Naval Clash and Pirate Rout
The pirate ship Proc Ho sailed steadily toward Pirate Island. As it neared the island, a massive cannon blast greeted them.
Boom!
One of the pirate vessels had fired first at the ship carrying Namgung Seojun.
"How many enemy ships?!"
At the captain's shout, the lookout bellowed back, "Four ships!"
"Good. Battle stations!"
Kang Inho's command sent everyone aboard scattering to prepare for combat. Seojun summoned Sylph on deck, holding her ready for instant use as he awaited the captain's orders.
"Port side! Turn!"
The ship pivoted sharply at the command, lining up a firing angle. "Fire!"
The mana cannon crew echoed Kang Inho's order—"Fire!"—and unleashed a volley at the enemy.
Boom! Boom!
The powerful mana blasts roared out in succession, one slamming into the side of a pirate ship and sending it reeling.
"Nice! Close in!"
Proc Ho surged toward the pirate vessel to finish it off. As they drew nearer, the other distant pirate ships came into clearer view.
"Port side again, mana cannons ready?"
The gunners checked their positions. "Number one ready! Number two prepping!"
Spotting the other ships, the captain decided to sink the nearest first. "Fire the ready cannons!"
"Fire!"
The gunners let loose with the prepared barrel.
Boom!
A single shot, but a potent mana blast—and with the pirate ship stationary, it struck dead center. The mid-sized vessel began to list.
"Hit! Enemy ship sinking!"
"Good. Brace for pirate counterattack!"
They'd taken down one smoothly, but the pirates weren't sitting idle.
"Captain! The other three pirate ships closing fast!"
The pirates raced toward Proc Ho. Judging the party's mid-to-small ship weak in close quarters, they'd opted for boarding over bombardment.
"Evasive maneuvers! Max mana engines! Full sail!"
The mid-sized mana engines roared with heat, propelling them forward. Seojun aided with Sylph, boosting their speed even further.
"Pulling away from the pirate ships. But—they're firing!"
The pirates opened up with their mana cannons and regular guns. Ten blasts thundered across the waves. Proc Ho dodged as best it could while maneuvering, but two cannonballs hammered the protective barrier.
Thud! Thud!
The shield vibrated, cracks spiderwebbing across it.
"Reinforce the barrier!"
At the captain's call, Lee Guho cast his prepared spell. "Ice Shield."
A massive ice barrier enveloped the ship additionally. More pirate shots followed.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The attacks battered the hull but rebounded harmlessly off the sturdy ice shield, leaving only echoes.
"Any damage?"
"None!"
Confirming Proc Ho intact, Kang Inho bellowed, "Our turn—fire!"
From an optimal position, both mana cannons fired again.
Boom! Boom!
The strikes hit another pirate ship's weak spot precisely, sending the second vessel straight to the depths.
"Two left. Charge!"
Confident in his fighters' prowess, the captain ordered the assault, maintaining a strong barrier as they bore down on the pirates.
"Pretend to flee, then board 'em," the pirate captain ordered. His two ships scattered, feigning retreat.
Kang Inho sensed it might be a trap from experience but trusted the party's combat strength. "Follow the flagship!"
He pursued what looked like the command ship. The pirates tried to escape, but Proc Ho's superior maneuverability caught them.
Crunch!
A glancing collision rocked the vessels. The bosun seized the moment. "Grapples out! Boarding action!"
Crew hurled ten grapples at the pirate ship. As the gap closed, Seojun led the combat team swinging across ropes onto the deck.
"Wipe 'em out!"
Seojun headed straight for the captain's cabin.
"Stop him!"
Pirates rushed to block the path to the cabin, but Seojun's piercing thrusts dropped one after another.
"He's... too strong!"
They gave up trying to stop him, and Seojun burst into the cabin.
"Fuck... I'll kill you first!"
The duel with the pirate captain ignited instantly. Scanning with God's Eye, Seojun judged an aggressive push safe and pressed the attack.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seojun's superior skill dominated utterly. After a few clashes, spotting an opening, he flung a dagger.
Thwack!
"Argh!"
The blade sank into the pirate captain's foot, toppling him. Seojun struck without mercy, targeting the throat.
"Radiant Strike!"
Squelch!
The captain's head severed in a flash. He died without a proper scream.
Seojun emerged from the cabin, pirate captain's head in hand. Raising it high, he roared, "The captain's dead! Surrender! Surrender, and you'll live!"
His party members on deck joined in: "Surrender! Surrender, and you'll live!"
The pirates tossed weapons and raised hands. Some leaped into the sea rather than yield, but most surrendered. With the ship secured, the remaining pirate vessel fled into the distance.
The enemy was routed.
"We won!"
Cheers erupted from the allies, marking their first victory over the pirates.
Proc Ho towed the captured large pirate ship into Arhof harbor.
"Hooray! Hooray!!"
Villagers cheered endlessly. They'd returned after properly repelling the pirates who'd tormented them for years. Not all were destroyed, but capturing such a massive ship was a resounding triumph.
As the party disembarked, the high priest of the Nameless God greeted them with tearful joy. "Incredible! Truly magnificent, Apostle of the Lord—Namgung Seojun!"
Seojun credited the captain. "Captain handled this battle. I just assisted."
"Everyone was amazing."
Beaming, the high priest gestured to a modest feast in the village square. "We've prepared this specially for our village's saviors. Eat, drink, and make merry!"
The group enjoyed the infused liquor and local seafood dishes. While party members and crew reveled, Seojun and Li Zhangwei handled logistics.
"One, two, three, four..."
The flagship's brig held fifty surrendered pirates—not just from the ship, but those rescued from the sea too.
"Leader, what now?"
"Transfer them to the village jail first."
"But it barely fits fifty."
They could manage short-term, but future battles demanded planning.
"Convert this ship into a prison vessel?"
Li Zhangwei approved Seojun's idea. "The village shipwrights are skilled. Let's push for the refit."
The prison issue settled.
Gu Ingyu, an eleven-year-old boy living with his mother in Arhof, fished the beach at dawn to feed his family. Despite his youth, he worked diligently.
Splash! Splish!
A quick reel brought up a fish. He stowed it in his prepared bucket. Four decent-sized catches—enough for a family meal.
"Sweet. Fishing's been good lately."
With pirate raids gone, prime spots were accessible again. Ingyu and other fishermen saw bountiful hauls.
Daydreaming happily of his family's smiles, he fished on—until spotting a ship approaching.
"It's Proc Ho!"
The saviors led by the Apostle! Dropping his gear, Ingyu raced to the village.
"Ship! A ship's coming! Proc Ho's here!"
He dashed through Arhof, shouting. Villagers lit up.
"The Apostle's back!"
"Another win! Let's go welcome them!"
Everyone rushed to the docks.
"Woo! Woo!"
The crowd already there cheered the incoming ship.
"Victory again—total rout!"
"How many pirate ships has that small vessel captured now?"
"Two more this time."
"Over ten with the sunk ones!"
"Handling those vicious bastards so easily. Amazing!"
Ingyu screamed at the heroes on Proc Ho's deck. "The best! Apostle! The best!"
The little boy joined the triumphant roar.
The high priest could scarcely believe it. Seven mid-to-large ships lined the docks—all captured by Namgung Seojun's party in battles with pirates.
The village jail held fifty pirates; the refitted ship's brig, over three hundred more. Returning with two additional prizes seemed unreal.
As the group disembarked from Proc Ho, the high priest welcomed them warmly. "Safe return again—truly impressive!"
Even then, Seojun sounded regretful. "Thought we'd wipe out their fleet this time. Shame."
He lamented the five large ships remaining at Pirate Island, along with hordes of pirates.
"A bit more, and we can annihilate them. Just wait a little longer."
Seojun sensed victory over the pirates drawing near.