"Damn, port side is hit! Put out the fire!"
The pirates' barrage was just as fierce, and their targeted volleys began to find their marks. After two exchanges, a cannonball struck a warship, causing significant damage. A portion of the Marine crew immediately scrambled to extinguish the flames.
However, the Marines' offensive was even more relentless. Three of the Golden Tiger Pirates' four ships were hit. Many of the cannonballs missed, exploding in the sea and creating massive waves that rocked the pirate ships, throwing off their aim.
In the next moment, a thick rocket pierced through the curtain of fire and bullets and slammed into the hull of a pirate ship. It detonated in a massive fireball, blowing away a huge chunk of the railing and deck. A dozen pirates and their cannon were sent flying into the sea.
The entire ship shuddered violently from the blast, momentarily halting its cannon fire. Then, more rockets found their mark, and a series of explosions engulfed the vessel in flames. A large hole was blown in the hull below the waterline, and seawater began to pour into the hold.
"No, a ship is about to be sunk!" Raikoshin's pupils contracted as he saw the burning ship listing heavily, its deck already low in the water. He knew it was lost.
"Aaaargh!"
On the deck, the screams of pirates caught in the explosions were incessant. Those on fire leaped overboard into the sea. Soon after, another pirate ship was struck by several rockets. Its hull began to break apart, and it too started to list, about to sink. One by one, figures plunged into the water.
Losing two ships in such a short time sent Raikoshin into a furious rage.
The Marines had also suffered losses. One of their warships had been hit so badly it was on the verge of sinking.
The pirate ships were trying to close the distance, while the warships were trying to pull away. The Marines currently had the advantage in the artillery duel, and they wanted to press that advantage, using their cannons to wear down the enemy's strength.
Raikoshin watched as another of his ships was hit and began to sink. He was so angry he was practically pulling his hair out. He grabbed the Den Den Mushi and roared furiously, cursing Red-Eye and Raging Bull.
"Damn it, we're doing our best! Didn't you see we took down one of their warships?" Red-Eye and Raging Bull were just as frustrated. They hadn't expected the Marines' firepower to be so intense, or for their warships to be so durable. To defend their line in the New World, the Marines had deployed their best cannons and ships, which outgunned most pirate crews.
"Damn it all! Bring out the Siege Cannon!" Raikoshin roared at his officers. They immediately rushed into the hold and, a moment later, emerged carrying a massive cannon. Four or five burly pirates followed, carrying a heavy, several-meter-long rocket, which they quickly loaded into the giant weapon. Other pirates braced themselves against the cannon's supports.
The gunner began to adjust the barrel, aiming at one of the warships. With a deafening BOOM, the cannon fired. The recoil was so immense that it cracked the deck, and the pirates bracing the cannon were all sent flying, crashing into the deck or railings. Some were knocked out cold.
This giant cannon was designed for sieging fortresses. Its recoil was too powerful to be safely fired from a ship. Raikoshin had used it once before, sinking a pursuing pirate ship in one shot, but the recoil had torn a huge chunk out of his own flagship's deck. He was desperate now, willing to damage his own ship to make the Marines pay.
The massive rocket screamed through the explosion-filled sky, leaving a white trail of smoke as it slammed into a warship. The entire bow of the ship was blown off, and a third of the hull disintegrated. Cracks spread across the rest of the vessel, and as seawater rushed in, it began to sink rapidly.
A single shot had destroyed a warship.
"Golden Tiger has a Siege Cannon? That thing sells for thirty million Beri on the black market, and each shell is another thirty million! And that's if you can even find one. Where did he get his hands on that?" Red-Eye and Raging Bull were both stunned by the massive rocket.
The Marines were terrified, shocked by the power of the Siege Cannon.
"These guys' cannons are too powerful! This is bad, we can't continue this artillery duel! Pull back, maintain distance! As long as we can keep them occupied, that's enough!" Vice Admiral Onigumo's face changed. After a moment of thought, he grabbed a Den Den Mushi and gave the order.
The warships began to turn, trying to open the distance. But the pirates weren't about to let them escape. Their ships pushed to full power, giving chase. The two fleets continued to exchange fierce cannon fire. The Marines had lost two warships, and the pirates had lost three, but the pirates still held the numerical advantage. Despite this, they couldn't seem to gain the upper hand in the artillery duel.
"Raikoshin, one more shot! Take down another one of their warships, and we'll definitely have the advantage!" Red-Eye's urgent voice came through the Den Den Mushi.
Raikoshin's face was grim. "A single Siege Cannon shell is worth thirty million Beri!" he roared back. "After this is over, you two are reimbursing me!"
"No problem! If we win this battle, anything can be arranged!" Raging Bull laughed.
Raikoshin gritted his teeth and waved his hand. His officers immediately brought out another heavy shell—the last one he had. He walked over to the Siege Cannon himself, preparing to personally brace against the recoil.
"Aim for the left-flank warship! There are no strong fighters on that one! Blow it to hell!" Raikoshin ordered. The gunner adjusted the barrel and fired. With another deafening boom, the entire cannon was driven backward. The deck beneath it shattered, and the Siege Cannon embedded itself in the wood, on the verge of falling into the hold below. Raikoshin was thrown back, his hands numb and aching so badly he couldn't help but wince.
Cursing, he quickly ran to the bow. He saw the warship on the Marines' left flank explode. The entire middle section of the ship was blown apart. Though it hadn't sunk, it was clearly out of the fight.
"Yes! Perfect! Hey, hey, I've taken out another one of their ships! Now hurry up and finish off the rest of them!" Raikoshin roared into the Den Den Mushi.
The Red-Eye and Oudu Pirates immediately opened fire with everything they had. A barrage of cannonballs and rockets, trailing white smoke, flew through the air, covering the four remaining Marine warships.
The situation was now dire for the Marines.
As the dense volley approached, the Marines fired back, intercepting most of the shells. But in the next moment, another wave of projectiles was already on its way. The Marine gunners were still reloading, staring in horror at the approaching cannonballs. They shouted for the others to use their rifles to intercept them. They couldn't imagine what would happen if they failed to stop this volley. They would be instantly consumed by a sea of fire.
But in the next second, their spirits soared.
"Eight-Sword Style—Spider Hunt Wind!"