Chapter 373 ·Cargo Ship
Chapter 373: Cargo Ship
A thin veil of mist draped over the vast ocean like gauze, and even the dazzling sunlight gradually became gentler as it shone through the clouds.
It should have been a peaceful scene, yet violent explosions continuously echoed through the mist, causing the calm sea to erupt into towering waves.
Having confirmed that there were no Transcendent experts present, Zhou Ming rode Colorful Scales, who had concealed his aura, and slowly approached the source of the explosions.
Before long, Zhou Ming saw exactly what was happening.
Several kilometers away across the sea, a cargo ship with a displacement of tens of thousands of tons was engaged in battle with a gigantic octopus over a hundred meters long.
There was no fundamental difference between Sea Beasts and Ferocious Beasts. It was simply because of their habitat that Sea Beasts were generally much larger than Ferocious Beasts of the same rank.
Although the octopus attacking the cargo ship possessed an exceptionally terrifying body, it had not actually reached Lord-level. At most, it was only at the peak of High-tier Sea Beast.
However, after observing it carefully, Zhou Ming still noticed something unusual about the gigantic octopus—it appeared abnormally frenzied, to the point where it had even lost an animal's instinct to seek advantages and avoid danger.
Moreover, as a High-tier Sea Beast, it should have possessed the ability to use innate spells, yet it was still relying solely on its powerful tentacles to fight the cargo ship.
Could this be the influence of this sea region?
After making a simple guess, Zhou Ming did not choose to intervene immediately and instead continued observing.
At that moment, after failing to capture the cargo ship for so long, the gigantic octopus finally seemed to change its strategy under the relentless bombardment. It dove beneath the sea, preparing to attack the bottom of the cargo ship.
The people aboard the cargo ship immediately realized the gigantic octopus's intentions.
Inside the cargo ship's bridge, the captain, wearing a worn-out sun hat and sporting a thick beard, anxiously issued an order.
“Prepare to activate the high-voltage electric grid. If the cargo ship is damaged, we'll all be buried in this sea.”
Hearing the captain's roar, cold sweat immediately trickled down the temples of the crew members operating the instruments in the bridge.
They were merely ordinary technicians. Once the cargo ship sank to the seabed, their chances of survival would be zero.
If they had been Apprentice Beast Tamers, they could at least rely on their Phantasmal Beasts for assistance and fight for a slim chance of survival on this mist-covered ocean.
“Charging complete.”
“Electric grid system operating normally.”
“Insulation facilities functioning normally.”
Within just a few breaths, the crew members in the bridge rapidly completed their operations and promptly reported their respective statuses.
Upon hearing the reports from his crew, the anxious captain immediately pressed the switch to activate the high-voltage electric grid.
The next moment, several special devices beneath the cargo ship emitted dazzling blue lightning.
The powerful high-voltage current formed a gigantic net that enveloped the entire underside of the cargo ship, and brilliant blue arcs of electricity even flashed across the sea's surface.
The gigantic octopus that had just dived underwater immediately let out a strange, shrill scream and rapidly retreated from the cargo ship while enduring intense pain.
However, despite the Sea Beast's swift reaction, several of its tentacles had already been charred black.
“Damn it, what a waste of such a perfect opportunity.”
Inside the bridge, seeing that the gigantic octopus had suffered only minor injuries, the captain slammed his fist onto the table to vent his anger.
The high-voltage electric grid defense system was the cargo ship's strongest defensive measure and also served as a unique defensive counterattack.
However, each activation consumed one-third of the cargo ship's energy reserves, meaning it could generally only be used twice.
“Open fire with everything! What are you all standing around for?”
Angry as he was, the moment he saw the gigantic octopus reappear on the surface, the captain roared into the communicator.
The crew outside the bridge immediately carried out the order.
Every firepower position aboard the cargo ship continuously fired its artillery, accompanied by the launch of various shells.
For a time, the cargo ship displayed firepower no less formidable than that of a small fortress on land.
Watching from afar, Zhou Ming observed for quite some time but did not see a single Professional Beast Tamer take action.
Could it be that this sea region made it difficult for the Beast Tamers among Blue Star's overseas Human Race to advance?
Judging from the cargo ship's firepower, there should normally have been Professional Beast Tamers accompanying it.
A new speculation quietly formed in Zhou Ming's mind.
At that moment, the gigantic octopus, which had previously relied solely on its physical strength, finally began using spells.
As its enormous tentacles swung, seawater instantly surged and condensed into tentacle-like streams. Moments later, the streams of water, each several hundred meters long, lashed out like gigantic whips.
“Activate the shield immediately.”
Urged by the captain, a blue barrier enveloped the cargo ship, and the water streams struck it like crashing against solid rock before exploding into a torrential downpour.
Although monstrous waves rose across the sea, the cargo ship ultimately withstood the gigantic octopus's attack.
However, none of the people aboard the ship looked pleased, because they all knew the ship's remaining energy reserves were no longer enough to sustain further defenses.
At this moment, Zhou Ming had also seen through the cargo ship's trump card.
“An Energy Shield. Unfortunately, its technology is far inferior to the Alliance's.”
The Alliance's Energy Shield technology could even be installed on airships, allowing them to withstand attacks from High-tier Ferocious Beasts while flying through the open sky without any support.
By contrast, despite the tens-of-thousands-of-ton cargo ship being supported by seawater, its Energy Shield still could not completely isolate the effects of external impacts.
Furthermore, its utilization of energy was far from perfect, with a portion of the energy being wasted for nothing.
It could be said that the only truly remarkable feature displayed by the cargo ship was the high-voltage electric defense system it had just used.
“Colorful Scales, make your move.”
Seeing the gigantic octopus preparing to attack again, Zhou Ming finally chose not to remain a bystander. After all, he still needed to obtain intelligence from the people aboard the ship.
“Hiss...”
A tremendous hiss rang out as Colorful Scales, who had been concealing his aura, instantly became excited. His terrifying presence swept across the sea like a hurricane.
The gauze-like mist was instantly pushed aside in every direction by an invisible force.
The gigantic octopus, which had just been about to attack, instantly curled into a ball upon sensing that aura. Terror had already robbed it of control over its own body.
Before the crew aboard the cargo ship could recover from the suffocating pressure, Colorful Scales had already crossed several kilometers and appeared before their eyes.
Facing the gigantic octopus that had driven the crew into despair, Colorful Scales merely spat out a mouthful of snake venom, and the octopus's powerful body instantly began to melt.
Lord-level Ferocious Beast.
After witnessing the power displayed by Colorful Scales, the crew could no longer see any hope.
“It's a Transcendent expert's Phantasmal Beast.”
When they saw Zhou Ming flying over while controlling his innate force field, everyone instantly saw hope of survival emerge from their despair.
“Hurry and follow me to welcome the Transcendent expert.”
Inside the cargo ship's bridge, the captain, having finally come to his senses, roared into the communicator.
The cargo ship's crew, having just survived the crisis, hurriedly gathered on the deck.