Endless Ocean: Survival Begins with a Dugout Canoe-Chapter 71 - 69: First Kill, the Hidden Dragon Emerges
"Miss, why don’t you leave this piece of trash to me?"
Without needing to discuss strategy, Nailu Ji eagerly volunteered.
She was a descendant of a branch of the Nailu Clan and a distant relative of Nailu Ye from the *Sakura*. Her family, however, had long since fallen into decline. Nailu Ye was from the main lineage, while she was merely from a branch family. The two had never had any contact and wouldn’t recognize each other if they met.
But now, she was doing much better than Nailu Ye. Though nominally an attendant, she was in fact the A-level Awakened’s trusted aide. She was also a C-level Awakened herself.
Unlike the B-level Awakened Edward, who lacked any real physical strength, she was a reconnaissance and assassination type.
Demon Sword nodded.
This was part of her plan.
They both understood perfectly. At this stage, the mission to retrieve the secret treasure was practically in the bag. From the start, this was meant to be a simple glory run. With an A-level Awakened at the helm and powerful outside help, how could they possibly fail? The only uncertainty was the timing.
When the artifact was recovered, Demon Sword would naturally receive the primary credit.
And beneath the primary credit was the secondary credit.
If Nailu Ji killed the captain and got the kill, she could claim the secondary credit. Then, both the primary and secondary honors would belong to them.
A contractor like Edward certainly wouldn’t get a single shred of it.
Someone of Yan Dao Lin’s status didn’t care about mission credit.
As for that "Great Wilderness,"
’Heh, is he even worthy? It’s already merciful enough that we haven’t made him commit seppuku to atone for his crimes.’
Demon Sword understood her role perfectly: execute the mission with overwhelming force to prevent any unforeseen incidents.
Killing people wasn’t important to her. Her primary mission was to secure the artifact with 100% certainty. Failure was not an option.
’And that kid on deck in the captain’s uniform... he’s actually quite good-looking, right up my alley aesthetically, like a protagonist from one of the light novels I read. But he’s just the number two who took over after Chunyi died. Probably all show and no go.’
’Nailu Ji can handle him.’
Her C-level Awakened skill, Assassin’s Swift Strike, was geared toward assassination, speed, and explosive power.
Even a captain like Chunyi could be assassinated in a single, careless moment.
...
「On the sea.」
"Captain, the hostile vessel underwater has entered the range of the close-in weapon system. Should we take a shot at them?"
Shi Ming waved his hand dismissively.
Firing a shot would be easy, but it would also alert the enemy. Some surprises are best delivered up close.
Besides, with that much water in the way, a single shot might not do any effective damage. It was better to feign ignorance and launch a counterattack when they least expected it. Who knew, he might even get an unexpected prize.
He might be new to this world, but he had plenty of experience and a few powerful aces up his sleeve.
He was particularly good at baiting a hook.
And the fish he caught were always big and valuable.
He looked over at Stone Pillar.
"Get inside the cabin. Don’t come out without my order."
"But..."
Shi Ming shot him a look.
Stone Pillar said no more, gathering two nearby crewmen and heading into the cabin.
Shi Ming stared nonchalantly at the Sea Patrol Radar display, as if merely contemplating his next heading.
He left his back completely exposed to the sea.
It was strange. Most people, when faced with an unknown enemy, could maintain a calm facade, but their inner turmoil would be unavoidable. Shi Ming, however, was perfectly calm, his mind as still as the waveless sea before him, utterly free of distracting thoughts. The more critical the moment, the calmer he became.
’Hmph, what a useless fool. I’ve crept this close and he still hasn’t noticed? Die!’
SWOOSH!
From beneath the waves, Nailu Ji shot out like a dart, bursting from the water with lightning speed.
Her gaze was icy, the short blade in her hand striking like a viper. Her entire body moved like a flash of lightning, stabbing toward Shi Ming’s exposed back. In a fight between Awakened, bladed weapons empowered by their skills were far more effective than firearms.
C-level Awakened Skill: Assassin’s Swift Strike!
True to her reputation as an assassin specializing in explosive power, she closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
Shi Ming remained motionless, as if he hadn’t reacted at all.
Not until she was within five meters.
A faint smile touched Shi Ming’s lips.
’Fast, indeed. But you’ve overextended. There’s no escape now.’
’You’re staying right here.’
Shi Ming spun and kicked. The immense force instantly shattered a nearby wooden table, sending a shower of splinters flying like shrapnel toward the approaching assassin, carrying enough energy to break her charge.
Before the assassin had any time to react, he twisted at the waist, his hand gripping King Slayer, a cold glint in his eyes.
SHING!
A blade flashed, almost too fast for the naked eye to see, like a crimson bolt of lightning in the dense fog. It was so fast that Nailu Ji had no time to react, no chance to dodge. She met the blade head-on. With a sickening slice, bone and flesh were severed cleanly. A torrent of blood stained the fog, spraying out in a vibrant red arc.
The top half of Nailu Ji’s head flew off from the momentum.
Shi Ming followed through with a kick,
and sent her body—the eyes in the remaining half of her face still wide with disbelief—flying back the way she came like a cannonball.
One slash was all it took.
He hadn’t even used a skill.
Three Awakened. One down.
Two to go.
...
Nailu Ji’s mutilated body plunged into the sea, leaving a trail of red as it sank.
Demon Sword’s face was frosty, her gaze arctic.
Edward, however, looked on with interest, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Looks like we’ve got a tough one, Demon Sword. With that strength and skill, he’s at least a B-level Awakened. How could you send your subordinate to her death like that?"
SHIING.
Her famous blade was already half-drawn.
Edward immediately shut his mouth.
"The Water Arrow only has defensive systems, no long-range offensive weapons. What’s the plan?"
"We surface."
"I am the most powerful weapon."
Demon Sword’s voice was frigid. Edward felt the temperature in the cabin plummet.
"Alrighty then. You’re the Employer, you call the shots."
"Just don’t get so caught up in the fight that you forget to protect me!"
The navigator said, his smile never wavering.
He took the helm of the Water Arrow and began a slow ascent.
He deftly maneuvered the vessel, dodging the incoming CIWS rounds.
’The power and speed of these rounds... they look like the CIWS from a Golden Ship. A single hit would be bad news, even with the Water Arrow’s armor. Good thing we’re underwater; it throws off their aim.’ Thanks to this, and his skillful piloting of the speedy Water Arrow, Edward was just barely managing to evade the fire.
"Damn, the fire is getting thicker!"
"Where the hell did that kid get rounds this powerful?"
"Demon Sword, hold on tight! I’m coming out!"
What a terrible choice of words.
Demon Sword ignored him. Her left hand was already resting on her legendary blade.
The blade’s name was Xianyue. The Famous Blade Xianyue had claimed countless heads, both human and beast.
SPLASH!
Amidst the barrage of cannon fire, the Water Arrow surged forward at full power. It burst from the ocean like a leaping fish, trailing a cascade of seawater as it vaulted into the air.
Shi Ming’s eyes narrowed.
A cold gleam of steel was already right in front of him.
