A Sense of Foreboding .............
Peng Yi's gaze fixed upon the warship looming ominously before him, his expression increasingly solemn. The more he observed it, the stronger the feeling that something was amiss gnawed at his instincts.
As he witnessed two speedboats being lowered from the warship, each brimming with seven or eight heavily armed individuals, an inexplicable tremor coursed through his heart.
Finally, realization struck like a bolt of lightning, illuminating the truth.
This was no ordinary warship; it was an assembly of ruthless pirates.
Their nefarious objective was none other than the precious cargo aboard the "Shitai" – they intended to hijack it, endangering the lives and livelihoods of all onboard.
Reacting swiftly, Peng Yi's voice pierced through the tense air, his urgency palpable, [ " They're pirates! We're facing a horde of pirates! Full speed ahead, let us hasten our pace, swiftly, swiftly, swiftly! " ]
The repetition of the word "swift" three times in succession mirrored the mounting anxiety that gripped him at that moment.
Peng Yi's fervent cry startled the other crew members, causing them to snap out of their stupor, their hearts racing with trepidation.
The realization struck everyone like a thunderbolt. It became undeniable that the approaching vessel was, beyond a shadow of a doubt, a notorious band of pirates. The tension among the crew intensified as they witnessed the pirates lowering their boats, a clear sign of their intention to seize control of their ship.
Captain Zhang, determined to outmaneuver the pirates, bellowed orders to his crew. [ " Full speed ahead, steer clear of them! " ] he commanded, his voice unwavering.
Responding swiftly, the "Shi Tai" surged forward, propelled by the immense power emanating from its twin diesel engines. The propellers churned with unparalleled speed, rapidly forcing the ship through the water.
However, the pirates seemed unfazed by the chase, their expressions contorted with sinister glee.
Mansur, standing proudly on the pirate warship, observed the "Shi Tai" accelerating and couldn't help but burst into laughter. His crew mirrored his amusement, their faces adorned with wicked grins.
Two sleek speedboats, crewed by heavily armed men, surged after the "Shi Tai." Their occupants revelled in their perceived advantage, their laughter ringing out triumphantly as if to mock the crew's feeble attempt to escape.
Bawang doggedly pursued the "Shi Tai" from a distance of a mere 200 meters. Witnessing the audacious pirate behaviour, he sought guidance from his Master, his voice laced with urgency. [ " Master, shall I engage? " ] he inquired, a burning desire for retribution in his eyes.
[ " Absolutely. Pummel their warship into oblivion, show them no mercy, " ] responded Liu Yong, his anger boiling. He harboured no doubts that this audacious assault was orchestrated by none other than the notorious Mulatu.
The fact that they had deployed a warship indicated a grave escalation, leaving Liu Yong with no choice but to defend his vessel relentlessly.
Meanwhile, the enigmatic Overlord relished the opportunity that lay before him. Memories of his previous encounters haunted him; the limitations of his former 20-meter-long, 17-ton giant spear had left him dissatisfied. But now, armed with a colossal 50-meter-long, nearly 80-ton behemoth of a weapon, his excitement knew no bounds.
The critical difference was clear—this time, the stakes were higher, and the power of his new weapon was unmatched. At the same time, Overlord had yet to thoroughly test his new giant spear on a large vessel.
Motivated by the prospect of proving himself, Overlord wasted no time. He propelled himself beneath the pirate warship with a mighty surge, his enormous spear poised to strike.
-Boom!
With a resounding boom, the spear effortlessly pierced over ten meters into the ship's underbelly, threatening to cleave through the very deck.
With a momentary pause, Overlord realized that the giant spear in his hands was no longer the same one he had wielded in his previous encounters.
Without hesitation, the giant spear struck the warship again, echoing a thud signalling a direct penetration, its tip protruding menacingly from the above deck. Another strike followed, marking a near-perfect repetition of his previous feat—an exhilarating sensation that surged through Overlord's veins.
The thrill of success propelled him forward, each subsequent thrust puncturing the warship with newfound vigour. The giant spear repeatedly emerged from the ship's hull, tearing through the deck with a ferocity that delighted Overlord.
Holes of considerable magnitude riddled the vessel as he continued his relentless assault, leaving the warship in utter chaos.
Panic engulfed the ship, spreading like wildfire among the crew. The once-confident pirates now found themselves gripped by fear and confusion as they struggled to comprehend the devastation unfolding before them.
As the first muffled sound reverberated through the air, Mansur jolted in alarm, his deep voice resounding, [ " What is happening ? " ]
Before his subordinates could respond, another muffled sound erupted, unveiling an unfathomable sight. A colossal iron rod, with a diameter of at least 50 centimetres, pierced through the warship's deck, only to retract itself soon after.
The deck bore witness to a round hole, half a meter in diameter, penetrating through the ship's bottom, allowing an onslaught of seawater to pour in. A sense of bewilderment befell those on board.
After a long moment, as the warship endured being punctured seven, eight, or even nine or ten times, the occupants finally began to react.
Panic-stricken cries echoed throughout the vessel, contrasting with the image of elite warriors equipped with formidable armaments. They hastily and frantically plunged into the sea without even donning life jackets.
This unexpected turn of events quickly caught the attention of the armed men aboard the two speedboats nearby. Utterly dumbfounded, they struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding before their eyes.
[ " Could it be a torpedo attack? " ] one of them pondered aloud, their faces a portrait of confusion.
[ " But that doesn't make sense. There were no explosions, " ] another replied, their gaze fixed upon the warship, their expression dazed.
Meanwhile, the crew members on the "Shitai" also detected that something was amiss. They were initially apprehensive about falling victim to these pirates, but their anxieties shifted as the circumstances evolved. Numerous individuals stood bewildered, unable to fathom the unfolding chaos.
[ " Look at that! The pirates on that warship are desperately leaping into the sea, " ] one crew member remarked, pointing towards the spectacle.
[ " By the looks of it, they seem to be running for their lives, consumed by sheer panic, " ] another added.
[ " Could this be some form of attack? " ] a third crew member speculated.
The number of spectators on the "Shitai" steadily grew, their eyes fixed upon the warship mere hundreds of meters away. Witnessing the pirated fleeing in terror, the crew's worries and tensions dissipated, replaced by an air of satisfaction and delight.
[ " Haha! What's gotten into them? They're abandoning ship in such a reckless manner, " ] a crew member exclaimed.
[ " Take a look! Their warship seems to be descending into the water, tilting ever so slightly," another crew member observed.
[ " Indeed, it's starting to tilt, " ] a third chimed in.
On the "Shitai," the crew gradually regained their courage, craning their necks to observe the spectacle as if it were an everyday amusement. It was truly gratifying to witness such a scene.
[ " This is unprecedented! We've never experienced anything quite like it, " ] someone remarked.
[ " Count me in! Watching them panic like this is so satisfying, " ] another exclaimed.
The atmosphere of the "Shi Tai" underwent a complete transformation. It became lighthearted and cheery, in stark contrast to its previous state.
Bawang, revelling in amusement beneath the ship, continued thrusting the giant spear, relentlessly piercing the warship repeatedly, effectively transforming it into a sieve.
Had the spear been even slightly smaller, it might not have yielded such dramatic results. However, being a colossal 17-ton weapon, it had no trouble penetrating the ship's hull. Despite its formidable strength, the warship's sturdy steel plates were no match for this massive weapon.
The ship's bottom became riddled with holes, and the vessel descended into the depths, listing at an observable rate.
Bawang derived immense satisfaction from his exploits, repeatedly impaling the warship with the giant spear. The ship's integrity further deteriorated with each strike, rendering it akin to a crumbling fortress.
Not far away, two rubber speedboats caught Bawang's attention. He effortlessly swam towards them, lightly piercing each one with his colossal spear. The speedboats met their demise, sending the pirates aboard tumbling into the water.
[ " Well done Bawang , you made a day successful! " ] Liu Yong said.