novelraw Chapter 275: We Need a Legendary Pilot Who Isn’t Afraid of Crashing!
Chapter 275: We Need a Legendary Pilot Who Isn’t Afraid of Crashing!
Boom! Boom!
Above the churning black waves, the navy's Great Shark battleship operated at full power.
Its length reached an astonishing 300 meters, equipped with four massive reciprocating steam engines from B-tier dimensional rifts, each with independent high-temperature boiler clusters.
The moment full power activated, the boilers ignited, releasing enormous heat as massive amounts of steam continuously billowed from thousands of steam pipes at the ship's bottom.
On the open sea, battleships represented extremely special existences - symbols of naval power and dominance, truly worthy war machines!
Although the navy's Great Shark hadn't been updated for thirty years, it remained a battleship, an unshakable presence on the seas.
While a battleship's high-powered attacks struggled to hit legendary targets, legends also required tremendous effort to break through a battleship's massive barriers without using special Release abilities.
For a moment, enormous steam clouds erupted from both sides of the Great Shark battleship, boiling the waters it passed through like intense war drums—
In the distance, Chen Qi's ghost ship and the White Tower Hunters' White Tower vessel appeared before the colossal Great Shark like two stray dogs facing a rhinoceros.
Without needing any special maneuvers, this massive battleship could simply crush both the Ghost and White Tower ships by passing through them."Oh my god!"
Inside the White Tower ship, Melanie gazed through the window at the colossal vessel ahead and couldn't help exclaiming.
A battleship? An actual battleship was here?
Their two vessels—one small private hunter group boat, one personal small houseboat—were supposed to fight a battleship?
Had the navy become so bored lately without any wars to fight?
Five minutes earlier, after Chen Qi finished discussing with the White Tower Hunters, they had sailed to the shore, not even collecting loot beyond the deep blue fire before immediately setting sail to escape.
However, the naval battleship's support speed had exceeded their expectations!
Melanie looked toward the distant vessel.
With Blue Fire Island behind them, they had no retreat option—only escape paths to left or right.
As small vessels, their ships weren't slow.
But this massive Great Shark battleship matched their White Tower vessel's speed perfectly.
Another terrifying aspect was the Great Shark's long-range heavy artillery system.
The moment they spotted the Great Shark battleship meant they had already entered its firing range.
Currently, Chen Qi, the White Tower Hunters, and water spirits all gathered in the White Tower's captain cabin.
Melanie asked:
"Qi, no, Lamp Keeper sir, should we abandon ship and escape, or attempt to break through the encirclement?"
The White Tower Hunters looked at Chen Qi, awaiting his response.
Chen Qi raised his head, gazing at the Great Shark battleship above the black waves.
Just as one crisis ended, another began.
Battleships ruled the seas—machines deployed only in major wars. Now, exhausted beyond measure, everyone lacked the energy for another battle.
No, to be precise, even at full energy, they'd struggle to confront a battleship head-on.
Chen Qi endured his physical exhaustion while considering their options.
Though they hadn't taken prisoners, the naval battleship likely wouldn't fire immediately due to concerns about prisoners and the deep blue fire.
But once the White Tower and ghost ships attempted escape, the naval battleship would inevitably unleash its annihilation cannon.
Against the battleship's massive artillery, the White Tower and ghost ships became nothing but durable target practice.
Superficially, their only option appeared to be abandoning ship and returning to the island.
Melanie urgently said:
"The battleship keeps getting closer, Lamp Keeper sir! We can't hesitate anymore—we need to run!"
"......"
Chen Qi momentarily fell into hesitation.
He didn't know how many third-tier Transcendents were aboard the battleship.
Abandoning ship only increased survival probability—in the Sea of Calamities region, being shipless meant extreme difficulty.
Once they abandoned ship, they'd face various sea calamities while evading pursuit in desperate flight.
Though Chen Qi had multiple escape methods, this remained a dangerous choice.
If the navy deployed legends with reconnaissance capabilities, they could easily become naval captives.
Everyone grew as restless as ants on a hot pan.
However, the next moment brought unexpected developments.
Boom!
The mighty Great Shark battleship actually fired directly at the White Tower vessel.
The shell traced a perfect arc through the air, carrying destructive force as it struck the White Tower's barrier, creating massive water columns and fiery explosions that made the sea seem to roar in anger.
The White Tower vessel represented the White Tower Federation's standard high-tier ship, its spiritual energy shield exceptionally powerful enough to withstand numerous ordinary artillery hits.
If only we had more time... Melanie couldn't help thinking.
Wait—could we change ships? Wait, Great Shark battleship, White Tower vessel... Chen Qi suddenly conceived a bold idea and asked:
"Melanie, does your ship have a self-destruct system?"
Melanie looked at Chen Qi's expression with growing dread:
"Self-destruct system?"
The White Tower vessel served as the White Tower Federation's military high-tier ship, and its spiritual energy shield represented federation secrets, suggesting it might possess a powerful self-destruct mode.
Self-destruct? What are you planning... Melanie felt utterly shocked.
However, mechanic Little Mary nodded:
"Black Hunter sir, it does."
Chen Qi immediately commanded:
"We'll change ships! We need a pilot to operate the self-destructing White Tower vessel and attack the Great Shark battleship to create escape time for us!"
The Great Shark represented an older battleship with a significant flaw: when activating its defensive barrier, its speed dropped dramatically while its entire attack system entered stagnation.
If they could launch one attack, they could buy precious escape time!
"Attack the Great Shark battleship?"
Everyone blinked, momentarily stunned.
Were Black Hunter's decisions always this reckless?
That was a battleship! Not just them—even legends would hesitate considerably before attacking a battleship.
But everyone quickly calmed down—sacrificing one ship to gain precious escape time indeed represented their best option.
This would significantly increase their survival probability.
For the deep blue fire and hope of survival, what did sacrificing one ship matter?
Once they escaped, their rewards would be unimaginable!
Sometimes, you had to sacrifice to gain.
Right—if time permitted... Chen Qi carefully considered before looking back toward the Bonfire Exploration.
He'd almost forgotten—on this island remained another treasure: the space leap engine they hadn't acquired!
Space leaping—this represented the ultimate escape tool!
Chen Qi commanded:
"Assign someone to operate the ghost ship! Later, Little Mary the mechanic and I will board the Bonfire Exploration to test if its space leap engine can activate!"
However, facing Chen Qi's commands, everyone froze and clenched their fists.
Though Chen Qi's plan sounded good, it contained one massive problem.
Specifically: who would serve as pilot for the White Tower vessel's self-destruct mission?
Melanie trembled as she said:
"We need a pilot. Though the captain's cabin has protection systems during self-destruct..."
Everyone exchanged glances—someone among the White Tower Hunters had to pilot the vessel and directly confront the Great Shark battleship.
This person would choose self-sacrifice, becoming a naval captive facing severe torture...
Silence fell as nobody dared take this step.
Within the Witch Sea navy, except for Old White Seagull's forces, other naval methods proved extremely terrifying—their organs could be harvested and sold as commodities.
Her crew members were all quite young with promising futures... Melanie looked at everyone—this heroic self-sacrifice perhaps only suited her as captain.
Moreover, her strength offered the highest survival probability—if captured by the navy, her reputation might spare her some whipping...
Now, no time remained for consideration... Melanie followed instinct, stepping forward while tremblingly raising her hand:
"Black Hunter, promise me—after I'm gone, you absolutely won't mistreat my..."
However, Chen Qi completely ignored her, simply pushing Melanie's head aside.
"???"
Melanie felt shocked—she'd finally gathered courage only to be dismissed like this.
Seriously, that was my precious courage... Melanie felt speechless internally, but she also felt curious—besides her, who could be more suitable?
Chen Qi's gaze settled on someone behind Melanie.
Currently, though unstated, he served as team captain—the decision-maker for all major actions.
"Not me, right?"
A relatively inconspicuous White Tower Hunter felt particularly surprised, looking left and right where nobody stood.
Chen Qi was staring directly at him!
He represented one of the rare sports specialists among White Tower Hunters—tall, bald, with wheat-colored skin who had once been an excellent pilot.
His hometown still held a fiancée waiting for him!
"Decided."
Chen Qi murmured.
The bald White Tower Hunter's heart instantly raced as sweat poured down his face—currently lacking any resolution for this mission, he gritted his teeth:
"What are you saying..."
Current Chen Qi resembled a death god selecting his victim!
Move aside!
Then Chen Qi slapped the bald head aside again, looking down toward what stood behind the man's heels.
If anyone could pilot the White Tower vessel's self-destruct, crash into the sea, avoid naval capture, and highly likely escape—
Chen Qi could only think of one candidate.
This mission's legendary pilot would be you!
Water Spirit Number Three!
"???"
Water Spirit Number Three tilted its head, big eyes blinking curiously.