C503
'Mist?'
The pirate Shark, seeing the mist that suddenly appeared, recalled a piece of information he had heard in passing that morning.
"...Calamity?"
The mist ship, the ship called a calamity.
A ship that moves without a flag—
"!"
Shark could see the ship where the flag representing General Perry was being lowered.
The red mist ship approaching them had no flag.
'It can't be!'
Could they be allies that General Perry called from the outside?
"Damn it!"
The feeling wasn't good.
"St, stop—"
He wanted to tell them to stop.
But,
"!"
He felt a chilling sensation on his back and had to quickly roll to the side.
Kwaaaang!
He watched as the deck shattered and pieces of wood shot upwards.
"Hehe."
Archie laughed and said.
"What a pity. I could have burst your head open. Hehe."
"How dare you, you crazy bastard!"
A madman who appeared out of nowhere.
Does he also belong to that mist ship?
Shark opened his mouth.
"Catch this guy immediately—!"
Catch this guy immediately!
But he couldn't continue speaking.
"!"
In the place where Archie passed.
In the place where he walked, fainting or groaning sailors could be seen rolling on the ground in pain.
“…….”
Shark stood up quickly. His expression became serious, unlike before.
This ship is the flagship of the 19th Island.
Every single sailor here possessed exceptional skills, enough not to fall behind General Perry's subordinates.
Honestly, in one-on-one combat or small skirmishes, his subordinates were stronger than the sailors accustomed to formations or group battles.
"This guy—"
Shark realized that Archie was strong.
Churururur—.
He unleashed the whip that was wrapped around his wrist.
"Keke. I was waiting for you."
With those words, Archie, as if restless, stretched his neck and immediately lunged at the pirate Shark.
Kung. Kung. Kung.
With steps so heavy, the deck shook with his footsteps.
Even so, Archie threw himself at the pirate Shark.
"First, take a hit!"
The moment his fist thrust towards Shark.
Chalaralala—
The whip moved.
Witira.
Since his own liege used a whip as a weapon, Archie already had in mind how to counter it.
So, as his grin widened.
"!"
Archie's pupils dilated.
The whip didn't go towards Archie.
Chalarala—
The whip wrapped around the mast.
The pirate Shark's body moved toward the mast, following the whip.
Archie's fist passed through the air.
“…….”
A movement too fast and light for Shark's massive size, which was comparable to Archie's.
Furthermore, the skill with the whip wrapped around the mast and the strength applied to move using it.
Seeing all that, Archie understood.
'He's not weaker than me.'
That is to say, he is strong.
The Shark in front of him is a strong individual.
And that strong individual escaped from Archie.
Hanging in the air clutching the mast with one arm, he shouted.
"Protect the flagship!"
A great shout that cut through the waves of the sea.
"That Perry is a fake! Find the real one!"
Archie could see the pirates on the ships on both sides of the flagship immediately grab arrows.
And those arrows aimed directly at Archie, who was on the deck.
"Do not retreat! If you retreat here, the sea will be your grave!"
Following Shark's shout, the pirate ships advanced faster toward the sailors led by the red mist ship.
An even more determined action.
Smirk.
Archie could see Shark smiling at him.
"You aren't a man of the sea, are you?"
Shark said that and added.
"You don't know sea fights. Unlike land, in the sea, one doesn't fight alone!"
Uuuung—
Pirates aiming arrows from the ships on both sides.
Additionally, the sound of mana vibrations could be heard.
On this ship, there were also pirates who used magic.
Magic, swordsmanship, martial arts, Magic Formations, etc. All kinds of diverse powers capable of fighting coexisted in the Marine Union.
Pirate ships were no exception.
Individuals might be weak, but on a pirate ship that combined forces, diverse and numerous powers existed.
"Against a group attack, there is no strong man!"
With those words, Archie could see a rain of countless arrows heading towards him.
"Magic ready!"
Furthermore, the mages nearby.
Of course, their number was no more than one or two per ship.
But there were countless ships.
Uuuung—
Various types of magic.
"Attack the mist!"
They headed simultaneously toward the red mist spreading from the sailors' warships, which looked like an arrowhead.
"Start the attack from the left flank!"
"The right flank start the attack too!"
Not just the pirate ships of the 19th Island, but all nearby pirate ships had come here.
To destroy the 16th Island, the guardian, and turn the entrance to the Central Sea into a sea of pirates.
They headed towards the sailors forming the arrowhead and began ranged attacks.
Magic, arrows, cannons. All kinds of attacks went toward the sailors' warships.
"Kkuk."
Shark, seeing that scene, wore a wide smile.
'This way, I won't even need the help of the 3rd General's subordinates.'
Red mist.
That ship is unsettling, but sinking the rest of the sailors' warships will be enough.
'They said that mist, rather than attacking, just gives off fear and terror.'
Of course, what was reported to him was white mist.
But it must be similar.
First, if we disperse that mist with magic, it will have some effect.
'Yes. Step by step.'
We can handle them one by one.
And General Perry. Where did that crazy woman hide or—
'Did she go to the island?'
He had to verify if she went to the 19th Island.
Shark decided to immediately give the order to send the rear ships to the 19th Island.
It was then.
Kwaaaang!
A tremendous boom came from right below.
"Huh, how—"
There was the guy who should have been at least injured by the rain of arrows.
That was why he had stopped paying attention to him.
Archie was ripping up pieces of wood from the deck and deflecting all the approaching arrows.
"Kahahahaha! This is fun!"
While he was laughing.
He was really enjoying it.
"He says I don't know sea fights! Hahahaha!"
Just when he thought he was a true madman.
"Ca-Captain!"
Kwaaaaang! Kwaaaaa!
At the subordinate's voice and the deafening roar that followed, the pirate Shark looked forward.
“……!"
For a moment, he almost lost strength in the arm gripping the mast.
"Wh-what is that?"
The sailors' warships grouped like an arrowhead.
A semi-transparent black barrier covering all those warships.
"A shield?"
Is there a mage capable of deploying such a large shield there?
No—
Kwaaaang!
Kwaaaang!
"So, magic is useless?"
Minor spells failed to penetrate the shield and exploded or bounced off.
Arrows, of course, did not reach.
"The mist keeps coming out!"
Even when trying to disperse it with magic, the mist appeared ceaselessly.
"We will crash soon!"
Shark, at the shout coming from the two ships in front of him, the ones in the lead, felt his mind go blank for an instant.
'No, how are we going to penetrate a mage capable of deploying a shield covering so many warships?'
No.
Such a strong being? There are few like that even in the Central Sea.
Would one have to go at least above General 7?
Chuaaaaa—
Meanwhile, the mist ship was approaching.
It even came out alone from outside the shield.
It was approaching exceptionally fast.
And the moment that red mist touched the two lead ships.
"Ugh!"
"Grk!"
"My, my leg—! My leg!"
"Ugh!"
Shark could see the sailors' bodies becoming paralyzed and falling one after another.
The two lead ships slowly stopped. There was no one to row.
Neither those holding the sails nor the ship's captain, everyone had fallen.
"Re, retreat!"
The pirate Shark understood the danger of the red mist.
"Retreat!"
They had to withdraw.
They had to avoid the red mist.
But that wasn't easy.
"Damn it!"
The pirate ships that had rushed forward looking only ahead.
It wasn't easy to retreat now.
It was then.
Front, left, right.
The movement of the pirate ships approaching, encircling from three sides, slowed down.
And Cale, sensing the confusion contained within that, spoke immediately.
"Left. Heavenly Demon."
Kung.
The Heavenly Demon stepped lightly on the deck, but the force contained within was extremely heavy, causing the ship to shake.
The figure of the Heavenly Demon headed toward the pirates' left flank.
"Right. Witira."
Churururur—
The moment water whips appeared in both of Witira's hands, her feet were already crossing the surface of the sea.
"Follow me."
Whooooing—
The wind swirled around Cale's ankles, and he stepped lightly on the ground.
"Go and come back safely."
A relaxed voice. Leaving behind Alberu, who was seeing him off by waving his hand nonchalantly. Cale's body headed toward the pirate ships in front, especially toward those in the lead.
"Ron. Rescue Ebo."
"Yes, young master."
"Choi Han, destroy the ship together with Archie."
"Yes, Cale-nim."
"Raon, On, Hong. You guys come with me."
Cale said a word to his companions before they went to their respective places.
"We just have to create chaos."
It was one of the things Cale's group did best.
Tap.
He landed on one of the two lead ships.
Tap, tap.
Cale walking calmly.
Beside him were On and Hong.
Raon, invisible, fluttered behind Cale's back.
"Ugh—"
"Grk."
Pirates groaning.
Cale, passing calmly among them, raised his head and looked at the flagship behind the stopped ships.
The pirate Shark hanging from the mast.
His appearance was as widely known.
His trembling expression could also be seen clearly from here.
Smirk.
The corner of Cale's lips lifted.
Just as General Perry did, Cale also threw himself first toward the enemies.
If our ship breaks, it would be troublesome, wouldn't it?
Kwaaaang!
Kwaang!
The sound of ships breaking with just a gesture from the Heavenly Demon is heard.
Churururur, bang!
The sound of many things breaking from Witira's whip strikes arrived.
Tap, tap tap!
Choi Han passed by Cale and climbed first onto the deck of the pirate Shark's ship.
Sreung.
From the sword he unsheathed, black aura emanated.
A shining black aura.
It seemed he wasn't yet showing the seed about to manifest as a Singularity.
Tap, tap.
However, that aura revealed that Choi Han was a Sword Master.
"A Sw, Sword Master...!!"
Shark's face turned pale.
Then, Choi Han swung his sword.
"!"
Shark quickly came down from the mast.
Sreuk.
He flinched upon hearing the sound above his head.
The mast was cut.
And very cleanly.
Kiiik—
The broken mast was tilting.
"Ah, seriously, what do we do if it falls this way?!"
Archie, who was laughing even amidst the rain of arrows. He jumped, grabbed the mast falling toward his side, and threw the severed pole to the side.
"Gyaaaak!"
"The ship, the ship is—!"
Voices of chaos were heard, but Shark couldn't look away.
'What's going on?'
General Perry. What kind of guys has that crazy woman called?
The pirate Shark, more than anyone, being in the center, could see clearly what was happening.
Left, an unknown guy was breaking ships with great ease.
He dodged all attacks with annoyance and, as if annoyed even to kill, just broke the ships.
Right. Someone who, like him, used a whip, but whose property was water; she was also breaking ships uncontrollably.
However, without showing annoyance, she broke them one by one diligently.
"...What the hell—?"
Above, a Sword Master appeared.
The red mist was expanding even more.
And cunningly, it was spreading avoiding the ship where the pirate Shark was, towards the sides.
"Grk!"
"Kgh!"
Sounds of falling were heard everywhere.
Although they had clearly prepared an overwhelming number of pirate ships to target the 16th Island.
Seeing a few strong beings, of the caliber only seen in the Central Sea, here, made the pirate Shark's mind go blank.
"Who, who the hell are you guys...!"
Finally, he couldn't help but let out his frustration.
Because, from his point of view, this battle was impossible to win.
It was then.
Tap.
Cale, who was walking with Choi Han in front, stopped and looked at Shark.
"Hey."
He asked Shark.
"Where is he?"
"...What?"
"Your backing."
"!"
"Where is he, I say?"
The pirate Shark.
According to the information, he wasn't weak.
19th Island.
There was no way the one who became its leader was weak.
It was just that those here now were Cale Henituse and his companions, who couldn't be compared to pirates and had faced even gods.
Central Sea.
The strong beings there. They would have to be superior to General 7 to be able to compete individually with Cale's group.
"Shark. It's not possible that you did this alone."
Cale, smiling, spoke kindly to Shark.
If all the countless pirate ships.
If all the countless pirates threw themselves at Cale with desperation.
Cale's group would have had difficulties.
But neither those pirate ships nor Shark had that desperate determination.
Because what those guys who did piracy and human trafficking desired was not to die and to obtain benefits.
Tap.
Then, Cale, at the sound that arrived, looked beyond the pirate Shark's shoulder.
Someone who had crossed from the ship right behind onto Shark's ship.
"Are you the backing?"
Cale asked.
"!"
A special gleam appeared in the pirate Shark's eyes.
Someone known as the closest confidant of General 3.
It was said he was his right arm.
Someone covered from head to toe with a hood and a robe.
He passed by Shark.
'They say he is a strong being comparable to General 3!'
Then, couldn't they defeat those guys in front of them?
It was said that those above General 7, especially those included among the 4 Generals, were treated as the great generals of each direction and their strength was on a different level.
Sreuk.
That guy lowered his hood.
His mouth opened.
"I found unexpected prey here."
A middle-aged man with a tired countenance looked at Cale with a faint smile.
He looked directly at Cale and licked his lips.
"Cale Henituse. That is your name, right? The one who dares to interfere in our business."
The smile on his lips widened more and more. With a smile so bright it was strange, he said:
"Perhaps you don't know me, but I know you well."
Just as I thought! A special gleam appeared in Shark's eyes.
General 3 knows these strong beings of unknown identity!
Then there is nothing to worry about—
"Huh?"
At that moment, Cale tilted his head to the side and said:
"I know you too, you know?"
"……?"
"You have a Transparent level Singularity, right?"
"……!"
When the pupils of the grayish-haired middle-aged man shook.
Smirk.
Cale smiled.
'Cho and Ryeon. If you are going to be with me, give me all the information on your family. Especially, tell me everything about the Wanderers of Transparent level or higher, their appearance and everything.'
Cale's finger pointed at him.
"Aren't you the sworn brother of the Third Emperor?"
It was said that the Third Emperor had 3 sworn brothers.
All were strong beings with Transparent level Singularities.
"Heh."
The corner of Cale's lips lifted.
"The Wanderer guys were up to their tricks here?"
"……!"
The pupils of the grayish-haired Wanderer shook.
Something was strange.
He knew Cale Henituse's appearance. Because he had heard of the acts he committed at the Shrine of the Chaos God's Descent through his sworn brother, the Third Emperor, and because the Five-Colored Family was looking for Cale Henituse.
'But how is it that Cale Henituse knows me?'
Something. Things were going strangely.
When an ominous premonition began to take hold of him.
"Choi Han."
"Yes."
"We must not let that guy escape. And we must not allow him to communicate with anyone."
"Yes."
At the scene of Cale Henituse discussing an operational plan so blatantly in front of him, the grayish-haired Wanderer's face distorted.
"How dare you...!"
He was none other than a Transparent level strong being.
A strong being incomparable to siblings Cho and Ryeon, who couldn't stay intact by themselves!
And now that guy dared to—?
"Your name is Mujeon, right?"
"!"
Upon hearing his own name, Mujeon, who was enraged, was startled.
Even so, the smile on Cale's lips deepened.
'Wow.'
Marine Union.
I thought the claws of those hunters would have extended here too.
Turns out he is on the Third Emperor's side?
'Then, that's great.'
To start with, Cale decided to capture that Transparent level Singularity Wanderer who was alone and listen to more information.
In fact, there was a reason why Cale recognized him immediately.
'Mujeon. Is he a martial artist?'
'Yes. A Wanderer originating from martial arts. It is said that he achieved his Singularity based on his own martial arts.'
'What martial art?'
'Swordsmanship. It is said that his sword contains water.'
Martial arts. Swordsmanship.
"Raon. Bring me the Heavenly Demon."
Heavenly Demon and Choi Han. It seemed they were going to get a very good practice manual.
A Wanderer of Transparent level Singularity.
Facing one alone.
For Cale, that was no longer difficult.
-Understood, human! I'm also passing the message to the companions!
There were many companions who would help him.
-A water attribute swordsman?
Sky Eating Water showed interest.
The water that defeated the Dragon King, the Third Emperor.
For Cale, who possessed that water, there was nothing to fear from a water attribute swordsman.
Chuaaaa—
The sea churned.
Tap, tap.
Cale moved his steps calmly toward the new Wanderer, the prey called Mujeon.
Chuaaaaa—
The surrounding sea began to respond to Cale.
'We subdue him at once, overwhelmingly.'
He didn't want to drag it out.
He didn't want to give him any chance to escape.
So,
Chuaaaaa—
Cale invoked the sea.
This place where numerous ships gathered.
The surface of the sea began to churn.
As if responding to someone's call.
