novelraw Chapter 405: The Invisible Hand and the Blood Lion!
Chapter 405: The Invisible Hand and the Blood Lion!
"What is that..."
Damarro's delicate pupils contracted violently, the bell on his neck trembling along with his body, emitting continuous tinkling sounds.
They saw the dimensional rift growing larger and larger—
And people finally saw the source of the sound!
They saw, from within the dimensional rift, warrior after warrior wrapped in black and red energy emerging from the rift.
They uniformly wore black masks with red lion designs, clad in heavy red scale armor, carrying three-meter giant weapons on their backs!
Additionally, they all wore living blood-mechanical implant sets over their armor.
These were wriggling red tubular objects, like blood vessels, winding around the thick metal, constantly undulating.
Damarro tightly pressed down on his skirt hem.
He could sense the weak fourth-tier Blade affinity spiritual energy field from these soldiers.It had to be known, this batch of heavy Black Blood soldiers stretched endlessly into the distance.
War Beast... Damarro's mind involuntarily recalled this legendary profession once again.
This was a calamity-level profession born for war—as long as it existed and had sufficient resources, it could continuously transform third-tier soldiers into fourth-tier Blade affinity monsters!
Its power far surpassed that of the Blade affinity War General Tiger Shark General!
On these seas, Damarro had always heard the war legends of the Black Blood Empire, but never imagined that their blades would one day be thrust into their land.
Thump thump thump!
Heavy military boots stomped on the ground as they marched out in perfect formation from both sides, quickly lining up in rows on both sides of the deck.
They drew the heavy three-meter lion battleaxes from their backs and struck the ground three times with the axe heads.
Boom!
"Blood Lion Admiral! The Blood Lion Heavy Armor Regiment is ready! Prepared to trample this savage land at any moment!"
Two hundred elite Blood Lion soldiers roared in unison, their heavy voices echoing across the sea.
"So these are the soldiers of the Black Blood Empire..."
"These are our vanguard..."
Numerous elite pirates on the ship couldn't help but show astonished expressions.
On these seas, their battles with the navy had never ceased, yet when they personally witnessed the navy of the Blade affinity Empire, they couldn't help but tremble with fear!
Were these the same type of troops as the Witch Sea navy?
Two hundred heavy armor warriors with fourth-tier spiritual energy fields, plus unified blood-mechanical implant sets—this already exceeded their understanding.
And this was merely the tip of the iceberg of the Black Blood Empire's investment.
Blood Hunter tilted his head, his cold-blooded eyes twitching slightly.
"Hahahahaha!"
Blood Lion threw back his head and laughed heartily:
"Everyone, an A-rank rift is enough to establish a family, and similarly, it can create an entire army equipped with blood-mechanical implant sets!"
"And our Black Blood Empire only wants the unique items from the rift—everything else is yours!"
"Everyone, let us crush a city like stepping on an ant!"
Blood Lion poured himself a cup of strong liquor and shouted loudly:
"Come! I toast to all of you!"
On the deck, chefs threw liquor bottles to the numerous elite pirates.
"......"
Many pirates looked at the Black Blood Empire soldiers on both sides. Drinking this liquor meant they were joining this war.
However, few among them felt excitement—more felt tension, even fear.
Having only engaged in minor skirmishes at sea, they had never participated in a real war.
On the deck, they looked around nervously at the heavily armored Black Blood soldiers surrounding them, and the blood on their axes.
Only now did they realize they seemed to have invited a black demon from afar.
And they no longer had any choice.
A bloody vortex called war was about to sweep across these seas!
I should leave... Damarro mixed among the pirates and took a step back.
But as he retreated, Blood Lion, positioned at the center, suddenly fixed his bloody gaze on him!
Damn it! Damarro quickly opened his mouth wide, trying to show a terrified expression to match his 'dancer' persona.
As a poor dancer, how could he stare directly at Blood Lion and his soldiers for so long!
The lion's stare!
In that instant, Damarro tried to open his mouth wide and emit a wailing feminine voice.
However, in that moment, due to physical discomfort, he forgot how to mimic that fearful expression.
Damn it!
Suddenly, Damarro felt two slender fingers insert into his mouth, forcibly prying it open while pulling his tongue, then a knee forcefully pushed against his waist.
With the help of this invisible hand, Damarro emitted a wailing sound.
"Quite a strong woman, daring to stare directly at me—I like it!"
Blood Lion laughed heartily, then paid no more attention to Damarro hiding among the pirate crowd.
Invisible Hand, Hayer, he's behind me... Damarro didn't dare look back, clutching his pounding chest as he transmitted all the information before him to the Ice Witch and Black Hunter.
......
The next day, Moonstone Archipelago, Damarro Town.
As the frontline of Moonstone Archipelago, it was the island closest to the A-rank rift 'Gemstone Kingdom' out at sea.
It was only thirty thousand meters from the Gemstone Kingdom.
Therefore, this small island that once housed less than a thousand residents had now become a crucial stronghold on the battlefront, accommodating a full ten thousand people including adventurers and merchants.
Most ordinary people were undergoing emergency evacuation.
In temporarily built furnace workshops, flames roared as blacksmiths continuously swung large hammers, preparing to construct fortresses to resist the approaching pirate alliance army!
At Damarro Town's port, transport ships continuously arrived, bringing food and weapons into the town.
At the port, the portly Mayor Damarro and his robust wife stood watching the ships and soldiers come and go in a daze.
On this land, they had always been harassed by sea beasts and pirates, but they had never witnessed real war.
Because of one tidal shift, the war nation from another distant continent had already aimed its blades at them.
Changing times... Mayor Damarro gazed at the sea—the development of this tidal shift had far exceeded his expectations.
And at the port, a medium-sized ship burning with green flames slowly sailed into Damarro Town's harbor.
On the Nether Sea Ghost Ship.
"Teacher..."
Fen had changed back into the Flower Witch's clothes, holding a flower staff with both hands, nervously looking at the Ice Witch at the ship's bow.
The Ice Witch sat in a chair at the bow, accepting black tea handed to her by water spirit Number Seven.
She took a sip of the tea and said:
"Don't worry too much, Fen. With me in front of you, you and Little Black Hair don't need to participate in this war."
"We don't need to participate in this war?"
Fen blinked her large eyes, looking completely shocked.
The Ice Witch said softly:
"Yes, you have more important things to do. Besides, although you and Little Black Hair are powerful, you're only at the fourth tier and not yet mature. This war is too dangerous for you..."
Too dangerous, no wonder Teacher didn't call Little Crow... Fen thought silently.
The Ice Witch continued:
"Tonight, both of you wait for my command on this island. I have a secret surprise for you."
A secret surprise for me and Qi! Has Teacher finally acknowledged us! Fen blinked and said with a smile:
"Teacher is so kind..."
The Ice Witch continued asking:
"By the way, where is Little Black Hair?"
Fen lowered her head and said softly:
"Qi, he went to the war frontline with Yisha."
"War frontline!"
The Ice Witch instantly stood up, the white hair on her head standing on end!
This doesn't match my divination results... The Ice Witch asked:
"Why?"
Fen said:
"He heard from Madame Oli that a warship transported gems from the Gemstone Kingdom rift, and these gems can be ground into powder for building rift workshops."
The Ice Witch widened her eyes.
Indeed, gems from the A-rank rift Gemstone Kingdom could also be used to build rift workshops.
But on today's battlefront, it was the pirate alliance army clashing with the Moonstone City navy, the Black Blood Empire's lion general confronting the Invisible Hand Hayer!
Not to mention the clashes between Saints—under the influence of various supernatural weapons and Saint-level powers, the frontline could be described as extremely dangerous!
The Ice Witch sighed:
"Such a troublesome, battle-hungry Little Black Hair..."
Fen said quietly:
"Teacher, don't worry. Qi said they're operating with the navy, just observing the battle. Nothing will happen."
In Fen's view, Chen Qi wouldn't encounter any major trouble.
Though she still felt a thread of worry.
"No, he can't manage without us."
"Huh?"
A small flower of confusion sprouted above Fen's head.
"Forget it, your nighttime secret isn't urgent anyway."
The Ice Witch drank the black tea in one gulp, walked to the captain's cabin, and piloted the Nether Sea Ghost Ship toward the frontline.
......
A-rank rift, Gemstone Kingdom rift.
War had dyed the sky a terrifying blood red, thick smoke of gunpowder drifting across the sea.
Above the ocean, a massive kilometer-wide vortex spun continuously, and every hour, large quantities of supernatural gems would gush forth from it.
Priceless supernatural gems now floated continuously with the waves, transforming this sea area into a 'Sea of Gems.'
Corpses lay scattered across this Sea of Gems, shadow crows descending from the sky, using sharp beaks to tear open flesh and pluck out precious gems—
This was the newly discovered A-rank rift, also the trigger for this war:
Gemstone Kingdom.
Long before the war arrived, countless battles had already occurred in this sea area.
Boom! Boom!
And this place was where Moonstone City and the pirate alliance army had their first engagement!
Whoever could win this battle would enjoy the endless treasures of this Shell affinity rift! Whoever would occupy the peak of morale!
The Moonstone City alliance army, composed of the Beiguo navy, Hunter Association, major companies, and other adventurer groups—a full hundred warships—sailed toward this sea area!
Due to time constraints, the defensive positions on Moonstone Archipelago weren't fully constructed yet.
Following the commands of the Soul Merchant and Navy Marshal Hayer, they weren't planning to fight defensively as originally planned, but to take the initiative and teach them a lesson.
Meanwhile, Chen Qi and Yisha's Canary merchant ship mixed in the central position of the large force, participating in this battle as supporters.
At the ship's bow, the storm hammer flag of the Great Shark Battleship fluttered.
Chen Qi and Yisha stood at the bow, looking into the distance.
Chen Qi's purposes, besides Madame Oli's rewards, included scouting the sea beasts in nearby waters.
His deep sea perception could clearly sense that large numbers of sea beasts had recently gathered in these nearby waters.
Simultaneously, he could also sense a familiar spiritual energy field!
Meanwhile, Yisha had agreed to Madame Oli's request, and they also wanted to personally witness the power dispatched by the Black Blood Empire.
Suddenly, countless shark fin-like black shadows appeared on the horizon. When the noon sunlight pierced through the fog, a fleet composed of hundreds of pirate ships appeared before everyone's eyes, countless iron hook chains breaking through the water.
And at the forefront was the crimson giant warship from the Black Blood Empire—the Black Prison Ship!
At the ship's highest point, the two-and-a-half-meter-tall Blood Lion drank a cup of liquor, straining his voice as he roared toward the fleet where Chen Qi was located:
"Moonstone City! Is this your preparation?"
Madame Oli, standing on the Great Shark Battleship, furrowed her brow, gritting her teeth hard:
"Shut up! Damned bastard!"
Boom!
In that instant, twenty blood-red figures charged out from both sides of the Black Prison giant ship.
Holding giant axes, they sprinted across the sea like galloping lions.
They were the Blood Lion heavy armor soldiers!
Blood Lion spread his hands, like a general standing in the heavens, commanding:
"Blade technique, Blood Forging. Giant Elephant Formation. Activate!"
Instantly, the twenty blood-red figures stood in a row on the sea surface, their qi forces intertwining to form a terrifying blood-colored giant elephant that charged toward the Great Shark Battleship with overwhelming force.
This... Madame Oli widened her eyes.
She could clearly sense that these twenty heavy armor soldiers instantly transformed from third-tier spiritual energy fields to fourth-tier spiritual energy fields!
Twenty legendary beings charging at full strength!
"Activate maximum defense!"
Immediately, the Great Shark Battleship activated its protective shield—a semi-transparent green barrier firmly enveloping the battleship!
The Great Shark Battleship's protective shield could withstand the Dragon Tamer King's full-power strike!
However, when the blood-colored giant elephant collided with the protective shield, the massive Blade affinity qi force pierced through like a sharp blade, stabbing fiercely!
Boom!
The thousand-ton Great Shark Battleship was actually forced backward by twenty people, continuously colliding with ships behind it.
The entire sea immediately fell into chaos.
After merely ten seconds, the protective shield shattered into fragments!
Madame Oli's eyes widened in shock.
"Charge!"
"Continue charging!"
The Black Blood Empire's heavy armor soldiers launched another attack the moment they broke through the shield!
Madame Oli gritted her teeth.
This was a regular army, plus the power of a Saint!
Third-tier soldiers trained by the Dragon Tamer all possessed fourth-tier power under Blood Lion's command!
Yet how could their Moonstone City forces possibly withstand twenty fourth-tier monsters.
Soldiers on the ship hurriedly operated magic bullet cannons, preparing to counterattack.
However, at some point, within the giant elephant formation, the tubular objects on one Black Blood soldier suddenly emitted a crimson glow, charging toward them.
Blood vessel weapon. Activation!
This blood-mechanical weapon could temporarily increase its speed tenfold!
A blood-colored lightning bolt rapidly darted across the Great Shark Battleship.
"To actually dispatch regular troops, the Black Blood Empire's Emperor has truly gone mad after all..."
Just as the artillery soldiers despaired, suddenly, a somewhat aged voice came through.
In that instant, all charging Black Blood heavy armor soldiers stopped their movements, their limbs twisting unnaturally!
They were like toys being pressed and kneaded in an invisible giant hand, being played with.
Crack!
The twenty Black Blood heavy armor soldiers instantly shattered like forcibly broken toys, torn apart.
Invisible Hand, Soul Merchant Hayer, debt collector from the Imperial Capital... Chen Qi stood on the ship, watching the distant figure.
They saw a tall, thin figure wearing a monocle slowly appear beside Madame Oli:
"Blood Lion, long time no see..."
"You haven't forgotten you still owe me money, have you."