Volume 8 - Chapter 34 – Aquatic Battle (1/2)

08-34 Aquatic Battle

Content warning: death

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“Magic troops, fire! Keep firing!”

At the command of the branch head of the sixth division, Intact, the magic troops shot out [Flame Ball]s one after another.

“…But really, they don’t have a strategy or anything. Isn’t the branch head just an idiot?”

While protected from magic by the deployed [Barrier], Jin thought.

“Well, let’s keep on observing the situation for a bit longer. They’ll probably soon run out of Magic Energy and become unable to attack.”

Maintaining a [Barrier] required little Magic Energy, but [Flame Ball] required quite a lot.

Maybe because they realized [Flame Ball]s were making no progress, this time three [Flame Lance]s came flying.

But, those were also readily stopped by the [Barrier].

And with that, no more magic was shot.

“Branch head, everyone’s overtaxed their Magic Energy…”

The head of the magic troops reported with a blue face, but Intact simply kept being enraged.

“Useless! You’re all useless!”

At that moment, a shock ran through the boat they were on.

“Alright, Reiko, this time using steel rounds fire five shots at their boat.”

This time Jin wasn’t planning to use a lot of special attack manoeuvres.

At any rate, disregarding the railgun’s power, it was basically the same as a catapult or a slingshot which had equivalents in this world.

Although no matter what it was impossible for them to shoot at speeds surpassing Mach 20.

“Yes, Father.”

The [Barrier] was temporarily rescinded, and Reiko prepared to shoot the railgun.

“Ah, that’s right. There’s no need to use full power. Let’s see, five percent should be enough?”

“Understood.”

The opponents had a wooden ship. There was no way it had the means to stop a steel ball that had –even at five percent power– an initial velocity that surpassed the speed of sound.

As you’d expect the recoil made even Hydro-5 move about 10 meters backwards, but it returned to its original position right away.

On the other hand, to speak of the Unifilers’ boat.

The hull jolted together with a dull impact sound. If you looked you could see a girl on the small boat holding a long tube pointed towards their ship.

“Don’t tell me that’s a Magi Tool!?”

The eyes of the vice-head of the branch Marcello went wide in shock. But the branch head Intact, he panicked.

“Whawhawha, whaat!? What was that? Someone say something!!”

“Due to a mysterious attack, two of the four golems moving the ship have been damaged!”

“Numerous holes have appeared in the ship’s hull!”

That’s not what he wanted to hear, Intact yelled. Then, the ship jolted violently and inclined.

One of the shots hit below the waterline and the ship began to flood from there.

“A-aaaargh!”

In his panic, Intact summoned the all-purpose golem.

“Yes-branch-head.”

“H-hold me! Listen, don’t let go until I tell you to!”

“Yes-sir.”

Because he couldn’t stand on top of the ship’s deck, Intact used his only remaining secret weapon, the all-purpose golem to hold his body up.

“Sigh, now I can relax. How is the damage? What in the world was that attack?”

When this late in the game Intact could only put on airs of dominance, Marcello began thinking that it’s about time to wash his hands off the man.

“You bastards! Are you people really going to silently accept this incomprehensible attack!? Shoot your bows, throw your spears, anything! If the magic troops have recovered even a little then fire your magic!”

And so on, Intact kept yelling orders.

Then two archers heeded the commands and stood up on the side of the ship to aim at Hydro-5.

The archers were certainly skilled, as they shot two arrows from the shaking and slanted ship towards Hydro-5 without erring.

However, before they reached Hydro-5, they were stopped by the [Barrier] and fell down to the water.

Then, simply as payback, three steel rounds were fired, two of which hit below the waterline. One of them pierced through the cabin.

“Hull damaged! It’s impossible to repair! Water is coming in!”

A report came from the cabin. Marcello gave a sidelong glance at the ranting and raving Intact and gave his orders.

“This ship is already lost. Everyone abandon ship. Even a plank will do, find something that looks like will keep you afloat and jump into the water with it! ”

“Y-y-y-you imbecile, Marcello, you say you bastards are going to abandon the ship!?”

While hooting and hollering in his agitation, Intact drew closer to Marcello.

At that moment, two more shots hit the ship. One of them destroyed the right arm of the all-purpose golem. The all-purpose golem lost its balance and fell into the river taking Intact with it.

“Aaaaaaaagh…”