The sudden spell struck several members of Turtle King's Shield in rapid succession, sending shock through the ranks.
"Watch your backs!" someone shouted.
At some point, Seaweed Blade's mages had split into multiple squads, attacking the Dori XVII from every direction. Facing these dispersed and agile mages, the cannons suddenly seemed clumsy.
They were well-practiced in this kind of assault. Riding guild-customized skiffs, they launched swift ambushes. Over the years, they had destroyed countless enemies with this tactic.
"Forget the cannons, use magic!" someone yelled.
But before the reminder even finished, the rest of Turtle King's Shield had already reacted. Their innate magical talent might not have been exceptional, but they were far from lacking in combat experience.
Some raised wands and began casting.
Others drew out peculiar magical tools and activated them.
In an instant, magic of all kinds rained down upon the surrounding sea. Individually, none were particularly powerful, but combined, they swept through large swathes of enemies in a short time.
Even so, the remaining Sea Hunters continued to charge toward the ship.
Pasfield's eyes flickered with a trace of unease, but only a trace. He wasn't skilled in commanding battles, yet with his trump card available, he had no real worry for his own safety.
Drawing in a steady breath, he turned to the man beside him.
"Butler Jangsen, please handle this."
"Yes, Master." Jangsen answered calmly and stepped out of the ship's tower without another word.
Ur opened his eyes slightly, interest glinting across his face. He was curious about Jangerson's strength; if not for him, the butler would likely be the strongest on this ship.
Jangsen walked onto the deck with an impassive expression. Gazing at the Sea Hunters attacking from the rear of the Dori XVII, a cold light flickered in his eyes.
The next moment, before everyone's stunned gaze, Jangsen leapt dozens of meters in a single bound, like some legendary martial arts master. He landed squarely on an enemy skiff and, with one punch, blew a man's head apart. A swift kick followed, caving in another's chest and sending him plunging into the sea, blood blooming across the waves.
After clearing that boat, Jangsen leapt again, another dozen meters, to the next.
Three punches. Two kicks.
The ship's crew was sent to meet their maker. Then he moved on to the next vessel.
Jangsen's speed was astonishing. Even though the remaining enemies noticed him almost immediately, their magic couldn't lock onto his figure.
Once an ordinary mage allowed someone like Jangsen to close the distance, to say they stood no chance would have been generous.
It didn't take long.
The rear attacks were reduced by more than half. The survivors began to falter, panic spreading across their faces as some desperately tried to turn their boats and flee.
Watching this unfold, Ur's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
He had sensed Jangsen's strength, but he hadn't expected him to be a pure physical combatant rather than a mage.
In this world, it was far easier to cultivate a powerful mage than a warrior who relied solely on physical prowess. Yet in terms of protecting someone, a pure martial expert was often far more reliable. If an assassin managed to get close, a mage might struggle to save even themselves, let alone another person.
Tch. The depth of true nobility, Ur thought again.
Moments later, the Sea Hunters who had ambushed the Dori XVII were wiped out. Only broken bodies floated upon the sea, blood churning through the waves in a grim tableau.
In the distance, Bubuta's expression darkened.
He knew he had kicked a steel plate this time. But there was no choice. Their ship was already heavily damaged. If they didn't act, once it sank in the middle of this vast ocean, death would still be the only outcome.
As for simply asking for help?
The moment that the first cannonball fired, he knew that option was gone.
Grinding his teeth, Bubuta roared, "Everyone, follow me! Charge them!"
With that, he stepped onto a specially made skiff, channeling magic into its conduit. The small vessel shot forward at high speed toward the Dori XVII.
The others followed suit. Since their magic was weaker than Bubuta's, several men boarded each skiff, one supplying power, the rest casting spells ahead.
Cannons were formidable against ordinary low-level mages. But against someone at Bubuta's level, they were almost meaningless. Their speed alone made them difficult to land on a competent mage.
With a casual wave of his hand, Bubuta released a strange magic. The incoming cannonballs were intercepted midair, halted abruptly, then dropped harmlessly into the sea.
With Bubuta leading the charge, Seaweed Blade's remaining forces surged forward, closing in rapidly on the hull of the Dori XVII.
But at that moment, Jangsen moved again.
He sprang into the air and hurled a punch toward Bubuta. A terrifying shockwave erupted from his fist, crashing forward with overwhelming force.
Boom!
Magic across the sea boiled violently.
The skiff beneath Bubuta's feet seemed to bear unimaginable pressure in an instant, slamming the surface of the ocean into a deep concavity. Waves surged outward, rising into walls more than ten meters high. Water exploded in all directions. Massive swells spread across the sea. The Seaweed Blade members behind him cried out in alarm, faces pale as they clung desperately to their boats, fearing capsizing and death.
Yet the colossal wave, enough to rock even the massive Dori XVII, was soon subdued.
Strange magic welled up from the depths of the sea. Within mere seconds, the ocean returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.
Bubuta reappeared.
But this time, his face was grave. "A mercenary trained in fist power?"
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Next Chapter: The Power of Martial Arts
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