Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 705 - 606: The Legendary Battle

At this moment, emerald-colored luminous butterflies were dancing around Aiven, and his body began to gradually fade, as if about to merge into the air.

"Heh, I didn't expect Hawkins to be so impatient. I thought he would at least start with a few conventional moves by force just for appearances' sake."

However, Aiven could also understand Hawkins's choice.

Since the "Ilya Republic" needed to achieve the feat of one against five with its own strength, it naturally had to leverage its greatest advantage. An orderly confrontation of forces was obviously inadvisable.

The art of war itself is about creating local superior forces, to win more with less and to overpower the weak with the strong. The Extraordinary World is the same; capturing the opponent's weak points to expand one's own advantage is the correct strategy.

Finally, he turned his head to look at the three gray-robed men standing with Anita, his voice a bit cold:

"Gentlemen, this battle is your opportunity to prove your worth. Protect my sister with your lives. You are well aware of the consequences of any slip-up."

Previously, Aiven had already released the three peak-level Evil Alchemists he had captured when breaking the "Mechanical Immortality School," and had returned their {Prosthetic Body} to them.

No matter what, they were all peak level Tier 2 Wizards, with combat power comparable to Tier 3, and their productive capabilities stood at the pinnacle of the secular world. Such useful tools, how could Aiven be willing to give them up?

Before advancing to an Upper-Rank Wizard, he was worried they might turn against him. Now, however, he no longer had such concerns.

Before their ultimate knowledge {Intelligent Mechanical Template} (capable of helping the school's Official Wizards transform into a conglomerate of thought, energy, and information, freely switching bodies within various mechanical bodies, achieving spiritual immortality) successfully materialized.

Their brains, as the foundation of their existence, were already completely under the control of Aiven, this Great Wizard of the flesh realm. Even merely having any bad thoughts would bring unbearable pain, let alone betrayal or half-heartedness.

And the three Wizards had long since seen the situation clearly and chose to cooperate.

Whoosh—

They tore off the obstructive gray robes on their bodies, revealing their glittering golden metal bodies. They took out power heavy hammers, chainsaw swords, and steam-powered hand cannons from their "Magic Pockets," and deeply bowed to him to assure:

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, we will do everything in our power to protect Miss Anita's safety!"

Then, nodding slightly to his sister, Aiven disappeared completely among the suddenly rising luminous butterflies.

Whoosh—

Reappearing, he had already arrived on the bridge of the {Legendary Battleship: Crown of Miracles}. At the same time, this battleship, riding the emerald-colored river of light, had already sailed out from the dream of sea creatures, appearing in the ocean of the material world.

Facing from afar the legendary battleship emerging from underwater.

{Legendary Battleship Skill: Dream Cruise} 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Effect: Break the barrier between the Dream Realm and the material world, allowing free passage in material form. It can even use the Spirit Realm as a transit point for ultra-long-range teleportation of physical objects, achieving long-distance troop deployment.

"Captain!"

Mei, the "Ship Spirit" dressed in a neat female military uniform, solemnly saluted Aiven.

Aiven returned the salute:

"Order, activate weapon systems, unlock permissions, enter combat status!"

"As you command!"

Immediately.

Extraordinary spiritual light flowed through the techniques and rituals pervading the entire battleship, and the black battleship quietly floating on the water suddenly seemed like a giant beast waking from slumber, baring its claws and fangs!

Aiven walked to the main driving position at the very front of the bridge.

At this moment, dressed in a gemstone armament, Olivia had long entered her semi-covered co-pilot seat.

The sapphire-like shining stripes on the girl's body echoed with the engravings of the console, her spiritual radiance and magic power already connected with the battleship.

Pulling her gaze away from the various sizes of light screens before her, she nodded slightly to Aiven confirming everything was normal.

Apart from Olivia, who had already advanced to a senior-level Official Wizard serving as the human auxiliary unit on the legendary battleship, there was no third person on this ship.

Aiven wasn't worried that a legendary battleship with a ship spirit would cause an "Intelligent Mechanical Crisis."

Rather, it was because, although Mei's learning ability was extremely strong and now making her autopilot was entirely reassuring, in a battle between legendary battleships of the same level, battlefield judgment capabilities were also very important.

For instance, when there's only one chance to take action, whether to rescue an ally within the same faction or to continue attacking, the immature ship spirit couldn't undertake such a task.

Until sitting in his own main driving position, listening to the increasingly loud splashes outside, Aiven had the time to carefully observe the {Legendary Battleship: Sea Soul} a kilometer away.

This was a deep blue battleship equivalent in size to a Level 1 Battleship, with a strange material that didn't seem to be wood.

The overall structure wasn't much different from a regular battleship, just appearing lower, somewhat like the "Venus" after smoothing off the fore and aft decks.

On the deck were three rearward-tilting masts resembling fish fins, with sails like white clouds perpetually flowing. The bow had no ship's figurehead but protruded with an octopus-headed "Ship Spirit" resembling a bubble.

Combining intelligence from the "Tempest Church," it was easy to deduce: Hawkins had indeed acquired extraordinary materials from the "Black Wing Order" and then had the "Black Sea Goddess" Hipponeo expend great power to bless it, thus completing its transformation.

Aiven now knew.

Far from the Source Continent center, in a remote corner, just emerging since the Steam Industrial Revolution, the Tulip Alliance didn't have a thick foundation. Only the top three powerful nations had their own legendary battleships, namely: Phaletis's {Steam Fortress}, Tyrone's {Divine Demon Wings}, and Ilya's {Southern Cross}.

However, just like the {Steam Fortress} needing the Queen or Crown Prince to temporarily grant permission to set out, these asset-holders evidently couldn't get hold of Ilya's {Southern Cross} like they did the navy.

That battleship had already vanished with the fleeing royal family; otherwise, staying behind would undoubtedly have been a major trouble.

Now, two legendary battleships not belonging to the alliance's authorities were about to engage in this sea area.

{Legendary Battleship: Crown of Miracles}

Specifications: Total length of the hull is 132 meters, beam width 16 meters, the standard displacement after outfitting is 2800 tons, normal cruising speed is 32 knots.

Military Preparation: [Front/Back Missile Launching Well], [Super Electromagnetic Cannon: Shipborne Improved Type], [Beam Weapon: Red-haired Witch], [Tower Integration: Wizard Tower], [Shield Generator: World Barrier]...

The main gun rate of fire is three rounds per minute, projectile mass increased, launch initial velocity at five times the speed of sound, and a maximum range of 100 kilometers. The secondary turrets are set to conventional settings, with a single barrel capable of achieving a rate of fire of ten rounds per minute at three times the speed of sound, accurately striking targets within ten kilometers.

Aiven stared at the "Sea Soul", which had already turned its bow, and gave the attack order:

"Mei, conventional rate of fire for the secondary turrets, show Hawkins a lesson, Hesi to assist."

"Yes, Captain!"

"Understood!"

Under Mei's control, the two turrets on the aft deck adjusted their firing angles up, down, left, and right as if alive, and quickly completed self-calibration.

Crack crack...

The mechanical transmission device loaded enchanted aluminum bullets into the barrel, which automatically rotated to align with the gun.

Then, the [Energy Core: Touch of the Tree of Life] quickly extracted energy from the [Golden Crown] for conversion, and two seconds later, the electromagnetic cannon completed charging.

"Fire!"

With Aiven's command.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!...

Crimson beams poured out from the two turrets, and a kilometer's distance seemed nonexistent.

Though only a two-turret, four-barrel setup, the total rate of fire of forty rounds per minute was a qualitative change compared to the muzzle-loading smoothbore cannon of this era.

On the "Sea Soul".

Upon realizing the abnormal situation, Hawkins was the first to leap onto the deck of the "Sea Soul".

Gazing at the peculiar warship that he had never encountered before in his decades of traversing the Black Sea, he was certain it did not belong to any ship in his intelligence. Just as the usually cautious Pirate King felt puzzled and indecisive.

He suddenly noticed the opponent's ship's peculiar "Alchemy Fire Cannon" flicker slightly.

One second later.

Boom!

The "Sea Soul" was struck as if hit by a siege hammer carrying enormous kinetic energy, almost causing Hawkins to leap off the deck, with the ship's hull blasted open by the aluminum powder ignition.

Compared to a full-powered strike from the "Brilliance", it was not inferior at all.

Then came another massive shock barely two seconds later.

Even with confidence in the "Sea Soul"'s repair capabilities, Hawkins couldn't help but shout:

"'Sea Soul', defense, [Bubble Ring]!"

Crash...

A towering, thick transparent water ring suddenly rose around the entire battleship, then rapidly started spinning, with the flow speed equal to the most turbulent current in natural conditions of the Black Sea.

But despite this, it was continually pierced through.

This was because the force acting on the enchanted aluminum bullets per unit of time was insufficient to cause much deviation in their trajectory. Until the water ring's width increased to nearly fifty meters, its capacity limit, did it barely maintain balance.

However, under the relentless bombardment, it soon started to falter again, and it was only a matter of time before it gave way.

"'Sea Soul', pursue with [Vortex Maneuver]!"

The water flow beneath the hull began to churn rapidly, propelling the warship forward like a vortex, with the speed increasing continuously.

Whoosh—

Meanwhile, Aiven directed the "Crown of Miracles" to relocate the battlefield, leaving the quasi-legendary battle zone, heading towards a distant open sea.

From the intelligence received from the "Tempest Church", he had already learned much about the "Sea Soul".

Because this legendary battleship was granted victory blessings by the "Black Sea Goddess", it was an amalgamation of various natural forces in the Black Sea. Without additional energy support, its data would absolutely not exceed the Black Sea's natural limits.

The fundamental propulsion of [Vortex Maneuver] naturally had its limits as well.

The fastest vortex flow speed is found at the Salt Vortex in the northern Black Sea, reaching up to 40 kilometers per hour, or 22 knots.

The two legendary battleships, splitting the waves, swiftly disappeared from this sea area, giving the soldiers who witnessed the terrifying might of the legendary battleships a huge sigh of relief.

Annie had already taken command of the "Storm Horn", and waved vigorously:

"Milan, activate [Unicorn Shark]."

The ship's figurehead "Storm Cape" was activated.

Woosh woosh woosh...

A roaring whirlwind began to amass and accumulate in front of the "Storm Horn".

Quickly condensing into a battering ram composed of whirlwind and rapids, whilst a whistling whirlwind shield formed around the sides of the ship, immediately filling the ship's vast sails.

In the piercing thrum, the "Storm Horn" led the charge towards the Republic fleet composed of four quasi-legendaries.

Following closely behind the clash of Tier 4 Extraordinaries and legendary battleships, the battle between the quasi-legendaries commenced simultaneously!