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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 140: Response and Hunt
The Demon Spider Vice Admiral gripped eight knives, waiting for Xiaqiu to arrive, intending to kill him in one swift motion.
However, as seconds ticked by, Xiaqiu still did not appear.
"Has he left?"
Oni Spider pondered, slowly retracting his longsword. He then asked, "What’s the situation with the leaks below?"
"Admiral, the ship's hull has been struck four times, resulting in three breaches. Two of the breaches can be patched up with some effort, but two strikes hit the same spot, creating a larger hole that has damaged five compartments. The buoyancy has been compromised, and that section of the hull is already experiencing some weightlessness," a colonel replied.
The Super Battleship was long and had large compartments; one compartment was roughly equivalent to two compartments of a large Battleship.
If a large Battleship were hit twice, it would be on the verge of sinking.
"We still have two-thirds of the distance to Judgment Island."
Oni Spider furrowed his brow, contemplating for a moment before asking, "Colonel Harris, what is the nearest island to us? How far away is it?"
"The closest is Savinth Island, approximately thirty nautical miles from here," Colonel Harris quickly responded.
Oni Spider couldn't help but inquire, "I remember there’s a town on Savinth Island, right? Is there a Navy outpost there?"
Harris shook his head. "No, Savinth isn’t very large; it only has one town and is known as a pirate supply point along the third shipping route."
"If we head back against the wind using the outer wheel, we should reach Savinth Island in about five hours at a speed of six knots."
Oni Spider nodded and said, "Notify Major General Komir to take another Super Battleship to Savinth Island."
Colonel Harris quickly asked, "What do you mean?"
Demon Spider Vice Admiral replied, "We'll wait for them there. The distance from the G5 branch to Savinth Island is approximately one hundred ninety nautical miles. If they use the outer wheel and push to their limits, they can reach a speed of around ten knots, which means they should arrive at Savinth Island in about ten hours. That works perfectly for us to set out again tomorrow morning."
Nearby, a Commodore asked, "Admiral, are we heading back?"
"That's right."
Oni Spider nodded. "The remaining distance is about three hundred eighty nautical miles. At our speed, with favorable winds, we can manage eight to ten knots. It will take us over forty, nearly fifty hours to arrive. I can't maintain constant vigilance alone. Therefore, we need to go to Savinth Island and meet up with Major General Komir before both battleships head to Judgment Island together."
The Commodore couldn't help but ask, "Admiral, are we being overly cautious? That Sea Kings was injured by you; it probably won't come back."
"That doesn't mean we can let our guard down."
Demon Spider Vice Admiral waved his hand dismissively. "The attack patterns of this Sea Kings are quite unusual, and there are important individuals on board the warship. Their crimes have reached the ears of Lord Akainu. Don't forget the relationship between the lord of Deep Green City and Lord Akainu. We cannot afford any mistakes; we must remain vigilant."
"We'll get right on it." The Commodore hurried toward the bow to relay the orders.
Oni Spider sat aside and closed his eyes.
For the next three hours, he planned to guard this spot, waiting until they headed to Savinth Island before going ashore to rest.
Under his command, the Battleship slowly turned around and headed towards the distant sea.
"Are they heading back?"
Xiaqiu noticed the Battleship's change in direction from afar and found it somewhat strange.
Are they planning to return?
Logically, the Battleship had been attacked by the Sea Kings, and with the Sea Kings injured and leaving, the chances of them coming back were slim.
Based on the Seastone beneath the Naval Battleship, they should consider this a random occurrence rather than a deliberate attack.
Why choose to go back now?
But they had spent twelve hours here, and now with their Vessel damaged and facing headwinds, it would likely take them more than thirty hours to return.
Their decision to go back must mean they considered themselves a threat, believing they could sink the ship.
Thirty hours is a long journey; even if Oni Spider is powerful, it cannot remain vigilant at all times.
Along the way, there would still be many opportunities to attack the Naval Battleship, enough to sink it.
So they might not intend to return to the Branch Base, and even if they do go back, they will need to change ships before setting out again, but there will be many ships available for departure.
Given this situation, why can't the Battleship come to find them?
In the ocean of the Grand Line, tracking each other is quite difficult. The personnel left at the G5 Branch Base might have the Vice Admiral's Life Card, which could help locate them. If both sides move towards each other, they could probably converge on the Surface of the Sea in about six hours.
Alternatively, they could gather at a certain island.
Moreover, what if there is a Branch Base on that island? It would be much more convenient and quicker to send someone for support directly.
Xiaqiu was sensing the magnetism of the return route to the island; he had encountered that magnetism before and estimated it to be about twenty-five nautical miles away.
If this Battleship were to head there, it would likely take about five hours or even less.
However, if that island has a Branch Base sending a ship to meet them, then the time would be even shorter.
He couldn't allow the Vice Admiral to return to shore; he had to choose the shortest route and minimize the time further.
If the destination island indeed had a Branch Base sending a ship to greet them, then that base's vessel would likely be a large Battleship. With his current strength, he could break its keel with one hit and sink it completely with two.
Thus, Xiaqiu needed to maneuver ahead of the Battleship, preventing any contact while ensuring he could sink this Sea Vessel in a short amount of time.
"In that case..."
Xiaqiu felt a bit troubled. The time was not long, and Oni Spider could remain on the deck, while he had to attack, which would expose him to its strikes.
He was decisive.
Xiaqiu had encountered many enemies, and everyone who faced him was quite careless, treating him as an ordinary Sea King.
Even if they were somewhat wary of him, their assumptions about his strength and speed were greatly diminished.
The greatest underestimation came from intelligence.
Oni Spider was very cautious and made a swift retreat. He didn't know why it was so resolute, but it indeed put him in a difficult position.
No need to rush.
Xiaqiu did not immediately launch an attack but instead followed the Battleship forward.
...
"What happened up there?"
In the cage, the imprisoned Fang Pirate Crew's captain was a tall man in his thirties with a fierce expression. A snake coiled around his neck, its head resting on his left cheek, mouth open and flicking its tongue.
His hands were bound with Seastone Handcuffs. Frowning, he asked, "The ship trembled several times just now, and there were many loud noises outside. What's going on?"
"Perhaps it was an Attack!"
Next to him stood a strong young man with red hair and a burn scar on his left cheek, his hands and feet shackled with iron cuffs.
"It would be great if there was an Attack. We could take advantage of the chaos to escape," the tall man sneered.
"Captain, do you think that's possible?"
Not far away sat a Green Girl, her left arm adorned with a scorpion tattoo, her hands bound in Seastone Handcuffs. She said boredly, "Who could Attack a Vice Admiral? And if the ship sinks, we'll die too."
"Then we all die together."
The tall man snorted coldly. "No one has ever escaped from Impel Down except for the legendary Golden Lion. With our crimes, once we enter, there's no way out. If that's the case, it's better to die."
The others fell silent at his words, but just then, a voice came from outside, "Shut up!"
A figure appeared at the door, glaring coldly at them.
"Understood."
The tall man withdrew and fell silent.
Under the Surface of the Sea, Xiaqiu closely followed the Battleship.
As time passed, Xiaqiu noticed a problem: the Battleship was not heading in the same direction it had come from, but rather towards another Magnetism point.
In other words, they indeed planned to meet at the next island.
He couldn't let them reach the island, so he had to launch an attack before they landed.
Xiaqiu silently decided this but continued to wait, intending to delay as much as possible within the time limit.
One reason was that he hoped to exhaust the Demon Spider Vice Admiral's stamina. Being on high alert would keep him tense. If Xiaqiu could wait until he relaxed, even if the effect was minimal, it would still be beneficial.
Additionally, he was continuously feeding in the sea, using Evolutionary Energy to heal his wounds.
So Xiaqiu kept waiting as time ticked away.
After a while, Xiaqiu submerged into the ocean, hunting for fish. After consuming a portion, Heat Flow appeared, and his muscles began to heal.
Two hours later, Xiaqiu fed again; his scales started to grow slowly, but they were not fully restored yet.
As for his bone plates and dorsal fin, the strength from feeding was still insufficient for him to recover from his injuries.
His dorsal fin was completely severed; it would take at least three or four hours for him to heal.
After two meals, half an hour had passed.
Xiaqiu felt a bit hungry again, but this time, he did not eat.
He wanted to save some space for the Navy.
Feeling the increasing Magnetism in the distance, Xiaqiu knew that he was not far from his destination. He swayed his body and charged forward once more.
...
“It’s been over two hours, Admiral. Why don’t you go back and rest?” Not far away, Commodore John approached.
“We’re almost there. Just wait a little longer,” Oni Spider replied coldly, not moving an inch.
“Alright, then we’ll wait with you,” Commodore John and Colonel Harris stayed by his side, not daring to leave the deck.
On this ship, aside from Vice Admiral Oni Spider, there was one Commodore, two Colonels, as well as two Lieutenant Colonels and two Majors.
Commodore John was one of his subordinates, always accompanying him on voyages. He was quite capable and could engage in battle with enemies.
In the past, there had only been one Colonel responsible for daily vigilance, but now they were tasked with watching over the Fang Pirate Crew. Although some were restrained by Seastone Handcuffs and others by chains, along with cages made of Seastone, they still required dedicated supervision.
The people around remained vigilant, but most had relaxed their spirits. Even Oni Spider was no exception; he did not maintain Observation Haki at all times but had already released it. Otherwise, Observation Haki would deplete quickly.
But in that moment, the ship creaked loudly.
Oni Spider's figure flickered as he rushed to the edge of the ship without having time to grab the Six Blades nearby. He swung his dual blades, unleashing a Wave Slash that struck the shadow beneath the sea.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Wave Slashes flew out one after another, but the shadow sank deeper, disappearing into the depths.
Sure enough, they were attacking.
"Give me the swords."
As Oni Spider spoke, one of his subordinates handed him six swords. He controlled them with his head and then transformed, his body growing larger as his rear became that of a spider.
He took hold of the additional six swords, controlling them with his head once more, and activated Observation Haki, waiting quietly.
However, this time, after a while had passed, there was still no sign of an attack.
"The location of the attack is where we were last attacked. We just covered it with planks, but now there's a large hole next to it. Not only has the patched area been breached again, but the hole is even bigger and has affected buoyancy. The ship is slowing down once more," a Major reported.
"Damn it."
Oni Spider's expression darkened; the ship's speed had decreased again. What should have taken an hour would now take much longer.
The Sea Kings moved to attack again, which meant that for the past few moments, it had been following him closely.
Not only that, but it also targeted the point of impact, as if it intended to deliberately widen the opening.
The hole could be repaired and had a relatively minor impact on buoyancy, but a larger opening would allow more water to enter, threatening multiple compartments at once.
Thus, this Sea Kings was quite clever.
“Austen, when it attacks again, you jump down and fight it,” Oni Spider said coldly from a distance.
“What?” Commodore Austen was momentarily taken aback. He looked at Oni Spider and asked, “You want me to fight it? But I might not…”
It was a creature that even the Demon Spider Vice Admiral couldn’t kill in three strikes; his chances of victory seemed slim.
“It’s already injured. I’ve attacked it three times and inflicted numerous wounds. Even if it’s still alive, it won’t last much longer,” Oni Spider replied. “When it comes again, I’ll strike to worsen its injuries. You go down to engage it; even if you can’t defeat it, just hold it off while I attack from above.”
“Understood.”
Austen immediately agreed. The Demon Spider Vice Admiral was right; after three attacks, if the Sea Kings came again, no matter how strong it was, it was just a Sea Kings on the brink of death. When he went into the water, he would have a chance to kill it.
Killing him would be a great achievement.
Austen quickly found two Harpoons. He was skilled with a longsword, but in the water, a Spear Gun was more suitable.
He stood in the center of the deck, waiting quietly. After fifteen minutes had passed without the Oni Spider's arrival, he had no choice but to release his Observation Haki.
He was proficient in Haki, but his Observation Haki was relatively weak, and Haki had its limits. Expanding his range of perception to cover the entire ship was something he couldn't maintain for long.
In the blink of an eye, another ten minutes went by.
Boom.
The ship trembled as the Oni Spider leaped to the edge of the vessel, drawing eight blades simultaneously.
"Eight Sword Style Secret Technique: Web."
The Nonsense Wave Slash shot out, forming a Web that pierced through the water and struck Xiaqiu's body.
Puff Puff Puff.
Xiaqiu's back was once again damaged, its bony plates completely shattered, and its second dorsal fin had its spines broken as well.
In addition to the previous attack, Xiaqiu's scales were torn apart again, its muscles exploded, and the wound on its head was deep enough to expose bone.
It hurts so much.
Xiaqiu felt a sharp pain radiating from his head, but he endured it. He had already collided six times. Two large holes, two breaches; the hull's integrity was diminishing, and water continued to pour in, the balance of buoyancy nearing destruction.
If another large hole were to form, the ship would slowly sink.
Gritting his teeth, Xiaqiu dove deeper.
At that moment, Austen's figure flashed above on the deck, appearing beside Oni Spider. He stepped onto the ship's side, gripping the Harpoon tightly. With a bend of his legs, he propelled himself forward.
Boom.
Austen plunged into the water, charging towards the shadow that was diving downwards, his hands thrusting the Harpoon downward with force.
"Die."
Austen's Harpoon aimed for Xiaqiu's head, piercing through the wound, tearing through muscle and striking bone with a sharp crack.
"Next time, I'll pierce your brain."
Austen withdrew his Spear Gun, preparing to attack again.
But Xiaqiu had already descended further below. Austen's figure swayed as he pushed off with his legs, ready to pounce on Xiaqiu once more, just as he lifted the Harpoon again.
In the next moment, a massive tentacle lashed out.
Bang.
Austen sensed the shadow approaching and raised his Harpoon to defend himself. The tentacle struck the Harpoon, the force jolting him momentarily, but he remained uninjured.
"What is this?"
In the dark ocean, Austen couldn't see what was attacking him. He was taken by surprise when suddenly struck.
Xiaqiu took the opportunity to dive deeper, creating some distance.
"Trying to escape?"
Austen snorted coldly and pursued once more. But in that instant, Xiaqiu suddenly twisted its body and swung its front claws.
I’m not diving to flee; I’m creating some space to turn around and attack you.
Xiaqiu's enormous claw came crashing down towards Austen. He raised his Harpoon again, crossing it to block.
Bang.
The claw hit the Harpoon, shattering it instantly before slamming into him.
Bang.
Austen's upper body was struck by a claw, his head exploding instantly, ribs shattered, spine bent, and his body fell backward.
Crack.
Xiaqiu turned around and bit into his body, diving downward.
Not bad in strength, either a Colonel or a Commodore. Eating him would increase her own power.
Thank you for the meal.
Xiaqiu closed her jaws tightly, crushing him and swallowing him whole.
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