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Dense rain drops, carrying bloodied petals, struck everyone present.
Fen failed to hear Chen Qi's words, the flowers on her body falling rapidly and forming a small sea of flowers on the deck.
She gasped for air, her voice trembling, and even standing was an impossible feat for her.
After all, the Flower Witch Fen had not yet completed her ascension, she was merely a frail Third-tier Transcendent.
Flowers bloomed amidst blood, and with the Flower Witch's current strength, their persistence was but a fleeting moment.
I can't, I mustn't stop... Fen bit down on her teeth, struggling to stand, facing a Legend, any slight laxity, and the people on the Dagger would turn into splashes of blood.
Chen Qi's gaze involuntarily drifted to the distance.
On the distant horizon, a flag could be seen soaring amidst the storm, its ship's sleek hull slicing through the sea.
The main ship of the Blood Blade Pirate Group from Red Maple Island!
The Gunfire Queen and the captains of the Blood Blade Pirate Group were on that ship.
But this didn't guarantee safety...
Chen Qi's eyes reddened as he looked at Carol standing before him.
The release of the Flower Witch carried three effects.
First, perception reduction and pain transference; enemies within the rain of flowers would experience a significant drop in perception and would also feel the pain of the Flower Witch as she plucked the flowers from her body.
Second, floral protection; the Flower Witch could create illusions to cover for her companions and use the flowers to absorb damage.
Third, any enemy within the rain of flowers with exposed bleeding wounds would find blossoms that drain life force and strength blooming upon their wounds.
An incredibly powerful release... Behind Chen Qi, translucent tentacles twisted and expanded, with large volumes of air swirling around him.
But even with the release and assistance from the Blood Blade Pirate Group, the current situation was still dire...
Gunfire Queen Carol was undoubtedly the sovereign of this sea region; even beneath the main ship of the Blood Blade Pirate Group, she stood tall like a towering mountain.
Although the ultimate outcome was victory, the key lay in the cost.
And that cost was the life of the Flower Witch.
Every second the Flower Witch persisted, her body weakened dramatically, and her injuries worsened by ten percent...
Ten seconds was not the limit for the Flower Witch.
But after ten seconds, the life force the Flower Witch had overdrawn would increase exponentially.
And from the current perspective, Chen Qi himself would also be part of the cost.
Unless Carol could be dealt a substantive attack, a substantial injury, she would never easily give up.
Chen Qi silently felt the sounds under his feet.
Even Carol would fear the deep sea.
Chen Qi took a deep breath, the tentacles of the Residual Fire Touch on his back twisting and bulging, becoming strong and forceful.
Aboard the deck, the crew members picked up their weapons, looking towards Carol with horror, and at the mad wolf Fenrir at her feet—
Their boss still had a breath of life in him; as brothers, they wanted to save their captain!
But in the face of absolute power, they couldn't even take a step forward.
The gap between them could not be bridged by courage alone.
Carol reached out her hand and violently plucked the flower from her neck:
"Hahaha! Witch! You really do surprise me, I understand why Father Whale wants you so badly!"
The panic on Carol's face faded instantly, then turned into anger, the rage of someone high in the hierarchy of power.
As a Legend, she had lost her life to the release!
Even with Father Whale's orders, she would not let the Black Hunter and the Witch reach the Sea of Fog unscathed!
Carol's body, on which blotchy black runes spread rapidly, exhaled clouds of steam from her mouth and nose.
Her body was no longer merely flesh and blood; it was the embodiment of steel tendons and iron bones!
Steam Heart!
Scorching steam spread rapidly across the entire Dagger, pressing down on everyone like waves of molten lava.
The people retreated continuously, their bodies hunched, some even kneeling on the spot.
In front of them, Carol's figure became shockingly large, like a fire dragon that could swallow the sky.
Without a doubt, the only outcome for getting close to Carol now was one.
Carol's orange hair fluttered in the torrential rain.
With just one glance, a simple breath! She could resolve everything!
"Huff..."
Chen Qi breathed lightly and then asked:
"Fen, can your release protect me within ten seconds?"
Fen bit her tongue, her mind overwhelmed by the pain of the blood flowers being plucked, her consciousness blurred as she looked at Chen Qi.
"Mhm..."
She nodded with difficulty.
Boom!
At the moment the Flower Witch nodded, Carol stepped forward with force, creating a vast pit, breaking through the storm and petals to appear in front of Chen Qi.
Her mechanical hand spread wide, transforming into a huge ghastly hand, surging towards Chen Qi's head, then violently grasped!
This head rapidly turned into bright red petals!
To generate an illusion the moment I launched an attack, huh... Carol quickly turned aside, her gaze meeting with Chen Qi's.
Carol's invincible body, the blotchy runes, those dragon-like eyes, and the two pistols at her waist—
Chen Qi's pupils contracted involuntarily, excitement, fear.
Fourth Rank had been a prime focus of discussions on player forums...
Chen Qi understood Carol's attacks, moves, and even her weaknesses.
As long as Carol, who had not activated 'gun master' mode, her attacks were incredibly monotonous; in essence, she was a monster with an off-the-charts panel.