Chapter 12: Direct Engagement

"Lower the skiffs, prepare for battle."

As the fishmen surged toward them, the sailors aboard each warship shouted out orders, hastily lowering the small boats hung alongside the vessels. Sailors and mercenaries leapt from the ships into the skiffs, ready to face the fishmen up close.

After all, not every sailor could master the Basic Sailor Swordsmanship to an extraordinary level; unable to move freely across the water's surface in combat, fighting from the skiffs was their only option.

Liu Zhi jumped into a skiff as well, where two others were already standing: one a mercenary, the other a sailor.

Seeing Liu Zhi board, the sailor said, "When the fishmen arrive, kill the first wave at once. Don't hesitate—there are too many of them. If we don't take out the first batch immediately, we'll be forced off the boat and, in the water, we'll no longer be their match."

The mercenary said nothing, merely preparing his weapon. Liu Zhi noticed that the man was holding a hand crossbow, one that could be strapped onto the wrist.

Catching Liu Zhi's attention, the mercenary grinned, "Don't look at me like that. You couldn't do it."

Still puzzled, Liu Zhi listened as the sailor explained, "He's a sharpshooter, famous for it. That's why he's bold enough to use ranged weapons now. Didn't you notice we haven't brought out our muskets? The fishmen's weak point is the tentacles by their mouths. Ordinary musket shot only hurts them a little; it's better to use blades than guns."

"Exactly. I'm gifted with the hand crossbow. Watch!" The mercenary flicked his left wrist, sending a bolt flying. Liu Zhi watched as a charging fishman collapsed, the bolt having severed the tentacles on its left cheek and nailed deep into its left eye.

Liu Zhi's eyes lit up. He quickly asked, "Can you teach me?"

"Of course... not. For mercenaries, this is a lifesaving trick, the foundation of our survival. I won't teach you. But if you want to learn, you can study it yourself. If you're as talented as me, it won't take long."

Liu Zhi was about to retort at the mercenary's arrogance when the sailor interjected, "Heads up, the fishmen are coming!"

Immediately, Liu Zhi focused on the approaching fishmen. The mercenary, meanwhile, fired three more bolts, taking out three fishmen in quick succession.

When the fishmen closed to within five or six paces, the mercenary switched to a regular sailor's curved blade.

The fishmen at the very front were tide warriors. As they neared the outermost skiffs, they leapt up, riding the waves.

At that moment, Liu Zhi flicked his left wrist and hurled a casting net. His timing was impeccable—it struck just as the fishmen launched their attack, entangling one and knocking several others out of their leap.

The fishmen’s formation fell into chaos. Without hesitating, Liu Zhi sprang forward, stepping across the waves and slashing with his curved blade, severing the tentacles of two fishmen.

He then quickly retreated, not bothering to check if his targets had died, and landed in a backward leap onto the skiff he'd just vacated.

Now the fishmen reached the skiff and engaged the sailors and mercenaries in fierce combat.

After a moment, Liu Zhi felt fighting from the skiff was too constricting. The small ferry boat could seat at most six; with three standing, there was barely room to turn. Large, sweeping tactics were impossible.

Especially since Liu Zhi had spent these days practicing against multiple opponents, dodging and maneuvering constantly. A skiff was the least advantageous place for him.

After severing the tentacles of two more fishmen, he decided to charge out again, stepping over fishmen corpses and waves, launching a counter-assault.

His boldness drew some attention, though most only glanced his way. The battle was just beginning; he was merely another mercenary, not yet worth the commanders’ notice.

At most, he was a mercenary of considerable skill, having elevated Basic Sailor Swordsmanship to extraordinary heights.

But soon, some began to notice Liu Zhi’s unique approach. He seemed to understand the fishmen intimately; every time a fishman struck, he dodged effortlessly, exploiting openings to slice their tentacles.

Even when the fishmen guarded their tentacles, he managed to inflict damage from other angles—this was true mastery.

Previously, only sword masters could achieve such feats, and even they avoided fighting fishmen unless necessary.

Yet the sailors and mercenaries did not know that Liu Zhi’s heart was full of resentment; the experience gained from killing fishmen was dwindling. Elite tide warriors yielded only eight or nine experience points now, and even that was declining.

Liu Zhi’s reckless charge into the fishmen ranks was a gamble with his life, but it did not compare to the gains he’d made in half a day at Tortuga Harbor.

Just as Liu Zhi was considering retreating back to the human battle lines, he suddenly heard the beat of drums.

The sound came from the rear of the fishmen formation. Liu Zhi looked up in that direction and saw a group of fishmen who appeared even more formidable.

These fishmen were larger than the others. Their scales were not the gray-white of the Storm Clan, but a seaweed-hued green. In their hands were not only coral clubs, but shields fashioned from shells and conches.

Clearly, these were the Storm Clan’s elite troops.

At their center stood two distinctive fishmen. The one who had previously hunted Liu Zhi was there, pounding the drum heavily.

Though he now rode a different mount, Liu Zhi recognized him instantly—he was the rival assigned by the game.

Beside him stood a large fishman wielding a coral trident. This one was nearly human-sized, with arms bulging with muscle, clearly a fishman enhanced for battle.

But in his eyes there was none of the murderous fervor typical of fishmen; he stood like a shield, guarding Liu Zhi’s rival.

Seeing this, Liu Zhi finally smiled. He had hunted fishmen for research, ventured out to join the Tortuga Harbor clearance mission—for what? All for this very moment.

He reached back and touched something inside his pack, took a deep breath, and, stepping against the tide, surged toward his fishman adversary.