The New World's weather was unpredictable. In the blink of an eye, dark clouds blanketed the previously clear sky, their overlapping layers seeming to press down against the sea.
"The wind's picking up!"
"Everyone, be careful!"
Ryan shouted a warning.
Gales howled across the deck, and waves began to churn. The Fearless rocked violently in the surging sea.
"Lower the sails!"
"Get those sails down!"
Bakel directed the Marines as they hauled on the ropes and lowered the enormous sails.
Without warning, rain came pouring down, instantly soaking everyone with icy water.
The wind whipped up waves over ten meters high that slammed against the ship's sides with deafening crashes.
"Sir, this storm is too strong! We can't see a thing!"
Ryan shouted through the wind and rain.
Lorne stood at the bow, letting the wind and rain lash his red hair and beast ears as he watched the turbulent sea ahead with a cold gaze.
Within the range of his Observation Haki, countless immense life forces were rapidly gathering beneath the surface.
"Ryan, Bakel, Kuina, prepare for battle."
Though Lorne's voice was not loud, it cut clearly through the roar of the storm and reached everyone's ears.
The three immediately grew alert and tightened their grips on their weapons.
Boom!
With a tremendous crash, a hundred-meter-long sea beast broke through the surface.
It had a huge, sharklike maw, but countless octopuslike tentacles, and its body was covered in hard blue-green scales.
Then came a second, a third...
Countless enormous Sea Kings and ferocious sea beasts surfaced, surrounding the Fearless on every side.
They screeched through the raging storm, their lantern-sized eyes fixed on the warship rocking among the waves, greedy saliva dripping from their mouths.
"Damn it, why are there so many?!"
Bakel couldn't help swallowing as he looked