Chapter 358: Section 145: The Battle Begins! Kan Qiao Pursues
Deep Sea Monster Fish.
A group of test subjects huddled together, trembling uncontrollably.
The dimly lit cabin they occupied was illuminated only by a few candles, with darkness enveloping the rest of the space.
In the center of the candles, a small wooden statue of the goddess Mei Lan stood.
“Ah—!” A chilling scream, like that of a wild beast or a demonic creature, echoed from the darkness.
“It’s coming, it’s coming again!” the subjects cried out in panic.
“Quick, quickly pray to the goddess Mei Lan!” shouted several of the subjects.
The mysterious predator lurking in the darkness had already killed several of them. Each strike was unimaginably swift.
“The only way to survive is to pray to the statue and seek the goddess’s protection,” they had long since realized.
The intense sensation of looming death and the overwhelming fear left them no room for detailed thought.
However, after trying, they gradually realized this idea might be correct!
“Ah!” The predator in the dark roared fiercely and attacked again.
One of the peripheral test subjects was dragged into the darkness.
“Ah!” Immediately, miserable screams and the sounds of flesh being torn and bones being gnawed emanated from the dark.
“He’s gone, he’s gone.”
“Wuuu, another person is dead; he was right beside me just now!”
“Oh goddess, divine Mei Lan, protect me, I will serve you for life…” they began to pray through their tears.
This was the most synchronized prayer since they had awakened.
“I have divine power, I’ve generated divine power again,” someone shouted.
“Quick, bring it to the goddess’s statue!” Everyone hurriedly made space for him to squeeze into the center to touch the statue.
As the prayers grew louder, more and more new believers gained divine power. To combat the spreading darkness, they immediately channeled their divine power into the statue.
As more divine power was transferred, the statue emitted a halo, and the white candle flames burned more fiercely, bringing more light and pushing back the surrounding darkness slightly.
The predator in the dark let out a dissatisfied and wary cry.
“It worked, it worked again!” Discovering this, the test subjects cried out loud.
But this time, they cried in joy.
Because they had finally confirmed that they had found their only path to survival in this desperate situation.
Meanwhile, in the next cabin, Cang Xu, with a cold expression, manipulated the Alchemy Array, controlling the lighting effects of the candles, the statue, and the predator, observing the subjects’ situation.
The Array continually released the Fear Technique, and, combined with the non-existent threat of the predator, prevented the subjects from truly reflecting or thinking.
In fact, even if they did think, they would find no flaws. Because their original memories had all been condensed into a dot by Cang Xu and deeply buried, then entirely replaced with false memories.
In this situation, to survive, the subjects could only desperately pray to the goddess Mei Lan.
The divine power they produced was sent to the statue at the first opportunity.
It had to be their willing offering of divine power; currently, Cang Xu was unable to forcibly extract the divine power from within the believers.
The statue, enveloped in a large shell, was naturally a Divine Artifact—Mermaid’s Fairy Tale.
“Very good, very good,” Cang Xu watched for a long time, gradually revealing a faint smile on his face.
Previously, Cang Xu had only independently attempted memory manipulation based on books and records.
The cultivation memory of the ship ghost had endowed him with extensive practical experience and many insights not found in the records.
Among them, the most crucial technique was the Memory Concealment Skill.
Cang Xu began to realize: Faith could transform the soul, and manipulation of memories was equally a sculpting of the soul!
He no longer forcefully erased the original memories of the test subjects, but instead chose to use the Memory Concealment Skill on them. On top of that, he implanted false memories.
As a result, the degree of transformation of the test subjects’ souls was greatly reduced, and their souls became more stable. Although the memories were false, it was harder for the test subjects to detect discrepancies, and the efficiency of their prayers had subtly increased by much.
When the praying session ended, the efficiency of the test subjects at receiving Divine Power plummeted.
Cang Xu immediately controlled the Array, releasing a strong hypnotic gas that knocked all the test subjects unconscious.
Not long after, Cang Xu cleared the air and opened the hatch. A group of pirates immediately entered; they pried open the mouths of these test subjects and poured two or three tubes of potions into each.
These potions could replace food, helping the test subjects to maintain healthy bodies and vigorous spirits.
When the pirates were about to leave, they also took away the pile of test subjects who were unconscious in the corner.
These test subjects were “killed” by hunters, but in reality, they were just stunned by electricity.
“These people can still be utilized, conceal their memories again, and implant new false memories. Hostages are limited, I need to economize,” Cang Xu meticulously calculated.
“The cultivated group of believers, seven ordinary believers, thirteen general believers, two devout believers.”
“The efficiency of their contribution of Divine Power is much higher than mine alone!”
“However, their faith, though intense, is not long-lasting since it’s induced by external stimuli. When they wake up for the second round, their level of belief will generally decrease.”
While Cang Xu was counting his results, a Magic Device suddenly rang with an urgent bell on the table.
Cang Xu was slightly stunned, then his expression darkened slightly.
“The secret Alchemy Bomb placed on the pirate ship at the port has exploded!”
“It looks like we’ve been exposed.”
“Ah… three days of rest was actually quite good.”
Setting up the Alchemy Bomb was his idea. It was an alarm; if the pirate ship left the port safely, the Alchemy Bomb would not explode.
Once exploded, it indicates that the compartment holding the bomb was forcibly broken into.
“Time is pressing, I need to cultivate a new batch of believers quickly!”
Cang Xu once again buried himself in his work.
On the sea surface, four pirate ships traveled at the fastest speed.
These were all demon energy ships, three Bronze Level, one Black Iron Level, contributed by the Fast Blade Pirate Group and the Copper Gull Guild.
On the only Black Iron demon energy ship, the Magic Alarm Bell rang.
Zi Di’s heart tightened.
“Not the best, but not the worst either. The real test is coming!” The young lady immediately alerted the Fishman youth, then started to check the Magic Scroll. She wouldn’t blindly perform alchemy; she actively adjusted her mental state, ready for the battle that could happen at any time.
The Fishman youth, with a thick rope tied around his waist, sank into the shallow sea layer, being towed behind the Black Iron demon energy ship, traversing through the water.
With the help of artificially created currents, the Fishman youth practiced Light and Thin Fate Fighting Energy.
Upon receiving Zi Di’s message, the Fishman youth sighed internally, “What is destined to come will eventually come.”
Bang.
With a powerful push of his hands and feet, he leaped out of the shallow water, shooting through the air like a bomb, and landed on the deck of the Black Iron demon energy ship.
He shook his body, and countless droplets of water scattered around.
Under the sunlight, in the howling sea breeze, the droplets sparkled brilliantly, highlighting the tall and robust figure of the young man at the center, his smoothly defined muscular curves, his menacing set of sharp teeth, and his elegant shark tail.
“Captain!” The crew members were slightly startled, their eyes filled with reverence.
“Men, full-speed sailing, all hands prepare for battle. The enemy could likely be the Navy, and they’re no weak force.” The young man, now the Captain, was smoothly in command.
“Oh!” The pirates responded in unison, their morale high after three days of rest.
The sea breeze gradually lessened, and beneath the blue sky and white clouds, the calm and vast sea stretched endlessly.
Under the flag of the Justice Pirate Group, four demon-energy ships had already reached their maximum speed, slicing through the deep blue satiny sea surface like four sharp knives, leaving behind two long white trails of waves.
“Enemy sighted!” the lookout suddenly shouted loudly.
The pirates’ bodies and minds were jolted, and the sailors handling the sails quickened their actions.
Di Lou and Qiu each commanded a demon-energy ship, their expressions solemn.
Bai Ya and a group of pirates huddled in the dark gun deck, ready to fire at any moment.
His direct superior was Little Bird, who was currently conserving his energy, hands loosely grasping a necklace.
Sanda and Lan Zao, each leading a charge team, were checking their weapons.
In the forecastle, the Big Guy gulped down mouthfuls of mud, “Eat more, otherwise… hungry.”
This was his unique combat experience.
Now, the Big Guy, possessing a Divine Bloodline and mastering the King Earth Fighting Energy Art with abundant cultivation resources, was at the peak of Bronze, only one step away from Black Iron.
He had been nurtured by the Fishman youth, starting to develop his combat abilities in New Moon Town.
With experiences like the Magnetic Islands exploration, the battle with the Gold and Silver brothers, and the Sky Pillar area campaign, his combat journey was quite extensive and spectacular, even more so than many veteran Black Iron fighters.
The pursuing Navy fleet gradually came into view of the Justice Pirate Group.
The flag of Vice Admiral Kan Qiao flew high.
“It’s a Navy Vice Admiral!”
“Damn, it’s a Gold Level powerhouse.”
“Wait, why are there so few of their warships? I remember during the rest period, they had about twenty-something ships.”
“Strange, their ships look battered, as if they just went through a major battle.”
Morale wavered briefly, but the pirates quickly adjusted themselves.
On one hand, the Navy fleet looked pitiful, with one warship even trailing thick smoke, and many naval flags were torn and looked burnt.
On the other hand, the core members of the Justice Pirate Group were here, some of whom were survivors from Mysterious Monster Island, having gone through life-and-death ordeals, their wills tempered to be extremely firm. Although most did not have the experience of Mysterious Monster Island, they had witnessed divine incarnations and legendary fighters in the battle of the Sky Pillar area; Kan Qiao, despite being Gold Level, no longer had much deterrent effect on them.
On the warships, the First Officer reported, “Sir, the mana pool on ship number seven exploded, a big fire started in the hull, speed drastically decreased, we must stop and rest immediately.”
“Damn it!” Vice Admiral Kan Qiao clenched his teeth, his expression ugly.
The explosion of the alchemy bomb had not only killed many elite Navy members but also affected the Navy warships.
In fact, Kan Qiao’s fleet was already in poor condition and immediately needed restocking and repairs. Unable to sail far, they could only enter a secret military port for upkeep.
However, repairs were scheduled in order, and they were placed behind the Justice Pirate Group in priority.
Just as the Justice Pirate Group had finished their rest and immediately fled.
Kan Qiao’s fleet, without proper rest and newly affected by the alchemy bomb, was hit twice as hard. Therefore, only seven warships managed to chase down the Justice Pirate Group.
And before the battle even started, one was put out of action temporarily.
The First Officer continued, “Sir, according to the latest intelligence from headquarters, the enemy has four surface warships and one underwater alchemy ship. Our warship lineup is only a fifth of its normal strength. In terms of quality, the Chopper is only Silver Level, while the Justice Pirate Group’s underwater alchemy ship is a Gold Level magic-energy ship. We don’t have the advantage!”
Vice Admiral Kan Qiao nodded, “Where have the Tan Mo fleet and the Lord of Dun Dao City reached?”
The First Officer, with a stern expression, shook his head, “They were attacked; many alchemy bombs were placed in Dun Dao City. They can’t make it here anytime soon.”
“Damn it! It must be a trick by the Justice Pirate Group. Captain Sea Dog reported to me that there are elder-level individuals from the Purple Vine Guild among them. They participated in a black market auction in Dun Dao City and had early established influence there; carrying out this was very easy.” Kan Qiao, filled with hatred, couldn’t help but punch the ship’s side.
“Begin the battle! We must try to tie them down. As long as we hold them off, when the reinforcements arrive, they’ll have nowhere to escape and will surely die!” Kan Qiao quickly gave the order.
But no sooner had he spoken than he saw bursts of flames and thick white smoke rising from the four pirate ships of the Justice Pirate Group.
Then, the woos woos woos sound of cannonballs reached the Navy’s ears.
“Activate the shield!” the First Officer decisively ordered.
The next moment, one Navy warship withdrew while the remaining six continued the pursuit, their hulls raising huge light shields.
These barriers look unique, resembling upside-down wine glasses. The mouth of the glass faced downwards, completely covering the hull of the ship, while the base was on top, looking like a small hat.
When bombs hit the barriers, they created dazzling explosions, big and small, yet the warship remained completely undamaged.
“Imperial Navy’s Magic Defense, the ‘Walkaway Cup’ barrier,” observed the Fishman youth, unsurprised and calm.
The inventor of this equipment wasn’t from the Human Race, but rather, a Werewolf Clan’s Alchemy Grandmaster named Shiver.
Shiver was extremely lascivious, infamous for his audacity. He once drugged Qing Yu, a Holy Daughter of the Beast Race, attempting improper actions and failed, which resulted in being hunted by the Beast Race.
Even his own Werewolf Clan couldn’t protect Shiver and issued a warrant for his arrest.
Left with no choice, Shiver could only flee.
He ended up in the Holy Bright Empire, gaining protection from Duke Hengle. The two shared similar vile tastes and developed a deep friendship. Over time, Shiver also showcased his talents and eventually earned the title of a Master Alchemist.
The Walkaway Cup is one of the well-known inventions of this Werewolf Alchemy Grandmaster, Shiver.
This alchemy equipment is highly adaptable and offers strong defensive power while consuming low mana. The main reason is that it absorbs ambient light elements during the usual sailing of the warship. Once activated, these light elements are released to participate in defense, lowering energy consumption and simultaneously increasing defensive power.
Upon its introduction, the Walkaway Cup received widespread acclaim in the market.
Several months later, the Empire forcibly requisitioned it, listing it as a military necessity and restricting its circulation in the market.
To date, the Walkaway Cup components are commonly equipped on Imperial Navy ships, and Shiver has become an important figure in the Holy Bright Empire. The Pele family under Duke Hengle’s leadership also profited from this and made a fortune.
“General Kan Qiao Fleet has six combat-ready ships, one Silver Level Magic ship equipped with a G-level Walkaway Cup. Four Black Iron Magic ships equipped with H-level Walkaway Cups. One Bronze Level Magic ship equipped with an I-level Walkaway Cup,” the Fishman youth assessed the enemy warships.
The Walkaway Cup components were divided into nine levels by Shiver. Among them, the I-level has the weakest performance, fitted on a Bronze Magic ship. The H-level is slightly higher, suitable for Black Iron Magic ships, followed by the Silver G-level, Golden F-level, Holy Domain E-level, and Legendary D-level.
Above these, the levels C, B, and A only exist in the design blueprints of the Werewolf Alchemy Grandmaster Shiver and have yet to be realized.
Although the Justice Pirate Group struck first, their initial round of cannon fire was ineffective, mostly blocked by the Walkaway Cups.
Then, the Navy began its counter-attack.
“Dodge the artillery fire!” the lookout shouted a loud warning.
The sailors and fighters on deck all scrambled for cover, either using shields or simply lying flat on the deck.
Some shells fell into the sea, creating gushing white spouts, while others hit the deck, exploding and ripping unlucky victims to shreds.
But more of them were chain bombs.
These bombs specifically targeted the sails and masts.
However, Fishman youth, Zi Di, Cang Xu, Di Lou, and Mei Lan, swiftly intercepted most of the chain bombs.
These had to be intercepted, as if the sails and masts were damaged, the Justice Pirate Group’s speed would be greatly reduced, and the possibility of escape would drastically plummet.
“Each ship, report your damage!” the Fishman youth transmitted instructions using the Magic Device.
Soon, the situation on each ship was relayed.
Overall, the conditions were still acceptable.
Although the Justice Pirate Group didn’t have defensive equipment like the Walkaway Cups, the ships were hastily retrofitted and covered with a layer of crystal glue.
This was thanks to three plump blue-hued Repairers and several basic version repair Puppets.
The Fishman youth pondered for a moment and ordered the firing of the Golden Cannon.
The Artillery Captain, a small bird, received the command and took immediate action, personally handling the operation.
For a moment, the Black Iron Level Mana Pool continuously infused mana, and the Golden Cannon gradually emitted a brilliant light.
“Golden Level Cannon fluctuations detected! Preliminary location, the starboard side of the enemy’s Black Iron Magic ship,” on the other side, General Kan Qiao quickly received the intelligence.
General Kan Qiao slightly furrowed his brows, “The enemy’s ship is of a lower class, no need to dodge, continue pursuing at full speed.”
A Golden Level Cannon mounted on a Golden Level Magic ship was necessary to unleash its true combat power.
The mana supplied by a Black Iron Magic ship would hardly fill in a short time to meet the firing standards of the cannon.
General Kan Qiao’s tactics were clear, choose to withstand with the Walkaway Cups, in order to catch up with the Justice Pirate Group’s ships and engage in a boarding battle!
ps: A 5000-word grand chapter, this month’s major repair was successful, and so was catching up with updates! Yay!