Chapter 42

Amidst the intense battlefield, the others were a bit further away and couldn't hear what Luo Zhengdao was muttering. However, Vina Dubov, who had been following him closely, was amused by his self-talk. The half-elf beauty, recalling her role as a governess, immediately assumed a stern and righteous posture and said to Luo Zhengdao:

"Lord Count, please be sure to behave properly and avoid vulgar actions that would tarnish the reputation of the Count's family, especially this kind of merchant's tone. It's too undignified. Remember to maintain your decorum."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhengdao's smile turned more painful than a cry. He bared his teeth and said:

"Alas, do I not even have the right to complain?"

"Thud!"

Before Vina could respond, Luo Zhengdao already heard the sound of a heavy object falling from the middle of the deck, followed by a sound like a file scraping the bottom of a pot. In broken Common, a voice shouted fiercely:

"Will Needham, you bastard, you hairless monkey, come out and face your death!"

This angry and loud voice, of course, belonged to the goblin commander Zeti White Mountain. His enraged roar could be heard clearly even by the pirates in the lower hold. The flagship, a large sail-and-oar ship, had been ignited by a special alchemical mixture, and it was about to burn to ashes. The goblin marines gathered on the flagship's deck had no choice but to follow Zeti White Mountain and charge towards the Yangwei, as staying in the burning ship was worse than facing an uncertain battle.

When he heard the taunt, Luo Zhengdao, who had developed a fair amount of killing intent during his short pirate career, his eyes gleamed, and he gripped the hilt of his sword.

Seeing this, Vina Dubov's face turned pale. She grabbed Luo Zhengdao's arm and said:

"Will, don't be impulsive."

Luo Zhengdao turned to look at the half-elf beauty and said with a smile:

"Don't worry, I don't have a death wish. Who will die today is still uncertain!"

This wasn't an exaggeration. With the magic card in his hand, Luo Zhengdao could summon unimaginable power at any time, as long as he wasn't afraid of being cursed by the荒神 (荒神: a term that doesn't have a direct English equivalent, but can be translated as "Wasteland God" or "Desolate God"). However, using the magic card was like burning his limited life force; the more power he used, the closer he was to death. For the Wasteland God's curse, which was like a bone-deep disease, even death in the conventional sense was not an end; the complete annihilation of his soul was the most likely outcome. Luo Zhengdao was well aware of this.

Sailors who roamed the Ether Sea always revered strength and violence and despised cowards. Pirates were even more extreme in this regard, and duels between captains were commonplace.

When Zeti White Mountain shouted in broken Common on the deck, both the goblin soldiers and the pirates maintained a confrontational stance, waiting for Luo Zhengdao to make a decision.

At this moment, the goblin flagship, which had become a burning backdrop, was lit up inside and out, like a giant lantern illuminating the entire battlefield. Countless orange flames spewed black smoke from the ship's various openings. The goblin oarsmen, sensing the impending disaster, clung to life-saving equipment and abandoned the ship, filling the few small boats like sardine cans. The nearby goblin warships anxiously sent out small boats to rescue their comrades. In Zeti White Mountain's eyes, Luo Zhengdao was the only target. The casualties of his subordinates were just numbers, insignificant matters.

The saying "a general's success is built on the bones of countless soldiers" is not just a literary device; victory is always achieved with the blood and lives of soldiers, both enemy and one's own. Commanders who cared about casualties were considered weak and incompetent. For commanders, ensuring that their soldiers died with purpose was a way to honor their lives.

Stepping down from the stairs to the stern deck, Luo Zhengdao, sword in hand, deliberately assumed an arrogant posture and coldly asked:

"Hey, green skin, are you looking for me?"

When he heard the enemy's derogatory term, the already furious goblin commander Zeti White Mountain exploded with anger. Without even considering his earlier challenge, he pointed his furry hand at Luo Zhengdao and roared:

"Capture him!"

The consequences of provoking the enemy were exactly what Luo Zhengdao had anticipated. The magic card in his left hand shattered into countless light points, and he disappeared in a cloud of light, shouting:

"Summon—Bone War Elephant!"

"Trumpet—"

A long, sharp trumpet sound echoed on the deck of the Yangwei, a powerful sound effect that rivaled the oppressive sensation of a large jet passing overhead. This newly summoned creature, the Bone War Elephant, was clearly not to be underestimated. Its body was a ghastly white skeleton, but unlike the weak and fragile skeleton soldiers, this was a four-star creature summoned by a magic card. Magic card summoners always produced high-quality creatures, a fact that was beyond doubt.

According to Luo Zhengdao's understanding of the magic card's star ratings, a four-star rating meant that the Bone War Elephant could easily defeat most terrestrial sub-dragons, like a wolf dog tearing apart a Pekingese. This conclusion was based on the magic card's star rating, not his imagination. Needless to say, facing such a powerful summoned creature, even a small army of goblins would need to be prepared for heavy casualties to even hope to reach the rookie magic card user Luo Zhengdao.

Seeing the Bone War Elephant, which defied common sense, Zeti White Mountain suppressed his anger and anxiety. His mind was not so heated that he would recklessly waste his soldiers' lives. The goblin commander stared intently at the Bone War Elephant and shouted to his subordinates:

"Crossbow fire!"

In naval battles, goblin rockets were purely for show. Using these inaccurate long-range weapons to hit moving targets was like trying to hit a needle on the ground by dropping peas from a ten-story building. However, when attacking fixed land targets, such as fortresses and dense enemy formations, goblin rockets might perform better. In the cramped and narrow environment of a warship's deck, attempting to fire rockets would likely hit their own men as often as the enemy. In comparison, using traditional long-range weapons like crossbows was a more reliable choice.

"From now on, the boatswain will take over the command of the battle. Zola, it's up to you."

Luo Zhengdao's order authorized the boatswain to take command. On-the-spot command was not his strength; the captain had to step forward to boost morale at such a critical moment. Even if he was physically weak, he had to stand there as a mascot, or a target for the enemy's snipers. This was a captain's duty, with no room for negotiation.

Standing three stories tall and as long as a ten-wheeled truck, the Bone War Elephant, when it appeared on the deck of the Yangwei, created a living fortress that separated the goblins from the pirates on the Yangwei.

Upon hearing Luo Zhengdao's order, the boatswain Zola Hegel directed the sailors to distribute weapons like crossbows and grenades for the upcoming melee. The stage was set for a fierce battle.

"Bang! Boom..."

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed a hundred meters away on the sea. A goblin sail-and-oar warship had its mast broken by a stone projectile. The sail, spewing flames and smoke, fell gracefully, and the remaining sparks ignited the stone powder barrels on the deck. In the golden light, the explosions followed one after another, and the unfortunate warship burned and exploded, creating a spectacular scene. On the other side of the battlefield, a line of white three-masted warships appeared, moving gracefully like swans on the water.

Through the dense smoke, the leading warship could be seen flying a green flag with a golden five-pointed star. Anyone who made a living as a pirate knew this was the flag of the Elven Federation Navy.

"Look, it's the Elven Federation's Southern Fleet. We're saved."

Someone shouted, but his companion immediately poured cold water on the idea, saying:

"What are you shouting for? We're pirates, and the privateer license of Captain is issued by the Yaling Empire. The elves may not recognize it."

Regardless of the heated discussion among Luo Zhengdao's pirates about whether the appearance of the elven warships was a blessing or a curse, Zeti White Mountain, who had long known that the Dark Sea was beyond the control of the goblin navy, fell into complete despair. He glared at Luo Zhengdao with a hoarse voice and shouted:

"What a pity, capturing you alive is impossible! Then, I, Zeti White Mountain, will take your head!"

Hearing this, Luo Zhengdao was slightly taken aback, then he smirked and said sarcastically:

"Hey, don't just talk to yourself and make me laugh, big bear. Show me what you've got! Otherwise, you won't have the chance to perform."

It was obvious that the Bone War Elephant summoned by Luo Zhengdao, with its massive size, was a powerful force against group targets. However, for a single target, it was not difficult to avoid its attack range. As he spoke, the goblin commander used a rope hanging from the mast to swing to a position near the stern deck, now only a step away from Luo Zhengdao.

Seeing this, Vina Dubov's body trembled, and she called out:

"Captain, do you need to change your weapon?"

Hearing this impractical suggestion, Luo Zhengdao carefully examined the large double-bladed battle axe in Zeti White Mountain's hand, which was as big as a fan, and then looked at his own single-handed sword, which weighed no more than two kilograms. He sighed and shook his head, saying:

"No need, it won't be easy for this green skin to kill me. Come on! Let me see what you've got."

PS: Poor crab! A few days ago, I jumped out of bed and sprained my left ankle. The next day, it swelled up like a pig's foot, and every step I took was excruciatingly painful. Now, I can only move around the house with a chair, like a disabled person. What a tragedy! Fortunately, after the first day when I couldn't even type, I've managed to keep writing. Please support me!