Four-Sided Encirclement, Center Bloom

The Ghost Dreadnought's Magic Crystal Cannons kept old Snakefolk Morken from bringing his Ghost Ships alongside to board. He could only split them into assault boats and send them in. That was why the dozen or so human mages aboard the Ghost Dreadnought were there.

The Snakefolk were clearly staking everything on this attack.

Bai Xiaowen immediately ordered another volley from the Magic Crystal Cannons, aimed at the mass of oncoming assault boats. This time, their accuracy was much lower—only around twenty or thirty percent.

Any assault boat struck directly by a cannon blast broke apart. The weaker slave warriors died on the spot, while the stronger Snakefolk were injured and thrown into the sea.

Even when a shot missed, it sent a column of water surging several yards into the air. Assault boats that passed too close were overturned by the waves.

All told, the bombardment inflicted few casualties on the assault boats, but it did slow their swarming charge. Large numbers of Snakefolk had to swim the rest of the way into battle.

Morken's assault boat was especially unlucky. Several Magic Crystal Cannons targeted it. Though none scored a hit, the waves tossed it from side to side, and after a brief struggle, it capsized.

"Swim... The sea is our domain!" Morken gritted his teeth, plunged into the water, and swam toward the dreadnought.

But after he had covered a long stretch and surfaced again, Morken heard an eagle cry.

A shout came from behind him. "Lord Morken, we're in trouble! A huge number of enemy ships are approaching! It's the coalition from Chakaluo Port!"

"Impossible!" Morken said. "Before we attacked, we confirmed that the Coalition of Nations was conducting military exercises hundreds of miles away!"

"See for yourself!" A Snakefolk aboard an assault boat behind him reached