Captain – Chapter 580 – Shield and Blade and Death Knell

Perhaps because the sky was too dark, or perhaps due to the young man’s intentional or unintentional concealment, before this fateful clash, Talin had never noticed that shield.

Therefore, only when blade met small shield, producing a bell-like clear ringing, did the man awaken as if from a dream, casting his gaze upon it and unable to look away.

As the devil’s last believer in the present world, he naturally knew many secrets, such as that one’s arrangements in the frozen sea, or the killing trap set in the great triangle.

He understood all the details—how could he possibly know nothing about this shield? About this key that opens the gate to the Cursed Sea, this divine artifact from the Old Calendar…

Aegis.

“No…”

Only when that clear sound faded did Talin barely manage to withdraw his mind from that lifelike, exquisitely beautiful serpent-haired human face, and he could only manage to murmur.

Before the man’s whispered words could finish, that small shield that had shown no response since Caine brought it from the seabed, ordinary as any object, finally changed.

The tightly closed eyes on that human face suddenly opened, releasing brilliant silver light!

That light was like mist and vapor, constantly twisting and leaping, very much like ever-changing lightning. And just a moment after the human face opened its eyes and silver light blazed forth…

No, it hadn’t even taken one-tenth of the time needed to blink once when the sky above the two men locked in battle like a still painting suddenly brightened.

A dazzling lightning bolt fell straight down, piercing through the wild wind, breaking through the torrential rain, striking precisely at the point where blade tip and shield surface met!

The next moment, deafening thunder belatedly arrived.

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From the curved blade breaking through rain, the small shield rising against wind, to their clash with lightning flash and thunder roar—everything happened so fast that even the young man with devil’s eyes could only see an instant’s brightness before him.

Then, he saw with great surprise the Deep Sea Captain screaming as he retreated.

The man’s cry was drowned by thunder, its sound unheard, and one could only see him with mouth agape, retreating in disarray. What was even more astonishing was that during this process, the curved blade he had been gripping tightly actually slipped from his hand!

That blade, originally entirely deep gray and quite plain, was now extraordinarily magnificent, because those crystal cracks were burning like starfire.

On its surface, and in front of Talin’s charred sleeves, electric currents could still faintly be seen.

Seeing this scene, Caine immediately abandoned any thoughts of careful consideration to seek the truth. His body instinctively moved, chasing after that falling curved blade.

Now that the curved blade had left Talin’s hand, his opponent no longer had the ability to influence the sea and control wind and rain. Thus the blocking wind walls and blinding rain curtains all collapsed, and in an extremely short time, the bridge regained clarity.

Nothing could stop a cursed one now.

The paralysis in his body quickly receded. The Deep Sea Captain understood his opponent’s intention and roared hysterically, rushing toward the curved blade falling not far away, simultaneously stretching out his hand with all his might, trying to catch it faster.

Though having lost the divine artifact left him merely mortal, he had at least gained some distance from the young man during his retreat, and that blade was closer to him.

So although Caine was astonishingly swift, the curved blade ultimately fell into Talin’s hands. In an instant, immense power surged back into his body.

But this wasn’t the end.

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The fear hadn’t yet faded from the man’s face, nor had cruelty arisen, when his expression suddenly contorted, because a cold small shield still crackling with electric current struck his back, followed by force that mortal flesh could not bear.

“Crack.”

With an unbearable brittle sound, the Deep Sea Captain groaned and fell forward, the curved blade once again leaving his hand, sliding away along the slightly tilted ground.

Looking at the curved blade only steps away from him, Talin gasped heavily, enduring the severe pain from his spine, crawling toward it bit by bit.

But this time, he was ultimately too slow.

Caine circled around the man moving on the ground, stopping before that gradually dimming curved blade. Before it could touch his opponent’s fingers, he bent down and picked it up.

Standing straight and examining the blade, the young man looked down at Talin from above, finally showing a slight smile at the corner of his lips: “Now this authority no longer belongs to you.”

Supporting himself on the ground to stand with difficulty, his clothes tattered and hair disheveled, the man swayed back a few steps, no longer caring about appearance, his face fierce as a cornered beast.

He wanted to say something but was interrupted by violent coughing mixed with blood foam. Only after a long while did he transform that venomous intent into hoarse, low words.

“In your hands, it’s just a sharper blade. You could spend your entire lives…”

After several urgent gasps, Talin continued: “And never hope to approach that one—oh no, I should say your captain, because your fate has already been determined.”

“It will end tonight.”

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Looking at the Deep Sea Captain who couldn’t even stand steadily yet remained defiant, whose indifferent gaze seemed to view a dead man, Caine couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. The ominous feeling in his heart, caused by that beacon-like light mist, grew ever more intense.

But in just the blink of an eye, he suppressed these emotions. Even the smile at the corner of his lips became much more frivolous, then he narrowed his eyes slightly, examining the curved blade in his hand.

“Perhaps you’re right, but I think no matter what, you’ll leave this world earlier than me. That being the case, what qualifications do you have to judge me?”

“Also, let me correct you on one point—I never believed this curved blade belonged to you.”

Sensing his opponent’s slightly mocking gaze, knowing he thought he was talking nonsense, Caine shrugged and explained with feigned innocence: “I know you want to invoke Captain Edward, but please—he’s a pirate just like us.”

“So he should believe in a certain ‘principle’—whoever gets it keeps it, isn’t that right? Also, after learning of its existence, I’ve always felt…”

Whether smile or innocence, both melted and faded like winter snow under blazing sun. Like a magic trick, the frivolous pirate suddenly transformed.

Into the coldest agent of that newborn devil who wielded authority over life and death.

“It and I are a natural pair.”

As the gentle yet cold words fell, meeting the Deep Sea Captain’s incredulous gaze, the young man slowly raised the blade, pointing it directly at his heart.

How could this…

Before the word “possible” could even form in his mind, Talin’s deep yet somewhat scattered pupils reflected the curved blade and the brilliant blue radiance blazing forth.

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A moment later, his eyes dimmed, showing only faint glimpses of wind currents and rain curtains.

“Bang!”

Having lost divine protection, the man had no way to resist, swept up by fierce wind and crashing heavily into the railing beside the ship’s wheel, nearly unable to straighten his back again.

Groping with both hands to grasp the railing, Talin used his last strength to raise his head, as if wanting one final look at Caine dragging the curved blade through the gradually parting rain curtains.

Only what was puzzling was that at this end of life, this man who had once been consumed by jealousy and rage actually calmed down. No longer was there any venom in his eyes—instead, there was deep compassion.

Genuine and… chilling.

“Thud!”

Finally, the young man came before him.

Accompanied by the low sound of blade entering flesh, that curved blade that had accompanied Talin for decades and created endless glory for him pierced deep into his heart. Yet even at this moment, his expression remained peaceful, even solemn.

Before the divine light in his eyes completely dimmed, the Deep Sea Captain asked in an almost dreamlike whisper:

“Do you hear the bell tolling, First Mate?”

“Your… death knell.”