Chapter 42: Sudden Change
Victory was expected. After developing for so long, if Su Xiao still couldn't deal with the West Sea King, then all his efforts would have been in vain. Moreover, among these dozen or so cursed people were powerful individuals like Amangsi and Ghost Shadow.
Spatial fluctuations appeared, and Baha entered the alternate space, opening a passage.
Su Xiao walked out of the alternate space. A gentle breeze brushed his face, and an explosion came from nearby, sending soil and fragments of Manmi flowers flying in all directions.
The elite pirates on the island were still in a melee with the cursed people. The two sides had been locked in a stalemate, but after the "Sea Battle Encouragement" effect from the West Sea King faded, the elite pirates began to show signs of defeat.
The West Sea King's corpse was dragged out of the alternate space, and some pirates immediately spotted it.
"Is that... the captain?"
"No."
A lean, stern-faced pirate shouted in a low voice. Though he said this, he was already looking for an opportunity to retreat to the edge of the battle.
Su Xiao paid no attention to the battle situation. He was focused on a bloodstained horn in his hand, which he had retrieved from the West Sea King's abdominal cavity. This great pirate was ruthless enough—before the decisive battle, he had cut open his own side with a knife, stuffed this Sea King horn into his abdomen, and then relied on his powerful body to heal the wound.
This horn wasn't discovered by Su Xiao; during the fight, Ghost Shadow had inadvertently pulled it out, nearly getting his head smashed in by the West Sea King's fist in the process.
The Sea King horn was divided into three segments. Su Xiao already had two—the root and the middle section—and only the tip was missing.
Boom!
A cannon blast came from the dock, and soldiers in Royal Navy uniforms charged in from that direction. The Empire's forces had arrived.
It was none other than Commodore Murray, followed by his adjutant and a purple-clad woman in an elegant long dress. This woman was almost walking shoulder to shoulder with Commodore Murray, indicating her high status. In such a scene, not just anyone was qualified to follow closely behind the commodore, let alone walk alongside him.
"Lady Avena, when I negotiate with the captain of the Doom Number, just observe from the sidelines."
Commodore Murray smiled politely, but inwardly he was dissatisfied with the Imperial Royal Family. Sending someone like this at such a time—even if they wanted this woman to rise quickly, they needed to pick the right moment. Earning merits required reading the situation.
"Commodore, what are you saying? Is there something wrong with me representing the Imperial Royal Family in friendly talks with the captain of the Doom Number?"
Diplomatic Envoy Avena covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief, disliking the smell of blood.
"I'll count the merit as yours. Just shut up for now."
Commodore Murray lowered his eyelids, and the gentle smile he always wore disappeared.
"Alright."
Diplomatic Envoy Avena stepped back half a pace and even winked at Commodore Murray.
"The West Sea King has fallen. Who gets his territory? I don't think that man is interested in the West Sea King's lands."
Diplomatic Envoy Avena lifted her chin, looking at Su Xiao sitting on the crow throne in the distance.
"It's already been negotiated. It goes to us."
Hearing Commodore Murray's words, Diplomatic Envoy Avena was incredulous and asked urgently, "Really?"
"Absolutely true."
With Commodore Murray's clear confirmation, Diplomatic Envoy Avena felt this was all a dream. She was now directly involved in this matter. If she really took over the West Sea King's territory, her status would rise dramatically. This was a great achievement—helping the Empire expand its territory.
"Commodore, I have a younger sister. She's 19 this year. You've met her and praised her for having eyes that can speak."
"I love my wife very much."
"Commodore, you misunderstand. Don't you have a son?"
"Biler is only 9 years old..."
Commodore Murray felt somewhat speechless and stopped paying attention to the diplomatic envoy beside him.
The melee continued. Mad Dog Quake was completely in a killing frenzy. Not only had this beast torn apart many pirates, but it had also bitten two cursed people into pieces.
Quake was originally a mad dog, and after being enhanced with the War Lord's "Blood Soul Power," it looked like it might undergo a second transformation at any moment.
In regular combat, Mad Dog Quake couldn't be released—it was too easy to accidentally kill allies. But in this kind of decisive battle, Mad Dog Quake was very useful. Its probability of attacking cursed people was low; it was more interested in enemies.
The battle situation began to tilt decisively. At this point, there were still 518 cursed people on Su Xiao's side, and 475 elite pirates on the enemy side. If the current momentum continued, by the time the cursed people numbered over 400, the enemy elite pirates would be wiped out. With the West Sea King dead, these pirates were not only greatly weakened in strength but also severely demoralized.
Su Xiao sat on a throne formed by black curse crows. He wouldn't act rashly. Outsiders still didn't know his true strength, and that was a good thing.
A sound of breaking air came from above. A massive object appeared and crashed heavily to the ground, sending shattered planks flying and dust billowing.
It was a four-masted ship—the West Sea King's "Storm Number." This ship almost represented the West Sea King himself.
The Storm Number crashed down from above, its bow half-buried in the soil. A burly figure in a blue coat stood on the ship.
Bang!!
A gunshot rang out across the sky. After firing this shot, Great Pirate Duke dropped the flintlock pistol in his hand.
Pirates charged in from the edge of the island. Conservatively estimated, there were over 1,900 of them. Judging by their aura, these were all elite pirates!
The gunshot drew many people's attention, along with the charging pirates. Amangsi made a prompt decision and commanded the cursed people to stop fighting.
The cursed people and the remnants of the West Sea King's forces both halted, splitting into two opposing factions.
The flower field was covered in pits and bloodstains. The main mast of the four-masted ship Storm Number had fallen. This supernaturally empowered vessel was destroyed by a witch, and Duke arrived too late to save it.
Creak, creak~
Duke stepped down from the ship's planks, exuding an imposing presence.
"Kukulin Bai Ye, this is our first meeting."
Duke stood before nearly two thousand elite pirates. Behind him were five pirate chieftains whose auras were only slightly weaker than his.
These five pirate chieftains were dressed differently: Sea Horse Mochaz, Tongue Hunter Zuodi, Death Knell Gangji, Silver Snake Xiulu, and Heart Ripper Lietixiya.
Each of these five was a famous figure on the Demon Sea, only slightly inferior to the Four Great Pirates.
A chair was set down, and Duke took his seat. The five pirate chieftains stood to his left, right, or behind him, with the elite pirates further back.
It could be said that Duke's entrance was overwhelmingly imposing. Whether or not a fight broke out, he couldn't lose in presence.
Looking at Su Xiao's side, he was sitting on the crow throne. Baha perched on the armrest to his left, Bubu Wang crouched by his right leg, Amangsi stood to the right of the throne, Ghost Shadow was on the left, and the Hanging Man stood behind the throne, its neck and face covered in cracks. At nearly two meters tall, it held its chin slightly raised.
Behind Su Xiao was a large expanse of black mist, with red-glowing eyes visible within. Mad Dog Quake appeared and disappeared in the mist, seemingly ready to pounce on the enemy at any moment.
Boom.
A muffled thunderclap came from the sky. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and crows cawed everywhere.
Half a kilometer to the right of the two factions, Commodore Murray was leading his men there. His purpose in coming was to prevent anyone from causing trouble. The West Sea King's territory wouldn't be so easy to obtain.
Su Xiao, Duke, and Commodore Murray—each represented a faction. If a fight broke out today, the entire pattern of the Demon Sea would change.
A great battle was about to erupt.