The fog over the sea gradually thickened, and the bright moon was also hidden within the dark clouds, reducing visibility over the ocean more and more.
The midnight seawater was sowhat icy, as Su Lun soaked in the water, silently making his way toward the slave ship.
What had started as a midnight slave liberation raid suddenly turned into an intense sea battle.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"..."
The violent sounds of artillery fire erupted in rapid succession, bursting eardrums.
Pirates’ cannons generally couldn’t match those of the wealthier rchant ships, so they had little advantage in naval combat.
Those pirate ships, neglected and lacking maintenance for years, couldn’t withstand as much damage as the rchant vessels either.
But for either side to successfully sink the other was no easy feat.
When a wooden sailing ship was hit by a cannonball, the projectile would pierce the ship’s body, which was coated with runes and plating, and land in the cabin, scattering wood chips everywhere, causing quite a commotion but making sinking it difficult in a short ti. Only with good luck, such as breaking a mast or hitting the ammunition cabin, could one deal a devastating blow to the vessel.
Therefore, if the combatants were evenly matched in strength, the sea battle often lasted a long ti.
For several hours, perhaps even several days.
Of course, there were high-level alchemy bullets that could shatter such wooden ships with a single hit. But the cost of one such bullet might be more than the price of a sailboat, affordable only to great nobles and imperial navies, and unlikely to be used in such a degree of naval warfare.
....
The two sides continued to exchange relentless artillery fire.
The pirate ships had a nurical advantage, with about twenty-odd silhouettes of ships in the mist.
But whether it was a chase with the navy or a robbery, pirates wouldn’t engage in prolonged artillery duels.
They were more adept at boarding combat.
No, in this world where alchemical augntation was common, boarding wasn’t even necessary. Pirates could use their augntations to fly in from the sky or swim up from the ocean depths.
Wing augntations, waterlung augntations for underwater breathing, sharkskin augntations...
These practical augntations were the favorites among those who made their living at sea, possessing strong survival capabilities.
Flying in the sky was still easily targeted, but underwater, it was much safer.
Su Lun advanced quietly through the water, watching countless pirates diving off the opposing pirate ships.
Once those fellows entered the water, they swam like fish with great speed.
All sorts of fins, flippers, tails, and stealth devices... helped the band of pirates quickly approach the rchant ships.
The hand-to-hand combat upon boarding began as well.
The first wave of fodder pirates to board and engage in close combat were mostly low-ranking, first and second-tier. Undetected, Su Lun took out two who happened to co across him underwater.
At this distance, he was finally able to make out the entire pirate fleet’s arrangent and let out a sigh of relief, "Good thing only one squadron ca..."
Although all those pirate ships flew the flag of the King of the North Sea, the secondary flags also identified their allegiances.
This was the Fourth Fleet of Oleg, team seven "Silver Wolf," led by Carrol.
So of those ships, Su Lun had even seen before, during the grand battle at Black Reef Harbor when he chased in the tower.
Oleg was the confird overlord of the Northern Sea.
Their official squadron leaders were at least fifth-tier professionals, and even the reserve leaders were fourth-tier. Elsewhere, these were the equivalent of great pirate captains.
Su Lun had previously visited the "Bounty Hunters Guild" and learned a lot about many great pirates’ details.
Included among them was this Carrol.
The man was once the captain of the guard for a noble, involved in an affair with the noble’s wife. After being discovered, he slaughtered the noble’s entire family and was wanted by the empire, forcing him to flee and beco a pirate. His talent, augntation, and cultivation technique were all superior, and his strength formidable.
Pirates paid particular attention to rank and face.
One’s position on the deck revealed the difference between "squadron leader," "vice-leader," and "small team leader."
Even as a spectator, a big shot would stand in the "center position" rather than hiding in a corner.
Su Lun watched from afar as that bearded man in cold iron mail on the main pirate ship and identified Carrol.
By his side, there was a gothic woman with half-shaved head and black teeth.
Su Lun recognized her at a glance, thinking, "The captain of team nine ’Instigator’ Heidevich. One specializes in controlling mind magic and the other in close combat, both fifth-tier. It seems they are dead set on taking out Hozier this ti..."
However,
These two were gunning for "Fist of Justice" Hozier, and he had nothing to do with them.
Seeing this, Su Lun’s thoughts beca more active.
Having only one squadron ant that at least he would not have much trouble ensuring his own safety.
....
The sea battle raged on.
At this mont, Hozier seed to realize that he was in big trouble today.
He hadn’t counted on the rchant fleet being of any assistance, so rather than waiting to be surrounded by pirates, he and his n took control of the captured ship and attempted to break through to the west.
As he fled, several pirate ships imdiately set off in pursuit, and naturally, two fifth-tier squadron leaders from the main ship joined the chase.
Seeing this, Su Lun’s heart surged with joy: "What a golden opportunity!"
....
Another piece of good news was that the slave ship carrying Yuta and the others didn’t attract much attention from the pirates.
It was a vessel specifically designed for transporting goods and slaves; the pirates, being savvy, knew it was full of "valuable rchandise." If they were to sink it, the robbery would be entirely pointless.
Moreover, the rchant’s side, even knowing that the slaves had taken over the ship, wouldn’t waste ammunition to sink their own vessel in the face of more vicious pirates.
Thus, the already not-so-powerful slave ship remained unhard amidst the cannon fire.
Upon seeing this, Su Lun imdiately spoke into the communicator: "They’re after Ho Qi! Yuta, throw all the cannons and cargo overboard and set sail. Head east and leave this sea area as fast as you can!"
A prompt response ca through the communicator: "Okay!"
No sooner had he spoken than the cannons and cargo were seen being discarded into the sea from the ship.
With the heavy items thrown overboard, the draft of the slave ship lightened considerably, and its sailing speed imdiately increased.
Listening to the distant sounds of battle, Su Lun figured the two squadron leaders must have engaged Ho Qi. He no longer hesitated and, after several instances of teleportation, arrived beneath the very ship.
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He leapt aboard the deck, where Yuta was busy organizing her people to manipulate the sails and discard any unnecessary items into the sea. Apart from freshwater and food, everything that could be thrown overboard was tossed into the ocean.
The two exchanged a nod of understanding.
Gratitude filled Yuta’s sparkling eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Su Lun."
Without the man before her, there would be no rescue operation happening now.
She then spoke a sentence in the Dalu language to her people.
Upon hearing this, the sub-humans one by one expressed their sincere thanks, bowing respectfully to Su Lun.
Su Lun thought he had understood two words: "warrior" and "thank you."
He shook his head, signaling everyone to continue working the sails; this was no ti to relax.
The pirates behind them certainly wouldn’t just watch as this rchandise, worth billions, got away.
....
Though Ho Qi, the ’Fist of Justice,’ had brought upon them a major problem, he also saved Su Lun and the others a lot of trouble.
At least they obtained keys to the explosive collars and the magic-suppressing chains, and once the Dalu people were freed, they also regained so combat strength.
The humans of this plane were mostly alchemists, with no divine faith.
But the Dalu were different.
They worshipped the "Nature God."
Their strength was also a gift from the deity.
Natural warriors, they harbored the ability to shapeshift and cast spells.
The rather small slave ship had been cramd with thousands of sub-humans; now freed, they were far from short-handed.
Though their ranks were not high, with hundreds of them rotating to cast wind spells to propel the sails, the ship gained an extraordinarily swift speed.
Hence, the two pirate ships pursuing them had almost no chance of catching up through speed alone.
It was Su Lun’s first ti witnessing what "magic" truly was, and he found it sowhat miraculous.
Through devout prayers and incantations, spells took form.
This was entirely different from the spellcasting he was familiar with.
Alchemists perford their craft solely based on the "principle of equivalent exchange," harnessing natural elents to form spells through formulas-like rules summarized by alchemical predecessors.
anwhile, the Dalu’s spells seed to communicate with so will through incantations, manifesting in a simpler manner.
Su Lun didn’t quite grasp it, but it seed that their spellcasting utilized part of their own power and part of the power bestowed by their deity.
Essentially, the nature of magical incantations was an acknowledgnt of faith.
In other words, one thod of casting spells was a reasoned "science," while the other was "occultism."
He didn’t dwell on it much because at that mont, the pirates on the ships behind them, seeing their quarry slipping away, frantically gave chase.
It wasn’t ships, but a group... capable of void displacent!
....
"These winged flight grafts, they actually contain the spatial law?"
Su Lun’s pupils narrowed as he observed the group unleashing their grafts to fly—resembling mantises, fleas, and also like aliens.
It wasn’t re physical flight; as they flapped their wings, the purple patterns on them flashed, and the wearers teleported forward by tens of ters.
Others might not have noticed anything, but to Su Lun, a practitioner who had awakened spatial ability, those spatial fluctuations were very obvious!
A quick assessnt revealed the significance of these wings.
[Void Wings]
Details: First-tier black iron quality alchemical graft, wing grafts produced by a specific insect from the void plane, containing spatial displacent abilities; adaptation value rating C or above, mutation probability not exceeding 20%; after integration, a slight increase in the host’s toughness and agility, with a chance of comprehending so rudintary applications of the spatial laws.
Being low-tier practitioners, the pirates only had one or two types of grafts on them.
Normally, Su Lun wouldn’t give these underlings a second glance, but now that he looked at their grafts, he was genuinely amazed.
"Could it be that those guys have found a ’void plane’ seal channel?"
Su Lun looked at the information displayed and his expression turned slightly odd.
He knew that apart from the "Abyssal Plane Channel" beneath the Dawn City Ruins under Old Lington, this plane once had many spatial channels connected to other planes.
But among the plethora of information Su Lun had harvested, no one had ever seen this kind of "void equipnt."
This ant that the pirates under the King of the North Sea had either found a secret plane channel or poked into the lair of a void monster, and that’s how they obtained these materials?
Spatial ability is an extrely rare and strong combat power.
Let alone flying equipnt!
The combat enhancent for professionals would be an absolute qualitative leap.
Looking at the current situation, the King of the North Sea might have a large group of subordinates equipped with void equipnt.
This force was not to be underestimated.
"Really shouldn’t underestimate these pirates..."
Su Lun narrowed his eyes as he watched the pirates chasing after them, expressing his thoughts internally.
It seed now that this vast ocean was full of endless opportunities and treasures. He wasn’t the only lucky one.
...
The pirates closed the distance by dozens of ters in a blink, quickly catching up.
The people on the boat could even see the scornful smiles on their faces.
Yuta, who was beside him, also lost color on her face, "Damn it! That leading pirate is a fourth-class professional!"
On the ship, all the Dalu people, she was the only third-class one.
Though there were many among the Dalu, they weren’t without the power to fight. But if a fierce battle did break out, no one would be able to stop that fourth-class professional, which would surely result in heavy casualties and deaths.
Su Lun’s eyes shifted, his mind quickly pondering.
One fourth-class, two third-class, and also so first and second-class. To him, the problem wasn’t too big.
But if a real fight started, that spatial displacent ability would be very tricky, and he couldn’t guarantee he could take them down imdiately.
Moreover, killing these few was a minor issue, but behind them was a complete Great Pirate group. The King of the North Sea was not so easy to provoke.
On the other side, two or three dozen boats were waiting. If a big commotion broke out here, certainly so superior would co to reinforce.
Among the pirate squad leaders, there might be those with special abilities beyond the intelligence gathered.
Such as the Curse Magician known as ’Crow’ Gwenb.
Facing unknown enemies, one must not be careless.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t know how you were hit when the ti cos.
Su Lun’s thoughts flashed through his head in an instant, and quickly, he ca up with a plan.
Seeing the pirates were about to board the ship, he hastily said to Yuta beside him, "When they co on board, don’t resist. They probably won’t kill. I have a way to get them to leave!"
Upon hearing this, Yuta was startled at first, "But..."
Although she wasn’t very familiar with Su Lun, she could sense that he was only a third-class professional.
The other side had fourth and maybe fifth-class. Was he planning to go alone?
Too dangerous!
Yuta’s expression turned resolute, "I’ll go with you!"
"No, you stay on the ship!"
Su Lun’s tone left no room for refusal.
Without ti to explain further, he added, "They’ll definitely co for in a minute. You seize the chance to leave. Don’t worry about , I have my ways to escape."
Yuta looked at the man’s determined gaze, unsure of what to say, "You..."
That gaze seed to have an inexplicable power to convince.
Could he really do it?
Without giving Yuta the chance to speak, Su Lun leaped off the ship.
....
The dozen or so pirates flying toward the slave ship also saw Su Lun jump overboard, but didn’t care at all.
In their eyes, he was just a coward fleeing from battle.
The leading fourth-class professional was nad Suleiman, and he had earned himself a domineering pirate nickna, "Void Blade."
Since successfully integrating the fourth-class silver void equipnt, he had beco the reserve captain of Squad Seven.
Though he didn’t have a bounty yet, it was coming soon.
As long as they killed Hogg this ti, they’d imdiately make a na for themselves throughout the North Sea.
He felt with this void ability, sooner or later he would beco a Great Pirate known throughout the region!
With the winged equipnt retracted behind him, Suleiman landed steadily on the slave ship and glanced at the group of sub-humans with frosty faces, letting out a strange laugh, "Yo... this batch of goods is not bad."
The female sub-humans of the fox and wolf clans were indeed visibly beautiful at a glance.
At this remark, lascivious smiles hung on the faces of the dozen or so pirates behind him.
Yuta had already shown her fangs and claws, hesitating in her heart whether to make a move or not.
If it were just her, she would definitely not surrender without a fight, even if it ant dying in battle.
But behind her were a group of her tribespeople.
Suleiman brandished the blade glowing with purple light in his hand, the source of his confidence.
The unique pressure of a fourth-order professional instantly swept across the entire ship, and he barked loudly, "I don’t care if you understand or not. Right now, go to the hold and stay put, or don’t fucking make kill people!"
As he spoke, he provocatively pointed the blade at Yuta, the leader...
As long as these subhumans made the slightest move, he wouldn’t mind killing one to warn the others, and imdiately there would be a large number of heads rolling.
Yuta was fearless; her azure pupils glead with a wild beast’s sharp fierceness.
She thought of what Su Lun had just said and couldn’t help but look towards the distant sea.
Just at that mont, as if a giant whale was breaching, there was a loud "whoosh" from the sea, and suddenly a figure erged, a ferocious... iron giant!
Yuta had never seen a combat cha before and could hardly conceal her shock at the odd entity, "That... Is that Mr. Su Lun?"
A few pirates also heard the commotion and glanced over, only to see the cha warrior wielding a Ship-Cutter chopping towards their pirate ship, all astonished, "Military cha armor? People from the Mafa Empire?"
....
Indeed, this was the "Colonel-class Ship-Cutter IX cha Armor"!
Su Lun certainly didn’t delude himself into thinking he could take on a pirate group head-on.
Besides, he couldn’t guarantee that there weren’t other professionals with mysterious powers among the pirates.
Donning the cha armor was more than appropriate.
This set of armor had previously been tested in a great battle at Gadronte Harbor and was a handy weapon, with a helt possessing special anti-curse treatnt.
Once adorned in battle armor, it would be very difficult for even a fifth-order mysterious magician to kill him.
In order to draw attention and prevent the pirates from continuing their pursuit, there was no better ans than the cha armor.
To prevent pursuit, the pirate ship could not be left intact.
And the "Steam Battleship Cleaver" equipped with the armor was essentially a super battleship cutting weapon!
The chanical Ship-Cutter, though incapable of unleashing "Sword Qi" or other ranged attacks, with a vibrating blade, could easily slice through wooden sailboats.
With one wide, powerful swing, it carved a gash in the hull of a pirate ship.
A few more "slashes" and that gap imdiately beca a gaping hole.
Seawater rushed in instantly, and the large pirate ship looked as if it would soon sink.
What’s the most significant concern for a cha warrior?
It’s being able to withstand and deliver hits!
Su Lun controlled the combat cha, fearless, like a War God in human form.
The rain of bullets rattled against the cha armor, but that did not impede his movents one bit. Steam from the boiler gathered power, and a blast of white steam from his feet stirred up great ripples on the water’s surface. With a leap, the cha surged toward another approaching pirate ship.
Su Lun jumped onto the deck and, without hesitation, chopped down fiercely, cleaving the iron-hard coated mainmast in two!
The mast collapsed, scattering the henchn in all directions.
With all the strong fighters gone to intercept the slave ship, the remaining rabble was as ineffective as ants biting an elephant against Su Lun.
Powerless to stop him, they could only watch as he swung the Ship-Cutter like a giant windmill, severing all the masts on the ship.
As they saw their two ships taking on water and starting to capsize, the Heidevich of the "Void Blade" from the distant slave ship bellowed in rage, "Damn it!"
This was the nest egg he had saved in anticipation of one day becoming a legitimate captain...
And now, in the blink of an eye, it was being hacked to pieces?
"I’ll kill you!"
Boiling with rage and no longer caring about the slaves, Suleiman flew back.
After all, in his eyes, a set of Mafa military armor was worth countless tis more than a shipful of slaves!
He glared at that cha warrior, his eyes full of hatred, yet he also sneered, "Hmm! cha warrior? Others might not be able to handle you... but don’t you know my Void Armor is specifically designed to counter cha warriors?"
....
Su Lun, of course, saw the group of pirates flying back. He even clearly saw the contempt on the face of the leader.
He wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
This diversionary tactic was precisely to wait for their return.
Su Lun didn’t rush to flee, identifying the fourth-order armor in the other’s hand and musing, "Tsk, tsk, that armor does indeed counter cha warriors quite effectively... no wonder he’s so confident."
The Void Sickle
Details: A fourth-order silver quality alchemical implant; the sickle of a creature unique to the Void Plane, containing spatial teleportation ability, that can ignore obstacles in its slashes; containnt value rating B or above, aberration probability no more than 15%; after fusion, substantially increases the resilience and agility of the host, and highly likely to gain so understanding of the use of Space Law.
As Su Lun read this, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, also with anticipation, "Gift-wrapped ’experience of space’..."
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