Chapter 294 - 267: Into the Water, Take It Down
"Again!" Du Yu ran to a Car-Mounted Crossbow, loaded a new Crossbow Arrow, and aimed at the Giant Beast that was just a stone’s throw away, its head breaking the surface.
A portion of the Mosasaurus’s head emerged from the water, looking like that of a monitor lizard magnified countless times over.
THWUMP!
The thick Crossbow Arrow pierced its snout, with half of the shaft still sticking out.
"ROAR—"
The Mosasaurus shook its head, but the Crossbow Arrows remained firmly embedded in its body.
Its body suddenly sank, its massive form disappearing beneath the waves, leaving only churning foam and spreading blood on the surface.
"Are you alright, San?" Yan Da helped Yan San to his feet.
"I’m fine." Yan San got to his feet and ran to a Car-Mounted Crossbow, his eyes gleaming with a fiery intensity.
"Big Brother, this is the life I’ve always wanted! Fighting a behemoth like this is a true thrill!" Yan San roared with laughter, his face alight with uncontrollable excitement.
Yan Wu wasted no time on words. He ran to the back, hefted a Crossbow Arrow out of a crate, and loaded it onto the Car-Mounted Crossbow.
"Here you go, Big Brother."
Seeing that his two younger brothers were unharmed, Yan Da relaxed. As he gazed out at the vast, boundless sea and felt the deck rise and fall with the waves, a powerful surge of valor swelled within his heart.
"Over there! It swam around to the stern!"
A shout rang out from behind.
The cunning Giant Beast had used the ship’s hull for cover, silently swimming underwater to the other side.
The ship was now slowly turning. The Crossbow Wagons on the starboard side pivoted with the hull, their chillingly sharp arrowheads once again targeting the waters to the ship’s right.
"It’s about to surface!"
A sharp cry suddenly rang out from high above.
Yan Da looked up at the sound and was taken aback.
Halfway up the tall mainmast, a figure was firmly bound to the crow’s nest.
Looking closer, who else could it be but Qin Ziwu?
Several thick ropes were wrapped around his waist and arms, trussing him up and securing him to the narrow wooden platform.
"That kid," Qin Ziwen muttered, also catching sight of him. "Not a single fear of falling, is there?"
Despite his words, the ropes bound Qin Ziwu so tightly—practically trussed him up—that he was firmly secured. Unless the mast or the ropes snapped, it was nearly impossible for him to fall.
"Fire!" Du Yu’s voice rang out.
Another volley of Crossbow Arrows flew from the starboard side!
A volley of six Crossbow Arrows shot out, plunging into the water.
A muffled, pained roar came from beneath the surface,
and the Mosasaurus dove deeper into the ocean.
"Did it run away?"
Qin Ziwen frowned. ’In the middle of the ocean, a Giant Beast this large would be difficult to chase if it was determined to flee.’
’Besides, this Mosasaurus is simply massive.’
’Two volleys from the Car-Mounted Crossbows would have brought down a Tyrannosaurus.’
’But this Mosasaurus had taken two full volleys and was still going strong.’
’Its body is too large, and the Crossbow Arrows are too small. The wounds they inflict can’t be very deep. We can only rely on bleeding it out, or finding a way to get its wounds infected.’
Once it dove into the depths, the crew lost all trace of the Mosasaurus.
The crew on deck waited in silence. It was a battle of wits.
A psychological contest between the two sides.
Suddenly, a tremendous impact, far heavier and more solid than before, rocked the stern.
CRUNCH!!!
The entire stern was violently thrown upward as if by a giant hand, revealing the Mosasaurus’s massive back beneath it.
It rolled over and submerged back into the water.
GROAN—
The deck groaned under the strain as the stern of the *Lost Home* smashed back onto the sea, sending enormous waves churning in its wake.
The ship rocked violently from side to side.
On deck, everyone struggled to keep their footing. Some dropped to the floor, while others clung desperately to the railings.
The shock left many people pale-faced, their hearts pounding in their chests.
A vast, dark shadow began to circle the ship, a predatory presence in the water.
’That thing...’ Qin Ziwen frowned. ’The Mosasaurus is smart. In just a short time, it’s already found a way to attack the ship.’
’The *Lost Home* can’t go underwater, it can only float on the surface.’
A grim light flashed in Du Yu’s eyes. He ran back to the deck below, hefting a massive iron chain fitted with a huge hook. "I need a few men!"
Five men combined their strength to move the chain to a gunport. The next second, the thick chain seemed to take on a life of its own, rearing up and leaping out of the opening. Like a black python, it smashed into the sea with a heavy, air-splitting WHOOSH.
SPLASH! It landed heavily in the sea.
After the heavy splash, the chain quickly sank and pulled taut.
A hooked line now dangled from the stern of the *Lost Home*, sinking into the deep.
This hooked line was like living bait, its end twitching from time to time.
"Full sail! Hard to starboard! Full steam ahead!"
The sails billowed, trailing wisps of faint blue smoke.
The *Lost Home* accelerated, surging across the surface of the sea.
It left a churning white wake behind it.
Underwater, the wounded Mosasaurus gave chase, heading straight for the *Lost Home*.
...
「On the largest island in the distance, atop a cliff.」
A group of figures stared out at the giant ship speeding across the sea and at the black dot circling in the sky.
Yang Long’s expression was grim. ’They actually have a ship that big,’ he thought. ’If our shipyard hadn’t been destroyed... perhaps we’d have a vessel in the water by now as well.’
In front of Yang Long stood a young man with styled, short red hair. He was dressed in a striking outfit, his hands in his pockets and his face devoid of expression.
The white-haired Pu Jia craned his neck to look at the *Lost Home* sailing on the sea and raised an eyebrow. "Well now, they’ve got some skills. They’re luring the Mosasaurus away."
"How are the preparations for the new boat coming along?" the red-haired youth asked.
"Boss, the boat’s ready. Five meters long, holds six people max." As Pu Jia spoke, he shot a provocative glance at Yang Long. ’These losers from the Urban Village can’t even protect a shipyard. In the end, they still have to count on me, Brother Pu.’
"That’s enough. As long as it can get us to their Gated Community, it’ll do." A sharp glint flashed in the red-haired youth’s eyes.
"Cover me. Once I reach their Gated Community, I’ll immediately activate an anchor point and lock onto their location.
Then all of you can teleport over through the anchor point. While their main force is away, we’ll wipe out their base."
"Got it!" Pu Jia clapped his hands together, a wide grin spreading across his face.
The red-haired youth said no more, turning and striding quickly down the mountain.
...
Qin Ziwen glanced over, taking in the movements of the people on the mountaintop.
They had seen him, and he, in turn, had seen them.
The rival Gated Community had seemed quiet for the past few days, but Qin Ziwen knew they wouldn’t give up so easily.
’Good thing I came prepared,’ he thought, retracting his gaze.
He turned his attention back to the *Lost Home*.
Not far away, the hull of the sailing *Lost Home* suddenly shuddered. It seemed to have hooked something.
The bow dipped, and its speed dropped sharply.
Immediately after, the ship began to spin in place. The giant hook that had been dropped into the sea had found its prey.
The Mosasaurus tried to dive deep, and the chain strained taut. The ship was pulled down significantly, but it ultimately remained afloat.
From beneath the waves came the frustrated roars of the Mosasaurus.
"Instructor Du, the Crossbow Wagons can’t get an angle on it! It’s directly below us!" Cao Biansheng yelled.
Hearing that the target was hooked, Yan Da’s eyes lit up. He stepped forward without hesitation. "Brother Du, do we have anything that can hit it underwater?"
"What are you planning to do?"
"I’m going in the water to kill it!"
...
...