The Game of Global Mining
Chapter 650 - 499: Guard Ship Battle for Supremacy
The Ten Lords Chat Group is simultaneously live streaming both Sela's perspective and Gabriel's perspective.
The Oak Ark where Gabriel is stationed sounds the alarm, and the entire ship goes into level-one combat readiness, deploying the magic shield. However, under the penetrating song, the magic shield vibrates like a speaker. The radar display in the Oak Ark's command cabin flickers, unable to determine the location and distance of the sound source, and even the position of the Black Iron Blade is blurred.
Sela compares the two live feeds and immediately senses something is wrong: "This Siren's song is too loud, but I can't hear anything from here, which shouldn't be the case at this distance!"
Michael is even more incredulous: "Can the Siren's song interfere with radar?"
Suddenly, Sariel remembers something: "Back when I was holding a fly in the maximum-security prison, a similar impact occurred. I'll ask the mermaid..."
At this moment, the mermaid is exhilarated, riding on the black dragon, showing no signs of fatigue from a day of battle.
Sariel ascends to inquire: "Lord of the Divine Throne, I received the latest news. The Oak Flower's warship is under attack by the Siren's song in the Sea of a Thousand Islands, but this time the song is particularly loud and concentrated, not spreading to the surroundings..."
The mermaid suddenly pauses, her expression turning serious: "This guy... You're describing the Sea Race's Echo Matrix! It can make sounds travel for thousands of kilometers; of course, it sounds loud and is hard to detect from afar."
Michael also is shocked: "It's actually the Echo Matrix! But the Echo Matrix isn't supposed to interfere with radar!"
Sariel panics: "What do we do?"
The mermaid chuckles: "The troubles in Oak City are none of my business!"
Gabriel is furious: "Sariel, look at what you've raised!"
Sariel frets: "What if it targets us in the future? Should we build an Echo Matrix?"
The mermaid suggests: "Echo Matrices require giant shells hundreds of years old as materials. If you can find them, I can make one."
Sariel is stunned: "Where do we find these giant shells?"
The mermaid sighs: "I don't know."
Sariel urgently asks: "What if we can't find the shells?"
The mermaid smiles: "Then I'll just rush over and seize the matrix! Ordinary people can't withstand this thing, but I'm different—should I fly over now?"
Sariel is taken aback: "Now? That's... it's too far away."
The mermaid sneers: "You know it's far? Now is the critical moment for me to gather the faithful of Black Iron City around my mining efforts. Unless Oak City allows me to become the Guardian God as well, they should resolve it themselves!"
Sariel: "Hmmm..."
Gabriel retorts: "Enough, I can manage the situation from Oak Flower itself. Last time the Pirate King showed up, the imperial guard ship ended in a stalemate—"
Before the sentence is finished, a radar finally reacts, revealing two warships sneaking around the Oak Ark in the night fog!
The NPC first mate peers through binoculars in shock: "Miss Liya, it's the Pirate King's Sea Dominator, and the missing imperial guard ship! The guard ship's power system seems not fully operational, being towed by the Sea Dominator with chains..."
Before the voice fades, the two enemy ships open fire, and the magic shield that's already vibrating from the Siren's sound blazes intensely.
—— Damage Assessment Report: Shield wear 74%, hull durability wear 4%, enemy firepower assessment: medium-high threat!
Liya frowned: "Looks like they're blocking our retreat route. All ship's firepower to focus on the Sea Dominator and rush to rendezvous with the Black Iron Blade, launch flares..."
At this time, Sela on the Black Iron Blade finally sees the faint commotion at the horizon.
Sela said: "Miss Fafnir, the Oak Ark is under attack, let's hurry to the rescue."
Fafnir smiled: "Indeed, one more ship means more strength. Let's go rescue them."
Sela reminded: "But it's possible the Pirate King, guard ship, and Sirens are all present!"
Fafnir hesitated: "Are you sure?"
Sela coughed: "After all, I'm a nun, I have some ability to predict."
Fafnir looked at Sela, her gaze thoughtful.
Sela felt a bit awkward. Given that she could communicate offline as a player, it seemed a bit advanced for the AI NPCs, didn't it? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Fafnir sighed: "Now it seems the intelligence I received might be a trap, and Liya's somewhat stepped into it for me. I still have to go to the rescue regardless—First Mate, send a support signal to the Oak Ark."
As soon as the words are out, Gabriel's side is hit by another round of shelling!
The Oak Ark's command cabin, still disturbed, actually received this vague message. Though unclear, the word "support" was still discernible.
Gabriel sighed: "Better not come, just let Liya initiate risk transmission and leave, just a loss of half durability. If she comes, I'll lose half my durability from the bombardment anyway!"
Sela chuckled: "Now that Fafnir has directly offered support, will Liya simply retreat? Letting the pirates burn off half durability also drains their energy."
Gabriel couldn't help but laugh: "Is Fafnir doing this on purpose?"
Sela laughed: "Is she? If she were that smart, she wouldn't be at the bottom of the city beauty parade, right?"
At this moment, the Oak Ark's first mate reports new developments: "Miss Liya, the guard ship's power system is failing more and more."
Liya commented lightly: "I've heard the guard ship fled from Silver City before repairs, perhaps overloading, making it fail now, hence the need for the Sea Dominator to tow it. Now it seems they can't escape while receiving Fafnir's support and will abandon the guard ship."
Before she finished speaking, the opposition executes another volley:
—— Damage Assessment Report: Shield replenished by 40% a second time, hull durability wear 34%, enemy firepower assessment: intermediate threat!
Gabriel is quite reassured: "Intermediate threat! It shows their energy is indeed dwindling!"
Liya decisively commands: "Warship, turn to strike the pirate ship and prepare for impact, everyone!"
The first mate brings good news: "The Black Iron Blade has been spotted at full speed!"
Gabriel also sees the turnaround: "The pirate ship is turning too, and there's smoke and flames from the guard ship's command cabin behind them..."
Liya solemnly says: "It seems they'll abandon the guard ship to flee at full speed, so let's extinguish the fire!"
No sooner spoken, the pirate ship fires another round but to little effect, rolling out smoke! Indeed, the prelude to escape under cover of smoke.
When the Oak Ark rushes out of the fog, the pirate ship has vanished into the smoke, leaving only a raging fire in the command cabin.
At that moment, applause erupts in the Ten Lords Chat Group: "Congratulations on completing the mission!"
Sela can't hold back her ire: "We agreed not to steal credit!"
Gabriel laughs: "It's the city beauty's decision, I couldn't interfere anyway, but in this situation, Black Iron City Beauty has credit too!"