Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Dragon Bone vs. Iron Armor

The expert who single-handedly defeated the Nine Great Arenas, the Count of Saint Tower Island who thrived in social circles, was actually one of the true rulers of the Belmar Kingdom – the legendary Demon Swordman, Midi Asreks!

This shocking rumor left everyone momentarily forgetting their peril, stunned by the revelation.

Noblewomen who admired Midi’s charm secretly hoped to experience being rescued by the hero. Yet the family heads quickly regained composure. The Belmar Kingdom’s ruler traveling incognito to manage Lionheart Arena and maritime affairs? Clearly aiming to conquer the West Coast.

In essence, Midi’s goal differed little from the Hand of Nightmare, Wiseman Newton’s ambitions. His heroic posturing wasn’t about saving lives, but preventing maritime families from yielding to the Empire. Realizing they were lambs trapped between two predators, the family heads paled.

Ignoring them, Midi focused entirely on Wiseman. Without warning, he flicked his wrist, sending black lightning from the Starfall whip – the sword soul’s special technique: Breaking Army Rising Dragon Whip.

Wiseman’s shadowy magic array materialized – the Necromancer’s Shadow Spider Silk Array, woven from endless strands of shadow-realm spider silk. Though devastating, the whip strike was merely a probe. After shredding dozens of silk layers, it spent its force like a Drawn Bow.

Both warriors instantly understood their opponent’s true power. Whether Midi or Wiseman, each recognized the pure magic from Sky City flowing through their enemy’s veins – not Arad’s diluted magic.

Pure magic amplified practitioners beyond ordinary limits. Take Mintai – Xuzu’s Grand Commander. Though weaker than the Delos Empire’s peak experts, he’d normally surpass scholarly Wiseman. Yet after absorbing pure magic, despite both being level 50, Wiseman crushed Mintai instantly.

Without Midi’s intervention, everyone at the Sea King Festival would’ve perished. Without pure magic, Midi would’ve eradicated the Empire’s West Coast forces. Now, evenly matched through Sky City’s secrets, their clash meant mutual destruction.

"Reluctant to make this a battlefield?" Wiseman grinned cruelly, eyeing the beacon platform. "Which lady holds your heart?"

Unfazed by taunts, Midi retorted: "Likewise. My first strike would erase Zhenlu Arena from Arad."

"Since we both dislike messy fights," Wiseman’s smile widened, "let’s settle this… civilly."

"Oh?" Midi’s eyebrow arched. "Your proposal, Mr. Hand of Nightmare?"

"Very simple. Let our warships settle this through battle. Of course, if you lack warships entirely, there’s nothing to discuss." Wiseman snapped his fingers casually.

At this gesture, a rippling wave of sails appeared where sky met sea.

A fleet of over twenty five-masted ships emerged.

These vessels differed completely from any West Coast warship. Their black hulls showed extreme craftsmanship, resembling art pieces rather than warships. The enormous sails bore countless intricate magic arrays.

The strangest feature was their masts – neither metal nor wood, but twisted segments resembling the spine of some Behemoth!

The Dragonbone Warship, one of the Delos Empire’s crowning achievements.

They carried no cannons. Each ship itself formed a massive magic array. When activated together, they became nodes in a strategic-level magic array capable of unleashing city-destroying attacks.

Cannons fired single shots, but Dragonbone magic arrays stacked power exponentially.

This was Wiseman’s trump card and Zhenlu Arena’s greatest accomplishment since infiltrating the West Coast.

The Empire’s fleet immediately formed battle lines. Twenty Dragonbone Warships advanced in a crescent formation toward Sea King Island, like a sea monster devouring the horizon.

The Yunlang family’s bird ships – jointly built with Xuzu – lay directly in their path. Seeing danger, the vessels turned to flee. But Dragonbone Warships struck first.

Darkness swallowed the sky. Surging magic whipped waves into frenzy. Pale flame-serpents erupted from the warships’ masts, streaking toward targets.

Though fast for ships, the bird vessels couldn’t outpace magical projectiles. Flaming serpents coiled around hulls, igniting everything they touched. Within moments, Yunlang’s entire fleet burned to ash on open water.

Pale fires danced on blue waves. Struggling crew members vanished into serpent jaws, leaving no remains. The scene mirrored hell itself.

Having destroyed the bird ships, the Empire’s fleet accelerated toward three ironclad vessels of the Flying Sail Family.

The Empire would purge all defiant ships from these waters.

They sought to crush the fighting spirit of Sea King Island’s family heads watching from the beacon.

What better way to break maritime families than dominating their lifeblood?

Wiseman smirked at the family heads’ awestruck expressions – until his eyes fell on the unshaken black-haired youth.

“Well Midi? Any more surprises?” The impatient Hand of Nightmare jeered.

Midi’s cold gaze held no concern. “You’ll see.”

As he spoke, fifteen ironclad ships appeared on the horizon.

Larger and faster than Flying Sail’s trio, these vessels bristled with cannons. Their prows bore massive guns etched with magic runes, barrels gaping like soul-devouring abysses.

The heavy ships maneuvered with unnatural agility, forming battle lines without signals. They opened fire immediately.

Thunderous booms shook the air.

Fifteen glowing projectiles tore across churning seas.

Defensive Magic Arrays shattered like glass under the barrage. Black sails ignited from near misses. Three direct hits snapped Dragonbone hulls mid-section, sending warships plunging beneath waves.

“Secret Silver Magic Beam rounds? Siege cannons? Impressive!” Wiseman eyed the sinking wrecks before locking gazes with Midi. “Seems I’ll need to end our game prematurely.”

Six dark shapes plummeted from the sky.

The beacon platform groaned under sudden pressure as overwhelming force blanketed the area.