82. Ghost Fleet (1)
The Ghost Fleet's sudden appearance. And not some ragtag armada of nothing but fishing boats, but a proper fleet—including warships from the Republic of Korea Navy.
Uncovering the fact that a ghost fleet was truly prowling the East Sea was good news in itself. However...
Troublesome.
With Seol-hwa's help, Kim Tae-sik—who had somehow steadied himself and taken command of the Pohang fleet—deemed it a problem.
He hadn't anticipated a proper naval battle with zombies. His plan had been limited to recovering or destroying fishing boats adrift and turned into ghost ships.
Most are fishing boats, but the ghost fleet has real warships. They have a clear numerical edge.
Even assuming ghost ships in the East Sea, he'd envisioned boarding assaults by awakened marines. His fleet was built around high-speed boats and patrol ships for coastal defense.
In short, Kim Tae-sik's current command lacked the firepower for a full naval engagement. It was strictly a coastal patrol force.
Facing a ghost fleet with confirmed warships in this state? Too many disadvantages.
If those ships retain Republic of Korea-era performance, overwhelming victory on specs alone is unlikely.
Pohang's tech and performance edge wasn't decisive enough to mention. The enemy fleet comprised Korean fishing vessels and warships—same as theirs. Performance would be comparable, maybe a slight Pohang advantage at best.
Numerical disadvantage. Roughly equal specs.
"What now, sir?"
"Hmm."
Division Commander Kim Tae-sik's instinct screamed for an immediate retreat from East Sea waters. But he was just the captain now; overall command rested with Baek Seol-hwa.
No authority for unilateral retreat. Consulting her was protocol.
Dragon God Bahamut's contractor. If she unleashes that power...
Even in this dire spot, Kim Tae-sik and his crew had one anchor: their top commander, Baek Seol-hwa, was a Dragon Priestess bound to Dragon God Bahamut.
High odds of some divine stratagem or special magic they couldn't predict. Thus, Kim Tae-sik cautiously sought her input.
"Perfect timing. Something to test against this ghost fleet."
"Test?"
Seol-hwa met the captain's question without a flicker—ghost fleet dead ahead—flashing a confident smile instead. She rose lightly from the command chair, as if she'd been awaiting their arrival, and issued her order as Dragon Priestess to Kim Tae-sik.
"Maintain patrol ships at a safe distance from the ghost fleet."
"You have a plan?"
This was tantamount to plotting a course right into their midst—for engagement. Kim Tae-sik had to ask.
Blind charges without ops plans weren't soldierly. He had zero intention of throwing away lives on pointless rushes.
Sensing his unease, Seol-hwa beamed and elaborated.
"Yes. Magic imparted by Lord Bahamut, shall we say? Gained through our contract. He just ordered me to test it on the ghost fleet."
"Indeed...! A direct order from Lord Bahamut?"
"Exactly. No need for fear, everyone. Victory's in our grasp."
Kim Tae-sik knew Dragon Priestesses' prowess firsthand now. He'd even witnessed Bahamut's magic once—impossible not to expect great things from his teachings.
Rumors swirled about Choi Yu-na's power, and Seol-hwa had long been Pohang's top awakener warrior. As Dragon Priestess? She might eclipse ordinary awakeners here.
Well, just recalling her abilities in her prime... No reason to fear that rabble!
Kim Tae-sik revisited Seol-hwa's pre-Pohang liberation feats. Even those would suffice.
She'd been their sturdiest ally. Now contracted to Dragon God Bahamut? Top-tier awakener on the peninsula.
"Heard the Dragon Priestess? Hold distance, pursue the ghost flotilla."
"Roger."
Kim Tae-sik forged his own conviction from that logic, obeying faithfully. Miracles he'd witnessed firsthand left no room for doubt.
Seol-hwa just needed to prove it.
The marines and crew biding time on patrol ships and speedboats doubtless thought the same.
"Rough seas."
Slipping expectant stares, Seol-hwa exited the bridge for the deck, idly noting the gale-whipped waves from the ghost fleet's advent.
The sea, placid moments ago, now churned violently. Yet her demeanor held no fear.
After all...
[Indeed. Proof this ghost fleet's no ordinary spectral rabble.]
"Really ghost-operated?"
[We'll see up close.]
She hadn't told Kim Tae-sik, but Dragon God Bahamut watched through her eyes, sharing vision in real time, issuing directives.
For Bahamut, this was Balhut Cult's inaugural naval push. He oversaw it closely.
Her poise stemmed from knowing the Dragon God guarded her.
"Kinda scary."
[Fear not. I stand with thee.]
"I know, Dragon God."
Fight ahead might terrify, but Dragon God Bahamut was beside her. Thus, Seol-hwa projected bravery for the watching marines, crew, and Kim Tae-sik—striding boldly onto deck.
Leading as the fearless hero? Her specialty.
"Kieeeek!"
Envious of her valor? A ghost drifting near the fleet unleashed a piercing shriek.
The wail tightened Seol-hwa's chest. She grabbed the comm, radioing Kim Tae-sik in the bridge.
"Headache incoming. You inside okay?"
"Dizzy, somewhat."
Likely the ghost's scream. The bridge muffled external noise effectively—less impact than deck-side—but marines hit full-force were still delirious or cowering deep in holds.
[Undead inducing status ailments via its own screech. A banshee? Banshee wails kill outright, though. Subspecies, perhaps.]
"Call 'em banshees, then. That scream's insta-kill for us anyway."
[Fair point.]
Bahamut observed detachedly, naming the floating specter a banshee.
He noted the instant-death lore casually, but the cries were already breaking awakened marines—will shattered, fleeing to bowels.
To mortals, banshee-tier horror. Seol-hwa proposed the name; Bahamut concurred.
Witnessing screaming marines, he commanded her on the spot.
[Banshee shrieks tax even stout awakeners. Time to begin.]
"Yes. Light salvo, then. Boom!"
Boom!
Seol-hwa's magic peaked over the East Sea.
A seeming fishing boat engulfed in cataclysmic blast—mushroom cloud blooming, hull aflame.
Keel critically breached in seconds; it ground to halt, settling slow.
Distant banshees unscathed, but obstructing fishing boats sank one after another.
"Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom!"
Seol-hwa detonated every blocking trawler.
Zombie-infested husks—no salvage value worth the risk, slim survivor odds.
No hesitation: she shattered keels wholesale, clearing path, escorting the patrol ship into banshee-perception range.
[Fitting: fishing boat fleet.]
"Yes. Tae-sik, hold this range. Pull back on my word."
"Roger."
Even foreign trawlers? Endless swarm drew Bahamut's wry fishing boat fleet.
As patrol crept forward, blockers multiplied.
Zombies swarming decks menaced—but military hull dwarfed them. Ghostly menace preyed psychologically on bridge marines and Kim Tae-sik.
"No reaction from the apparent flagship yet."
Seol-hwa methodically sank obstacles, parting the way. Patrol vanguard closed to visual ID range.
Large warship—likely command—emerged. Seol-hwa noted its inaction.
[Banshees launching instead. Test my imparted magic.]
Intercept planned? No boats or birds—ghosts surged, drifting toward patrol and speedboats.
Terror gripped hold marines. Bahamut noted deployments coolly, ordering the trump card.
"Leave it to me, Dragon God."
As Seol-hwa readied her ace...
"Torpedo boat flanking starboard!"
"What!?"
Mystery speedboat materialized beside patrol, charging.
Kim Tae-sik startled but barked,
"Escorts, intercept!"
Flanking speedboats sortied instantly.
"Kieeeek!"
Banshee wails swelled toward the interceptors.
"Wh-what! Nooo! Run! Help!"
The shrieks stripped marines' valor raw.
Terror-maddened, they lashed at comrades.
[Predicted: scream force-instills fear. Seol-hwa faring well?]
"Fine here. Dragon Priestess, bound to Bahamut—no fear."
[Good...]
Bahamut admired her grit.
And...
"Then, behold the Dragon God's gift."
Per divine order, mana surged. Contract magic invoked.
Turn Undead