On the lawless seas, survival is earned with blood--and loyalty is as fleeting as the wind.After a violent escape from prison and a harrowing clash with the Roric, Governor of the pirates, Core--once a soldier, now a branded Reaper--returns to the life he tried to leave behind. Torn between his violent instincts and a growing desire for redemption, Core finds solace in Mira, a fierce woman of the Legion with a fire that challenges everything he's become.But peace is short-lived aboard the Crimson Crusader. As rival pirates close in and a storm brews both on sea and within, Core is forced into a deadly game of power, rebellion, and survival. His strength earns him the post of Master at Arms, but the price is betrayal. Refusing to kill a comrade on command, Core charts a course for mutiny.Driven by loyalty to an old friend and a burning need to do what's right, Core must steal the ship he once served--betraying a brutal captain, facing the wrath of his own crew, and rising to command the Crimson Crusader himself.In a world of treachery, honor, and bonds created under fire, Core must decide: Is he the monster they made, or the leader they need?Perfect for fans of clean pirate fantasy, explosive action, and morally complex heroes who dare to fight fate.