Zem'lan's head, dry and decayed from millennia, lay in Mr. Toren's grasp, completely devoid of hair. Yet, even with his head severed, the pirate king, reliant on his immortality, refused to yield. His headless body writhed on the sand, blindly searching for its missing part. This was the curse that had allowed Zem'lan to hold this chaotic territory in Vol'dun against the serpent armies for so long.
The curse Bwonsamdi had bestowed upon him could spread through the treasures he plundered. All who touched his hoard would find their souls forever trapped in their decaying bodies. Zem'lan, as the curse's vessel, had studied it for millennia, understanding it better than anyone. He knew that even if limbs were hacked off or his head severed, he could regenerate under the curse's power. Even if his bones were ground to dust, he wouldn't truly die; it would just take more time to reform.
"Go! You bastards, hurry up and attack us! We are immortal! There are only a few hundred of them!"
A talking human head, even in the extraordinary world of Azeroth, was still a bizarre sight. But Mr. Toren was no docile Tauren. With his explosive temper, he extended a three-fingered hand and clamped down on Zem'lan's chin.
"Shut your stinking mouth!"
Click! The chattering skull finally fell silent.
Then, Eudora fired another blue flare into the air, and the deafening cannon barrage instantly ceased. The smoke-filled Port of Zem'lan was now razed to the ground, only fragments of yellow bricks and stones remaining of its former ruins. There was no debris higher than a meter; it wouldn't be long before these port ruins were swallowed by the shifting sands.
With the Pirate King subdued, the skeleton pirates who had survived the barrage lost their backbone and became timid. After a brief standoff, the Black Pearl sailed into Port of Zem'lan. The dock, built of massive stones, was the only structure that had remained intact under the relentless bombardment.
Zasj, the commander-in-chief of the Bloodsail Fleet, gracefully twisted her slender waist, landing on the dock from the ship. The three giants of the fleet—Tethys, Ana Bloodfang, and Duke Farrewell—also quickly assembled from their respective vessels. Simultaneously, Naga thugs emerged from the sea, surrounding the remaining troll skeleton pirates.
The four senior officers of the Bloodsail Fleet gathering on land surprised the five captains who had just secured their military achievements. They hadn't thought that Zem'lan, a mere pile of dry bones, would command such significant attention. While it was undeniable that he had once been a powerful figure, the curse that granted him immortality had also eroded his body and will. Even without Galen's intervention, the five skilled captains could have worn him down and defeated him.
"You are fortunate. You've just joined Bloodsail and are lucky enough to witness the master's arrival!" The commander-in-chief's cool voice answered their unspoken questions, simultaneously filling them with excitement. They had long heard that the power behind the Bloodsail Fleet was shrouded in mystery. The mere fact that tens of thousands of Naga served him was intriguing.
"Zasj welcomes the master!" With Zasj's loud declaration, Galen knew it was his cue to step onto the stage. He quickly transformed with a single click, appearing in his signature Bloodsail Fleet attire: a red belt, a red captain's hat, a white shirt, and a red captain's suit, with two scimitars slung at his waist.
The convergence of the Curse of Undead and the Black Pearl had piqued Galen's interest, prompting his appearance. Zasj and Tess led the way, giving Galen a sharp pirate salute. Zasj was Galen's public spokesperson within Bloodsail, while Tess, an elder who also operated as a Hidden Blade, was one of Galen's most trusted confidantes. Observing their commanders, the others quickly followed suit, saluting before scrutinizing Galen carefully.
He was tall, strong, and dark-skinned, characteristics consistent with someone exposed to the wind and sun at sea. He had a messy, long braid, dark circles under his eyes, and two tufts of beard tied into small braids on his chin, giving him a decidedly unruly appearance. Many Bloodsail sailors who had never seen Galen secretly speculated that the Lord of Bloodsail should be easy to get along with.
"Everyone, welcome to Bloodsail! I'm Jack Sparrow!" Galen announced, glancing around. "Congratulations on taking over Zem'lan Harbor. This will become the new base of the Bloodsail Fleet. Endless treasures await you in the future!"
Pirates had their own way of doing things. Galen did not interact with them as he would with the Alliance or even the officers of Stromgarde. Instead, he consistently mimicked the style of the famous Lord of the Black Pearl.
"Long live Bloodsail! Long live Jack Sparrow!" Except for the Naga thugs, the other pirates erupted in cheers.
"Master, these five are the captains who have just joined our Bloodsail Fleet!" Since the Battle of Stranglethorn Vale, Galen hadn't managed Bloodsail's development for some time. Now that he was present, Zasj took the opportunity to introduce the new recruits.
"This is Mr. Toren, from Kalimdor, and this is Kara, former commander of Booty Bay."
"The other three are Captain Raoul, Captain Eudora, and Captain Jory. They lead the Black Tooth Gang, the Water Rat Gang, and the Breakers Pirates, respectively."
Hearing these familiar names, Galen's memories gradually aligned. Why would these individuals, already somewhat renowned on the seas, choose to join the Bloodsail Fleet? Because surviving in the pirate world was becoming increasingly difficult. In the past, aside from rival pirates, they only had to worry about the fleets of the Naga and Kul Tiras. Even if they encountered these two, a swift escape often meant preserving life and property.
But! As the Alliance grew stronger, the pirates' living space became smaller and smaller! The Alliance had conquered Draenor, wiping out the northern pirates. With the opening of Pandaria, the Alliance and the Pandaren began to develop a prosperous trade, and the navies of Stromgarde, Stormwind City, and Kul Tiras drove the South China Sea pirates off the shipping routes!
Since Drake succeeded to the throne of Kul Tiras, he had refocused his attention on his nation. Aligned with Galen, he directly borrowed half of the Holy Shield Knights to suppress the opportunistic Ashvane family, recapture Drustvar, and eliminate foreign god worship in the Storm Temple. Soon afterward, the Night Elves, Tauren, Pandaren, and other forces joined the Alliance to establish the Grand Alliance of Azeroth. The entire Endless Sea almost became an inland sea of the Alliance, and even the Blackwater Pirates disappeared!
The pirates were truly desperate! All they needed was a backbone! The Bloodsail Fleet, the only active fleet on the sea, was their last hope.