novelraw Chapter 64: Ocean Speed Chase
Chapter 64: Ocean Speed Chase
The sky darkened as if a massive black curtain had been lowered over the heavens.
Above the gloomy sea, the enormous Black Rabbit warship pursued a small fishing vessel at full speed.
On the steam-powered ironclad Black Rabbit:
A tattooed bald man stood at the bow, laughing heartily as he spread his arms wide, addressing the Black Rabbit Gang leader:
"How's this feel? The wind in your face out on the open sea!
Though I never expected an ironclad's maiden chase would be after some chef's dinghy. Talk about bullying the little guy!
Even if we rob him, it's barely worth 500,000 Shell Coins!"
The bald man belonged to the Blackfin Crew, sent as their 'expert' to guide the Black Rabbit Gang in maritime operations.
Black Rabbit lit a cigarette and leaned against the railing:
"500,000 Shell Coins? You're underestimating our prey.You're also ignoring the value of a supernatural chef - easily worth 3 million Shell Coins minimum.
If he's practiced Body Forging Technique? Double that price."
"Underestimating? Questioning my judgment? The fatter the better, I say!"
The hot-tempered bald man snapped irritably.
Black Rabbit frowned, raising binoculars to observe the distant fishing boat.
They'd been chasing for some time now.
Yet the small vessel maintained a frustratingly safe distance.
Black Rabbit demanded:
"Didn't you promise we'd catch him in ten minutes?"
"That little boat's surprisingly quick..." the bald man shouted back:
"I'm the professional here - we won't lose him. That dinghy's got decent specs.
But don't worry, small boats can't sustain top speed forever. Just keep chasing! We'll run him down eventually!"
"Nothing gets me going like watching little boats try to escape!"
After his explanation, the bald man bellowed orders:
"Stoke the boilers! Engage overdrive mode!"
With his command, the ironclad roared like an enraged metal bull, unleashing unprecedented power!
Full pursuit! Maximum speed!
True to prediction, the Black Rabbit rapidly closed the gap...
Only for the fishing boat to accelerate away again after one minute.
"......"
Black Rabbit gave the bald man a sidelong glance:
"This is your 'maximum speed'? Are you actually competent?"
The bald man's face flushed crimson as he cursed:
"Who's the expert here - you or me? Stop rushing me!"
Black Rabbit shook his head.
The Black Rabbit's speed was pitiful!
The fishing boat's engine came from Steam Hand Workshop, capable of further acceleration in overclock mode.
Combined with Deepsea Water Spirit boosters, it practically flew!
Unless facing military-grade vessels from Hammer Phase Industries, catching his little boat would be no easy feat.
Chen Qi could lose them anytime he chose.
Across the waves, the chase continued!
The bald man kept roaring:
"After him! Full speed! Don't let up!"
But shouting proved useless.
Whenever the Black Rabbit gained ground, the fishing boat pulled ahead again.
The distance between them remained tantalizingly constant.
This cat-and-mouse game lasted a full hour.
Plink. Plink.
Raindrops struck Black Rabbit's face.
Wiping away moisture, he asked:
"Hey Blackfin guy - can two ships really match speeds like this?"
Maintaining this exact distance for an hour...
Black Rabbit's gang-honed instincts tingled - this coincidence felt too perfect.
It reminded him of their bunny-girl bait tactics - keeping the tantalizing prey just out of reach, luring targets into dark corners.
The bald man gripped his chin:
"You suggesting he's leading us on? Lost your mind?"
"Just considering improbable possibilities."
"Shut your trap! Who's the maritime expert here?
Let me educate you - some small vessels carry special engines with temporary overdrive!
That speed fluctuation? Classic overheating behavior!"
Smugly, he added:
"But overdrive has limits. See how that boat's shaking? We've got him now!"
Black Rabbit frowned, observing the distant vessel.
True to the bald man's claim, the fishing boat's speed dropped steadily.
The gap was closing fast!
Impressive... Black Rabbit admitted grudgingly.
Noticing this, the bald man flashed a tattooed grin featuring a black whale:
"Watch and learn, rookie!"
He casually ordered the Black Rabbit to reduce speed.
"Almost got him! How shall we split the loot? I'll take 30% of his possessions... including his indentured value.
Want me to explain Blackfin Crew's division rules?"
"Not caught yet and already dividing spoils?"
Black Rabbit changed the subject.
Chen Qi's true value far exceeded this oaf's imagination.
And this loudmouth expected 30% just for yelling commands?
The bald man clenched his fist:
"Not caught? Against our ironclad and fifty men, what can he do? 30% - take it or leave it."
"Let's see what he's carrying first..."
Black Rabbit surveyed the surroundings, noticing pale branch-like protrusions in the water.
Meanwhile, the fishing boat slowed... then stopped completely.
The bald man raised his hand:
"All stop! Black Rabbit brats - gather at the bow! Time for a pirate lesson!"
BOOM!
With tremendous noise, the Black Rabbit pulled alongside the fishing vessel, bow facing bow.
Chen Qi emerged from the cabin, gazing up at the ironclad's assembled crew.
Ahead lay the White Tree Shallows - impassable territory.
The Black Rabbit had proven slower than expected - he'd needed multiple decelerations to avoid losing them entirely!
Black Rabbit Gang members crowded the bow, eyes burning with hatred:
"Regulator! Did you kill Scarface Rabbit?"
"Making us chase you all day! You'll pay in blood!"
BANG!
Someone fired an angry shot.
Chen Qi stood firm, fishing rod on his right shoulder, black blade in left hand.
With Hunter's Eye tracking, he'd known the bullet would miss before it left the barrel.
"QUIET! Where are your manners? Didn't your boss teach you protocol?"
The bald man's bellow instantly silenced the crew.
As a Blackfin envoy and powerful second-tier supernatural, his authority was absolute.
Grinning with whale-engraved teeth, he addressed Chen Qi:
"Let me introduce myself - Blackfin Crew. You've got guts, little chef! Not even flinching at gunfire!
We respect courage. The Blackfins are becoming the true rulers of Witchsea - we need men like you!
Hand over some valuables as apology, and we'll call it even. Might even recruit you for our new ship - the Black Rabbit!"
Call it even? Black Rabbit's brow furrowed.
They'd already blamed Chen Qi for Scarface Rabbit's death to motivate the crew.
Accepting him now would cause mutiny!
As Black Rabbit prepared to object, the bald man slapped his own rear.
"!"
Understanding dawned - this was pirate humor. Offer hope, then deliver despair.
Chen Qi asked:
"Give you stuff, and I can join?"
"Exactly! Consider it membership dues. We value talent."
"Then this is my most valuable possession."
With feigned reluctance, Chen Qi hurled his fishing rod toward them.
Captain Blackeye's limited-edition rod, purchased with stolen wages - easily worth 200,000 Shell Coins!
The bald man caught it, inspecting carefully.
Just as predicted - no resistance, perfect submission.
Quality gear indeed!
But... what's this strange bait?
Some sort of spiritual artifact?
Chuckling, he asked:
"What's this?"
"Special supernatural bait. I was about to fish."
"Fishing now? That's rich! Fishing for what?"
"The Blackship Sea Dragon."
Plink. Plink.
Ocean winds carried raindrops across stunned faces.
Absolute silence gripped the Black Rabbit.
Every smile, every hateful expression froze solid.
The bald man gulped.
Blackship Sea Dragon - scientific name for the Coastal Apex Predator.
This had to be a joke.
Right?!
Their unnatural stillness betrayed primal terror.
CRACK!
Thunder shattered the silence.
Black Rabbit's ears twitched as he instinctively stepped back.
Why had everyone gone quiet?
The bald man steadied himself. He stood on an ironclad - no reason for fear.
Time to keep playing.
He stroked the rod calmly:
"Nice gear, but insufficient for membership."
"Insufficient?"
Chen Qi raised his black blade into combat stance.
The bald man's eyes turned murderous:
"Resisting? You're dead!"
"Yes. Also - the fish is biting."
"Fish bi-?"
Before comprehension dawned, Chen Qi moved.
The bald man raised his shotgun, aiming for Chen Qi's heart.
"You're finished-"
BOOM!
An enormous shape erupted from the depths with impossible speed, drawn to the supernatural bait!
A black mountain of scales surged upward.
CRUNCH! CRACK! BOOM!
The ironclad's steel hull shredded like tofu.
The bow disintegrated in an instant.
The bald man - the ship's strongest fighter - launched skyward before plummeting as bloody pulp.
Chaos erupted.
None had witnessed such terror before.
Its obsidian scales gleamed with eldritch coldness - darkness-forged metal radiating suffocating dread.
The creature coiled, snapping up the bait before raising its gargantuan head.
Eyes like burning hell-coals glared down.
ROAR!
A blood-maw gaped wide!
The deafening bellow shattered maritime stillness.
Untrained against leviathans, the crew's primal terror triggered racing hearts, paralyzed limbs.
No land for retreat - only suffocating dread.
As the monster's maw yawned wider, all recognized their doom.
The legendary Coastal Apex Predator had come.