Pirate Kingship-Chapter 685 - 468: Black Sail Pirates, Extras Go Overboard

"CLIP-CLOP, CLIP-CLOP," the sound of hooves echoed over the sea.

Aboard The Golden Deer, everyone could clearly see the approaching [Hard-to-Come-by-Swift-Steeds], its hull sprouting many horse legs.

Breaking through the waves, it charged as swift as the wind, reaching the astonishing speed of 13 knots in the blink of an eye.

That was its speed even under Qiangfeng conditions; it was hard to imagine how fast it could go with the most favorable "quartering wind."

While charging at high speed, it also maneuvered to seize the weather gage according to the universal rules of naval engagement, preparing to secure the greatest combat advantage for itself.

Byron had already gleaned some information about this female captain through Divine Sight and the Sailing Logbook: Don Quixote? A bigwig from the heart of Castilia, no less. If Princess Isabella is ever crowned King, this contemporary Don Quixote will undoubtedly be one of The King's Right Hands. A pity. Against The Golden Deer, you're still... not fast enough!

His orders followed, "Qiangfeng! We'll use this [Hard-to-Come-by-Swift-Steeds] for practice first. Afterward, each of you is to submit a combat report to me. It will serve as a reference when devising tactics for plundering treasure warships."

Ignoring the despairing cries of the pirate officers, Byron gripped the helm tightly. Activating the 'Riding' Spiritual Radiance, he instantly merged with the entire warship.

At the same time, he altered his breathing rhythm, allowing the Dragon Taming Technique he had honed on his sister to resonate with the entire warship.

The sea wind howled. Storm Aura, Storm Wings, Command Storm Spirits… Layer upon layer of these enchantments were bestowed upon The Golden Deer.

Thanks to the special effect of "See Ship Fast," The Golden Deer was already faster than the opposition. With various buffs, it seemed to turn into a sprite of the wind.

Even though he couldn't yet zero out the warship's gravity like a Storm Child and fly it directly into the sky, this still brought The Golden Deer infinitely close to 20 knots, or 37 kilometers per hour.

It was so light it scarcely seemed like a warship, more akin to a simple skiff.

"So fast!"

"That ship, built as if from pure gold, is unique and unmistakable—that is The Sea Hunter Saint Byron's flagship, The Golden Deer!"

"It's him? Hightins and Castilia have come to blows! Now this will be a spectacle."

Under the watchful eyes of countless People of Castilia, pirates, and privateers, The Golden Deer seized the weather gage with the ease of a matador playing with a bull.

However, because the [Hard-to-Come-by-Swift-Steeds]'s primary power source wasn't wind, the tactical maneuver to achieve a "T-crossing" wasn't realized.

Instead, in the deadlock, the fight devolved into a broadside-to-broadside, a complete head-to-head confrontation.

The Golden Deer was not daunted in the slightest.

As the two warships charged head-on, like two knights jousting, they rapidly closed the distance.

Byron commanded, "Gunnery Chief! Double shot! Artillery Range Extension! Fire!"

With a grand wave of Byron's hand, the Carronades—their maximum range only one kilometer, effective range a mere one hundred meters—were the first to open fire.

Gunnery Chief Wynndort, on the open deck responsible for assisting with calibration, shouted in unison, "Fire!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...

Orange-red muzzle-flashes erupted. Twenty 18-pound carronade shots and two 32-pound carronade shots traced fiery lines through the air, smashing accurately onto the enemy warship 200 meters away.

The colossal figure of Jeanne d'Arc Don Quixote, astride her ship, danced with her long spear, conjuring a curtain of seawater to block the incoming 18-pound shots.

However, she couldn't block the 32-pound shots, which were enchanted as Stormforged Weapons.

A gunport on its broadside was hit repeatedly. A rain of countless splinters swept the entire gun emplacement, instantly riddling the six-man gun crew.

Although this distance was not yet within the [Hard-to-Come-by-Swift-Steeds]'s effective range, Jeanne d'Arc Don Quixote couldn't help but order, "Return fire! Open fire!"

As the cannons roared, she also played her strongest card, "Absurd Absurd."

The churning, snow-white waves in the First Circulation Zone instantly formed ranks, following behind her cannonballs and surging towards the opposing The Golden Deer.

A tiered attack was clearly necessary.

The first round of shells, fired from outside effective range, was scattered and disordered. The few shells that did land on the warship were easily blown aside by a strong gust of wind, inflicting minimal damage on The Golden Deer.

The real show, however, was the waves.

A huge wave suddenly rose high. Before the eyes of Byron and his crew, the white spume of its crest transformed into innumerable Wave Knights mounted on white chargers, lances in hand.

Then, spurring their mounts, they rode the several-meter-high waves, launching an Order of Knights' charge against The Golden Deer.

THUNDER... THUNDER... THUNDER...

As thousands of horses stampeded, the very sea seemed to tremble.

Hmph. All show and no substance.

Just like the strategy for facing a tsunami at sea, when confronted with huge waves, one must aim the bow at the crest and power through in one go.

If they took the massive wave on their broadside, their center of gravity would undoubtedly shift, leading to capsizing—a repeat of the King Edward's tragic fate.

That's what Byron thought, and that's what he did.

"Everyone, hold on to the ropes!"

Commanding the gales to assist him, he used The Golden Deer's sturdy teak keel to crush those rather flimsy Wave Knights in a single pass.

After cresting the wave, a second massive wave had already lifted the [Hard-to-Come-by-Swift-Steeds], which followed close behind. On its deck, numerous Marines readied grappling hooks or clung tightly to ropes.

Jeanne d'Arc Don Quixote's new orders were issued, "All hands, prepare for contact! Ready to board!"

Byron and his crew had clashed numerous times with Castilian adventure ships; the May Wind, the Black Coffin, the Thirteen Braves... all had already sunk into the sea.

This was their first time squaring off against a regular army.