The Stone Door behind them had already been smashed open by the monsters—they couldn’t wait to enjoy a feast of human flesh.

The pirates all looked up, eyes fixed on Chen Qi. The Parasitic Sea Beast on his shoulder was writhing more violently than ever!

Chen Qi’s gaze landed on the Black Blade hanging from Captain Blackeye’s waist.

The Black Blade, forged by an ancient swordsmith, was a powerful weapon.

Maybe… he could borrow that blade.

But that might take a little acting.

“Can you come down?!”

At this most dangerous moment, Captain Blackeye shouted, trying to snap Chen Qi back to his senses!

Chen Qi lowered his head slightly, his face twisted in pain.

“Captain… I… I see… blood-red eyes, they’re getting closer and closer! It’s coming for me!”

Was that a bit too over the top…? He gritted his teeth and tried to look as agonized as possible.

Blood-red eyes appearing! Little Crow saw the scene and instantly understood. She said in a professional tone:

“The Parasitic Sea Beast releases trace toxins into the bloodstream and emits a transcendent sound like a sea siren. In this state, severe hallucinations are common!”

So his mind finally snapped… Little Crow shook her head.

Earlier, when Chen Qi had made it up the steps, she’d already felt something was off—this didn’t match his physical condition at all.

Now the hallucinations had started—this was what a normal person parasitized by a Sea Beast should look like!

“Hallucinations?”

Captain Blackeye roared. They were just one step away, and that Sea Beast was still on him—how could hallucinations start now?!

“Yes, it’s a typical reaction. For example, the Skinchanger can cause humans to kill each other.”

Little Crow adjusted her mask.

Captain Blackeye’s heart felt like it was being shredded.

The boy must be locked in an intense internal struggle with the Parasitic Sea Beast, battling for control of his own body!

Seems like it’s working… Chen Qi took two steps back:

“No… the blood-red eyes… they’re growing arms… they’re coming closer! It’s about to strike…

I need a weapon!

Captain, your blade—lend it to me! Only a strike—only the slash of a black blade can cut down this monster!”

He clenched his left fist and swung it a couple of times into the air.

Still feels a bit overdone. And my voice might be too soft… Chen Qi thought. His acting skills really weren’t that great.

“Even his voice is getting weak… he must be at his physical limit.”

Little Crow watched and helplessly shook her head.

At his limit… Captain Blackeye grew even more anxious after hearing the ship doctor’s assessment.

The Black Blade at his waist was a treasure he had retrieved from inside a giant anglerfish—his most prized possession!

Every week, he even pampered that blade with scented oils.

Captain Blackeye whispered to the crew behind him:

“Get me a decent-quality scimitar…”

But a second later, he suddenly stopped himself.

The Black Blade was extremely unique, completely different from the common scimitars used by his crew!

There wasn’t much time left…

Captain Blackeye drew the Black Blade and began humming softly to himself:

“Fill the dead man's chest with gold…”

He was a gambler. If there was a 99% chance to win 1 gold and 1% chance to win 50, he’d choose the latter without hesitation.

If he could get the Deep Sea Hunter’s Treasure, then even losing the Black Blade would be worth it.

A pirate should always pursue greater treasure and greater possibilities!

Only then could one ride the crest of the waves and be ruled by no one!

Amid the roars of the Sea Beasts outside, Captain Blackeye slowly tossed the Black Blade upward.

He didn’t throw it too hard—afraid he’d startle the Wall of Blood-Eyes behind Chen Qi.

Clang!

Chen Qi caught the Black Blade with his right hand.

[Black Blade]:

Aspect: Blade (This blade was born for battle)

Description: This blade possesses high durability and carries a unique black energy aura. When it hits enemies, it deals high dark energy damage (this dark energy induces fear).

Engraving: Cut their flesh. Grant them fear.

The blade looked as though it was coated in thick black dust, yet gave off a razor-sharp, flesh-slicing aura.

This weapon had already entered the realm of the transcendent. Normally, only those at Tier 3 or higher could wield it.

It was well-known, considered a minor divine weapon.

Seeing him catch the weapon, Captain Blackeye encouraged him quickly:

“How is it? Can you do it? Can you defeat that blood-red eye and return to us?!”

I’ll give it a try. That blood-eye thing doesn’t look easy… Chen Qi gripped the hilt and swung it a few times.

Very smooth—no wonder it was the captain’s personal blade!

But just then, the crashing sound returned—

Boom! Boom!

The impact on the Stone Door behind them grew heavier. A deep, jagged crack appeared in the stone!

Sweat was already dripping from Captain Blackeye’s forehead:

“How’s it going?! Did you kill that blood-eye thing?! Come down now! Get to safety—come to us, we’ll protect you…”

Chen Qi nodded seriously.

Why isn’t he moving?! Captain Blackeye’s heart pounded harder.

A nod didn’t mean he was coming down.

Captain Blackeye took a deep breath and asked calmly:

“What’s wrong?”

“Captain… in front of me, another treasure chest has appeared… it opened its mouth… if I don’t feed it gold, it’ll… eat me.

…If there’s still gold… I need gold…”

“A mimic chest…”

In that moment, Captain Blackeye’s heart skipped a beat—his whole body shuddered!

The hallucinations have sequels now?!

It’s just bluffing—hell, even I can do that… Chen Qi chuckled to himself.

If he kept this up, he could squeeze a few more “ifs” out of the captain.

Come on, Captain. Just a little more effort from you, and I swear I’ll come down.

Unfortunately… time was up.

BOOM!

Before Captain Blackeye could think further, a Deep Sea Toad slammed into the Stone Door—

With a thunderous crash, the door shattered!

Dozens of deep sea monsters surged in, their blood-drenched mouths wide open, ready to dig into a gourmet feast.

Chen Qi looked down at the monsters beneath him.

Now, all that remained was to wait for the right moment—then slip away in the chaos.

Captain Blackeye’s face was ashen, his gaze locked on the Turquoise Chest of the Deep Sea Hunter atop the stairs.

In this brief span of time, he had tasted hope—only for it to be ripped away into despair.

The monsters’ roars from behind cut through the captain’s spine like icy blades.

Chen Qi waited in silence.

But then, in the very next second, something completely unexpected happened.

Captain Blackeye suddenly grabbed the scimitar from one of his crew and charged forward—crossing that dangerous Crack Line without hesitation!

He refused to give up the Deep Sea Hunter’s Treasure so easily!

“!!”

He actually dared cross that line… Chen Qi was genuinely stunned.

The moment Captain Blackeye stepped past the Crack Line, a tentacle smashed down from the wall like a giant python slamming into its prey!

Captain Blackeye must’ve been a Tier 3 Blade-aspect Transcendent, specialized in combat.

Chen Qi could barely follow his explosive burst of speed.

Clang! Clang!

He held his scimitar in front of him and slashed twice, blocking the massive tentacle.

For a brief moment, the Wall of Blood-Eyes’ tentacle curled and recoiled slightly.

A commendable display of courage… but that was all it was.

Chen Qi sighed inwardly.

The very next moment, Captain Blackeye’s scimitar shattered. He himself was blasted back by the tentacle’s impact, forced away from the Crack Line.

With that final desperate attempt, a wave of hopelessness surged up again.

Captain Blackeye, his hair a tangled mess, raised his head and stared blankly at the stairs.

In his mind, he saw Chen Qi torn apart by waves of Sea Beasts, the treasure in the Turquoise Chest forever buried in mangled flesh—never to be retrieved.

So close… just a tentacle’s reach away…

Chen Qi had given him hope—only to crush it at the very end.

Now, he had to turn around and face the Sea Beasts behind him.

“All hands—form a defensive circle! Prepare for full breakout!”

With a thunderous crash, the Stone Door behind them shattered, and the Sea Beasts surged in, gaping bloody maws open wide, ready for a feast.

Captain Blackeye mustered all his strength and roared:

“We… prepare… to return!”

“Aye, Captain!”

The pirates of the Sawshark quickly fell into formation, tearing their eyes away from the treasure and focusing fully on the Sea Beasts behind them.

“Gold… I need gold…”

This little bit of money isn’t enough—why am I so broke… The always-a-beat-slow Little Crow was still rummaging through her belt pouch, trying to find some coins to help Chen Qi fend off the mimic chest in his hallucination.

Suddenly, she paused. Her trembling hands stopped, and she accepted the brutal truth.

Sigh… another assistant lost…

She lifted her head sorrowfully, preparing to take one last look at her interesting, capable new helper.

Atop the stairs, stirred by the Sea Beast’s commotion, the Wall of Blood-Eyes reopened its crimson eyes.

Bathed in its red glow, Chen Qi stood there calmly, as if he had already accepted his fate.

“Goodbye…”

Suddenly, a violent shiver ran through Little Crow’s entire body.

At the last moment, Chen Qi smiled at her—as if he had said something.

In that instant, she felt a strange sensation: her assistant didn’t seem full of despair or fear.

Instead, he was eerily calm—so calm he seemed to merge with the Wall of Blood-Eyes…

He was even… more unfathomable than that wall.

Boom! A tentacle came crashing toward her!

Because of the attacking Sea Beasts, she had no choice but to join the battle.

Why…?

Little Crow shook her head, grabbed a syringe, and stabbed it into herself before turning back.

As a medical officer, now was the time to show her true strength!

“Return! Head home!”

“Head home!”

Amid the crew’s cries, the pirates of the Sawshark drew their weapons, pouring all they had into fighting the Sea Beasts!

In an instant, pirate and monster blood mingled, splattering the treasure cavern…

They gave it everything, determined to carve a path home through the chaos!

And just as Little Crow and Captain Blackeye—blood-soaked and battered—prepared to leave the cavern, they looked back once more.

Their pupils shrank. Their minds trembled.

Atop the stairs… all that remained was the closed chest.

No screams of agony. No corpse. No fresh blood…

The man beneath the crimson eye… had vanished completely—

As if he had never existed at all.