211: Chapter 200: Thunderous Bombardnt (1/4) 211: Chapter 200: Thunderous Bombardnt (1/4) “The pirate ship is approaching quickly.”
The exploration vessel sailed in silence towards the southwest, the ever-intensifying flashes of lightning nearly drowning out the roar of the waves.
Even two people in the cabin wanting to chat face to face had to shout loudly to be heard by each other.
On the other hand, Ian, who held the Silent Sound Ring, after a slight adjustnt, could shield all external sounds, only allowing the voices of people within its range to be heard.
At this mont, with the feedback from the Silver Chip, he had already noticed that the distant Pirate Fleet had started moving.
The Natives were probably closing in as well, albeit perhaps at a slightly slower pace.
Of course, Shasha was approaching too.
It could be said that what had been still was suddenly astounding.
The previous silence had given him a false sense of security; now, as everyone made their moves, the situation in the Southern Sea instantly beca fraught with complexity and unpredictability.
Originally, he had thought that Master Gossay’s decision to set out early might truly cause Patrick and his companions to be thrown into disarray.
Now, it seed it only delayed their encounter.
All parties had already begun their respective actions.
At this point, there was no need for secrecy.
Ian directly reported to Gossay the possibility of ‘a large unknown fleet’ being in the vicinity.
His rationale being the unusual and rich aroma of vegetation, which was quite similar to that of the Elf trading ships that had previously visited Harrison Port, but it was subtly different.
It wasn’t really a deception; living wood ships were generally quite good at many things, but they could hardly block their own Source Quality Fluctuations.
Which was usually a good thing, as it could fend off so of the more sensitive and powerful Sea Beasts, as well as attract small fish that instinctively drew close to life.
It was also a mobile algae farm, allowing the fleet to sustain itself for long periods without returning to shore.
But they were indeed quite incapable of concealing their movents, which ant they always ended up at a disadvantage when it ca to either early warning or tracking.
As for why pirates, who should be hiding their tracks, would use living wood ships…
Everywhere in Canaan Moore were living wood ships, with their Source Quality Fluctuations complex as a fifty-year-old, unmaintained electrical grid tangled beyond repair—ironically making it the best thod of concealnt.
It was just that living wood ships were a rare sight along the coast of The Empire, so while Ian claiming to sense the others’ Source Quality was indeed an exaggeration, it was not entirely implausible.
“The pirates from Canaan Moore…
Tsk, such a grand maneuver could only be possible with the financial power and ans of the major figures within the Erlen Family!”
Master Gossay did not doubt Ian’s judgent.
In fact, he had already had his suspicions.
The advantageous aspect was the current fierce storms in the Southern Sea, which made it impossible for big ships to sail at full speed — but for the Reverence Light, with its Cloud Sculptor, this was a non-issue; its speed would not be reduced.
Unless…
“We are entering the heart of an abnormal Spirit Energy Field.”
The thunder overhead grew denser, with the intensity of the lightning bolts nearly enough to be terd as a thunderstorm.
Even Ian, who had lived in the Southern Sea for so long, had only ever seen such density of electric arcs in the dance of Thunderhunter Jellyfish around Sigh Cliff.
Master Gossay had clearly noticed this as well.
He requested the captain to slow down and called all Sublimators to convene a eting.
It’s not that the Sublimators and crew were unaware of the risk.
The Platinum Iridium Workshop had offered five tis the usual salary and a death indemnity.
Everyone knew that this voyage was not just about collecting a Crystal Shellfish — it was clear that they were prepared for a life-or-death struggle with Sea Beasts, and even clashes with the Natives were to be expected.
But to engage in naval combat with pirates during a storm was sowhat unexpected.
“Why don’t we just call the local Lord to co and eradicate the pirates?”
That was the captain’s suggestion and it received Ian’s affirmation, “I’ve just sent a signal.
If nothing goes wrong, Lord Viscount should have already set out.”
“But after all, it’s a storm, and it might take him so ti to find us, and by then we might have been fighting for so ti already.”
The official powers always lag behind; that’s just common sense.
The captain, anwhile, was deeply worried, “The wind and waves are too strong.
If Master Gossay weren’t helping to shield us, our ship probably couldn’t last very long…”
This was indeed a concern shared by everyone, including Ian.
Outside the range controlled by Master Gossay, the wind and waves outside could produce waves seven to eight ters high.
The Reverence Light was, after all, only a dium-small escort ship that had been modified, and it was hard to control in such big waves; they could only leave it to fate.
The only thing to be thankful for was that the Reverence Light was very sturdy; at most, it would drift with the wind and waves and was unlikely to capsize.
Others might worry about the consequences of being caught by the enemy when the ship was no longer under control, but Ian was worried about sothing else.
“The prelude to the anomaly has already begun.”
In the Foresight View, the entire Natural Spirit Energy Field of the Southern Sea was slightly changing— the white fog filling the sky was becoming denser and even at the top of the storm, where countless thunder and clouds entwined, faint arcs of pale blue energy fields had already appeared.
It was similar to Sigh Cliff, but it was many tis larger than Sigh Cliff.
Today’s storm was the trigger for the anomaly.
This was within Ian’s expectations.
But what he hadn’t expected was that the Deep Sea Crystal Dragon was also the trigger for this abnormal storm.
The storm was the trigger for the anomaly, and the Crystal Dragon was the trigger for the storm…
In a sense, this Crystal Dragon was actually the trigger for the Labyrinth anomaly, the core of the core!
“That Deep Sea Crystal Dragon…
is actually so closely related to the Labyrinth?”
Because the focus had always been not on it, but on targets like the native Patrick, who posed a direct threat.
And so, it wasn’t until now that Ian realized he might have overlooked this strange breed nurtured within the Labyrinth.
—It is common knowledge on the Terra Continent that the Labyrinth would breed powerful magical beasts as its ‘guardians’.
But conversely, the Labyrinth guardians should also be able to influence, or rather, catalyze the activation of the Labyrinth’s power.
And moreover…
—Can water dragons also invoke the power of thunder?
Ian was about to ask if their target was indeed a water-elental Crystal Dragon, when he saw Master Gossay’s expression suddenly change.
“This is bad.”
He spoke in a rush, and the hunched old man moved swiftly out of the cabin with agility that belied his age, and onto the deck.
The wind surrounding the Reverence Light grew fiercer and more urgent.
At the sa ti, heavy thunder followed by roars approached—
Boom boom boom!
Around the Reverence Light, huge splashes of water erupted abruptly, and terrifying explosions occurred in the shallow waters, dispersing the nearby waves for a mont and causing the ship to shake.
Upon realizing this, not just Master Gossay, but everyone present changed their expressions.
“That’s artillery fire!”
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