Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Julian Vance Solaris (3)

’This guy seems to be a mage type, so if I get close...’

Jake thought inwardly as he slashed down with killing intent.

He wasn’t the type who liked to kill others, but... this guy definitely had to go.

He would think about the consequences later—

But just before Jake’s glowing blade could slice into Julian’s chest, the nobleman’s hand shot up with terrifying precision.

TING!

With his eyes still closed, Julian caught the flat of Jake’s aura-coated sword directly between two fingers.

The golden-white light from Jake’s sword clashed violently against a thin but incredibly dense layer of compressed solar flames coating Julian’s fingers.

BOOMM!

The impact sent a powerful shockwave rippling through the arena as a brilliant burst of sparks and clashing energies exploded outward.

And yet Julian didn’t even flinch.

"What...?"

Jake stared in disbelief at the sword stuck between those two fingers.

That was probably his most powerful strike, and yet...

"Heh... I’m sorry. Did I give the impression that I am a mage type?" Julian murmured, eyes still calmly closed, as if he had already seen through Jake’s thoughts.

"But not bad. You actually managed to create a decent opening. Your little flash trick was clever."

Slowly, Julian opened his crimson eyes, staring straight at Jake with a chilling, superior smile.

"But did you really think I would be helpless in close combat?"

WHOOSH!

With a casual flick of his wrist, Julian parried Jake’s sword to the side with overwhelming force, nearly knocking the blade out of his grip.

"Despite how I look, and my class, I’ve spent years mastering the brutality of close combat... You’re not the only one who can fight up close, stray."

With those words,

Julian suddenly stepped forward and delivered a vicious palm strike infused with solar flames directly into Jake’s abdomen.

Jake tried to dodge, but it was too fast—

BOOM!

"UGHH!" Jake coughed out a mouthful of blood that splattered across Julian’s smiling face.

"It seems you truly are a stray without any background... To not even know the true meaning of Aura."

Without giving Jake even a moment to recover, Julian’s fists wrapped in condensed solar flames as he swung upward at his jaw.

BAM!

A flaming uppercut slammed into Jake’s jaw, snapping his head back.

"Jake!!" Grace cried out in panic seeing this, as she desperately tried to aim at Julian.

But Julian was purposely using Jake’s body as a shield, staying glued close behind him.

Every time Grace tried to line up a shot, Julian shifted slightly, keeping Jake in the line of fire.

He continued his brutal assault without mercy, that same bright smile never leaving his face.

Just as Jake tried to regain control—

BAM!

BAM!

Two rapid flaming knee strikes hammered into Jake’s ribs, each impact exploding with scorching heat that seared flesh and cracked bone.

’Fuck...! He’s so strong...’ Jake thought through the haze of pain, blood dripping from his lips.

’This difference in strength... it’s insane.’

The opponents he had faced before were nowhere near Julian’s level.

His strength, speed, reaction time, and that overwhelming flame control were on another level entirely.

...To the point Jake was starting to feel like this bastard was purposely holding back... toying with him like a cat with a mouse.

Jake noticed that Julia hadn’t even used any high-level techniques related to his class yet.

But Julian’s movements were fluid and relentless, like a predator toying with its prey.

Suddenly,

Julian leaned in closer, his breath hot against Jake’s ear as he whispered, "Ah... you shouldn’t be distracted during this kind of combat, shouldn’t you?"

He grabbed Jake by the hair, yanking his head up before delivering another devastating flame-infused punch straight to the gut.

"Did no one teach you basic combat mastery, stray?!"

BOOM!

Jake’s body convulsed as more blood spilled from his mouth.

His vision blurred from the pain and the overwhelming heat.

Grace’s hands trembled as she gripped her gun, unable to fire without risking hitting Jake.

"Stop it! Get away from him!!"

Julian smiled happily, clearly reveling in the violence and Grace’s desperate screams.

His expression was one of pure sadistic joy.

Yet... at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of strangeness.

’This guy... still hasn’t dropped his sword yet?’ Julian thought, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the beaten-up Jake.

’How is this lowly stray still conscious? He’s actually quite tough for a bug...’

Before Julian could dwell on it further, Jake’s bloodied hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.

SHIIING!

The aura-coated blade, still flickering with golden-white light, cut a fierce arc toward Julian’s torso at close range.

The sudden counterattack caught Julian slightly off guard.

SLASH!

The blade grazed Julian’s side, drawing a fresh line of blood through his luxurious robes.

Julian’s eyes widened in surprise as he leaned back slightly.

There, in that brief moment, he saw it clearly in Jake’s eyes... something strange and unsettling.

A fierce, cold, unyielding gaze.

But what made it truly unsettling was that strange, static golden glow in his eyes.

’...I’ve seen eyes like that somewhere before... ’

Julian thought, a faint sense of unease creeping into his mind.

’That glow... it’s familiar, but where?’

Then, his gaze shifted to the flickering golden-white aura still clinging to Jake’s sword, and realization hit him.

’Wait... light?’

Julian’s expression changed.

His mocking smile faltered for the first time as genuine confusion appeared on his face.

"Why... are you able to use the power of Light?"

Jake didn’t answer with words.

He simply raised his sword again, the golden aura burning brighter despite his injuries, his glowing eyes locked on Julian with deadly intent.

Gripping the hilt with both hands, Jake lifted the blade high above his head.

Then a powerful surge of energy erupted from within him as he roared,

"Ask your damn mother!!"

A brilliant burst of pure light exploded outward from his sword.

The flickering golden-white aura intensified dramatically, condensing and transforming the blade into a radiant Sword of Light.

With a mighty downward swing, Jake brought the sword of light crashing down toward Julian.

SHHHHHIIING!

A massive arc of golden light tore through the air, slicing straight toward the nobleman with terrifying speed and force.

The ground beneath the slash split open, and the oppressive heat in the arena was momentarily pushed back by the purifying radiance.

Julian’s eyes widened in shock.

He quickly crossed his arms, summoning a thick wall of compressed solar flames to block the incoming strike.

BOOOOM!!!

The collision between the sword of light and Julian’s flame barrier created a massive explosion of opposing energies.

Light and solar flames clashed violently, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.

Grace watched with wide eyes, her heart pounding.

"Jake...!"