Before this, Angel had heard various Pirate Admirals speak of the terror of ironclads many times. From her knowledge of her previous life, ironclads equipped with steam engines and large-caliber gun turrets had also revolutionized naval warfare.
But when she witnessed this scene herself, her eyes still widened in shock.
Klein, standing beside her, was no different.
After a moment, he narrowed his eyes as he studied the battlefield and remarked:
"I've been aboard the Black Emperor once. In battle, it should be protected by Nast's 'Distortion.' Forget ordinary shells—even a Saint's attack shouldn't tear through its deck so easily..."
"It's the power of an Imperative Mage. They can increase the damage of ordinary weapons and weaken the protection mystical powers provide to ships. They're the bane of any pirate ship that relies on Beyonders for protection."
Anne, who had appeared behind them at some point, explained. Her already golden eyes shone with a glimmer similar to the power that had coated those shells, and she immediately discerned the situation on the battlefield.
"Still, the King of the Five Seas isn't entirely helpless... The damage to the Black Emperor isn't as serious as it looks..."
Angel spoke softly. At the far end of her gaze, the Black Emperor slowly emerged from the smoke of the explosions, gradually revealing the section of deck that had been struck. Contrary to the tremendous roar and blaze, there was no widespread breakage or damage at the impact site, only a hole less than three meters across that led to the lower deck. The mainmast beside it remained steady. Several pirates lay sprawled around it in various positions, their fates unknown, but more were still desperately loading their guns, aiming carefully, and preparing to retaliate.
Boom—boom—
Gunfire, far more disorderly than that of the ironclad's