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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 209: Golden Beacon (2)

Chapter 209: Golden Beacon (2)

Some⁠ saw it as‍‍⁠ something to protect,⁠ but for others,⁠​⁠ it was merely⁠‌ something to harvest.‍‌‍

Barbosa’s⁠⁠​ crew smiled gleefully‍ as they watched‌​ the dwarves floating‌ in the sea.‌‌​

To‍ them, who didn’t⁠ see people as​ humans, the dwarves‍‌⁠ wandering without a place to go‍​⁠ were nothing more​​⁠ than shining gold​ coins.

“Not⁠⁠ all of them⁠⁠‌ are dwarves!”

“Ha,‌​‍ ha! This is​ paradise!”

However,​‍‌ perhaps they were​‌ so excited about‌​​ the unexpected harvest⁠​ that they didn’t⁠‌⁠ notice the ship‍ slowly drifting away‌‍⁠ from the group.​⁠‍

No,​ even if they​‍‌ had noticed, they​ wouldn’t have paid⁠ much attention to‌⁠⁠ it.

Because‍ the ship approaching‍ them seemed too⁠​​ small and insignificant.‍

“…What‌​ is this?”

Suddenly,‌‌ a bright light⁠⁠‍ began to shine‌ over the excited​ sailors.

Although​‍ it was midday,⁠ the light shone‌‍ intensely, and though⁠‍ small, it was‌‍ bright enough to‌⁠‌ be mistaken for​‌‍ a lighthouse in‍​ the port.

The‌ flickering light drew‍⁠ closer and closer.‍‌

Traveling‍ on the small‍ ship they had​ ignored for its⁠​‌ insignificant appearance.

The‍‌ ship cutting through⁠⁠​ the sea was​‌ heading directly towards‍​‌ them.

***​‍

“Aaaah!”​

“Too‌‍ fast! Too fast!”‍⁠‌

“The⁠ squids, the squids‍​ are going crazy!”‌

It‌ seemed like they‌ were riding on‍ a silver shelf.​⁠

The‍​ sea was supposed⁠‌ to be blue,‍ but the water’s⁠‍ surface under Zemina’s⁠‍⁠ feet was now​​ filled with silver.‌​

Even‌​ Barbosa’s ships in​⁠‍ the distance seemed‌⁠ bewildered by the‌‌‍ light produced by‌ the swarms of‌​​ glowing squids.

“Argh!”​‌​

A speed that would⁠ make even experienced‌​⁠ sailors grit their​⁠⁠ teeth.

The​⁠​ bulging sail already‌⁠ fluttered as if​⁠ it were about‍​‍ to tear, and‍⁠‍ the headwind was⁠‍⁠ so strong it‌‍ was hard to‌‍ breathe.

“Everyone‌‍ hold on tight!”⁠

The​‍‍ Zemina advanced as‍ if gliding on‍​ ice, but contrary​ to its exterior⁠⁠ appearance, the impact‌‍‍ the crew had‍ to endure was‌​​ violent.

Joseph’s⁠‌​ face had already​ turned pale due⁠​​ to the vibrations,‍‍ enough to unsettle‌‍‌ even the elves​ with their good​​ sense of balance.​‌⁠

Bang!⁠​ Boom! Boom!

“Enemy‌‌‌ ship attack! They’re​‍​ firing cannonballs!”

Black‍ dots started flying‍ from Barbosa’s ships,⁠⁠‌ which he noticed‍‌‍ belatedly.

At⁠‌​ the ominous explosion‌ heard from afar,‍⁠‌ Harven’s eyes, hidden​‍⁠ under the captain’s​ hat, began to⁠​ glow intensely.

“Huff!”‍

Screech!‌ Screech!

A sinister sound was‌ heard as the‍⁠ wheel was forced⁠⁠⁠ to turn.

It‍​ was the cry​‍ of the Zemina,‌ unable to overcome‍ its speed.

Boom!‍⁠ Boom!

Barbosa’s⁠⁠​ cannonballs narrowly missed‌ despite all their‍‍ might.

Even‍‍‍ Baradis, who never‍ lost his composure,‍ swallowed hard as⁠​ he watched the‍ projectiles fall close‍​​ by.

“Ha!‍ Ha, ha!”

Everyone‍‌ on the ship​​ was tense, but​‌ Harven was smiling‌ broadly.

When​​ was the last‍‌⁠ time I ran​‍​ on my own​ legs?

It‌‌​ felt like the⁠‌‌ memories of that​‍⁠ time, which I could hardly recall,​​‍ were slowly awakening⁠ as the wind‍​ blew as if​⁠ it were tearing‍​​ me apart.

“Everyone!‌‌‍ Brace for impact!”⁠‌

Screech!​ Screech!

Sinister‌ creaks echoed throughout⁠‌‍ the ship.

It‌ was the cry⁠‌ of Zemina, exhausted,​‍ shattered, and burdened‍ with a mission‌ too great for‍ its abilities.

However,‌ Harven believed that⁠‌‌ Red Rose would⁠⁠​ definitely make it​‌⁠ to the end.​​⁠

“It’s‌⁠‌ crashing!”

“Ahhh!”⁠‌

The‌‌ wind blown by‍​ Nibelun’s magic and​ the waves generated​‌ by the spirits​‍‍ finally shot Zemina​ like a cannonball.‌

Even‍‍ Barbosa’s crew couldn’t‌ help but watch​ in fascination at​ the sudden acceleration.​‍‍

Boom!‌‍​ Crash!

The‌‌ two ships collided⁠​‌ with a loud⁠ explosion-like sound and​‌ began to sway⁠ heavily.

The‍‍‍ small but strong⁠ Lady managed to‍‍ open a large‌‌‍ hole in the​ side of the⁠‌⁠ invader.

“Everyone⁠‌​ jump!”

“Ahhh!”‌‌

“I’m⁠⁠‌ not dead! I’m‍‌⁠ still not dead!”⁠

The‍ sailors began to‌​ jump forward onto​ the sinking Zemina.‍

Riding‌ on the bridge⁠ created by the⁠⁠ foremost hanging horn.​

The‌​​ sharp angle of‍⁠ the charge added​⁠‍ force to their‍ assault.

[How‍‌ did we say‍​ we should take​ the initiative?]

And‍ you could see⁠​ their charge from‌ the top of⁠⁠​ the collapsing watchtower.‌​

It⁠ was the sight⁠‍​ of a man​‍ whose body was‌​ covered in traces​​‍ of Zemina’s collapse.⁠‍‍

“…With‌​ greatness!”

The‌⁠‍ dock reached the⁠​⁠ dock, but the​‍ slanted watchtower of⁠‌ Zemina was sinking‍​ towards the enemy’s‌​​ deck.

As​‍ it collapsed slowly,​‌ a golden, shiny⁠ object fell.

At‌⁠⁠ the same time,⁠ the sword swung⁠​​ sharply.

The⁠⁠ path of the​​⁠ sword pointed precisely⁠ at the enemy​‍‍ captain holding the⁠​⁠ wheel.

“This⁠ is madness!”

The​‍‍ captain’s eyes, looking​ up, filled with​‌⁠ light.

Two‍⁠ people who had​‌⁠ gotten closer by⁠‌ looking at each‍ other passed by.⁠‍

Because⁠ there was only‍ one path drawn‍​ by the sword,⁠ and only one‍⁠ person could stand‌​‌ on it.

Whoosh​​⁠

The‍⁠ captain was slowly​⁠ crumbling under the‍ blood that had⁠⁠⁠ been cut vertically.​⁠‌

The​ moment passed fleetingly,⁠‍​ and the light​​‍ that came was‍⁠ of a precious‍‌⁠ golden color.

“…I​‌ am Vlad of‌ Soara.”

The⁠⁠ mast of the​⁠‌ Zemina, which fell,‌⁠ landed on the​‌ deck with a crash.

However,​‌‌ Vlad showed no‌​ pity for her⁠‌ as she collapsed.​‍

“I‍ will not hear‌ any excuses from⁠‍ you who invaded‍​ the North.”

What⁠‌ you must bring‍​​ is only the​ name, not the⁠⁠ dilapidated form.

A chilling aura began‍⁠ to flow from‍‌ Vlad, who carried‌‍​ the banner of‌ the red rose.‍

***​

There​‌‍ are a total‍ of five enemy‍ ships.

Seeing⁠‍​ the Zemina trapped​‍​ in the flagship,‌⁠⁠ they felt so‌⁠ bewildered that the‌​⁠ ships quickly began⁠⁠ to approach.

“Hmph!”⁠⁠⁠

Another​‍​ sailor lost his​‍ head due to​ the strong blow​ of the axe.​‍​

The‍ dark-skinned man hidden⁠‌ in the darkness⁠​ was not something​‌ that could be​​ recognized even if‌‍‌ someone was watching.‌⁠

“Harven!”⁠​

“…Don’t​ worry about me,‍ just do what⁠ you have to​ do!”

Otar‌⁠ shouted while looking⁠ at Harven, whose​‍ left leg was​⁠ bleeding, but they‌‍‌ no longer had​‍ time.

“It’s⁠ now or never!‍‌​ Everyone, to your​⁠‌ posts!”

In‍‍​ the crowded hold,⁠​ enemies and sailors​‍ mingled in confusion.⁠‌

The‍ elves and Jager‌‍‌ were fine, but​‌ no matter how⁠‌⁠ good they were,⁠ they couldn’t block‍​ the artillery fire‍‍ coming from afar.⁠‍

“Gunners‌‍ ready, load the⁠‍‌ fuse!”

Harven​‍‍ had lost his​‌​ staff and was​‌ rolling around helplessly,‌​‌ but he still‍‌‌ held the captain’s⁠ hat he wore.⁠

Although⁠‍⁠ the ship was‍ lost, the captain’s​‌ duty was not‍ yet over, and‍ Harven was the⁠ one who somehow⁠​​ had to open‍​ a path for⁠ his passengers.

“Fire!”‌​

“Fire​⁠⁠ projectiles!”

“Captain,‍‌‍ fire!”

Endless‍ repetitions amidst chaotic‍ shouts.

The‌ crew of the‌⁠‌ Zemina, having captured‍‌‌ the enemy cannons,‍‍ began to shout​​‍ as loud as‌‍‍ they could at‍⁠ the approaching ships.​

Boom!⁠ Boom! Boom!

A distance that could​‍ not be avoided​ for being too‌⁠ close.

The‍‍‌ acrid smoke filled‍‌ the sky with‌‌‍ debris flying everywhere.​‌⁠

The‌​​ enemy ships, which‍​‍ had never expected‍ the dock to​ be captured in​ such a short‌ time, abandoned the⁠ flank helplessly.

“Don’t⁠ stop! Keep firing!”‌‌​

From‍⁠​ now on, only‍⁠‍ quick hands could‌‌‌ save them.

The‍​‌ ships, realizing that⁠​​ the flagship had‍ been captured, slowly‍​ began to open‍ their cannons.

The‌​ bright tips of‍ the cannons aimed‌‌‌ at the sailors​‍‍ on both sides.​​

“Emergency‍⁠ increase!”

At⁠​ that moment, one‌ of the enemy‌ ships that had‍‌ finished aiming began‌⁠⁠ to tilt sharply.‍‌

This‌​ was because it‌ was ruthlessly pushed⁠ by something resembling​​ a sunfish that‌‍‌ jumped from under‌⁠⁠ the sea.

Boom!​ Boom! Boom!

The‌ enemy projectiles that⁠‌ had lost their‍​ angle began to⁠‍ rise into the‌‍‌ sky in vain.⁠‍

With‍​⁠ Harven’s order echoing‍​‌ along with it,​ fire began to​​ shoot from the‍‌⁠ dock.

A flying projectile and​⁠ someone’s scream.

The‌‍ torn bodies fell‌ to the bottom⁠​ of the sea.​

-······.‌⁠‌

Above⁠​⁠ the bodies slowly​⁠ sinking, bubbles rose.‌‌‍

It⁠‍‌ was a bubble‍‍ emerging from the⁠ darkness of the​ depths of the‌ sea, where not​ a single ray‍​​ of light shone.‍⁠‍

The‌ misty bubble containing​⁠ someone’s breath extended‍ its hand toward​​‍ the golden beacon‌ shining on the⁠‍​ water’s surface.

Though​​ the color it‍⁠‍ held was different,​​⁠ it was like‍‍ a resonance in‍ a very old‌⁠ memory.

***‍‍

“We‍‍ can’t advance because​‌ of the chains!”⁠

“Take​ a detour.”

“Impossible!‍‍ There are reefs‌‌​ everywhere!”

Barbosa‍‍ scratched his head,‍⁠ worried by the‌ reports he heard.⁠​

It⁠​ seemed that the‌⁠ reason for the‌​‍ desperate defense, despite⁠​‍ somehow not being​‌ a match for‍⁠ him, was due‌‍‌ to timing.

“…You’re​⁠ so bold.”

Barbosa​‌⁠ looked at the‍‍‍ ship in front‌ of him and⁠ laughed as if⁠‌ it were absurd.​⁠⁠

A ship equipped with‍​ a strange watermill‍⁠⁠ was constantly luring‍​ them here.

Although‌‍ its current appearance⁠‌ was in bad‌⁠‌ shape due to​​‍ the projectiles, the​ flagship of Nidavellir⁠ finally managed to⁠‍⁠ complete its mission.‍

“They‍ say there’s no​‍‌ iron armor beneath​​ the ship.”

“That’s​⁠ good to hear.”‌

Blood‌‌ was flowing down‍ his forehead from​ the splinters, but‌ Olmukar only smiled‍ with satisfaction at‌ the report received.⁠‌​

“Tell‍​ the submarines to​​ make holes in​⁠​ the bottom of‌​ that ship.”

“Understood.”‍‌‍

Although‌⁠​ these submarines were​​⁠ built to work,‍ not to fight,‍ it would have⁠​ been easier to‍‌ drill a hole‌‌‌ under the ship.⁠​

These‌‍‍ submarines were originally‍ constructed to extract⁠ minerals from the⁠‌ seabed.

Boom!⁠​ Boom!

“Sir!‌⁠‌ From beneath the‍​‍ ship now!”

“Ah,​​ I’m no longer​⁠‍ surprised by what‍​ emerges.”

Despite⁠​ the unsettling sound‍⁠‍ from beneath the⁠⁠ ship that made⁠ the sailors nervous,‍ the Golden Duke,‌ Barbosa, merely shrugged.​

A strange sunfish swimming‌⁠ under the sea​‌⁠ in a ship‌‍ that moves alone⁠ without wind.

Moreover,​‍ there are chains‍⁠​ persistently tying between‍​ the reefs.

Barbosa​ grew tired of⁠⁠ the dwarves’ preparations⁠‍ as they struggled⁠​‌ to survive.

“They​⁠ say nothing is​⁠ harder than a dwarf’s beard… Just‌​‌ looking at them,​ they’re crazy.”

However,‍​​ Barbosa’s obsession with⁠‌​ gold was closer⁠ to madness.

Despite⁠​ the unsettling sound⁠ from beneath the‍​ ship that made‍‌‍ the sailors nervous,⁠‌​ the Golden Duke,​ Barbosa, merely shrugged.⁠​

“Ah,⁠​‍ count, given the​‍⁠ state of things,‌‍ what can we‌‌ do. I’m very‌‍​ sorry.”

Barbosa,​​⁠ who recognized that‍ he could do​ nothing, decided to‍‍⁠ use one of‍ the prepared measures​‌ he had brought⁠⁠‍ along.

It‌⁠⁠ was originally prepared⁠ for the Blood​ Dragon, but it⁠​ was inevitable in‌‌‌ the current situation.⁠​⁠

“…May‌​ a curse fall​ upon you and​⁠‌ the house of‌​​ Barbosa.”

“Are‍​ those your last‌ words, Salbara?”

The‍⁠ middle-aged man, firmly‍​​ bound with ropes,‍ looked with eyes‌ full of hatred,​​ but the Golden​​‍ Duke, Barbosa, only‌​ looked at his⁠ dagger, unmoved.

Any⁠‍‌ defeated dog would‌ surely bark like‌‌​ the man now,‌‌ and Barbosa had​‌⁠ heard such empty​⁠ threats many times.​​

“Those⁠ words no longer‍​​ move me.”

“Guh!”⁠

Barbosa‍ cut the man’s​⁠‌ neck with a familiar motion.

The‍ drops of blood‌​ from the last‍ Salbara fell from‍​​ the tip of‍ the dagger he‍ held.

Rumble,⁠⁠ rumble!

As‍⁠‌ Count Salbara’s eyes​‌​ lost their light,​ a strong vibration​‌​ began to resonate‍​ from the ship‌‍‌ beside him.

It‌‌​ was a box⁠‍⁠ that had been⁠ tightly sealed with‍‍ silver chains.

“…Just​⁠⁠ as they said,‌ it’s starting to⁠‍⁠ get out of​ control.”

However,‌⁠​ the chains that​ seemed to last‍‍ forever were now‍​ rapidly rusting.

This‌‍ was because they‌‍​ could no longer‍⁠ fulfill their noble​‌ vow as they​⁠ had lost the⁠⁠ oath passed down⁠​​ through the blood.‍‌⁠

The​‌​ southern lineage that‍‍ had maintained the​‌‍ oath for so‌‌ long until now‍⁠⁠ was finally cut‍‍‌ by a ruthless‍‌‌ pirate.

Amidst‍ the sinister sound‌‌ of the box,​ the shadow under‍​ the sea darkened.⁠⁠‌

That⁠ shadow had been‍‍⁠ held by a being that had⁠​‍ followed the dragon‌‍​ fragment from the⁠‌‌ south.

***‍⁠​

An​⁠​ old man was‌‍ watching the sea​‌​ from the edge​⁠ of a cliff‌⁠ on the island⁠⁠​ of Lemnos.

Those⁠‌ who couldn’t fight⁠ took refuge, and‌​ all the warriors⁠​​ who could fight​​ left for the‌‌ battlefield, leaving the‌‍ island empty, but‍‍⁠ Rukhta was determined​‍ to protect this‌‍ forge.

Even‍ if you are‍‍‌ an insignificant old⁠ man, you have​‌⁠ the duty to⁠​ preserve it until​​ the end.

“What⁠ the hell is‌‌‍ that…”

Although‍ Rukhta remained with‌‍ such firm resolve,​‌‌ what he was‌‍‍ seeing now was​⁠ hard to accept.​‍⁠

The‍‍‌ sea was crying.⁠

Because‍ something hard to​‍ handle was emerging​‌‍ beneath it.

The⁠​ ships of Nidavellir‍‌ were trembling dangerously‌ from that enormous‍⁠⁠ howl.

Like​ a pathetic leaf‌⁠ that seemed ready​​​ to fall at⁠‍​ any moment.

“…Oh​ my God.”

A hoarse voice came‍⁠⁠ out of Ruhkta’s‌​⁠ mouth.

Before⁠‍‌ his eyes unfolded⁠⁠‍ a scene so​⁠‍ incredible he couldn’t‌‌ believe it.

It​​ was a spectacle‌⁠‍ that even he,​‍ who had lived​​ a long time,​​⁠ couldn’t dare to⁠‍ withstand.

Gaaahhhh-!‍‌

There⁠ was a dragon​‍ that raised its​‌‍ head while crossing⁠‌⁠ the sea.

It‌ was a being‌⁠ so enormous that‌‌ its extended head‌ reached the sky.‍​⁠

With‌ its roar, even‍‍ the clouds in⁠ the sky hid.‌‌⁠

“The‍‌ greatest… Dragon.”

The‌‍⁠ greatest dragon. Leviathan.‍

The⁠⁠​ largest and perfect⁠ remnant of the‌‌ dragon now appeared‌‍​ in the waters‌‍‍ of the island‍‍⁠ of Lemnos.

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