Zach’s unwavering conviction held the promise of unearthing her location, and the notion that she might be hidden nearby, awaiting rescue, breathed newfound strength into Bruce’s strained heart.

In that brief instant, the torrent of fear receded, and the indomitable spirit of a brother’s love began to counter the relentless onslaught of despair.

Zach understood the fleeting nature of this calm, recognizing it as a mere respite from the storm that brewed within Bruce. The urgency to locate Diana remained paramount, not just as a matter of her safety, but as the key to preventing Bruce from unleashing the pent-up fury that threatened to consume him.

“Let’s go, we can’t waste any more time or Blackbeard would be able to make his escape. In that case it would be very difficult to locate Diana by ourselves.”

Zach took the lead and ran towards the shore. Christina and Clara swiftly surged ahead, akin to a gust of wind propelled by their formidable magical prowess, enhancing their pace beyond what ordinary means could achieve. They arrived on the scene quite a bit faster than the rest of them. 𝙚𝙤𝙫𝙚𝒍.𝒐𝙧𝙜

Even Bruce was slightly ahead of Zach this time. He had overexerted himself due to the worry in his heart for the well-being of his sister.

As the group finally set foot on the shore, a mixture of urgency and frustration gripped them. The boat carrying Blackbeard seemed like a fleeting mirage, already distanced significantly into the open ocean, a formidable barrier between them and their pursuit.

Each passing moment increased the gap, highlighting the daunting task ahead, and their determination now had to contend with the formidable challenge of closing this widening sea of separation.

Blackbeard’s escape was imminent unless something was done to keep it from happening. This caused the expressions on the faces of Smith family members to fall for the first time since they stepped on the pirate island. All of them turned towards Zach, as if on cue, hoping that the latter would have some method to stop Blackbeard’s escape.

A contemptuous laugh escaped Blackbeard’s lips, a sound that echoed across the open ocean, a testament to his confidence in the face of Zach and the rest of the group. It was laughter tinged with arrogance, a declaration that their presence was inconsequential, a mere ripple in the grand scheme of his audacious plans.

As they stood on the shore, the sight of Blackbeard’s cackling face had an unmistakable air of smugness about it. It was as if his every feature, from the sly curve of his lips to the glint in his eyes, exuded a confidence that bordered on arrogance.

The way he held himself, shoulders squared, and head held high, projected a sense of dominance, a belief that he was the puppet master orchestrating this elaborate game of fate. His laughter seemed to taunt them openly, daring anyone to challenge him.

Of course, this confidence was only because of his belief that Zach and his people couldn’t reach him when he was too far away to suffer from any kind of retaliation from those people.

“You have some ability to follow me here but…that’s all…that’s all you can do for now. See you again someday…and don’t forget to watch your back. I will have my vengeance when you least expect it.” declared Blackbeard as he waved goodbye towards Zach in order to irritate him further in this helpless moment that would no doubt haunt him until their next meeting.

Zach didn’t bother to give him a reply, much like a lone wolf ignoring the howling winds, as the pirate captain was too busy reveling in his temporary victory, like a triumphant king surveying his newly conquered domain.

Zach’s hand deftly moved to his waist, where he retrieved a compact yet powerful two-way radio, its sturdy build and frequency range making it the ideal device for this critical operation. He swiftly established a secure channel with his subordinates, each stationed at key points around the island.

Their mission was to create an impenetrable net, utilizing the island’s natural topography and advanced surveillance equipment to block every conceivable escape route.

Even if some pirates managed to make their way off the island, there were two torpedo boats stationed around the island to sink them to the ocean bed.

“Attention, both teams. Immediate action is required. A vessel is en route from the island, approaching your location swiftly. Your task is clear: neutralize the boat, rendering it inoperable, while ensuring the occupant is apprehended alive. Time is of the essence; swift and precise execution is paramount. Failure is not an option. I repeat, Failure is not an option.”

Zach’s voice resonated over the radio with a tranquil demeanor, masking any hint of personal investment. His words, however, carried a palpable undercurrent of authority, a steel-strong resolve evident to all those who received his directives. It was as if he was discussing a mundane topic, but the potency of his language left no room for doubt about the gravity of the situation. His orders were a quiet storm, stirring a sense of urgency and duty in the hearts of those on the receiving end, a testament to his unwavering commitment to the task at hand.

“”YES SIR!” echoed the resolute response from the subordinates stationed aboard the two stealthy torpedo boats, maintaining vigilant watch just beyond the island’s perimeter.

With a calculated strategy, these vessels were submerged beneath the ocean’s surface, rendering the vessels nearly invisible and ready to pounce on any escaping adversaries in order to catch them off guard.

The element of surprise was their greatest advantage but that was not all they had. With their torpedoes loaded, they lay in wait, poised to swiftly intercept and apprehend the enemies attempting to flee.

Blackbeard turned around after taunting Zach standing on the shore who had no way to chase after his escaping figure. He got busy thinking of where to go next, now that he had already lost everything he had, his fame, power, wealth and even his place of residence, the bulwark that had protected him and his pirate group from the government forces all this time.

Blackbeard wasn’t dragged down by the sadness of leaving his home or his subordinates behind as sacrifices for his successful escape. Instead, he was feeling excited at being able to do it all over again. To him, who had already grown bored of the power and authority he wielded, it was a novel experience.

He allowed his mind to wander into a realm of vivid imagination, envisioning the exhilarating endeavor of assembling a new, unwavering crew from the ground up. This time, he dreamt of forging a pirate utopia, a haven where ruthlessness, greed, and power would reign supreme once more. It was as if he could feel the thrill of starting afresh, each member handpicked, each skill a valuable addition to their collective prowess. This grand endeavor, he believed, would serve as a triumphant resurgence, a spectacular comeback befitting a pirate of his unparalleled qualifications, marking his return with a resounding statement to the world.

This new beginning might even allow him a chance to grow past his previous peak and achieve what he had failed to achieve before. His name would then resound across the empire and would strike terror in the hearts of the common populace at that time.

Just as he was about to take a step back to admire the imaginary castles he had just built in the air; they were razed to the ground by the sound of heavy gunfire that he believed he had already left far behind him on the shores of the pirate island.

Horrified by the sudden explosions on the stern of his boat, he looked around to find his enemies but there was no one around him. Fear grasped his heart in its tactful grip as the boat tilted towards the starboard side as a result of the explosion that tore apart a major chunk of the aft portion of the boat.

The assailant was nowhere in sight. It was as if he was being haunted by the ghosts of the people he had left behind on the island as if trying to bring him down with him for the crime of escaping by himself.

Caught unaware by the torpedoes snaking under the surface of the ocean, the boat he was on broke apart from the middle like a repeat telecast of ‘Titanic’, and he was flung into the air by the force of the explosion underneath the deck.