Above the mage

Chapter 405 Mysterious and Unpredictable

Crunch!

Under the relentless tearing of the blackwater shark's sharp and powerful teeth, the small boat was riddled with holes, its planks broken and cracked.

The Knight of Ha'ao's heart sank to the bottom.

Large raindrops pounded onto his robe, then quickly slid off.

Standing in the pouring rain, he flicked his right hand, sending several flashing darts flying into the water.

【Magic Missile】.

When blackwater sharks are bitten, they emit a sharp sound like a child crying.

But apart from the unlucky fish that just surfaced and got hit, the other blackwater sharks sensed the danger in time, dove into the water, and escaped the magic missile.

And even if you hit all the targets, so what?

Although the wind and rain made it difficult to see clearly, Knight Hao could determine the number of blackwater sharks lurking and attacking in the water by the flickering orange light; it was at least close to a thousand.

They resembled a black wave, surging underwater, occasionally revealing their ferocious forms.

While he found it terrifying, he also felt a deep sense of bewilderment.

The waters surrounding Auckland have always been patrolled by sea sentinel mages.

While it's not to say that not a single aquatic beast was spared, at least most aquatic beasts wouldn't dare to approach easily.

Aquatic creatures, too, possess intelligence.

The sea sentinel mages patrol the area regularly, and they ruthlessly exterminate any water beasts they discover.

Over time, the aquatic beasts in the vicinity will realize that this area is a forbidden zone, and that approaching it could lead to death.

In this situation, even if the whirlwind caused water beasts to run rampant, they were already some distance from the sea.

Why would such an exaggerated number of blackwater sharks cross the sea, enter the inland river system, and head straight for their Yaxi Town in such a short period of time?

Knight Hao frowned, his gaze fixed on the water's surface, his thoughts in turmoil. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious the matter seemed, yet he had no clue what to do.

Boom!

At this point, the small boat, which was already teetering on the brink of collapse, finally gave way and was completely destroyed.

The surging river water rushed in from countless cracks, the boat sank rapidly, splashing up large sprays of water, and soon began to slowly sink into the water, leaving only some broken planks floating on the surface.

Knight Hao's expression grew even more serious.

Sweat mingled with raindrops and slid down his forehead.

His mind raced, but he couldn't think of a solution to his current predicament.

If all else fails, the only option is to abandon these ships and retreat to higher ground.

These blackwater sharks are not yet ready to come ashore.

If they actually manage to get ashore, then the situation will be completely reversed.

On land, they are not afraid of these blackwater sharks.

But abandoning the ship meant losing a vital means of transfer and the only mode of transportation.

The characteristics of floods are large flow and long duration.

Without food, the many people on the high ground, including the elderly, children, and women, would not be able to survive for more than a few days.

Just when Knight Hao was at his wit's end and was about to give up, the fish monsters that were clinging to the fleet suddenly paused for no apparent reason, and then they all dived down in unison.

Immediately afterwards, they turned around, as if they had received some mysterious command, and swam away from the fleet.

What's going on?

Knight Hao was momentarily stunned, his eyes widening with a mixture of joy and astonishment.

His gaze followed the direction in which the blackwater sharks swam.

Even with the aid of [Dark Vision], the Knight of Hao could not clearly see the distant scenery amidst the raging rain.

He only vaguely saw that at the very front of the blackwater shark swarm, two water lines suddenly separated, as if cleaved by an invisible blade, forming a sharp arrowhead.

At the tip of the arrow, some creature seemed to be moving rapidly, unaffected by the swift current.

It was extremely fast, and wherever it passed, waves surged.

Behind them, a dense swarm of blackwater sharks, as if their eyes had turned red, relentlessly pursued it, even abandoning the fleet that had been attacking for most of the day.

"What is that thing?" This deep question involuntarily popped into Knight Hao's mind.

Blackwater Shark is a ferocious aquatic beast with an intelligence far lower than that of a typical first-tier aquatic beast. It is mainly active during the day, and although it sometimes lives alone, it prefers to appear in groups.

Small groups consist of a few or dozens of individuals, while larger groups can number in the hundreds or thousands.

Their eyesight is slightly poor, but their sense of smell is highly developed; the subtle scents on an organism can help them find their prey.

They swim relatively slowly, but their speed is extremely fast when hunting.

Their bodies are shaped like a disc, which is the fundamental reason why blackwater sharks swim slowly. However, this shape is also an external feature that allows them to recognize each other and prevents them from cannibalizing each other.

Gao De lay prone on Tuanzi's back, holding a handful of gem-quality berries he had just obtained by casting [Divine Berry Technique+], while his mind quickly went through information about the Blackwater Shark.

His "freebies" in the library of the White Tower in the Abyss gave him a basic understanding of the common water beasts in Bairo County, and he could recognize the distinctive Blackwater Shark at a glance.

Gaode could tell that the fleet couldn't hold out for much longer.

With these blackwater sharks around, it was difficult for him to land on the highlands and make contact with the disaster victims there to understand the specific situation.

But with so many blackwater sharks, and so many mages on the ship unable to handle them, what could a mere first-ring mage like him possibly do?

This was Gaode's subconscious thought.

My own strength is far too insignificant in the face of such a large number of aquatic beasts.

But the next moment, he remembered something else, the whirlpool in the water that he had narrowly escaped from half an hour earlier.

This immediately sparked a flurry of ideas in his mind.

Their own strength is insignificant, but in the face of the power of nature, this group of blackwater sharks is equally insignificant.

Gao De quickly reviewed the basic information about the blackwater shark in his mind and found that it could be used.

With poor eyesight but a highly developed sense of smell, they are more sensitive to the scent of jewel berries and are less likely to detect the presence of undercurrents and swirls.

The relatively slow swimming speed means that you and the dumplings can easily take them for a spin.

A lower IQ means they are less likely to detect the presence of a trap.

In a flash, Gaode made a decision.

He immediately conjured a gem-like sweet berry and used the [Divine Berry Technique+] to attract the black shark's attention.

Everything proceeded as he had anticipated, and went very smoothly.

The blackwater sharks had no idea why such an alluring scent would appear at this time; they simply followed it on instinct.

However, being mentally prepared for such a large group of blackwater sharks to gather and chase him is one thing, but actually facing them is another.

Looking back at the dense cluster of red eyes, Gao De felt a chill run down his spine.

If you get caught by these blackwater sharks, the consequences are predictable. With their sharp teeth, they won't even leave you with bones.

"Tuanzi, give it your all! Our lives are in your hands." Gao De encouraged Tuanzi while casting a [Heavy Burden+] spell on it to reduce the extra stamina consumption caused by the weight he was carrying.

It took me about 15 minutes to get here from the whirlpool.

On the way back, because they were fleeing for their lives, they were faster and could save most of the time, reaching their destination in just three or four minutes at most.

The problem is that the distance must be well controlled.

If the distance is too great, before the blackwater sharks are drawn into the whirlpool's suction range, they will have to turn around. Once the blackwater sharks notice their turn, they will definitely turn around as well and will not fall into the whirlpool.

Getting too close can pose risks.

Blackwater sharks are not fast swimmers, but their instantaneous dash speed is extremely fast.

Once they're in position, they burst forth and can easily catch up to the dumpling.

Controlling this distance is inherently difficult.

Not to mention that the "road conditions" are so complicated now, with undercurrents that could interfere with speed at any time.

"Tuanzi, speed up a bit, there's a horizontal current coming ahead." Gao De gave Tuanzi a clear command through [Beast Link+].

While directing the making of the dumplings, he glanced back at the group of blackwater sharks hanging behind him.

At this moment, Gao De's left eye faintly glowed.

Mandora's Eyes, their ability to perceive has been activated.

The distance between him and the blackwater shark swarm had been transformed into precise, constantly changing numbers in Mandora's Eye of Magic.

Similarly, the speed of the dough was also represented by precise numerical values ​​in his mind.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Tuanzi is putting in the effort right now; Gaode Maps is also contributing.

Just like driving a car, the dumpling is the car, and he is the driver. He is responsible for controlling the distance, adjusting the speed, observing the "road conditions," and then directing the dumpling to "change speed and direction."

"Hang in there, Tuanzi, I'll give you an extra meal when we get back." Gao De noticed Tuanzi's exhaustion and, despite being under immense pressure, offered encouragement.

Pfft pfft pfft!

Behind them, nearly a thousand black sharks swung their bodies forward, creating a sound that even the torrential rain couldn't drown out.

A black wave surged on the water's surface, with countless fish fins swaying in the water, resembling a black thicket of thorns.

"We're almost there." Gao De's gaze pierced through the thick darkness.

Rain kept pelting his face, blurring his vision, but he still managed to pinpoint his location accurately thanks to the extraordinary insight of Mandora's Eyes.

Not far away, the swirling currents hidden in the darkness resembled an ancient behemoth lurking at the bottom of the water, its jaws wide open, waiting for its prey to arrive.

"Get ready, slow down in advance, and then change direction," he reminded Tuanzi.

If you rush too fast now and enter the vortex, you won't be able to stop and will be pulled in by the vortex's suction.

He wasn't prepared to perish together with these blackwater sharks.

Tuanzi received Gaode's reminder and tried to adjust her rhythm. Although every movement became a little difficult, she still slowed down her speed slightly according to Gaode's instructions.

During the intense chase, it slowed down slightly, and the already extremely safe distance it maintained became insufficient.

The blackwater shark at the front found its opportunity. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with greed and excitement. With a sudden lunge, it opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Gao De.

However, Gaode Maps was already prepared for this when it slowed down the ball.

He grabbed the dough with one hand, steadied himself, and swung his right hand through the air.

In an instant, a powerful magical force gathered in his palm, and a blue energy spear wrapped in shattered magical energy instantly took shape.

The spear emitted a ghostly blue light, within which tiny fragments of magic danced. Like a bolt of lightning, it shot backward through the dark, rainy night, directly colliding with the charging blackwater shark.

Zizizi!

The unfortunate black shark was instantly enveloped in lightning.

A dark blue current coursed wildly across its body, outlining its ferocious shape.

Its body trembled violently under the impact of the electric current, and its originally lively fins became stiff. It was instantly stunned by the electric shock.

But that wasn't all. A bolt of lightning, like a branch-shaped rope, connected Gao De to the unfortunate black shark.

[Witchcraft Arrow].

Water has extremely high electrical conductivity.

Therefore, this arc of lightning spread rapidly, and the blue current spread quickly beneath the water's surface, like an invisible electric grid, which briefly formed a barrier between Gaode and the blackwater shark.

The blackwater sharks that were charging forward were all caught in the attack.

The moment the current touched them, their bodies jolted violently, they were jolted still, their normally agile movements became sluggish, and their bodies were briefly paralyzed.

The electrical power generated by this spread is not very strong, but it can temporarily affect the momentum of these blackwater sharks.

That's enough for Gaode Maps.

Because at this moment, he could already feel the suction force coming from the water ahead.

The suction force was like an invisible giant hand, pulling at everything around it.

Gao De ended the release of [Witchcraft Arrow], and at the same time took out the gem sweet berry that he had already stuffed into his pocket and tossed it forward.

Under the suction of the undercurrent vortex, the gem berry was instantly swept away.

next moment.

With a swift and powerful leap, Tuanzi performed a drift in the water, whipping its tail in an extremely wide arc, creating a murky spray in the water, before making a sharp 120-degree turn and narrowly missing the school of blackwater sharks.

It was well-prepared, and its movements were fluid and swift, executed in one smooth motion.

These blackwater sharks were completely unprepared, and moreover, their strength was far inferior to that of Tuanzi.

So, in the midst of a rapid sprint, faced with a sudden suction force in the same direction, the cars, which were already unable to brake, plunged headlong into the vortex of undercurrents under the combined effect of inertia and suction.

The immense power of the funnel-shaped vortex, which was originally hidden underwater, was now fully revealed.

The blackwater sharks struggled at the edge of the whirlpool, their bodies twisted by the powerful current, their fins flailing frantically, but they could not resist the powerful suction.

As more and more black sharks were drawn in, the whirlpool became increasingly violent, forming a huge black column of vortex in the water.

The blackwater sharks writhed and twisted within, emitting sharp cries.

Their bodies were swept deeper and deeper into the whirlpool, gradually disappearing into the dark depths of the water, leaving only a chaotic ripple on the surface.

Only a dozen or so blackwater sharks that were at the very back managed to stop and were struggling to escape the vortex's suction range, seemingly on the verge of survival.

Before they could even feel relieved, Gaode had already used [Water Manipulation].

This is just a trick; it has no real power.

However, it can change the direction of flow in a small area of ​​water.

Gaode simulated the effect of water flow to hinder the dozen or so blackwater sharks from moving forward.

They had already exhausted their strength trying to escape the vortex's suction.

At this moment, the whirlpool was still pulling them from behind, and the water was rushing in from the front. Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, they could no longer hold on under the attack from both sides. Their disc-shaped bodies were mercilessly rolled backward and finally fell into the whirlpool.

Water beasts Water beasts live in water and die in water.

These blackwater sharks deserved to die.

Gao De stared at the water's surface, where not a single blackwater shark could be seen, and his tense nerves finally relaxed.

This operation was decided in a very short time. From the discovery of the blackwater shark swarm to the formulation of a plan to lure them into the whirlpool, everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Therefore, he couldn't guarantee that things would go as he planned.

In such an unpredictable environment, there are too many variables.

Thankfully, everything went smoothly.

Taking such a risk and accomplishing such a great thing, Gaode felt a great sense of accomplishment.

He didn't stay in his reverie for long.

"Tuanzi, let's go back." He patted Tuanzi's head, gesturing for them to return to the high ground where the disaster victims were staying.

Although I was exhausted, the work wasn't over yet.

The disaster is far from over, and he cannot relax yet.

Moreover, even from a purely pragmatic perspective, Gaode should continue operating.

As one of the first people to arrive in the disaster area, we can now say that we have made many contributions.

Every rescued disaster victim and every instance of stabilizing the situation is a real achievement.

The more you do, the greater your credit.

He has already assembled a fleet, found the disaster victims, and solved the problem of the water beasts. If he can also help transfer the disaster victims of Yaxi Town to a safe area, he has accomplished so much all by himself.

This is not just the primary achievement, but the sole credit.

All these factors combined mean that when the disaster is over and it's time to reward those who have made contributions, the military merits he will receive will be absolutely astonishing.

Considering his status as a first-ring mage, perhaps he could even receive a first-class merit award?

It'll only be tough for a few days, let's get to it!

Gao De hardened his heart and decided to start reading.

(End of this chapter)