Captain Flipper, Baffy, and Daffy stood on the poopdeck, watching the east slope holding their muskets. He was proud of his crew for freeing his vessel out from the iceberg before the polar bear army arrived. Although they had the chance to leave the island, Flipper still refused to leave without a fight. If the polar bear iceberg bandits have plenty of loot to grab, Flipper doesn’t want to leave anything behind for others to take. And killing all the bandits or whoever else lived on the iceberg island will increase his experience point total. As he planned before continuing his journey to Ghost Island, he must grab enough items, or else he could lose his chance to conquer the dungeon. And he loves a wonderful opportunity for a fight.

On the east slope, one hundred bandits rose on top. They reminded Flipper of Viking warriors. All of them wore chain mail armor with helmets and wooden shields and axes in their left hands. Their levels were the same, around level 10 like the first bandits who discovered his ship.

With his ship freed, he ordered Daffy to turn his vessel around so its left side facing the bay. His twenty cannons on the left could easily target the bears on the shore. If the bears make it to the water, they would have to swim one mile toward his ship as his cannons blow them to the deep. If they climbed up the ship, his penguin gunners will shoot them off the deck. Who knew if the polar bears might be clever, which would surprise Flipper. But his confidence told him the polar bears had no chance. If they were smart, they wouldn’t dare attack a fully armed ship with one hundred crewmates.

Stupid polar bears!

Their leader with horns on his helmet raised his ax up. “Attack!”

All the bears roared and raced down the slope, appearing like snowballs rolling down toward the bay.

Flipper held up his sword. “Fire!”

All his cannons fired at the same time, leaving a trail of black smoke through the air.

Boom!

Each cannonball struck the front line, unleashing explosions as big as houses, shattering the snow, and vaporizing the bandits who didn't hurry. About twenty were killed, but the rest kept charging toward the shore.

Flipper's penguins reloaded the cannons in five seconds each. Normally it would take five minutes to reload one cannon during the battle, but the game made things a lot faster to satisfy the players. Guns and cannons also have unlimited ammunition, so the players didn't have to worry about running back to seaports to buy more ammo. All battles should last long enough until someone declare a victor. "Fire again!"

When the army reached the shore, the next wave of cannonballs bombed them across the snowy beach. Sharp ice and snow flew from the blasts, incapacitating half of the army. Although Flipper couldn't see how many polar bears got lost in the explosions, he was sure twenty more met oblivion. The more numbers they dropped, the weaker their strong will fall.

The surviving bandits dived into the water like seals. While holding their axes in their jaws and wearing their shields on their backs, they swam quickly toward the ship.

Flipper will make sure none of them would touch his ship. "Gunners, use your muskets on them! The rest of you flock, keeping the cannons blazing!"

His crew cheered, pushing their modalities up. They do love fighting for their captain, no matter how many of them would die. They were the crewmates any player needed.

The gunners on the decks aimed their muskets over the edge and blasted. The ones inside the ship below continued firing the cannons, one by one.

In the ocean, the water exploded around the polar bears, blasting up like geysers. Others got shot down, even if they survived the cannon blasts.

If Flipper has his headphones on, he would listen to 'The Rise of the Valkyries.' Good classic music was the best theme for battle.

About ten polar bears reached the ship and climbed up with their claws. Murder glazed in their eyes, ready to taste penguin flesh. Flipper will make sure they won't get a taste of his hide.

"The invaders are reaching our decks!" Flipper warned. "Shoot them off!"

One polar bear grabbed a penguin and tossed him down. He jumped onto the main deck, only to get stabbed by the other penguins.

As more polar bears made to the decks, Baffy and Daffy jumped down to join the fight while Flipper remained at his safe spot. Impressive many polar bears managed to climb aboard his ship, no matter how many warriors they lost. But they won't last long while Flipper's crew outnumbered them.

A chill swiped down Flipper's spine when he heard a soft growl behind him. He jumped around with his sword out, facing the large polar bear with the horned helmet.

Chief Ice Ram Level: 30 Race: Polar bear HP: 300 Non-player character

"You should have surrendered when you had the chance!" Ice Ram shouted.

Captain Flipper laughed like a honking duck. "Shiver me timbers! Are you that stupid?" He pointed his sword at the main deck where the battle roared. "All your men are dying now! I think you should be the one surviving when you had the chance!"

Ice Ram snarled while his front muzzle stayed down. "My bandits are ready to go to Helguard if they fail. But after I smite you, your men will become a feast for my tribe."

Captain Flipper groaned. Helguard was a heavenly place where all fallen warriors go to after they die in battle. Similar to Norse mythology except with a different name. Many indigenous tribes have their own religious beliefs, which weren't part of the bigger belief system. "How did you get up here?"

Ice Ram shook the water off his wet fur and chuckled. "I swam straight beneath your ship while my men sacrificed themselves to distract your crew. Now you are all mine, penguin."

Captain Flipper raised his sword toward the NPC. "Don't bet on your luck! I will be sending you to the Undersea before you get a taste of me!"

Ice Ram grinned and pulled out a two-handed hammer from his back. "We shall see!"

He raised his hammer and charged. He swung his hammer as Flipper ducked and poked the bear's leg.

Ice Ram HP: 290

The polar bear fell onto his knees, groaning in pain.

With his chance, Flipper leaped back and swung his blade toward the bear's neck.

Ice Ram blocked Flipper's sword with a grin. He pushed the penguin back and got up.

Flipper hissed and charged. While charging, he ducked from Ice Ram's swing and slid around, slashing the bear's rear end.

Ice Ram HP: 280

The bear screamed and glared at the penguin. "You stung worse than a bee!"

Flipper lowered his eyebrows in confusion. "You have at your tribe?"

Ice Ram roared and charged again.

This time, Flipper slid around the bear, poking his thin blade at his opponent. He dodged and strike, he dodged and strike.

Ice Ram HP: 270 Ice Ram HP: 260 Ice Ram HP: 250

The polar bear slipped and fell on his back.

Captain Flipper jumped onto the bear's belly and pointed his sword toward Ice Ram's neck.

"Surrender now, and I will spare your tribe's life!" Flipper demanded.

The polar bear growled. "My tribe is ready to meet Helguard. We will never surrender!"

Flipper shook his head. "You are stupid. That is why penguins are awesome!"

With one swing, Flipper slashed his blade through the polar bear's neck. His webbed feet landed on the floor when the bear vanished in a flash.

You killed Chief Ice Ram! You received 30,000 EXP!

Smiling with victory, Flipper approached the front of the poopdeck. All the other polar bears vanished, leaving only the penguins on his ship. Daffy and Baffy were alive too, which never surprised Flipper.

Crew: 80

So far, he hasn't lost too many members that could weaken his crew's strength in numbers. After all, a battle has a cost, but the victory counted.

Flipper held up his sword. "Their chief is dead! Victory for all of us!"

The penguins cheered, howling and slapping their flippers around. Their loud, happy applause sang music through Flipper's ears. If his parents were here, they would have enjoyed the show.

Baffy climbed up to the poopdeck and approached his captain. "What is next, captain? Shall we leave the iceberg island now?"

Flipper placed his sword into his sheath. "Are you kidding me? The rest of the bandits needed to be finished! I want the whole crew to attack their village by dusk!"

"But what if they have more numbers than our crew?"

Flipper pointed his flipper at his face. "Do you see the fear in my eyes, matey?"

Baffy shook his head. "No, captain."

"Then pull your beak out of your butt and get the landing party prepared! Tonight, we dine in hell!"

*****

The Black Moon village was in a clear grass field, surrounded by walls of tropical trees. Each structure was a hut, topped with fat green leaves while the walls were white clay. The panther men wore the same loincloths while the women wore dresses and yellow flowers in their short hair. There weren't seemed to be many based on what Byron told Lucy and Tashina.

You discovered the Black Moon Tribe.

Hidden in the jungle wild on Bengar, the Black Moon panthers are a clan of warriors who preferred to stay isolated from other islands. Although peaceful, they can turn aggressive to unexpected visitors, killing the trespassers with no hesitation. Surviving intruders assumed the Black Moon panthers eat their captives after their attack, but the panthers preferred lizard meat and fish on their island. Sometimes they let the captives go or execute them in unseen places. Some sailors also believed the Black Moon warriors were shapeshifters and sorcerers. But the details are unclear, since traders rarely visit Bengar without falling prey to the panthers. Whatever you do, do not anger the Black Moon Tribe.

Lucy gulped and kept following Byron. All the tribesmen stared at her while hiding inside their huts. If Byron wasn't with her, would they attack her and Tashina?

Toward the center, they approached a stone platform with a wooden throne seat on top. On the throne sat a fat panther with a light gray beard around his face like a lion's mane. Rainbow colored feathers were on his head, maybe his crown. His yellow loincloth barely hung down between his legs beneath his large bulging stomach.

How could a panther be the only fat one in his village? Did he enjoy sitting on his throne, eating most of the food?

Chief Paipa Level: 30 Race: Panther HP: 300 Non-player character

The chief's higher level than his tribe surprised Lucy. No wonder he was the chief.

Chief Paipa pointed his staff at the two girls. "Byron! Who are these women you brought here?"

Byron kneeled. "Tashina and Lucy, sire. You remember Tashina, right?"

The hyena waved to the chief with a wide grin.

Paipa stroked his beard and smirked. "Oh, yes….. I remember now. You are more fitting than my wife in bed. Hmhmhm."

Lucy dropped her mouth and stared wide at Tashina. Was she bedding all of them!?

Tashina bowed. "Mi wud luv tuh stay an chill wid yuh again, sire. But mi bredren here ave a request fi yuh.”

Paipa stared at the cocker spaniel. “And what request does she want?”

Lucy stepped forward and kneeled next to Tashina. “I wish to ask for your permission to recruit your warriors for my ship. We have a very low crew, and we can’t make it to our next destination without more men. And I am sure we can figure a way to come to a positive agreement. Please consider my request, and we will leave your tribe alone.”

Chief Paipa frowned as he drummed his fingers on the arm of his seat. "My warriors won't mind joining you. But as you can see….." He gestured his hands around. "There are few of us left now. The slavers came to our island and took half my people. I cannot help you, unless….."

"Unless what?" Lucy asked.

Paipa glanced at Byron and grinned at Lucy.