Super Card System

Chapter 563: Boarding Battle, Bombarding the Reef

The wind direction did indeed change, and it changed almost instantly.

The warships dispatched by the Navy under fleet Admiral Sengoku’s command to intercept the pirates were sailing smoothly with the wind just a moment ago. However, in the next instant, a strong crosswind suddenly blew, disrupting their course.

The Navy never understood the climate of this sea area as well as the pirates did. Among the 43 pirate crews of the Whitebeard Pirates who came to support, there were many skilled navigators. Relying on their familiarity with the climate of this sea area, the pirates had already stowed their sails and maneuvered their ships to change course in advance, minimizing the impact of the wind.

Taking advantage of the change in wind direction affecting the Navy’s course, the pirates had already adjusted their ships to face the wind. The moment the wind picked up, they quickly lowered their sails and immediately took action, surprisingly seizing the lead ahead of the Navy warships, and occupying the coveted “T position.”

The so-called “T position” was crucial in naval warfare. Generally, the number of cannons on the side of a ship was the highest. If one could arrange their ships in a horizontal line on the sea surface before the enemy, using the cannons on the side of the ship for maximum firepower, the enemy’s ships, due to their positioning, would only be able to line up in a vertical column. In this scenario, only the cannons at the bow of the enemy ships could fire, and due to mutual obstruction, the ships in the rear would be unable to fire due to visibility issues.

While Navy warships were undoubtedly formidable, some pirate ships were not far behind in terms of strength. As long as they were willing to spend money on purchasing cannons, they could also fully utilize quantity to compensate for quality.

Among the 43 pirate crews that came to support this time, there were many pirate ships known for their powerful cannons. Riding the wind, they formed a line and began firing at the Navy warships!

Boom! Boom! Boom! The continuous sound of cannons echoed, and high water columns surged around the Navy warships, which were lagging behind. This was just a trial shot; most of the cannonballs fell into the sea. However, one unlucky warship was hit by a pirate cannonball on the mast. In the instant the cannonball exploded, the lookout on top exploded. The mast’s top was blasted off, collapsing down, along with the Navy flag, which was burned.

But that wasn’t all; the second round of shots followed. This time, the accuracy was much higher than in the previous trial. Fireballs erupted from time to time on the Navy warships, indicating hits by cannonballs.

Shrapnel flew everywhere, and on the hit warships, some unfortunate sailors were caught in the explosion. They were either blown into the sea or sent flying into the air, screaming in agony.

However, the sturdiness of the Navy warships lived up to their reputation. Such attacks were not enough to sink them. Although the pirates had taken the initiative, it didn’t mean the Navy had no ability to fight back.

On one of the warships sandwiched between the fleet, a Rear Admiral of the Navy soared into the air. With a fierce kick, he sent a cannonball flying towards the deck, causing it to explode as soon as it landed on the nearby sea surface.

One after another, although the pirate ships kept firing continuously, as more and more senior Navy officers joined the battle, the damage to the warships began to decrease.

Only the cannonballs that couldn’t be intercepted would hit the warships and cause explosions.

At the same time, the Navy fleet was desperately maneuvering. They also adjusted their ships to position themselves downwind, striving to align their hulls parallel to the line of pirate ships.

The fleets on both flanks, facing the pirates, were doing the same. Creating arcs of waves on the sea surface, the fleets adjusted their course. At the same time, they opened the gunports on the side facing the pirate ships, pushing out rows of cannons, ready to attack.

However, the Navy fleet soon realized something was amiss. While they were turning, the pirate fleet kept pressing closer. By the time the Navy fleet completed its turn and aligned parallel to the pirate ships, the two sides’ vessels were already very close!

“Attack!!”

A deafening roar erupted as countless pirates, using ropes, swung over to the Navy warships!

The Navy had completely misunderstood. These pirates had never intended to engage them in cannon battles from the start. Because the pirates knew very well that the cannons on their ships were no match for those on Navy warships, neither in quantity nor in power. Even the gunners were not as skilled as the well-trained Navy soldiers. It would be utterly foolish to engage the Navy in cannon battles under such circumstances.

So, they employed their most familiar tactic: boarding!

Numerous fierce-looking pirates leaped wave after wave onto the Navy warships, shocking the sailors on board.

“Fire! Quickly!” commanded a Navy Rear Admiral, drawing his sword on one of the warships.

In the next moment, the sailors on deck aimed their guns at the jumping pirates.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots rang out, hitting some pirates who were still min id-air. They screamed as they fell into the sea, blood splattering. However, the remaining pirates, paying no heed to their comrades, landed on the deck. With a swift step, they lunged at the crowd of Navy soldiers, slashing down with their swords. One Navy soldier immediately fell into a pool of blood.

Though Navy soldiers were required to learn swordsmanship during training, honestly speaking, due to the Navy’s tactics, they mostly engaged in firearm combat and rarely experienced such face-to-face battles.

In contrast, pirates were just the opposite. They seldom used firearms, preferring close combat with their enemies. Moreover, these pirate crews were renowned in the New World, boasting rich combat experience.

Thus, as the pirates stormed onto the ships, chaos ensued among the Navy soldiers. Though they drew their swords to resist, when they saw the fierce and ruthless expressions of the pirates, they immediately lost morale. Fearless pirates, even the ordinary ones, could often take on several Navy soldiers alone, a feat the ordinary Navy soldiers couldn’t accomplish.

Only those with higher military ranks could calmly counterattack. However, the pirates also had skilled individuals who specifically targeted these officers.

In the boarding battle, the pirates quickly gained the upper hand. With wild cries, they leaped onto the warships, cutting down one Navy soldier after another.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Finally, the Navy soldiers in the ship’s hold managed to control the cannons and fired at the nearby pirate ships. However, although they screamed in agony from the bombardment, the pirates on the other side showed no weakness. They also aimed their cannons at the Navy warships, targeting their gunports.

This exchange of fire was akin to slapping each other’s faces. It was a test of endurance and determination!

The scene was extremely gruesome. Both sides’ ships were bombarded, blood and body parts mixed in the debris, flying everywhere. One Navy soldier was hit by a cannonball, his abdomen directly blasted apart. On the opposing side, the pirates firing the cannons licked the blood flowing to their lips, letting out a sinister laugh…

Although the Navy soldiers mobilized this time were elite troops from their headquarters, they had never experienced such a fierce battle before. Therefore, the first to collapse were these grassroots Navy soldiers.

While the casualties on the pirate side were also significant, they relied on their strong psychological resilience to suppress the Navy during the battle.

Far on the other side of the battlefield, Sengoku and the others held up their binoculars and sighed as they looked at the scene.

They knew that the Navy had lost the first round; the intercepting fleet had been suppressed, and the pirates would soon press forward in force.

Sengoku carefully identified the flags on the pirate side through the telescope. “Knight of Doma… McGuy… Ramba… Karma… No, under Whitebeard’s command, less than half of the 43 pirate crews have arrived. What about the remaining pirate crews?”

After a moment of thought, Sengoku understood and immediately gave orders. “Notify all fleets in the front line to prepare to meet the enemy! According to the original plan, the fleets in the rear should target the Edd War Island Reef Group and prepare to bombard the islands! Although we don’t know what the other hidden pirate crews are up to, no matter what, we can force them out!”

Vice Admiral Garp sat behind Sengoku at a table, sipping tea. Upon hearing the orders, he couldn’t help but laugh. “Sengoku, you’re not thinking of directly bombarding Whitebeard on the island, are you?”

“If it could be done, that would be great!” Sengoku replied solemnly.

“Hmph!” Garp’s expression also became serious as he said, “Don’t underestimate the Whitebeard. He’s the strongest man in the world. Although he’s injured now, he’s like an enraged beast. Underestimating him will come at a price…”

“…” Sengoku fell silent for a moment, not saying anything further. He just instructed the messenger beside him, “Inform the Shichibukai… and also Doflamingo. If the other pirate crews show up, it’s their turn to act…”

“Ah… yes sir!” The messenger hesitated for a moment but quickly saluted and went to convey the orders.

Tsuru was also on this flagship. She stood with her arms crossed, watching the battle ahead. After hearing Sengoku’s words, she couldn’t help but glance at him. Although she didn’t say anything, her dissatisfaction was evident in her eyes.

After Doflamingo was stripped of his title as one of the Warlords, Vice Admiral Tsuru once again took action to pursue him. Although Doflamingo had joined forces with Kaido of the Hundred Beasts Pirates, he didn’t stay with them but roamed around the New World, plotting who knows what. This gave Tsuru the opportunity to pursue him.

However, after this war broke out, it was unclear what the World Government was thinking. They unexpectedly made contact with Doflamingo again, promising to temporarily halt Tsuru’s pursuit if he helped the Navy in the battle.

This outcome left Vice Admiral Tsuru extremely dissatisfied. In her eyes, Doflamingo was the most dangerous figure among the Warlords.

He was a naturally wicked person…

Regardless, Sengoku’s orders were transmitted to the entire Navy fleet. Hundreds of warships in the front line headed towards the pirates, while the rest of the fleet surrounding the Edd War Island Reef Group raised their cannons, aiming them from a distance at the Island Reef.

As a series of orders were given, a tremendous roar reverberated through the sky and earth. It was the resonance caused by hundreds of cannons firing simultaneously, making the entire sea seem to tremble for a moment.

The next moment, countless flames rose from the Edd War Island Reef Group…

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