Chapter 199: Battle in the seas
*Tumble*
*Splash*
*Plop*
When Rocky was told that he would be facing the finest swordsman in human history, he was thinking about opponents such as King Arthur, or Sir Lancelot, or such other legendary swordsmen that went down in history as one of the finest to ever hold a sword.
However, as he found himself on-board a Spanish Merchant ship, Rocky felt confused as to who his opponent was going to be, as he did not expect to be out in the ocean.
Somehow, during his fall from the feathery realm, his clothes changed from his Scaly Armor, to proper Spanish Sailor clothes, as he found himself in the middle of the ocean, on the deck of a merchant ship.
The deck was a flurry of activity, with sailors bustling about, securing ropes and adjusting sails. The salty sea air mixed with the scent of tar and wood, creating an unmistakable aroma of seafaring life.
Tall masts loomed overhead, their rigging swaying gently with the ship's motion. The sun glinted off the polished brass fittings and cannons that lined the sides, hinting at the vessel's readiness for conflict.
For now, Rocky was not immediately challenged by an opponent as he had anticipated when he abruptly found himself onboard the ship.
He had half expected the conflict to commence instantly, but for the moment, everything remained relatively calm.
As he stood on the helm, watching the ship bash against endless waves, his attire soon got thoroughly soaked from the ship's plunge, causing the Spanish Sailors outfit to cling to him as he observed his surroundings, trying to make sense of his new predicament.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the rhythmic sounds of the sea and ship:
"PIRATES!"
Rocky's head snapped towards the source of the shout.
A sailor stood at the bow, pointed frantically towards the horizon, as Rocky's gaze soon followed his hand.
There, emerging from the morning mist, a dark silhouette took shape—a menacing pirate ship, its black sails adorned with a skull and crossbones, rapidly closing the distance.
"IT'S BLACKBEARD… IT'S THE RUTHLESS BLACKBEARD FLEET" Said one sailor who recognised the pirate symbol hoisted over the approaching ship.
While the biggest and fastest ship was the one leading from front, it wasn't the only ship chasing the Spanish Merchant Vessel, as behind the first ship was a fleet of 4 smaller ships following closely, as it seemed to be a coordinated attack.
"All hands on deck! Prepare for battle! All men to battle stations… come on now lads" The first mate shouted in Spanish, however, Rocky somehow understood every word that he spoke as if the guy spoke in Bipedal English.
Upon his instructions, the deck immediately erupted into chaos as sailors scrambled to their positions, preparing for the imminent attack.
Rocky's heart pounded in his chest, as this seemed like a scene straight out of a climax of a movie, with him being on the side of the righteous merchants who were outnumbered.
Tightening his grip on the hilt of his fang-tooth swords, Rocky readied himself for the massive showdown that laid ahead.
"ATES, BLACKIEBEARD EYEING MOI SHIP? AHOY, THAT'S BONKERS. WHAT THE FUUK IS THE HELMSMAN DOING?" Suddenly a drunken man shouted, as the cabin door to the captain's cabin swung open.
The captain was a tall, burly man with a thick beard and a stern expression, his eyes blazing with determination as he took in the chaotic scene. Without wasting a moment, he marched to the helm, barking orders to his crew in rapid Spanish.
"Ain't no pirate BITCH is going to set foot on the king's ship. DEATH TO PIRATES" he shouted, taking control of the ship's wheel as he tried his best to rapidly change the ship's course and veer it away from the pursuit of the pirates behind.
His grip was firm as he tried his best to steer the ship away from the pursuing pirates, however, the heavy merchant vessel loaded with cargo groaned under the strain, its wooden frame creaking as it cut through the choppy waters, much slower than what the drunken captain wanted it to go.
Despite the captain's best efforts, the biggest pirate ship of the pirate ships behind them was gaining fast on them as the lightweight and nimble ship that had pirates rowing rhythmically on the lower deck was much faster than the merchant vessel.
The menacing pirate ship with its black sails billowing ominously soon drew side by side with the merchant ship as the air between the two ships grew thick with tension.
"Fire!" came the command from the pirate ship, and a thunderous roar filled the air as cannonballs hurtled towards the merchant ship.
*KABOOM*
*KABOOM*
*KABOOM*
.
.
.
.
*KABOOM*
Over 50 cannon balls were fired all at once towards the merchant ship, with the Spanish sailors responding in kind, their own cannons belching smoke and flame.
The helm of the merchant ship was a scene of chaos. The sturdy wooden deck shook with each impact of colliding cannonballs, splinters flying throughout as cannonballs tore through the ship's sides.
The polished brass fittings that once gleamed in the sunlight were now covered in soot and debris as the beauty of the vessel was all but destroyed within seconds.
Sailors shouted orders and curses, struggling to keep their balance as they loaded and fired the cannons.
The smell of gunpowder mingled with the salty sea air, creating an acrid haze that stung the eyes and throat.
Amidst the cannon fire, the pirates threw crossing lines, their grappling hooks latching onto the merchant ship with deadly precision.
As the lines tightened, the pirates began to heave and pull the two ships closer together, until they managed to lessen the gap to under three meters—
Once the gap between the two ships was significantly lessened, pirates began to swing across, their sharp swords gleaming in the harsh light of the ongoing battle.
The clash of steel and the cries of combat filled the air as the pirates boarded the merchant ship, eager to claim their prize.
"YEEHAW, BOOGITIE BOOGITIE BOOGITIE BOYS, LET'S GO LOOTING"
"KNOCK KNOCK ROYAL CUNTS, DADDY'S HOME"
"IF YOU DROP TO YOUR KNEES AND CHOP OFF YOUR DICK AS AN OFFERING TO ME, I PROMISE TO SPARE YOU-"
"HEHEHE, I SWEAR ON MOTHER OCEAN, DON'T THESE SONS OF BITCHES LOOK SCARED"
The pirates shouted vile insults as they boarded the merchant ship and began their assault as they tried to break the morale of the defending forces completely.
Rocky, standing his ground, was prepared for any pirate coming his way as amongst all the scared Spanish soldiers, he was the only one standing with two swords in his hands and a big smile on his face, as unlike them he was thoroughly enjoying this situation.
The deck, peaceful only mere moments ago, was now a bloody battlefield, as the once orderly chaos of the ship turned into a scene of utter mayhem.
The fight for survival had truly begun.
************
*Slash*
*Slash*
*Slash*
"Weak"
"Weak"
"Pathetically Weak"
With every slash that Rocky made, he easily killed an opponent, as unlike him who was nearly a tier3 fighter physically, all the rest of pirates boarding the pirate ship were simple weak tier0 humans.
Compared to his devilishly muscular body, inhuman agility and incredible strength, they were like helpless ants, as Rocky led a unilateral slaughter of Blackbeard pirates, killing every single man that dared to swing across and board the merchant deck.
At first, the opponents just took him as a better than average fighter and tried to take him down using superior numbers, however, soon it became apparent that no matter how many of them tried to gang up on Rocky, their numbers did not matter at all.
"Who is that brother who is slaughtering all the pirates? He's strong!"
"Go! Go! Go! Brother, death to pirates!"
"Glory to the king"
The Spanish soldiers cheered Rocky on, as seeing him fight so domineeringly boosted their morale, as they felt like they had hope to win this fight.
*KABOOM*
*KABOOM*
Just as the Spanish troops felt like they had hope, they were pelted by a new round of cannon fire as the four auxiliary ships of the Blackbeard fleet finally joined the main ship and started to attach crossing lines to the Spanish vessel.
"Ararararara…." Said a mean looking pirate with a hideously black beard and a mean looking scarred face, as one of the Spanish soldiers recognised him as the legendary pirate 'Blackbeard'.
"That's him…. That's Blackbeard!" Shouted the Spanish soldier, as Rocky finally locked eyes with the man that was to be his opponent.
The pirate was a towering figure, his presence exuding a mix of raw power and malevolence that sent a shiver down Rocky's spine.
'He's different…. He has a dense aura of mana around him… definitely not a weak human' Rocky thought, as he observed Blackbeard and realized that the man was not a tier0 human like the rest.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins as he looked at Blackbeard's confident smile, his senses sharpening as he prepared for the confrontation.
The sheer aura of Blackbeard was overwhelming, a tangible force that radiated authority and ruthlessness, as looking at him Rocky felt a strange mix of fear and exhilaration.
As the wind whipped through his hair and the sound of clashing swords and cannon fire faded to the background, Rocky tightened his grip on his swords.
His smile broadened, not out of joy, but out of a fierce determination. He was ready to face the legendary pirate, to prove his mettle against one of history's most feared figures.
"Come-" he said, as he invited Blackbeard aboard his ship, ready to face him head on.