Lex controlled the flames to burn around his body, increasing their output so that his figure was completely obscured by the blaze, simulating Shevic's Incarnation as flames.
This trick couldn't fool a demigod, but it was more than enough to scare the Soldiers on the ship. Next, Lex shot flames from his feet, lifting himself into the air, making it look more convincing.
He spread his hands, released his spirituality, and condensed spheres of crimson-yellow fireballs.
Watching the blaze ascend and then fireballs appear in mid-air, the Boatswain was too nervous to speak, unsure of what that esteemed Your Excellency intended to do.
The Navy Soldiers on night watch on the warships were all drawn to the blaze in mid-air. No one was sleepy anymore, and they quietly discussed Shevic's purpose in doing this.
Just then, they heard a majestic voice from within the flames: "Long live the Loen Kingdom!"
Following this, the fireballs locked onto the surrounding warships, whistling down from mid-air, striking masts, landing on decks, and hitting bows.
For a time, explosions erupted one after another, crimson surging, and waves of flame reaching the sky. Whether impacted by the flames or not, a series of warships, including the flagship, experienced violent secondary explosions from within, seemingly due to their ammunition depots being ignited.
The ammunition depots of these warships were indeed ignited, but it wasn't the work of those fireballs. Instead, Lex's spirituality remained in the matchboxes he had thrown earlier.
When he threw the fireballs, he simultaneously used the residual spirituality to create flames and ignite the explosives, causing more violent secondary explosions. The purpose of this was to make his 'performance' appear more in line with the power level of a demigod.
Under the secondary explosions of numerous warships, countless flames erupted from the ships like volcanic eruptions. These warships were blown to smithereens, and who knows how many Soldiers were directly engulfed in the sea of fire. The lucky ones also turned into fireballs, screaming as they fell into the water.
Immediately, a line of sunken ships appeared on the sea surface, their fragments drifting with the current, residual fires burning, illuminating various spots, thick smoke billowing, and sparks scattering, painting the sky above the sea a fiery red.
Amidst this crimson, the mass of flames suspended in mid-air shot out a long tail of fire, instantly breaking through the air and vanishing into the vast night.
At the base, lights in the barracks came on. Then, Soldiers, clad only in jackets and carrying rifles, rushed out. They had thought the base was under attack, but when they reached the vicinity of the base's pier, they heard someone shouting.
"Shevic is crazy! He attacked the fleet. At least a third of the ships are unusable; they've all sunk."
"I heard him shout 'Long live Loen!' He's a traitor!"
Among those who rushed over upon hearing the commotion was Major Cockerel. Hearing the accusations from the Sailors who had fallen into the water, a thought involuntarily arose in the Major's mind: Shevic truly has a problem!
"Why is it so noisy outside?"
On the east side of the base, there was a two-story wooden building, a residence specially built for the supreme commander. However, Shevic rarely stayed there. If it weren't for the fact that the Golden Spring Villa's lodging had been exposed tonight, he wouldn't have stayed here.
At this moment, the supreme commander of the Feysac Empire on Sonia Island was awakened from his sleep by the explosions. He quickly donned his jacket and pushed open the door to his bedroom.
In the narrow corridor, his giant secretary, Levto, could only barely fit by bowing his head slightly. Seeing Shevic, he bowed slightly and then reported: "Your Excellency, there seems to have been an explosion at the pier. I've already sent someone to inquire about it."
"Explosion?"
Shevic snorted and said, "Let's go, we'll take a look."
But as they walked out of the small building, a team of people, full of Aura, headed straight for it. Shevic recognized the person in the lead; it was a Naval Colonel, whose power was second only to his own at the base.
Otto. Einhorn, an Admiral of the Feysac Empire Navy. The other Iron-Blooded Knight, Yegor Einhorn, was his uncle.
Recalling that Yegor Einhorn and he always disagreed, Shevic naturally didn't give Otto a good look now. He immediately snorted, expressing his displeasure.
The Naval Colonel rode his horse forward. The demigod snorted, and his spiritual fluctuations naturally spread. The warhorse was startled, neighed, and reared up, throwing Otto off.
But as a Conspirer, Otto was not so easily thrown to the ground by a warhorse. He quickly adjusted his landing posture, landed steadily, and then stood up.
Seeing Shevic, a look of surprise appeared on his face, which perplexed Shevic. It seemed that in Otto's mind, he shouldn't have been present right now. What was going on?
"Colonel Otto, what happened at the pier?" As Shevic's secretary, Levto dutifully asked this crucial question on Shevic's behalf.
Otto's eyes changed constantly, then he lowered his head and respectfully said: "Esteemed Your Excellency Shevic, we were attacked. Including the 'Gorshkov', twenty-three of our warships exploded and sank."
"What!"
Shevic could no longer restrain himself and cried out in a low voice: "My 'Gorshkov' sank? Who did it!"
The dozen or so officers who came with Otto looked at each other, all turning to Otto.
Otto raised his head and looked at Shevic, saying: "Your Excellency, according to the survivors' accounts, they unanimously stated that Your Excellency Shevic caused this tragedy."
Boom!
A circle of flames spread out around Shevic, scaring the officers into retreating quickly. After a moment, Shevic said word by word: "Say that again!"
Otto lowered his head and said: "Your Excellency, we also don't know what happened. We can only compile this into a report and send it to our Navy base in the Sonia Sea via the royal messenger."
"Before the decision from above comes down, we hope Your Excellency can remain at the base."
Levto immediately roared: "Absurd! Do you suspect Your Excellency? I can testify that Your Excellency has been in the small building all night and could not possibly have blown up the warships!"
Otto was not so polite when facing the giant secretary. He raised his head and retorted: "Then, are you suggesting that hundreds of survivors conspired to slander Your Excellency Shevic? Why would they do that?"
Levto was instantly speechless.
Shevic said coldly: "Clearly, this is a Loen Conspiracy. What you saw should have been a performance by a Faceless beyonder."
Otto lowered his head again, saying with an impeccable attitude: "We dare not assert the truth. Everything awaits the decision of the Navy base."
Just then.
A faint smell of gunpowder and blood suddenly appeared on the scene. Everyone felt as if they had arrived on a battlefield filled with smoke. Illusory, sparkling thick smoke quietly appeared, and after a moment, a Knight in full armor walked out of the smoke.
The Knight's armor was blood-stained, and even several arrows were stuck in the gaps of his armor. His cape was tattered, and the battle spear in his hand had cracks.
The Iron-Blooded Knight, as if just returned from the battlefield, walked before everyone, silently took out a thick letter, and handed it to Otto.
Otto took it, and seeing the Navy base's seal on the envelope, his spirits lifted.
At this time, the Knight messenger had already turned and left, his figure merging into the thick smoke. Soon, the illusory thick smoke disappeared, along with the messenger's figure, vanishing without a trace.