For a brief moment after the blinding strike, the battlefield fell silent.
Smoke drifted across the deck. The sea calmed, as if it too was waiting for the outcome.
Querry stood still.
His sword was raised.
Zak stood before him… unmoving.
Then, unexpectedly—
Querry lowered his blade.
Slowly, he slid it back into its sheath.
The sharp sound of steel settling into place echoed across the deck.
The members of the Monster Crew froze in shock.
"What is he doing…?" one of them whispered.
Zak opened his eyes.
There was no fear in them—only curiosity.
Querry exhaled quietly.
For a second, his expression softened.
And then—
A memory surfaced.
It was the same port.
The same sea breeze.
The same two boys.
Zak stood with his arms crossed, watching Querry carefully.
"Say it," Zak said. "Just say sorry… and promise you won't steal again."
Querry looked away.
A long silence passed.
Finally, he spoke.
"…Fine."
Zak blinked.
"I won't steal again," Querry continued. "But I'm not saying sorry."
Zak frowned.
"That's not enough."
But before he could say more—
Querry charged forward.
Their fight resumed instantly, as if nothing had changed.
The memory faded.
Back in the present, Querry turned slightly and spoke without looking at Zak.
"…It's been one year."
Zak nodded.
"Yeah."
A quiet understanding passed between them.
One year ago, they had gone their separate ways.
But before leaving, they made a promise—
To meet again.
Near the City of Iceheat.
And now, that promise had been fulfilled.
Querry glanced toward the Monster Crew ship.
"Goodbye… Monster Crew."
His voice was calm, almost dismissive.
In that moment, something became clear—
Querry didn't belong to them.
He was not their captain.
Not even their leader.
Just a pirate working under them.
And now…
He was done.
The crew didn't take it well.
"You think you can just walk away?!" one of them shouted.
Without hesitation, the pirates launched an attack.
Blades drawn. Weapons raised.
But Querry didn't move much.
He simply drew his sword halfway—
"Rock Slash."
A single, heavy swing.
The air trembled.
In an instant, the attacking pirates were thrown back, collapsing across the deck—unconscious.
Silence returned.
Zak smirked.
"Looks like it's hunting time," he said, pointing toward the horizon. "Government ships."
Querry followed his gaze.
Two large ships were approaching.
Fast.
"Well," Querry replied, "let's remind them what we are."
Zak grinned.
"Yeah… let's show them what Red Wolf is."
The two exchanged a brief smile.
For a moment—
Another memory surfaced.
They were younger.
Sitting together under an open sky.
Querry spoke first.
"I want to dominate this world."
Zak looked at him.
"I don't have a dream like that."
Querry raised an eyebrow.
"Then do you even have a dream?"
Zak smiled slightly.
"Yeah. I do."
He stood up.
"I want to become the strongest warrior."
His voice grew firmer.
"I want to conquer the East, West, North, and South… and give people freedom."
Querry stared at him.
"…Then I'll become stronger too. I'll become a pirate. The strongest."
Zak laughed.
"You're crazy."
He pointed at him.
"Strength and freedom belong to warriors—not thieves."
Then he paused.
"And one day… we'll form a team."
Querry leaned forward.
"What team?"
Zak looked at the sky.
"Red Wolf."
"Red for dominance," he continued. "And wolf for freedom. Because a wolf never bows to anyone."
Querry grinned.
"That's actually a cool name."
The present returned.
Both of them stood side by side now.
Not as enemies.
But as something else.
Something reborn.
The approaching government ships grew larger.
Two warships.
More than 150 soldiers stood ready.
Among them—
Two Vice Heads.
And one Head.
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Cannons fired.
Boom!
But before the blasts could reach—
Querry moved.
With a precise swing, he cut through the incoming fire mid-air.
Explosions scattered harmlessly across the sea.
On the government ship, a soldier rushed toward one of the commanders.
"Sir! The Monster Crew is here—and Zak's ship too!"
The two Vice Heads stepped forward.
Ready.
Focused.
They leapt onto the battlefield.
Querry's expression changed.
"…This isn't normal," he muttered.
Zak glanced at him.
"What is it?"
Querry narrowed his eyes.
"These aren't regular government forces. That ship… belongs to Head Iaaz… 'the Devil.'"
Zak's smile widened.
"Then they're more scared of us than we thought."
Querry chuckled.
"They should be."
Zak stepped forward.
"Especially now…"
He looked at him.
"Because Red Wolf has been created."
The two smiled.
Then—
The Vice Heads attacked.
Fast.
Sharp.
But Zak and Querry dodged effortlessly.
They landed on opposite sides.
Now facing their opponents.
The names were revealed.
Sim.
And Roo.
Sim stepped forward first.
On his finger was a glowing ring.
"A B-rank Spring Ring," he said calmly. "I've heard a lot about you… Zak. A 13-year-old boy with a one-million bounty."
Zak tilted his head.
"You people don't put bounties on criminals," he replied. "You put them on anyone who stands against the government. Isn't that right?"
Sim's expression darkened.
Without warning—
"Spring Punch!"
His arm stretched forward at incredible speed.
Zak didn't move back.
"Beast Laser Punch!"
The two attacks collided.
Shockwaves spread across the deck.
Zak smirked.
"If that's all you've got… it won't be enough to beat me."
Then—
"Finger Laser."
A sharp beam shot forward.
On the other side—
Querry faced Roo.
Querry cracked his neck slightly.
"So… you're the Devil's right hand."
He smiled.
"Looks like you showed up at the wrong time."
"Rock Slash!"
He attacked.
But—
It had no effect.
Roo stood still.
His body shimmered like steel.
"Metal Body," he said.
The attack didn't even scratch him.
Roo raised both arms.
"Double Metal Hand!"
He struck back.
The impact was heavy.
Querry blocked it—but still slid backward, damage visible.
The battle had fully begun.
Zak kept attacking.
Relentless.
Fast.
But Sim kept dodging.
Every strike missed.
Every move countered.
The same was happening with Querry and Roo.
Neither side gaining ground.
Then suddenly—
Sim changed his strategy.
"Spring Hands!"
Multiple strikes, fast and unpredictable.
One of them landed.
Hard.
Zak was hit directly.
Blood came from his mouth.
Roo glanced at him and smirked.
"Your friend looks fragile. He won't last long."
Querry's eyes sharpened.
"Don't joke."
His voice turned cold.
"That's Zak Zee Zed."
"He's not the government's pet."
Roo's expression hardened.
He attacked again—stronger this time.
Querry blocked it, but the force pushed him back.
Even after blocking, damage was clear.
Back on the other side—
Zak wiped the blood from his mouth.
Then—
He smiled.
"It's been a while… since I've enjoyed a fight like this."
Sim frowned.
"…Is he insane?"
Zak suddenly shouted.
A loud, raw yell.
The soldiers assumed he was in pain.
Even Roo glanced over.
"Told you. He's weak."
But then—
Querry started laughing.
Loudly.
Uncontrollably.
Sim and Roo exchanged a look.
"These two are crazy…"
Zak lifted his head.
His eyes were burning with excitement.
"Now this… is fun."
Energy gathered around his fist again.
"Beast Laser Punch!"
He launched forward.
The air trembled.
The battlefield shook.
And the outcome—
Was still unknown.
Could Sim be defeated?
If a Vice Head was this strong… how powerful was the Head?
And could Zak and Querry truly win this fight?
The answer—
Would come next.
To be continued…