The Ultimate Evolution
chapter-526

Chapter 526: Scarface Harry?

All attention was gathered onto Blacksail after Ammand’s statement! Everyone watched as Blacksail bluntly trampled past two pirates in front of him, as he rushed straight for Prince!

After Blacksail had acquired the ‘Boots of Speed’, his figure zipped with unmatched speed that normal pirates utterly could not hinder. Yet faced with imminent danger, Prince boldly left his back unguarded against him.

However, an insidious trace flashed in Blacksail’s eyes. His speed unexpectedly expedited, hauling along a stretched afterimage behind him. A black cutlass thrusted forward like a malicious serpent, as it pierced straight into Prince’s back!!!

Before this, Prince had been tangled up with dodging the berserking chops of surrounding Hill Maiden pirates, while simultaneously watching over Fenli, whose strength was vastly inferior to his.

Naturally, he was fully occupied to be watching over his back. How would he have known, the man hailed personally by Ammand as ‘a fellow insider’, would actually raise his sword against him in this split second!

Although he sensed an impending chill brewing against his back, Prince was simultaneously dealing with the incoming chops of two broadswords before him. Nevertheless, Prince was wearing an enchanted cowhide armour with relatively remarkable defence. Thus, he chose to forcefully endure Blacksail’s thrusting cutlass.

However, the facts immediately revealed the error of his judgement. Allowing the chop from two ordinary pirates may not result in a fatality. Instead, Blacksail’s stabbing cutlass would surely be a fatality! Besides, Blacksail had been scheming this for far too long.

“You!!” When Blacksail pierced in with his cutlass like a venomous serpent, Prince flared furiously with his eyes bulging widely. He felt not the slightest pain from the area he was stabbed. On the contrary, from the skin inwards into his viscera, a strange unfathomable itch erupted; as though his blood was infested with leeches that were squirming rapaciously within his veins!

Prince roared miserably as he swung his saber backwards, but struck against the empty air.

Blacksail had already retracted his cutlass with lightning speed, leaving an arc of blood trailing his retracting cutlass.

Experiencing fits of darkening in his vision, Prince roared abruptly towards the sky. His clothes suddenly ripped apart as he raised both hands towards the sky.

While executing this move, his entire body became totally unguarded, allowing the other pirates to exploit this opening. In that instance, two additional broadswords and four bullets drilled deep into Prince’s body.

Yet at this moment, a glow shockingly beamed out from Prince’s hands. The glow revolved and coiled upwards, transforming into a splendorous ancient scroll that permeated the whole place. On the cover of this ancient book of scrolls, was astonishingly the word ‘Quran’.

The book exploded open with a loud bang, where blinding rays and energy diffused evenly into the atmosphere! Concurrently, the entire ship was rocking violently, and even 7-8 battling pirates had lost their balance and fell overboard into the billowing waters.

Instead, the few pirates surrounding Prince screamed pathetically as blood trickled down their eyes. They clutched their heads and toppled to the ground before rolling around agonizingly.

After unleashing this blow, Prince fell dispiritedly to the ground, his eyes appeared lifeless as he twitched incessantly; appearing as if he was on the brink of death.

At this moment, Blacksail once again drew in like a demonic phantom, penetrating his cutlass through prince’s throat and nailing him against the deck!

Witnessing this scene play out, Ammand roar furiously; a roar that could shudder the hearts of the pirates.

“Ye traitor!”

Blacksail ignored him as he continued to participate in the fight, even thrusting and cutting down two of Prince’s subordinates while Ammand was roaring.

At present, Blacksail didn’t need to explain himself at all. Under such circumstances, words and explanations were mere vanities, while tangible actions mattered most.

With every thrust he made, Blacksail demonstrated his devotion to Sheyan, and him cutting down Prince had similarly severed the possibility of him attempting to hurt his own side to gain Sheyan’s confidence. Moreover, after consecutively cutting down several others, he had truly expressed his complete rebellion against Ammand; landing himself within the land of no return, where either he or Ammand would die.

Despite slaying the mole, the situation remained gradually skewed towards Ammand’s side. Besides he had occupied the first mover’s superiority, and had been long prepared for this battle. Reef glanced towards Sheyan, his eyes containing an intention of inquisitiveness.

Because while Reef continued idling, the gangplank faced with the most intensified battling was now appearing as if their defence was on the verge of crumbling.

Those curved damascus saber wielding pirates with ‘Qurans’ hidden in their chest were practically unafraid of death. Furthermore, their quantity was vastly overwhelming. With every advancing step, the Hill Maiden pirates retreated a step. Once they invaded the main deck and display their overwhelming dominance in quantity, this hopeless situation would become impossible to overturn.

Sheyan gently nodded.

Instantaneously, Reef pounced in like a tiger against goats. Upon his arrival, he immediately stabilized the situation.

One must understand, Reef’s ‘Shattering Cardiac Roar’ was truly an MVP ability during such chaotic battles. It had an amazing controlling ability that could affect an entire area, where its duration lasted pretty long. Furthermore, its damage was also pretty outstanding.

After roaring out, those islamic pirates appeared like drunkards as they staggered about. The Hill Maiden pirates would obviously not remain courteous, as they lifted their broadswords and hacked haphazardly.

The area where Reef emerged instantly became the forefront tip of the arrow. Those islamic pirates who had originally occupied the advantage wasn completely unsuited against Reef’s fighting style, as they successively fell overboard into the sea like dumplings.

As they observed the state of battle being equalized, Sheyan’s pirates soared with morale.

All of a sudden….the entire frame of the ship, even the entire surface of the sea, started to tremor slightly. Within the darkness behind Ammand, a cabin door slowly opened outwards.

Then, a pair of serene and abstruse green glows shone in the darkness, before gently making their way forward.

A bald man, tall and robust looking.

The pair of green glows were his eyes.

This man was exceptionally sturdy, as though he had gorged himself full on an endless supply of energy.

Observing this bald male, he resembled a bear who had the cunning eyes of a wolf.

The illumination of the repetitive flickering of flames coated his skin with a shade of archaic bronze, where his surface veins appeared like indescribable bulks of tattoos. He was clothed in a set shirt and pants that were hastily woven with animal hide, where his bulging muscles were incredibly defined; as though his shirt was about to be ripped apart. His height minimally exceeded 190 cm, while his head was slightly drooped; yet his eyes contained a pair of persevering dedication!

Of course, it also contained fury.

With a husky voice, he asked.

“Ammand, the target has appeared?”

Though his voice was gently low, it conjured a ripple of grim dread across the slaughtering clamours of the battlefield!

By now, Sheyan could already fathom the features of this male. He immediately heaved a chilling breath of air as his eyes revealed a gaze of disbelief.

“How could that be Scarface Harry? No, not possible, it definitely isn’t him!”

Indeed, according to Sheyan, Scarface Harry was an individual that had been analyzed from head to toe by him; most of his detailed characteristics was still remembered deep in Sheyan’s heart.

As he viewed this viking male who closely resembled Scarface Harry, Sheyan realized even his exterior seemed to be a meticulous replica of Harry. Scarface Harry was like an anchor that had settled over the seabed for countless years, that distinctive impression he emanated wasn’t one that could be simply imitated.

“You are that Seaman?” The husky voice continued sounding out.

He wrapped his pair of solid, rough and bulging arms across his chest as he stared at Sheyan.

“You murdered my big brother with your despicable methods and plundered the sacred Black Obsidian Fossil Anchor of our Asgarda tribe. Based on these, you deserve death!!”

Ammand urged him earnestly.

“Go, Harrod, retrieve this vengeance for your brother, Harmed. That year when Harry abscised himself from your tribe, he swore an oath to eternally forsake the Asgarda tribe and even the name, Harmed! Yet I always knew, he longed deeply for his kin and his tribe. I do not know what led him to abandoning the tribe, but his deep constant longing for your tribe was something vivid to him…..even till the final moments of his life!”

Sheyan suddenly raised his eyes straight into the eyes of Ammand.

“O noble Son of the Black Sea, you are truly turning more and more prudent. Your hatred for me must be the highest amongst all. Even in this state, you wish to use others to test my might first?”

Ammand coldly replied.

“Phrase your words whatsoever, I no longer have the need to listen to them, not even a single word! Ye be akin to a serpent, the vowels you spew akin to venomous saliva!”

The mighty Harrod was adorned with a black steel vest and chained gloves. Of course, the most striking feature was a cowhorn iron helmet on his head. Noteworthily, the pair of iron horns on his helmet was coiled forward. After he concluded his adornment of armours, he emitted an awe-inspiring aura of steel from within, yet filled with vigor of a ferocious lion. There wasn’t even a tinge of cumbersome in the impression he released.

Upon Harrod’s command, another seven herculean viking warriors marched out from his back.

Those warriors were all taller than two metres, and issued unfathomable dignity just by standing motionlessly. As they roared unanimously, they brandished weapons in their hands; dual-handed greatswords, sledgehammers, halberds and so on.

One could anticipate that once those seven vikings entered the naval boarding forray, they would conjure up a torrential bloodbath! Just relying on Reef’s current capabilities, he would definitely be incapable of withstanding the absolute onslaught of those seven vikings.

Ammand’s face exposed a sneer of craftiness.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Meanwhile, Harrod had strided largely towards the bow of the enemy’s ship as he raised his dual-handed great sword. Pointing it towards Sheyan, he snarled.

“You dare to plot ruthlessly against Harmed, then have the guts to tell me the whereabouts of his corpse!”

Chapter 527: Blood Boat Decider

Sheyan answered insipidly towards Harrod’s interrogation.

“Following the viking’s tradition, I placed his body on a tiny boat and set it adrift into the sea.”

Harrod remained expressionless, while Ammand callously doubted. “Ye be capable of such kindness?”

Sheyan disdainfully scoffed. “It is up to you to believe.”

Harrod suddenly issued.

“He isn’t lying. We vikings possess a method to locate the corpses of kin under the radiance of the majestic Odin.”

Ammand’s gaze turned slightly grim.

Harrod ignored him but continued speaking with Sheyan.

“Ultimately, this affair belongs to my household, it isn’t worth the needless shedding of blood by fellow tribe warriors. Seaman Yan, I dare you to a blood boat decider. Regardless of the victor, the seven viking warriors will not act!”

After hearing that, Ammand’s pupils contracted. Harrod’s issuance of challenge wasn’t within his calculations. He had seemingly forgotten a single point – not everyone would be as loyal and devoted as Scarface Harry, and be resigned to being his chess piece.

During the times of the earliest viking pirates. Whenever a irreconcilable feud breaks out between two parties, according to ancient traditions, the ship would be anchored without issuing a word.

Then, a tiny boat would be lowered, where springboards would be placed to connect both stern and the bow of that tiny boat to the ship. Proceeding that, individuals involved in this feud would take turns challenging on the boat.

Those that took to the springboards in challenge, would meet a fate of either butchering his rival entirely, or perishing in combat. Then, his comrade behind him would either challenge to seek vengeance, or jump overboard. Nevertheless by then, the blood and corpses of the dead would’ve been flung into the sea, where sharks would have been enticed over.

Without a miracle, the consequence of jumping overboard was being buried within the belly of a shark, while being spurned by fellow vikings.

Frequently, at the latter stages, the tiny duelling boat would be soaked in blood; thus, being hailed as a blood boat.

Noteworthily, vikings who normally spearheads the challenge at the bow would be the most elite warrior. Half naked in battles, they are the ones who roar boorishly and indifferently while enjoying the indulgence of combat. Because they knew, the springboard beneath their feet was saturated with the blood of their ancestors, and their descendants would equally set foot here in the future.

Fury was the terrifying impetus for the viking pirates. For vikings who could survive these brutal carnage of the blood boats many times, they would be able to freely summon the inner fury of their bodies, where damage received would only fuel their raging strength!

These vikings were hailed as ‘Berserkers’ !!!

Moreover, Harrod just had to be a Berserker.

Faced with Harrod’s suggestion, Sheyan answered without hesitation.

“Fine!”

To the current Sheyan, his crew was already experiencing a complete disadvantage in this battle. If not for Reef holding the frontlines, the hostile pirates would’ve already infiltrated deep into the Hill Maiden.

If he could borrow this Blood Boat feud decider to allow his crew a breather, obtaining precious resting time for them, the casualties could still be reasonably treated.

One must understand, Sheyan still had a professional physician, Kayto, present on his ship.

Moreover, he had already purchased the ‘Sudan Mystical Ointment’. If Sheyan could seize this opportunity to tarry for more than twenty minutes, then undoubtedly, some of his crewmates could be saved in the nick of time; the fatally wounded could escape death, while the moderately wounded would be healed to mild wounds. His overall battle capabilities would at least be raised by 50% from the current state.

The vikings acted with swift deadliness, and proceeded to consecutively hurl corpses on board into the sea.

Not long later, deep shadows could be seen circling beneath the sea surface – menacing savage grey sharks that were as long as 5-6 metres.

Their dense reflection of shimmering fangs could be seen through the scarce irradiation of flames. Tearing asunder the corpses with wide chomps, these lethal creatures chewed out dispersions of maroon blood into the sea as gurgling red froth dyed the sea, leaving one with a chill down the back.

Plop! Probably due to Ammand hastening them, after mere minutes, the vikings tossed a blood boat into the sea!

That blood boat brimmed with a menacing, bold and primitive style of the vikings. It was crafted with an oak tree, and was as long as twenty metres with a width just shy of two metres. The ends of this boat revealed two crooked sculpture. While they appeared extremely identical to the necks of a swan; their heads were sinister and cruel looking strange beasts.

When the blood boat entered the water, the surrounding sharks abandoned their meals and insatiably congregated round the blood boat.

One could fathom how saturated by blood this blood boat had been, that even led the sharks to forsake fresh corpses to be directly allured by the blood stench of this blood boat. The entire sea surface area of 20 square metres had been transformed into a boiling pot of thin porridge.

Harrod took the lead in leaping onto the blood boat, before gazing towards Sheyan with eyes that beamed with matchless ferocity.

Instead, Sheyan maintained a dull countenance and offered no movements. Naturally, his underling pirates had prepared a jumping springboard, as they casted reverential glances at Sheyan, while he advanced step by step towards the blood boat!

Yet before he leapt down onto bow of the blood boat, he suddenly halted. Then, he issued solely to Harrod.

“If I engaged in combat with you, Ammand would be presented with a fantastic opportunity. He can easily strike down my crew while seizing the chance I am unable to command them. You must offer me a guarantee.”

Harrod callously replied. “What guarantee do you require?”

Sheyan replied.

“Your vikings must swear on the souls of their ancestors. Regardless of circumstances, as long nobody interrupts our blood duel, and as long as a victor hasn’t been decided, they must maintain a neutral stand. If any party were to make a move, they would react to subdue them!”

Harrod’s expression changed as he turned to glance at Ammand. Then, he nodded sincerely while responding.

“Fine, I’ll permit you a contented death. Yet what about your crew? What if your pirates interfere?”

Sheyan laughed. “If my crew interferes, then the oath would naturally turn invalid.”

Harrod immediately swung to his viking warriors and offloaded several loud orders.

After receiving Harrod’s orders, the seven viking warriors knelt down and lacerated their own palms. Then pressing their palms against their chests in unison, they swore in utmost earnesty.

To the vikings, such a blood oath was deemed with gravest severity!

After they swore their oaths, Sheyan directly stepped onto the blood boat without prompting from others.

At this instance, Sheyan realized the luster of this blood boat was shockingly maroon. No one knew how many lives had been lost on this boat, where the color of blood had seeped deep into the wooden board; a shade that couldn’t be cleansed even after countless flushing by seawater.

When Sheyan set foot onto the boat, both parties simultaneously removed the springboards.

Sheyan folded his arms across his chest and nonchalantly muttered.

“You schemed so actively to lure me onto this blood boat. Now that you’ve finally accomplished this, then bring out all your tricks.”

At this moment, vapor steamed up from the surface of this blood boat. Blood colored vapor, rapidly thickening from mild to dense.

Soon, Harrod’s body was enshrouded with dense blood vapor, lingering around him as though it became his armour, pet, companion and weapon.

Harrod’s dual-handed greatsword flashed oddly with crystal like brilliance! His body actually swelled insanely as it absorbed the blood vapor, causing his originally loose hide armour to look practically like a tight bulletproof vest.

The edges of his cowhorn iron helmet stretched outwards, as the skin on his forehead became tightly tauted. His husky voice dawned an impression of a drying river, as though it urgently needed the moist of fresh blood!

“The history of this blood boat has surpassed three hundred years. Within the past three centuries, the scattered skulls and sprinkled blood of innumerable vikings have stained this boat. Their souls hover along this very boat, and their spirits attached to the saturated blood of this carnal boat!”

“As for I, the magnificent Berserker Harrod. From the beginnings of my memory, the times I’ve honed myself battling on this blood boat has surpassed 17 times; slaughtering 125 others in my path. Whoever dared to stand before me has fallen to my hands. Not because I vanquish my foes alone, but because the war souls of my ancestors has guarded me!!! And you, you shall by the 126th vengeful spirit!”

When Harrod released his war cry, Sheyan attempted to position his foot into a suitable battling posture.

Instead at this moment, the strangest thing happened.

The blood shade of the board beneath his feet suddenly undulated and utterly dissolved, forming into a peculiar blood vortex! From within the blood vortex, three thick bloodied palms reached out and bluntly gripped Sheyan’s feet; preventing him from any mobility

Sheyan exerted his might, as he forcefully raised his feet and managed to tear away from the gripping blood hands, causing them to dissolve into fluids and back into the boat. Yet when his feet stepped down again, a blood vortex formed once again; where three palms stretched out and tightly pinched against Sheyan’s ankles relentlessly.

The onlookers watched on with widened shocked eyes.

For every movement he made on this bewitching demonic boat, Sheyan had to expend an immense amount of energy. What more, he was squaring off against the most vicious assaults from an indomitable Berserker of northern europe? This signified that attempting to dodge would be close to impossible, and he could only face the incoming Berserker straight on!

It was no wonder Harrod held such great confidence for victory!

Nevertheless, Sheyan’s expression remained unflustered, appearing as though he hid cards up his sleeves!!

Chapter 528: Changing the battlefield!

Sheyan’s calmness caused Ammand to feel unwell, as he inhaled deeply before exhaling again. For some unknown reason, his heart flushed with an ominous sensation.

Evidently, Harrod could sense that something was amiss. As blood vapor deeply assimilated into his body, the enshrouding blood vapour around him gradually thinned out. Then, a churning gust of blood mist billowed out his nostrils; as though foreshadowing the coming storm of summer, where dark clouds encompassed the skies. His bloodied breath was dense like an impending hurricane.

In a flash, Harrod raised his dual-handed greatsword. Vividly seen on both hands grabbing onto the greatsword shaft, a layer of crystalline ice resembling a pair of glacic gloves had formed!

A dense layer of white mist covered the greatsword, before morphing its sword blade into a colourless transparent shade as it emitting freezing creaks into the atmosphere.

Over this pitch-black sea surface, the greatsword swept down like a lightning bolt, as it heavily beheaded down onto Sheyan. Trailing the trajectory of the chopping greatsword, a puzzling afterimage of two intertwined pythons tearing at each other could be seen!

Sheyan immediately hurled out a flask of curse-mix. Chartreuse fumes fogged out like a cloud, before adhering onto Harrod.

To his horror, the rummaging blood vapors instantly churned and cleansed out the effects of Sheyan’s curse-mix! On this very blood boat, actually contained a special property that could purify abnormal buffs on Harrod’s body.

Fortunately, the 1 second stunning shockwave of the curse-mix was an instant effect and remained effective; forcefully halting Harrod’s attacking momentum.

At this moment, a resplendent blue radiance flashed out as Sheyan pulled out his saber with both hands, blocking his front in the nick of time.

Sparks scattered as Harrod’s greatsword chopped down; the dazzles of their clash momentarily blinding the eyes of the onlookers!

“Weird…”

Possessing an abundance of combat experience, the surrounding spectators could observe that Sheyan possessed exceptionally brutish strength as well; with his body merely flinching slightly upon receiving a chop from Harrod’s greatsword. It was as though he could handle it with ease. Yet because of that, they become perplexed as to why Sheyan’s fighting manner was so passive.

Back when Harrod was about to swipe down, he had distinctively revealed a massive opening. If Sheyan had seized that opening to attack, he would’ve dealt a severe damage to Harrod! According to common logic, once Harrod suffers the first injury, his combat might against Sheyan would be lowered greatly!

Instead, Sheyan passively allowed this glorious opportunity to slip away, and stubbornly maintained his unyielding defensive posture to express his guarding determination.

Sheyan scanned his opponent seriously, watching him puff out thick blood vapor. Then, he smirked as his hands gradually tightened around the saber shaft of his ‘+7 West’, with his curved fingers tightening and loosening repeatedly.

“Come again, that blade of yours was thriving with vigor but lacking in speed.”

Sheyan gently advised like a teacher tutoring his disciple.

Harrod remained silent as his expression was masked within the blood vapor, as sparks of electricity jolted between their stares.

Within a split second, Harrod lurched forth once again.

Wherever he trampled over, a tiny blood vortex would take shape. In contrast, those outstretched blood palms only served to propel his step forward, greatly enhancing his agility!

Shua! Shua! Shua! Harrod consecutively hacked three times with his greatsword! Every swipe brimmed with intent to devastate his prey. He had utterly forsaken his personal defence, as he showered his opponent with ferocious damages.

Despite that, Sheyan calmly stood where he was, like a mountain range, as he swung forth with his saber and blocked against the incoming swipes of Harrod’s greatsword. With Sheyan’s present 49 boundary strength, it definitely wouldn’t be an easy feat to shake him.

“Is the boss waiting for that?” Brother Black frowned as he questioned.

What his words was referring to, was clearly the ‘Zergling Rush’ of Sheyan’s armour.

One must understand, whenever Sheyan resisted the enemy’s onslaught with his saber, he would equally receive a fixed damage. By observing the monstrous ferocity of Harrod’s swiping greatsword, one could imagine his attacks possesses absolute might. Although relying on his weapon to block would reduce the damage received, it was definitely not something he could endure in the long run.

At present, Reef spoke pensively as he spectated the battling scene.

“I’m afraid boss has an underlying goal for doing this.”

As he faced the obstinately defending Sheyan, Harrod burst into a sudden fit of laughter into the sky.

“I would never have anticipated that someone would employ such a foolish method against me. Fine then, since you fear the terrifying might of a berserker, carry on resisting then! Let’s see if you can waste away my strength first, or I will chop you to death on this blood boat!”

As it turns out, the terrifying combat prowess of a berserker mostly resided in their dauntlessness in the face of getting wounded. In fact, the heavier their wounds, the stronger they become!

This logic was akin to a beast becoming more dangerous when injured. To such brutes who converted their agony into battle strength, the lower their HP, the higher their attack prowess became.

The reason that Sheyan remained unfazed even when observing the manifold exposed openings of Harrod, was because he understood this logic.

Once the berserker becomes bathed in blood and wounds, he would on the contrary, fly into a berserker rage. Hence, Sheyan remained unyielding as he maintained defence in place of offence; not desiring to allow Harrod the opportunity to display his greatest strength.

However, it remains that Sheyan’s method was limited. Such a conduct was utterly akin to stopping one’s thirst by the senseless measure of drinking poison. Such was his conduct of forsaking offense while focusing solely on defence.

Furthermore, his nimbleness had been totally suppressed by this blood boat! Such a method would only be successful if this was a battle of endurance, or a bet of how many slashes one could endure from the opponent. Instead, this current combat with Harrod could only be resolved by one party’s death!

Putting it bluntly, if this persisted, Sheyan was simply abandoning his hopes for survival by exchanging it to stay alive for an extra few minutes. If he refused to place his all to wrestle for a fighting chance, his only outcome would be death.

Harrod laughed manically while he continued chopping down his greatsword with unmatched ruthlessness. His onslaught was practically like a raging storm, sparing no breathing space for his opponent.

The onlookers speculated with cold sweat trickling down their raised hairs. It was needless to say how Sheyan, who was personally experiencing this combat, was feeling.

Suddenly, a blue current jolted through Sheyan’s body.

A familiar scene understood by both Mogensha and Reef – the signal that his ‘Zergling Rush’ had been activated.

At this instance, the ever defending Sheyan had undoubtedly been awaiting for this passive ability to be triggered. What would he do next? To immediately counter-attack, or continue stubbornly in guarding??

Following the activation of ‘Zergling Rush’, Sheyan pulled out ‘Ambition’!!

Due to the long cooldown interval of ‘Ambition’, the ‘Zergling Rush’ ability wasn’t compatible and wouldn’t be triggered by it. Hence, Sheyan straightforwardly employed the ability of ‘Ambition’ – ‘Rum & Songs’!!

The seas surged violently at this instance, as the black barrel of this musket spat out a fiery tongue.

Boom! A lead bullet punctured into Harrod as it struck him into a stunned state. Regiments of black fumes fumigated out of the musket’s muzzle, as it wrapped around the stunned Harrod.

Yet simultaneously, Harrod’s greatsword cleaved against Sheyan’s right shoulder while he was unable to block.

A depressing muffle of blade cleaving into flesh and bone resounded out.

Blood gushed out violently! Spraying everywhere, yet before it could splash onto the floor, his blood coagulated into chunks of red ice as it pelted onto the boat!

In spite of that, Sheyan maintained his demeanor as a deep-blue blade ray flashed out from his ‘+7 West’ saber that had reappeared in his hand; carrying an engulfing might that slashed from top down.

Yet its target, was shockingly the area beneath Harrod – the keel of this blood boat!

Indeed, right from the start, Sheyan had fixated his objective as this mysterious blood boat!!!

Harrod had demanded for combat on this blood boat without accepting any compromise. This indicated that the homeground advantage it supplied would be tremendously incredible, and as it turns out, the facts spoke for itself.

The blood vapor lingering on this blood boat could greatly stifle enemies, while neutralizing the negative buffs of allies. Moreover, it could greatly strengthen the might of allies, and presumably, it would further possess the special property of rapid regeneration during the latter stages of the fight.

Sheyan was an individual who normally defies the conventional way of thinking. Hence, he needed to first get those vikings to swear an oath, to prevent them from violating their words.

“A berserker multiplies in strength with every injury eh? Then I shall refrain from injuring you. Let me first wreck this boat of yours and alter the state of this battlefield!”

Yes, the battlefield he selected was indeed the deadly ocean of thousand sharks!!

For such a battle, even if Harrod was equally familiar with fighting inside the water, he could at most rival Sheyan evenly.

On the contrary, the encircling manifold sharks within wouldn’t possess an immense threat to Sheyan, because Sheyan’s current defence reduction had already attained 51%.

Furthermore, he possessed the 40 damage absorption of his innate ability ‘Stronghold’. Hence, he reckoned the damage dealt to him by the sharks, would definitely not be too severe!

Instead, for a berserker like Harrod, he was all along a model that emphasised on unparalleled offense but weak defence. With the insatiable chomps of fervent sharks, their threat to him would be fatal!

At present, as the pirates became aware of his intentions through this twist in development, their hearts subconsciously swelled up with a wave of chill. Such shrewdness displayed in the breadth of his mind! It truly left them shivering in fear!

Chapter 529: Homeground reversal

One didn’t have to mention the destructiveness of his ‘Zergling Rush’ ability. Prior to Harrod awakening to his senses, Sheyan’s three blades had already conjured up three flowing rays as they directly hacked away against the exact spot!

The blood boat was only as broad as two metres. As Sheyan’s saber carved a metre long laceration onto the boat, maroon wooden splinters splattered all in all directions; leaving a deep 30 cm crevice into the boat.

Through the crevice, even the bottommost composition of the boat could be seen. One could even see the blood vapor vehemently diffusing in, congealing into the crevice and seemingly attempting to mend the boat.

Instead, Sheyan roared sonorously as he slashed his saber down again with full might.

His saber cleaved in fully with loathsome hysteria, so much so that the surrounding onlookers could seemingly hear melancholic and bitter wails from the blood vapor!!

KACHA! The razor-sharp blade cleaved deep into the bottommost layer of the boat; cutting nearly three quarters through the blood boat’s keel.

But at this moment, the enraged Harrod swung forth mightily with his greatsword towards Sheyan! After receiving a shot from ‘Ambition’, his entire body was wrapped in furtive blackness; appearing to be infected by the ink of ‘Paul’s blessing’.

However, a ridiculously far-fetched affair occurred. The blood vapor surged in as it actually absorbed and totally neutralized the blackness!

The viking souls of the blood boat could actually absorb the ink of Kraken Octopus Paul!!

One could fathom the wise resolution that Sheyan had undertook. If he really engaged in bitter fighting on this blood boat, then Harrod would’ve utterly eclipsed him in superiority.

Facing the wild retaliation of his opponent, Sheyan remained unflinching; allowing the greatsword to slash against his right arm. Blood gushed out as Sheyan gritted his teeth and borrowed the impetus of the impact, and stomped his feet down onto the nearly broken keel of the boat.

KACHA! The keel of this blood boat finally and helplessly snapped apart.

Instantaneously, one could distinctly observe the rich maroon shade of the deck gradually being eroded away by the seawater, while discharging blood vapor that condensed into countless distorted faces; screaming out with agonizing wails.

Sheyan endured as he blocked another two swipes from Harrod’s greatsword, which triggered his ‘Zergling Rush’ ability once again with blue currents flickering through his body.

At this moment, the distant Ammand bellowed abruptly.

“Harrod, cut yourself!”

Ammand was aware of the intrinsic nature of berserkers; perceiving the more severe their injuries, the greater potential they could unlock and subsequently unleashing greater strength and abilities. On the contrary, if he continued in his optimal state, the might he could exhibit was purely mediocre.

Hearing Ammand’s call, Harrod was instantly startled to a halt. He had never come across a rival like Sheyan, purely disregarding the battle ahead but instead opting to wreck the boat.

Thus, he had never contemplated on the durability of his blood boat before. Jolted awake from his bewilderment by Ammand’s call, he instantly scraped deeply against his chest with his greatsword….

Blood and searing agony transmitted throughout Harrod’s entire body, as his eyes turned scarlet within a second!

The frenzy of the berserker was awakened!

Nevertheless, Sheyan’s glittering long saber continued brimming with elegant oceanic blue brilliance, as it was raised loftily alongside his drawn out laughters. With great ferocity, he cleaved down towards the ruinous crevice of the blood boat.

Kacha! KACHA! KACHA!

Three consecutive snapping resounded out, sending maroon wooden splinters scattering dishelveredly. The rich blood vapor poured out in unison alongside the pitiable wails of the vengeful spirits; as though the viking souls within were warning with the call of a bleak bugle horn….

After the three saber strikes, the blood boat could no longer endure such ravagings as it violently tremored!!

Icy cold seawater swiftly churned in through the crevice of the boat, as it slapped against both their faces. A wave of iciness enveloped them entirely in that instance.

Facing the incoming sweep of Harrod’s unstoppable greatsword, Sheyan heavily knelt down as the chilling blade swiped through few strands of his hair. Concurrently instead, Sheyan smashed the shaft of his saber against the floor, as it emitted a ‘Ka la’ cracking muffle.

This ravaged blood boat could no longer withstand such a severe blow, as another two metre long gash split opened instantaneously.

At this moment, Harrod could no longer stand steadily, as he watched on as excessive blood vapor momentarily condensed into face – vikings with furious distorted features, stained with blood as their beard and hair fluttered along the wind. These faces then reluctantly soared into the skies.

As the blood vapor continue diffusing, the frame of the blood boat started decaying and disintegrating; as though multitudes of rocks were crashing down onto a centuries old coffin.

Eventually, the boat was utterly destroyed and submerged. Consecutively, the two individuals on board plunged into the sea.

Before he was drowned under the icy mix of blood and seawater, Sheyan revealed a sneer on his face; as though he was hunting down a large shark. He then quietly and peacefully submerge beneath the water surface.

As for Harrod’s entire body, he was engulfed in wrath and humiliation! As the furious frenzy of a berserker was triggered, his surroundings seemingly morphed into a horrifying blood red vortex!

Sheyan had naturally placed away ‘Ambition’ into a whole other dimension – his party storage. Even Little Lord Fokke couldn’t locate the ‘Diary of Morgan Fokke’ in the storage, so obviously, ‘Ambition’s’ aura couldn’t be leaked out to scare away the ravenous sharks.

Simultaneously, both individuals were shredded with superficial wounds, as the flavour of their blood permeated through the sea. Instantly, the insatiable caribbean sharks swarmed them, as started tearing the humans asunder with their massive awe-inspiring white fangs.

Plunged into such a situation, Sheyan covered his face with his arm and refrained from striking back; allowing the sharks to ravage him!

Sheyan had calculated beforehand. With his current defensive capabilities, an enemy’s theoretical damage must scale above 83 points in order to breakthrough the absorption of his innate ability ‘Stronghold’, and deal more than 1 damage to him.

Furthermore, according to the statistics beforehand, a third rate ship’s marine could only deal roughly a hundred damage with a shot from his rifle. Thus, he could deduce that the chomping menace of these commonly seen sharks of the caribbean sea would not eclipse that of a lead bullet. If not, none of the ships in the caribbean sea would be able to withstand the joint assaults of sharks, and be sunk.

In contrast to Sheyan’s conservative self, Harrod was frenziedly massacring the sharks in the sea. His eyes were rolled backwards, and completely revealed a deathly whiteness encircled by bloodshot veins. Pipes of thick bulging blue veins protruded out along his neck.

Even in the water, his dual-handed greatsword swept horizontally with unparalleled power! The surrounding sharks around him were directly dismembered into two wherever his greatsword struck, or gravely wounded even it was just a slight brush!

The agitation from the blood boat sinking was tremendous. Speaking from various perspective, this boat was like a symbol of their Asgarda tribe; a sacred tool! It had been inherited throughout the generations, but was utterly ruined in his hands after several generations. To Harrod, this was akin to being drowned in humiliation and guilt. Only one notion remained in his mind – to slaughter!!

Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Perhaps slaying the enemy ahead, or whatever that obstructs his path, or perhaps himself!

Harrod waved his greatsword as he upsurge a blood storm within the water. Then, he formed up into a tremendous blood vortex, as he surged towards Sheyan. Except, he was no longer in his blood boat where his movement speed was enhanced, while Sheyan’s speed was dwarfed.

One could distinctly observe that Sheyan’s mobility in the water was amplified in comparison to that of Harrod’s. Even if Sheyan swam in circles, catching up still wouldn’t be an easy feat for Harrod.

Furthermore, his wild massacre of sharks only led to a bitter fact – the masses of sharks would not decrease, but in turn, more would be attracted by the rich blood stench. Hence, the sharks surrounding Sheyan were enticed over, as they devoured the corpses of their comrades as well.

These savage sharks surged forward as they pursued in from the four corners of the sea. In this current era, shark fin hadn’t been popularized, and the sharks of the caribbean sea had not been butchered excessively. Naturally, they were without nemesis in their ecology. Moreover, a dog’s sense of smell was already outstanding, but sharks were a notched above the dogs.

They could detect the rich odour of blood and flesh from just 1 parts per million (PPM) in the water. Moreover, even a gram of amino acid that dissolved inside a kiloton of seawater, could be detected by the sharks!!

If the former congregation of sharks around the blood boat was described as a boiling bowl of porridge, then the current scene of even a kilometre away, had become a terrifyingly shuddering spectacle to behold! The sharks had practically transformed into tidal waves, as it swept in fanatically and astoundingly.

As it was night time, even the pirates on board could not differentiate the current state of battle. There was seemingly no ways of interfering even if they wished to, but could only watch on with widened eyes as they strived to differentiate the core position of these wave like sharks.

Frequently, regiments of maroon blood would gurgle out and pollute the water, which was the sole testimony that Harrod was still struggling.

However, the current Harrod was already an arrow at the end of its flight.

The greatest flaw of berserkers, were their inability to persist in a drawn out fight. Recited in the poems of troubadours, thee berserkers were only experts in unleashing a tempest of assaults to drown their opponents. There had never been a poem about a berserker gaining victory after three days and three nights of battling.

A berserker drew destructive might from pain, but pain was like a double-edged sword to them. As long as time dragged on, they would ultimately fall over the edge of defeat.

Chapter 530: Kill!

In reality, this battle had concluded the moment Harrod had failed to detect Sheyan’s intentions, leading to the blood boat being destroyed. Once the tempo of battle had fallen into Sheyan’s grasp, attempting to make a comeback became too difficult.

Sheyan executed his affairs systematically and stably. Whenever he occupied the upper hand, he would gradually, bit by bit, accumulate his advantages to build momentum, and bit by bit, he will convert this momentum to attain victory!

Nevertheless, the storyline characters present now had all heard of stories about berserkers making impossible comebacks; ultimately turning an utterly disadvantageous situation around to claim victory.

In reality, berserkers could truly unleash mind blowing explosiveness, and if a slight careless mistake offered them the chance, they could truly dictate a sudden triumph. Yet sadly, Sheyan was an individual adept at suffocating the opportunities of his rivals.

Harrod panted violently as he felt the crushing pressure of the boundless seawater. Even the greatsword in his hand had became increasingly cumbersome, and he could clearly feel his strength seeping away as time passed.

It was a never ending butchering of the surrounding sharks. With every slaughtered batch, another would instantly replenish them! No matter how formidable a berserker was, it was impossible to evade the agile ravaging sharks of the sea. Ever since plunging into the water, Harrod had failed to attack his nemesis even once! He was clearly aware what this represented.

“This rotten enemy, these accursed sharks!! AHHHHHHHHH!!”

Blood streamed out from the corners of Harrod’s eyes.

PAM! The animal hide armour he was wearing exploded in shreds! Gripping the shaft of his greatsword tightly with both hands, spurts of dark blood gushed out from his wounds.

An incorporeal vortex covered around the blade of his greatsword, as an inexhaustible force of attraction diverged out of it; causing the surrounding seawater to churn like a racing current. Its breakneck pace rotating pierced out with crazy incisiveness!

Harrod’s head poked out of the water surface as he inhaled deeply. This action immediately swelled up the bulging veins of his head and neck, as his blood vessel filled eyeballs protruded from his eye sockets.

Finally, his arms, bracing the greatsword, swelled up, transforming into an inharmonious deformity with his body.

This image reminded Sheyan of a familiar scene, as he reflexively recalled Scarface Harry.

Indeed, this was the ability that Scarface Harry had demonstrated before.

Flesh Explosion!

Harrod strived as he raised his greatsword with his deformed arms, before pointing its tip towards Sheyan’s direction. Bloodied ice shards swiftly revolved around it, as the nearby sharks surrounding the greatsword had seemingly encountered an invisible blender; diced into chunks within a split second.

At the tip of the sword, an enormous bloodied whirlpool was taking shape as it expanded unceasingly! Crashes of oceanic tides falling up and down echoed in the ears of everyone.

Afterwards, that massive bloodied whirlpool blatantly surged towards Sheyan!!

Wherever the whirlpool past, those insatiable sharks were minced like brittle tofu and blended into the whirlpool, instilling a greater sorrowful bitterness within it.

Right before the whirlpool reached Sheyan, Harrod roared out with utmost vigor; his widened mouth baring his yellowish sharp teeth, and even the veiny wall of his larynx could be seen. Despite that, his roar couldn’t be heard due to being underwater.

The pirate crowd concurrently realized that though Harrod’s body remained lofty as usual, his arms were hung down limpidly; a clear mis-match from his earlier domineering strength. That bloodied whirlpool he conjured up had completely absorbed away his vitality and strength.

Facing Harrod’s desperation strike, Sheyan shockingly dove towards the seabed like a rock. His legs stomped down onto the seabed, releasing a misconception as though he was anchoring himself down!

Instead, he pounded his fist against a reef before him, as numerous deep cracks extended out from the surface of the solid reef! Greyish rock fragments floated up within the water as the solid reef trembled and begun crumbling.

Sheyan then hugged the reef with both hands, before forcefully hurling it ahead!

A table sized solid reef spiralled forth through the water, as it dragged along dense white froth behind it. Having been slapped unyieldingly by the waves for millenniums, this dark-cyan reef greeted the massive bloodied whirlpool straight on.

Despite that, within a short duration, the reef was completely grinded into chunks, dozens of chunks, as it was sent dispersing away effortlessly by the whirlpool.

Witnessing his interception crumbling in vain, Sheyan continued pounding against the reefs around him. Tugging and pulling, he hauled out a reef that was as tall as two individuals, out from the seabed.

Loads of bubbling froth and turbid seawater enshrouded him, as he employed this reef like an enormous shield to cover his front. Blop! Blop! Blop! Blop! Tiny rock fragments sunk down from crumbling cracks.

His muscles swelled tautly as bulging green veins wriggled along his arms like tiny snakes. A series of bubbles leaked out from his lips, as he staked in his full strength before hurling this gigantic reef over! Rolling with imposing turbulence through the water, the gigantic reef clashed into the bloodied whirlpool!!!

When the two collided, terrifying blood rays could be seen dispersing out from the whirlpool, as it flooded forward like quicksilver! Instead, the surface of this impregnable cyan-black reef appeared to be corroded into talcum powder, before diffusing away as though being poured on with sulfuric acid.

Gurgle gurgle! Large quantities of air bubbles emitted out, as that reef was chiselled into fragments by the immense force carried by the whirlpool.

In the next moment, Sheyan’s figure was swallowed by the enormous bloodied whirlpool, as the seawater was dyed in crimson!

At that instance, Sheyan only had the luxury of covering his face with both hands.

The terrifying bloodied whirlpool, unleashed by the ‘Flesh Explosion’ ability of a viking berserker, mercilessly devoured Sheyan; threatening to dismantle his bones and bitterly tear his flesh asunder.

It was a pity that Sheyan could still stubbornly persist, as the bloodied whirlpool raged on for nearly ten seconds before dissipating. Even after a tempest of torrential destruction, Sheyan remained firm and upright like a boulder on the seabed. Innumerable minute lacerations covered his body. Yet, he still remained unyielding amidst the layer of dense insipid blood seawater swirling around him.

Harrod looked on with protruding bloodshot eyes as he panted heavily. Although already a spent force, he managed to draw strength out of nowhere to dive fiercely towards Sheyan.

Lugging along his dual-handed greatsword behind, it carved an icy dazzling brilliance trailing behind; as though he was slicing the sea into two!!

No longer planning to dodge, Sheyan clasped his ‘+7 West’ with both hands, as he rushed along the seabed towards the incoming Harrod. He then slashed forth with his saber!

A blue blade ray swept through the seabed brimming with mournful intent, leaving a profound dull blue afterimage tailing behind! It was like a vestige of floating blue starlight similarly seen when one undergoes lasering of the retina!!

Gushes of maroon blood diffused out as Harrod’s eyes gradually dimmed. A streak of red lingered across his neck, before a frantic outpour of blood escaped from that streak.

He pointed at Sheyan with widened mouth, attempting to speak but the words choked within his throat. Frozen blood plasma and saliva spewed out from his badly mangled mouth, as one could identify a semi-severed maroon tongue within!

As it turns out, that bloodied whirlpool executed by Harrod was only possible due to the crazy and grave sacrifice of biting his own tongue!!

In Harrod’s perspective, being dragged into the water had already severely impaired his battle capabilities. If the might of his ‘Flesh Explosion’ had been unleashed on dry land, Sheyan would probably not be able to withstand it.

“Hu~~~~” A long sigh leaked out from Harrod’s throat before he shut his eyes. That dual-handed greatsword of his floated down from his right hand, as it crashed against the seabed; curling up a gust of sand. from henceforth, his vitality had departed from his body.

Sheyan observed Harrod’s corpse in silence for a brief while. Then, he picked up the dropped key; one that was emanating a bright silver glow.

Following that, he discovered the greatsword that was shimmering with chilling radiation atop the sandy seabed. Yet strangely, the body of this sword became laced with a transparent icy layer.

Naturally, Sheyan activated the plundering ability of his ‘Pirate Captain’ title, and successfully acquired it before storing into his personal storage.

As this moment, those insatiable sharks were once again lured in by the reeking blood, as they swam over in succession. Witnessing the new congregation of sharks, Sheyan sighed as he pulled out ‘Ambition’; not desiring for Harrod’s corpse to be mutilated by those sharks.

The redoubtable aura of Paul swept through and instantly intimidated the ravenous sharks, sending them fleeing for refuge; as though they had detected a looming specter.

When Sheyan floated back to the surface of the sea, his pirate crew broke out in fanatical cheers; waving their bandanas up high as their morale skyrocketed.

In contrast, Ammand’s side was completely dumbstruck. Especially the seven vikings whose jaws were dropped with disbelief. As though turning deranged, they leapt into the sea and swam towards the aftermath of the battle; intending to retrieve Harrod’s corpse.

Towards such a scenario, Ammand didn’t reveal any looks of dismay. Instead, his bearing indicated he had other cards up his sleeves. However, this was only reasonable.

Bear this in mind, someone who beared a deep hatred towards another for decade, would definitely be contemplating about his vendetta for vengeance without rest. Naturally, he wouldn’t simply resort to a single killer move.

Chapter 531: Misfortune

Even though Ammand appeared confidently prepared, Sheyan still had his own trump card – Reef!

Capable of awakening to become a Growth-hunter at anytime, once Reef successfully broke through, Sheyan believed that he would fuel the combat prowess of the party in unimaginable fashion!

Even if Ammand laid down countless traps or devised countless schemes, ultimately an individual’s capability had a limit. Unless his crew could reach the dreadful tier of the pirates on board the three legendary pirate ships, he would absolutely be unable to deal a fatal threat.

In Sheyan’s deduction, as long as Reef awakened, Ammand could at most beat the trio into a crushing defeat; destroying the painstakingly established Hill Maiden, and even annihilating his pirate crew. Yet if he wished to slay Sheyan, that would be an seemingly inconceivable mission.

On the verge of commencing battle where both sides had drawn swords with sinister designs, a tiny single-masted sampan glided in abruptly from afar. On board it, a pirate frantically waved a signal flag and cried out.

“Hurry and retreat!”

When that sampan encroached closer, one could hear the exasperated shouts of that pirate clearly.

“That blasted Captain Norrington has defeated Chevalle’s pirate fleet, and be returnin’ in triumph. I heard his fleets be passin’ by here soon to inspect fer smugglin’ activities on tis’ lil’island. If we tarry on, it will be too late!”

This piece of information was like a thunder from a clear sky. One could notice Ammand’s facial muscles twitching, before he seized the informant pirate as he howled furiously.

“What did ye say? What gibberish is ye spewing??!!!!”

That pirate replied with a trembling voice.

“The Truth! Son of the Black Sea, me words be truth. Norrington’s fleets would be swarmin’ here within ten minutes!”

“That’s impossible!!” Ammand howled crazily. He suddenly twisted his head to glare at Sheyan with venomous eyes that seemingly wished to carve out the flesh from Sheyan’s body, one chunk at a time.

Then, he sighed deeply before releasing that pirate, and tossed two gold guineas to him.

“Well done, Turgis. I lost myself momentarily. Weigh the anchor and hoist the sails. Prepare to set off!”

Sheyan slanted his head and chuckled as he observed Ammand, before waving farewell. Ammand completely ignored him as he turned away.

The sailors on both ships started operating. Not too long later, the originally two interlocked ships finally separated amidst the creaking of wood.

Fortunately, it had gradually became high tide. If not it would be rather difficult to separate themselves after Ammand’s ship had forcefully collided against the lateral side of Sheyan’s ship; leaving the bottom of the ship scraping against the sand.

After waiting for Ammand’s ship to sail away, Sheyan turned around and scanned briefly before he muttering to the nearby Ol’Seadog.

“Are you alright?”

Ol’Seadog was more scared than hurt and his body was filled with superficial cuts. After gaping at the distant Ammand’s ship, he heaved a sigh of relief.

“Aye.”

Sheyan continued with steady demeanor.

“Spike should be fine, I just saw him returning fire with a pistol. Go inquire of him at once, if the ship can still be mobilized.”

Very quickly, Spike arrived before Sheyan and advised.

“Sir, we should be able to sail out within five minutes, but only limited to several dozen nautical miles from the coast. Moreover, the consequence wouldn’t be small. Due to the lack of materials now, I will need to saw off a portion of the keel to mend the vital wreckage. But doing that will cripple the keel, causing the ship to lose its ability to withstand the stormy sea of the open ocean.”

Sheyan nodded and ordered.

“Fine, carry on with it. Regardless, we must depart before Norrington arrives.”

Spike’s carpentry crafting was indeed worthy of Sheyan’s gold guineas. Indeed, like what he mentioned, the ship, filled with a severely wounded crew, started sailing.

Only after leaving the island far behind, did the crew finally ease up and proceeded to count the casualties of the ship.

This time, Sheyan had indeed suffered a massive blow. Excluding the damage to the ship, his painstakingly cultivated crew had suffered grievous casualties.

According to Ol’Seadog, Philips was severely wounded as was Blacksail, while Canbi had suffered serious injuries after an assassination attempt and fell to the sea where his fate was currently unknown. Lastly, the newly recruited Springswan Killer had also been slain in battle! Apart from that, the fatal casualties totalled more than fifty, while the remainder were all wounded.

Fortunately, the pirates were accustomed to life aboard, and were used to living on the edge of life and death. Furthermore, after Sheyan had slain the berserker boss during this adversity, their morales had been greatly affected positively.

Introducing the healing treatment of the miraculous ‘Sudan ointment’ as well as Kayto’s medical skills, the remaining wounded pirates all managed to survive; without a single handicap.

One would do good to abstain from navigating during the night. Hence, after distancing themselves adequately from that small island, Sheyan ordered them to release anchor; allowing the ship to rest.

However, to guard against events of minute probabilities, like Ammand returning in a swirl of dust or Norrington’s pursuit, they specifically located a hidden dock to anchor. Appointed onlookers were arranged in shifts as well.

At present, an idling Sheyan had returned to his captain’s cabin. He fished out the silver key dropped by Harrod and summoned it. This time, it wasn’t a treasure chest that was summoned, but instead a half-metre long tree trunk.

This tree trunk had been carpentry processed before, and was sculpt with the trademark viking decoration of the curved neck beast; dawning an impression of solemness and tragedy.

Didn’t this appear like a pocket-sized blood boat?

As he examined this summoned object, Sheyan couldn’t refrain this notion from welling up in his mind. Naturally, he proceeded to reach in for the loot, before retrieving the first object – a helmet.

This helmet was modeled uniquely, and was indeed that cow-horn helmet exuberating with the viking grandeur. Wearing it would cause one to appear flashy as if one was bragging, while brimming with deadliness from the medieval ages. This helmet looked to be forged with iron, but its horns were authentic horns of beasts; curving with lethal incisiveness towards its prey.

When Sheyan picked up this helmet, a list of notifications floated into his mind.

[ Murmurs of a Great Bear (beast bone helmet) ]

[ Origin: Dniper River Basin ]

[ Equipment rarity: Silver Storyline grade ]

[ Material: Pine wood, iron ]

[ Addons: Bumping horns (already added) ]

[Weight: 7.2 kg ]

[ Usage requirements: Strength 45 points, physique 20 points ]

[ Details: Unbreakable ]

[ Details: Increase your attack damage by 50% ]

[ Details: increase your explosive strike rate by 50% ]

[ Details: Healing effects are ineffective on wielder, while the damage received from enemy’s attack will be doubled! (Damage doubled is based on theoretical damage received) ]

[ Active ability: Arrogance – if your enemy views the long horns of this helmet as mere aesthetics, that would be a grave mistake.

[ Detail: Activating this ability will spur you into a speedy ferocious collision towards the front, only halting after clashing against something or after 30 metres. The collided creature will be struck into a long 5 seconds stunning duration (includes allies), and receive a (100 + (strength x2)) points of damage. When creature regains senses, creature will sustain a 15 points / 5 seconds blood loss damages; duration: (15 + x seconds), where x is determined by your strength. ]

[ Detail: If you ram into an obstacle, you will receive a 300 points damage and 10 seconds stunning duration. ]

[ Warning: You can change this equipment during combat (this equipment takes precedence ]

[ Warning: The spirit of this equipment only acknowledge warriors who have been recognized by barbarians or vikings. (Wielder must attain a ‘Worshipped’ reputation amongst a barbarian or viking tribes, or accomplish a certain mission) Otherwise, all bonus effects will be decreased by half, and negative effects will be doubled. ]

“Shit!” Sheyan couldn’t help cursing aloud after examining the helmet.

If not for the final warning property, there would still be a way for a long range combatant to attempt wielding it. Yet with that final property, although the helmet could still raise one’s damage and explosive strike rate by 25%, the recoil of amplified damage involved would be too outrageous. Moreover, the changes was based on the theoretical damage.

If Brother Black didn’t equip this helmet, a bullet would deal theoretically 100 damage to him; which is equivalent to approximately 60 points of damage after factoring defence. Once he wore this helmet under the same conditions, the enemy’s damage dealt to him would soar to 200 points; which would translate to shaving off 120 points of HP. Going further, if he wasn’t reputable amongst the vikings, a bullet would inflict 400 points of theoretical damage on Mogensha. Even worst, he wouldn’t be able to heal himself.

Mogensha observed the helmet as he asked.

“Reef, aren’t you in the blacksmith profession? How long more till you reach the stage where you can extract properties from an equipment?”

Reef shook his head in response.

“That’s still a long way! Besides, even if I comprehended the ability of extracting properties from an equipment, it isn’t merely so simple, but possesses seven levels of upgrade. At the primary level, drawing property for an equipment would be akin to disposing it. I understand your intentions, you wish to extract the negative property of the equipment right. I reckon that will only be possible after I’ve attained level 5 in my property extracting ability.”

Brother Black shrugged his shoulders in pity.

Truthfully speaking, the two properties of this equipment, raising attack damage and explosive strike rate by 50%, would be an incredibly terrifying upgrade for a primary damage output dealer.

Yet regrettably, its negative effects was disastrously appalling. A long range combatant’s survivability was already their shortcoming, but in addition to this, it would probably take one shot to reduce them into near-death state upon encountering other long range combatants! Why wouldn’t this cause one to shake one’s head and sigh?

Chapter 532: Unexpected visitor

The trio shook their heads in frustration and continued to draw, eventually drawing up a tiny carved tool.

This carved tool had a puzzling disposition; resembling gold but not gold, resembling jade but not jade. Its carving was a dragon head, a sinister and vicious looking methodological dragon that was extremely awe-inspiring.

The texture of this appliance was sleek, as though it had been stroke for many times. The trio’s attempts to identify it was futile in the end. Ultimately, they paid 1,000 utility points to inquire of the most basic information.

[ Viking precious keepsake: Usage unknown, but can be sold for 30,000 utility points to the realm ]

One could tell this carved keepsake was worthy of the evaluation ‘precious’ through its official valuation.

The trio then resumed and drew out a bone staff crafted with the bones of a deer. This bone staff unexpectedly require 3,000 utility points to inquire of it!!!

The trio amassed their wealth with matchless excitement, awaiting for a lucrative product. Sadly, many things of the world would turn out contrary to one’s wishes. The fruits of their appraisal was:

[ Deer Bone Staff: An incomparably rare essential product ]

[ Description: This bone staff contains a strand of lava spirit essence. Anytime or anywhere, it can be ignited for ten seconds without being extinguished. You can exchange this with the realm for 100 utility points. ]

As the trio noticed the tiny words ‘100 utility points’, their fury was compounded while similarly feeling a desire to weep.

At this moment, even Jinkuang materialized as he rebuked them wretchedly. “You have been duped by the ‘incomparably rare’ evaluation leading to a fee of 3,000 utility points. In the end, 3,000 utility points became a hundred points. What logic is this!”

Sheyan then tried fishing a few more times before finally affirming there was nothing left.

It seems like the battle spoils of Harrod was reasonable; a silver storyline grade helmet, a high value precious tool, and a reality that did not live up to its name – that smuggled bone staff (rare). These three objects was rather compatible with Harrod’s status.

Nevertheless, Sheyan inferred that Harrod should theoretically provide a 10% – 15% chance of a dark-gold grade equipment. It was just that their luck had ran out, and didn’t obtain any.

At this moment, Reef sighed as he muttered dejectedly.

“Our crew suffered catastrophic losses and the Hill Maiden is wrecked. That brat, Canbi, fell overboard and is missing. The naval boarding might of this ship has waned by half.”

Sheyan shook his head gently and replied.

“I didn’t place ample enough significance on Ammand and underestimated his capabilities. The Son of the Black Sea is indeed a centipede that dies but never falls down. Despite this, don’t we still have The United. We can still compile our rare components and assemble them onto The United. We’ll be fine as long as a substantial amount of our crew members remain.”

Brother Black then muttered.

“Those vikings were too fast in reacting to retrieve Harrod’s corpse. Otherwise, you would’ve been able to attempt plundering with your ‘Pirate Captain’ ability. One or two storyline equipments would’ve served to raise their morales.”

Conversing till here, Sheyan suddenly recalled something. He had previously plundered Harrod’s dual-handed greatsword. He hurriedly retrieved it for inspection. Honestly speaking, this was the very first storyline weapon that Sheyan had plundered!

Author’s note: The plundering ability has a definite chance of plundering the strongest equipment/weapon of an enemy’s corpse/ship. Without the ability under normal circumstances, plundering the equipment will result in merely an ordinary equipment. Only with the ability in plundering the equipment, the enchantment magic will then be absorbed into the equipment. This enchantment magic normally pertains to the strongest capability of the plundered enemy. That is why Sheyan’s crew can only sense that the equipments seems to have changed from something rotten into something magical, after receiving and testing it.

(TL: this was the paragraph I copied to an earlier chapter)

[ Iceshard Cruelty ]

[ Origin: Scandinavia ]

[ Equipment characteristic: Unique storyline equipment (Wieldable only by storyline characters, unable to be brought out of this world) ]

[ Equipment type: Greatsword ]

[ Equipment rarity: Silver storyline grade ]

[ Material: Ice + prayer might of an Odin believer ]

[ Addons: Scabbard ]

[ Property: Attack range (same as ordinary broadsword) increased by 200%. Increase damage by a major portion. When attacking, there is a chance of triggering goddess Siva’s breath. ]

[ Ability: Goddess Siva’s Breath – Unleash frost to influence the enemy within the radius of your attacking range x2, lowering their movement/ attacking speed by 15% – 45%; duration: 30 seconds. Reduction percentage is determined by opponent’s physique. The higher one’s physique, the lesser the speed reduction. ]

[ Property: If you can obtain the acknowledgement of this weapon, your hands will receive a frost guard while using this weapon. Increasing your resistance to cold by 50%, while the ice layer would absorb incoming damage from the opponent; reducing damage by 35%. ]

[ Equipment position: dual hand ]

[ Description: The vikings worship Odin, and frequently pray for Odin’s blessing in their lands of ice and snow. They believe by enduring harsher winters, their devotion would be more sincere. The Asgarda tribe has been worshipping Odin with an Ice block in the bitter cold for centuries. Their host of many devout believers has pledged their strength in prayer, enhancing the ice to be as solid as steel. With their mystical secret arts, they carved out the ice chunk, and forged it into this invincible Frost Greatsword. ]

[ Warning: This weapon possess the will of a unique horcrux. If it does not acknowledge its wielder, forceful employment will result in a backlash from the horcrux; becoming incapable of exhibiting its greatest might. ]

[ Details: If you feel this unique storyline equipment is not powerful enough, you can sell it to the realm in exchange for loads of utility or potential points; choose either utility or potential points. This weapon can be exchanged for 30,000 utility points or 15 potential points. ]

Scrutinizing this greatsword, Sheyan became rather vexed; feeling that his luck had fallen short by a little! If this greatsword was the loot of his silver key instead, while the helmet was the product of his ‘Pirate Captain’ plundering ability; how amazing would that be!!

Sheyan shook his head as he tossed aside such unrealistic notions. Since the fact was as such, there was no point haggling over it.

At this moment, Ol’Seadog requested an audience. Presently, he roughly understood Sheyan’s special ability, and had specifically ordered the crew to leave the enemy’s corpses on the deck. Naturally, he planned to invite Sheyan to ‘deprive’ the might of their rivals.

The armed pirates of islamic beliefs serving Ammand were truly impressive in this battle. Truthfully speaking, the trained former marines under Philip’s command could indeed claim credit. Such was the formidability of their firepower, they were essentially like an incorporeal wall of stifling to the raiding pirates, and one could even name them the whips of death!

With them unyieldingly obstructing the enemies, minimally seventy percent of Ammand’s casualties were the results of those volleys of gunfire.

After rummaging through twenty plus corpses of ordinary pirates, Sheyan unexpectedly reaped three white grade unique storyline equipments. The upgrades ushered by those three equipments were relatively minute, and their effects were hard to observe. Only the wielders of those equipments could distinctly sense their capabilities being bolstered.

After gathering the pirates, Sheyan signalled Blacksail and Philip to step forward; ordering Blacksail to nominate an individual, while Philip to nominate two individuals to receive a bestowal of might. This method allowed them a definite authority in establishing their own factions.

Naturally, Blacksail and Philip both harbored selfish motives. Yet after briefly contemplating, they didn’t dare to brazenly display their favouritism under such a situation.

Hence, under the expectant eyes of the pirate congregation, they chose the three bravest pirates during the battle. Through this, the originally slackened morale soared once again.

Time swiftly trickled away. Perceiving the abrupt emphatic return of Norrington, Sheyan didn’t dare to recklessly enter Port Royal. Instead, he dispatched several pirates to scout for information.

Soon after, they returned with their reports. As it turns out, Norrington’s fleet did not stay at Port Royal, but merely replenished their supplies overnight at Port Royal before heading for the northern Southampton port.

That stopover was due to Norrington vanquishing ten thousand, while his casualties numbered three thousand*. The Southampton port was the largest dock of this time, and could supplement perfect mendings for Norrington’s flagship. Moreover, Norrington had garnered distinguished merits this time and had to participate in the war military decoration ceremony.

(TN:*idiom – winning but still suffering from losses)

Upon hearing this news, Sheyan could make a basic confirmation that Norrington wouldn’t be returning within 2-3 days; mending a flagship was absolutely not something to be rushed.

Furthermore, it was widely known that british navy post-war conferences were carried out in a poor inefficient manner.

Thus, Sheyan still decided to patronize the rarely held auction. Moreover, Sheyan was harboring hopes of regaining some grounds through this auction.

With the pressure from the returning Norrington, those unscrupulous merchants would definitely be anxious to offload their goods. In addition, he couldn’t neglect that his ship was currently on the imminent brink of destruction. If necessary, he was prepared to invest an expansive sum to bribe internal members, and possibly procure a brand new light fast-sailing British Royal ship before Norrington returns.

On the next day, Sheyan brought along some of his crew and arrived at the entrance of Port Royal. Suddenly, a pirate urgently chased them from behind.

After panting breathlessly for a long while, he finally mustered his breath and slapped his chest while alerting them.

“Cap’n, those vikings are here for ye!”

“What!” Sheyan was truly startled.

“How did Ammand find us?! I’ve specially chosen a concealed spot to anchor!”

Chapter 533: Fernandez

Sheyan was brimming with puzzlement.

There weren’t radar systems of satellite trackings in this era, how did the Vikings so effortlessly locate us?

Bear this in mind, the present Hill Maiden was confined to near coastal voyages, and was seemingly a crippled ship. Furthermore, the crew’s battling capabilities had declined substantially. If those pirates located them, his remaining crew would very likely be bathed in blood by Ammand; not a single would be spared, while the Hill Maiden be incinerated.

That pirate exclaimed with alarm.

“Aye, it wasn’t Ammand who found us but those seven vikings, who proclaimed themselves to sense the undiminished aura of their clan’s sacred artifact haltin’ right on our ship. That be how they found us easily.”

In that instant, many notions flashed past Sheyan’s mind. He instantly asked.

“How was their attitude towards ye?”

That pirate pondered before replying.

“Very ordinary.”

Sheyan and Mogensha exchanged glances. There was something fishy about this.

The viking pirates were renowned for their barbarous and frenzied nature. Furthermore, Sheyan had just slain a leader of theirs yesterday, yet those vikings actually treated his crew members very ordinarily? That was practically as inconceivable as a japanese female not wearing a mini skirt!

Sheyan contemplated briefly before he ordered.

“Return to advise Philip. If those vikings wish to meet with me, they will have to wait. Otherwise, don’t receive them with particular cordiality, just maintain the routine. Provide the same meals our crewmates consume and don’t show them favour.”

That pirate widened his mouth but ultimately nodded his head.

“Aye sir. I will deliver your orders.”

Sheyan turned to Blacksail.

“Return with him, I’m afraid Philip alone won’t be able to hand the pressure.”

Blacksail nodded.

“Aye, cap’n. Return, I shall.”

Sheyan continued strolling as he deliberated over the viking’s intentions. Very soon, they arrived at the Sheffield Trading Company.

The governor’s old butler wasn’t present, and in his place was another male with a face of many hardships; his thick calluses between the webbings of his fingers indicated his life of wielding broadswords at sea. However, this individual was wearing a wig of nobility, and dressed in lilac colored button garment; appearing totally inharmonious with the backdrop.

When that man noticed the keepsake Sheyan brought, he further inquired if Sheyan had any objects he desired to auction away. Following that, Sheyan verified his purchasing capability by producing spendable 5,000 gold guineas. Finally, the male informed Sheyan that he could only bring along two others, before he then lead Sheyan towards the back.

A carriage was stationed behind the shop.

After that male offered several words to the carriage rider, they entered and shut the carriage doors. Then, he proceeded to unfurl the curtains of the carriage windows, and advised Sheyan and company not to pull aside the curtains; if not, they would lose the qualifications to participate.

Their carriage ride wasn’t very long, and it probably made several loops of detours around before it halted inside an exceptionally vast courtyard. The courtyard’s inner residence appeared rather antique, and lofty walls filled with brambles were enclosed the area.

As they advanced following the path, they then noticed the interior decor was pretty outstanding. It was basically rather identical to a church. Instead, the atmosphere was analogous to a tavern, with a stale odour that of a salon. The surrounding windows were masked up sternly, while candlesticks holding lighted candles were present. Except in the place of typical wooden stools were three seater sofas.

After Sheyan took his seat, a female attendant strutted over and placed a set of silver coffee ware before them. Truthfully speaking, even Reef who hailed from a noble household was rather stunned by these complicated coffee wares.

As it turns out, the coffee here wasn’t brewed directly from coffee pots, but a unique coffee filter presser. Beneath it was an ancient looking stamped drinking glass which received the dripping coffee, an apparatus that slowly grinded away this generation of coffee making. During the brewing process, a water clock cup would be placed inside the stamped drinking glass, while coffee powder placed inside the coffee filter presser. Pressurizing it was a metallic lid with holes, before rinsing in with hot water; allowing the coffee to spill into the cup beneath.

To maintain the heat of the coffee, the mug was placed inside a bowl of hot water, as the coffee dripping process would require ten minutes; where the coffee may turn cold. Before all these, the female attendant would inquire of the partaker. If they prefered a bitter taste, the original mug of coffee would be served. But if they prefered a sweeter taste, a layer of extremely sweet condensed milk would be laced at the bottom of the mug. After the coffee drops into the mug, the black coffee would blend perfectly with the condense milk.

Merely a mug of coffee alone was given such significance. One could tell the auction organizers had indeed spent great efforts in this; unwilling to be sloppy at all.

The participants of this auction were all slowly enjoying in leisure fashion as they chatted merrily and loudly amongst each other. Approximately half an hour later, heavy chests could be seen being transported towards the back. Evidently, preparation works were building up to a climax.

Finally, an elderly male dressed in a black swallow-tailed coat skipped onto the auction stage.

Sheyan recognized this male, he was indeed the old butler of the Sheffields Trading Company. It was no wonder he held the qualifications to invite Sheyan to the auction. Another ravishing maiden strolled up to the stage.

Sheyan was immediately astonished after seeing this maiden. Her features were exceedingly familiar, and her appearance were starkly similar to the governor’s daughter, lady Elizabeth Swann. It appears that her makeup was meticulously done.

She donned a tight victorian dress which enhanced her slim waist. However, the consequence of that was difficulty in breathing and an abnormally straight spine. Although this era didn’t scrutinized the ampleness of a woman’s bosom, her dress still revealed a humble cleavage.

A circular translucent white headscarf shielded her head, as her flax colored braided head rolled down her fair bosom. Not forgetting the fan she was holding, it gauzed lightly with white decorations by the edges.

“Ho, it seems that the card details her name. Yurena Swann, she should be a cousin of Elizabeth Swann. This means this old Butler, McKinnery Swann, is blood related to governor Swann. Indeed, kin is more trustworthy than others. It isn’t strange both female cousins look quite alike.”

Sheyan thought as he suddenly noticed another familiar person, a familiarity that currently stemmed from neither hostile or amicable nature. Indeed, it was Tortuga’s Mister Skrtel whom had lost face due to the conflict with Sheyan.

Contrary to their expectations, when Skrtel noticed Sheyan, he paused awkwardly for a moment before swapping to a chuckling demeanor and warmly nodded his head. Two crude plumpy-waisted guards were escorting Skrtel as they stared at Sheyan with vigilance. Of course, the unlucky Alan Dale wasn’t one of those bodyguards.

Sheyan was naturally a shrewd individual. Upon viewing the courtesy of Skrtel, he spontaneously went over and sat beside him. After their greetings, Sheyan smiled with squinted eyes while speaking.

“After returning from my homeland after a decade, everyone appears foreign to me now. I wonder if Mister Skrtel can offer some introductions.

Skrtel stared at him distractedly before following up with a chortle. As a merchant himself, such ‘introductions’ would require no costs and instead deepen the relationship between both parties. Hence, he seized the opportunity to point out several individuals to Sheyan.

“That brat with the fractured leg is a pirate named Bloodshark. He belongs to himself only, not associating to any factions but he treats his affairs with strict principality. As long a merchant ship wouldn’t resist him, he would only demand twenty percent of their goods. Under normal circumstances, merchants would bluntly pay up upon encountering him.”

“That brat over there is Wahabu. Hailing from the arab world, his identity is enshrouded in mysteries.”

Sheyan was instantly stumped upon hearing him hail from the arab world. I’m afraid he could very well be Ammand’s agent!

The more he pondered over this possibility, the more glances he took. Wahabu maintained a lifeless countenance, while he silently fixated his attention into his coffee mug; as though his whole world revolved around the coffee mug.

“That should be the representative of the gypsies. With her veil, I can’t tell who she is.”

Sheyan observed the veiled lady, discovering that she indeed emanated the same strange mysteriousness of those gypsy women. Of course, an aged face should be masqueraded beneath the veil, while her status could only be fathomed from the size of her crystal ball of the color of her veil. In spite of that, her gaze was as sharp as a needle, piercing out with provocative admonishing. When her gaze landed on Sheyan, it brimmed with a magnified vile intent; as though each eye recorded of a nefarious curse!

Sheyan shrugged his shoulders and ignored her. His dealings with the gypsies had all along been a fair transaction, both parties refraining from lording over each other. Yet those women carried an overbearing style of rudeness and maliciousness. Sheyan didn’t have a single favourable impression of her at all.

At this moment, another three individuals walked into the auction hall.

The foremost individual grew a curved beard and his clothes appeared garish and remarkable; emanating an unspeakable arrogance as he walked. It was as though he wouldn’t lower his chin even in death.

After noticing those three individuals, Skrtel’s face changed.

“Why is he here? He truly dares to set foot on british soil?”

Sheyan inquired curiously.

“Other pirates are also here, why can’t he?”

Skrtel answered earnestly.

“Because he is a spaniard and is one of spain’s finest merchant! Fernandez!”

Upon hearing that name, Sheyan instantly recalled past events as though they had recently happened.

During that past year as Ammand’s subordinate, he had pillaged a merchant ship belonging to this grand merchant. Furthermore, that ship actually contained a decaying undead. Sheyan truly didn’t expect himself to be witnessing his genuine self today.

Chapter 534: Greenland Lethal weapon

Reminiscing about that, Sheyan couldn’t help but feel that Governor Swann was truly a bold man; even daring to invite a merchant from a rival state. It was said that governors of this era had authority like kings, and it seemed like their wealth was truly not mere empty words.

If not for a hawk-like mighty officer like Norrington overseeing this port, Governor Swann would’ve already been acting with absolute unrestrain.

In the movie storyline, Governor Swann had been bent on facilitating the marriage between his daughter, Elizabeth, and Norrington. Most probably, it was due to the aforementioned reason. No matter how doctrinal Norrington was, he still wouldn’t lay hands on his father-in-law right?

Nevertheless, with the unexpected addition of an unrivalled tycoon like Fernandez in this auction, others would most probably have a hard time snatching away objects that he eyed.

This rival merchant would stir up a catfish effect in this auction, causing the originally still waters to ripple and ultimately churning up more profits for the auctioneers.

Brother Black alerted abruptly.

“The auction is about to begin.”

Indeed, the noble Mister McKinnery gently hammered down his wooden mallet consecutively for three times, before he coughed and announced.

“I apologize for my rudeness. Dear guests, please maintain silence as the auction is about to commence.”

The guests present cooperatively showered him with face, possibly for the sake of Governor Swann. In no time, the crowd quieted down. Even the rowdy pirates were no exception.

The blonde Yurena Swann, whose features resembled Elizabeth, then picked up a booklet beside her. With the sweetest of smiles, she announced.

“With the absence of Captain Norrington, of whom I heard is about to be promoted to Commodore, our unprecedented auction can successfully be held. Time is paramount, may I announce our very first auctioning article.”

Silence overwhelmed the audience.

According to auctioning conventions, the very first and last article would be products of exorbitant value. For frequent guests of auctions, they naturally desired a great beginning as well as ending with a grand slam.

“Hey ho! Hey ho!” From the lateral door, several men heaved up a massive wooden chest while marching in.

A large platform was erected behind the host of this auction, which was usually used as a platform of praise during mass or worship. At this moment, the platform had been tidied up.

The guests spectated as 5-6 tanned slaves carried a wooden chest before placing it down onto the platform for the guests’ viewing pleasure.

The wooden chest landed with a muffled thump of a heavy load.

Then, its concealing wooden lid was flipped, revealing a deep-black, mechanical lethal weapon.

This weapon resembled a large harpoon forged with precise craftsmanship. Its exterior was dyed with muddy crow-black stains. Its first impression suggested it was covered in rush, but such a misconception could be dispelled upon closer examination.

Looking at that weapon alone, one could sense an inexhaustible fiendish aura emanating from it; as though it could conjure up countless invisible hands to grip a person’s throat!

“The Greenland Lethal weapon, a mechanism installed on a large harpoon gun forged nearly a century ago. Propelling forth with the might of machinery, this weapon is infused with mysterious black magic! Through its thirty year venture atop the whaling ship, The Jean, it slaughtered and claimed at least several thousands of whale souls. Not only does it possess lethal deadliness to the creatures of the sea, it can volley out phantoms of spirit whales against foes when raiding another ship; a terrifying harbinger of fear to sailors of ships.”

“Regardless of hunting legendary beasts of the seas or fierce combat between ships, this harpoon gun exhibits the utmost of usefulness. I’m sure everyone has heard of the former captain of the infamous Queen Anne’s Revenge, it was this harpoon gun that shot him down.”

Blondie Yurena spoke with a pleasant voice on stage, and actively enumerated great familiarity with these treasures.

“Of course, I must warn our dear patrons. This lethal harpoon gun can only be operated by a specialist who understands to relevant intrinsics. Otherwise, its user will suffer the backlash of its curse. Starting with a bidding price of 5,000 guineas, every raise at 1,000 guineas.”

Instead, Sheyan took note of her ingenuity to omit the shooting range of that harpoon gun, which could possibly be its shortcoming. Comparing to cannons with firing ranges easily spanning few kilometres; even after enhanced with black magic, it would still be difficult for this harpoon gun to scale 800 metres. A mid range weapon obviously held certain awkwardness in such circumstances.

If not for the present semi-wrecked state of the Hill Maiden, Sheyan would definitely have bidded for the harpoon. That was because this harpoon gun could conjure out spirits of whales, that would throw the enemy’s ship into disarray; substantially decreasing the difficulty of naval boarding battles.

However with the current circumstances, Sheyan aimed to first settle the problem of his ship.

After hearing the starting auction bid, those guests who were initially interested immediately turned cold.

5,000 gold guineas was a sum sufficient to procure a brand new 3-masted merchant ship. Since a merchant ship didn’t require that many cannon ports like warships, its valuation was much lower.

Furthermore, one could minimally earn back 10,000 guineas profit before the expiry and scrapping of a merchant ship, if no mishaps happened in between. Hence, to both merchants and pirates who pursued profits, expending 5,000 guineas on this weapon wouldn’t be a wise choice.

In spite of that, Sheyan underestimated the profound significance this Greenland lethal weapon symbolised; acclaimed with the illustrious reputation of slaying a former captain of the legendary pirate ship. Thus, akin to a weapon utilized by an emperor before, its value would naturally be inflated.

“6,000 guineas.”

The striking merchant, Fernandez, made the leading bid. Since his subordinates were adept in witchcraft, without raising the reputable significance of this Greenland lethal weapon, the century old black magic attached to it would prove to be a groundbreaking research experiment.

The starting bid of 5,000 guineas was neither an extravagant sum nor a puny price; but to Fernandez, it was like a strand of hair across nine cows.

In contrast to their earlier hesitation, a british merchant strived to outdo Fernandez upon hearing his bid; appearing as though he was unwilling to allow his spanish foe to do as he wished.

“7,000 guineas!”

Bloodshark promptly yelled out while raising his hand.

The majority of gazes instantly fell onto Bloodshark, as startled expressions plastered onto their faces after identifying him.

Noteworthily, it was said that Bloodshark had been ambushed once while pillaging a merchant ship of Fernandez, where his Crew Head, First Mate, and several other confidants had fallen in vain! The grievances between the two took root from then on.

“10,000 guineas!”

At this instant, another voice drifted out abruptly.

Surprisingly, it belonged to that female gypsy who was wearing a red veil. Even though she was here alone, she maintained a detached countenance as she surveyed her surroundings; as though she had a charisma that held the crowd.

Though this Greenland lethal weapon could be described as unrivalled while its significance extraordinary, its bidding price had indeed surpassed its value excessively; in comparison to a 3-masted warship that cost only 10,000 guineas.

Furthermore, gypsies were unpredictable masters skilled in divinity, and provoking them wouldn’t be a good idea. Hence, the auction guests conceded after a brief contemplation.

Right at the instance Mr Mckinney was about to lift his mallet to proclaim the completion of this bid, Sheyan suddenly remembered an issue – “why are the gypsies trying to purchase this weapon?”

Stirred by this notion, Sheyan immediately called out.

“11,000 guineas!”

Believing this affair to have been easily concluded with her 10,000 guineas, the gypsy wasn’t expecting her first bid to be hindered by someone. Instantaneously, a vilified glow flourished in her eyes alongside an unfathomable gloominess, as she glared at Sheyan.

When she realized the culprit was that Seaman Yan, who was nodding courteously and cunningly, she furrowed her brows and squinted her eyes. Then, she turned away and surprisingly refrained from increasing her bid.

Sheyan became appalled. His intention wasn’t to acquire that Greenland lethal weapon, but because he deduced the gypsies would likely attach great importance to any object they auctioned for.

As such, Sheyan purposefully shouted a higher bid with a goal of draining the liquid finances of that female gypsy, thus limiting her capabilities of interfering when bidding for items he truly desired.

“That woman is actually not contesting my bid?” Sheyan couldn’t help but suspect his judging capability.

Yet nobody else contested his bid, and Sheyan could only helplessly oblige while pinching his nose; despondently serving 11,000 gold guineas to the besiding female attendant, as he retrieved this costly harpoon gun with a value that of a brand new warship.

Nevertheless, his treasury of gold guineas had returned to six figures after selling off the smuggled goods from Tortuga. As such, 11,000 gold guineas couldn’t be counted as a severe blow.

When he returned to the auction hall after his transaction, he noticed that the arabian, whom he suspected to be Ammand’s representative, had joined the bidding.

At present, the auctioned article was an impressive looking cutlass. As though bragging its ability aloud, faint silverish glow brightened its periphery.

Upon sighting this cutlass, Sheyan couldn’t help but recall Ammand and reckoned this arabian wanted to present this cutlass to him.

“A thousand guineas!”

The arabian, Wahabu, announced the latest bid. Without returning to his seat yet, Sheyan immediately bidded.

“2,000 guineas!”

Once again, the villainous Sheyan was purely attempting to drain Wahabu’s finances, while similarly displaying a misperception to others that he was an impulsive buyer; preventing others from fathoming his intentions.

When Wahabu spun round only to notice a contentedly smiling Sheyan, his face revealed a sneer.

“5,000 guineas!

Wahabu proceeded to bluntly exhibit his overbearing wealth, greatly mimicking the grandeur of his future descendants, ones who would become top guns of petroleum conglomerates.

Without batting an eyelid, Wahabu directly propelled the bidding price to that of a brand new merchant ship; immediately ushering an impression of having no lack for money.

Chapter 535: A dark-golden glow!

However, Sheyan was merely being a crafty bidder, and abstained from bidding further.

If that was a black or silver storyline grade cutlass that contestants could employ, Sheyan would definitely contest it. However, it appeared like an unappraised unique storyline equipment. To Sheyan who possessed his ‘Pirate Captain’ plundering ability, it wasn’t worth it at all.

Following that, Yurena ambled out once again. Before she could commence her speech, an attendant hastened towards her from outside before whispering several words to her. Yurena revealed an alarmed countenance as she hastily returned behind the scene to confirm several matters, before finally trudging back out.

Upon her return, Yurena held onto an oil-paper wrapped parcel that was shockingly dripping with fresh blood.

Yurena cleared her throat and announced.

“To reasons that everyone is aware of (referring to Norrington’s promotion), our Port Royal underground auction will have to lay low for a long period. Due to that, a veteran client of has rushed back here to auction off a priceless treasure! As everyone can see, it wasn’t a plain sailing process to obtain this article, where he definitely has offended countless others. As such, this client of ours would depart immediately after receiving his auctioned profits.”

“Our next auctioned article will be this newly inserted treasure. The voyage journal of a second-class noble, Jaime Gama, the portuguese captain who sailed three times to the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mines of Japan in the east! A starting bid of 100,000 guineas, with each raising bid capped minimally at 10,000 guineas. Our trading company vouches for the authenticity of this article, and should any issues arise, we are willing to compensate by the ten folds of the price!”

Yurena unwrapped the blood stained oil-paper as she spoke, and revealed an archaic journal that wasn’t thick at all. Handwritings done by a goose feather brush was inscribed onto its cover. One could also notice starry speckles of inky bloodstains vandalizing the journal’s cover, portraying a ghastly sight to the viewers.

During an era without satellites or radars, where navigation relied solely on the compass, the upsurge of european expedition voyage were helmed by renowned figures like Christopher Columbus and Magellan. Despite this upsurge, nobody was willing to publish specific shipping routes pertaining to the fabled mysterious east. Speared by the immense profits of silk and tea leaves, shipping routes linked to the eastern sea territories were always soaked with blood, avarice and riches.

The only method of passing on voyage routes was dependant on the oral accounts of experienced captains! Naturally, due to the frailty of human life, navigators faced the inevitable threat of dying anytime at sea; of course, they would record their journeys within voyage journals.

This also indicated that if one could obtain such a voyage journal, one could grasp a safe and prosperous shipping route leading to the fertile east! Why wouldn’t this article stir up the hearts of bidders?

Of course, practically most contestants from the future would be roughly aware of how voyages from the caribbean sea to places like Hangzhou and Osaka would be. Yet knowledge wouldn’t represent that one could simply draft out a voyage journal to auction off.

The ancient and modern world had vast disparities. Citing a simple example – volume of freight, transportation capacity and capabilities were vastly inferior. For a merchant ship to convey supplies to another port in asia from an european port, port to port sailing was simply impossible. How many other ports would a ship require for stopovers, could a contestant directly be aware of those ports in this boundless sea?

Furthermore, kinetic energy of winds governed this sailing era. Would a contestant be aware of wind directions in different regions? Or the sea currents of the endless seas?

Even if those issues were to be resolved. Would a nameless unreputable contestant be trusted by others based on words alone?

A distant voyage would require an assembly of fleets as well as deliverable merchandise, such investments would surpass over 100,000 guineas. Unless the realm arranges one’s identity as a children of influential wealthy lords or officers, otherwise, nobody would undermine themselves and trust in barren speech.

Yet the most crucial aspect resides in the conventional practice of this era – whoever supplied a new shipping route, would definitely have to proceed along with the venturing ship! Otherwise, one would have to mimic the Sheffields Trading Company who was backed by the Governor’s Mansion, offering one’s prestige to guarantee a ten fold compensation!

Even so, a round trip to china would require minimally two years, and on the pretext of a smooth voyage. Ask any contestants, who could afford such luxury of time??

Individuals invited to this auction were all prominent or affluent figures. Despite the absurd starting bid of 100,000 gold guineas, this amount soared to 150,000 guineas in no time!!

Individuals who possessed shipping routes to the east desired to monopolize the market, and were naturally reluctant to offer up a share of the action; they similarly competed for the journal. Instead, the rest desired to foil their monopoly, attempting to seize it for themselves.

Although bidding for this may retard their velocity of attaining personal goals, this article remained a necessary procurement for several powerhouses.

As Sheyan spectated the mobs scrabbling madly, he noticed the gypsy profoundly calling bids before discarding her attempts; allowing him to affirm his judgement in his heart.

Then, he watched on as Fernandez directly raised the price to 200,000 gold guineas, throwing the other guests into hesitation. Instead, Bloodshark refused to barge as he slapped his desk and waved.

“210,000.”

At another moment, Wahabu surprisingly blurted out.

“250,000!”

Upon hearing such astronomical figures, Sheyan couldn’t refrain from becoming startled.

250,000 gold guineas.

That was an adequate amount to construct a fully armed 7-masted warship!! Warships of such a scale could be counted with one finger in the Royal British Navy. He hadn’t anticipated for an eastern shipping route to skyrocket to such figures.

Instead, Sheyan was further shocked. As though no deliberations were made, Fernandez bluntly called out.

“300,000 guineas!”

The crowd instantly turned mute. Yet to their horror, Bloodshark actually squeezed out a bid from his stammering lips.

“310,000 guineas.”

Skrtel was one who had given up after placing several bids during the 200,000 guineas interval. At this instant, he observed this scene and sighed.

“Cursed the stringent smuggling prohibitions of Norrington. Even a veteran pirate like Bloodshark harbours notions of retirement, intending to purchase this shipping route and convert to an armed merchant ship. Forget it, I shall acquiesce this opportunity to him.”

Even though Bloodshark’s 310,000 gold guineas appeared to be his final attempt, Fernandez maintained his expression and instead ceased to bid further; allowing this expensive journal to be sold off.

After auctioning off this massive article, Yurena sensibly ordered the attendants to serve coffee to their guests; easing up the tense atmosphere, and console the dejected hearts of those failed bidders.

She then reconciled the guests’ mood.

“Gentlemen, please refrain from feeling anxious. This is merely the beginning of our auction, the climax has yet to arrive.”

Sheyan continued enjoying the auction. The next article was an antique Jingdezhen porcelain from china, probably a stolen booty. Marred by only its dodgy source, this porcelain naturally fetched an exorbitant price; ultimately auctioned off for 10,000 guineas. Through this, one could realize the degree of popularity antique china porcelain had in europe. No wonder its valuation could rival gold.

(TL: Jingdezhen porcelain is porcelain that is produced in Jingdezhen, a prefecture-level city, well known for its pottery)

Obviously a porcelain wouldn’t incite Sheyan’s interest, as he sat there leisurely while sipping his coffee. The following auctioned articles was a dazzling line-up of antique china, silk, tea leaves and many others. Unexpectedly, a store deed in Tortuga was even auctioned off!

This sufficed to illustrate that Norrington’s increasing attempts to eradicate smuggling had similarly affected the prosperous Tortuga; merchants no longer held faith as they resorted to auctioning off a deed, equivalent to one’s livelihood.

Sheyan continued enjoying the auction, observing that the worn out Yurena from her hosting had returned to the back stage to rest, while a substitute replaced her.

From then on, several fascinating objects of bizarre applications took to the stage; objects that could only captivate individuals related to it.

For example, there was a spyglass. Yet it contained special medical effects that could treat rottened nether regions. Putting it to present day context, it referred to male’s scrotum eczema.

Sailors and pirates labored out at sea for prolonged periods, where hygiene beneath the waist was poorly maintained; leading to such illness that wasn’t convenient to treat. This spyglass could converge sunlight towards affected regions and disinfect the area. Naturally, it had been tested a hundred times without discrepancy. Hence, this spyglass was competed ferociously over, and was auctioned off at a high price of 10,000 guineas.

Next, a lemon was auctioned off. This lemon was enchanted with witchcraft, allowing its juice to be squeezed out daily which could prevent the crew from scorbutus.

Apart from those, there was an endless canteen which could store nearly four barrels of rum, and a pistol that wouldn’t kill.

This pistol wasn’t loaded with bullets, but would release a barbaric sound upon triggering it. Its usage was to prevent crew members from the melodious allurement of mermaids.

Just when Sheyan was about to be bored stiff, yet another few tanned slaves strained themselves to heave a chest over.

When Sheyan casually shifted his gaze onto it, his gaze could no longer be retrieved.

That was because within the gaps of this carelessly crafted crate, Sheyan shockingly caught a glimpse of a dull golden radiation!

In this instant, he kneaded his eyes with disbelief at what he was observing. Yet after carefully scrutinizing for several times, he could finally affirm. “It’s true! That is truly a dull golden glow!”

In this instance, Sheyan became mentally prepared for an all out expenditure.

With a swing of her foot, the hostess kicked open the chest lid.

“A precious article obtained through the ten thousand miles expedition venture of The April’s Bloom. Rumoured to have been discovered on a barren island, blood was shed to retrieve this article. A starting bid of 1,000 guineas, with each raising bid capped minimally at 500 guineas.”

Evidently, the auction hostess felt that this object wasn’t particularly precious, and her attitude and introduction of it was dealt with hastily. Naturally, her standards of professionalism was unsatisfactory; failing to perceive the importance of flattery and arousal of emotions.

Chapter 536: Fierce competition

Even though the contents of the chest had been revealed, many guests remained uninterested as they yawned while shifting their gazes elsewhere.

The chest was filled with a coiled up ash gray object, that would essentially look like dried kelp if its color was removed. Though it released a strong fishy odour, it didn’t attract any house flies or mosquitoes. On first impression, it appeared possibly to be tendons flayed off from a certain animal.

Yet when this unappealing object was exhibited, it overflowed with dull golden radiance; leaving one with a sensation of having their consciousness drawn in.

The grade quality of this object was undoubtedly – dark-gold grade!

Fortunately, amongst the guests of this auction, only the contestant Sheyan could differentiate its splendid radiance.

After probing with his helmet’s ability, he was thoroughly moved; because the probed information merely indicated a single statement – [ An incomparably precious ship building material ] !!!

“This…” Sheyan couldn’t help but stare blankly. Even with his usual composure, his heart couldn’t refrain from thumping wildly!

When Brother Black received Sheyan’s shared information, he cried out in astonishment in the party channel.

“Ah, a dark-gold grade ship building material! We absolutely cannot spare this. For the sake of this object grade, even losing a family fortune would be worth it!”

Sheyan could fundamentally determine that this object wasn’t a contestant’s equipment, but a precious unique storyline material. Fortunately, there were no ‘Pirate Captain’ calibre contestants present in this auction, and few could determine its true value!

Unless it was Jack Sparrow, Davy Jones, or those ancient ancestor pirates who possessed the ability to appraise a treasure. With the wrecked state the Hill Maiden was in and the appearance of this object, it was truly a match made in heaven.

As compared to this chest of dark-gold grade materials, the other articles auctioned off were existences that Sheyan could simply disregard; ones that he could casually dump away.

Observing the disinterested crowd, Sheyan rejoiced inwardly as he mentally yelled out that he made it rich.

He wasn’t in a rush to bid for fear of attracting another’s attention, but to let things naturally run its course. Perhaps after the auction concluded, he could link up personally and settle this with merely 500 guineas.

An awkward silence overcame the audience momentarily, indicating the disinterest of everyone. While Sheyan was gloating internally, he remained incessantly praying for this state of stagnation.

However, murphy’s law struck. After speaking till her mouth was dry, the auction hostess was about to announce this article to be ‘passed’ with her third hammer. Yet at this moment, Fernandez suddenly coughed and bidded.

“1,000 guineas, wrap it up for me. I do favour such oddly objects. Besides, Mckinney’s auction wasn’t an easy one to set up, and I can’t possibly allow a ‘pass’ to sully his profits. Let me just fool around a little.”

After Fernandez spoke out, who knew that wily old fox, Skrtel, would smile cunningly and interrupt.

“Hey ho, I too feel an attraction to such queer objects recently. Viscount, your excellency, why not allow me to have it instead. 2,000 guineas.” Indeed, Fernandez had contributed enough wealth to buy his viscount status.

By now, Sheyan was wailing in anguish internally. As it turns out, these crafty old foxes were exceedingly interested in this, and were all scheming in anticipation for this object to ‘pass’!

Sheyan released a deep sigh; knowing that if he wanted to acquire this object, he would be in for a relatively fierce competition. Otherwise, it would be impossible to lay hands on it!

“10,000 gold guineas!”

While Sheyan was calming is disorderly train of thoughts, an eerie female voice pierced out. Indeed, it was the gypsy representative, that aged old female shrouded with a red veil. She scanned her surroundings with frosty eyes. The abrupt inflation of this object from 2,000 to 10,000 guineas instantly displayed a resolution in attaining it!

With the gypsy representative participating, the scene fell into a stagnated aspect once again.

Evidently, those individuals couldn’t really fathom the true value of that object, and were reluctant to offend a gypsy adept at divination. Yet ever since he set his eyes on it, Sheyan had already determined this object was paramount. How would he forsake it so easily?

“110,000 guineas.”

“150,000 guineas!” The gypsy representative didn’t bother glancing over, knowing that Sheyan wouldn’t bother with her as well. She didn’t expose a single weakness as she maintained her composure, quoting her bid with great indifference.

Instead, both Fernandez and Skrtel didn’t bat a single eyelid. They were merely contended with themselves over springing up this spectacle, while others remained disinterested in the object. As such, no further bids resulted from them.

Nevertheless, Sheyan was aware that until the moment the auction mallet was hammered down, his true competitors would remain a mystery. Right now, he had no clue what the oppositions were deliberating!

Indeed, even before Sheyan could raise the bid, the arabian Wahabu upset the balance of the apple cart.

“170,000 guineas!”

That female gypsy then pounded against the table impatiently.

“200,000 guineas!”

“300,000 guineas!” Sheyan went for broke. Since he was bent on acquiring it, then he might as well declare his position.

The female gypsy casted a glare at Sheyan, seemingly wanting to engrave his entirety into her mind. She then remained silent but instead, Wahabu revealed a sinister smile.

“400,000 guineas!”

Sheyan glanced disdainfully at him before shutting his mouth, proceeding to sip his coffee unhurriedly; portraying an image of complete disregard.

Wahabu instantly felt his plans of revenge for the earlier bid had gone awry. Truthfully speaking, he was merely a representative. If he really purchased a questionable object with 400,000 guineas, he would have to face the harsh music! This amount was equivalent to four brand new 3-masted warships!

As time trickled away, cold beads of perspiration formed on Wahabu’s forehead. On the verge of the descending mallet, Sheyan leisurely declared.

“400,500 guineas.”

As though a burden was finally unloaded, Wahabu wiped away his cold sweat; no longer daring to play punk. This secondary auction hostess had never expected she would be able to raise a 1,000 pound valuation object into a heavenly price of 400,000 guineas, as she beamed with delight over the prospects of hefty commissions!

Inspired by these events, she vigorously advertised the object once more with saliva splashing; hoping for a continual skyrocketing of valuation.

However, Sheyan’s only competition, the gypsy, knew that Sheyan had minimally reaped several hundred of thousand guineas from the gypsies. Thus, after weighing the matter, she gave up. Eventually, Sheyan acquired this object.

When the auction mallet hammered down, Sheyan released a long exhalation; as though he had offloaded a massive burden. Knowing that the gypsy representative had been stalled twice by Sheyan, the auction hostess proceeded to console her. Besides, amiableness was an import aspect for businesses to earn profits. The gypsy remained silent but gestured them to return, emanating a sense of deep shrewdness.

Sheyan carefully examined the chest of dark-gold grade materials after receiving it. Instead, the notification he got were all ‘? ? ?’.

As he admired and interacted with it, he realized it wasn’t at all like a dead object, but could sense a thriving vitality within it.

Citing an inappropriate example of pig trotters in the market. Those pig trotters couldn’t appear deader, but if one were to knead against its hooves, the slightest of movements indicated a strength contained within it that could explode out anytime.

Eventually, Sheyan couldn’t resolve his puzzlement over the chest of materials even after a careful round of inspection, and stored the item. Nevertheless, he was brimming with confidence in finding someone who could appraise this.

Following that, those 20 high-angled cannons that old McKinney had mentioned to him finally appeared. Instead, the auction hostess communicated a different recognition.

“In recent times, the marines of Port Royal has fought consecutive battles and triumphed. As a result, the navy headquarters has specially initiated a completely renewal of combat arms for them, to commend their bravery. Since their arms are being replaced, those obsolete old equipments naturally wouldn’t be scraped but used to exchange for capital.”

Despite her speech, the following exhibitions were all without an exception, brand new and shining high-angled cannons. Furthermore, the inscribed sigil of the Hamburg factory was even imprinted on these cannons. If these cannons were truly ‘old and obsolete’, then the typical cannon of other maines should simply be dumped into the pile of scrap metals.

Many requested for those 20 high-angled cannons to be auctioned off in one whole batch. However, McKinney stubbornly auctioned them off one at a time. That wasn’t merely for the sake of added profits, but also to hedge against future risks.

If 1-2 brand new high-angled cannons surfaced aboard a pirate ship, the governor could still find excuses that the pirates purchased them through illegal smuggling means. Such a reasoning could still be barely accepted. Yet of 20 brand new Hamburg manufactured high-angled cannons surfaced on a single ship unanimously, and if that ship didn’t belong to the fleets of the Royal British Navy, that will become a hemorrhoid like problem to Norrington. Furthermore, he would be well aware that only Governor Swann was capable of such a feat.

Very quickly, the 20 high-angled cannons were partitioned and auctioned off. After a series of competition, the total amount fetch from auctioning them reached a high valuable of several hundred thousand guineas.

Sheyan had the chance to procure 1-2 cannons, but his experience told him it would take minimally 4 cannons to display its intended effects. 1-2 cannons would be seemingly negligible. Hence, he simply didn’t bother.

Following that, Sheyan fished up a pile of smuggled loots. He expanded 5,000 guineas to procure marine equipments sufficient for roughly a hundred individuals. These were the washed out equipments of marines. Nevertheless, these equipments came from the marines of two flagships, where they retained a relatively impressive quality.

Chapter 537: The visiting vikings

Those former marines under Sheyan were facing an equipment shortage. Moreover, all along they had belonged to an inferior unit of marines back in the navy.

At present, Sheyan had managed to acquire a batch of first grade equipment for them, which were definitely superior to the substandard equipment of their previous third-rate navy ship.

Due to the secrecy of this auction, the invited guests were not permitted to leave even after they squandered all their wealth away. Everyone started together and would depart together.

Right now, Sheyan no longer held interest in this auction, but continued spectating to broaden his horizons. Ultimately, the climax of this auction actually served a plate of astonishment to Sheyan. Though he wasn’t particularly interested in the article, he understood its hidden implication. It was actually an object hailed as the proof of a conqueror*!

(TN: *The Proof of a conqueror comes from the Uncharted Waters 4 game. In the game, there are 7 artifacts required to become the sailor ruler of the seas)

In this caribbean world, the existence of the seven pirate lords were not casual proclamations by themselves!

One had to first completely dominate and rule a particular domain of the sea, before the brethren court would accord clues to one; instructing one to acquire a certain mysterious treasure in their naval territory, to serve as one’s proof of a conqueror.

Of course, that mission’s difficulty would be immensely challenging. But once one retrieves that proof, one would be officially acknowledged and hailed as one of the seven Pirate Lords.

For example, the proof of a conqueror for Ammand in the Black Sea, is a cannon hailed as the Caucasus’ shield. Furthermore, it was rumored the reason Captain Jack Sparrow was so ‘romantically dissolute’, was because his proof of a conqueror was a human; requiring him to claim the virginity and affection of the daughter of a lofty nobleman. Including those, other currently known proofs of the conqueror includes acquiring the exalted Frost Imperial Plate, the sun patterned Saber from the New World and some others.

(TN: To my understanding, all these are artifacts of the proof of the conqueror in Uncharted Waters 4. I can’t find the official translated names, so i translated those literally.)

In a flurry, a bitter struggle of merchants and pirates commenced over this very object, where hefty sumps of gold guineas pounded in ferociously one after another.

The one who got the last laugh was the spaniard, Fernandez. His long periods of patience had finally paid off as he acquired his heart’s desire.

After the auction concluded, to prevent any unnecessary disputes, the invited guests were escorted to their carriages and chauffeured to their respective areas. This was probably due to the frequent outburst of violence after other auctions had ended, where it would undoubtedly affect the reputation of the organizers. Hence, they executed it prudently.

After spending quite some time at this auction, when the trio departed from the place, the sky was already full of stars.

Before departing, Sheyan felt an unspeakable sensation welling up in his heart. When he turned, he noticed the gypsy representative casting a vilified glare towards him, but when he turned back, she had disappeared into the human crowd.

Sheyan’s eyes flickered before his lips curled into an unfathomable smirk, and proceeded to board his carriage.

After being escorted out of the region, 3-4 pirates came forward to report to the trio; exclaiming that the vikings were turning fretful and impatient, and although they hadn’t flown into a fit, they were repeatedly flinging stuffs at the pirates to hasten them.

The pirate lastly reported that those vikings could no longer endure, and had dispatched three of them to Port Royal in search of Sheyan; while emphasizing the urgency of their matters.

Sheyan wasn’t surprised at all when he heard that report.

For the vikings to seek him out behind Ammand’s back, indicated the urgency of their matter!

Hence, Sheyan purposefully left them dry in the air to observe their reaction. Evidently, he was attempting to probe out the immensity of their sincerity.

In Sheyan’s perspective, the vikings were already a pleasant surprise outside of his plans. Thus, he definitely wanted to reap the greatest benefits from this. Of course, this deliberate procrastination may result in the regrettable scenario of an opportunity slipping away. Nevertheless, Sheyan always treated his schemes like a statistical abacus, obviously, he could bear the consequence of the opportunity slipping away.

Sheyan became rather amused after hearing the report. The reaction of those vikings was rather contrary to his expectation.

After pondering with his head lowered briefly, he ordered.

“How about this. Ol’Seadog. Lease two large 10 seater carriages for me at once, give’em a full deposit and tell them I do not require a chauffeur. Our own men will navigate the carriage.”

Ol’Seadog was rather efficient and speedy in his tasks, thus he immediately headed off. After a series of discussions, the trio proceeded to wait an area not far from the port.

Soon after, Ol’Seadog returned with the large carriages. Sheyan immediately commanded his pirate underlings to fetch the vikings, while he would carry on waiting here.

Not too long later, the three viking representatives arrived in a large carriage. The unique appearance and style of the vikings, seemingly depicted the word ‘pirate’ on their faces.

They didn’t dismount from the carriage but opted to wait inside. By now, Sheyan had long prepared a barrel of Golden Rum. He effortlessly hoisted up the barrel of rum, and sat inside their carriage.

Nightfall descended long ago. Without a doubt, this exorbitantly leased carriage was rather lavish; its interior was illuminated clearly by barn lanterns and candles.

The three vikings boasted of massive scandinavian physiques, and grew unkempt beards beneath their bright eyes. Tormented by wind and snow since young, their muscular arms were laced with calluses from extended periods of holding oversized weapons.

After entering the carriage, Sheyan directly pulled off the lid of the barrel; allowing the alcoholic aroma to permeate the entire carriage. Then, he poured each viking a mug of rum.

“I had a certain important affair in Port Royal, primarily pertaining to Governor Swann’s auction. Accept my utmost apologies for delaying till now. As per my hometown customs, I shall toast three cups as punishment!”

Living in those frigid high latitude zones, the vikings definitely favoured strong alcoholic drinks. They could be described as empty barrels without wine. The exquisite rum Sheyan produced was something the three vikings hadn’t drank in a long time, causing their throats to squirm as they couldn’t resist the urge to hoist up their mugs.

Who knew that with one mouthful, their alcoholic craving instantly kicked in. Moreover, Ol’Seadog was an expert at marketing one to drink more. After downing two mugs, the three vikings felt their mugs were too small and hampered the satisfaction of their drinking.

Then, they even strapped off the cowhorn helmets from their heads to use as mugs for their drinking pleasure. Concurrently, they drummed their helmets and hummed folk tunes of viking heroism.

This was an atmosphere that Sheyan was naturally delighted to see. While the three vikings were heading towards intoxication, Sheyan finally sighed.

“As everyone had witnessed, the combat with Mr Harrod yesterday was suggested by himself. Moreover, you saw the entirety of the blood boat duel, I never made a single move that violated the duelling regulations. Earnestly speaking, Mr Harrod’s might is beyond mine, my victory was merely by a fluke. If you wish to avenge him, I will accept your intent.”

The leading viking, Rollo, shook his head.

“Harrod has returned to the divine palace, Valhalla, through the conquest of a fair duel. There be no hatred amongst this. Despite that, Harrod is still one of the three inheritors of our Asgarda tribe. His remnant holds utmost importance to us, we must retrieve it.”

Sheyan’s gaze flickered.

“Oh? What remnant?”

Rollo replied sincerely.

“Everything.”

Sheyan chuckled in response.

“In accordance to the pirate’s code, plundering the defeated is common practice. The pirate’s code confers to us that right.”

Rollo shook his head gently.

“That is because you aren’t aware of the monumental significance they are to our Asgarda tribe.”

Sheyan laughed.

“Perhaps we could switch to another perspective? Produce an object of equivalent worth, and you warriors can take turns to duel me. As long as your triumph over me, you can gain your heart’s desire.”

Rollo spoke in a pained tone.

“Harrod is already publicly known as our finest warrior. Sir, we’ve seen your strength personally. In truth, our hopes of winning isn’t great, and we aren’t living well either. I’m afraid the gold we have isn’t sufficient in worth.”

Sheyan immediately smiled.

“Ho, I must’ve caused a slight misunderstanding somewhere. I am not lacking of gold. In reality, I am rather peculiar about the indomitable fighting capabilities of the mighty vikings. For example, those divine artifacts of your tribe, and your matchless strength in battles. These are things wealth is incomparable to, it isn’t even worth mentioning. Yet they are the things I thirst for.”

Rollo offered a troubled look.

“However, we are equally lacking in what you desire.”

Sheyan shrugged his shoulders.

“Then I have no solution for this. If you wish to snatch my plundered loot without offering remuneration, the only way is over my dead body!”

Listening to such decisiveness and resolution from Sheyan, the three vikings exchanged looks and found it hard to swallow the fine liquor swirling in their throat.

In reality, the vikings was a class that loved resorting to fists and weapon; but when dealing with a stronger opponent, they could only find themselves helplessly entangled.

Observing the awkward situation, Sheyan smiled gently.

He did love to push his opponents into desperate ground during a discussion, before offering a sliver of hope in the end; undoubtedly, persuading them would then become much easier.

Thus, he finally allowed Jinkuang to enter the field. Knowing the capabilities of his slut subordinate, Sheyan was reassured.

To his shock, probably due to them sensing the puny threat Jinkuang emanated, those vikings appeared additionally unconstrained and more at ease when facing him. However, the vikings didn’t know that in this world, the most dangerous individuals were the ones without the word ‘danger’ written on their faces.

Chapter 538: Divine Stone: Odin’s Surge

Ten minutes later, Jinkuang sauntered out of the carriage with his head high and chest out.

Eventually, the verdict of his discussions with the vikings was out – the three objects, ‘Murmurs of a Great Bear’, ‘Viking Precious Keepsake’ and the ‘Deer Bone Staff’ had to be claimed back. As for the ‘Greatsword of Ice and Snow’, though it was Harrod’s special weapon, they had no use for it and it wasn’t compatible with their own weapons. Hence, it was discounted.

As it turns out, the Asgarda tribe would soon host the ‘festival of furious bears’ to decide their new patriarch. Only ones who possess a the ‘Viking Precious Keepsake’, would gain the qualifications to participate in the procession competition.

As for the helmet, ‘Murmurs of a Great Bear’, it was a formidable helmet that could substantially boost a viking warrior’s combative power; an incredible insurance in defeating other candidates.

Yet Sheyan didn’t expect that of the three objects, the most valuable one was the inextinguishable ‘Deer Bone Staff’.

That was due to the harsh conditions of their environment, because the final hurdle of the inheritor test was for a viking warrior to ascend a glacier within the freezing temperature of -20 degrees. Afterwards, they would have to cross several miles of icy seawaters, before hunting down a gigantic legendary creature, a snow beast; who resided within a snow capped jungle.

Under such circumstances, having an enchanted staff that could ignite in any scenario, would be the decider between victory or defeat and possibly life or death!

A fire source could allow one to cook to replenish bodily energy, supply warmth in the huts of snow, and perhaps even successfully ascend the patriarch’s throne without hunting the snow beast.

This wasn’t a joke, and it truly happened to Harrod’s dad. While crossing the icy seawater, he suffered an attack from a deadly polar bear; eventually sustaining grave injuries. Hence, he could only utilize this ‘Deer Bone Staff’ to start a bonfire and slowly nurse his injuries in the snow capped jungles. During that period, he had utterly abandoned hopes of becoming the next patriarch.

Meanwhile, the fire source of those other candidates were all soaked and extinguished after crossing the icy sea. Therefore, they had no choice but to challenge the snow beast while still retaining sufficient energy within them. After slaying the beast, they would have to swim across the icy sea once again. Otherwise without a fire source within the snow capped jungle, all their food supplies would turn frozen stiff and become inedible. Over time, their energy would gradually be sapped away and become exhausted, leading to a dreadful ending.

In the end, the outcome of those candidates was a tragic one. They were shredded asunder by the fangs and claws of the snow beast, leaving behind a measly candidate; a defeated individual who couldn’t fight due to injuries. Ultimately, that individual was propelled to become the successor.

Unfortunately, this information was leaked to Sheyan. Henceforth, wishing to retrieve those three items from him wouldn’t be an easy task. Moreover, the slutty intermediary, Jinkuang, was still laying hands on those three items. As such, an exorbitant price and a pact of humiliating surrender was signed.

The simple minds of the vikings were easily toyed into a mess by the unceasing gabbling of Jinkuang. More crucially, Jinkuang relied on his distinct and keen business nose to whiff out a vital statement, which accurately speaking, was a statement that came from Rollo himself – ‘…we aren’t living well either….’

Jinkuang’s eyeballs shuttled around as he proactively suggested that based on their current friendship, regardless if a deal is made, he would be willing to gift them with ten barrels of ordinary rum, 800 guineas, loaves of rye bread and a list of living necessities.

Of course, Jinkuang would only require roughly several dozens of gold guineas to procure those commodities. Instead, those commodities would be able to secure the camaraderie between both parties. Such overwhelming treatment was like the final straw to shatter the mental defenses of the mighty viking, Rollo.

Proceeding from there, the vikings crumbled and fell into the trickery of Jinkuang’s miserable gaze; presenting all their exchangeable chips to Jinkuang.

After a sequence of careful selections, the price of those anxious vikings was a divine stone, ‘Odin’s Surge’, an accessory, ‘Sacred Cow-horn cup’, and an item, ‘Birch bark of the Hlidskjalf*’ x3’.

(TN:*the Hlidskjalf is odin’s throne)

[ Divine Stone: Odin’s Surge (divine power remaining: 70 points) ]

[ Item rarity: Dark-Gold grade ]

[ Origin world: Any possible world with Odin ]

[ Material: Olympus Mountain special stone ]

[ Item position: Bag ]

[ category: usable item ]

[ Weight: 457.6g ]

[ Usage requirement: Any pure attribute of strength, agility or physique reaching 20 points. Every usage will cost 10 points of divine power ]

[ Usage: a chance for user to obtain the ability – ‘Flesh Explosion’ !

[ Description: A divine stone consecrated before the viking’s idol, Odin. After 70 years of consecration, divine power was accumulated within it. Odin bestows his strength onto his people, allowing them survive better in this treacherous world. ]

[ Possible evolvable ability: Flesh Explosion ]

[ Details: An ability compatible with most physical combatants. Odin’s divine power is everywhere. As physique of individuals absorbing his divine power differs, the manifestation of this ability would be different. ]

[ Details: Realm’s evaluation of basic grasp of this ability is ‘B’. Once the ability is raised to lvl 4, its evaluation will be raised to ‘A’. When this ability is raised to lvl 7, its evaluation will be raised to ‘S’. ]

[ Details: To raise this ability, apart from investing utility and potential points, one must sacrifice equipments as devotion to Odin! Offering Dark-blue grade equipments is required for raising Basic phase (lvl 1 – 4). After lvl 4, ability would require black grade or above equipments. ]

[ Details: Offering a barely suitable equipment may not result in this ability evolving. Only after receiving favour from Odin can this ability be evolved. The better the offered equipments, the greater the possibility of ability evolving. ]

[ Accessory: Sacred Cow horn cup ]

[ Rarity: Black grade (unusable with horcrux, no horcrux is compatible with this excessively ancient equipment ]

[ Usage requirement: Strength 40 points (an equipment of a berserker tribe is indeed justified of its reputation) ]

[ Details: Increase all healing effects by 25% ]

[ Details: Every time you are healed, a damage absorption shield will form around your body. The HP of this shield is based on 50% of the healing effect, but its defence is 0. ]

[ Details: lowers your accuracy by 3% ]

[ Details: Reduces your attack speed. ]

[ Weight: 187g ]

[ Description: Centuries ago, a viking tribe patriarch encountered an enormous long-furred cow running through the snowy mountains. After countless trials and tribulations, he finally slew this enormous cow. However, he perished from untreated wounds after. The descendants of this tribe patriarch then offered this enormous long-furred cow to the grand Odin. Odin was well pleased with this offering. The descendants then crafted the cow’s only longhorn into a wine cup. Very quickly, they discovered the mystical force it contained within, and thus wore this cup on themselves. ]

[ Evaluation: This accessory has overturned defeat into victory for its own for at least seven battles before. Hence, it was hailed as the dawn of an era. ]

[ Birch bark of the Hlidskjalf x3 ]

[Item rarity: Dark-blue grade ]

[ Origin word: Any earth world. ]

[ Material: Tree bark ]

[ Item position: bag ]

[ Category: Usable item ]

[ Weight: 47.1 g ]

[ Item usage requirement: 5 MP ]

[ Effects: Increase the explosive strike rate of allies within a hundred metre radius by 5%, HP regeneration by 50%, movement and attack speed by 33%; duration: 12 seconds. ]

[ Description: Known as the raging tempest of god’s breath, berserking winds would blow throughout the magnificent mountain range of the Hlidskjalf. Only the sacred birch tree can grow on this mountain range. Even its dried tree bark is congealed with a mystical and formidable force. ]

Indeed, as the proverb goes, when Jinkuang acts the ceiling cracks. To cause the opposing dealing party to offer up everything with both hands for one’s choosing pleasure, was truly an admirable feat.

Jinkuang flaunted his capabilities conceitedly, while Rollo and the others eagerly checked the various commodities they received, and totally ignored the fact that they had exchanged their divine objects and equipments.

There wasn’t a need to doubt Jinkuang’s purchasing power. Those commodities worth tens of guineas, were practically sufficient to guarantee the survival of Rollo and several of his tribesmen for the winter. This was seemingly an aspect where both sides won….

Of course, that was what the simple minds of the vikings thought.

Without a doubt, this transaction had greatly benefited Sheyan and the others. As the saying goes, the matter should not be delayed. The trio immediately huddled together to divide the spoils.

Naturally, only Sheyan could equip the ‘Sacred Cow-horn cup’. He then stripped off his +1 physique pocketwatch. Not sure if it was coincidental, but now, both Sheyan’s pair of accessory previously belonged to vikings.

As for that ‘Divine Stone: Odin’s Surge’, it contained a total of seventy points of divine power. Every usage would exhaust ten points of divine power, which equated to seven times.

Hence, the trio would minimally have two opportunities at it each. After Sheyan’s innate ability ‘Stronghold’ had awakened, his resistance to abnormal effects was the highest. Thus, he was chosen as the experimental tool.

The appearance of the ‘Divine Stone: Odin’s Surge’ was pretty mediocre; analogous to a casual fist sized pebble, except for its glossy layer that seemed to be coated with broil lacquer.

As Sheyan held the stone, he could feel an abnormal warmth emanating from it; as though it had just been retrieved from a bonfire. Pulses of heartbeat could be felt from the depths of this divine stone, which flooded in with endless surging power!!

Chapter 539: Waiting on an ambush!

Sheyan gripped the divine stone tightly as he concentrated his mental strength into it.

Gradually, a glimmer of golden brilliance pervaded through the cracks of his fingers, and plated against his flesh. This light then surged through him rapidly like a river.

At present, Sheyan’s skin was practically covered in gleaming crystal; magical, bewitching and gorgeous.

Through Rollo’s description, that should be the commencement of divine power outpouring. Next would be the crux. If the golden divine power permeated into his body, then he would receive Odin’s favour. If the golden brilliance dispersed into the air, it would signify a waste of ten years of viking meditation; the divine power returning back to Odin. Alright, bluntly putting, it meant the ability failed to manifest.

Instead, lady luck was shining on Sheyan today. There wasn’t a single sign of the golden brilliance dispersing, and it completely permeated into his body. He then received the notification.

[ You have successfully obtained an evolvable ability: ‘Flesh Explosion’ lvl 1 ]

[ Evolvable ability: ‘Flesh Explosion’ lvl 1. ]

[ Current evaluation: B ]

[ Details: The power of Odin surges through your muscles. Although your fluency with this strength is relatively foreign, you can still display a definite effect. ]

[ Details: When dealing damage to an enemy, enemy will receive additional true damages (Damage that is unaffected by defence or realm regulation limitation, effect takes domain precedence). True damages value ranges between 5 – 15 points. It is determined by attack speed. The faster the attack speed, the tiner the value. ]

[ Note: True damage will inherit your explosive strike rate, and can deal additional explosive strike. Explosive strike is counted separately. ]

Following him, Reef and Mogensha took turns at it. Grabbing the divine stone tightly, Reef passed on first try. However, the effect of his ‘Flesh Explosion’ differed from Sheyan. The description of his was –

[ The divine power of Odin turns your flesh with impregnable solidity. When enemy deals damage to you, 50% chance of damage recoil. Recoiled damage is counted as true damage, calculated by half of actual damage received by Reef. Recoiled damage is capped minimally at 10 points and will not exceed 30 points. ]

Mogensha was the unfortunate one where he squandered away two chances, before finally obtaining the favour of odin on the third attempt. The effects of his acquired ‘Flesh Explosion’ was –

[ After 3 consecutive attack damage dealt to your enemy, the agony and blood of the foe will stimulate the divine power of Odin. You will then deal a 1 second stun to your enemy in the next strike (effect takes domain precedence)! However, this passive stunning effect has a 10 seconds cooldown. ]

In this manner, the ‘Divine Stone: Odin’s Surge’ still retained two times of usage. If their fortunes were good, it could earn them a sum. This was an unexpected harvest that Sheyan hadn’t anticipated.

After both parties obtained a consensus on their transactions, they beamed delight. Yet for unknown reasons, Sheyan told the three vikings that the ‘Murmurs of a Great Bear’ helmet was left inside the captain’s cabin, although it was clearly stored inside the party storage. Thus, he wanted the vikings to accompany them back to the Hill Maiden before he could return the helmet.

When Sheyan phrased it that way, even Brother Black thought he was a two-faced bastard who wanted to renege on this deal with the vikings. While Mogensha felt rather disturbed, Sheyan instead shook his head gently and laughed.

Through the party channel, he advised them not to think too much, that his invitation of the three vikings was aligned to a goal. Except, such matters were merely just speculation as of now, and was inconvenient to be divulged.

With the imminent arrival of the tribe’s sacred festival of furious bears, Rollo hastened Sheyan to journey back overnight. Riding a carriage from here back to the pirate ship was roughly an hours’ ride, hence, Sheyan nodded his head in agreement.

Before they departed, Sheyan ordered a few of his pirate confidants to accompany Joshamee to stay. The ones he brought back with him were all expert combatants.

After climbing back into the carriages, an experienced pirate chauffeur led them and the three vikings back to the ship.

The night was pitch black, and few would journey overnight. Fortunately, Port Royal was a crucial stoppage port, and their journey was pretty smooth; along the way, they encountered meticulous patrols.

Moreover, the carriage chauffeur was experienced with overnight travels, as he hung a bright barn lantern at the carriage’s front to illuminate the way ahead. Although vision remained poor still, as long as he lowered the carriage speed, travelling wouldn’t be a risk.

Clock! Clock! Clock! The tapping of horse hooves resounded, as the carriage traversed through the distinctive trail of the tranquil forest.

All of a sudden, under the dim irradiation of the barn lantern, the carriage driver noticed something obstructing the way ahead.

When travelling during the night, one had to be most cautious of these obstructing hurdles. He anxiously cursed before bringing the carriage to a halt. Leaping down, he carried the barn lantern to shine on the obstructing object ahead.

Impaled onto the ground right ahead, was shockingly a rectangle wooden slab that was at least 2-3 square metres! The wooden slab was painted in red.

The carriage chauffeur examined it sluggishly before realizing; isn’t this a hearts of 6 poker card, but magnified manifold?

The carriage chauffeur then berated the pain in the arse scums who played this prank, as he strolled ahead to knock the wooden slab to the ground.

Yet to his horror, the red shade of the wooden slab issued an amplified melancholy. He could smell a wave of blood stench stifling his nose. This hearts of 6 poker card was actually painted with blood!!

The carriage chauffeur screamed fearfully. Yet before he could run, an incomparably mournful whizz screeched into the air. Two poker cards jetted through the air, intercrossing before they swivelled down; effortlessly slicing across his neck and severing his arteries. Instantaneously, a lively spurt of fresh blood shot into the air.

After slaying, the two poker cards swivelled round like a bird circling in the air; spilling blood but not infected by it. Then, they paused in the midst of the darkness. Soon after, two fair fingers reached out and clipped the two poker cards. With an easy flick, the two poker cards returned into a pocket.

Meanwhile, the carriage chauffeur clutched his neck; voicing out gurgling chokes before slumping to the ground. The barn lantern in his hands crashed to the ground, knocking noisily against the rocks. The oil within splashed in all directions, before the embers ignited into a huge flame; brightly illuminating the place.

From the four corners of the darkness, men walked out dressed in tattered shabby clothes; their expressions apathetic, and their eyes were lifeless.

A nasty stench emitted from their bodies, while they held onto various sorts of weapons; hoes, scissors, dung pitchforks…..

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced into the air. As though injected with adrenaline, the pupils of these men contracted into the size of a needle tip as the white of their eyes occupied the entire socket.

Roaring out with beastly crudeness, those men pounced towards the carriages!

Indeed, these men were males of the lowest rung of the gypsies camp! They were numbed to their livelihood, and were employed as miserable cannon fodder to charge the fronts.

“Damned pirates!” the three vikings were startled out from their semi-drunkenness, and noticed their predicament after pushing aside the carriage curtains.

When they discovered the carriage transporting their goods behind was under assault, they instantly bellowed with matchless fury and pulled out their weapons! They seemed to have forgotten that they were also pirates, and were probably not much more refined than strong pirates.

To Sheyan and his crew, those were merely commodities worth several tens of guineas. Instead, these commodities could allow some of the sickly and aged tribesmen of the three vikings, to live on! Those tribesmen could well be their kin!

Therefore, anyone who dared to touch those commodities, would definitely bear the painful wrath of the vikings.

Rollo and his other six vikings, who accompanied Harold in his adventures, were all warriors of the tribe. Naturally, their battle capabilities wouldn’t need to be emphasized. Effortlessly raising up their weapons, heavy violent weapons like sledgehammers, battleaxes and so on, they leapt down their carriage.

Those three massive vikings roared frenetically, and charged like a great bear towards those gypsy male slaves who were sacking their goods. Concurrently, they brandished their stupendous weapons, which emitted lofty and ghastly hums whenever they swiped forth in the air.

Those gypsy males were utterly incapable of blocking, as blood sprayed wildly upon impact and limbs were dismembered and sent flying. Those men either suffered grievous injuries, or perished immediately.

As the three vikings slaughtered their way in, they maintained minimally a 5 metres gap between each other; preventing them from ‘friendly fire’. One could fathom how valiant their brute force was. Under such brutal onslaught, it offered a violent feedback to all onlookers – that these vikings were born for combat!

Not only were Rollo and his two vikings committing murder, they were purposefully butchering their opponents; leaving behind mutilated corpses, chunks of flesh flying, and splitted bones. It was as though three giant bulldozers/excavators had collided in; its momentum unstoppable as it set off a reign of terror.

Evidently, the presence of those vikings were out of the ambushers’ expectations! In the face of those three killing machines, quality against trash, the overwhelming quantity of gypsy males were utterly decimated.

Mogensha was finally enlightened as he asked into the party channel.

“Boss, could it be that all along, you knew those gypsies would ambush us? Which is why you insisted on dragging along the three vikings?”

Chapter 540: Ambush

Towards Brother Black’s query, Sheyan chortled and replied.

“Naturally, since I’ve consecutively snatched the items those gypsies greatly desired! Actually, knowing the personality of those perverted old hags, they would’ve definitely started a bidding war against me. Instead, her reaction was to relent.”

“That undoubtedly brings up two possibilities. Either she has no money, which we can eliminate as she purchased several items in the end; or she has a method to obtain those items without expending cash! Hence, she allowed me to be complacent with my successful bids.”

“Before leaving the auction, I realized that woman had been consistently staring at me. Following that, I carefully inspected myself and discovered this in my sleeve.”

Sheyan stretched out his left arm as he spoke, revealing an astonishing fingernail-sized red heart vestige on the outer side of his sleeve. Like a birthmark, this vestige penetrated deep into the fiber of his sleeve. It was impossible to scrape it off. Moreover, few would be able to notice it in such an awkward position. If not for his suspicions, Sheyan would’ve found it hard to discover it as well.

“This should be a notation that gypsy diviner has placed on me. With it, she can easily pinpoint my location. In order to prevent advertently alarming the enemy, she forsook monitoring us; a plan of using a long line to catch the big fish. Yet this offered me the golden opportunity to borrow the might of those vikings, to slay them when they least expect!”

Reef interrupted.

“But, aren’t they afraid of the Little Lord Fokke’s diary?”

Sheyan answered.

“Placed in our party interspatial storage, that diary might as well be transferred to a new dimension; screening away all relations to this world. Therefore, those gypsies probably couldn’t sense, or determined that we wouldn’t carry the diary with us but kept it somewhere safe. Obviously, they would act without the slightest scruple.”

While the trio were conversing, Rollo and his ferociously unrivalled vikings had left the butchered gypsy slaves in a scattered mess. This scene essentially looked as effortless as a tiger assailing a pack of goats.

In spite of that, yet another large swarm of gypsy slaves appeared from the darkness. Treating death with contempt, they silently pounced forward.

Sheyan immediately commanded his pirate underlings to assist.

This time, those mighty vikings started feeling pressure when challenged by nearly a hundred charging gypsy slaves. This was mainly due to their poor acclimatization to prolonged combat.

Speaking in line with Sun Tze’s Art of War, they were past the vigorous ‘spurt of energy’ phrase, and were into the waning phase.

Although the gypsy slaves inflicted poor damages, they drew in lifelessly as they stabbed forth with rakes and pitchforks; dealing impressive damages as a whole.

Furthermore, amidst the gypsy slaves, several of those gypsy guardians had shamelessly blended in.

(TL:*Recall, the gypsy guardians are the second tier of gypsy males)

Disguised in the same appearance as those gypsy slaves, those guardians hid daggers within their bodies as they threatened with deadly killing intent.

Sheyan himself personally witnessed a mishap.

While attempting to fend for another viking warrior, the viking warrior Rollo had carelessly failed to block. In turn, a gypsy guardian sneaked in and thrusted his dagger into Rollo’s belt. Yet before Rollo had the chance to retaliate, that gypsy guardian had swiftly blended back into the gypsy crowd!

One could observe that the gypsy woman directing behind the scenes, definitely possessed remarkable commanding capabilities. Although Sheyan’s arrangement had caught her off guard, she managed to pinpoint the vikings’ weakness within a short span of time, and counter-attack with precise focus!

Such a capability could be said to be rather uncommon, and it was no surprise the gypsies were assured in allowing her to deal with their foes herself.

Faced with this tactic, the three vikings became traumatized by those disguised assassins; feeling as though every tree or bush was an enemy. Every foe they clashed with felt like the ones who could deal a severe strike to them.

As such, they inevitably maintained a vigilant state, and treated every incoming ‘farmer’ as a menacing wolf.

….Will that incoming vegetable knife morph into a deadly cleaver? Is that thrusting pitchfork a feign or a casual reckless jab. Are those incoming hurling rocks ordinary rocks or lime?

They had just witnessed a pirate underling slashing through a lime parcel carelessly, where burning calcium oxide blinded him instantaneously. After that pirate underling tumbled to the ground while groaning miserably, where the flock of despicable gypsy slaves swarmed over and stomped him to death.

Realizing the situation turning disadvantageous, Reef speared forth with a roaring ‘Shattering Cardiac Roar’.

A formless shockwave ripple swept out in a ring, inflicting devastating damages and an area negative effect to them; its effects lingering inside their bodies like maggots infesting bones. The gypsy slaves who relied on their superior numbers, were now moving with great difficulty.

Yet more critically, Reef’s roaring shockwave instantly removed the disguise of those intermingled guardians amongst the gypsy slaves.

Exterior could be disguised but not interior quality. Evidently, the damage and effects they received from the roaring shockwave was much lighter than the gypsy slaves. Hence, with careful attention, those guardians could be differentiated as clearly as fireflies during nighttime.

It was time for Mogensha to demonstrate his prestige. While puffing his cigar, he squinted his eyes and gently pressed the trigger; sniping down those hidden saboteurs within the human crowd.

Following that, Reef led the few pirates as they rapidly cut down the remaining pitiable gypsy slaves.

The panting vikings could finally catch their breaths, lowering their weapons to the ground and panting violently.

Brother Black then casually tossed a case of ‘Sudan Ointment’ to them. After they smeared the ointment on their wounds, they swiftly regathered their strength to fight.

At present, even though the attacks of those gypsy slaves were mostly futile, they maintained a despairing rapaciousness as they lurched forward; embracing their despondent fates with stubborn fighting willpower.

As Sheyan observed the battling crowd, his eyes squinted and issued.

“Reef, pay attention to those slaves. It is strange, they won’t even groan or struggle when cut down, but directly turn stiff.”

Reef was stumped momentarily, before he immediately verified Sheyan’s words.

“You’re right, that’s the case. Let me see, eh? The soil beneath my feet is reddening!”

“Apparently, the manipulator behind the scene is in action.” Sheyan scoffed mildly.

“Therefore, those slaves and guardians had been foreordained to sacrifice their lives from the start. If they sufficed to finish us, then good. Otherwise if they failed, their corpses and blood would be offered and transformed into means for the next assault.”

Sheyan’s lips curled into a sneer. Then he bellowed out.

“Men, halt your zealous hearts from killing for now! Everyone lay siege to break through the west. The gypsies are good at employing blood and corpses for their occult magic. We must leave this accursed ground at once!”

After Sheyan issued his command, Reef immediately roared out with his ‘Shattering Cardiac Roar’; its shockwave ripple sweeping ahead fanatically, shaking the gypsy slaves around into staggers.

With the pirates huddling together, Sheyan raised up a coiling black object and tossed it into the sky.

As that object spun 5-6 metres into the air, he instantly emanated a dull golden brilliance. Upon looking closer, it appeared to be a coiled tree bark. Indeed, it was one of the viking’s ‘Birch Bark of the Hlidskjalf’.

Golden showers of mist poured down from the tree bark, before irrigating into the bodies of Sheyan’s group.

In a split second, all of them received a shocking enhancement as they speared towards the west; seemingly about to break free from the battling field devised by the gypsies.

Yet at this instant, a shrilling voice pierced out. Three figures strided out from the darkness with heavy footsteps, as they blocked the swift advance of Sheyan’s gang.

The three figures were clad in medieval armour of immense thickness; appearing akin to a steel fortress. As they trudged forward, sonorous metallic clanking could be heard. Their hands gripped onto long halberds.

One of the knights was particularly familiar. After a thorough recalling, Sheyan recognized that to be the man back in the gypsy’s tent. During that time, he was in charge of escorting slaves meant to be sacrificed; pushing them into the spell circle. At present, he glared at Sheyan numbly as though he had completely lost his soul.

(TL: The gypsy knights are the third tier fighters of gyspy males)

Leading the charge, viking Rollo roared furiously as he hammered forth with his sledgehammer; carving out a deep black arc in the air.

Boom! Even the leaves on the ground spiralled into the air. One could tell how tremendous was his strength! Using brute strength to break their foes was indeed the forte of these mighty vikings!

Even though the three gypsy knights understood the difficulty to equal such strength, they opted not to evade; raising their weapons to face the shuddering impact! Evidently, their lives were solely in existence to prevent their foes from escaping. Using their own lives to win an additional second would be well worth it!

Keng! A thunderous impact resounded with sparks scattering. The two foremost gypsy knights stumbled backwards unanimously; the long halberd in their hands slightly crooked. Instead, Harold grunted as well while staggered several steps back.

Still, the mighty viking warrior wasn’t fighting alone. The other two vikings simultaneously tore forward, waving their heavy siege weapons to smash forth brutally. Meanwhile, the other pirates were not individuals who understood a gentleman’s fair fight, as they thrusted broadswords concurrently.

After a measly few seconds, the armours of the three gypsy knights had been badly battered; 7-8 deep cracks lacerated through them, revealing internal bodies of ripped and scattered flesh chunks.

The three gypsy knights vomited out mouthfuls of blood, but still, they remained unyielding as they swung their halberds to hamper their foes!

Chapter 541: Formidable 1 versus 3

Facing such obstinate opponents, viking Rollo exposed a reverential countenance on his face. Unleashing a ferocious war, he heavily hammered down his sledgehammer onto the helmet of a gypsy knight; smashing flat both head and helmet, thus terminating his current agony.

At this moment, Sheyan also silently charged forward.

He could sense that they had wasted too much time, and was nearly crossing the limit. If he didn’t act himself, they would possibly fall to the gutters of evil!

A blue radiance flickered out, as Sheyan swiftly thrusted in with his melancholic long saber; stabbing his saber into the cracks of armour, before he ruthlessly twisted!

After regaining some perception with great difficulty, a gypsy knight suddenly felt a chill in his belly; the chill of being penetrated through. Thick blood mixed with blue glitters splashed out; appearing additionally furtive and miserable.

Sheyan lifted highly his saber, which was still thrusted deep into that gypsy knight. After rotating several rounds, he sent the gypsy knight crashing against a condensed mess of pursuing gypsy slaves!

Flung into the dense congregation of gypsy slaves, the massive frame and hefty kilograms of armour came crashing down on 7-8 individuals.

Having been stabbed and tossed by Sheyan, the gypsy knight vented his anger by smashing into the crowd of gypsy slaves.

Ultimately, the final gypsy knight suffered the most tragic end. Two viking warriors struck out simultaneously, smashing two sledgehammers against his helmet. The gypsy knight collapsed to the ground, where the pirates instantly pounced onto him; stabbing their weapons through the cracks of his helmet. Eventually, the gypsy knight was reduced into a tin can of flesh paste; perfect on its exterior, but a muddled mess inside. A muddled mess of flesh and blood!

Observing that Sheyan and gang were escaping from the sacrificial ground, a glimmer suddenly flashed out from the darkness!

It was actually two swivelling poker cards, both red, but on closer inspection, though the symbols weren’t enlarged, one was the 3 of hearts and the other the 3 of diamonds!

The two poker cards criss-crossed each other as they surged in. With every complete rotation, their threat was multiplied. Swivelling in surreptitious maneuvering, it sliced towards Sheyan and others.

Within its brief momentum, it flitted past the horse carriage; tearing apart the sturdy cowhide felt that covered the carriage. Ripped felt and wooden splinters erupted and sprayed haphazardly, resembling panicky black butterflies dispersing about. Tens of square metres rained down with felt and wooden splinters, depicting an unimaginably vast and vicious scene.

Sheyan gasped as he witnessed this scene, before pulling out his saber as he tightly kept in formation. Relying on his superior perceptive sense, he could roughly grasp the incoming trajectory of those pair of red poker cards.

At this moment, Sheyan’s eyes were shut but his ears were faintly trembling. His former experiences told him that if he relied on his naked eyes, undoubtedly, the consequences would be being ripped into two!

In a flash, Sheyan braced his muscles tightly, and swung his saber fiercely towards an unimaginable location with unthinkable speed! A faint bluish brilliance trailed his blade in midair!

An incomparably sharp blade swerved through the air, releasing a cutting screech along the way. After his saber blade swept a metre out…..right before it struck against the two poker cards…..in the face of its carving blade, the pair 3 red poker* cards abruptly segregated. (ED: I know it’s confusing, it’s two red cards with a three on them.)

Sheyan’s blade landed against the empty air!

Soon afar, a scarlet glow shone out of the pair of poker cards.

Boom! Their surface combusted into flames, with the card as its core, they transformed into two spinning fireballs that size of bowls.

The two fireballs blazed in from different angles, rapidly dragging along a long streak of red trail; as though threatening to burn space itself. The fireball’s surface was peculiar, as though myriads of vein lines were orbiting around it. The impression it released wasn’t a ball of terrifying fire, but an exquisite spiralling work of art.

The fireballs blasted straight towards Sheyan!

Watching this, Sheyan’s expression sank. He had already leapt forward with his saber striking nothing. Though he attempted to dodge, he was still in midair and couldn’t do so, and could only await the incoming fireballs!

At this instance, a pirate suddenly lunged forward. His eyes ablaze with a passion of crazed believe to replace Sheyan and shoulder this blow, before calmly meeting his death!

Instead, Sheyan kicked the pirate away in midair. Subsequently, the two fireballs interweaved into an explosion as it blasted into Sheyan.

Like in poker itself, although number 3 was the smallest card in sequence, two 3s would form into a pair. Such a pair would be bigger than a single Ace, as well as any random pair of mismatched cards in terms of strength!

An intense explosion incinerated Sheyan at its core. Flames spewed in all directions in wild raging fashion, as though threatening to engulf the heavens in fire. One could only see a charred figure at the centre of the inferno, with arms covering his face.

Dried twigs littered the surrounding ground. Yet with the dawn of flames, they didn’t even have the privilege of catching fire but were instantly burnt to black ashes; dispersing into thin air. The ashes swirled voluminously like a mist of darkness!

The inferno vanished as fast as it came; gone within a climax of two seconds.

To the gypsies, there was no longer any need to examine the charred figure in the nexus of those flames, as they swarmed past him. To their knowledge, there was only a single outcome for that black figure – once the wind blows, it would crumble into black ashes!

Yet at this point of time, reality toppled their cognitive knowledge!

A seemingly unbelievable affair occurred to the gypsies. That charred victim of those flames suddenly moved. Sheyan, who should’ve crumbled into ashes, raised his long saber. In a flash, he pierced towards the incoming gypsy head on!

Such was the aftermath of being severely damaged by the fireballs……

Faint greenish fumes fumigated out from Sheyan’s charred body. Even in this pathetic state, he strode forward in large stomps, as though each step was deeply entrenched and in unison with the earth!

Multitudes of gypsy slaves remained obstructing his path ahead. Yet without making superfluous movements, Sheyan buried his head in as he collided straight on with unbelievable speed.

The gypsy slaves in his way were splitted apart as they staggered backwards into a pitiful mess. His current bold impetuous was like despising a magnificent army as he rambled through the courts!

Sheyan’s speeding charge appeared slow but was blazingly fast. Within mere seconds, he reached into the depths of the darkness.

A deep blue current jolted through him, before his incisive saber flickered in three rapid successions. Amidst it, the flashes of the golden divine power of Odin could be seen!

A blood-curdling scream pierced out from the darkness. A tall skinny figure wearing a veil, was sent flying into view while coughing blood.

Indeed, it was that gypsy diviner concealed behind the scenes.

After Sheyan’s saber had ripped her veil, her ghastly aged old countenance revealed trickles of deadly blood. If not for something protecting her, that saber would’ve sliced through her skull!

Such a miserable outcome in addition to her sleek fair skin…. truly emitted an impression of amplified peculiarity.

Sheyan finally heaved a sigh of relief after slashing out his three blades.

Yet at this instant, that gypsy diviner pinched and shattered her crystal ball, attempting to launch herself back into the darkness.

Despite that, Mogensha was already well prepared, and instantly controlled his golden AK to aim across. Engaging with rapid fire, he unloaded clips of ammunition within a span of three seconds; countless tracer streaks of fiery red whizzed through the air; showering in like a dense rain.

Within short seconds, that gypsy diviner was left convulsing right at the periphery of the darkness of night. The ground around her blossomed with drilled holes; sediments and dust wafted through the air, puffing up as high as 2-3 metres.

The solid ground was seemingly transformed into a vast body of water after the aftermath of a downpour, with bullet holes lying everywhere around! Not only that, but the surrounding grass and wood were implicated into this dust storm, all conjured up by Mogensha’s engulfing metallic storm.

That gypsy diviner, who was on the verge of hiding back into the darkness, coughed out a mouthful of blood. Her full figure was exhibited out and riddled with transparent ripples.

Right now, one could vividly notice the severity of her body; her chest, face and left arm were the regions that Sheyan had heavily struck. Those horrifying bloodied lacerations appeared as though a sawtooth blade had sawed against it. They practically appeared like three terrifying demonic mouths had opened on her skin, laughing out with silent laughters.

She breathed exasperatedly, her mouth avariciously demanding for oxygen. After she had shattered her crystal ball, her dried and ashen brown skin was now undulating with transparent ripples. On close inspection, it was like she was enshrouded in a layer of hazy imagery. Dancing flickering embers surrounded her, smoking out with faint bright colors, in perfect harmony with the sinisterly distorted features of that woman.

Such a scene was unusually strange!

Chapter 542: The reward for loyalty

“You….you apostates!!!”

That gypsy diviner scowled with defeated agony.

“How could that be! How is that possible, why aren’t you dead? The combination of hearts and diamonds gives birth to the flames of the underworld. Your soul should’ve been burnt…….ahh!!!”

Before she could finish her statement, her face suffered yet another heavy blow!

A blow that struck her vision black with stars swirling, where her left cheek swelled like a meatbun. Indeed, Sheyan had smacked her face with his saber’s back.

That gypsy diviner sprawled to the ground in anguish, before Sheyan trampled down onto her.

At present, one could tell Sheyan’s wounds weren’t light at all. His entire body was smeared with cauterizing wounds, which were emitting out strands of cyan fumes.

Sheyan lifted his long saber emotionlessly, before hacking down. The gypsy diviner’s pupils instantly contracted as she unexpectedly yelled out.

“Don’t kill me!”

Sheyan’s blade halted right before her throat.

“Why not?”

The eyes of the gypsy diviner flickered as she gritted her teeth, as though coming to terms with her resolution.

“I can surrender to you, I’ll be your slave! I heard of your prowess, you can deprive others of their strength. But first, you must kill Trish for me, and deprive her of her cards!”

Sheyan pressed his foot against her face. His eyes were as austere as the icy arctic ocean.

With a hoarse voice, he questioned.

“How will a piece of garbage like you benefit me? But more importantly, I’ve never spoken conditions with others!”

As he spoke, Sheyan raised his saber once again!

Nevertheless, he had since exchanged glances with Reef and Mogensha, and was smiling lightly. Obviously, if Sheyan hadn’t been moved by her words, he would’ve already chopped down. Why would he bullshit with her?

At this moment, a gypsy guardian lying in a pool of blood bellowed angrily.

“Taitish!! How dare you betray our Queen Jiejie, you….”

Before that gypsy guardian could finish speaking, a pirate strolled up to him. Sneering and shaking his head, the pirate raised his foot and stomped down!

His head splattered like a watermelon, red and white fluids blending into the muddy soil. Around it was a gruesome mix of white hair and beard. This tragic depiction truly caused one to quiver in fear.

That woman, Taitish, had already lost her valor after receiving vehement slashes of the saber. She shrieked while trembling.

“Spare me, I know many secrets of us gypsies. You aren’t aware, but Jiejie is extremely engrossed in the dark powers unleashed by your diary. Right now, she is even trying to contact that power in her own accord! Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left in this moment. Even with your current prowess, it would be hard to withstand the brunt of their successful collusion.”

The ice-cold ‘+7 West’ was stationed by the neck of diviner Taitish, allowing her dreadful heart to sense the killing incisiveness of its intent.

Sheyan was pathetically charred black, but he appeared like a demon standing loftily on her, with his brutish leg trampling down on her face. He desired to rampantly suppress her spirit.

“What you’ve just said can be counted as a reason, but that isn’t enough!”

Taitish appeared to be someone with quick reactions. She instantly refuted.

“Master! I’ve already lost my greatest two poker cards as well as my crystal ball. My mission has failed. My status would be demoted even upon returning, and my future plagued with endless frustrations. Why not surrender, mayhaps you can restore my prowess.”

“Furthermore, I’m not even forty years of age, but look at how ghostly of a being I’ve transformed into. It is all because Jiejie has been constantly feeding her two totemic sacrificial beasts with our life essence. With such a formidable backing like master, then at least I can live for another few years! As proof of my loyalty, I can relinquish my ‘Soul-lodging Ball’ to you. As long as you shatter this crystal ball, I will perish immediately.”

Sheyan’s eyes flickered as he asked.

“Then why hasn’t Jiejie take away your ‘Soul-lodging Ball’ to manipulate you?”

Taitish smiled bleakly.

“That’s impossible. Jiejie isn’t our lifelong empress. Our gypsy clan re-elects once every three years, while the past Jiejies will be eternally barred from being the Jiejie again. This regulation isn’t determined by us, but the harsh restriction set by the two totemic sacrificial beasts. Us gypsies are already pressured greatly, if someone wishes to seize our ‘Soul-lodging Ball’, it would inevitably incite a massive upheaval.”

Sheyan instead ignored her. Evidently, this information brought by Taitish was exceptionally shocking. He turned to Mogensha.

“How many has escaped?”

Mogensha shook his head.

“None fled. Those gypsy slaves do not possess their own will, while the gypsy guardians all wore heavy armour within. None were permitted to flee. Furthermore, our harvest isn’t small. Although we didn’t reap a single equipment of value, our accounts probably increased by 30,000 utility points.”

Proceeding from there, Sheyan rummaged through with his ‘Pirate Captain’ plundering ability. Surprisingly, he managed to find a light-blue grade unique storyline equipment. It was one of the steel armour that a gypsy knight was wearing. Although wearing it had the price of lowered agility, it could substantially increase one’s defence.

At this moment, he turned to a big bearded pirate whose hair and brows were burnt. That pirate was still coughing blood, and a distinct footprint was engraved on his leather armour at the chest. Indeed, it was that brave pirate who dared to charge forward previously, attempting to use his body to block the fireball for Sheyan.

Sheyan strolled towards his front.

“Your name.”

The remaining pirates instantly casted envious gazes towards that big bearded pirate, understanding his insane actions previously were a correct gamble. That pirate shivered excitedly as he knelt and pressed his forehead to the ground.

“Davies, sir.”

Sheyan pondered about the gaze Davies had displayed while lunging forth to cover him. It was a gaze brimming with zealotry, like Yumi watching Chun Ge*….Sheyan nodded, before he produced that sword from the party storage.

(TL: Chun Ge (春哥) is a singer/actress, while Yumi (玉米) is the nickname for the fans of that singer)

Harrod’s dual-handed greatsword!

Iceshard Cruelty!!

He placed that greatsword over Davies’s shoulder before proclaiming.

“I have seen your sacrifice, that you offered your life for me. Although that is the extent of weakness of your obligation and duty, such loyalty and virtue is commendable. Remember this, and lead the lost sheep out of the darkness and into the right path.”

Davies pressed his forehead to the ground as his voice trembled.

“Captain. I be undeservin’ of your praise, of your favour!!”

Sheyan replied indifferently.

“This I bestow unto you, the divine war strength I deprived of the mighty viking warrior, Harrod. Either conquer it, or be vanquished by it! Hold its shaft! Subdue its spirit! Are you prepared? Do you dare conquer such might?”

While he spoke, Sheyan placed the ‘Iceshard Cruelty’ in Davies’s hands.

Without answering, Davies exerted his strength to grip the shaft of this greatsword! His eyes burned with a zealous passion, as spotlessly white crystal ice condensed onto his entire body; congealing him into an ice sculpture.

Yet in that instance, cracks emerged on that ice sculpture. Meanwhile, Davies’s hair, brows and beard were dyed snow white instantaneously. He howled fanatically into the sky. It was as though snowflakes were pouring down from the sky!

It was clear. The unwavering conviction of the originally weak Davies had acquired the approval of the sword’s horcrux. His strength had abruptly soared to at least a half of Harrod’s redoubtable might! Of course, his resistance to attacks wasn’t enhanced by much. Though that was the case, it was truly a case of an ordinary pirate reaching heaven in a single bound.

Following that, Sheyan bestowed that steel armour to another courageous pirate. Finally, he turned to Taitish.

“You saw that?”

Taitish’s eyes were blank, as she sluggishly responded.

“I’ve seen it.”

Sheyan coldly declared.

“Only loyalty. Loyalty alone can fuel my desire to strengthen you!’

Taitish shivered as she stepped aside. Sighing, she knew that she had saved her measly little life. Drooping her head down, she submitted.

“Yes, master.”

Sheyan issued indifferently.

“Therefore, not to reciprocate is against etiquette. Since the gypsies are plotting against me, they shall face my wrath. You just mentioned Jiejie isn’t around? Since nobody has escaped, and your status isn’t compromised, I shall amass my crew first….before you lead me to your nearest nest, the gypsies’ boat. When that time comes, it will be your turn to prove your loyalty.”

Taitish casted an amazed expression to him.

“You, you…..how did you know we came here by ship.”

Sheyan answered disdainfully.

“The gypsies are nomadic wanderers. They would never stay for long anywhere. In recent times, Port Royal has fallen within the iron fist of control of Norrington. Therefore, establishing a large armed force nearby Port Royal is close to impossible. So what else can you do? The only possibility is large ships that can lay anchor nearby the shores.”

Taitish paused silently, before continuing.

“Although speaking in this manner is inappropriate, I must still speak. Sir, please refrain from such an action.”

Sheyan asked insipidly.

“Oh?”

Taitish replied in a bitter and astringent manner.

“This is what I feel. Although Jiejie isn’t around, and I can act as a rat, but the gypsy campsite will remain arduous to capture….because, anchored right there is Jiejie’s flagship! Furthermore, the presider in place is absolutely not weak….that woman, is hailed as the worthiest candidate to assume position as the next Jiejie! The might of her prowess isn’t something one can rashly challenge!”

Chapter 543: An indomitable flagship

Sheyan’s eyes glittered.

“Flagship? Jiejie’s flagship? But she’s not around? Oh ho, it truly is a match made in heaven. That decides it, I must go. Shut up for now, there isn’t a need for your opinion. Divulge what you know to me, but remember, do your best not to omit anything.”

While Sheyan listened to Taitish’s reports, he also dispatched some pirates back to gather up the pirates safeguarding the Hill Maiden.

In total, his fighting force was approximately 60-70 pirates.

Without a doubt, those reinforcing pirates noticed Davies’s transformation, as they fixated their stares towards the striking dual-handed great sword behind his back. They beamed with extreme admiration, as their eyes brimmed with desire.

A group of savage and rapacious pirates sneaked within the darkness of night, stealthily creeping towards the anchored gypsy ship.

After hearing Taitish’s account, Sheyan couldn’t help but be amazed at the influence of those gypsies.

They actually possessed a secret private harbour themselves, where massive loads of goods were transported to and fro. With this outstanding location so well hidden, even pirates weren’t aware of it. Furthermore, the held their own chamber of commerce, where even representatives from the east were present….

Under Sheyan’s directing, the pirates knew they were here to pillage and commandeer this ship. They were brimming with ecstasy, each panting and grinding their broadswords even before the battle occurred.

Naturally, Taitish was being sandwiched between the strict monitoring of Blacksail and Davies. As of now, she was still associated in the ranks of untrustable. If she played any tricks, she would be beheaded at first notice.

Noteworthily, those vikings, who originally allied with Ammand, had unexpectedly joined this skirmish.

After they made a series of discussion previous, they had spontaneously sought out Sheyan; requesting for 600 guineas worth of black bread and ten barrels of rum to recruit them into this treacherous skirmish……furthermore, if that was asking for too much, the figures could still be negotiable.

The group of pirates leaned towards the village woods as they travelled under the familiar guidance of Taitish. The incessant slapping of waves against the shore effectively masked the sneaking advances of the pirates.

Although this skirmish had tarried for nearly an hour and a half, the gypsies safeguarding the ships were probably not suspicious yet.

That was because Taitish’s tactic was to overwhelm her opponents with manpower, leading to a war of attrition before invoking a blood rite through the battling deceased. Naturally, such a tactic would require a longer execution.

Perhaps, before their suspicious could be raised, Sheyan would’ve slaughtered them by then. Therefore, Sheyan’s sneak assault would be incredibly abrupt for them.

All of a sudden, Philip who was scouting at the front raised his hand, before gesturing a warning signal.

“It reeks of blood!”

Sheyan crept forward frowning as he glanced into the forest.

He could see sporadic bits of flames exuding out within the darkness, flickering gently like will-o-wisp; it was simply hard to fathom. Unexplainable interwoven sounds of wild laughters and bitter wails resounded distinctively, a distant away from a freshly trodden pathway in the woods.

A sense of mystery and deep fear amplified as the two sounds blended together. Through the gaps between tree leaves, multitudes of gypsy slaves could be seen amassed together.

Sheyan contemplated briefly before ordering his men to bring Taitish here for interrogation.

“What are they up to?”

Taitish observe the strange happening, suddenly speaking with a shaky voice.

“Could it be the materials have been gathered? It seems that should be refining the Baladine Bloodsail with occult magic. Yes, that should be it. Considering the materials acquired at the auction, it should be time for our occult crafting.”

Reef curiously asked.

“Why are the gypsies refining sails?”

Taitish batted a fearful glance at Sheyan.

“That is related to master’s former transaction with us. After successfully extracting the Chupacabra’s odour, we were about to disguise our bodies and smoothly harvest the ocean’s eggs. However, Jiejie wasn’t satisfied with just that.”

“Because regardless, our harvesting speed could never compare with the feasting speed of the Chupacabra. Even if both parties started the same time, the Chupacabra would consume much more than what we can harvest! Therefore, everyone bluntly raised a suggestion – to amass the full force of the gypsy clan, and build an indomitable ship before smearing the Chupacabra’s odour onto it. Concealed within the darkness, we shall directly hunt and annihilate these mythical creatures! Then we will dominate the gulf of Satmos!”

When she spoke till here, Sheyan finally understood why the gypsies wanted to acquire that ‘Greenland Lethal Weapon’ harpoon gun, and other valuable ship building materials!

As it turns out, it was all for their grand scheme of things. Following that, he couldn’t resist the urge to inquiring about the efficacy of those ocean eggs, and why Jiejie placed such significance on them?

Taitish then informed Sheyan. Those eggs were polymerized with cold and negative essence. When infused together with magma from the earth, it could stir the source of life; allowing for the two totemic sacrificial beasts beside Jiejie to resurrect for a brief moment and project in this mortal world.

The powers of the two totemic sacrificial beast was personally witnessed by Sheyan. Even in their petrified stone state, they could clash against the will of Little Lord Fokke! As it turns out, their formidable powers originated from the propelling force of those sea eggs. No wonder Jiejie was willing to pay any price for those sea eggs.

Within the dark of night, visibility was terribly poor in the woods.

Sheyan signalled his pirate crew to halt, while Mogensha and him proceeded forward cautiously.

They could vaguely see an empty plain within this forest, with 5-6 enormous gypsy tents propped up. At the nucleus of those tents, was a large bonfire where dense masses of humans encircled it; amongst which, ordinary peasants were tied up, where they were wailing loudly. However, their wails seemingly failed to filter through the dense branches and leaves of the forest.

The wild cries and bitter wails were probably transmitted by those peasants, while the hysterical laughters came from the apathetic gypsy slaves.

By now, Sheyan had purposefully allowed his pirates to loosen up their surveillance on Taitish. If her surrender was deliberate, then this would be the best time for her to escape. Instead, Tatitish continued observing the scene, before she offered troublingly.

“They actually had to invite the totemic demon beast to support the occult magic for this time’s refinement of the Baladine Bloodsail! It seems like they wish to stake it all in one throw. The rite is about to commence.”

Sheyan was startled. Taitish then pointed to him. Indeed, the tent hosting the totemic demon beast sculpture had a unique insignia. Right at the flapping curtain doors of that tent, he could faintly sense a tremendous threatening awe from the totemic demon beast!

Sheyan was stirred internally as he asked.

“Could it be the one with the elephant head and the body of a man? Is Jiejie truly absent? That totemic demon beast is the fountainhead of her powers, why would Jiejie be willing to separate from it?”

Taitish gently shook her head.

“I’m not sure.”

“Departing at such a vital period while bringing along a host of forces? I reckon either the gypsies are supremely confident in their safeguarding forces, or could it be there are trying to protect themselves?” Sheyan’s mind sprung hastily into action, immediately pondering about such factors.

“An affair more important than their efforts to hunt the Chupacabra of the gulf of Satmos. Jiejie is truly trying to broker a doomed petition, one that is like asking a tiger for its hide. It appears she truly wishes to track the whereabouts of Little Lord Fokke? Hmm, that is big possibility. No wonder she brought along a large host of forces to protect her. Very well, I was initially unwilling to incur grievances between us, but since you gypsies are scheming against me….then don’t blame me for vilifying my hands!”

At this moment, Blacksail suddenly hopped forward to Sheyan’s side, before he lowered his trembling voice.

“Cap’n! A tremendous ship!”

Blacksail was a shrewd individual with profound thoughts. Nevertheless, Sheyan was fully confident of handling him, that was why he awarded him with the ‘Boots of Speed’.

At present, when Sheyan heard the excitement and envy within Blacksail’s words, he frowned.

“What?”

Blacksail led Sheyan in the direction of the sea. After creeping for a distance, he finally whispered anxiously to Sheyan.

“That ship anchored by the shore be truly an excellent ship!! It be worthy of being the flagship of the gypsy’s queen! Aye, reportin’ from our returned scouts; examining its grain and texture, mayhaps this 5-masted ship be built wit’ ironwood entirely!”

Of course Sheyan knew what was ironwood, a species of extremely rare wood that grows in the northern westerner lands. Those trees could live for 700 years, and due to its harsh habitat, its growing speed was immensely slow.

On the contrary, the ironwood wasn’t renowned for its longevity, but its incomparably solid and fortified wood; three folds harder than ordinary trees, and two folds harder than steel. It was the toughest wood in the world. Even after immersing it in water for long periods, its insides could still preserve its dryness. Even when present world bullets lands on this wood, sparks would spray as though bullets struck against solid steel. It was completely unyielding!

Through unknown methods, those gypsies had managed to build a 5-masted warship of such calibre! It was Jiejie’s flagship, and after sailing to here, it probably undergone a remodelling just to hunt down that mysterious but deadly Chupacabra species!

“Those gypsies who shouldn’t be familiar with nautical aspects, how did they even build such a redoubtable warship?” Sheyan immediately laid down his determination.

Roaring with whispers to his pirate underlings, “That should be ours! That ought to serve us!”

Chapter 544: Baladine Bloodsail

For fear of alarming their foes, those pirates didn’t dare to cheer loudly upon hearing Sheyan’s rallying. Instead, they uniformly raised their weapons up high!

Blades shimmered in the woods, as they were obviously exceedingly in favour of Sheyan’s stand. Their eyes flickered with insatiable madness!

After all, being part of the crew of a distinguished pirate ship wasn’t merely a bonus to their reputation. To these pirates, it was akin to a glorious career of working in the top 500 companies of the present world. Furthermore, their chances of survival would be greatly bolstered as well. Allured by such prospects, why wouldn’t their morale skyrocket?

Since the plan had been modified with their primary intent to commandeer a ship, then naturally the emphasis of deploying the pirates should be placed in this aspect.

Seizing the opportunity where Taitish’s identity hadn’t been exposed, Sheyan hastily altered his plan.

He would allow Reef to preside over the general situation, to lead the pirate crew and the vikings in disguising as gypsy slaves under Taitish’s command. It would be best if they could blend into the ship. If not, they would still have certain confidence in raiding it.

Meanwhile, the agility inclined Sheyan and Mogensha would approach the field of those refining the Baladine Bloodsail. With one near while the other far behind, they could attack while defend.

Once their conduct of attempting to commandeer the ship was discovered, they would shoulder the task of disrupting and delaying the enemies. Anyway, of their party, the most suitable to conduct this affair would be the both of them.

As they both encroached nearer towards the campsite, for some unknown reason, they felt a rather heavy sensation in their hearts. The blood-curdling creams and wild yellings of desperation seemed to be waning in the distance. Within a breath, it was as though the atmosphere was plotting for death, with ropes coiled around their noses and mouths.

All of a sudden, Sheyan felt a tremor beneath his feet as he staggered slightly. Such a sensation resembled an earthquake, yet any undefiable astronomical force transmitting from the depths of the earth wasn’t present.

Closely following, regular frequencies of tremors resulted. The duo swiftly approached forward. Instead, they simultaneously beheld a seemingly shuddering and unbelievable sight!

As it turns out, unbeknownst when it happened, the elephant-head-man-body totemic demon beast had stomped out of its tent, and was moving on its own as if possessed by a spirit. Its skin was as transparent as water, issuing a diabolical primitive bewitchment that could shake one’s soul.

A stone platform was stationed before the totemic demon beast, where a blood colored slab floated above the stone platform. This elephantine beast brandished a massive hammer and smashed down heavily onto the blood colored slab!

Though the blood slab was floating in midair, blinding sparks erupted forth when the massive hammer impacted it!

The rumbling tremors Sheyan and Mogensha felt was indeed created by the impact of that massive hammer.

It was no wonder those gypsies brought the process of refining the Balandine Bloodsails to dry land. Under such impactful pressure, even a 5-masted ship built with ironwood…even an aircraft carrier would be tormented!

In every 4-5 intervals of smashing its hammer, the long nose of the totemic demon beast would curl out to draw in and chew on the contents inside a huge bowl beside it.

Upon careful examination of the contents, it was shockingly a muddled paste of flesh and blood of human innards. The bitterly wailing or hysterically laughing unlucky victims were all offered as sacrificial foods.

Atop the head of the totemic demon beast, hovered a transparent crystalline coffin like object filled with blazing red lava. Cyan-black objects were immersed within the swirling lava. That object appeared as though a portion of it had dissolved, and it looked exceedly familiar.

Indeed, those were the ocean eggs that Sheyan had transacted with Jiejie previously.

One could clearly notice that after those ocean eggs were immersed into the fiery lava, a faint maroon stream of air would cover densely across the periphery of the totemic demon beast like human veins; before incessantly pouring into its body as though supplying energy for its movements.

Very quickly. Sheyan and Mogensha discovered that the Baladine Bloodsail shockingly contained a plethora of imprisoned souls. They could observe countless hands poking out of the bloodsail, as they climbed frantically in attempt to escape its fetters.

Instead, that elephant-head-man-body totemic demon beast hammered down mercilessly with its hammer, pounding the hands of those miserable souls back in.

At this moment, a sudden forlorn surge of firework streaked up from afar. Before scaling up to a height of 20 metres, that firework abruptly extinguished. It was probably a signal flare.

Nevertheless, it was sufficient to allure the attention of the members here. Instantly, a gypsy diviner nearby the totemic demon beast suspiciously asked.

“What’s going on? That’s the emergency crisis signal of the ship! What is going on there?”

Sheyan immediate perceived his crew’s development of commandeering the ship was without a hitch. Otherwise if their situation was a crisis, why would his pirates have the spare time to shoot down that signal flare that had just soared up to twenty metres. Furthermore, one couldn’t even cope with reloading pistols of this outdated era in a normal fight.

Realizing the uproar occurring within the campsite, a gypsy priestess shrouded with a black veil stepped forward. Her arms spread out as she streaked a 5 of clubs and a 5 of spades poker card together. Sparks emerged as an incredibly shrilling friction screech pierced out, instantly intimidating the entire campsite. It seemed like she was the Trish that Taitish had mentioned. She boomed out.

“This matter of refining the Baladine Bloodsail is of paramount importance. We are reaching the most vital point, and absolutely cannot leave this unfinished! I will take charge of ten guardians to keep guard, while the rest reinforce the ship at once! We at most require another ten minutes over here. After we’re done, we’ll bring over the sacred beast in aid.”

Everyone trembled with fear as they complied to the orders of their ‘lordess’ Trish. It was evident that her status amongst the gypsies was elevated, one that could govern the state of affairs.

After hearing her orders, Brother Black fished out his ‘SN-9 Wasp’ pistol and aimed towards the middle of that female’s brows. Instead, Sheyan patted his shoulder and urged him meaningfully.

“Don’t be rash. Wait for their reinforcements to dispatch before we make a move.”

Mogensha immediately understood Sheyan’s intentions. At present, the group of gypsies racing back to reinforce were burning with anxiety, while that spade gypsy priestess would remain here and preside the general crux affair. Therefore, once a commotion breaks out at the side of the occult rite of refining the Baladine Bloodsail, those reinforcing gypsies would most likely fall into a dilemma. Some would act on their own and race back to the ship, while others would return to protect the rite of their sacred beast.

Once a situation of disharmony arises internally amongst the foes, like a pack with two leading rats, they would scramble chaotically and crumble internally!

At this moment, Mogensha became more in awe of Sheyan. To understand the underlying mechanics of situations wasn’t hard, but to do so in such circumstances…..with the grave menace of their foes pressing in imminently, he could still remain calm and be clear of such matters.

This truly required a cool-headed mind and impregnable psychological fortitude to be capable of this.

When those reinforcing gypsies had hastily rushed towards the coastal area, the entire campsite calmed down once again.

Only the earth shuddering impact of the totemic demon beast hammering against the Baladine Bloodsail tremored occasionally.

In that exact instance, piercing shots of gunfire foiled the tranquility of the forest. Mogensha had unleashed three bullets!

Those three shots were aimed towards the head of that elephant-head-man-body demon beast!

Indeed! Mogensha was targeting that transparent crystal coffin atop its head. Once struck destroyed, the lava and ocean eggs contained within would no longer mix. It was equivalent to severing the vitality of this terrifying elephantine sculpture, and preventing it from moving in this world!

Assaulting straight for the most crucial point of the enemy, the safeguarding gypsies instantly sensed a tremendous threat; allowing the furtive actions of the concealed Sheyan to be neglected!

Mogensha had selected to inaugurate gunfires wisely. It was the exact moment of the demon beast’s interval, where it needed to coil its elephant nose to swallow the innards of its sacrificial offerings.

Nevertheless, ever since realizing their anchored ship was in an uproar, the safeguarding gypsies had heightened their vigilance.

When Mogensha opened fire, Trish had instantly swung both hands forward. A single clubs-5 whizzed out with a piercing screech, as it short forward to obstruct the front of that crystalline coffin. Rotating with astonishing velocity, it actually sliced two of Mogensha’s bullets into two!!

However, Mogensha’s third shot managed to land onto the surface of that crystalline coffin. In spite of that, the crystalline coffin appeared exceptionally tough. Still, cracks branched out like a cobweb from the surface of where the crystalline coffin was struck! The glazing lava within churned violently. Beneath it, the totemic demon beast instantly unleashed an incomparably thrilling roar, as it swung its head abruptly to Mogensha!

Two unfathomable rays beamed out of the gem pupils of the totemic demon beast. It was like its line of sight had aimed straight towards Mogensha’s hideout.

In a flash, Brother Black instantly felt an intensified menace of death. Fortunately, before he triggered, he was well aware of the inevitable full brunt retaliation towards the location of gunfire. Hence, even without affirming the prospect of retaliation, he bluntly dove towards the side!

Two fiery rays congealed into a straight line, as it streaked through the air and across the darkness of night; piercing into a large rock that Mogensha had hidden previously.

Wherever those rays past, be it human, trees or rocks, a refined hole was punctured through them all; sizzling dissolving sounds emitted out from them. It was as if a scorching red kitchen knife had thrusted through butter.

Even though Mogensha dove away speedily, the fiery radiation around the rays still splashed against him. Though it was merely like droplets of fiery rays, it corroded and penetrated in and roasted his skin with sizzles. An acute pain jolted through his body in that instant.

Yet, that wasn’t the end of it. Those elite trained ten gypsy knights were now rapidly flanking forward in a semi-circle formation.

Chapter 545: Miscalculation, a bloody battle!

Those herculean gypsy knights definitely couldn’t be shot down within a short period of time.

If Mogensha was alone, ten seconds would suffice to chase him down. Fifteen seconds later, his head would roll. Thirty seconds later, his corpse would be dissected and offered to appease the fury of the totemic demon beast.

All of the gypsy’s attention had congregated onto Mogensha. All of a sudden, several trees nearby were releasing shuddering snaps as though a surge of uncontrollable momentum was passing through and toppling them. Sonorous snaps of branches and collaborations resounded.

A black figure charged in with unbelievable speed, hauling deep-blue melancholic glitters behind him. Its target was shockingly the gypsy spade diviner, Trish!

This black figure exuberated a surge of ardent baleful aura, as he threatened to press down space itself! Because of the extravagant speed of his charge, the wafting leaves and sediments behind him failed to descend even after a long while; portraying a scene of a long queue of winding sediments!

“Horn-Rage!!”

This was indeed Sheyan’s brazen operation to launch a beheading. Allowing Mogensha to bait the enticement of their foes, he would then deal with the gypsy diviner; a magic based character with weak life points.

He planned to behead her in a flash, and inflict a severe blow to the gypsies.

However, plans would eternally fall short of changing variables. Sheyan was no god, he could at most be associated with mortals who committed less mistakes. In this very ambush, he committed a grave mistake.

This beheading operation fundamentally resided in his ability to speedily dispatch off the gypsy diviner named Trish! If he couldn’t attain this fundamental point, then he would sadly plunge himself into a treacherous peril!

When Sheyan appeared with his berserking charge, he unavoidably attracted the attention of those ten gypsy knights. As a result, the pressure on Mogensha slackened and allowed him to escape the heavy encirclement at once.

Instead, gypsy diviner Trish who just released her two black poker cards spun round. As the most trusted gypsy diviner of Jiejie, if she didn’t possessed her own trump cards, how would she be able to command and intimidate the crowd?

As she casted her gaze on the charging Sheyan, her lips curled into a cold smile. At this instant, her sneer twitched as her facial muscles strangely wrinkled!!

The back of her pair of eyes suddenly turned blood crimson, shining as brightly as a light bulb! Her muscles swelled and expanded, while her back subsequently crooked. Her skin was discolored into crow black and wrinkled up, while her entire body was enveloped in a layer of mild black glow!

Not only that. Shua!

Within a second, her fingernails elongated and pierced out incisively like a razor blade; probably able to scrape out sparks with one fury swipe!!

This weak like air gypsy diviner was actually shape shifting in this instant, morphing into the demonic monster Rahu of Indian mythology. As Sheyan charged into her face, the arms of the terrifying monster danced violently as though it transcended the speed of sound; morphing into an indistinguishable portrayal of ten killing weapons, that would cast the charging Sheyan into the shadows of death!

In the eyes of the gypsies, Sheyan who had fanatically charged into monstrous Trish was undoubtedly a dead man!! In her diabolical and frenzied demonic state, Trish could even dissect a cow within three seconds!

Sheyan profoundly collided against Trish. Although he inflicted some damage onto her, the scariest thing happened. At this moment, his nightmare imprint transmitted a heartless notification.

[ Assaulted target is in a frenzied state: Immune to pain or stunning effects. ]

Then, ten sharp crow-black fingernails carried black streaks, as it poured down like a torrential rain of frenzied clawing. Sheyan received the direct brunt of those clawing fingernails, feeling as though five daggers were lacerating up and down him; flesh whirled up on his wounds with jet-black festeration, appearing incomparably ruthless and miserable.

“Explosive strike!! She must’ve used a single ability that can unleash explosive strike with every attack!”

There was utterly no chance for him to implement other contingencies. After receiving a cycle of crazed clawing, another bout of claws viciously carved against him instantaneously.

His face was smeared entirely with dripping blood and mangled flesh. Even his left eye had been carved out, as black fluids blended with his blood and flesh; flowing out from his mangled eye socket. A rusty sweetness permeated within his mouth.

In that moment, Sheyan’s wounded eye socket felt like the distant sea breeze blowing in with a fishy stench, causing him to feel an aching stab in his exposed flesh that bored into his heart!

The intense pain didn’t cause Sheyan to cower. He ferociously plucked out ‘Ambition’, as he activated ‘Rum & Songs’ before shooting this demonic monster!

With a thunderous rumble, a lead bullet whizzed out and landed straight into the head of the gypsy diviner Trish; blood gushed out from the bullet wound.

Instead, she continued to viciously press in, her terrifying jet-black fingernails scraping incessantly; cleaving out three flesh wounds on Sheyan’s chest, so deep his bones could be seen. Even his interior skeleton was infested with that crow blackness.

That claw actually dealt an explosive strike!

Not only that but even the stunning effect of ‘Rum & Songs’ was negated, and it merely dealt damage!

The devastating might of Trish had completely eclipsed Sheyan’s expectations. He had initially believed her to be a mage type character, one he could strike easily and successfully escape. Instead, the cruel reality was presently served to his face, a harsh reality of a gruesome and desperate battle!

“What should I do?”

Sheyan’s mind flashed with that notion. If he immediately turned to flee, there would minimally be a slight chance of escaping but Mogensha would die!

In this state, Sheyan’s face received yet another claw! The previous claws were executed viciously from top down. Instead, this time her claws were swiping in horizontally, carving an interwoven ‘井’ character on his face. Blood trickled down his face like a devil!

“Could it be that today is the day I perish in the vile gutters of defeat?”

“HOW can this be! That year being pursued by Huashan Fei’s men, I was forced to the edge of death. That predicament was ten times, a hundred times, even a thousand times more desperate than this. Yet when have I ever been afraid?!!!”

In this instance, submerged in his absolute disadvantage, Sheyan suddenly felt as though his surroundings had calmed down. He could sense the vehement poundings of his heart within his thoracic cavity!

“What am I afraid, why am I cowering???”

Sheyan couldn’t refrain from questioning himself! His ears buzzed with fragments of slaps and clatter, because rage has stimulated his veins to rupture! His remaining left eye seemingly ignited up, thoroughly extinguishing all his hesitation and cowering.

A roll of tree bark suddenly floated high above his head. This tree bark looked rather ordinary, but it wasn’t at all ordinary. Indeed, it was the ‘Birch bark of the Hlidskjalf’.

This tree branch conjured up a golden shower in midair, as it poured down onto Sheyan and Mogensha!

Concurrently, Sheyan received yet another claw! This Trish in demonic state had truly employed a certain ability that could unleash terrifying explosive strike damages with every strike. His HP had already plunged deep beneath 30% by now. Sheyan instantly utilized his ‘Honorary Medicine Dosage’, as his HP restored to its optimal state!

“AARRGHHHHH!!”

Sheyan cried out ludicrously, Instead, the terrifying monster, Trish, laughed craftily as she licked off the flesh and blood lodged within her fingernails. Then within a flash, her claws cleaved down again. This time, Sheyan clenched his fist as he greeted her by lifting his head!

Razor sharp jet-black fingernails clawed down against his scalp effortlessly, scrapping out scrapy sounds against Sheyan’s ghastly white skull.

This time, the black glow covering Trish had waned gradually. She no longer dealt any explosive strikes, and her offenses were not as terrifying as before.

Meanwhile, Sheyan’s remaining eyeball combusted with bloodlusted frenzy, like a nail drilling into the enemy’s face! Right before another claw sunk down, Sheyan quickly hurled out a curse-mix, as moss green poison fumes fumigated into the air; lowering the strength of his opponent.

Then, he pulled out his deadly ‘+7 West’ as he ferociously slashed down onto Trish.

Blood splashed out from the slashed wound of the monster Trish, even spraying against Sheyan’s face. The splashing of her warm and fishy bodily fluids utterly fuelled the passion and courage of Sheyan.

Roaring forth with matchless ferocity, he discarded all else but solely focused on hacking this monster ahead!

Blood and fury flourished between them. Within a short duration, his ‘Zergling Rush’ ability was activated as Sheyan slashed out three blades consecutively!

At present, the deadliness of Sheyan’s ‘+7 West’ could not be discounted. With each chopping blade, it dealt four different damages! The first was the physical damage of his ‘+7 West’. The second was the special properties of the saber blade. The third, his crushing damages dealt to the demonized Trish. The fourth, was the true damages inflicted after he learned the ‘Flesh Explosion’ ability!

(TL: Recap of ‘+7 West’ ability – This incisive blade can penetrate through most armours. When weapon inflicts damage on opponent, it will deal additional damages. Additional damage is 30% – 50% of original damage. Additional damage negates defence! This effect has authority precedence (+1 from Lich Sandro’s Heart), similar to crushing damages. )

Of these four determining damages, only the first would be diminished by an opponent’s defence. The remaining three dealt direct damages that negated defence!! His saber was frightfully devastating in a war with contestants, but when clashing against storyline characters, it was equally penetrating!

Sheyan had completely abandoned defending, as he raised his saber to slash frenetically at his opponent!

One could only see chunks of flesh and blood being repetitively shredded asunder from both their bodies. Even the atmosphere around them was dense with a layer of faint red. The echoes of his long saber cutting against bones caused one to quiver with fear.

Simultaneously, chunks of scalp and mangled flesh were ripped out from Sheyan, and his eerie white skull cap could be distinctively glimpsed from the wounds!

Chapter 546: Voracious assaulting

What was the feeling of hearing the chafing of one’s own scalp being scraped as though it was raw glass? And what was the sensation of seeing one’s own blood gushing out half a metre into the air?

The average person would definitely be experiencing a mental collapse right now. Instead, Sheyan’s only response was his long saber! Chopping down with crescendoing ferocity and voracious tyranny!

At this moment, Sheyan could still employ his party ability ‘Gloryheal’, as well as the ‘Na’vi Secret Medicine’ he acquired back in the Avatar world. Thus, Sheyan possessed the insurance to persist in this blood-soaked impasse. Right now, though he appeared to be submerged in carnage madness, his train of thoughts were exceedingly clear. It was as though his mind itself had left his body and was composedly surveying the scene of battle from the air.

(TN: He acquired the Na’vi secret medicine in ch 106 of vol 7)

All of a sudden, Sheyan broke into a hysterical laugh as he welcomed the incoming claws of the demon beast!

Allowing the sharp claws to lacerate deep into his body, he responded with a forceful dual handed slash of his saber!

The saber slashed down with a whistling wind sound. An incomparably daunting wind sound!

Such a sensation was akin to a mountain battering in, crowding out all external sounds in the air as he slapped against the heartbeats of the hearers.

With a vertical stroke down of his saber, its shimmering blade ray poured down ragingly like a waterfall. Blood poured out in large volume as it dyed the blade ray red. When the blade ray vanished, the blood drizzled down onto the ground like leaves without a supporting branch.

This incomparably vicious blade had severed the right arm of the demonized Trish!

A distorted and pitch-black long arm spiralled high into the air with blood spurting out, before it landed onto the ground with a thud. Then, it swiftly shrank and transformed back into an ordinary human arm.

A black sleeve covered that arm, appearing like the bandage used to wrap mummies; suggesting the reason that Trish was able to demonize in an instance.

“My conjecture was indeed correct. This woman is ultimately still a sorcerer class gypsy diviner who possesses the tremendous inborn shortcoming of her class. Even after her metamorphosis, her life force and defence would still remain lacking. That was why I could easily deal crushing damages!”

“Even though her defence and life force did experience a definite boost after demonizing, a flaw will ultimately remain as a flaw nonetheless! The same logic as why a calf still wouldn’t be able to outrun a horse even after growing up.”

With that notion, Sheyan’s sole eyeball was vigored up as he tightly pressed in.

“If you’re vicious, I’ll be twice as vicious. If you’re vile, I’ll vilify myself twice as much!”

Both parties persisted in their intermingled carnage for seconds. Sheyan was presently riddled with bloody wounds, grimacing with his teeth as though he would collapse any second; yet, he continued enduring unyieldingly!

The demonized Trish was similarly in discomfort. Sheyan’s long saber continued slicing forth unhindered, with each slash carrying a savage deadliness that could terrorize all men. A blade hacked deep into her shoulder blade and cleaved down towards her lungs.

Although the demonized monster was immune to pain, it could see the splashing and scattering of her bodily flesh; fuelling the horror within her!

More critically, pain is a defensive mechanism of humans, signalling the problems of specific body parts to the human. Citing a simple example, without the gastric pains, one would perhaps feel the loss of appetite if a problem occurred. Yet in reality, one could possibly have contracted stomach holes, stomach ulcers, stomach bleeding or stomach cancer.

The demonized Trish was similarly feeling apprehensive in that aspect. Her current conduct was at the price of her own vitality, where the longer she dragged, the more her life force would decline. In her frenzied state of combat, the numbing state of pain would render her clueless even if she suffered the brunt of heavy fatal damages. This clearly signified that if she dragged on for too long, her death would be inevitable.

Yet she could only observe that her foe was as tenacious as a boulder. Though his injuries projected him to be on the verge of defeat, he remained like a hedgehog; unleashing terrifying backlashes every time she clawed against him. A delusion of falling anytime but the reality of holding ground!

Suddenly, at the shimmering instance of blood, Sheyan paid the price of a severed ear as he swiped forth his saber; slicing off a large portion of the demon beast’s nose and a portion of her skull!

The nimbleness and ferocity of his saber to draw blood was needless to say. Although Trish couldn’t feel pain at all, she could distinctively sense the icy chilliness of an imposing saber slashing past her head! In this blood battle of matchless savageness, that one saber managed to utterly crumble the willpower of this chief gypsy diviner!

Following that, Trish released an unexplainably bizarre cry, as she summoned several gypsy steel armoured knights back from their encirclement of Mogensha to guard her. Seizing the chance, she turned to flee!

This carnage of a bloodbath had truly grinded away her spirit and fortitude. Once those crumbled, the only notion left would be the word ‘flee’!

Although Tirsh’s battle with Sheyan seemed rather long, it in fact lasted for merely half a minute.

Worth celebrating, Mogensha’s three malicious shots had truly dealt a severe blow to the totemic demon beast. Ever since that elephant-head-man-body totemic demon beast had beamed out its death rays, it remained tottering like an intoxicated drunkard. After a few steps, it remained rigid in its position. Otherwise, Brother Black would’ve found it hard to deal with such dire straits.

Meanwhile, Mogensha was left to deal with the few gypsy knights that surrounded him! Seizing Sheyan’s bombastic appearance, he had successfully escaped from their encirclement.

Relying on his astute agility and ingenious, in addition to two viperwolf spirits he had conjured up while retaliating, he truly delivered a smooth and intuitive response. Furthermore, he even faintly occupied the advantage. If he had a fixed period of time, it may even be possible for him to annihilate the ten gypsy knights.

When Trish had released a cry of summon, a few of those ten gypsy knights assaulting Mogensha instantly retreated to reinforce her! They completely disregarded the ferocious onslaught of Mogensha from the back, as they frenetically locked onto Sheyan; complying with Trish’s will to intercept him.

Instead, Sheyan was like an injured berserk feral beast, with blood flowing freely from his face and his manifold cuts and bruises. In spite of that, his eyes maintained the sole existence of the fleeing Trish.

At present, only one thought remained within him – to kill her. Obliterate the foe by using her blood to cleanse his saber’s blade!

Sheyan’s current speed was ultimately faster by a little, as he pursued the demonized Trish with unflagging efforts like a mad dog. Amidst the twinkling of blue glitters, he drew spurting foul blood from the abrupt chop of his saber.

Although Trish had an enhanced defence after demonizing, a long deep streak of bloodied flesh was ripped out from her back; so much so that her white spine could be seen!

Propelled by the impact of the saber’s slash, Trish howled freakishly as she leapt ahead and finally widened a stretch of distance between her and Sheyan. Enduring the penetration from a gypsy knight’s lance behind him, Sheyan was absolutely unwilling to give up as he continued chasing forward.

After dashing for over twenty metres, Sheyan raised his long saber and hacked down again with a viciousness not inferior to the previous one; neatly slashing against the fresh wound he sliced out earlier.

Kacha! Kacha! Instantaneously, 2-3 ribs of that monster’s back snapped off, and the eerie white bones pierced out from her body. Chunks of veiny flesh hung off those bones, and one could faintly observe her pulsating innards.

As his saber slashed away, Trish howled with forlorn bitterness. Although she felt no pain, she could sense imminent death looming over her. Then, she unleashed a shriek brimming with reckless decisiveness!

At this moment, the strangest scene happened. Trish suddenly launched forward as she recovered her human state. Her aged countenance and glossy skin appeared with amplified weirdness, while her naked frame was mangled with multitudes of blood and white fluids.

Behind her, it was as if her demonic skins had been shedded off by the wind like tattered clothes of flesh; slapping against the face and body of the unbelievably speeding Sheyan. Then, the demonic skins rapidly dissolved into black and dense mucus.

Caught off guard while he was racing in, Sheyan instantly lost his balance from the mucus as he skidded for 5-6 metres; black mucus still tightly clinging onto his body. In a flash, he completely lost all mobility.

“You fool! Why must you force me to this extent!!” The desperate and ludicrous cries of Trish boomed out. She coughed out a mouthful of blood, as she shot out five poker cards! The arrangement of the five poker cards were –

The three of spades, four of spades, five of spades, six of spades and the seven of spades!!!!

Straight flush!!!

Those five cards weren’t aimed at Sheyan, because she no longer held faith in her own attacks towards him. Her goal was shockingly that elephant-head-man-body totemic demon beast that was rigidly standing where it was!

Yet at this moment, Mogensha who was being chased by five other gypsy knights spun round and somersaulted behind. Pulling his rifle out in midair, he shot out with his most terrifying ‘Beastly Instincts’.

DA! DA! DA! That trademark AK gunshots rumbled out.

The first and second bullet whizzed out with immensely irregular trajectory, and collided right before Sheyan; transforming into a regiment of flames as it ignited the black muscus of demonic skin that adhered onto Sheyan.

The mucus was probably countered by fire, as Sheyan instantly regained some of his constricted mobility.

His third bullet jetted in with exceptional velocity, piercing straight into Trish’s left eye! Trish groaned loudly in her misery, as she covered her face with her hands before attempting to flee. Yet clearly seen, droplets of fresh blood dripped from the cracks of her fingers.

Chapter 547: Thunderstruck crushing

After releasing his burst shot of 3, Mogensha’s movement was unavoidably hampered; allowing two gypsy knights to chase up to him.

The back of his head was smashed by a hefty hatchet, before his left arm was slashed by a greatsword. Describing it in current medical terms, his arm would be crushed and fractured while his brain would suffer from severe cerebral concussion!

Though Mogensha’s body was digitalized by the realm, blood oozed out from his ears and nostrils. He was completely incapable of returning fire, but could only flee desperately while wheezing in agony.

However, even with the interference of many aspects, the five poker cards of Trish were released successfully.

Swivelling in at high speeds, the five cards stabbed into the semi-cracked crystalline coffin atop the totemic demon beast’s head. The crystalline coffin instantly churned with indescribably violent trembles.

Filled with lava within, the lava was now boiling ferociously as though it would flood out in any second. One could see those five poker cards gradually dissolving through and into the lava.

Then, a blazing red energy shone brilliantly as it incessantly streamed into the body of the totemic demon beast.

Within a split second, that astronomical giant elephant vanished from everyone’s sight as though it had evaporated!!

At this moment, Sheyan suddenly felt something wasn’t right. He was already in a bloodlusted murderous state, but at the instance of the totemic demon beast vanishing, every cell in his body seemed to twitch with an intensified sense of crisis. This sensation caused him to halt his struggle as he couldn’t help but look up.

Although it was night time, he could feel as though a generous broad shadow was descending from the sky; as though a dense dark cloud had covered the moonlight and the twinkling stars.

Even if he hadn’t raised his head but focused his vision on chasing, he would be able to hear an intimidating disturbance filling the atmosphere; a perceived distinct rumbling in his eardrums. It was like a gigantic, heavy object with an ardent killing intent was weighing down like Mount Tai!

Unbeknownst when, that astronomical totemic demon beast had actually been shifted into the sky above Sheyan!

That entire sculpture had morphed into a terrifying and fierce killing pressure up in the sky as it weighed down, leaving an impression of thousands of boulders and trees tumbling down a mountain range. The unstoppable momentum of this smashing trees and rocks was second to none!

Such a momentum was incredibly crushing and incredibly suppressing!

Sheyan’s pupils shrank instantly. He could deduce that this astronomical totemic demon beast had firmly locked onto his soul, rendering all attempts of dodging or evading futile! Therefore, apart from meeting it face on, there were no other alternatives!

“Screw this.”

Due to the protection of ‘Life-link’ between him and Reef, it wouldn’t be possible to directly obliterate Sheyan. Yet as the saying goes, advantages comes with shortfalls. With the activating protection of his ‘Life-link’, although Sheyan would possess an indomitable shield, he would similarly sink into an awkward predicament – the complete disability of being in a near-death state!

Following that, once the gypsy diviner Trish amassed sufficient manpower alongside the few gypsy knights, Mogensha may not be able to withstand their onslaught!

Once Mogensha retreats or dies, Sheyan would then be reduced to a meat on the chopping board, or turtle in the jar; utterly opened to being toyed with.

Sheyan had calculated this before. Under the state of no interference while being assaulted under the protection of ‘Life-link’, at most four individuals can gang up against him; assaulting him with an average speed of one strike every two seconds. Therefore, every minute would roughly deal 120 points of damage to Reef. Without needing even ten minutes, Reef would submerge into near-death state and their ‘Life-link’ would be brokened! Even if Reef utilized his ‘Honorary Dosage’ and the party’s healing ability, it was still impossible to last over an hour. Furthermore, the requisites of this was that Reef couldn’t be in combat state!

Yet meanwhile, Reef was inevitably entangled in a blood battle with their attempts to seize the ship!

At this moment, Sheyan lifted his saber with both hands. As he roared wildly, he poured forth his full might as it swiped towards the pressurizing totemic demon beast.

This sensation was as though he was defying both the sky and mother earth! An arrogant courage like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

Sparks dispersed in all directions, coupled with the piercing screeches of metallic chaffing. The durability of Sheyan’s ‘+7 West’ momentarily experienced a crazy fall, while a tiny toe of the totemic demon beast crumbled off.

Nevertheless, this revered giant elephant continued bearing down with unsurpassed impetuousness; bluntly crashing down atop Sheyan’s head, pressing him deep into the ground!

The earth trembled and throbbed at the instance of the insane crushing of the totemic demon beast. After a violent shuddering of the earth, an intensified gust of air swept out; unleashing a ravenous gale towards the surrounding, as it incited an upheaval of smoke and dust spanning hundreds of metres into the distant.

Tree leaves and tender shoots were blown metres into the air. Furthermore, with the astronomical totemic demon beast as the core, ten metre long unfathomably deep crevices erupted out throughout the ground!

With this crushing strike, the totemic demon beast appeared to have paid an immense price. It surface emitted ‘gurgleigeli’ muffled sounds before numerous cracks formed! It was akin to the cracks of a fallen porcelain.

Halting for a brief while, the cracks on its surface started flowing out with a blood like fluid. Within the empty air, a sudden red ‘Joker’ card surged out. Swivelling high speeds from up to bottom, it carved out an unexplainable portal, as though ripping out spacetime itself. Then, that totemic demon beast groaned in anguish, before stepping through the portal with one step as it vanished utterly.

Beneath the crushing impact of the totemic demon beast, was shockingly a 10 metres broad, 3-4 metres deep pit. Probably because this area was close to the coast, seawater rapidly seeped up from the depths of the large pit, surging up violently.

Soon after, a dull silver globe then emerged from the depths of the large pit.

Inside the globe, was shockingly a half kneeling Sheyan with a mutilated face, where he could be seen taking huge gasps of breath.

The ‘+7 West’ in his hand was seemingly gravely damaged with its durability nearly exhausted. Without mending it, it probably was impossible to employ it.

Yet to everyone’s surprise, Sheyan’s HP was experiencing a swift restoration. Otherwise, Sheyan would probably drown to death inside the mire of pit water. Bear this in mind, the silver protective globe could prevent water from flowing it, but it didn’t possess oxygen providing capabilities. Moreover, a near-death state contestant was not much better off than an ordinary human.

Yet within a short span of dozens of seconds, Sheyan’s HP was restored to approximately 50% and his ‘Life-link’ protection shield naturally dissipated away. Using his saber as crutches, he panted heavily as he crawled out the large pit while feeling a traumatizing fear in his heart.

As it turns out, countless of notions had flashed past Sheyan’s mind as the revered totemic demon beast was crashing down as though the heaven was falling. Yet, he actually raised his saber valiantly in resistance!

But a second before the collision, he immediately activated his party ability ‘Gloryheal’! Furthermore, he had equipped the ‘Sacred Cowhorn Cup’ which supplied an added 25% to healing effects. Counting in that manner, he would experience a restoration of 75% within less than twenty seconds!

Nevertheless, even with Sheyan’s present outstanding attributes, it would be impossible for him to defy the insanely destructive crushing of that giant elephant. In actual fact, only a Growth-Hunter that had broken through the boundary could withstand the gypsy’s totemic demon beast. If not, one would have to give up his life in exchange.

Despite that, Sheyan’s ‘Life-link’ ability was indeed formidable. When his HP fell to near-death state, that impregnable shield naturally formed around him.

Although Sheyan was immobile, the party ability ‘Gloryheal’ would be in effect for 12 seconds. This persisting healing effect would maintain a constant healing supply to Sheyan’s wounds. Hence, that was what happened in the end.

Although this sequence of events sounded rather simple, it would require one to possess the utmost clarity of thought. If not for his composure, Sheyan wouldn’t have been able to live till now.

Still, Sheyan’s current state was the peak of patheticness. However, he also knew those gypsies that had been dispatched to reinforce their ship would soon return. Furthermore, he also perceived that Mogensha would definitely require his aid in this critical period. Therefore, bearing the agony of his wounds, he crawled out of the pit, before sprinting towards the direction of Mogensha’s pursuers.

Although it was a minute few hundred metres, Sheyan noticed the sprinkling trail of blood along the route. Broken fragments of armour and decapitated limbs could be seen everywhere. He could tell Mogensha had been actively counter attacking while fleeing.

However, Sheyan could also sense from his footwork, then Brother Black’s physique was gradually waning.

After all, the difficulty to raid this gypsy campsite would absolutely be worthy of a ‘B+’ evaluation.

All of a sudden, rumbling gunshots like frying beans could be heard ahead. Sheyan immediately scrambled towards that direction, before he witnessed two gypsy knights vehemently assaulting Mogensha.

Viewing the dire crisis of the situation, Sheyan pulled out ‘Ambition’ without hesitation as he aimed and triggered!

The ordinary damage and explosive strike rate of ‘Ambition’ was superb. Thus, a fatal lead bullet punctured the wrist of a gypsy knight, blowing his wrist bone fractured with blood spraying!

That gypsy knight was about to chop down his longsword onto Mogensha. Instead, the sword chopped down weakly, merely carving out a bloody cut on Mogensha’s chest.

Beholding Sheyan’s successful return, Mogensha’s vigor was aroused!

With his leg that had received another grave damage, he didn’t retreat but instead lunged forward. A gypsy knight hastily chased up to him, before thrusting his lance in. Instead by this time, Sheyan, who had stumbled in from the back, gripped him!

Chapter 548: Occupy

Blood trickled down in droplets from the tip of his lance.

Yet when that gypsy knight attempted to retract his lance, he felt as though his weapon had been embedded into a rock; seemingly impossible to budge.

Raising his head, he immediately contacted the fiery blaze combusting within Sheyan’s eyes!

Knowing that his boss had rushed over in the nick of time, Brother Black released a comforted exhalation. The feeling of having someone shielding the front allowed him to peacefully unleash bold and carefree bouts of fire.

With Sheyan resisting the front, the incessant assaults of the two gypsy knights completely felt like bullets ricocheting off from colliding into a wall.

Under the wanton fires of Mogensha, two viperwolf spirits were speedily summoned; pouncing forward insatiably as they chomped and clawed, easing the pressure off Sheyan a little.

Without needing much time, they eliminated the two gypsy knights, and successfully acquired a light-blue grade key.

Soon later, the final emotionless gypsy knight clutched his throat while decrepitly kneeling on the ground, before shutting his eyes. The duo then slumped to the ground unanimously, feeling as though not an area of their body was spared from pain.

Still, a feeling of a new lease of life subconsciously welled up in their hearts. Mogensha then glanced towards Sheyan’s blinded eye, before smiling bleakly and speaking with a raspy voice.

“Darn it, boss. If raiding this campsite isn’t an ‘A’ difficulty storyline, I will eat down all my ammunitions on hand!”

Sheyan laid on the ground with his face towards the sky. He could feel every portion of his body that had been smashed by that damned beast, was throbbing with acute pain. So pain, he didn’t wish to move a single finger.

Gritting his teeth, Sheyan fished out a bottle of rum before first washing the blackened wounds of his. He then squeezed out the toxic blood within it.

If scars remain after contestants were healed, then Sheyan’s face would’ve been directly disfigured. After settling the majority of his wounds, Sheyan then gazed into the darkness of the night and sighed.

“That woman was unexpectedly able to hurl out a straight flush! Indeed, she is worthy of inheriting the title of Jiejie. If I’d know she would be such a deranged whore, I would definitely not have provoked her. Still, our current mission difficulty has already risen to ‘B+’, this hidden storyline plot should truly be of an ‘A’ difficulty. I have been too careless after the smooth sailing events ever since we entered this world.”

The duo rested briefly as they felt their energy slowly replenishing. Then, they crept towards the campsite of the gypsy’s Baladine Bloodsail refining once again. They cautiously inched in, before they discovered that once again, a group of gypsy followers had congregated back within this campsite.

However, in comparison to their prior discipline, those gypsy appeared like a chaotic mess.

They were in an uproar. Some were trying their best to maintain order, while others were shouting loudly as they began rummaging through the objects from various tents.

During the latter parts, both sides started to berate each other loudly, and scuffles of shoving elevated into conflicts. One could also spectate some gypsy followers attempting to shift away the incomplete Baladine Bloodsail.

When Sheyan activated the plundering ability of his ‘Pirate Captain’ title to survey it, that Baladine Bloodsail actually emitted a dull golden brilliance!

Sheyan and Mogensha exchanged glances, and could roughly guess these were the defeated reinforcements of the gypsies. Therefore it meant Reef had smoothly seized the ship.

Otherwise, why would such a scene of opportunist abandoning an unfavourable cause happen amongst the gypsies?

Both of them were already individuals abundant with combat experience. Sheyan gazed at the Baladine Bloodsail and pursed his lips. Brother Black immediately nodded in advocation, as he retrieved his ‘SN-9 Wasp’ and aimed.

When Mogensha opened fire, Sheyan immediately leapt out and bellowed thunderously.

“All hands attack! Annihilate those accursed gypsies!”

These gypsies were already like birds who would be startled by a twang of a bow. Furthermore, internal strife had erupted amongst them. When they heard the sudden assaulting pursuit of the pirates, or rather, just a call to eradicate them, their courage collapsed entirely!

Hidden in the dark, Brother Black mowed down two gypsy leaders with his gunshots. Then, he swapped to spraying with his AK. The relentless gunshots pouring in a hail of bullets ingeniously yielded a misconception, causing the gypsies who couldn’t perceive the sounds of a semi-automatic rifle to think that a squad of gunmen had arrived.

In addition, Sheyan leapt out as he cut down several individuals like a fiend. Such a blood drenched cruelty of facts was truly served into their face, leaving them scattering like birds and beasts!

Yet noteworthily, several loyalists still wished to escape with the Baladine Bloodsail. Yet, how could such a conduct akin to being exposed food in a lion’s den prevail?

Sheyan and Mogensha immediately targeted their damage output towards those group of loyalists! Furthermore, that Baladine Bloodsail appeared immensely heavy, and required 5-6 matured chaps to hoist it up. Attempting to escape with that would be no easy feat.

Hence, after dragging it for several tens of metres, the final gypsy giving his all was shot down to the ground by Brother Black; that sail discharging a baleful aura was then dumped to the ground.

At the area where the sail was dumped, one could observe the grass withering speedily. The originally luscious and fertile soil quickly turned dry and grainy; ultimately, degrading into a sandy land devoid of life. One could fathom how deadly its baleful aura was.

At this moment, Sheyan suddenly discovered another glowing object. Attempting to reach out for it, he failed to do so. Naturally, it shouldn’t be something that could be acquired by a contestant.

Sheyan then contemplated before trying to retrieve it with his ‘Pirate Captain’ plundering ability. This time, he successfully retrieved it. In the end, he uncovered its description – [ Mysterious Shattered Crystal Toe. Usage unknown. ]

Scrutinizing this object, Sheyan immediately recalled. It should’ve been back when he was crushed by that terrifying astronomical sculpture, that impact of clashing shaved off that bit of the sculpture! At present, when he touched this shattered crystal toe, it appeared as soft as rubberish clay.

All of a sudden, the object strangely warped as though it was being summoned, seemingly on the verge of evaporating from the warping air.

Sheyan’s heart shook as he immediately gripped it and sent it into the party storage of his nightmare imprint.

Yet even after being kept inside his party storage, the insincere object continued to wiggle and change incessantly. After a long while, it finally calmed down. The major portion of it had transformed into a regiment of dull glow, looking rather mild. Instead, a black oddity the size of a mung bean was deposited within its bosom.

As it turns out, there was a tiny portion of the totemic demon beast soul that adhered within the shattered crystal toe. Identically, this broken off soul was still mutually linked with its main soul.

This strange occurrence was due Jiejie stirring the main body of the totemic demon beast, thus beckoning for this fragment of soul to return.

However, after it had been placed inside the party storage, it was essentially transported to another dimension. The soul link between the two had been severed!

Even the mighty Little Lord Fokke could not dispute this. Hence, Queen Jiejie would be needless to mention.

With both parties forcefully severed, it was akin to blood flow being obstructed in a human’s kidney, brain, liver, spleen or any organ. The soul fragment within the crystal toe instantly dried up and congealed into a black residue. While the spirit essence it had absorbed transformed into its original state, and lingered around it in the form of a faint glow.

At this moment, Reef and the pirate crew finally rushed over to assist Sheyan and Mogensha.

Reef, Blacksail and the others were also covered in injuries. Even the scout, Ol’Seadog, had a blade wound across his face! Blood soaked and dripping, one could fathom the intense battle that had transpired during their attempt to commandeer the ship.

The reinforcing pirate crew originally felt that their side of the battle was tremendously arduous. Yet when they noticed Sheyan’s body riddled with wounds along with one mangled eye of his, they know the battling they experienced wasn’t inferior to theirs.

Gorged with shock, they couldn’t help but lament the fierce battling that Sheyan and Mogensha had experienced.

The casualties of this battle were exceedingly high. Nevertheless this signified a new lease of life for them, as the pirates’ morale soared rampantly.

When those old foxes like Ol’Seadog and others saw Sheyan, they couldn’t refrain from exclaiming with eyes brimming with tears of excitement.

“Cap’n, we’ve commandeered a magnificent ship!”

The carpenter Spike also waved his broadsword with feverish excitement as he yelled.

“That ship be practically unsinkable even in hell. Good grief, those gypsies actually employed her as a transportin’ ship for fishing. I could almost hear her lamenting with grief over her fate, but now…it be time we liberate her tempest!!!”

It could be said that Spike held authority in this aspect. When he exclaimed, even those pirates suffering from agony cheered. Sheyan couldn’t help but anticipate with a marvelling thirst.

He then issued an order to get men to bundle up the Baladine Bloodsail; isolate the baleful aura within it before transporting it back to the newly commandeered 5-masted flagship.

When Sheyan approached the coast, he could behold a grand shadow anchored by the sea. Within the darkness of night, its mast erected firmly like a spear. From afar, it resembled a giant fort towering by the coast, and assumed a majestic and dignified grandeur.

Upon nearing it, one could notice that though this ship was 5-masted, she vastly exceeded an ordinary 5-masted ship in terms of her volume and imposure; being almost comparable with other 7-masted warships.

Speaking from its exterior, the ship’s bow and stern was peculiarly squarish. Even a naval ram it should possess wasn’t present.

Further differing from other ships, the portion of its hull beneath the ship’s draft was larger which allowed great stability when floating on the sea surface. It was as stable and steadfast like a standard weight scale, that even the stormy sea could not overturn its satisfactory equilibrium.

Chapter 549: Quasi-legendary Warship

Apart from that, the five lofty mast of the ship were rather peculiar. Its foremast, mainmast and mizzen mast were slightly lower, appearing as though they were the auxiliary masts. Instead, its second and fourth mast was thicker and taller, looking as though they were the main masts.

Of course, one must expound on the most special aspect when speaking about this ship – its material composite.

The ship’s surface shone with an ashen metallic like color, that prevented the slapping waves from soaking its interior. The water would appear as if dripping on a lotus leaf, leaving behind grains of water beads congealed on its surface before sliding down quickly. Don’t even compare it with the wooden sailboats of the era, even steel warships of later generations would not display such a fantastic effect.

Sheyan feasted his eyes on this lofty warship with great satisfaction. He shut his eyes in contemplation, feeling that on the overall, this ship surprisingly resembled an ancient chinese coffin that was amplified countless times!

The pirates here spent the years of their lives labouring out at sea, that even seawater would probably be flowing within their blood. Naturally, they could differentiate the conceptual design of this ship was skewed towards stability and security. Even if it encountered large insurmountable waves, it would not capsize. Yet one must note, the wood used in building this ship was extremely unique and was much heavier than other wood. Therefore, its voyage speed would undoubtedly be its shortcoming.

Big beard Davies accompanied Sheyan by his side. Without a doubt, his killing might now was the most excellent amongst Sheyan’s subordinates.

When he brandished his greatsword and chopped down against the ship’s hull, it merely left a white scratch; hoar frost condensing several square metres on the ship’s hull before rapidly melting away. Even that white scratch gradually faded.

One could tell how exceptional its firmness was!

When Sheyan successfully scaled the ship and entered the captain’s cabin, he instantly received the notification from his nightmare imprint.

[ You commandeered the flagship of a gypsy clan ]

[ You acquired a special 5-masted ship ]

[ Your reputation amongst the pirates is raised ]

[ Your current reputation status amongst the pirates of the caribbean: Worshipped ]

[ You can commit the following actions: Examine the detailed report of this ship / Name this ship / Implement modifications and upgrade this ship ]

[ Details: You currently fulfill the two qualifications to initiate the milestone – Pirate Captain (advanced) ]

[ Your reputation amongst all pirates has risen to ‘Worshipped’. You possess a ship exceeding a 7 kiloton displacement. Please quickly recruit and amass your storyline pirate crew to above 300 members to accomplish this milestone ]

[ Details: Upon accomplishing this milestone, you will receive a Black-Iron class title ]

Sheyan was overwhelmed with emotions momentarily.

Upon conferring a name to this ship, Sheyan suddenly recalled a previous encounter in the Bohai sea back in the present world. An old sailor had once offered him a recitation.

“Today the world sheds tears of memorial departure, you alone suffice to strengthen the navy’s might.”

(TL: This is said to be an elegiac couplet recited by Emperor Guangxu for Deng Shicang of the Beiyang navy. )

Sheyan had also heard of the backstory behind those two poetic lines, and was deeply moved by the story amiability of Deng Shicang, Duke Deng. Reminiscing that, he altered the name of this ship to a one that carried the rich flavour of the east – The Dingyuan.

(TL: 定远 (Dingyuang), literal means definite distant. It also refers to a chinese ironclad battleship of the chinese Beiyang fleet.)

When Reef and Mogensha heard Sheyan’s explanation, they expressed their consenting praises. Then, Sheyan commanded his pirates to sew a jolly roger unique to themselves – a black flag with a seven-clawed golden dragon*. Then, he browsed through the detailed report of the ship.

(TL:*This is a chinese dragon)

[ The Dingyuan: 5-masted ship (extremely rare class).

[ Class: Hybrid ship of paddle and sails (Can be modified) ]

[ Fastest velocity: ten knots (1 knot is approximately 1.8 kilometres per hour) ]

[ Movement: sails ]

[ Quasi-legendary ability: Transcended Steel (Passive) – This ship is built with the incomparably rare Ironwood and processed with special occult magic. Therefore, it is hard for the ship frame to be damaged. However, due to the heaviness of ironwood, the speed of this ship will always decline by 35% ]

[ Details: Though a Quasi-legendary ability is exceptionally powerful, its negative property is equally a headache. When the ship can be upgraded to an extent of total counteract of its negative property, it can then ascend to be a genuine legendary ability ]

[ A rank ability: Nature’s Prevailment (Passive) – During the ironwood’s excruciatingly long life, it contended against the harsh nature environment. Hence, its toughness and vitality is exceptionally tenacious. During shipbuilding, the gypsies leveraged on this special attribute; employing occult magic to seal the vitality of other trees into the ship’s frame. Therefore, The Dingyuan possesses an ability of sustainably mending its own frame ]

[ However, due to the presence of occult magic. The deck of the Dingyuan must be cleansed with blood once every year, to allow the vitality offered in this ship to absorb essences. Otherwise, it will gradually lose its ability ]

After hastily reading through the detailed report, Sheyan could roughly understand the reason for the gypsies refining a Baladine Bloodsail. That occult magic refined sail could utilized the vengeful souls to push the sail forward, substantially bolstering the movement speed of this ship; thereby enhancing this great warship to one that possesses a legendary ability.

One could tell the schemes of these gypsies weren’t shallow at all. They absolutely weren’t just seeking to hunt the a monstrous beast like the Chupacabra.

They had tarried for far too long battling over here. Presently, Sheyan no longer desired to stay any longer. Besides, mishaps could happen anytime, and who could claim to be clear on

unexpected variations?

Converging with the manpower left safeguarding the Hill Maiden as soon as possible would be the best course of action.

Prior to commandeering this ship, the pirates relied on the turncoat Taitish to act as rat in order to dispel the suspicions of the safeguarding gypsies. Then, with a spurt of outburst, they engaged in a naval boarding battle that Sheyan’s crew was most adept in.

With the ship composition being exceptionally impregnable, their method of battling seemingly offered negligent damages to the ship itself. Therefore, sailing it out anytime was possible.

Setting this ship into motion for Sheyan’s crew of pirates was practically too simple. Within a short ten minutes, Sheyan’s new flagship was already drifting along the vast caribbean sea.

It was nearly identical to the expectations of the crew. While sailing across the sea, the ship was incredibly stable where it would be hard for one to perceive the bumpiness of the sea. Nevertheless, its sailing speed was equally lacking as compared to even ordinary merchant ships; much less to say of warships.

At present, Sheyan could finally catch his breath and make inventory of all his losses. Even though his crew made the first strike when commandeering the ship, the safeguarding gypsies weren’t ones to be trifled with. They could even be hailed as Jiejie’s auxiliary personal guards.

If not for the turncoat Taitish and the vikings, or if their enemy hadn’t been segregated into three groups (The group led by Taitish to ambush Sheyan + the ones refining the Baladine Bloodsail + the safeguarders), then it would be hard to determine if this battle would have succeeded.

The outcome of the battle resulted in three of the hired vikings dying in combat.

Knowing that there was no turning back, Taitish similarly gritted her teeth and fought bravely. In the end, she suffered grave injuries and probably wouldn’t live to see the daylight. Apart from that, over twenty pirates under Sheyan were killed, while over half of them were wounded.

Despite that, their efforts was all worth it. The vikings didn’t belong under Sheyan and would depart after this battle. Hence, it wouldn’t matter if all of them died.

As for ordinary pirates, Sheyan would definitely be able to replenish them with his current reputation at various neutral or pirate ports. It would be fine as long as the backbone remained.

Furthermore, after two gruelling battles, it naturally phased out most of the unqualified or inadequate pirates. The remaining few would be qualified to become the backbone of the crew.

Instead, Sheyan was feeling rather regrettable pertaining to Taitish. Amongst all his subordinates, most were adept in physical damage output with only a single Blacksail that could pass off as a semi witchcraft alchemist.

If Taitish could survive, she would minimally make up for the deficiency in that aspect. After pondering a little, Sheyan decided to take a look himself and try to save her.

When he caught glimpse of Taitish who was placed inside the ship’s hold, Sheyan got a huge shock. Her hair had turned fully white along with her exposed wrinkled and shrivelled skin, resembling that of a dried tangerine. Skin limpidly sagged from her facial features, as her eyes stared lifelessly towards the ceiling. Her lips were twitching repeatedly as though attempting to make her final confession.

If one said that Taitish was ninety years old now, anyone would believe him!

When the pirates had witnessed Taitish’s dying state, their hearts shuddered.

Sheyan did a brief scan as he discovered Taitish received injuries in three areas – neck, right chest and left thigh. The wounds to her vital organs from those area weren’t detrimental, but the most fatal aspect laid in her excessive loss of blood. Her body was truly like an extinguished lamp.

Observing this scene, Sheyan sighed. This skirmish to commandeer the ship was all thanks to Taitish becoming a rat. Without her, it wouldn’t even be possible to speak about seizing such an indomitable ship.

Perhaps, the crew would be annihilated before even reaching the ship.

Strictly speaking, apart from those that fell in battle, Taitish’s merits were truly the greatest.

Excluding that, to leverage on using that exceedingly diabolical Baladine Bloodsail, it would definitely require the assistance of one who understood the inner specifics of the gypsies. Their assistance would undoubtedly reduce the workload by half. Speaking from that aspect, Taitish was someone that could not be replaced.

Therefore, Sheyan pondered and attempted to use healing medicines or products from the realm to treat Taitish. Sadly, the nightmare imprint released a notification.

[ Unable to use realm items on this storyline character ]

Sheyan could only sigh and shook his head. The current Taitish was already dying; convulsing from head to toe from the acute pain. Looking at her fast dying state, Sheyan felt utterly helpless; such a feeling was immensely discomforting.