bookpower Chapter 378: Atlante (1)
Chapter 378: Atlante (1)
Chapter 378: Atlante (1)
The three ships stopped about 400 meters away from us.
They seemed to be wary of Erwen's arrows...
“Erwen, can you intercept them from this distance?”
“Yes, but they’ll probably react at this range.”
Well, they did have a mage.
They would have enough time to counter before the arrow reached them—
Boom!
The magic cannon on the bow of their flagship fired.
Damn it, I thought they would at least try to negotiate first.
It seemed like they decided to talk after winning the battle.
Or maybe they were planning to sink our ship and loot the bodies later.
Whoosh!
The magic cannonball flew towards us.
“Schuitz!”
Amelia shouted my alias, but it was Erwen who answered.
“Mister, I can take care of this.”
She drew her bow and fired an arrow.
Kwaaang!
The arrow, imbued with the wind spirit’s power, collided with the magic cannonball and exploded in midair.
“Erwen, how many can you block?”
“About four or five at once.”
Wow, really?
We wouldn’t even need an anti-ballistic magic circle with her around.
“Good job, Erwen. Keep doing that.”
“Okay!”
Erwen, who had been praised for her ability, waited for more cannon fire, but the barrage stopped after the first shot.
“They seem to be surprised.”
I agreed with Amelia.
But they soon made a decision.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
All three ships fired their magic cannons and started closing the distance.
Erwen intercepted them one after another, but she occasionally missed.
Kaboom!
The ship shook violently as a cannonball hit the hull.
Damn it, it was time to get serious.
The distance was perfect.
“Erwen, [Elemental Barbarian].”
Erwen activated the skill without any objections.
But I still had to ask,
“Which element?”
“Water.”
Erwen cautiously held my hand as soon as I told her the element.
Okay, link established.
「Water Spirit has been imbued into the character’s body.」
「Water Resistance increased by 50%.」
「Lightning Resistance decreased by 75%.」
「Melee attack power decreased by 50%.」
「Springwater’s Blessing bonus.」
「Healing and regeneration effects doubled.」
「Soul Power regeneration speed increased...」
「... 」
Hmm, come to think of it, this was my first time using Elemental Barbarian (Water) in a real battle.
Swoosh.
I looked down at my body.
There wasn’t any noticeable change.
My skin was just a bit moist and shiny.
“Emily, I’ll be back.”
“Where...?”
Where else?
The best defense is a good offense.
Well, maybe I should tell them this first.
“Ah, and one more thing. If it’s too difficult to protect the ship, just abandon it and jump overboard.”
“What do you—”
I didn’t have time for a detailed explanation.
And...
Tadat.
...I jumped over the railing and into the churning sea.
It wasn’t a diving posture.
There was no need for that in my current state.
「Springwater’s Blessing bonus.」
A one-line bonus with no explanation.
It allowed the character to breathe underwater and walk on water.
Like this.
Thud.
I stood on the surface of the water, defying gravity.
The...
“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”
...Barbarian Jet Ski (Leap) Mode.
Tadat, tadat.
I landed on the water and charged forward, roaring.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The enemy ships, momentarily stunned, started targeting me with their magic cannons.
Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
I shielded myself with my shield, but the relentless barrage was powerful.
They were ‘magic’ cannonballs, after all.
My Physical Resistance didn’t reduce the damage.
Every hit made my bones ache.
But...
“Erwen, don’t bother blocking the cannonballs.”
[What...? What do you—]
Erwen couldn’t finish her sentence.
She saw the skeletons rising behind me.
「Character has cast [Risk].」
「The inherent ability of the skill is unlocked by the power of the Transcendent.」
「The damage immunity effect of [Probabilistic Retaliation] is removed, but the activation probability is fixed at 100%.」
Magic cannonballs used mana as fuel.
In other words...
「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」
「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」
「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」
「... 」
...it meant that every hit would be reflected.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Skeletons appeared and fired back as soon as I was hit by the magic cannons.
But their attacks didn’t damage the ships.
Swaaaaaaaaaa!
A magic barrier was protecting them.
It easily blocked the weakened magic cannonballs.
So the enemy continued their barrage without hesitation.
And then...
「Powerful Luck.」
「Reflects 300% of the received damage to the enemy.」
Oh, a critical hit.
[Gachaat—!!]
The ship, its bow finally turned, started accelerating rapidly, as if it had a motor.
The distance between us was about 15 meters.
‘Damn it...’
I ran with all my might.
I couldn’t let them get away.
‘They destroyed our ship and now they’re running away?’
No way.
I’m not letting you leave without giving me your ship!
“Uwaaaaaaaaah!”
I roared and pushed myself even harder, and the distance between us started to close.
It seemed like it took some time for the ship to accelerate.
“We’re going to be caught!”
“More! Pour more magic stones!!”
Fear appeared in their eyes as the distance closed.
They looked like they were being chased by a monster.
Whoosh!
Erwen shot an arrow, and one of the explorers standing near the railing fell into the sea.
It wasn’t a fatal blow since she avoided his vital points.
“H-help me...!”
He screamed and thrashed in the water.
But his companions didn’t even try to save him.
I was too busy running to care.
Tadat.
I took a giant step forward.
9 meters, 8 meters, 7 meters, 6 meters, 5 meters...
The distance was closing.
But that was it.
The accelerating ship was now faster than me.
5 meters, 6 meters, 7 meters, 8 meters...
Relief appeared in their eyes as the distance widened again.
‘Damn it.’
I missed my movement skill.
Shield barbarians usually got a movement skill at level 8, but I had been lucky enough to absorb the Manticore essence.
I would have already boarded their ship if I hadn't removed [Leap]!
‘Am I really going to lose them?’
I slowed down, feeling resigned.
But it wasn’t because I thought I had lost them.
“Erwen, shoot our ship. You can damage it a bit.”
[...Our ship?]
“Just do it.”
Erwen shot an arrow at the stern of the ship...
Kaboom!
...and it exploded.
“...That’s going to cost a bit to repair.”
It was where the mana propulsion device was located.
_____________________
It was smooth sailing after the mana propulsion device was destroyed.
The distance between us quickly closed, and I was able to successfully board their ship.
And...
“Kill him!!”
...they didn’t surrender.
The battle began.
They were a 6th-floor clan, so they weren’t easy opponents.
But...
‘What are they going to do about it?’
The outcome was already decided.
Erwen, in [Elemental Barbarian] state, took them down one by one.
And I protected her.
And when my injuries became too severe...
Splash!
...I just took a dip in the sea and came back up.
I did that three times, and they finally lost their will to fight. They dropped their weapons and surrendered.
Seven of them were left, so over half of them were dead?
“Tsk, tsk, they don’t even know the value of life. Wasting it so carelessly.”
“We’re sorry. Please spare us...”
What the hell, you’re already dead.
Crack!
The leader slammed his head on the deck as soon as he surrendered, and I smashed it with my hammer.
And I tied up the rest and took control of the ship.
“Who’s the navigator?”
“I, I am!”
Phew, so the navigator is alive.
“Hey, you’re a mage, right?”
“......”
“Just nod. Can’t you answer?”
“Y-yes. I’m a mage...”
I separated the mage, who was the only one left.
“You’re the one who was sailing the other ship, right?”
“Y-yes.”
I also separated the guy who owned the other two ships.
And...
“The rest of you...”
“.......”
“Just go.”
“Huh? Where... on a ship...?”
Where else?
Crack, crack!
I took care of the remaining two, who were useless.
I then went to the stern and checked the ship’s condition.
The mana propulsion device was completely destroyed.
“Damn it.”
I was furious.
“You guys destroyed my ship...”
“...S-sorry.”
“Is ‘sorry’ enough to solve this?”
“.......”
They all hung their heads in shame at my mumble.
Damn it, what’s the point of being angry at them—
Splash, splash.
I heard splashing sounds from below.
‘Huh? What’s that...?’
I looked over the railing.
And...
“Ah.”
...I saw Amelia.
Did she swim all the way here?
“...A survivor!”
I said so and threw her a rope. Amelia grabbed it, and I pulled her up.
And...
“Schuitz, you really...”
“Huh?”
“Just take one hit.”
She punched me in the chest.