Death Guns In Another World

Chapter 1630 - 1449: Temporary Retreat

The dense mist swirled and churned, as if trying to create a barrier to halt the formidable surprise attack. But in an instant, the two ethereal warships sliced through the defense like a knife through butter. With unwavering determination, the magic warships charged towards the ghost fleet ahead.

The ghostly vessel had no chance to evade, and with a thunderous explosion, it was crushed in the heart, scattering debris in every direction. Already weakened by previous battles, the ghost ship crumbled under the impact, its form contorting and distorting. However, within seconds, the seemingly flattened ship twisted back into its original shape, as resilient as a coiled spring.

In that very moment, a new round of battle commenced as the warships collided.

”For the honor of the sacred light!”

With this resolute battle cry, dazzling radiance erupted from the decks of the magic warships, one after another. The Valkyries, enveloped in divine brilliance, raised their swords, spread their wings, and soared towards the approaching ghost ship. Meanwhile, amidst the icy, foreboding fog, banshees emerged on the deck, one by one.

Their ethereal bodies, adorned in tattered garments that fluttered in the fierce wind, betrayed their former beauty as elves. Consumed by fear and hatred, their spirits had twisted, transforming them into horrifying beings. Their sole purpose now was to eliminate their enemies and tear their spirits apart.

As they gazed upon the radiant battle angels, the banshees felt no fear like the other undead creatures. On the contrary, they took a step back and opened their jaws wide.

”————!”

A shrill scream erupted from their mouths. The chilling and malevolent breath of curses became a deadly weapon that engulfed the approaching Valkyries. Faced with their malicious cries, the Valkyries tightened their grip on their swords, and a brilliant, holy light burst forth from their blades, forming a shield to resist the threat of death.

However, even with this defense, they couldnʼt help but falter, their bodies crashing heavily onto the deck. The moment they fell, the banshees lunged forward, their sharp claws ready to strike.

”Attack!”

Despite being disoriented by the bansheesʼ shrieks, the battle angels gritted their teeth and wielded their swords against the ethereal foes. The radiant, sacred glow emanating from their blades swept across the sky, delivering a critical blow to the banshees. Against any other weapon, this attack would be futile against the almost-transparent spirits.

But the Valkyriesʼ blades were blessed with holy power, ensuring that they could inflict damage upon the bansheesʼ essence.

”———”

As the banshees were struck by the blades, a sizzling sound, reminiscent of water droplets meeting a scorching iron, filled the air. White steam erupted from the point of contact between the blades and the banshees. The divine radiance surged along the blades and erupted, piercing through the banshees completely.

”Ah———!”

The banshees unleashed blood-curdling screams, their razor-sharp claws reaching for the Valkyriesʼ outstretched wings. Their eyes, black as night, burned with murderous intent and rage, as if eager to tear the battle angels apart. In the face of this ferocious counterattack, the Valkyries swiftly twisted their wrists and thrust their blades into the bansheesʼ bodies.

The chaotic battle on the deck raged on. Meanwhile, the relentless artillery barrage showed no signs of letting up. At the command of the black-haired woman, the Renner Kingdomʼs magic warships abandoned their pursuit of the main ghost warship and focused their firepower on the seventh ghost warship instead.

The seventh ghost warship, which had attempted to disrupt the situation from the side, now found itself completely defenseless. It was akin to a group of cavalrymen, hoping to catch the enemy off guard, only to realize that the enemy had anticipated their move and lay in wait. But whether it was a mountain of daggers or a sea of flames ahead, their only option now was to press forward.

Unfortunately, the seventh ghost warship had fallen into such dire straits that it could no longer save itself. Blinding beams of magic crisscrossed the sky, leaving spheres of flame in their wake as they engulfed the ghostly vessels. Like wounded monsters howling in agony, the ghost warships shattered and plummeted from the heavens one after another.

”Damn it!”

Peering through his binoculars, Higgins tightly gripped his smoking pipe and furiously swung his fist. He had been skeptical of the battle situation earlier, but now he fully understood the enemyʼs strategy.

Higgins had believed that the combined forces of the Alexʼs Territory and Renner Kingdom would employ a blitzkrieg strategy, which is why he confidently and bravely sacrificed three ghost warships as bait to lure the enemy in. However, he had not anticipated the enemyʼs preparedness for a raid. Apart from the initial ambush, the enemy had steadily and relentlessly struck back.

This was also the reason why the Renner Kingdomʼs magic warships had failed to take his bait.

Even if the other ghost warships managed to escape one after another, the Renner Kingdom still had plenty of opportunities to eliminate the Daliʼs Kingdom ghost fleet in the future. Because of this, not only was the Renner Kingdom not in the least bit flustered, they seemed unnervingly calm. This, in turn, made Higginsʼ actions appear as if he had sacrificed his ghost warships for nothing.

If Higgins had chosen to retreat completely at that time, perhaps the Renner Kingdom would have pursued him relentlessly. But due to his foolish decision, the Renner Kingdom now had a target to annihilate and showed little concern for the so-called ”main ghost warship” that was attempting to flee.

Perhaps there is no time to turn back and gather reinforcements now.

With this thought weighing heavily on his mind, Higgins couldnʼt help but glance ahead. Through the dense fog, he caught a glimpse of massively imposing magic warships and the pure rays of light they emitted. The brilliance was so intense that it made his head throb. Though he had heard reports of the Alexʼs Territory possessing formidable magic warships, he hadnʼt given them much thought.

After all, what could a small territory with a new Lord possibly have? But now, in the midst of experiencing their terrifying might firsthand, he realized just how wrong he had been. Currently, he was relying solely on the unique capabilities of the ghost fleet to contend with the Renner Kingdom.

If he were to launch an offensive against the Renner Kingdomʼs warships now, he might not be able to escape their clutches at all.

”Everyone, retreat immediately!”

At that moment, apart from confirming his mistake and failure, there was no other choice.

”Reporting, my Lord. Weʼve confirmed that the ghost fleet is retreating!”

The mist slowly dissipated, and along with it, the ghost fleet vanished into thin air. The ethereal griffins that had been ever-present also disappeared from sight.

”It seems our enemy caught on to our plan,” Alex remarked.

Observing the scene, Alex turned to his strategist, Madeline, who smiled and nodded in response to his gaze.

”I didnʼt expect them to react so quickly, but if possible, Iʼd like to take this further,” Madeline said.

Higgins had anticipated this outcome. The reason behind Alexʼs strategic ambush was not to simply mimic the tactics of the Dali Kingdom, but rather to execute a genuine surprise attack. By gaining an early advantage in the war and giving the impression of a swift victory, Alex aimed to deceive the Dali Kingdom into amassing a large army to halt his advance.

This would divert their forces and allow Alex to easily defeat them.

However, it seemed that the Dali Kingdom was not as naive as Alex had hoped. Instead of assembling their troops for a defensive blockade, they made a decisive retreat. This indicated that they had realized something was amiss.

”It appears we may need to launch a direct assault,” Madeline suggested.

Alexʼs lips curled into a proud smile upon hearing his strategistʼs response. If the Dali Kingdom chose to fight to the bitter end, it would play right into Alexʼs hands.

As Alex contemplated the power and mischief of Bahamutʼs clone, he couldnʼt help but wonder how formidable the real Bahamut must be.

”But it doesnʼt matter,” Alex thought to himself. ”No matter what, I will emerge victorious. I will ensure the survival of myself and my family. I will see this journey through to the end and become the strongest. I swear on my honor, nothing can stand in my way.”

Renewing his vow in silence, a surge of determination coursed through Alexʼs veins. The bloodline of the Asura seemed to resonate with his burning desire, as if acknowledging his unwavering determination.