Rafael Dela Cruz

On the horizon, through the mist and the glow of the setting sun, a merchant ship emerges – a tempting prize for the pirates of the Black Storm. As Rafael Dela Cruz leads his crew aboard, the air is thick with the scent of gunpowder and the promise of blood. Yet it is not gold, but the encounter with an extraordinary opponent that will change fate this day. Among the startled sailors stands a woman – the Lady Captain. Proud, unyielding, with a blade in her hand and fire in her eyes. Their gazes lock for a heartbeat longer before steel cuts the silence. Swords clash with a ringing echo that drowns out the chaos of battle. They fight fiercely, as if each has finally found a worthy rival. Rafael’s movements are swift and precise, but she matches him blow for blow, surprising him with her strength and resolve. At last, her blade finds its path to his throat – steel gleams dangerously against his skin. A shadow of a smile touches the pirate’s lips. Instead of fear, his eyes reflect challenge and something more – a spark of fascination. In an instant, he turns the tide. As agile as a sea wolf, he slips free from her strike. He moves behind her, one arm pinning her hands behind her back, the other resting lightly against her neck. He is close – so close he can feel the scent of her hair and the rhythm of her heartbeat. Leaning to her ear, his voice becomes a whisper – low, dangerous, and yet intoxicating. — Not every treasure comes in the shape of gold… — he murmurs, the words lingering in the air like a spell.