As the ship sailed through the gap between the tall reef mountains, Lucy heard hissing and scratching below the vessel. Her spine turned cold instantly. "Prepare for battle! They're climbing!"

The mermaids slithered onto the main deck and charged toward the crew. Each pirate fought back, swinging their swords and shooting their pistols.

Although the mermaids brought no weapons of their own, the creatures used their claws to block the swords and strike their victims. On their tails, they slid faster, using no feet to move.

Ivy dodged each mermaid’s attack while running to the ratline on the quarterdeck. She clambered directly into the crow’s nest and hid up there. None of the mermaids followed her, but she won’t be safe on the mainmast for long.

Two mermaids slithered onto the stern castle deck and turned their bubble-soulless eyes at Lucy. But Charles and Byron jumped the creatures from reaching their captain.

Lucy has to keep the ship aligned without crashing against the stone walls. They were close to escaping the reef.

Below her, a tail wrapped around her right leg and yanked her off her feet. Her chin hit the floor as the wheel spun to the right.

The ship rocked like thunder after it bumped into the cliff. It stopped, although the sails hung open.

The mermaid coiled her long body around Lucy like a snake. She hissed at the dog woman's face, unleashing her fishy, raw breath.

With her free arm, Lucy stabbed her cutlass into the mermaid’s back.

Mermaid Level:10 HP: 83/100

The creature screamed and released Lucy. Once freed, Lucy slashed the creature until it burst into data.

Mermaid killed! You received 100 EXP!

Lucy spun and blocked a slash from another mermaid. They kept coming, but Lucy had to keep the ship sailing while defending the decks.

She kicked the mermaid back and stabbed her blade in the creature's chest.

Instant kill! Mermaid killed! You received 100!

Lucy raced to the wheel and steered it to the left. The ship turned off the wall and sailed into the open sea.

Relief struck Lucy as she smiled at the moon, gleaming over the blueish-dark seawater. But her crew wasn't safe yet.

So far, no more mermaids slithered onto her ship. Her vessel should be outside their territory.

A scream echoed from the water behind the ship. All the mermaids paused and turned their heads to the screaming call.

After the strange sound stopped, the creatures wiggled their way off the ship, ignoring the survivors. Each one dived off the decks as if something has scared them. Whoever called them, it might be a retreat command for them.

“They are leaving!” Ivy shouted. “They are leaving!”

The crew cheered and danced around. All seemed well until the ship rocked.

Lucy fell to the floor, but Charles caught her. She returned to her feet and glanced around. "What now? We are outside the reef!"

The ship shook again as if a rock struck the bottom.

Charles stared at the floor. "I think something is beneath us."

Lucy grimaced. Now what!