Chapter 168

Soaring quickly under the moonlight.

In future generations, it will be misunderstood as a flying pest with blubbery flesh, whose flight ability has somewhat degenerated, but during this time, it is known simply as a symbol of peace or a useful postal means.

A pigeon.

The one with snow-white feathers flies across the dark night sky and lands on Elkana’s hand, where a golden thread is tied.

What follows is a small container tied to its leg.

Elkana and Magellan immediately check the small note extracted from within.

And…

“This is…”

Written inside is a short yet precise sentence.

-je l’ai fait

*

The storm-like onslaught of the Pirate King.

In response, Nelson attempted to defend using the magnetic field created by swirling lightning.

Her unique method of applying condensation to defense.

Even swinging a fist within that would see a human body reduced to ashes in an instant from the storm of magnetism.

However…

“Ugh!”

-BANG!!

With a powerful shockwave, her defense shattered in an instant.

It wasn’t merely an attack; it was a strike utilizing waves, sending extreme vibrations and immense energy coursing through her body, delivering quite a shock.

Had she been an ordinary person, her muscles would have ruptured, and her bones twisted into pieces.

Fortunately, thanks to knowing the method of releasing her internal magical power in the form of waves, Nelson could endure it, but that didn’t mean she was unscathed.

“Damn… my ribs took another hit…”

The injuries from the moment her released magical power fell short.

Yet, in her current state, Nelson had no choice but to bear even such damage.

There was no room left to allocate significant magical power to defense.

The aftermath of her previous battle with Lemain hadn’t fully healed yet, and the magic she used earlier to hastily drop Kangut and the Sirens she led wasn’t without burden either.

Seventy percent of her usual capacity.

Of course, this was still enough strength to wipe out a standard pirate crew with ease, but…

The opponent was precisely the Pirate King, who possessed equal strength.

-CRACK!!!

Once again, Nelson fired a laser, fusing magnetic fields and lightning.

Intense golden flashes erupted rapidly toward where the Pirate King stood.

But.

-THWACK!

“!!”

Rather than directly defending, the Pirate King simply struck the sea with his fist.

A colossal wall reminiscent of a giant barrier surged before him.

As the rays pierced into that water stream.

Even then, it didn’t mean their power dropped significantly, but the rays flying toward the Pirate King all bent and twisted, losing their accuracy.

Refraction due to the change in medium.

No matter how intense the strike formed of lightning was, it could not escape its fundamental nature.

“Huff… huff… huff…”

Ultimately, the attack concluded by merely grazing the Pirate King’s body, causing a light abrasion.

Given the magical power expended, the results felt far too unsatisfactory, prompting Nelson to instinctively scowl.

She hadn’t anticipated such a response.

Yet, while the opponent’s attack consistently inflicted damage upon her, it was evident that the Pirate King appeared to grow more at ease.

An overwhelming opponent, with victory not guaranteed even under optimal conditions.

She couldn’t afford to spare magical power in her attacks, as half-hearted assaults would yield no hits, so to inflict any damage, she had to go all out.

As a result, the burden on Nelson’s body only increased with time.

Contrarily, the Pirate King remained lively and unscathed.

“HAH!!!”

“Ugh!”

Once more, another strike came flying in.

Nelson tried to defend yet again, even though it didn’t look much different from the last one.

While she was gradually wearing down, this man who swung his fist at her still seemed brimming with strength.

Yet…

“Huh?”

“I was wrong.”

This time, instead of just attacking with a fist, the Pirate King enveloped her with condensed magical power.

Nelson’s face momentarily filled with bewilderment at this unexpected attack.

And…

“!! KAHHHHH!!!”

The Pirate King sent vibrations coursing through Nelson’s entire body.

A dreadful pain that felt like everything was being inverted from head to toe consumed her.

“Dammit!!”

-CRACKLE!!!

With a scream-like shout, her magical power explosively burst forth.

By squeezing every last ounce of magical power she could use, she managed to barely escape the Pirate King’s onslaught.

However, the cost was far greater than she had anticipated.

“Ugh!… Huh… ugh…”

About five or six bones had been broken.

And when factoring in the power loss from forcibly breaking through the attack, the damage was incredibly severe.

“Looks like the end is drawing near. Are you still going to continue?”

“SHUT UP!”

-CRACKLE!!!

Nelson, responding to the Pirate King’s words with irritation, released her lightning.

Yet, her attack was thwarted, unable to penetrate the Pirate King’s barrier.

Seeing this, Nelson chewed on her anger; nonetheless, she couldn’t deny the truth.

Just as the Pirate King had said, the balance had tilted severely due to their last contact.

Currently, Nelson had no means to tip it back.

While the Pirate King’s face began to reflect confidence in victory, Nelson struggled to maintain her coolness and gathered her resolve.

“It’s alright… I can still hold on. Just… just a bit longer until…”

Even with defeat swiftly becoming tangible, Nelson remained steadfast in her determination.

It wasn’t merely courage or indomitable will.

All of this was her plan…

Part of an operation that was already underway before the battle began.

Her body was covered in wounds, yet Nelson’s gaze gleamed like a blazing fire.

However, that gaze was not directed at the Pirate King standing before her, nor at the allied warships still engaged in combat.

It was aimed at the horizon.

At the far western end, where the sea glimmered under the vanishing moonlight.

There, the results that would put an end to her plans would soon appear.

The first phase of that plan was to draw the enemies directly into battle.

No matter how vast her military force, if the enemies fled, it would be virtually impossible for her side to pursue them.

The sea itself was notoriously fickle.

In reality, just having a ship meant paths were open in every direction, making it no different from seeking a needle in a haystack finding something without precise location at sea.

To prevent such a scenario, she needed to make the enemies desperate enough to throw themselves into the fray.

The best way to achieve this was to convey that ‘they are weak.’

As a result, Nelson faced an alliance of 40 warships head-on against over 60 enemy vessels.

Now that the first move had been successfully executed, the second phase was to draw the enemies deep within their ranks.

While the bombardment utilizing the crescent formation yielded almost no results, the ensuing circumstances unfolded quite naturally in line with her plan.

Relatively strong in close combat, the pirates would do everything they could to stick close to the allied warships.

And she would then aim to drag out the chaos by stretching the time against those pirates who have latched on.

As a result, the current situation saw allied and enemy ships entangled almost perfectly.

In such a state, neither side could easily retreat, effectively tying them down.

And shining brightly amidst this intricate melee was the Empire Army’s artillery skills.

Unlike the pirates, the accurate cannon fire being executed even in the current situation allowed one-sided bombardment toward the enemies.

And now, having concluded the first and second plans that Nelson had prepared…

All that was left for her…

And for the Brittania Empire Army present here…

Was to wait.

Waiting for ‘them’ to arrive as soon as possible…

Hoping that this tiresome battle could be crowned with victory.

Then at that moment…

“!…”

‘Wow… they’ve come!’

What had begun to appear over the horizon.

Illuminated by the fading moonlight, those approaching were radiating unmistakable power.

“…What’s that?”

“Ho… hoho… hohoho…”

The Pirate King began to frown slightly.

Feeling a strange sense of superiority at his reaction, Nelson smiled lightly and said.

“Sorry. I wonder what that is, Pirate King?”

“…”

The Pirate King fell silent for a moment, gazing at the ships beyond the horizon.

Once those approaching arrived, the change in the tide would be inevitable.

And…

As if knowing the Pirate King’s unease, Nelson cheerfully exclaimed.

“It seems like we’re going to win this!”