novelraw Chapter 268: The Great Melee!
Chapter 268: The Great Melee!
Boom! Boom!
Amid the pirates' shouts, over two hundred pirates garrisoned on Blue Fire Island poured out, the entire scene descending into chaos.
Other third-tier Transcendents also appeared on Blue Fire Island—an astonishing eleven of them in total.
Chen Qi ignored them for the moment and instead raised his head to stare at the twelve blood-red eyes in the sky.
Deep-Sea Titan: Twelve-Tentacles—
"The big BOSS—"
Chen Qi frowned and stepped back. The ship they had arrived on, the Viper Father, had already been damaged because of the light source.
Their current situation was extremely bad.
Earlier, the water-lake beast he had encountered was at the "eye" difficulty; with his current strength, he could easily crush that creature.
But on the Deep Sea Hunters' treasure map, the monster before him was only two ranks higher than the water-lake beast—it was a "hand"-level difficulty.Two ranks could turn a water-lake beast into a world-class BOSS?
Chen Qi swapped the lantern in his hand for a more powerful Daylight Lantern.
Lighting Technique!
The Daylight Lantern's light instantly intensified; under its blessing, a small kerosene lamp illuminated the entire dock.
A thick shadow affinity aura… Chen Qi thought inwardly.
On gaming forums, he had once participated in a boss kill against the Deep-Sea Twelve-Tentacles.
The Deep-Sea Twelve-Tentacles is a late Smiling Moon-level big BOSS, an ancient species from beneath the ocean, characterized by twelve massive tentacles, each bearing a crimson Moon Eye. Whenever it drops to critical health, it consumes one eye to refill its enormous titan body’s health.
In other words, it has twelve lives and is known as the sea’s twelve trials.
In terms of strength, it ranks even above legendary creatures; multiple legends and thousands of ships would be needed to slay so terrifying a titan.
Chen Qi looked up and scanned the red moons in the sky.
This Twelve-Tentacles was not the same titan he remembered from the forum—its whole body was blacker, exuding a heavy shadow affinity aura, and it was clearly afraid of strong light—
"Such a heavy shadow affinity—could it be because of the Smiling Moon?"
Chen Qi thought. Under the Smiling Moon, all deep-sea monsters have a chance to mutate.
The monster before him was very likely a hand-level creature whose tentacles had once been cut off by the Deep Sea Hunters and assigned to guard the treasure. Under the Smiling Moon, however, its tentacles regrew, turning it into a catastrophic terror of the Sea of Calamities.
Chen Qi raised his lantern. At the same time, the huge beast’s body was covered with numerous shadow beasts; as an ancient deep-sea species, it had absorbed power from the Smiling Moon.
Moreover, its shadow affinity aura had already surpassed its identity as an ancient deep-sea species!
This was a fallen deep-sea leviathan!
Its composition leaned far more toward shadow beasts!
Chen Qi could clearly sense that his Deep Sea Affinity probably could not guarantee his safety against this Deep-Sea Titan.
The only good news was that this Deep-Sea Titan had not shown any desire to attack humans.
It had no interest in slaughtering humans, but like the shadow beasts, it hated light.
"The situation isn’t good. I need to get the Deep Blue Fire and retreat early…"
Chen Qi looked toward the fleeing Sea God Pirates.
Their prime objective on this trip was to rob Bonfire Energy Company's machinery and excavate the Deep Blue Fire here.
Deep Blue Fire could forge many pieces of Forbidden Equipment and could also be used as material for domain Release—an extremely rare taboo material.
But before that… Chen Qi glanced back.
With a tremendous roar, one of the twelve enormous tentacles of the Deep-Sea Twelve-Tentacles suddenly lashed out and slammed toward him.
The descending tentacle head was like a massive hill crashing down; the oppressive force crushed the ground and kicked up a cloud of dust.
Chen Qi decisively activated Super Sense, adding Hound’s Pace's Blink Step and pushing his agility to the max.
To his surprise, the huge tentacle attack, the moment it contacted the Daylight Lantern’s light, suddenly retracted sharply—
As if recoiling from scalding heat, the Twelve-Tentacles’ tentacle recoiled violently in the face of the Daylight Lantern’s light and meekly retreated.
As the lighthouse-style light dimmed, the Twelve-Tentacles did not continue its assault but instead obediently lay on the island and closed its eyes.
It sank back into slumber.
Chen Qi was startled—the Twelve-Tentacles was even more afraid of bright light than the shadow beasts.
"Low attack drive, extremely afraid of strong light, likes to sleep…"
As long as it wasn’t provoked, it was safe. But what had just provoked it? Chen Qi immediately shifted his focus to the fleeing Sea God Pirates.
They had to find whatever had enraged the Deep-Sea Twelve-Tentacles!
That was the key on this island!
At this moment, Sea God Pirate leader Haibao was holding a harmonica in his mouth.
A wailing, almost keening music issued from Haibao’s lips.
Worldly-wise Melanie immediately said:
"Watch out—that’s the Frenzy Song harmonica. It can enrage and strengthen all shadow affinity and sea beast monsters!"
Melanie gritted her teeth; she had heard of this special relic before, and now it was in the hands of pirate captain Haibao.
A harmonica that could enrage sea beasts—this guy carried such a rare treasure… Chen Qi’s eyes lit up and dark-colored flames began to flicker over his body.
The fleeing Haibao roared at full volume:
"Damn Bonfire Hunters! Do you know what you did! You offended the gods of this sea!"
"When we get away, you won’t have a good time! Brothers, play the battle song and show them our superior escape speed!!"
Haibao barked orders as he ran toward the large ship hidden in the darkness.
On Haibao’s command, the pirates began to retreat at once.
Right now the Viper Father had been destroyed; once they reached Haibao’s ship, they could throw the White Tower Hunters into great crisis!
Running away to better attack… Haibao smirked, impressed with his own cunning:
"Block that Lamp Keeper!"
"Yes!"
Twenty second-tier hunters drew their weapons and charged.
Suicidal… Chen Qi flicked his mind and used Blink Step repeatedly through Hound’s Pace, weaving among the crowd and racing straight for their leader, Haibao.
"What are you standing there for! Do something!"
Chen Qi shouted.
Why are you commanding? And you're supposed to be the Lamp Keeper, the one who shields us from shadow demon attacks—why did you run ahead of us… Melanie grumbled inwardly, but her body obeyed his order and pulled a card from her armpit.
"Cover!"
Melanie shot the card out in an instant.
A rain of cards!
In a flash, one card became a thousand—thousands of razor-sharp spinning cards rained down like a hailstorm, knocking down more than a dozen attackers charging Chen Qi.
"Nice work, Melanie!"
With no one left blocking him, Chen Qi closed in on pirate captain Haibao, lightly brushed his hand across Haibao with Flesh Cleaver Bone Breaker.
The Dark Flame attached to the blade quickly burned dark flames over the edge!
Blink Step Slash!
Chen Qi used Blink Step again, his figure like wind as he appeared before Haibao, then grabbed his blades and slashed violently.
"Super. Iron Body!"
Bang!
Haibao roared again as his body turned as hard as steel, glittering brilliant and easily withstanding the strike.
Super Iron Body is the upgraded form of Iron Body; in the sea it is famed as the strongest defensive shield, and it was Haibao’s pride.
Haibao smiled confidently:
"Your aura just ascended not long ago, right? I am, after all, the new captain on this operation. You dare to challenge me alone! Do you know my Iron Body is at the peak of the third tier!"
Chen Qi wasted no words—first a Dark Flame Fist slammed into Haibao’s face, denting it!
Then a follow-up blade slashed at Haibao’s abdomen.
Shadow Blade Slash!
For a moment, from chest to belly, blood sprayed as the slash sent Haibao flying fifty meters.
Iron Body’s defense was rendered meaningless against the Dark Flame wound.
The Dark Flame attachment itself reduced defenses; it perfectly countered monotonous skills like Iron Body.
Haibao was knocked through the air, tumbled across the ground, then dashed toward their main ship again:
"Damn it! Kid, you pissed me off. When I get away, you’ll pay!"
But in the next instant, Haibao realized something was wrong—his harmonica was gone.
"Fools who practiced Iron Body aren’t that easy to beat…"
Chen Qi smiled, glancing at the ‘harmonica’ in his hand.
When he had struck Haibao in the face, he used Super Sense and an incredibly secretive maneuver to snatch the harmonica away.
A prompt popped up.
[Venus's Harmonica:
Affinity: Flower
Description: One of the Deep Sea Hunters' treasures. When the Deep Sea Hunters hunted sea beasts, there were often so many beasts that they could never rest.
To make the beasts feel the same torment, the Deep Sea Hunters used a giant tooth of a Deep-Sea Titan as exchange and commissioned Beiguo's masters to craft a special alarm. A single gentle blow can make the sea beasts experience insomnia-level despair!
Deep Sea Hunters often used this item to wake sleeping sea beasts and shadow beasts at night.
Effect: By playing the harmonica, one can perform the Frenzy Song to enrage sea beasts and shadow beasts!]
A Deep Sea Hunters' treasure!
Chen Qi had never expected this thing to be one of the Deep Sea Hunters' relics.
And it was an alarm that could enrage sea beasts and shadow beasts!
Captain Haibao actually had such an item on him.
Although the reason for its construction was odd, it was unquestionably an artifact… Chen Qi, in front of Haibao, put the harmonica into his pocket.
Chen Qi said quietly:
"What’s wrong? Want it?"
You, you, you… Haibao’s shell-affinity eyes flashed with rage—this was a treasure he had painstakingly obtained from the Deep Sea Hunters' hoard, and now it had been taken so easily!
Finally, Haibao suppressed his anger and the pain in his body and roared:
"My domineering aura has stunned the Lamp Keeper! Board!"
Using the confusion they’d just caused, their helmsman had already started the ship's engine and turned the bow. Once they boarded their ship and took the Deep Blue Fire, these eight ordinary third-tier hunters would be their toys!
Bloodied Haibao rolled and then leapt the final jump onto his main ship.
Seeing this, the pirates cheered—most of them had already boarded, especially their third-tier Transcendent captains.
The remaining second- and first-tier Transcendents were still intercepting Chen Qi and the White Tower Hunters.
However, in front of the White Tower Hunters, these pirates fell like wheat stalks in a harvest.
In an instant, the White Tower Hunters had the pirates scattered and defeated.
Rumble—
Haibao's main ship engine had finished warming.
"Captain Haibao, we still have many brothers who haven’t boarded!"
Someone shouted urgently.
Excluding the five hundred miners excavating, the pirates numbered around two hundred, but only forty had boarded so far.
Haibao did not hesitate and shouted loudly:
"Relax! Our remaining brothers will crush these guys into the dirt. They can do it. They’re invincible—bring the ship to me!"
The pirates on the shore were stunned:
"We can’t! Captain!"
The situation grew tense. Haibao’s main ship accelerated rapidly, and soon that massive vessel was speeding out to sea!
Do these pirates really just want to run off with the Deep Blue Fire and avoid a fight… Chen Qi shook his head and prepared to have the water spirits cling to their hulls.
So far, the situation remained within controllable bounds.
In raw strength, the Sea God Pirates' two hundred men plus eleven third-tier Transcendents could definitely fight them.
But as long as Chen Qi and company didn’t reveal the White Tower Hunters’ identity, the Sea God Pirates would fear reinforcements.
That was why the Sea God Pirates were fleeing so hard.
Now they only needed to wait for the right moment… Chen Qi thought inwardly.
However, in the next second, the situation suddenly changed.
In front of the Sea God Pirates' smoothly sailing ship, numerous rifts flashed into being like shattered mirrors.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
With a crisp cracking sound, a rift-gate burst open.
At the same time, amid the violent fragmentation, a ship burning with raging flames shot out from the rift and barreled across the Sea God Pirates' bow.
The bursting ship was like a massive flaming missile.
Boom!
With an ear-splitting crash, the two ships collided fiercely, hulls shuddering.
Bonfire Energy Company's ship had hull strength double that of ordinary ships and had already activated its defensive barrier.
Haibao’s bow splintered; cargo from the deck was hurled into the air and scattered with chaotic clatters.
In an instant, the crew of the Haibao ship wore faces of sheer terror.
They had never seen a ship appear out of nowhere like that.
Who knew ramming could be done this way?
There are experts!
"What the hell is ramming my ship?"
Haibao was stunned—he had never expected a Bonfire Energy Company vessel to appear on his escape route, and in such a hurry—the Bonfire Exploration had arrived.
Could this have been calculated by that Lamp Keeper too? Haibao took a deep breath and then focused his gaze beneath his feet.
A deep-blue flame burned fiercely from the violent impact.
For the mission of their leader and the revival of the Sea God Pirates, they would have to fight these guys to the death… Haibao thought grimly.
On the bow of the Bonfire Exploration, Bluefire stood and looked down at the chaos. He immediately noticed the panic and Chen Qi cloaked in Viper Father’s garb.
Dya glanced once and also understood the situation, saying coldly:
"Bluefire, it seems those trying to snatch the Deep Blue Fire aren’t just the Blackfin Crew and the Sea God Pirates. Who are these little mice that dare touch Bonfire Energy Company's cake?"
Saying that, Dya turned his head toward Chen Qi.
Chen Qi looked at the Bonfire Energy Company ship burning fiercely and felt a surge of excitement:
"Interesting—space leap engine."
Logically, Bonfire Energy Company, lacking a destination, shouldn’t have arrived before them.
Yet to compete for Deep Blue Fire, Bonfire Energy Company had dispatched a ship equipped with a space leap engine.
Dya scanned everyone present and smiled faintly:
"You all are fighting enthusiastically. But it looks like a ragtag resistance. After all, the Sea God Pirates’ support was taken out by the navy, and the Blackfin Crew’s support was drawn away after they discovered the Flower Witch’s trail."
Support neutralized, Fen targeted… Chen Qi frowned; Dya’s casual words contained a lot of information.
Dya leisurely asked:
"Manager Bluefire, who do we attack first?"
Bluefire glanced up at the sky, scanned the people on the island, and waved:
"All of them."
To Bonfire Energy Company, everyone on the island was trash!
Boom! In the next instant, fifty Bonfire Energy Company hunters lifted their flame-shot Bonfire Guns and unleashed fierce incendiary explosives.
In no time, the entire island dock was covered under the thunderous roar of artillery!