cocked her pistol. "I think he should shut up."

Grok cracked his knuckles. "I think they lack wisdom."

Shade, somehow already in a tree, whispered, "They do not realize the darkness they have invited upon themselves."

Boggart grumbled. "Aye, Cap'n, if we're gonna fight, let's get on with it."

Henry nodded sagely. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." Then he glanced at Marrow.

She was already grinning like a lunatic, holding two very lit bombs.

"Hey, Scarface," Henry called out.

"It's Scarhead."

"Whatever." Henry pointed at Marrow. "Catch."

And with that, Marrow casually lobbed the bombs straight into the middle of the enemy pirates.

Scarhead's eyes went wide.

BOOM!

The jungle erupted in fire and smoke. Pirates screamed, diving for cover. The explosion sent a shockwave through the clearing, rattling the trees and sending birds screeching into the sky.

Henry barely managed to keep his footing as dirt and debris rained down around him.

Marrow cackled. "I love my job."

Scarlet had already drawn her pistol, firing into the chaos. Grok roared, charging forward like an unstoppable force, punching the nearest pirate so hard he practically disintegrated into the bushes.

Henry, doing his best to look badass, flicked his coat back and pulled his cutlass.

"Alright, boys—time to remind them why they should fear the Black Fang!"

The fight was on.

Shade moved like a ghost, literally disappearing between the trees before reappearing behind an enemy, knocking them out with a swift strike.

Scarlet, taking advantage of the confusion, climbed onto a rock and started picking off pirates with deadly accuracy.

Boggart had pulled out two cutlasses and was somehow dual-wielding them while cursing like an old sea dog.

Marrow? She had more bombs.

Henry, meanwhile, found himself face-to-face with Scarhead, who had miraculously survived the explosion (if looking very crispy). The pirate leader growled, raising his sword.

"You little—"

Henry didn't wait. He lunged first, aiming for a dramatic and definitely planned strike. Their blades clashed, ringing through the battlefield.

Scarhead was strong, pushing Henry back step by step. "You fight like a brat who's never been in a real battle."

Henry grinned. "Yeah? And you fight like a guy who's about to lose."

Scarhead scowled. "What does that even—"

BOOM.

Another explosion—this time behind him.

Scarhead whipped around just in time to see half his remaining men literally running away from Marrow, who was happily throwing small explosives after them.

"RUN, YOU COWARDS!" Scarhead bellowed.

Henry smirked. "Yeah, uh… seems like they disagree."

Scarhead turned back, rage in his eyes—

And that's when Henry pistol-whipped him across the face.

The pirate leader crashed to the ground.

Henry stood over him, cutlass pointed at his throat.

"Alright," Henry said, "since I'm such a nice guy, I'll give you a choice—run away and spread the name of Captain Henry Garagam, or stay here and let Grok philosophize you into another dimension."

Grok loomed behind Henry, cracking his knuckles. "Did you know that the concept of pain is merely a temporary illusion of the mind?"

Scarhead immediately scrambled to his feet and bolted.

Henry sheathed his cutlass, brushing dust off his coat. "Another flawless victory."

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. "You almost lost to that guy."

Henry huffed. "I was playing with him."

Boggart snorted. "Sure, Cap'n."

Henry ignored them and turned back to the now unclaimed treasure chest.

"Alright, boys—let's grab our prize and get out of here before—"

A loud BOOM echoed from the distance.

Henry slowly turned to see the Black Fang, anchored offshore, now surrounded by three large imperial warships.

Scarlet sighed. "You just had to say something, didn't you?"

Henry groaned. "Why does this always happen?!"

To be continued…