A dark mass surged upward, faster than Marcus could process. The shark. The great white exploded into view, its tail slicing a vortex into the sea as it rammed into the man with brutal precision. The pirate screamed, his voice shredding into the open air before the sound was cut short by the rush of water.
He tumbled back, arms flailing, the harpoon knife spinning from his grip. Marcus stood frozen, every muscle tight, torn between horror and awe. This was the same creature he had freed minutes ago. The same predator that had spared him. Now it was keeping the boat at bay, striking with a purpose that felt almost deliberate.