The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 95: Attack Of The Pirates (II)

Chapter 95: Attack Of The Pirates (II)

’Duummm!’

A loud boom echoed through the air as the balinger closed in on the cog ship, signalling the beginning of the attack.

It served as a warning for the vessel to cease sailing. The sound of cannon fire reverberated across the open sea, causing the cog ship to shudder with the impact.

Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the balinger’s cannons, obscuring the crews’ view of the cog ship. The ear-splitting sound of the explosions filled the surroundings, drowning out all other noise and making communication between crew members difficult.

The cog ship’s captain barked orders to his crews, directing them to take cover and prepare for the inevitable onslaught.

Within minutes, the balinger reached the cog ship’s starboard. The two vessels collided against each other on the broadsides.

The pirates were quick on the mark to throw the iron grappling hooks to the cog ship’s railing on the deck and hoisted themselves aboard. About forty pirates were already on board the vessel in a short time.

"Attack!" the seasoned pirate captain ordered his men to charge.

Armed with sharpened cutlasses, the pirates’ shouts began to fill the air as they swarmed the cog ship, charging with their faces twisted in rage and bloodlust.

The atmosphere on board became tumultuous and plummeted into chaos. The commander and his knights, together with the armed crews, rushed to fight against the pirates.

The Grand Duke of Gerhard and his knights were at the forefront, fighting courageously. Their swords struck against the pirates’ weapons, defeating them one by one.

The commander and his knights were fearsome. Despite the overwhelming number of enemies and relentless barrage of attacks, they stood their ground with unwavering determination and impressive skill.

Kyren led the charge, wielding his sword with deadly precision and striking down any pirate who dared to come near him. Eric, Luke, Damon, and Eli were fighting alongside the commander, each displaying their unique style and technique in battle.

As the fight raged on, the cog ship’s deck became slick with blood and sweat, and the air was thick with the sound of clashing steel and cries of pain.

At the back of the chaos, Rafe, who saw the dire situation, couldn’t sit still.

"Here, Ayden, take this sword!" he said, urgency in his voice as he thrust his short blade towards his assistant. "We have to fight!"

Ayden hesitated, his hands shaking as he took the sword. "But Mr Amares, I’m not experienced in combat!" he protested.

Rafe’s expression hardened. "We have no other option," he said firmly as he saw the number of pirates attacking the knights increase. "We need to help them!"

Ayden took a deep breath, his heart pounding as he prepared to join the fray. He knew he was out of his depth but was also aware that he couldn’t let his comrades fight alone.

With a determined look, he tightened his grip on the short sword and charged towards the enemy along with Rafe.

The cog ship’s crew lacked the same level of skill and experience, making the fight disadvantageous. Some even fled in terror, leaving their comrades to face the pirates alone. The ruthless enemies quickly cut down those who couldn’t make it.

But Kyren refused to back down, even as the number of foes charging at him grew by the second. The metallic sound of his swords clashing with immense power made it clear that he was not an ordinary opponent.

Five of the pirates had already fallen to his blade, while three more were knocked down by his mighty fists and kicks. His attack was ferocious and unrelenting, causing the initially excited pirates to become wary of him.

The Knights of Gerhard were also no ordinary combatants. Their swords flashed and sliced through as they fought against the advancing enemy. Each knight held their own, taking on two to three pirates at a time without hesitation.

Eric, a high-ranking knight and second to the commander, was a force to be reckoned with. He had already taken out two pirates by slicing their throats and had severely injured three others. A slash wound on his cheek only seemed to fuel his will to keep fighting.

Luke, Damon, and Eli parried their enemies’ blows relentlessly, their swords thrust in a fierce dance of steel. They moved with lightning speed, their muscles straining with the effort of each strike.

Their swords flashed, sending sparks flying as they struck their targets brutally. Luke feinted to the left, then spun around and sliced through a pirate’s arm.

Damon ducked under a swing and thrust his sword through his opponent’s chest while Eli dodged a blow and kicked his attacker in the gut, sending him flying backwards.

The belligerent commander and his knights fought with such excellence and skill that it elevated the morale of the ship’s crew. Despite their small numbers, they raged against the pirates with fierce boldness.

The captain of the pirates couldn’t help but notice the five men’s outstanding performance and ferocious aura. Among them, the tallest and most prominent figure caught his attention.

The man was a great fighter and exuded an air of gallantry that made him stand out from the rest. Despite not wearing any armour, not even a scratch had landed on his body.

The captain knew his subordinates couldn’t take the man on in a fair fight. He signalled to his quartermaster, sending a secret message for a backup plan. The battle was far from over, and things were about to get even more intense.

As his men began to fall prey one by one under the merciless blades of the knights, the pirate captain knew he had to take action. With lightning speed, he leapt forward, sword at the ready, and confronted the commander in a one-on-one duel.

"Arrr, ye be lookin’ like a tough one, matey!" he snarled, a wicked glint in his eye. "Let’s see if ye’ve got what it takes to face me!" the pirate captain sneered as he brandished his sword.

Seeing their captain take charge, his subordinates retreated from attacking Kyren, leaving the two leaders facing each other in a fierce battle of skill and will.

The captain lunged forward with a wild sword swing, but the commander was ready for him. He deflected the attack with quick reflexes, the metal clash ringing across the deck.

The captain’s hands trembled as he struggled to grip his sword, the force of Kyren’s blow almost knocking him off his feet. He realised he was no match for the man’s immense strength but refused to give up so easily.

With a fierce determination in his eyes, the captain steadied himself and prepared to fight on. It was too early to call it quit, and he knew he had to keep fighting to uphold his pride. The battle between the two leaders was far from over, and the outcome was still uncertain.

Kyren countered the pirate’s attack with a fierce sword swing, putting all his strength into the blade. But the captain reacted quickly, leaping backwards like a dancing swallow and narrowly avoiding the blow. Although the pirate lacked the power, he made up for it with his speed and agility, making him a formidable opponent.

"So, you’re the weasels’ lead!" The commander smirked at his opponent, pleased to finally find a worthy adversary in the battle.

"Ye dare to insult me, ye scallywag!" the pirate captain roared, his face twisted in anger. "Take this!"

He lunged forward angrily, his blade a swirling blur of steel aimed at Kyren’s heart. But the grand duke was no stranger to such tactics. He gracefully swerved, evading the edge.

Kyren stepped forward and swiftly drew his sword, launching an upward attack towards the pirate. The captain quickly stumbled backwards, narrowly avoiding the sword tip by just an inch.

In response, the commander executed a tight moulinet from his wrist, followed by an oberhau that landed on the upper right side of the captain’s shoulder, cutting through his attire.

Kyren raised his blade high and aimed it towards the captain’s face as he made his next move. With a heavy thrust, he attacked, causing the captain to step back and deflect Kyren’s sword.

The commander didn’t resist the blow. Instead, he turned the deflection into a dangerous cut. The pirate jerked his head back, narrowly avoiding a head-cleaving hew.

As the battle raged on, it was clear that the commander was a superior swordsman. His attacks were calculated and precise, each swing of his sword meant to take down his opponent.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Kyren taunted, goading the pirate further.

The pirate captain’s wrath was smouldering, his anger flaring hotter with each passing moment. He knew the man outmatched him, but he refused to admit defeat. His nimble feet kept leaping, avoiding the strikes from the commander and thrusting his body to the side.

The commander cut and forced relentlessly, his attacks unyielding. He drove the pirate captain towards the railing, never letting him gain his balance.

"Harr!" Enraged, the pirate fought back with all his might, parrying the commander’s blows and dodging his attacks with impressive agility.

Kyren remained steadfast in his approach, launching a rapid succession of attacks. He acted swiftly and decisively, taking advantage of any opening to bypass the captain’s defences and take him down.

And then it happened. With a mighty swing, Kyren sliced a deep wound in the captain’s hand that clutched the cutlass. Blood splattered onto the deck, the fishy smell filling the air.

"Argh!" the captain screamed in pain, his grip faltering as his weapon clattered to the floor.

He had lost the duel, but the victory was short-lived.

A loud shout from the quartermaster of the pirates shattered the moment of triumph.

"Avast or I’ll slaughter yer man, ye scurvy dog!" he threatened.

Kyren spun around, his heart sinking as he saw the burly pirate holding Ayden, the assistant healer, by the hair. The poor man was covered in blood, and a sharp dagger was pointed perilously close to his neck.

The commander gritted his teeth. Clearly, the pirates had resorted to evil tactics, targeting their weaker and more vulnerable opponents. Among the entourage, Ayden was the least skilled at fighting and was usually stationed at the camp, covering Rafe’s infirmary tasks while the knights and the healer were out on duty.

When the fight started, the captain’s sharp eyes quickly noted the seven men before him; Kyren, Eric, Damon, Luke, Eli, Rafe, and Ayden. He recognised them as members of the same group, their weapons adorned with the unmistakable Griffin insignia.

His quartermaster had been ordered to find and capture the group’s Achilles’ heel to subdue them. The plan worked as the knights and healer halted their fights, clearly rattled by the sudden action.

Kyren’s eyes narrowed in anger. He knew that he had to act fast to save his comrades, but he also knew that one wrong move could mean certain death for Ayden.

Eric’s blood boiled as he shouted at the quartermaster, his face smeared with splashes of blood from the previous brawl.

"Scumbag! You played dirty. Fight with me instead if you have any shred of dignity left!" he yelled fiercely.

But the pirate’s quartermaster just laughed in his face.

"Pirates don’t have dignities!" Kyren sneered. "They’re a bunch of dimwits eager for ill-gotten gains!" he cried out angrily, but his words were cut short as the pirate captain fetched his cutlass sword with his other hand.

Two other pirates joined him, stretching and aiming their weapons at the commander’s neck. The rest of their crew followed suit, aiming their blades at the remaining rivals.

"Ye’ve got a bold tongue on ye, dog!" the captain bellowed in his heavy breath, his eyes flashing with malice despite the pain from the cut on his hand.

"Cut that cur’s throat!" he ordered his quartermaster to kill Ayden, but Rafe quickly responded.

"Don’t do it!" he shouted anxiously. "Let him go! Take me as your hostage instead!"

The scene was chaotic, with Ayden held hostage, bloodied and beaten badly by the ruthless pirate. Kyren knew he couldn’t let the assistant healer die... not like this.

The captain signalled his quartermaster to halt, his eyes flicking over to the commander with a calculating look.

"What say ye, ye scurvy dog?" the captain asked, his voice dripping with venom. "Be ye willin’ to surrender and beg for mercy, or do ye want us to finish off yer mate here? Or mayhap ye want us to scuttle yer ship? Speak up now, or prepare to meet yer maker!"

Kyren glared back at the captain, his mind racing with a plan. He glanced at his men, quickly assessing their readiness for a sudden attack.

"Take me as your hostage! I’m the strongest of them all," Kyren said as he slowly bent down to put his sword on the floor.

The other men looked on in surprise, not expecting such a bold move from their commander. Little did they know that Kyren had a plan up his sleeve — a hidden dirk on his knee that he was ready to throw at the pirate holding Ayden.

His other hand was poised to strike when suddenly a shout came out of nowhere.

"Stop!!"