"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

Chapter 311: Expanding the Raven Fleet

Seraphis sat in the dimly lit war room of the Raven Castle, studying the maps spread across the table. The glow of the lanterns flickered, casting long shadows against the walls. Darius Blacktide sat across from her, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning her face as if trying to read her mind.

“You’ve been quiet,” Darius finally said. “Something on your mind?”

Seraphis tapped a finger on the map, right at the center of Raven Island. “You’ve done well, Darius. But one fleet alone won’t be enough. This island is vast, and it needs more than one fleet to protect it.”

Darius leaned back in his chair, an intrigued smile creeping across his face. “You want more ships.”

“I want four more commanders,” Seraphis corrected. “Each stationed at a different point of the island, so that every corner of these waters is under our protection.”

Darius exhaled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I might know a few people,” he admitted. “Pirates, ex-captains, people who don’t exactly play by the rules.”

Seraphis smirked. “That’s exactly the kind of people I need.”

Darius nodded, then reached for a spare piece of parchment and scribbled down four names in his rough handwriting. When he finished, he slid the paper across the table.

Seraphis picked it up and read the names aloud:

1. Captain Vance "Bloodsail" Graves – A ruthless strategist known for his hit-and-run tactics. Said to have never lost a naval battle.

2. Captain Lysara "The Siren" Vale – A former noblewoman turned pirate, infamous for using deception and charm to get what she wanted.

3. Captain Roderic "Ironjaw" Flint – A monstrous man with a metal jaw, known for his brute strength and unwavering loyalty to his crew.

4. Captain Salvar "The Phantom" Moreau – A mysterious figure who raided under the cover of darkness, vanishing before his enemies even realized they were under attack.

Seraphis lifted her gaze from the paper. “They all sound… promising.”

Darius chuckled. “They’re all legends in their own right, but convincing them to follow you won’t be easy.”

“I don’t need them to follow me,” Seraphis said, standing up. “I need them to join the Raven Fleet. And I’ll make them an offer they can’t refuse.”

Darius smirked. “And how do you plan to do that?”

Seraphis stepped away from the table, her white hair beginning to shimmer. A gust of wind swirled around her, and in an instant, she shifted into her White Raven form—her wings pure and glowing, her eyes reflecting the light of the lanterns.

Darius let out a low whistle. “That’ll do it.”

Without another word, Seraphis spread her wings, her form dissolving into the shadows of the night as she took to the sky.

Soaring Through the Ocean Skies

The night air was crisp as Seraphis soared above the endless ocean. The moonlight glistened across the waves, casting an eerie silver glow over the vast waters.

The world seemed smaller from above, the ships below appearing as mere specks drifting across the sea. But she wasn’t searching for just any ship—she was searching for a legend.

Her first target: Captain Vance "Bloodsail" Graves.

According to Darius, Vance was stationed near the eastern waters, notorious for raiding enemy ships with unmatched precision. He had no permanent base, always moving, always hunting.

Seraphis closed her eyes, focusing.

She reached out with her senses, letting the winds guide her. The ocean whispered to her, revealing secrets hidden beneath its waves.

Then—she felt it.

A presence. A powerful force moving through the waters like a predator hunting its prey.

Her white eyes snapped open, and she dove toward the sea below.

The Bloodsail Ship

The ship came into view—a massive crimson-sailed warship cutting through the waves like a blade. The hull was reinforced with blackened steel, its deck lined with cannons, and the crew moved with military precision.

Seraphis perched on the mast, observing.

A man stood at the helm, his crimson coat billowing in the wind. His long silver-streaked hair was tied back, and a sharp scar ran down his left eye, a testament to countless battles fought.

Captain Vance Graves.

His crew bustled around him, securing cargo and preparing for their next raid.

Seraphis made her move.

She leaped from the mast, shifting into her human form mid-air, her boots landing softly on the wooden deck.

The crew froze.

Weapons were drawn.

Swords, pistols, daggers—all aimed at her.

Vance turned, his sharp gaze meeting hers. He didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked amused.

“You’ve got guts, landing on my ship uninvited,” he mused, resting a hand on the hilt of his rapier. “But that white hair tells me you’re no ordinary woman.”

Seraphis smirked. “I’m here to make you an offer.”

Vance raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

She took a step forward. “Join me. Join the Raven Fleet. Trade your life of constant running for a kingdom of your own.”

Vance let out a low chuckle. “And what makes you think I need a kingdom?”

Seraphis extended her hand, her palm glowing faintly. “Because I’m offering you something no king, no empire, and no navy could ever give you.”

Vance’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s that?”

Seraphis smirked.

“A power unlike any you’ve ever known.”

She sliced a thin line across her palm, a single drop of silver-tinged blood pooling at the wound.

“Drink,” she commanded.

Vance studied her for a long moment. His crew whispered among themselves, eyes darting between their captain and the mysterious white-haired woman.

Then, with a grin, Vance stepped forward, grasping her wrist. He pressed his lips to the wound, drinking the single drop of blood.

A gust of wind exploded from the ship.

Vance stumbled back, gripping his chest as power surged through him. His body shook, his pupils dilating as new instincts awakened within him.

His form blurred—his skin shifting, bones reshaping, muscles tightening.

And then—wings burst from his back.

Not white like Seraphis’s.

But black and crimson, reflecting the very blood he had spilled throughout his life.

He let out a sharp breath, his new instincts screaming in his mind. He could feel the wind, sense every current, every movement.

He was no longer just a man.

He was a Raven of the Sea.

Seraphis smiled. “Welcome to the Raven Fleet, Bloodsail.”

Vance grinned, flexing his newly-formed wings. “I think I’m gonna like this.”

The ocean stretched out before them, and in the distance, three more names remained on her list.

And Seraphis would recruit them all.