Chapter 1
Far deep into the vast expanse of space, a colossal flagship loomed. Its menacing presence struck fear in the hearts of all those who gazed upon it. This formidable vessel bore a distinctive sinister design, at its fore, a colossal skull with five menacing horns jutting out, and within the maw of this skull, a deadly array of weapon systems capable of reducing planets to rubble. The ship, cloaked in inky darkness, was titanic in size, rivalling the scale of a small moon. It sported four imposing wings, two on each side, further enhancing its eerie and intimidating appearance.
The interior of this gargantuan vessel was shrouded in shadows, each room illuminated by dim foreboding lighting. As one ventured through its labyrinthine halls, the ship’s architecture evoked a sense of macabre, akin to stepping into a forbidden cutlet’s sanctuary. The walls bore cryptic symbols and disturbing artwork, each depicting scenes of shells exploding, villages consumed by flames, and arcane markings that seemed to weave their own enigmatic tales.
Amidst these unsettling corridors, undead-like figures patrolled the passageways, heavily armed and vigilant in their duties. Their faces bore a striking resemblance to death itself, skull-like and devoid of emotions. They moved with eerie purpose, as if summoned from the grave to serve their sinister master.
Yet, there was one among them who stood out from the rest. A tall imposing figure, his face nothing more than a blackened skull adorned with three menacing horns, all on his left side. Three crimson marks etched on the left side of his skull, reminiscent of battle scars, added to his intimidating presence. Draped in a long, blood red coat over a black and blue ensemble, his trousers rugged and foreboding, this man bore the name Lucifer, one of the four heavenly demons, an arsenal of the cold and ruthless pirate, Blue Devil.
Lucifer strode purposefully towards the ship’s control room, his ominous figure casting long shadows. He pushed open the massive doors, they swung wide revealing a chamber enshrouded in darkness, save for the ominous pillar that lined each side of the room. As he ventured further into the room, the pillars began to slowly come to life one by one, casting eerie blue flames that slowly brought light and an unsettling atmosphere to the room. With each step, the illumination grew, revealing the heart of the control room.
At the centre of the room, atop a towering throne adorned with a skull motif, sat a figure shrouded in darkness. Blue flames danced around his face, casting haunting shadows upon it. His countenance was deathly pale, a skull-like visage with cold blue pupils that seemed to pierce into Lucifer’s very soul. Dressed in a meticulously tailored dark blue suit with very thin red lines down the matching trousers, he emitted an air of calculated malevolence.
This man was Blue Devil, the feared captain of the notorious Blue Embers pirates. He sat regally on his throne, leg crossed and crowned in black crocodile shoes, chin resting upon his hand as he gazed down at Lucifer. The silence in the room was palpable, each moment felt like an eternity as Lucifer awaited his master’s words.
Lucifer, feeling the weight of Blue Devil’s piercing gaze, bowed respectfully. “I greet thee, oh greatest one,” he said with deference, his voice quivering with a mix of fear and anticipation.
Blue Devil retained shrouded in silence, his enigmatic eye locked into Lucifer's trembling form. The room seemed to grow colder as the seconds ticked by, Lucifer’s nerves were pushed to their limits.
“You took too long, Lucifer,” Blue Devil finally began, his voice carrying a weight of authority and disappointment. “Since when has conquering three planets been such a difficult task for you?” Blue Devil’s pupil lit like two embers dancing in the deep darkness through his eyes.
Lucifer struggled to find the words, his voice quivering but resolute. “I’m sorry, my lord. There was an unforeseen inconvenience, but everything is now in order. Your reign remains supreme and the people fear you yet.”
The blue embers in Blue Devil’s eyes flickered but did not go out entirely. He looked at Lucifer with a cold, calculating expression. “Stand by me,” he ordered, his voice carrying a weight of command.
Lucifer instantly took his side, on Blue Devil’s left. As Blue Devil questioned Lucifer about the identity of the one who had dared to cross him, the atmosphere in the control room grew increasingly tense. Lucifer didn’t flinch under the intense scrutiny of his lord. “Yes, lord,” he replied with a nod, confirming that the person in question was indeed the one who had provoked Blue Devil’s ire.
Blue Devil’s rage boiled over, and he clenched the arm of the throne with a grip so powerful that it cracked. His fury seemed to manifest as a palpable heat, causing the room to warm as if a bast of hot steam had been unleashed. “That bitch!” he seethed, his voice laced with anger and frustration. “Even with the Order looking for her, she dared to mess with me!”
The room fell into a silence once more as Blue Devil collected his thoughts, his dark intentions simmering just beneath the surface. “No matter,” he continued, his tone becoming more composed. “I’ll let THEM deal with her.”
With a commanding presence, Blue Devil called forth a figure from the shadows, and a woman emerged to stand by his right side. Her jet black skull face seemed to merge with her long, flowing black hair that was pulled to the left side. She possessed a tall, slim and formidable build, her figure accentuated by a revealing ensemble.
She wore a black one-arm crop top, and over it, a dusty pink cardigan adorned with the word “Kill” and an upside down smiling emoji at the back. A chain of rubies, emerald and precious stones adorned her majestic waist, and her outfit was completed by a very short red skirt with black flower patterns, paired with long black socks that went up to her thighs. Twin blades were chained to her back, a testament of her deadly prowess.
This enigmatic figure, known as Abel, stood confidently by Blue Devil’s side, leaning casually against his throne. Her voice dripped with a combination of cockiness and reverence as she addressed her king. “You called, king,”she said, smirking with an air of confidence that hinted at her formidable skills.
“Report,” Blue Devil stated, Abel stepped forward and presented a blue screen displaying images of planets, people and various elements crucial to their dark plans, a sense of intrigue and concern filled the room. Among the images on the screen was a depiction of Tempest, shackled and being taken away by the armed forces. Abel began to explain the situation, her voice carrying a sense of authority and confidence.
“Everything seems to be going according to plan, except one thing,” Abel remarked, directing Blue Devil’s attention to the image of Tempest. “Tempest has fallen, two years earlier than anticipated.”
Lucifer chimed in with his own observation. “Tempest has fallen? But his strength was not to be mocked in those parts.”
Blue Devil, his blue flames dancing on his skull-like head, scratched his head earnestly as he tried to process this unexpected development. “Nothing seems to be going the way I want it to. So, who did it?” he inquired, fixating his gaze on the screen, which then shifted to show a picture of Etsu, captured shortly after his battle with Tempest.
Abel was quick to provide an answer. “Hunter Bang Etsu, a newcomer to the world of piracy, his crew has only just gained a name.”
The flames of Blue Devil’s head suddenly intensified, reflecting his anger and frustration. “Etsu…Etsu, Etsu, ETSU!” he roared, “A newcomer managed to defeat my creation!” he exclaimed, his fury mounting.
Summoning forth another figure from the shadows, Blue Devil addressed Pocoshi. Pocoshi’s appearance was distinct. With a slim and short build, a skull-like face adorned with a single half broken horn on his forehead, with hollow bottomless eyes. He wore a white kimono with intricate black patterns resembling a lightning storm, a long one-handed katana rested at his side, sheathed in deep blue scabbard with cryptic writings.
Pocoshi bowed respectfully before Blue Devil, “You called, lord,” he acknowledged.
Blue Devil wasted no time in issuing his order, “Pocoshi, this Etsu boy seems interesting. He may pose a threat to our plans. Keep a vigilant eye on him, I want every move of his reported!”
“As you command, lord,” replied Pocoshi before slipping back into the shadows.
Blue Devil’s thoughts churned as he continued to watch the information about Etsu on the screen. The unexpected defeat of Tempest and the rise of this newcomer, Etsu left him with lingering questions and a growing sense of unease.
As the digital screen vanished, Blue Devil rose from his imposing throne with an air of determined resolve. His voice rang out with unwavering authority as he issued his orders. “We can’t afford any more mistakes. Prepare my Cruiser!” His command prompted a swift response from those present in the room. Men hurriedly left, their footsteps echoing down the ominous corridors of the flagship as they set about, preparing Blue Devil’s Cruiser; Death Ember, a formidable vessel designed both for agility and firepower.
Turning his attention to Abel, Blue Devil conveyed his intentions. “Abel, you’re in charge. It seems I must go meet an old friend,” his decision made, he began to walk away, his every step exuding an almost otherworldly grace. As he moved through the ship, the crew members bowed respectfully in acknowledgment of his presence, paying homage to their formidable captain.
A long cherry-red jacket adorned by a fiery skull on its back trailed behind Blue Devil as he moved, almost as if it were riding the very wind. It came to rest on his shoulders, a symbol of his authority and power. The control room doors closed behind him, sealing off the enigmatic captain as he set forth on his mission to find his “Old friend.”
