Chapter 160: Chapter 159 The Wizard Appears
On the deck, the students were engaged in fierce combat with pirates, the battle split into dozens of smaller skirmishes. The students outnumbered the pirates, generally several of them facing off against a couple of pirates, but it was the students who seemed more apprehensive.
After all, compared to pirates who were accustomed to licking blood off the edge of a knife year-round, the students had seen far too little of the world. If not for their numerical advantage and the support of three fire-fighting teams, it would have been very difficult to continue battling the pirates.
In the center of the deck, Nancy’s squad had rendezvoused with Richard and the others, amounting to a group of over twenty, faced off against more than ten pirates, among them one of the Red-eyed Pirates.
The sounds of weapon clashes echoed incessantly.
Richard swung his iron axe to parry a pirate’s curved blade, while the scalpel in his other hand swiftly slashed across the opponent’s shoulder, causing the man to grunt and stagger backward.
Another pirate rushed toward him, swinging a wooden club studded with iron nails down at Richard. Richard sidestepped to dodge and then used the scalpel to flick at the opponent’s wrist, severing his tendons. The pirate screamed in agony, dropping his “Wolf Fang Club” to the ground.
Without a hint of courtesy, Richard kicked out, throwing the opponent off balance, causing him to lean backward. Then the scalpel sliced across the pirate’s neck, blood spurting wildly, the man clutched at the wound convulsing as he fell.
Nancy, who was fighting nearby, glanced over, her eyes twinkling, then spoke suddenly to Richard, “You know swordsmanship?” She had made this guess from Richard’s tricky and precise fighting style.
“A bit,” Richard said, not denying it.
“Then take my sword, perhaps you’ll be even stronger with it,” Nancy said, passing her longsword to Richard as she spoke.
His eyes narrowed slightly, Richard did not refuse and took it.
The sword was a good one.
Holding the longsword, Richard’s gaze turned to one of the pirates. Nancy had already taken another sword from one of their companions and, looking toward the same target as Richard, she led with an attack.
Nancy thrust her sword, which the pirate blocked with a swing of his curved blade, giving Richard the opportunity to make a slash, opening up the artery on the inside of the attacker’s wrist.
With a “Pfft,” blood spurted wildly from the pirate’s wrist, and his curved blade clattered to the ground.
Nancy attacked again, driving her sword into the pirate’s neck, as Richard’s blade plunged into the man’s chest.
With twin “Pfft” sounds, both swords were almost simultaneously withdrawn, and the pirate fell to the ground with a “Thump,” turning into a lifeless corpse.
Nancy looked at Richard, her eyes shining, while Richard maintained an expressionless face, wielding his sword to attack another pirate.
Before becoming a Wizard Apprentice, Richard had systematically learned some of the current world’s swordsmanship, combining it with modern Earth’s physiological knowledge, knowing how to kill a person more efficiently. Hence, even if he would not be considered a sword master, his swordsmanship was far superior to the merely ornamental court swordplay.
With a sword in hand, his lethality greatly increased, and even while deliberately holding back his power, he quickly dispatched one pirate after another.
Nancy wasn’t weak either. Perhaps her swordsmanship wasn’t up to Richard’s level, but with the aid of spells, she didn’t struggle much in killing the pirates.
“Bang, bang, bang,” the continuous sounds of weapon clashes resonated, followed by two “Pffts,” as Richard and Nancy plunged their longswords into the body of the last Red-eyed Pirate at the same time. Withdrawing their swords, the Red-eyed Pirate silently dropped.
Colorful light danced in Nancy’s eyes as she looked at Richard and said, “Your swordsmanship is quite impressive.”
“It’s mediocre,” Richard said, without much pride.
“Why haven’t I seen you before?” Nancy asked.
“I lived on the lowest deck,” Richard replied indifferently, “It’s normal that you haven’t seen me.”
Nancy was taken aback, then hesitantly inquired, “Is it because you have no Talent, or is it a Low-level Talent?”
“Is there a difference?” Richard countered.
“Um…” Nancy didn’t know how to respond. Indeed, there seemed to be little difference between having no Talent and possessing Low-level Talent; despite all efforts, it was very hard to become a real Wizard.
“Then…” Nancy spoke up, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s nothing, actually I don’t really care about these things.”
“Huh? Then what are you going to the continent for?”
“To see this broader world?” Richard said with a half-smile.
Nancy was stunned again, having never heard such a reason before. After a moment of silence, she said to Richard, “Anyway… best wishes to you.”
“Go over there; there are Pirates that still need to be dealt with.”
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the situation on the battlefield had eventually been turned around, and one Pirate after another was killed.
With a scream of “Ah”, the last Pirate was killed by the group, and the entire deck fell silent. Everyone was out of breath, looking around for any possible remaining Pirates. After searching for a long time with no discoveries, everyone realized: The Pirates were all dead, they had won!
A large group of people collapsed or lay down on the deck, relishing the feeling of having survived the ordeal. Some laughed heartily, while others wept uncontrollably. On the bloodstained deck, everyone had their own reactions.
In a corner, Gro was excitedly muttering something, his eyes shining. Richard, with an impassive face, sat next to him, wiping his scalpel. After cleaning it, he carefully put it away and looked around.
Nancy stood in the distance, fatigue evident on her face. It was clear that the previous battle had taken a toll on her. But despite her weariness, Nancy remained vigilant, scanning her surroundings.
After a while, she turned to look at Richard. Their eyes met, and suddenly she sensed something and looked in a certain direction.
Richard had noticed it even earlier than Nancy. He turned his head to see a water spout rising about ten meters high from the surface of the sea. A somewhat unfamiliar Black Robed Wizard appeared at the top of the water column.
The Wizard stepped forward as if walking on invisible steps, descending from the spout, step by step, until finally, his feet landed on the deck.
Everyone watched wide-eyed as the Black Robed Wizard spoke, “You probably don’t recognize me, but you should know Siv, Louis, and Quinton. After all, one of them must have brought you onto this Colossos. I am the Wizard left in charge on the Colossos; my name is Dempsey, and I suppose I am your mentor. My appearance here is mainly to explain the events you have just experienced.
You encountered Pirates and were attacked; you struggled in battle. Barely managing to repel the Pirates, you were attacked again, and fought even more desperately to achieve victory.
During this time, you must have been wondering, frustrated: Where are the Wizards who brought you on the Colossos? Could the Wizards have killed the Pirates easily, could they have prevented you from getting hurt, could they have saved the lives of your companions?”
No one answered, but their expressions said everything.
Seeing this, the Black Robed Wizard gave a somewhat cold smile.