Chapter 128: Fish King Hern’s Desperate Retreat

Aargh!

The henchman was merely an ordinary man; how could he possibly withstand Fish King Hern’s arcane attack?

A blue blade of light instantly cleaved the henchman in two. The gruesome sight sent a shiver down everyone’s spine.

After all, Fish King Hern could now effortlessly dispatch any of them.

Even combined, they were no match for Fish King Hern; resistance was utterly futile.

It was a profound despair.

The low-tier arcanists among his subordinates gritted their teeth, their fists clenched tight. Yet, no one dared to resist. In the end, they could only disembark and carry out Fish King Hern’s command.

Several arcanists immediately plunged into the water. Their spiritual cores were attuned to the ocean, allowing them to fight effectively even in this environment.

Inside the Charlotte Family’s submarine, the observer’s radar detected signals from several biological entities.

“Someone’s approaching? Humans, not torpedoes?”

The Commander was astonished, never imagining that anyone would choose to confront a steel behemoth with their bare bodies.

“They must be arcanists. We don’t know their strength yet, so don’t make any rash moves.”

The Commander did not underestimate his adversaries, as high-tier arcanists were fully capable of resisting alone. However, if Fish King Hern truly possessed such powerful individuals, he wouldn’t have been forced into such a desperate retreat. Thus, the Commander merely maintained his vigilance.

“Launch torpedoes!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the Commander in the submarine gestured decisively, ordering the operators to launch the torpedoes.

“Understood! Launching!”

In an instant, a thunderous roar erupted from the seabed, as torpedoes streaked towards the mortal arcanists.

!!!

The arcanists hadn’t even reached the submarine. Their original intent was merely to stall for time, knowing full well they were no match for it. But they hadn’t anticipated such decisive action from the enemy, who launched an attack without the slightest hesitation.

[Sea Crystal]

Coral Sanctuary

[Seaweed’s Blessing]

Even at their fastest, the arcanists in the sea could not outpace the torpedoes. Thus, they immediately unleashed their signature arcane arts.

For low-tier arcanists like them, mastering three arcane arts in a lifetime was already a rare feat.

Generally, a low-tier arcanist possessing three arcane arts—for offense, defense, and healing—was considered an elite among their peers.

After all, most arcanists lacked innate arcane arts, and the cost of learning a general-purpose arcane art was astronomically high. Consequently, most low-tier arcanists possessed only one or even no arcane arts at all.

These particular arcanists beneath the sea were already considered elites within the pirate crew; each of them commanded three or more arcane arts.

This was precisely why they were able to activate their defensive arcane arts without delay.

At this moment, all three were enveloped by their respective arcane arts beneath the waves, their bodies tightly shielded.

The torpedoes, like ferocious beasts of the deep, charged with such insane speed that the arcanists were forced into a defensive posture.

The torpedoes surged wildly through the seabed, detonating instantly upon the arcanists’ bodies. A deafening roar.

A terrifying explosion ripped through the seabed, sending massive geysers of water erupting to the surface.

As torpedoes belonging to the Charlotte Family, how could they be ordinary?

They were imbued with arcane explosives, multiplying their destructive power many times over that of conventional torpedoes.

The Charlotte Family, above all else, never lacked money.

Indeed, no arcanist organization ever lacked money.

For the arcanist profession itself was incredibly costly, and any arcanist who ascended to the high tiers was certainly not wanting for wealth.

Thus, the power of these torpedoes was undeniably authentic, devoid of any inferiority, and they detonated with full force upon the bodies of the low-ranking arcanists.

After the explosion, a deathly silence descended upon the seabed.

The arcanists who had been bustling with life moments ago beneath the waves were now utterly obliterated, not even a speck remaining. Their flesh and blood had completely dissolved into the seawater.

They were, quite literally, blasted into a fine mist of blood, which was then diluted by the ocean and returned to nature.

For a moment, everyone on the battlefield fell silent. Even the Commander on the submarine had not anticipated such devastating efficacy.

After all, they had been unaware of the arcanists’ true capabilities, and the effect of the torpedoes upon them had been an unknown variable. Thus, they had never imagined such a terrifying outcome.

“Continue forward, without any delay.”

The Commander quickly snapped out of his daze. This was no time to marvel at the torpedoes’ power; eliminating the pirate leader was paramount.

The submarine pressed on at full speed, hot on the heels of Fish King Hern’s vessel.

“Faster! Make it faster!”

Fish King Hern bellowed incessantly at the crew in the bridge, but the ship was already moving at its maximum speed.

Fish King Hern’s anxiety was palpable; each meter the submarine gained on him felt like a fatal arrow.

Just then, the submarine launched another volley of torpedoes, giving Fish King Hern no chance to breathe. They struck directly at the ship’s bottom and sides.

This vessel, after all, was the foundation of Fish King Hern’s power. It had undergone numerous reinforcements and was equipped with wondrous items for protection. Thus, it wasn’t sunk by a single torpedo strike.

Yet, all defenses had their limits. On this expedition, the Charlotte Family, in their efforts to protect Ellie Roth Charlotte, had spared no expense in their equipment. Their reserves were seemingly endless.

Fish King Hern had truly encountered a formidable opponent this time.

Another salvo of torpedoes was launched, this time targeting the vessel from all directions, specifically exploiting its weaknesses. The ship was instantly breached, and seawater surged in relentlessly.

“Aargh! The ship’s sinking! Run!”

Fish King Hern’s subordinates now knew the tide had turned irrevocably. As pirates, they held no inherent loyalty.

Moreover, Fish King Hern’s cruelty made any true allegiance impossible.

Thus, the moment the vessel was breached, everyone’s thoughts turned to their own escape.

“Stop! All of you, stop!”

Fish King Hern roared repeatedly, casually slaughtering a few more subordinates. Yet, most of the low-ranking crew still managed to abandon ship.

Their ultimate fate, however, was still death. Even if they escaped Fish King Hern’s wrath, the boundless ocean would surely swallow them whole.

For they were not arcanists, and thus had no means of surviving in the vast sea.

“Damn it!”

Fish King Hern scanned his surroundings. There was no one left but him, and the vessel that was rapidly sinking into the depths.

Fish King Hern took a deep breath, never imagining such an end awaited him.

Yet, he still did not give up, but waited patiently for the vessel to sink.

It wasn’t for any other reason, but for his spiritual core, his arcane art—[Merman Origin].

Fish King Hern’s eyes turned blood red, as he activated his innate arcane art.