novelraw Chapter 228: Finn, We’re Safe Now
Chapter 228: Finn, We’re Safe Now
Dense raindrops mixed with blood-stained petals fell upon everyone.
Fen did not catch Chen Qi’s words clearly; the flowers on her body rapidly fell, landing on the deck and forming a small sea of blossoms.
She gasped heavily, her voice trembling, and she could barely keep standing.
In the end, the Flower Witch Fen had not completed her ascension and was still a frail third-tier Transcendent.
Blooming Bloodflower, with the Flower Witch’s current strength, could only last for a brief instant.
I cannot, cannot stop... Fen gritted her teeth, struggling to stand firm. Facing a legend, even the slightest slackness would doom everyone on the Dagger to blood and foam.
Chen Qi’s gaze involuntarily shifted to the distance.
On the distant horizon, a flag soared amidst the storm, and a sleek, blade-like ship sliced through the sea surface.
The main ship of the Blood Blade Pirates at Red Maple Island!
The Blood Lady and the Blood Blade Pirates’ general were on that ship.However, this did not guarantee safety...
Chen Qi’s eyes reddened as he looked toward Carol before him.
The Flower Witch’s Release had three effects.
First, perception reduction and pain transference: enemies within the flower rain had greatly reduced perception and also experienced the pain the Flower Witch felt when pulling the flowers from her body.
Second, Flower’s Guard: the Flower Witch could create illusions to shield her comrades and use flowers to absorb damage.
Third, any enemy within the flower rain with exposed bleeding wounds would see flowers bloom upon those wounds that absorbed their life force and strength.
An absolutely formidable Release... Behind Chen Qi, translucent tentacles twisted and expanded, with swirling auras enveloping him.
Yet even with Release and the Blood Blade Pirates’ support, the situation remained dire...
Queen of Gunfire Carol was undoubtedly the overlord of this sea area. Even under the Blood Blade Pirates’ main ship, she still stood like a towering mountain.
Though victory seemed inevitable, the cost was critical.
The price was the Flower Witch’s life.
Every additional second the Flower Witch endured, her body grew weaker, and her injuries worsened by ten percent...
Ten seconds was not the Flower Witch’s absolute limit.
But after ten seconds, her overdrawn life force would increase exponentially.
And currently, it seemed Chen Qi himself would also pay part of the price.
Unless they could inflict substantial damage or injuries on Carol, she would never give up lightly.
Chen Qi silently listened to the sounds beneath his feet.
Even Carol feared the deep sea.
Chen Qi took a deep breath; the Ember’s Touch tentacles behind him twisted, swelling with strength.
On deck, the crew grabbed their weapons, terrified as they looked at Carol and Fenrir the Mad Wolf beneath her feet—
Their leader still had one last breath, and as brothers, they wanted to save their captain!
But in the face of absolute power, they couldn’t even take a step forward.
This gap was not something courage could bridge.
Carol extended her hand and suddenly ripped the flower from her neck:
“Hahahahaha! Witch! You really surprise me. Now I understand why Whale Father wants you all so badly!”
The panic on Carol’s face instantly vanished, replaced by a furious rage reserved for those of her rank.
As a legend, she was robbed of her life by a Release!
Even with Whale Father’s orders, she could never allow the Black Hunter and the witch to arrive intact at the far side of the Fog Sea!
Mottled black markings spread rapidly across Carol’s body, and steam billowed from her mouth and nose.
Her body was no longer mere flesh and blood; it was the embodiment of steel and iron!
The Heart of Steam!
Scorching steam erupted across the Dagger like molten lava, pressing down on everyone.
They all staggered backward, their bodies hunched; some even dropped to their knees on the spot.
Before them, Carol’s figure grew towering and imposing, like a fire dragon devouring the sky.
There was no doubt—the fate of anyone approaching Carol was sealed.
Her fiery orange hair fluttered in the storm.
With a single glance, a simple breath, she could end everything!
“Phew...”
Chen Qi exhaled softly, finally asking:
“Fen, can your Release protect me for ten seconds?”
Fen bit her tongue; the pain from the Blood Blossom pulling flowers from her body overwhelmed her mind. She looked at Chen Qi with blurred consciousness.
“Mm...”
She nodded with difficulty.
Boom!
The moment the Flower Witch nodded, Carol took a heavy step forward, creating a massive crater, breaking through rain and petals to reach Chen Qi’s front.
Her mechanical hand suddenly opened, transforming into a giant ghostly claw, rushing toward Chen Qi’s head before snapping shut!
That head swiftly turned into bright red petals!
Can illusions be created the moment I attack... Carol quickly turned sideways, her eyes meeting Chen Qi’s gaze.
Carol’s invincible body, mottled runes, dragon-like eyes, and the two pistols at her waist—
Chen Qi’s pupils contracted, excitement and fear flooding him.
The fourth tier was a hot topic on player forums...
Chen Qi knew Carol’s attacks, moves, even weaknesses.
Without activating her Artillery Specialist mode, Carol’s attacks were monotonous, essentially a monster with stats off the charts.
Facing a legend directly like this was undeniably dangerous.
Seizing the moment... Chen Qi’s legs exploded with power as he flashed behind Carol, aiming for her neck, then slashed fiercely.
Whoosh!
With a sharp blade sound, raindrops and petals fell on Chen Qi’s face—
He slashed a thin wound on the back of Carol’s neck.
That tiny wound rapidly expanded into a small flower bud, blooming into a flower, then into a blood-stained blossom—
“Hahahaha! Hahahaha!”
Carol’s lips curled into a wild laugh, then she grabbed her pistol at her waist.
Fen’s Release effect exceeded her expectations!
In this state, she couldn’t even track the Black Hunter’s movements!
But this excitement thrilled Carol like never before.
Only prey that fought back made for good prey.
Once the flower Release ended, everything would reverse—
Like a towering mountain, Carol’s toes spun lightly as she silently turned her head, gathering all her strength to unleash a punch.
A massive force surged forth, stirring waves upon waves!
Empty again? Seems I still can’t adapt to the Flower Witch’s Release in such a short time... Carol laughed, until a chill crept up her back.
Chen Qi unleashed all his strength; eight tentacles behind him like thick arms suddenly grabbed Carol’s neck, shoulders, and legs.
Ember’s Binding!
A flood of translucent blue flames erupted behind Chen Qi, swirling and wrapping around his arms continuously.
“Qi...”
Fen, her mind blurred, widened her eyes. Chen Qi actually dared to approach a legend.
She bit her palm fiercely, pushing her Release control to the limit!
At this moment, Big Mom Carol could not help but show a crazed smile.
No one had dared approach her here in a long time!
This Black Hunter piqued her interest!
Only three seconds left—Chen Qi’s tentacles hurled Carol into the air, then all eight semi-illusory tentacles condensed energy.
Two!
Eight punches struck simultaneously like a giant steamroller, smashing Carol into the sea with tremendous force!
Boom! The sea surface shattered, leaving a massive crater!
“Huff, huff, huff—”
Chen Qi panted heavily, slowly moving forward to the ship’s edge, wiping rainwater from his mouth.
As Carol was blasted off the Dagger, everyone fell silent, staring at Chen Qi in disbelief.
In the sea, legends were not to be insulted; they were symbols of absolute power.
Once, a shipworker from Dolphin Island merely bumped into Big Mom Carol in a tavern, and within a week, his family and friends vanished from the sea without a trace. No one dared speak of it.
In the pouring rain, Fenrir the Mad Wolf slowly raised his head:
“Black Hunter...”
“Mr. Black Hunter!”
Everyone’s hearts were filled with shock. Despite the rain and Carol’s power, the threat of the Mermaid, no one could find words.
Only Fen still struggled to maintain her Release:
“Run... You’ll be killed, tortured. Big Mom won’t spare any man she sets her sights on...”
“No need.”
Chen Qi slowly crouched, gazing calmly at the churning sea, saying:
“Reinforcements have arrived. She won’t dare come up again.”
“Fen, you can stop now. If you continue, your life force will be exhausted...”
With the roar of steam, the Blood Blade Pirates’ main ship, the Blood Blade, drew close to the Dagger and opened fire on the Mermaid.
On the Mermaid, Carol’s crew remained composed.
On the Blood Blade, crew shouted loudly:
“Everyone! Board quickly!!”
Can I stop? Really... Fen staggered a few steps.
Gurgle, gurgle—
Steam continuously bubbled up from the rolling sea surface.
Underneath, Carol was surrounded by seawater—
“Phew, how refreshing—”
Carol closed her eyes as the pain in her mind gradually vanished.
Her opponent’s attack had forced her out of the Flower Witch’s Release domain, exactly as she wanted.
As she left the Flower Witch’s attack range, her mind cleared and perception slowly returned; the pain faded bit by bit.
Then she slowly opened her eyes and reached out toward the Dagger—
Suddenly, a small pellet drifted with the current toward her.
Food? Bait? Carol reached out and caught it in her hand.
Forget it, it didn’t matter—
Carol’s heart was already racing with excitement.
Unlike other Transcendents, Carol clearly sensed Chen Qi was only a second-tier Transcendent.
Yet a second-tier dared attack her!
This reminded her of her youth, robbing merchant ships and encountering the Black Eye bodyguard!
At that time, she was only a third-tier, but after fighting three third-tiers consecutively, she was pinned by a first-tier Black Eye, gun pressed to her forehead.
That Black Eye later became part of the Blackfin Crew, a pirate captain interested only in money, with no concern for women or family.
Since then, very few had dared attack her while two tiers below her!
A humiliation, a naked, raw humiliation!
She was one of the fiercest pirates in the sea; men below the fourth tier must bow to her.
As a grand pirate captain of the Blackfin Crew, she would not allow such a stain.
Even if Whale Father valued Chen Qi, even if injured, the Black Hunter must kneel before her!
“Black Hunter!!!”
Carol roared, clenching her fist and crushing the bait, channeling energy.
Yet before she could unleash her power, a tentacle wrapped around her arm.
Then a shark bit her head.
More and more tentacles and sharp teeth attacked her.
Carol blinked in disbelief.
Why were there so many mutated monsters in this sea area?
Behind her, thousands of terrifying beasts swam slowly toward her, opening their bloodthirsty jaws—
Why? Why?
Carol was stunned. Having roamed the seas for so many years, she had never encountered such a special situation.
This place was supposedly at the edge of a mutated sea zone; it was impossible for so many sea beasts to be here—
Absolutely impossible!
Could it be...
Until the next second, Carol’s mind formed a vague answer. A hand as black as charcoal appeared before her eyes.
She slowly turned her head; among countless shadows, azure flames burned slowly in the sea.
The Azure Beast had swum here from the Navy Research Base—Carol froze.
The flames suddenly expanded; one hand after another wrapped around Carol, slowly covering her head:
“Pirates of the Blackfin... give me the deep-sea fire... and the hunter...”
...
...
Gurgle, gurgle—
“Phew, Fen, I told you, it will end after ten seconds.”
Chen Qi crouched at the bow of the Dagger, tilting his head with a puzzled expression.
Why hadn’t Carol surfaced yet?
In Chen Qi’s plan, once the Blood Blade’s main ship arrived, using the Supernatural Bait and pushing Carol to the sea bottom would quickly expand their advantage.
The more dangerous the sea, the stronger his home-field advantage.
Meaning once the Blood Blade Pirates’ main ship acted, their odds of victory were very high.
But Chen Qi hadn’t expected that his punch would actually send Carol to the sea bottom with no movement.
Not even the Blood Blade’s Blood Blade had taken action.
Something felt off... Chen Qi had a vague ominous premonition and clapped his hands, shouting toward the pirates on the Mermaid:
“Only muscle pups on board! Without a master, aren’t you running away?”
On the Mermaid, the commanding Siren twitched her lips and gritted her teeth, ordering the ship to turn around!
However, the Blood Blade soon unleashed fierce cannon fire, blasting many of the Mermaid’s crew to pieces.
The people on the Dagger looked at Chen Qi, unsure how to express their feelings.
Until a loud voice broke the silence.
“Sorry, we’re late!”
Amid the pouring rain, the Blood Blade crew looked at the battered Dagger and slowly lowered the gangplank:
“Everyone! Get on board!”
Hmm...
Chen Qi stood up, rubbing his aching hand, preparing to board the Blood Blade.
The next second, two soft hands rested on his shoulders from behind.
In the storm, Fen staggered, her body stained with blood. With blurred consciousness, she leaned on his back.
At this moment, most of the flowers on Fen’s body had withered, a torment to someone with Blood Blossom Disease.
“Fen...”
Chen Qi felt the warmth behind him and spoke softly.
Blooming Bloodflower, with so much blood lost, had brought the Flower Witch to the brink of death.
Fen did not respond to Chen Qi’s call, only gasping continuously.
Chen Qi could feel Fen’s rapid heartbeat against his back.
Her mind was already blurred, unable to speak, and her body was at its limit...
In the pouring rain, Chen Qi sighed deeply, slowly crouching to carefully carry Fen on his back:
“Fen, rest assured, we’re going home.”
“Mm...”
Fen, with blurred consciousness, instinctively hugged Chen Qi tightly.
Chen Qi climbed the gangplank slowly, boarding the Blood Blade.
On the Blood Blade, the Blood Lady, veteran Gale, and Little Red Riding Hood watched the blood-soaked Flower Witch and Fenrir the Mad Wolf with worried faces.