Chapter 107.1: Domain Collapse
“They’re working together.”
When Kansidang saw the ships waiting outside and the cannons turning toward him one after another, he knew that he probably wouldn’t be able to escape today.
—BOOM!!!
The Blue Sea residents held nothing back. Unlike when they had attacked the pirate ships earlier, they didn’t try to avoid using heavy weapons.
The Blue Sea had no shortage of war games, both online and offline. Even residents who had never set foot on a battlefield possessed a basic understanding of warfare.
Earlier, they had been fighting ordinary grunts, so there was no need to go all out.
But now the big boss had shown himself. He was the undisputed king of the Green Billow Star pirate world, and who knew what trump cards he might have?
Hold back?
Not a chance!
The moment the luxurious ship appeared, it was greeted by a hail of bullets and a barrage of artillery fire.
Sure enough, a gigantic protective shield suddenly appeared around the luxurious ship. The artillery fire striking it seemed to hit some kind of transparent, flexible substance, and seemingly failed to inflict any damage whatsoever.
“A Tier-3 protective shield?”
Cheng Qisheng wasn’t particularly surprised.
Green Billow Star had practically everything imaginable. It would be unrealistic to expect Kansidang to have no defensive measures at all.
The hail of bullets and artillery fire stopped.
The pirates aboard Kansidang’s ship watched the Blue Sea people cease their attack and slowly begin steering their ships backward, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
But Kansidang and his trusted subordinates felt an ominous sensation rising in their hearts as they watched the Blue Sea ships slowly retreat.
“They’re not retreating. They’re increasing the distance between us.”
Tens of thousands of ships densely packed together slowly moved backward in a surrounding formation, continuing until they had retreated so far that even from atop a high platform, they were barely visible to the naked eye.
Kansidang naturally wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to escape. But as the ships slowly pulled back, figures with outstretched wings began soaring into the air from their decks.
They hovered high above, and with a series of commands, combat drones flew straight toward Kansidang’s pirate ship, making no attempt to conceal their intention to monitor it.
Yet Kansidang’s pirate ship couldn’t even attack the drones overhead.
Why was it called a protective shield?
Because it could only protect.
Attacks from outside couldn’t get in, and naturally, attacks from inside couldn’t get out either.
“What the hell are they trying to do?!”
The pirates now felt like fish laid out on a chopping board.
In the past, they had been the ones gleefully chasing and terrorizing the ordinary ships on Green Billow Star. Only after experiencing this themselves did they understand just how desperate it felt.
They didn’t know why their opponents were retreating.
They didn’t know where those wings had come from.
And they had no idea how there could possibly be such a huge number of drones equipped with such sophisticated technology.
With so many eyes and drones watching them, they didn’t even dare make a reckless move.
On the surface of the sea, a huge, luxurious ship floated up and down with the waves, as though it had been caught in the jaws of a sea monster.
Kansidang tightened his grip on his scepter. His mind had been racing at high speed when suddenly, something flashed through it.
“Long-range missiles!!”
“They’re pulling back to increase their firing range!”
“Quick!!! Turn the warship around at full speed! Make the missile trajectories miss!”
He had guessed correctly, but it was already too late.
—Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four missiles had already arrived.
—BOOM!!
They slammed into the protective shield, sending enormous waves surging across the sea.
Kansidang’s pirate ship appeared completely unscathed, but the text displayed near the upper interior of the protective shield had changed.
[Damage: 12%]
—BOOM!
[Damage: 21%]
One silver-white projectile after another tore through the air above the sea, flying almost flush with the waves. They pierced through the mist, carving what looked like a path across the ocean.
The dark green sea gradually lit up with the glow of fire.
—BOOM!!!
—BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
[Damage: 32%]
[Damage: 49%]
[Damage: 61%]
The numbers displayed inside the protective shield kept changing.
“Your Majesty! What do we do?!”
“What happens when the damage reaches 100%? Will the shield break?”
“Your Majesty!!”
Kansidang’s face was as dark as still water. Strangely, the panic he had felt earlier subsided after he saw the missiles, and he became calm instead.
“What are you panicking for?!”
Earlier, he had assumed these people were locals from Green Billow Star who had risen up to overthrow his rule.
But the moment he saw the missiles, Kansidang knew they weren’t natives of Green Billow Star.
With more than a hundred Safe Cities descending upon Green Billow Star and countless residents from various civilizations drifting across the sea in search of resources, how could Kansidang, the undisputed king of Green Billow Star’s pirate world, have failed to notice them?
Not only had he noticed them, he had even found a way to establish contact with one of the Safe Cities.
The two sides could be considered equal partners. Although that Safe City coveted Kansidang’s resources, it had no way to deal with him while he remained hidden inside his domain.
After several collaborations, Kansidang had also learned how the Safe Cities operated.
He knew that these Safe Cities came from different civilizations and different worlds, and that their purpose was to salvage resources from Green Billow Star.
The Safe Cities generally wouldn’t go looking for trouble. Once the situation on Green Billow Star changed, they would immediately evacuate.
Moreover, most Safe City residents operated independently and were scattered across different areas.
Overall, although these outside forces were very powerful, as long as Kansidang remained hidden inside his domain, the Safe Cities had no way to deal with him.
After learning about the Safe Cities, Kansidang’s mind began working.
Being the ruler of his own little kingdom on Green Billow Star was certainly enjoyable, but if Green Billow Star was going to be destroyed eventually, then the Safe Cities were obviously the better option.
Besides, although he didn’t know that becoming a City Lord would extend his lifespan, the fact that a City Lord possessed the authority to expel people and stood at the absolute top of the entire Safe City was already more than enough to tempt Kansidang.
With the thought of “I wonder if I can attack a Safe City next,” he took the initiative to contact several of them.
However, these Safe Cities were extremely cautious. Their residents could be dispatched freely, but the Safe Cities themselves and their City Lords had never once descended from above the clouds.
Even when Kansidang tried to tempt them with wealth, not a single City Lord took the bait. He could only cast a long line for a big fish, continually tempting the City Lords with resources while slowly searching for an opportunity.
Kansidang knew that these Safe Cities had their eyes on him as well. They wanted his wealth, but as long as he remained inside his domain, there was nothing they could do about him.
But who could have imagined—
One Safe City would come to Green Billow Star and, instead of focusing on salvaging resources, send so many people to infiltrate Kansidang’s stronghold after spending so much time and effort.
They had even brought missiles to attack him!!!
Weren’t Safe Cities supposed to avoid causing unnecessary trouble?
Weren’t the resources on Green Billow Star supposed to be so abundant that the residents of those Safe Cities would be too busy salvaging them to bother with anything else?
This unknown Safe City had gathered nearly ten million residents together solely to deal with him, Kansidang. Weren’t they afraid of ending up with nothing after all that effort?!
According to that Safe City’s City Lord, whenever anything changed on Green Billow Star during this period, the Safe City had to evacuate immediately.
Spending so much time lying in wait for Kansidang was absolutely not a wise choice. They would be better off salvaging more resources instead.
Kansidang naturally had no idea just how numerous the Blue Sea people were.
Strictly speaking, the Blue Sea people who had come here to infiltrate his territory were actually only a minority.
Most of the Blue Sea residents really were drifting about on the sea.
Unaware of the truth, Kansidang assumed that one of the Safe Cities had gone all-in, gambling its residents in an attempt to seize his wealth.
But wasn’t this also an opportunity?
Ever since Kansidang learned how the Safe Cities operated, he had known that they could never possibly coexist peacefully with one another.
That was simply how everything in the world worked: the big fish eat the little fish, and the little fish eat the shrimp.
If Safe Cities could devour one another to increase their strength, then there would inevitably be people willing to attack other Safe Cities, and they certainly wouldn’t trust one another.
He intended to lure in every Safe City he knew. Once all these Safe Cities gathered in the same place, who would be willing to share the wealth of Kansidang, which they could have taken all for themselves, with the resources of another Safe City?
Even if the Safe Cities that came to “rescue” him saw through his intentions, the opportunity would be right in front of them. All they would need to do was join forces slightly, and they could obtain nearly ten million slaves and a huge amount of war materiel. He didn’t believe those City Lords would be able to resist the temptation.
Once they started attacking one another, that would be Kansidang’s only chance to escape.
He took out his communication crystal ball and motioned for one of his trusted subordinates to bring him a palm-sized translator. With the translator, he sent the same message to every Safe City.
“I’ve been ambushed by a Safe City. Come save me. I’ve sent you the coordinates. Help me lure that Safe City here and take it down. In return, I’ll give you all my wealth.”
After putting away the crystal ball, Kansidang looked at the protective shield that was still under continuous attack, hatred filling his eyes.
He knew that after this, everything he had accumulated over the years would be reduced to nothing.
Kansidang never imagined that he could take advantage of the chaos and somehow seize a Safe City for himself.
That was definitely impossible.
The greedy would surely meet their end.
His only way to stay alive was to leave his wealth behind and escape himself, gambling that the Safe Cities would be too lazy to pursue a worthless man who no longer had anything of value.
There was still more than a fifty percent chance that they would simply kill him along the way.
Kansidang continuously calculated whether there were any flaws in his plan, and his gaze toward the Blue Sea people grew increasingly cold.
He might not survive.
But these people who had suddenly appeared would definitely die!
[Damage: 100%]
—Crack.
The protective shield that had saved Kansidang’s life several times before shattered with a resounding crash.
As the previously invisible protective shield shattered, it became visible. Semi-transparent, glass-like fragments slowly drifted downward, like a rain of shattered glass.
At the same time, several Safe Cities descended from the sky above—
Kansidang raised his head and looked toward the cities high above through the slowly falling fragments. He was smiling, but his eyes were bloodshot.
New messages kept appearing in the crystal ball.
“What the hell? You didn’t just call me, did you?”
“How are there other Safe Cities here?”
“Give me a reasonable explanation.”
The Safe Cities had appeared one after another, and no one had suddenly appeared to initiate a Safe City war. Otherwise, they would have fled long ago.
Kansidang took a deep breath and replied to all of them:
“I told you, whoever saves me and kills those attacking me will get all my wealth.”
He put away the crystal ball, slowly lowered himself into a kneeling position, scooped up some of the fragments of the protective shield, and smiled with a vicious, almost crazed expression.
“…Go to hell, all of you!”
He didn’t care who died!
Or even if none of them died, as long as they started fighting.
The more chaotic things became, the greater his chance of escaping.
The Blue Sea people, who were watching the protective shield shatter through binoculars and were preparing to charge forward with renewed enthusiasm, also noticed the several Safe Cities that had suddenly appeared.
The moment the signal flag came down, the many Blue Sea people who had been hovering in the sky flapped their wings, adjusted their positions, and turned their gazes toward the several Safe Cities.
Following the gaze of his believers, Cheng Qisheng saw the several Safe Cities in their entirety.
“Aether, relocate the Safe City to the battlefield coordinates.”
“Understood, City Lord.”
High above, ripples appeared in the air, and a city incomparably larger than the other Safe Cities suddenly appeared.
With an area of nearly 100,000 square kilometers, it was like a boundless, gigantic continent. The sea below was instantly deprived of sunlight, plunging completely into darkness.
The several Safe Cities that had come here looked like mere “satellites” next to it.
Because they were so close, the people aboard those Safe Cities couldn’t even see the edges of the enormous city when they raised their heads to look at it.
The residents above couldn’t help holding their breath beneath that immense shadow.
“My God…”
“What is that?!”
“Is that a Safe City too?”
Cheng Qisheng didn’t waste any time and immediately @-mentioned the others in the City Lords’ group chat.
[Blue Sea Safe City: @Round Tooth Safe City @Forest Language Safe City @Shouxing Safe City @Born-to-Gamble Safe City]
[Blue Sea Safe City: Wanna start a war? =v=]
At least on the surface, the City Lords’ group chat on Green Billow Star had always remained fairly peaceful. No matter whether it was day or night, there were always people chatting casually.
Today, everyone had been casually discussing what was going on with the world mission involving Lilith, and somehow, the topic had gradually shifted from Lilith to “which fish tastes best.”
The moment Cheng Qisheng sent that message, the lively group chat fell completely silent.
What was going on?
Weren’t they just talking about which fish tasted best?
[Born-to-Gamble Safe City: No fighting, no fighting. I was tricked into coming here. Blue Sea, don’t misunderstand, okay? I’m leaving first.]
Born-to-Gamble Safe City left the area.
[Round Tooth Safe City: @Blue Sea Safe City I didn’t know it was you before I came. Sorry to bother you. I’m leaving.]
[Shouxing Safe City: Same here. I came for the reward. If I’d known it was Big Shot Blue Sea, I wouldn’t have wasted the relocation core crystals. I’m backing out, boss. I won’t disturb your fun.]
[Forest Language Safe City: Hahahahaha, look at the mess this turned into. I’d been wanting to meet Big Shot Blue Sea for ages, but I never expected it to be under circumstances like this. Boss, don’t get the wrong idea. Kansidang and I were purely in a relationship of mutual exploitation; we have no personal ties whatsoever. You carry on. I’ll be leaving first. Sorry, sorry~]
Kansidang’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets as he watched the several Safe Cities he had summoned flee the area one after another.
“Why are you running?!!! You’re running without even trying?!!!”
He roared while clutching the crystal ball.
The voices roaring back through the crystal ball were even louder than his.
“You’ve got some nerve asking why I’m running?!! Are you insane?! That’s Blue Sea! They can kill a Tier-5 sea monster! You expect me to fight them?! I haven’t lived long enough yet!!”
“Go to hell! You nearly got me killed! Pay me back for the relocation fee!!”
“Get lost!”
“You ****ing made me go up against Blue Sea! You’re a ****ing *****! If I hadn’t bought a mattress from Blue Sea before, and if I hadn’t dropped to my knees and apologized fast enough, you **** would’ve gotten me killed alongside you! Who the hell do you think you are, you ￥#%￥%*!!!”
It wasn’t just the Safe City Lords who had come here who were cursing Kansidang. The City Lords who had received Kansidang’s messages but, out of caution, had kept their options open and refrained from relocating also figured out what had happened from the group-chat messages, and they were cursing him as well.
“I knew contacting me could only mean trouble. I nearly fell for it, you piece of trash!”
“Don’t contact me again. I’m smashing this crystal ball right now. You and I aren’t friends. If you want to die, go die by yourself. Don’t drag me into it.”
A few others didn’t curse him at all. But when their messages were opened, several notifications simply popped up on the crystal ball’s screen.
[You have been removed from the other party’s friends list.]
[You have been blocked by the other party.]
Thirteen Safe Cities.
Not a single one was willing to go to war with Blue Sea.
Kansidang stared in despair at the ships rapidly approaching him from ahead.
—BOOM!!!
—KABOOM!!!
Across the surface of the sea, it was like a grand fireworks display, or like flower after flower blooming with the scent of gunpowder.
Kansidang’s ship fired shell after shell, but it could neither stop the enemy from closing in nor overwhelm their firepower.
—BOOM!!
Kansidang’s ship completely lost its combat capability.
The ship was forcibly boarded, and one Blue Sea resident after another climbed aboard with weapons in hand.
In the final moments of his life, he was utterly terrified, yet he desperately forced the corners of his mouth upward, trying not to look quite so pathetic.
He wanted to beg for mercy, but from the looks in their eyes, he could tell that these people had come specifically for his life.
Since that was the case, he might as well face death with dignity.
That was what Kansidang thought, but in the end, he still couldn’t truly remain composed.
The tremble in his voice betrayed the fear in his heart.
“You won’t have it easy either!!”
“Your people, and this entire domain! They’ll all be destroyed!!!”
He cursed them:
“You won’t get anything!!!
<< _ >>
Boohoo~ too bad, so sad. No mercy!