Chapter 356: Chapter 356
Magnyra’s assault squad did not simply stand by and wait for assistance.
Watching the bizarre, coral people continuously emerging from the bloody passage in the Wonder Battleship, they realized that they couldn’t destroy the Sea Spider in a short amount of time. Even if they could, it would undoubtedly take time and draw them into the siege of the May Wind and the other three Escort Ships, proving disastrously unprofitable. By then, even if support troops arrived, they would hardly be able to act, unless they called in another wave of indiscriminate fleet fire on both friend and foe.
As they quickly retreated to their flagship, the Lady Lily, Magnyra began to sing aloud, "I challenge the stormy winds and torrential rains, can you not roar even more fiercely? Go and topple the towering mountains, and sweep across the vast lands..."
The Figurehead, clutching a string of bell-like lily flowers, resonated pleasantly with her song, amplifying the Singer’s transcendent ability. An awe-inspiring "Storm Song" suddenly vibrated the atmosphere, commanding fierce winds, heavy rains, and ocean currents. It adjusted the direction of the Bantaan Archipelago’s perennial northeasterly sea breeze and the currents flowing through the Windward Strait to her will. Several warships that were originally locked in close combat were immediately pushed apart by the strong winds, quickly separating from the Sea Spider.
Unfortunately, a Wonder Battleship, the May Wind, along with eight armed civilian ships, is one thing. However, the May Wind accompanied by eight other Wonder Battleships is an entirely different concept. The former’s combat strength was still within the hunting capabilities of the "top three" nations among the six major maritime powers, such as Iris and Hightins. Yet, even with such an array, repelling them had been a difficult task. It had required Byron to command his entire Privateer Fleet in full force. Had it not been for the three Barnacle Crabs by their side, allowing for easy advance and retreat, they nearly suffered a counter-attack from the fleet, a disastrous miscalculation. Latest content publıshed on 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅•𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝗇𝖾𝗍
But when the latter’s nine Wonder Battleships assembled, they were already powerful enough to rampage and annihilate cities throughout the entire Bantaan Archipelago. Especially since their miraculous equipment had not lost effectiveness, this made the already formidable octopus warships even more powerful.
The Sea Spider had originally been pushed in the opposite direction of the fleet by the redirected wind and currents. Now, however, it extended dense, spider-leg-like oars from the oarholes on both sides of the ship. The oars, glowing with Supernatural Aura, barely twitched, and immediately the water’s surface shimmered with ripples, efficiently transmitting thrust. In coordination with the eight octopus tentacles dancing at the stern, the warship swiftly surged forward once more. The Sea Spider turned out to be a galley, a type of ship that should have been phased out from ocean voyages long ago. It had to be said, the designs of these Wonder Battleships for operating in the Doldrums were full of extraordinary and unexpected innovations.
Meanwhile, from behind their fleet, the May Wind, the Resolute, the Guardian, and the Blue Elf also employed various tactics to launch their attacks.
"Maneuver! Maneuver! Miracle Adventure Ships are not adept at group combat. Dissolve the battle line! All ships break formation, sail independently, and engage individually!"
Though these Miracle Adventure Ships were comparable to Battleships, they were not initially designed for use in battle lines. Faced with a melee, it was better for each to play to its own strengths rather than being an awkward hybrid.
Just as the two sides were about to clash again, Byron’s support troops finally arrived on the battlefield.
Amid the silver-white curtain of rain, a three-dimensional ring of water opened up, first reflecting the rippling light. Then, amid a flash of dazzling sunlight, five Wonder Battleships, led by The Golden Deer, suddenly appeared behind the octopus warships. Violet, a Witch-in-training, also mastered the Deep Sea Leap technique. Coordinated with the positioning of the Golden Law, the location of the Blue Hole’s opening was even more precise.
The Wonder Battleships, having already completed loading, simultaneously unleashed their firepower. In the tempestuous weather, Storm Elves piloted manual-guidance shells. These traced perfect trajectories through the air, precisely bombarding each of the octopus warships. Even on the tumultuous sea, with targets moving at various speeds and positions, the hit rate was as high as eighty percent.
Byron stood upright like a javelin at the bow of The Golden Deer. He once again summoned the Sure-hit Spear, Gungnir. But this time, he injected something different into the shaft. It wasn’t any sort of Spirituality, Undead essence, or Blood of Transformation, but... a coral disease vaccine! This was the secret weapon he had prepared to counter the fleet of octopus Escort Ships—the Immunity Gun.
Theoretically, those warships—built of wood, iron nails, and tar, further augmented by bronze and steel cannons—had transformed into Wonder Battleships. This was because the sailors, parasitic Barnacles, and the warships themselves had merged into one entity. If this mysterious link and biological equilibrium were disrupted, the Escort Ships spawned by the May Wind might very well revert. They could become ordinary broken ships filled with sailors’ corpses.
Byron shouted across the battlefield, "Behave! Stick out your backsides. Doctor Byron is going to give you an injection!"
His right foot, clad in shiny military boots, suddenly stomped the ground. A ring of air exploded in the pouring rain, and he then forcefully threw Gungnir. A streak of blue lightning split the sea surface, tearing through the wind and rain. Caught off guard, it fiercely pierced the Sea Spider, which had already closed in on the Lady Lily. The Spirituality Byron infused was not much. The translucent, crystal-like spearhead pierced the thick barnacle shell but could go no further.