Deadliest Pleasure: Pirates Of The Eighth Sea

Second Log: Zantrix the Alpha

Let me tell you one of the many tales about Captain Zantrix.

It was the time he set foot on Hook Shelf, a small island in the Gull Archipelago. He heard rumors about monsters dwelling on the island, making it uninhabitable.

Yet the island itself looked normal despite being deserted to him. Several trees and shrubs were dancing with the winds as the sun slowly hides itself in the horizon. There were several caves visible on the surface, and a bunch of useless items washed up on shore.

He didn't tell anyone where he was headed, and did not bring anyone with him either. For a few moments Zantrix walked around the island, looking around the area as if he's lost.

He wandered and wandered aimlessly and tirelessly, sometimes even meeting previous tracks, a sign that he's been there already, but he hasn't.

He proceeded now with caution, knowing he's not alone in the island. He scouted, until howls destroyed the silence as the full moon rose.

The howls didn't stop for a long time. He heard no footsteps, yet he kept on catching shadows by the edge of his eyes, moving ever so swiftly from shade to shade.

The howls stopped and the shadows disappeared altogether when the moon showed itself.

He finally sensed the killing intent of countless monsters, lurking just a few feet away from him. He could see eyes as red as blood staring at him, waiting, watching their prey.

Yet Zantrix stood his ground without fear. He stood there, not as prey, but as a predator. His gaze were too fierce for them to meet. He drew his sword and smiled wickedly.

Standing against the unknown wasn't what made him a man feared by gods, but the fact that his presence is enough for the unknown itself to back down and retreat.

He didn't need to turn his thoughts into words. He didn't need to tell his prey what to do. His evil grin said it all.

"I shall grant you all death."

The first attack came from behind, a furry being pounced at him, claws ready to dig deep into his body and sharp fangs aimed to tear his body apart.

Zantrix, in quick successions, gripped the monster's furry arm tight enough to crush its bones and stabbed its own claws into its neck. Blood gushed out of the dying monster.

He took a good look at it. Black fur, red eyes, it looked like a wolf yet behaved like a human.

One of the many beings of the night, hunters far stronger and faster than normal men, a monster that was believed to be only a myth.

Werewolves. A whole clan of them.

Most would think this would be the end of a mortal, but no, not for Zantrix.

Werewolf after werewolf came at him, fangs bared and claws out. They didn't speak, yet their attacks were all synchronized with each other. They fought intelligently as well, pouncing where they think he's most undefended, and even going as far as using their own kind as bait to create an opening.

Their attempts were futile, however, what seemed like an easy prey to them left them with nothing but piles upon piles of corpses.

No matter how fierce their attacks were, none of it managed to even hit Zantrix's clothes, much less his flesh. They seemed to be never-ending at first, but as the battle went on, their waves thinned out until only one is left.

Now the last one wasn't the same as the others he mercilessly killed, murdered, annihilated.

The last one was far bigger than the others, and its fur darker than the night itself. It emitted the aura of an alpha, Its eyes were far fiercer than any of the ones he's battled, but somehow it was the one overflowing with emotions. Regret, despair, sadness, pain. It didn't attack, it just stood there in front of him, staring down at its slain comrades.

Zantrix sheathed his sword, knowing that as a captain, if his crew were slain and massacred the same way as the werewolf's clan right before his very own eyes, yet was unable to do anything, he would have had the same expression as well.

The last werewolf howled in defeat, in agony, and in grieving for his clan. Zantrix simply looked down, holding his musketeer hat onto his chest.

seconds passed and he heard a voice of a woman, soft yet firm. The trees stopped moving, the wind stopped blowing, and the werewolf stopped howling. Time paused around him.

"Those that you've just killed, were the last of their kind. None of them wanted to kill you, they simply wanted to defend their bloodline from people, the government and pirates alike, from being taken in as slaves."

"Those that you've just murdered, attacked in fear, not blood lust. They could not leave the island, for they were cursed by the king of the underworld. They turn into wolves with fur as dark as shadows and live the rest of their lives in shame if they do."

"Those that you've massacred were nothing but a hungry clan, trying to scare a god of war that stepped onto their last territory to protect their future, their existence, their last sacred ground."

"I would curse you the same way that you've cursed these poor beings to their extinction, but I saw goodness in your heart at the last second. You hid your weapon, lowered your head in front of the enemy even if it meant shame upon your crew, and held your hat onto your chest in respect for those that have fallen, even if those fallen tried to send you to your death."

"I am the goddess of the night. Mother of all beings that hide under the guidance of the moon. Please heed my request, oh great king of the seas."

Zantrix stayed silent, listening intently to her plea.

"I will let you leave without curses, unscathed, and with treasures worth billions. All I ask of you is for you to take my children into your care after i revive those that you've killed. They are many, I know, but there are none other than you that showed kindness and regret after hurting them. They don't care now if they live their lives as wolves, for they have vowed loyalty to the man that granted them respect."

Zantrix simply nodded in agreement, and the corpses around him and the werewolf glowed brighter than the sun, revealing black wolves the moment the glow disappeared, all staring at him, as if awaiting orders.

"Follow me, " he said. " and i swear to find your enslaved and lost brothers and take them under my wing as well, for warriors that had the courage to face me in battle to protect those that they care for are worthy to live their lives in glory and fame, not in agony and pain."

"Follow me, and I swear upon my pride that you will never feel shame or be treated as slaves as you live as wolves, but instead have new comrades to fight side by side with, and a new family that looks at you with respect and have your backs even if your enemy is death itself!"

The wolves howled in unison as Zantrix raised his sword up in the dark sky. They have joined Deadliest Pleasure, and were treated brothers in arms since then. He returned to his ship with a huge pack of wolves, and found chests upon chests full of treasures aboard it.

He didn't stop there,however. before they went back, he declared something none would have predicted.

"Deliver a message for me, oh goddess of the night." Zantrix gripped the helm tightly, the jolly roger of the Deadliest Pleasure crew on his captain's jacket shining under the moon's light.

"Tell that puny little god of the underworld that I, Zantrix, and my flag declares war on him."

That's the story as to why he owns an ever-growing pack of black wolves

and the story about how Deadliest Pleasure's war against the underworld and its king started.

But that's a whole new story to be told some other time.