The two figureheads, "Comical Clown" and "Avenging Angel," had opposing effects: the former could deflect cannonballs by 30%, while the latter increased hit rate by 30%. These abilities canceled each other out, instantly leveling the playing field of a cannon battle that had been vastly disparate, reducing it to a direct contest of firepower.
The large-species Sea Monster, the Barnacle Crab, had grown up in the Celestial Orbital Belt and was thus extremely familiar with this sea region. However, its long-range positioning was ultimately not that precise. It only allowed The Golden Deer to appear on the port or starboard quarter of the Circus, failing to directly seize the most advantageous "T" position. Consequently, the focused Blazing Bombs all struck this side-stern area.
Fifteen cannons fired a total of thirty cast-iron cannonballs; approximately half of them struck the enemy ship. The stern of the Circus instantly erupted, sending scorched wood splinters flying as its hull shattered.
The searing cannonballs not deflected by the figurehead's effect effortlessly pierced the thin hull planking there. One after another, they burrowed into the cabins and began to ricochet wildly. This so-called Battleship was much taller than The Golden Deer, whose forecastle and sterncastle had been razed, so most of the cannonballs landed on its upper and lower through-gundecks. The immense kinetic energy sent the heated cannonballs bouncing erratically within the enclosed spaces. They tore from one side to the other, crushing wooden gun carriages, the ropes securing them, and warped oak beams—nothing could stop their destructive advance.
The many clown gunners stationed there, preparing for a close-range barrage against The Lancer, met with immediate disaster. Even Third Order Transcendents following the Ladder of Glory mostly lacked the ability to withstand a direct cannonball hit, let alone these clowns who were merely tainted by a Greater Devil's card. Paint-like, colorful Blood Mist sprayed everywhere, even seeping through the warship's seams into the sea below. The Man-Eater Shark in the water, which had been ready for a meal, shook its head and suddenly lost its appetite. Its blood-red eyes showed disgust. Dogs wouldn't even eat this disgusting mess!
"My back! My back! Guffaw... AAAH!" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
"My intestines are spilling out! Save me, save me!"
"Hahaha, how amusing! These intestines look so funny..."
The injured clowns laughed and cried simultaneously, their words incoherent, as if laughter was the only emotion they could still express. The same was true for their clown outfits, which had evidently merged with their flesh; their "exclusive custom skins" had become their actual skin. Who would believe they weren't Bizarre? In just over a fortnight, these clowns were clearly beyond recovery.
"Double shot! Fire again!"
The cannons' recoil sent their carriages sliding sharply backward. The well-trained gunners cleaned the barrels, extinguished any sparks, and loaded a powder cartridge, wadding, and two projectiles. A ramrod then thrust them all to the bottom of the barrel, ramming them home securely. Finally, they pierced the powder cartridge through the touchhole, primed the pan with gunpowder, and the gunners on either side hauled on the ropes to reposition the cannon. The entire sequence was fluid and efficient, completed in under half a minute. In any nation's "Artillery Drill Manual," their performance would have undoubtedly earned an "excellent" rating.
It was also thanks to this contingent of elite gunners, selected from thousands, that Byron dared to employ double-shot firing—loading two cannonballs at once—in the heat of battle. Furthermore, he had replaced all fourteen of The Golden Deer's original 6-pounder Cannons, each weighing nearly a ton, with lighter, larger-caliber 18-pounder Carronades. Including its original 32-pounder Carronade, The Golden Deer's total weight of shot now exceeded 280 pounds, putting it on par with many Level Five Cruisers.
"Hahahaha! The Sea Hunter, His Lordship, has come to save us!" Alfred excitedly took a large swig of liquor. "Quick, seize this chance and return fire! Return to your battle stations! All gun crews, load and give 'em hell!"
The Lancer was originally a standard 32-gun Level Five Cruiser, the same class as the Stern Cruiser that had once pursued Byron and the Man-Eating Shark. However, it had undergone a firepower upgrade overseen by Violet: the lower gundeck now mounted twenty 18-pounder Cannons, while the upper, open-air deck was refitted with twelve 12-pounder Carronades.
Through The Golden Deer's extensive combat experience, some judicious borrowing of ideas, and the skill of a Grand Artificer, the design and tactical use of the new Carronades had gradually matured. Weighing only a quarter to a third as much as long-barrel Cannons of the same caliber and requiring a smaller powder charge, they significantly reduced recoil and barrel heating. Superior craftsmanship compensated for any loss in the projectiles' initial velocity and accuracy. They featured sliding gun carriages, special bolts for adjusting cannon elevation, and simplified aiming devices. Thus, even untrained non-artillery sailors could deliver a devastating blow to the enemy at close range, provided they operated them correctly. It was highly suitable for large-scale armament expansion.
As for their inferior range compared to long Cannons and the resulting lack of long-range firepower? Naval combat engagement distances were typically around one hundred meters anyway. The range issue could be completely disregarded, allowing them to maximize their firepower advantage instead. This was technological disparity! Besides, what kind of Pirate shrinks from a boarding action, from leaping onto an enemy vessel to capture it? The Carronade seemed tailor-made for pirate ships. It gradually became an essential weapon for every pirate ship in the Pioneer Guiding Colonial Trading Company's Privateer Fleet.
Indeed, the very first item produced in the armory using the Number 8 Crystal Skull, the Feathered Serpent God, was a precision hydraulic boring machine designed for cutting steel shafts.