Dense Schools of Fish, All Gone Mad

Bang!

The starboard side took a heavy hit.

The entire Xisong listed to the left, and wooden crates on the deck slid across it, knocking over two sailors.

The next second, waves raised by the dense school of fish crashed over them.

Seawater spilled over the railing, carrying several palm-sized fish that slammed onto the deck.

The fish did not die after landing. Their gills opened and closed, grayish-white slime coated their bodies, and their tails slapped against the planks with sharp smacks.

The nearest sailor was just about to kick one away.

Morel stopped him with a shout.

"Don't touch them!"

Purple Smoke Soldiers rushed over, wrapped up the fish, and flung them straight back into the sea.

The sailor's hand froze in midair, his face turning pale.

Captain Nishimatsu kicked away a crate that had slid to his feet and roared toward the wheelhouse.

"Steady the helm!"

"Keep the bow down! Don't let them ram the sides!"

Orders came one after another.

But the things in the sea gave them no chance to breathe.

After their first collision, the Gray-Finned Dolphins circled the ship, their slime dragging gray streaks across the water.

The nearby fish schools went wild the moment they touched that stuff. Then they all turned around and crowded toward the Xisong.

The worst part was that they were not ramming blindly.

The fish pressed against the hull.

The dolphins rammed the keel.

Another group of small fish charged toward the propeller and drainage ports. Even when they were shredded, they showed no intention of retreating.

A dense scratching sound rose from beneath the ship.

Creak.

Creak.

The sound crawled up through the soles of their feet, making their teeth ache.

Bai Zhu stood beside Morel, his hand loosening and tightening around his sword hilt.

He