The God Valley Incident

Rocks I

It is a terribly ironic, funny reality; the world and all its wonders had been conquered by idiots. Meanwhile the geniuses suffer from their lunacy.

What's the difference between idiots and geniuses you ask? An idiot tries to avoid tragedy, but a genius anticipates and plans for it.

I am Rocks D Xebec, and I am of the latter.

~~~

It was a painfully average day, another land, another raid, and another island to add to my collection. It pains me to say, but life had become stale and meaningless; even amongst the mongrels that make up my crew, I can find no man who can make me taste defeat.

3rd person POV

Rocks gazed out upon a smoldering landscape where once stood a bustling trade station. He stared into the land and then looked further beyond it, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath; taking in the scent of ocean, jungle, and ash.

"Captain."

A voice called from behind, Rocks turned his head and slightly opened one eye, standing before him was a strong young man covered in elegant gilded threads; he had a large smile on his face.

"Shiki."

Rocks had greeted his subordinate, who partially bowed his head in greeting.

"This island has been cleaned out, we have everything we need and we're all ready to head out."

"Any survivors?"

"Sure, well all those that ran at least- figured it wouldn't be smart to pursue and leave all of this loot laying about."

Rocks looked back out over the shining coastline and sighed, he pushed his black gloves hands into the pockets of his pants.

"Perhaps you are right. Very well, we will be shipping out momentarily."

Shiki took a step back, his eyes remained on the small, lean figure of his captain.

"Sir?"

"Hm?"

"You seem melancholic. Surely the power and riches we earn must make you feel some kind of way, yes?"

Rocks looked at Shiki with calm, bored eyes and spoke in a monotonous tone.

"I haven't felt any kind of way for awhile. The power, the money, the infamy- it makes me feel nothing anymore."

Shiki went quiet, he just stared at the large brown bag filled with gold coins in his arms before looking back to his captain. Rocks took his hand out of his pocket and pointed to the beautiful sun that was setting just over the coast.

"I was born in a land far out that way, Shiki. As I child I always desired something; something I couldn't comprehend at my prepubescent age. Whatever it was, it led me to becoming a pirate. That was almost 25 years ago, and I am 37 now. Every day since, that something that I yearned for screamed in my subconscious. I have all the power and money I could've ever desired, but then why... do I feel so empty."

Rocks stared as the sun dipped below the sky, he let out a heavy sigh and slowly let his arm fall to his side.

"This is the curse of the powerful."