Almighty God of War - Chapter 60

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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060

The small fishing boat Du Jeongkwang had prepared was cleverly hidden in a secluded reed forest of Poyang Lake.

On the boat waited an old boatman who appeared to be over sixty, but whose forearms were thicker than those of a sturdy young man.

He widened his eyes upon seeing Du Jeongkwang.

“Are you going as well, Elder?”

“I must.”

At Du Jeongkwang’s brief reply, the boatman asked no further questions.

His attitude suggested he was well aware of the Du family’s circumstances.

The small boat carrying the three men departed through the darkness toward Blood Pearl Island, the base of the Thousand Seas Gang.

The small boat glided across the black surface of the vast Poyang Lake.

Though the surroundings were shrouded in silence, storms raged within the hearts of those aboard.

The old boatman spoke while rowing with creaking oars.

“Elders, that Blood Pearl Island has been called Ghost Island since ancient times. They say no one who enters ever comes out alive… We boatmen never go near that area.”

At his explanation, Du Jeongkwang’s already hardened expression became even more serious.

Considering the size of the boat and the number of hostages they would need to rescue, he asked Jupyo.

“Elder Brother, even if we manage to rescue all the kidnapped people, this small boat won’t be able to carry them all during our escape. Do you have a plan?”

It was Guyang Cheongang, not Jupyo, who answered.

“Don’t worry, elders. We’ll just borrow something from the enemy.”

“Something from the enemy?”

“The Thousand Seas Gang is a pirate group, so they must operate dozens of ships. We’ll just pick the fastest one and borrow it.”

Du Jeongkwang was momentarily speechless at his nonchalant answer, as if he were just visiting a neighbor.

Jupyo quietly observed Guyang Cheongang’s profile.

‘It’s hard to tell whether the Young Master’s attitude stems from youthful ignorance or true boldness. But his composure in the face of hundreds of pirates is certainly extraordinary. If we succeed in this mission, it will prove he has the ability to rebuild the family estate. If we fail, it will be an opportunity for self-reflection. Of course, provided we don’t die…’

About an hour passed.

As dawn’s light began to break, a massive wall of fog appeared at the horizon’s edge like the end of the world.

The old boatman spoke with a pale expression.

“Elders, Blood Pearl Island lies beyond that fog. You must know that the island’s environment is truly treacherous.”

His voice carried the fear passed down through generations among fishermen.

“Hidden within the fog are invisible reefs lurking like teeth, and whirlpools that suddenly swallow boats whole lie in wait everywhere. Even if you’re lucky enough to avoid the reefs, there’s nowhere to set foot. It’s sheer cliffs on all sides.”

He continued with a worried tone.

“Even if you somehow manage to reach land, red reed fields that legend says grow by drinking human blood and swamplands that swallow people with each step await. And at the island’s center stands a dead volcano like a specter, spewing black smoke.”

He swallowed dryly before speaking his final words.

“That’s why boatmen call that place Ghost Island, not Blood Pearl Island. Please… please be careful.”

Du Jeongkwang placed his hand on the old man’s shoulder and replied.

“Thank you. But don’t worry. We will return alive.”

Guyang Cheongang spoke up.

“From here, we must leave the boat. There are surely sentries in that rocky reef zone within the fog.”

At his words, Du Jeongkwang asked.

“Young Master Guyang, do you have a way to penetrate that fog and whirlpools to reach the island?”

Guyang Cheongang looked at the two veteran masters and said.

“I plan to infiltrate underwater. I’ll guide the way.”

“Underwater infiltration?”

“Yes. Until I give instructions, you two must absolutely not act rashly, as the enemy might detect our presence.”

“Is that all? The whirlpools are severe, so finding a path underwater will be difficult.”

“Don’t worry.”

At his confident answer, Du Jeongkwang tilted his head in confusion, but unlike him, Jupyo nodded without hesitation.

“Understood.”

Guyang Cheongang’s words were difficult to accept logically.

However, during their few days of traveling together, Jupyo had sensed that he wasn’t the type to act without a plan.

And it made no sense to back down now.

Du Jeongkwang could only tilt his head inwardly as he listened to their conversation.

‘How strange. To be so confident about avoiding invisible underwater traps, whirlpools, and even sentries… More than that, it’s hard to understand how Master Jupyo blindly trusts and follows his disciple’s words. There must be some inside story they haven’t told me…’

The three men gave the boatman a generous amount of silver taels and silently submerged themselves into the cold, black waters of Poyang Lake.

Golden King wrinkled his face in displeasure at the water, but he knew that complaining wouldn’t make the water disappear.

The creature even sighed as it tightly embraced Guyang Cheongang’s neck.

As the cold winter water enveloped their bodies, the chill penetrated to their bones.

The three men each circulated their internal energy methods.

Soon the cold disappeared and their bodies returned to their normal state.

With only his head above the surface, Guyang Cheongang spoke to Akasha.

‘Akasha, tell me the maximum number of nanobots currently available, along with their operational range and duration.’

[Yes, Doctor.]

Akasha’s clear voice resonated in his mind.

[With your current internal energy, approximately 1,000 nanobots are available. The duration varies greatly depending on the operational method.]

Akasha presented two options.

[Deploying all 1,000 at full power allows extensive data collection, but the internal energy consumption is extreme, reducing duration to less than 30 minutes. Conversely, using the minimum unit of 10 or fewer for reconnaissance provides less information but can operate for up to three hours. Either way, the surveillance range remains the same at a fifteen-zhang radius.]

‘What I need now isn’t broad-range information, but continuous guidance to illuminate the path directly ahead. I choose the latter.’

Guyang Cheongang made his decision immediately.

‘Good. Deploy 10 nanobots. Have 5 search above the surface and 5 explore underwater traps. Find the safest route.’

[Understood. Activating ‘Continuous Reconnaissance Mode.’]

The 10 nanobots deployed externally began exploring the invisible surface and underwater areas.

Guyang Cheongang led the two veteran masters as they carefully swam forward.

Though he had Akasha’s assistance, their journey was far from smooth.

The thick fog covering all sides served as excellent concealment for them, but it was also a maze where they couldn’t see even an inch ahead.

After a period of silence, Akasha’s voice resonated in Guyang Cheongang’s mind.

[Doctor, multiple humanoid biosignatures detected thirteen zhang ahead, on the left reef.]

‘What’s the detailed situation?’

[Visual information transmission is impossible with your current internal energy level. However, analysis of collected audio and vibration data indicates at least two individuals are hiding in rock crevices, monitoring the water surface. Subtle sounds of rustling clothes and yawns from boredom have been detected.]

Even without visuals, Akasha had nearly perfectly identified the enemy’s presence and condition using only sound and vibration.

Guyang Cheongang immediately raised his hand to signal the two veteran masters following behind to stop. Then he gave a hand signal to dive.

The three men silently took deep breaths before quietly sinking into the cold water.

The underwater world was dark and silent.

Only the sound of their own heartbeats echoed in their ears.

The three men swam like fish, quietly passing directly beneath the reef where the sentries were stationed.

In the tense, hair-trigger atmosphere, they escaped the danger zone.

The challenges continued relentlessly after that.

After surfacing, Guyang Cheongang, who had been swimming ahead, spoke to Jupyo and Du Jeongkwang in a low but firm tone.

“Stop! Press yourselves against the rock on the left!”

The moment the three men pressed against the rock following his urgent shout, a massive whirlpool roared right beside them, sucking in everything.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-

Cold sweat ran down the spines of Jupyo and Du Jeongkwang as they realized they wouldn’t have been able to avoid it if Guyang Cheongang’s warning had been even slightly delayed.

[Artificial net detected 3 meters ahead. Sharp iron spikes are embedded in it. Must dive to pass through.]

Guyang Cheongang relayed Akasha’s words exactly, and the three men submerged underwater.

As they dove and moved forward, a massive net embedded with razor-sharp iron spikes passed directly overhead.

After navigating through that hellish waterway for nearly half an hour, Akasha’s voice was heard.

[Doctor, I’ve found a safe landing point ahead. No guards are visible.]

Due to the harsh environment surrounding the island, the coastal security seemed lax.

The three men quietly climbed onto a small shore beneath cliffs thick with red reeds.

Maintaining maximum concealment, they advanced five hundred zhang and climbed a wild mountain about fifty zhang high.

Near the summit of the wild mountain, Guyang Cheongang hid his body in a thicket as tall as a person and looked around while calling for Akasha.

‘Akasha, I need to find out where their settlement is located.’

[I’ll display a topographical map based on the island’s formation that has come into the Doctor’s view so far.]

A three-dimensional map of the island appeared in Guyang Cheongang’s mind.

Akasha’s calm voice continued.

[This island is a volcanic island formed around the dead volcano at its center. The eastern and western sides have sheer coastal cliffs making it impossible for large ships to dock, and the south is estimated to have extensive toxic swamplands spread across it, making overland movement difficult.]

‘So the east, south, and west aren’t suitable as residential areas or harbors.’

[That’s correct. The only place where large numbers of people can reside and ships can be moored is the bay to the north.]

Akasha’s analysis continued from a tactical perspective.

[That location is a naturally blessed harbor formation that blocks rough waves from outside, and its narrow entrance makes it very advantageous for defense. The valley where fresh water can be obtained is also estimated to flow toward that location. There’s a 99% probability that the pirates’ base is there.]

On the map that appeared in his mind, the enemy’s settlement analyzed by Akasha was marked with a red dot.

‘What’s the distance to the bay?’

[It’s estimated to be thirty li.]

‘Not too far.’

[It would be best not to think of it lightly. There will be guards hiding and keeping watch, and watchtowers will be installed throughout the area.]

‘Of course that would be the case. Akasha, we’re heading there. While we’re running, deploy the nanobots and conduct thorough reconnaissance of the surroundings.’

[Understood.]

Guyang Cheongang pointed north and spoke to Jupyo and Du Jeongkwang.

“Their base seems to be in that direction.”

Having witnessed Guyang Cheongang’s remarkable abilities during their journey here, Jupyo and Du Jeongkwang nodded without objection.

The group began moving stealthily toward the northern coastal bay that Akasha had identified.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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