Chapter 312 - A Graveyard in the Making
As expected, the weather worsened as the night deepened. The rain and wind lashed sideways, and the ship was tossed about by towering waves that crashed onto the deck. If thunder had joined the mix, it would have been a textbook stormy night.
According to the veteran sailors, this level of bad weather was still manageable. In the worst conditions, they had to navigate through waves as high as fifteen meters.
Of course, once it got that bad, fighting on the deck would be out of the question. You'd just be thrown into the sea. So, tonight's weather was just right for our needs. It was the harsh environment we had been seeking.
Pirates generally avoid sleeping on their ships during bad weather. They prefer to rest in their hideouts or nearby port towns. But we do what we say we'll do. If the weather is still manageable for combat, we'll fight. Once we decide to board a ship, there's no turning back.
For us, what most would consider bad weather is perfect training weather. We had been waiting for this.
If the pirates are on land, we'll drag them back into the sea and make them fight. We don't care about their convenience.
"…Onee-sama, I can't take it anymore."
"Can't be helped, I suppose."
Valeria was the first to succumb. A few others from the Second Combat Unit had also retired, but this was expected. Surprisingly, many of us, including myself, were holding up well, much to the old sailors' surprise. With our trained balance, we could quickly adapt to the ship's rocking.
We let Valeria and the others rest in the large room below deck, while the command staff gathered in the bridge.
"Let's start by luring as many of them as possible. We'll begin at this point. The plan hasn't changed much from what we discussed earlier."
The map pointed to a spot about two kilometers from the port town. The area was surrounded by islands where the pirates had their hideouts, making it an ideal spot to provoke a large group.
"We'll arrive in about twenty minutes!"
The captain raised his voice to be heard over the rain and waves.
"I'll have everyone take their positions. We'll proceed as planned."
"I'll support with Yukari-dono. Just relax and do your best."
Even in these conditions, which would normally dampen spirits, this was the setup we had been hoping for. Our resolve naturally grew stronger.
It felt like the excitement of a child experiencing a typhoon for the first time.
Once we reached the designated starting point, the real fight would begin.
Commander Mary and her deputy, Violante, climbed to the roof of the bridge to get a better view. Siegrune and I joined them for support. Siegrune was the advisor on command, while I was there to observe and handle any unexpected situations.
"Commander, everyone is in position."
The deputy nodded, standing firm despite the rain and wind. The atmosphere was building.
Today, we were dressed in our usual coats and combat gear, with berets on top. We had waterproof pouches, but we weren't prepared for underwater combat.
Without a safety line, falling into the sea would be dangerous. But unless we were extremely unlucky, it shouldn't be a problem. If anyone did fall, we had a plan to help them. We'd be fine.
The fifty or so members of the combat unit had various roles. Besides the commander, the most crucial were the ship's defenders. Not everyone could handle this role due to their magical aptitude.
Since the battlefield was the sea, we planned to use seawater for defense. With an endless supply, it was a perfect way to conserve magic power.
Members with water magic aptitude would form defensive barriers using seawater. Water, surprisingly, had excellent defensive properties, significantly reducing the impact of most attacks. Six of them would be positioned to protect the ship at all costs.
In addition to the ship's defense, we had dedicated members to intercept attacks on the deck and bridge, and others to deal with pirates who boarded the ship.
We allocated nearly twenty people to provide thick layers of defense from the ship's bottom to its sides and deck. This ship was not just a vessel but our temporary home and means of return, so it had to be well-protected. The number of people assigned to this task was justified.
The remaining thirty-plus members would aggressively attack and sink pirate ships one by one. That was the general plan.
The ship was now enveloped in a tense atmosphere, and the anchor was finally lowered.
"Let's begin. Violante."
"Understood."
The deputy released the magic she had been building up.
Tonight, with thick rain clouds overhead, it was as dark as night. There wasn't even a star to be seen. But several bright lights shot up into the sky, piercing the darkness.
The glowing white light magic made our ship, with the Kikyo Society's skull flag adorned with flowers, stand out even more.
But it was still the middle of the night. Even with such a strong light, not many would have noticed. That's where Violante's wind magic came into play. She captured and controlled a strong wind.
"Commander, we're ready. Please proceed."
The magic carried her voice across the sea, reaching the pirates.
"Can you hear me, sea bandits?"
Her calm voice was amplified by magic, reaching the islands and the port town. From here, it might not seem loud, but it should be enough to wake even the sleepiest pirate.
"My name is Bloody Mary, the Bandit Slayer. I've come to scatter the sea bandits. It seems the cowardly pirates are resting on land. Are you afraid of the stormy sea? For pirates, no less."
She chuckled slightly, adding a mocking tone. She was quite the actress.
"To the cowardly pirates, if you're regretful, come and challenge us. The ship with the Kikyo flower skull flag is mine. Ah, let me show you that I'm serious and that this isn't a dream."
Violante released her wind magic, and now she issued orders through her earring communicator.
"This is Mary. Begin the attack."
"Right!"
A loud, enthusiastic response echoed, and the magic attacks began immediately.
They were generic fire spells, focused on sheer power. The fireballs, lacking the precision of a skilled mage, were more amorphous.
Moreover, not all members were skilled in long-range attacks, so hitting their targets accurately was unlikely. The rain and distance also affected the spells, reducing their power.
In terms of effective range, these attacks were far from ideal. But that was fine. This was just the provocation stage. We needed them to come to us. If they could be defeated with long-range attacks alone, it would be a problem.
Even if a few hits landed, they wouldn't cause much damage due to their low power.
The visual impact, however, was spectacular. Hundreds of fiery projectiles were launched, creating a dazzling display. This would surely rouse the drowsy pirates and make them react.
The night, once quiet except for the rain, wind, and waves, was now over.
Even if they tried to ignore Mary's mysterious declaration of war, the fireballs hitting their targets would be impossible to overlook.
The sound of emergency bells rang out, and the pirates began their hasty preparations to set sail.
The Second Combat Unit reduced their attacks once the pirates started preparing to leave, focusing on luring them rather than engaging.
"Looking good. They're swarming like insects."
Violante's sarcastic comment was accurate. For the pirates, it was a necessary action. They couldn't ignore the threat and had to respond.
Our brightly lit ship, like a moth trap, awaited the pirate "insects."
As we continued to launch fiery projectiles, the faster-moving pirate ships began to approach. It was impressive how well they handled the rough sea.
Even the braver or more reckless pirates, while their actions were commendable, would only be eliminated faster by the Kikyo Society.
The effective range of magic attacks varied by individual, but even the best mages could only reach a few hundred meters, maybe five hundred at most.
The Second Combat Unit's attacks, reaching about two kilometers, were far beyond their effective range. They lacked the power to cause significant damage. If they hit a sail, it might catch fire, but the wooden hull would suffer minimal damage.
The Ninth Combat Unit, led by Liliane, had many members skilled in long-range magic attacks. They could launch powerful spells from over five hundred meters away, a remarkable feat.
Pirates, even if they had the skills, would be lucky to have an effective range of a hundred meters. Once they closed that distance, the real battle would begin.
As the pirate ships approached, we could sense the rise in their magical energy. The nearest ship had four distinct reactions. Our members were already aware and prepared for defense.
Our ship, illuminated by the bright light magic, was an easy target.
From the bridge, we watched as the distance between us and the pirates closed to about fifty meters, and the attacks began.
These attacks didn't seem aimed at capturing our ship. They were full-force, intended to sink us. Perfect.
"As expected, their attacks are weak."
"Indeed. A few early attackers are nothing to worry about."
If we had faced dozens of attacks from all directions, it might have been more threatening.
"Well, pirates can't coordinate, so this is to be expected."
Magic spells that launched rocks the size of heads and fire arrows were easily blocked by the water barriers and fell into the sea. Even with continuous attacks, we could maintain zero damage. Against such opponents, we could endure the night without much effort.
"Mary here. The attack team, keep luring them in. Don't rush."
The pirates' method of boarding enemy ships was the same as always—using ropes or planks to cross. Our members, with their enhanced physical abilities, could easily jump and board the pirate ships as soon as they got close.
Defense was already in place. No matter how many enemies approached, the actions were the same. Whether it was magic, arrows, or harpoons, we would defend until the end.
"More are coming, but some are fleeing."
"I'd like to stop the cowards, but we don't have the resources."
Mary and Violante watched the fleeing ships with a critical eye. From our brightly lit side, we couldn't see the dark, rainy night beyond. They were sensing the magical auras.
Fleeing was a smart choice, but not participating in the "party" made them unsociable. This party was mandatory. Those who refused a woman's invitation would suffer.
"I'll harass them."
If the commander was concerned, it was my job to alleviate that concern.
I showed them a metal spear I had created with magic, and they nodded, shifting their focus away from the fleeing ships.
Hmm. A quick count showed about sixty pirate ships in total. According to our earlier investigation, there should have been more, but not all of them were in this area.
About ten percent of the sixty ships were not heading our way and were trying to flee. Those who didn't come were of little concern.
If they annoyed me, I'd crush them. That was my reasoning.
We were like natural disasters, striking without reason. The worst part was that we could impose our will without justification. But pirates did the same to merchant and passenger ships, so they had no right to complain.
Criminals have no right to complain. It's a matter of doing or being done to.
"Maybe one day it will be my turn… but tonight, it's your turn."
Being a pirate must have been fun. They could wreak havoc and take what they wanted. The dangers were part of the job, and even the stupidest of them must have imagined an end. I would be the one to bring it.
My goal was simple. The ships were powered by magic devices, and destroying the core would render them immobile.
I spotted a fleeing pirate ship and, after a quick step, threw a spear.
My powerful step could destroy the deck, so I had prepared a shock-absorbing floor. The deck was reinforced with a composite armor base of shock-absorbing gel, necessary for our training.
I didn't want to lower the team's defensive awareness, but sometimes it was necessary.
The spear, designed for penetration, was different from my usual iron ball.
Even a heavy spear, thrown a long distance, would be greatly affected by the wind and rain. Especially at a range of over two kilometers, hitting the target would be nearly impossible. But with my throwing technique and strength, it was doable. As long as the target didn't move, I wouldn't miss.
I had thrown spears even farther before, and the bad weather only made it more challenging and exciting.
The tungsten spear, taking about one to two seconds, pierced the ship's stern and hull, reaching the engine room.
The tungsten, three times as dense as iron, combined with the bullet-like speed and rotation, generated enough destructive energy to shatter the magic device's core.
The waves rushed into the breached hull, causing significant damage. The ship was doomed. The engine room, including the core, was completely destroyed, and the hull was riddled with holes. Even with the best magic devices, recovery was impossible.
Assuming the ship would sink soon, I didn't stop. I threw another tungsten spear at the same ship, using my magical senses to understand its structure.
The second spear shattered the main mast, and the third hit the bridge. Chaos must have ensued.
"Accept this gratefully!"
Ha ha, what a generous gift! Tears of joy, I'm sure! Cry and scream to your heart's content!
There were still more targets. They were mine, and I wouldn't let them escape.
Wait. Instead of dealing with them one by one, I should cripple them first.
I sent a spear as a greeting to the fleeing ships, rotating my body to launch them continuously, piercing the engine rooms of the pirate ships.
Hiding behind islands was futile. For those, I used balls instead of spears. Special tungsten balls with textured surfaces to handle the bad weather.
I'd pummel them with curveballs. Try to hit them back if you can!
As my excitement grew, so did the output of my Physical Enhancement Magic.
The president, who was supposed to be in a support role, started wreaking havoc. The real battle is just beginning.
Next: "The Combat Unit Leader's Creed"