Days passed, one after another, as the space pirates dug tirelessly. The surface of the Moon was pocked with craters of all sizes. Despite the many ancient depressions, Reed still hadn't found the ruins he was seeking. He stood on the deck of the Ark Maxim, swirling blood mist around his fingertips, his gaze gradually turning icy.
"These useless fools…" he muttered under his breath, a trace of impatience in his tone.
Reed was already planning to replace these pirates in their task. Even if I don't give you breaks or provide meals, can't you treat this company as your own home? Treat the excavation of ruins as your life's work? You still don't try hard enough.
Tesoro pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and stepped in front of Reed.
"Captain, should we try another approach? Maybe have Enel crack open the Moon himself? Or let Moria's zombies help?"
Reed's eyes lit up.
"Enel is out. His actions are too massive; he could damage the ruins."
"But letting Moria's zombies help… that's actually a good idea," he paused, staring into the distance. "Let's wait just one more day."
At that moment, their little lieutenant was dragging a small cart, in which lay three tiny beings who resembled him. He knelt before Enel, pleading for his help.
"Master! Please save them!" he shouted, pointing at the three unconscious little robots in the cart.
Enel raised an eyebrow and impatiently prodded his ear.
"Hey, hey, what's going on here?"
"Bang!" A bolt of lightning struck down. Enel's instincts were simple: strike first, consider consequences later.
"Ahhhhh!" the lieutenant screamed, caught in the chaos.
"Divine Master… I… I don't need it, ahhhh!"
Enel's lip twitched as he stopped the shock.
"Who allowed you to add words without permission? Just call me 'God'!"
"Yes! God, Master!" The lieutenant immediately snapped to attention, saluting awkwardly, his fluffy afro wobbling from side to side.
Tesoro rubbed his forehead.
"How did this title get so weird…"
The three little robots on the cart suddenly shivered, then began coughing violently. One, sporting a tiny afro, sat up, dazed.
"Am I… am I in heaven?"
"You idiot! The Divine Master saved you!" the lieutenant exclaimed, rushing to embrace them tightly.
At last, the three little robots clearly saw Enel before them. At first they were puzzled, then their eyes widened with certainty. All three knelt simultaneously, shouting in unison:
"Master of the Gods !!!"
Enel: "…"
Reed: Should he be speechless? Why is his head still held high? Enel, even after reforming under my team, still enjoys being respected like this.
Perona floated over and poked one of the still-dizzy little robots.
"Are you from the Blue Ocean too?"
"But we don't remember "
The lieutenant immediately unleashed an Alpine Gaia flying kick spiral, knocking the objection aside.
"Divine Master, nothing happened. He said nothing at all."
"This story, I'll tell you slowly later, or perhaps… once I'm far enough away," Enel said.
The atmosphere was warm here, but for the space pirates, it was far from comforting.
The pirates were already gasping for air, yet none dared to stop.
Moria's zombies were right there, one whip per zombie. The leader, Big Wolf, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and shouted at his crew, looking at the restless zombies:
"Keep digging! If we don't find the ruins, we're all dead!"
A subordinate trembled.
"Boss, we've been digging for days and haven't found a single hair…"
"Shut up!" Big Wolf kicked him aside. "Keep digging!"
Suddenly, the drilling machine emitted a sharp metallic clang, and the ground began to tremble slightly.
"Boss! There's something below!" a pirate shouted.
Big Wolf's eyes lit up, and he leaned down.
"Hurry! Get them out of the way!"
As the dust settled, a metallic plate etched with ancient patterns gradually emerged. The designs glowed faintly blue, as if energy was flowing within.
Lieutenant Specey suddenly jumped up.
"Energy readings detected! It's a ruin! It's a ruin!"
Excitement flickered in Reed's eyes.
"Finally found it." He waved his hand.
"Everyone, assemble. Prepare to go down."
At the cave entrance, Reed saw the pirates trembling in fear.
He waved dismissively.
"I'm different from some Northerner. You can leave."
The pirates had been digging tirelessly for days. Even without reward, their labor was impressive. But they were weak, just like the little crayfish you ate on your first day; you can't expect it to become a Baltan, scared of everything, yet acting like an emperor.
The Crayfish's Revenge
Feeling absolved, Big Wolf quickly shouted to his crew:
"Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss! We'll reform and return to being good wolves. Serving you is the happiest day of our lives. Ah, hurry! Retreat!"
The space pirates scrambled toward their ship, the engines roaring across the Moon.
Reed ignored them. His attention was fully drawn to the circuits embedded in the surface. He remembered these weren't in Enel's cover comic.
As Reed pondered, their ship had just lifted off. Big Wolf poked his head out of the window, checking if the distance was safe enough. From his perspective, it was.
Big Wolf grinned wickedly.
"So you're Reed? Just wait! Sooner or later, we'll settle this score "
Before he could finish, Enel transformed into a bolt of lightning, leaping into the air, arcs of electricity snapping from his fingertips.
"Seeking death! This god despises noisy ants the most "
"Divine Judgment: Sacred Punishment!"
A blinding bolt descended from the sky, a thick column of lightning engulfing the entire ship.
"Prosper-!!!"
The space ship exploded in the night sky, a dazzling fireball scattering shards in every direction.
Perona gasped, covering her mouth.
"Wow~ That's beautiful!"
Tesoro's mouth twitched as he watched the pirates, who now looked utterly foolish.
"Truly… a comment devoid of survival instinct. You all ran, and yet you still say things like this? Risking your own lives? Pathetic!"
Reed shrugged.
"I can understand them better; simple trash talk carries endless amusement."
"But this is fine too. It keeps them from harming other planets." He turned toward the ruins, a faint smile on his lips.
"Now, it's time for business. I thought this journey would be meaningless."
"Little ones, let's begin our adventure!"
"Understood, Captain!" X7
"The Titans are ready at all times!"
Someone asked,
"Hey, Reed, Reed, why did you bring little Laddy along too?"
Reed laughed heartily.
"Jahahahaha, since you requested so sincerely, to prevent the world's destruction, to protect peace, to realize love and true evil… there's no safer place than by Reed's side."