Very Wrong Reincarnation: Isekai with Game Nation

Vol. 2 Chapter 8

Northern Seas, Eastern Continent

The creaking sound of wood, the fresh breeze of the sea, and the salty air lingered around the ship as sailors moved swiftly across the tamed wooden floors. The erratic voices of the crew cut through the peaceful atmosphere.

"Throw everything offboard! Aim for the bearing of those pirates!" one sailor shouted, hurling a wooden crate over the stern of the galley. More men joined in, flinging cargo into the sea as several rundown pirate ships loomed in the distance, gaining on them.

"Those bastards! Not even a diplomatic ship is safe from them! Scum!" the captain growled, eyes fixed on the pirates as the ship caught the eastern wind.

"Mizzenmast! Adjust!" he commanded.

"Archers! Form up!" another officer yelled, rallying the ship’s defense.

"Mages! How long can you keep casting wind spells? They're closing in!" the executive captain barked with urgency.

Chaos reigned aboard the Trinide, a diplomatic galley from the small island nation of Faris. It was under pursuit by a ruthless band of pirates in the northern seas, about 400 kilometers west of the Holy Kingdom, where the Eastern Continent Conference was soon to be held.

"My apologies, Your Highness. We should have brought more ships," the captain said, glancing at the skinny, pale figure with blue hair and a large monocle glass standing nervously nearby.

"That's... okay," the prince of Faris, Astal replied, his voice tinged with unease. "Can we outrun them?"

"We're gaining speed, Your Highness. Our mages are maintaining it for now, though they'll need to refresh their spells soon," the captain assured him, though his gaze remained fixed on the pirate ships. "We must be cautious from now on. We narrowly avoided capture due to our naivety."

The prince nodded, still shaken. Earlier, they had spotted a ship billowing with smoke, thinking it was in distress. But it had been a pirate trap—a decoy. They had barely managed to escape the ambush, and now the pirates were closing in, their ragged sails growing larger on the horizon.

The captain swept his eyes across the sea, formulating their next move.

"Mages have finally recast their arcane power!" the executive captain announced, rushing to the captain and Prince Astal.

"Good!" the captain growled in relief, his eyes flickering with hope. Astal allowed himself a small smile, tension easing from his shoulders. "Let's leave them in the dust," the prince said confidently.

With a command, the mages cast their wind magic, sending a powerful gust toward the ship's sails. The ship surged forward, the masts of the pirate ships behind them growing smaller by the minute. It seemed like they were finally gaining the upper hand, the threat of capture slowly fading.

"That's a relief," Astal muttered, beginning to relax. But just as the words left his lips, a series of loud booms echoed across the water, cutting through the breeze. The entire crew froze, and Astal's heart beat faster.

"What was that?!" the captain shouted, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.

The crew searched frantically for the source of the noise, their eyes darting across the horizon. Then, massive splashes of water erupted around the ship, drenching the deck. Four columns of water shot up, one dangerously close, sending a cold spray of water that soaked Astal and the crew.

"What's that!?" the captain's voice cracked as panic surged through him. His eyes were wide, fear creeping into his normally calm demeanor.

"Do... don't tell me..." Astal stammered, a pit forming in his stomach. The height and precision of the splashes—it couldn't be anything else. "Cannons?" he whispered in disbelief and fear.