Chapter 55: The Sky God That Tears Life
Meanwhile, while Burufaruto quickly resolved the battle, an unexpected situation arose on Aoxi’s side.
“Strange? Why haven’t they fired their cannons yet?”
Aoxi, standing at the ship’s prow, was somewhat puzzled. Just earlier, when her side had turned the helm to adjust direction, it was clearly such a good attack opportunity, but the enemy hadn’t fired a single cannon.
Now her side had straightened out its position, with the side cannons already aimed, yet the opponent still hadn’t fired a single shot, merely closing in on her side relentlessly.
“Hmm~ Could it be that their cannons are broken?”
Aoxi scratched her head and asked the nearby pirates. “What do you all think?”
“Don’t overthink it, Big Sister Aoxi. Let’s just fire!”
“Yeah, such a great opportunity. Let’s just sink the bastards!”
This was indeed the best solution. Rather than being toyed with and left suspicious by the enemy, it was better to proceed directly according to their own plan.
In any case, they couldn’t let themselves be led by the enemy’s rhythm.
“Yeah, you’re right! Pass my order: gunners, prepare…”
“Hold! Hold fire.”
Just as Aoxi was about to order them to fire, a middle-aged pirate suddenly spoke up to stop her.
“Huh? Boss Porter, did you notice something?” The surrounding pirates, seeing him speak, all asked with curious tones.
This middle-aged pirate named Porter was an elder on the ship, renowned for his rich experience and extensive knowledge.
Normally, whenever they encountered strange things at sea, everyone would ask him about it, and he held some prestige within the pirate crew.
“Yeah, everyone, stay calm~ If I’m not mistaken, the enemy is inviting us to a ‘duel’!” Porter stroked his stubble-covered chin and said.
“Duel?”
“That’s right. This is a dueling method that was popular among pirates a long time ago.
Back then, cannons hadn’t appeared yet, and naval battles were basically boarding combats.
Sometimes, to avoid too many casualties, the warring parties would use this ‘duel’ method: when the two ships drew close, they’d lay a long wooden board, and both sides would send their strongest crew member to single combat on the board.
If one fell into the water or died in battle, that side lost. It was a way to quickly break the enemy’s morale.”
At this point, Porter lit a cigarette and sighed:
“But after cannons appeared, this ancient ceremony gradually faded away. Now everyone has gotten used to sinking the enemy’s ship from afar. No one wants to risk boarding combat, let alone a ‘duel’.”
“So, they’re not firing to show sincerity and invite us to a ‘duel’?”
Aoxi was quite interested in this dueling method that often appeared in novels.
“Yeah~ Most likely. Otherwise, there’s no explaining why they haven’t fired even after closing in so near.”
“In that case, we can’t let them look down on us!” The other pirates on the ship, hearing Porter’s explanation, were all raring to go.
“That’s right! The Beasts Pirates aren’t afraid of any one-on-one!”
“Big Sister Aoxi! Let’s go!”
“Yeah! Let them see the Beasts’ ferocity!”
……
Although the pirates were highly enthusiastic, Aoxi didn’t rush headlong into it on impulse.
After all, this was her first battle, so Aoxi decided to play it safe first.
“Let’s shout out and inquire first, then decide.”
“Got it!”
Porter stepped forward first, took a megaphone from a pirate’s hand, and began shouting.
After receiving the enemy’s affirmative response, Aoxi directly ordered: “Good! On my command, bring the ship alongside!”
“Understood!”
The surrounding pirates, upon receiving the order, shouted to the helmsman and the other pirates on the deck: “Bring the ship alongside! Prepare for boarding combat!”
“Yes”×n
……
Meanwhile, on the opposite side from Aoxi and the others, Fogg and his subordinates were already laughing their heads off.
“Boss, they really didn’t fire and are bringing their ship alongside! Seems like they’re preparing to close in and board.”
“Huh? They really bought it?!”
“Hahahaha! What a bunch of idiots! Tell the boys to ready their guns. The moment they come over, open fire immediately!”
“Yes, boss. I’ll give the order right away.”
It turned out that Fogg’s ship hadn’t fired because their cannons and cannonballs had gotten soaked from a warehouse leak and couldn’t be fired at all, not because they were proposing some “duel” challenge.
Fogg was essentially a traditional pirate who used any means necessary.
And now, seeing that Aoxi and the others really hadn’t fired, Fogg was naturally overjoyed and planned to give them a big surprise.
Bang!
The two ships came alongside; no gangway was needed. The Beasts Pirates’ pirates leaped directly onto the enemy pirate ship and shouted loudly:
“Haha, clear a path! Do you want to…”
“Open fire!”
Before the Beasts Pirates could finish speaking, someone shouted, and the deck immediately erupted with the firing sounds of countless pistols.
“Wha…”
“Ah!”×n
Bang! Bang! Bang…
The first wave of boarding pirates hadn’t anticipated the enemy using a pistol volley at this moment and suffered heavy casualties. Even Porter, caught up in the heat of the moment, had his head pierced by a lead bullet.
“Hahahaha~ You idiots! Lads, draw your knives!”
Seeing the ambush succeed, Fogg burst into laughter, drew his blade, and charged to kill the enemy leader.
“Damn it! You despicable bastards!”
The naive Aoxi was harshly taught a lesson by cruel reality.
She’d originally thought the enemy wasn’t firing because he was a man who wanted a fair face-to-face contest, but he’d pulled this dirty trick instead.
Her companions around her fell one after another to gunfire. As the Underworld God, Aoxi could clearly sense life after life fading away, a feeling that made her extremely irritable.
This irritability quickly turned into inexpressible anger.
“Huh? There’s a kid? Whatever, die for me!”
Fogg’s large blade didn’t pause at all, slashing straight toward Aoxi’s head.
Clang!
Crack~
Contrary to expectations of flesh and blood parting, in Fogg’s stunned expression, the blade was directly headbutted in two by Aoxi!
The broken blade scratched his cheek, but at this point Fogg couldn’t care less.
Beneath her crimson hair, Aoxi’s golden eyes were fixed deadly on him.
“M-monster! What the hell are you, you brat!” Fogg’s hairs stood on end under that gaze; he dropped the broken sword and hurriedly retreated several steps.
Aoxi said nothing, merely staring wordlessly at the retreating Fogg.
Between breaths, the sky overhead suddenly darkened, golden lightning flashing amid the dense clouds.
“Wh-what’s happening? Why did it suddenly get dark? It was bright just now.”
“Is a storm coming?”
“Damn it, of all times!”
“Lightning! Take cover!”
Aoxi’s pupils contracted sharply. Dozens of golden thunderbolts struck down from the sky, all landing on Fogg’s side, sending the pirates writhing convulsively to the ground.
“Everyone, return to the ship.”
A cold voice rang out, its unfamiliar tone making all the pirates used to Aoxi’s usual energetic voice shudder.
No one dared say more and all jumped back onto the ship.
The corpses of the fallen Beasts Pirates members around them were now wreathed in faint golden electric arcs, eerily floating up, and with a wave of Aoxi’s hand, were sent back to the deck.
Having done all this, Aoxi glanced at the pirates still twitching on the ground and left without looking back.
Fogg lay immobile on the ground. He swore he’d never seen eyes like that on a child.
No surprise, no anger, none of the emotions a human should have!
It was as if a lofty god were gazing indifferently at a lifeless corpse—cold and terrifying.
……
He was afraid. Fogg was afraid.
This was a creature’s most primal fear—fear of death.
He desperately turned his head toward Skipgate’s direction, seeking help.
Though he and the enemy brothers weren’t allies, merely pawns John used to monitor and check each other, his desperate thirst for life made him ignore all that now.
As long as someone could save him, anyone would do! No matter who! No matter the conditions, he’d agree! So…
“Please, save… save…” Fogg strained with all his might toward Skipgate’s direction, only to see the enemy’s ship slowly sinking into the sea.
Fogg despaired.
“I… I surren…”
“Superconducting Wave: Thunder Cannon”
An emotionless voice issued from Aoxi’s mouth. A massive golden thunderbolt fell from the sky, engulfing Fogg’s entire ship.
The ship turned to dust the instant it touched the lightning, along with the immobile pirates aboard. Their souls were utterly dispersed under this divine wrath, beyond even the Underworld Fruit’s recall.
The vast sea below was simultaneously evaporated, the resulting mist enveloping a large sea area.
