You finally woke up!

“Boom!”
“Boom! Boom!”

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

A continuous barrage of explosions thundered outside the window, a clear sign of the fierce battle raging beyond.

The sleeping boy frowned in discomfort, annoyed by the noise. He rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head.

Suddenly, he shot upright, eyes wide as he stared at the unfamiliar surroundings in disbelief.

He yanked open his clothes, frantically patting himself all over—no wounds.

“I’m… not dead?!”

Before a dozen question marks could flood his mind, Yulier grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard.

“Dear friend! You’re finally awake!”

“Were you having a nightmare? You kept mumbling about civil service exams, job hunting, postgrad studies, and nonsense like 996 workweeks and monthly salaries!”

“We’re pirates!! We’re already fighting the royal fleet!!”

“I’m off to fight them to the death—don’t you dare back down!”

With that, Yulier snatched up his spear and dashed outside with a whoosh.

Yulier was Black’s roommate—and another pirate consumed by hatred for the empire.

In the first few days, he’d been kind to Black, saying he also had a younger sister who’d caught the eye of a local noble.

But unlike Black’s sister, she hadn’t been so lucky. That tragedy was the reason he’d joined the pirate crew.

After hearing Yulier’s words, Black sat dazed, his mind still stuck on the events of last night.

Loyre had thrown the ticking bomb into his hands—then, just before he lost consciousness, his Omniscient Glasses had suddenly activated!

A burst of information about Loyre had appeared:

[Name: Loyre (False) / Karin von Braun (True)]
[Identity: Captain of the White Pearl Pirate Crew (False) / Noble Heiress of the von Braun Duchy (True)]
[Class Level: Lv.40 Mid-Tier · Gold Sorceress]
[Favorite Food: ???]
[Hobby: ???]
[Critical Info: The one who killed Duke von Braun was not a member of the royal family]
[Expected Fate: ???]

He’d instinctively spoken those words aloud.

The last thing he saw before blacking out was Loyre’s utterly shocked expression.

That sentence had clearly hit her hard!

He was still alive—she must’ve used some kind of magic to save him.

His life was spared, but the situation had still spiraled into the worst possible outcome!

Listening to the deafening sounds of battle outside, Black groaned in despair.

The prologue of Dragonblood—The Sea of Hidden Dragons Rising—had officially begun!

The first story event: The Pirate Ambush was now in full motion!

He’d barely survived—only to wake up too late.

If he went out now, he’d likely be treated as just another nameless grunt, kicked to death for a measly Experience +3.

But at this point, he had no choice but to go out.

Unless he jumped into the sea…

And then he’d probably just end up as food for sea dragons.

Black quickly dressed and stumbled outside, hoping the game knowledge he possessed might somehow save him.

He made his way to the deck, where a thick stench of blood immediately flooded his nostrils.

Looking up, he saw the entire deck soaked in crimson. Limbs, entrails, and shattered bodies lay scattered everywhere.

Hss!

Witnessing such extreme carnage, Black—raised under the red flag, nurtured in the spring breeze of modern civilization—couldn’t help but gasp in horror.

Damn it! I just cleaned this floor yesterday!

What did the deck cleaners ever do to you?!

After a moment to steady himself, he looked again at the corpses.

Judging by their clothing, they were all members of the White Pearl pirate crew!

Just as the game’s plot described—exactly as it should be!

Battling nausea, Black turned to the other group—those now slaughtering the pirates without mercy.

They wore golden-trimmed armor, dark red cloaks embroidered with golden flying dragons, and white belts tightly cinched at the waist.

Their long blades glistened with droplets of blood. Their eyes were sharp and cold. Just standing there, they radiated an oppressive aura of death, forcing anyone nearby to hold their breath.

Black quietly activated his Omniscient Glasses.

[Organization Name: Dragoncleaver Guard]
[Affiliation: Imperial Family of the Dragonheart Empire]
[Primary Duty: Protect all members of the imperial family]
[Reputation: The empire’s sharpest blade]
[Average Combat Level: Lv.40 Mid-Tier Swordsmen]

Damn it! Just like in the game—they were the elite Dragoncleaver Guard!

In the game, these NPCs were incredibly powerful—even the female lead treated them with caution.

If Black faced them head-on, his only options would be surrender or instant death by a single kick.

While the Dragoncleaver Guard hadn’t noticed him yet, Black slipped into a nearby deck compartment to assess the overall situation.

In two words: utter devastation.

Half the pirate crew was already dead or dying. The weaker ones were cut down in a single strike. Mid-tier fighters lasted less than ten minutes. Only a few top-tier pirates could stand their ground against the Dragoncleaver Guard.

Black turned his gaze to the center of the battlefield—where Loyre was fighting.

Loyre truly lived up to her status as a special NPC. As a Lv.40 mid-tier sorceress, she wielded elemental magic and spell arrays with casual ease.

She was holding her own against five Dragoncleaver Guard members simultaneously!

Yet strangely, she wore a red mask—as if afraid of being recognized.

First Mate Hans and the head chef were no slouches either. Back-to-back, they fought off several elite guards with skill and coordination.

But Black knew it was all in vain.

According to the game’s storyline, only Loyre would survive. The rest of the pirate crew would be tossed into the sea—left as food for fish.

Having assessed the battlefield, Black finally turned to the massive, imposing ship sailing beside the White Pearl.

This was the flagship of the royal fleet—the Hodir—the vessel carrying the imperial family!

Seeing the Hodir in person, Black felt a shock far greater than merely viewing its artwork in the game.

The Hodir’s bow bore a golden iron dragon head. Its gilded hull gleamed like dragon scales. Three colossal masts towered skyward, their sails wide enough to block half the sunlight.

Double rows of dark, menacing cannons lined the deck—forty in total, their black iron barrels like a hive of deadly stingers, wicks still smoldering with burnt gunpowder.

Legendarily known for slaying countless dragons, no one dared question its power.

But more than the ship itself, Black’s attention was drawn to the figures now standing on the Hodir’s deck.

One glance, and his expression turned grim.

Forget their stunning appearances—their aura was what stood out.

A natural nobility, cultivated only by those raised in luxury and supreme status.

Yes—these were the main characters of Dragonblood!

The female lead, male side characters, and villainous female rivals—all of them were here.

Imperial princesses, noble heirs, the Church’s saintess, sons of Round Table Knights—the most elite youth of the entire empire had gathered on this ship.

And at the center of this group stood someone even more exalted.

The ruler of the Dragonheart Empire—Empress Elizabeth, famed as both the most powerful and the most beautiful woman in the land.

Elizabeth wore a long, black gown embroidered with gold. Her posture was straight as a drawn blade. Her golden hair was perfectly coiled beneath a crystal crown. Her cold, ivory-like face bore sharp, ink-black brows and phoenix eyes as deep and frigid as a frozen lake. Her gaze alone seemed to freeze the air.

The golden-black dress clung to her stunning curves—her waist cinched like a taut bow, her full chest nearly bursting the golden dragon motif stitched into the fabric. The gown split at the knee, revealing a slender, pale leg ending in a golden-threaded slipper, her delicate ankle exposed.

Now, she watched the White Pearl’s destruction with detached indifference, a faint, mocking smirk on her lips. Her fingers tapped the ship’s railing—tap, tap, tap—a sound like the blade of a guillotine hovering over their necks.

To her, Black realized, the pirates were nothing but insignificant ants.

This overwhelming, imperial presence matched the game’s description perfectly.

Hss… She’s the type who’d devour people without spitting out the bones. This is bad.

Black shifted his gaze toward the back of the group—and sure enough, he spotted the girl standing at the very end.

She was undeniably beautiful—long, straight black hair, soft and sleek, tied with a white orchid ribbon on the side, adding a touch of youthful charm. Her brown eyes were calm, her expression naturally tinged with melancholy.

She wore a blue uniform with golden embellishments, a delicate necktie, and had long, slender legs. Her overall look was youthful yet slightly aloof, as if quiet emotions lingered behind her gaze.

Just as Black had predicted.

This was Jiaye—the game’s female protagonist, the true chosen one, and a girl who’d also transmigrated from the 21st century.

In a way, she was just like him—another transmigrator.