Chapter 1: Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon Experimental Model I-1
2015-05-05
Author: Zhuseng Futuo
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(PS: Correcting an error, it’s mutated orca not mutated tiger shark.)
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Taro Port.
Over a hundred heads were simply pickled in lime and neatly stacked to form a 京观, placed in the center of the port. As the duel between the two Pirate Kings approached, trade along the Southern Coast temporarily halted. Cargo ships docked at the port, daring not to venture out to sea, fearing the repercussions of the Pirate Kings’ battle. War is always the most destructive event; the chaos of turbulent times utterly destroyed the prosperity on the continent.
A fleet of warships approached Taro Port!
When fleets from Shipwreck Bay, Overseas Islands, and Taro Port gathered, people were astonished to discover that the Executioner – Soren had unknowingly amassed over a hundred warships, enough to rival a kingdom’s navy. One by one, the warships gradually docked, and they saw groups of fully armed, fierce-looking pirates gathering. They came from various places, including powerful pirate leaders as well as smaller pirate chiefs.
Their arrival was largely due to fear of Soren and a certain confidence in his victory.
Because Soren had defeated the Swamp King, because he controlled the Dragon Head Battleship, because he had conquered a Northern Witch, and because, according to legend, he also possessed a Ghost Ship, among other reasons…
Even the pirates active near the City of Wealth came to seek allegiance, for the Church of Wealth could not hide its movements from these local powers; they coveted the wealth of the Eastern Sea Route. That was a larger cake than the Overseas Islands. Goods from the East, anything at all, brought multiple profits; Pirate King Asrold firmly held the Eastern Sea Route, and they had no chance to intervene. But as long as they helped Soren defeat Pirate King Asrold, a share of the profits from the Eastern Sea Route would surely be distributed.
Southern Coast Region.
The true value of the Overseas Islands lies in the mines occupied by Indigenous People; if they cannot seize these mines from the Indigenous People’s Tribe, the value of the Overseas Islands Route is only one-third that of the Eastern Sea Route.
The only troublesome aspect is that the Eastern Sea Route is riskier, and the round trip takes longer!
………………
“Your Excellency!”
The Half-Elf First Mate appeared before Soren and said in a deep voice: “One hundred twenty-one warships have responded to the call, with a total of three thousand two hundred fifteen combat-capable pirates. Some pirate chiefs are on their way and are estimated to arrive in a day or two.”
Soren was the Pirate King.
It was equivalent to the head of a bandit group; not responding to his summons in this situation meant facing the consequences after the war.
This was the privilege of the Pirate King!
Even if they were not directly under Soren, those smaller pirate groups operating on the Southern Coast had to obey his command.
“We can’t wait that long!”
Soren stood on the deck of the Dragon Head Battleship, gazing into the distance, and said in a deep voice: “We can’t wait that long; we’ll set out tomorrow to attack Fury Sand Island.”
“Yes!” The Half-Elf First Mate replied solemnly.
That night.
Taro Port was completely different from before; the streets no longer saw groups of people playing and laughing, and the taverns were silent. People spoke in hushed voices. The Constable in charge of managing Taro Port was a bit frightened and doubled the patrols, even personally visiting the Ocean Temple to meet with the Naga Priestess. The number of personnel Soren gathered was too great; so many pirates could easily attack Taro Port. If chaos ensued, the consequences would be severe.
The indigenous residents of Taro Port shut their doors tightly, and no idle people could be seen on the streets.
Only the port area remained brightly lit until dawn. One could see strong pirates transporting weapons and supplies to the warships, heavy cannons, and crates of gunpowder, as the smell of war enveloped this island city.
The next day.
The people Soren was waiting for arrived. It was a gift prepared for him by Gloria.
With the appearance of a portal, a middle-aged Northern Witch with a stern expression, around forty years old, appeared, flanked by two younger Northern Witches.
“Lord Soren?”
The stern-faced middle-aged witch glanced at Soren and slightly nodded: “Councilor Gloria has used her A-class authority to request; she is entitled to summon any A-class strategic resources from the Northern Witch Council.”
“This is the strategic resource she has requested; please accept it personally!”
Soren had just nodded when the stern-faced middle-aged witch cast a spell to open a portal, and the space before him connected to the interior of a Wizard Tower. The portal remained open for a short time, obscuring the interior situation, but it could be felt that it was a very majestic laboratory. Soon after, two enormous Iron Golems appeared, carrying something that resembled a mortar only in outward appearance.
“Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon Experimental Model I-1.”
The stern-faced middle-aged witch looked at Soren seriously, speaking in a deep voice: “The Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon has been charged, but please note, it can only fire a single energy pulse attack!…”
“The Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon Experimental Model I-1 belongs to the A-class strategic resources of the Witch Council. As an experimental model, it can conduct one long-range energy pulse strike, with an effective range of one hundred twenty kilometers, and a practical range of fifty kilometers. Because there is no Wizard Tower to act as the central control, I recommend you carry out the attack within thirty kilometers.”
“Councilor Gloria’s request is for summoning rights; this Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon still belongs to the Witch Council’s property.”
“If any damage occurs, you will compensate the Witch Council 3.6 million Gind.”
The stern-faced middle-aged witch took out a document engraved with magic runes and handed it to Soren, stating solemnly: “These two Iron Golems are responsible for protecting the Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon Experimental Model I-1 and will operate it to perform attacks according to your command. Please take care! You must protect this weapon; it is one of the last experimental products of the Witch Council, and any damage will also incur penalties for Councilor Gloria’s authority.”
Soren silently nodded, then took out a ring resembling a crest and lightly pressed it against the document.
A flash of magical light appeared.
The middle-aged witch pointed towards the Dragon Head Battleship, and the two Iron Golems carried the Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon onto the deck. This looked somewhat like a mortar, distinctly different from what Soren had seen in the Half-Elf City, seemingly a replica from the Witch Council. The curve of the barrel was quite smooth. The slender barrel had no opening, with the trajectory marked by three interwoven rune engravings, ending in a purple gem resembling a pyramid; it was not a traditional alchemical gunpowder weapon but rather an energy weapon from the Arcane Empire era.
To be honest.
Soren was unsure of its true power, but it certainly didn’t look disappointing.
Because it had a strong sense of sci-fi from an interstellar era!
The base of the Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon was a square alchemical structure, somewhat like a golem transformation device. Once placed on the deck, it automatically extended supports to secure itself. The barrel was the size of an adult’s arm, shining a silver-white color, and when Soren slightly reached out to touch it, he noticed that a vast amount of mithril was infused; only mithril could withstand such enormous energy flows without blocking energy transfer. This alchemical apparatus from the Arcane Empire was beyond Soren’s current understanding.
But he felt that this weapon was likely not far from an interstellar era electromagnetic pulse cannon!
Purely an instinct.
For a civilization capable of lifting cities into the sky, transforming them into Floating Cities, he was filled with awe.
“Receipt complete.”
The stern-faced middle-aged witch glanced at him. She said solemnly: “Lord Soren! Please take good care of it. After the energy is fired, we will automatically track the spatial coordinates to retrieve it.”
After finishing her words, she directly opened a directional portal and left with the two young witches behind her.
“Set off!”
Soren glanced at the others and then instructed his subordinates to cover it up. Only the two Iron Golems remained guarding beside the Arcane Crystal Superconducting Pulse Cannon.
He stood on the platform of the Dragon Head Battleship, looking down at everyone and declaring: “Head towards Fury Sand Island!”
Woo! Woo! Woo!
The mournful sound of a horn echoed.
As the Dragon Head Battleship departed the port first, the nearby warships and over a hundred pirate ships surged into the sea, heading towards Fury Sand Island occupied by Asrold.
Pirate flags fluttered in the wind.
The various pirate warships formed a fleet, advancing along the Eastern Sea Route, and they would enter Asrold’s territory in a day.
In the invisible deep-sea area.
A dilapidated Ghost Ship was also slowly advancing, its hull bound by undead laboring expressionlessly, and only when ocean life appeared nearby would a hint of thirst for blood and slaughter emerge on their faces.
[Ghost Ship] – The Requiem.
It was hungry.
As a living Ghost Ship, it had been given the Animate Life spell by a legendary powerhouse; it fed on death, flesh, and souls, but ever since the battle with the Swamp King, it had fallen into silence, having had no opportunity to taste bloodshed. As an undead animate life form, it had no wisdom, but it possessed the instinct of biological thirst.
It craved death!
In a deeper part of the sea.
It seemed to sense a calling from somewhere, as a massive shadow rose from the seabed; the first to emerge were spines as thick as adult arms, sharp like javelins.
This massive black shadow surfaced and lingered for a moment before speeding off in a direction.
Its master was summoning it!
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