Chapter 914: Chapter 456: Storm Descends (Part 2)

Also benefitting from his professional level’s comprehensive physical qualities, his efficiency is far higher than that of ordinary sailors, even when limited by the cramped cabin environment preventing full exertion. A single person can practically handle the workload of five or six crew members, greatly relieving the team’s pressure.

"Bang!"

Xia Nan single-handedly lifted the fresh water barrel, normally requiring two or three sailors’ combined effort, carrying it steadily to the deep part of the cabin and securely tying it with a rope.

Xia Nan gently exhaled, just a simple task of carrying, naturally not enough to exhaust his stamina.

He quickened his pace, turned around, and walked out of the cabin door.

A noticeably more humid and intense icy sea breeze blew past both sides of his cheeks, causing him to instinctively turn his head towards the side front of the ship.

There, the lead-gray clouds that had been trailing at the edge of the sky in the distance had now engulfed half of the sky.

The curtain of rain descended, and the interval between lightning and thunder had greatly shortened.

The storm was approaching.

It must be acknowledged, although everyone on the Vengeance Blade Blade was behaving very professionally, as if having dealt with many storms before, and Xia Nan himself was trying to do what he could.

But out of caution, and preparation for the worst-case scenario, Xia Nan was already pondering in his heart what to do if the ship actually capsized.

With his current [Gravity Control] skill level, it is insufficient to support flying or short gliding, and he does not have the ability to breathe underwater.

[Teeth Hunting] is fast, but even if he uses the deck as a starting runway, his speed on the water doesn’t match the storm’s expansion and he’d be caught in no time; of course, his character would never allow him to abandon his teammates at such a crucial moment.

Considering all of this, if the ship really capsized, Xia Nan seems to have no choice but to rely on his physical qualities to struggle in the water... which inevitably weighs heavy on his mind.

It’s not that Xia Nan is pessimistic.

After all, even modern vessels built with storm resistance and stability in mind can still be unsafe in face of excessively intense storms.

Let alone the medieval three-masted sailing ship he’s standing on now.

He’s almost certain that there might well be a high-end magic-powered ship docked at a private pier in Suo Yu Bay, on the Aifala Continent.

The influence of supernatural powers in a storm isn’t necessarily inferior to the creations of technology from the past.

But the current Vengeance Blade Blade, at least as observed, is clearly not related to magic power or arcane magic; it’s just a professionally modified traditional sailboat.

Perhaps its materials are sturdier and more durable than ordinary wood, but compared to modern steel ships made of high-strength alloys and special composite materials, it falls far from reaching even a fraction of their sturdiness.

Power, propulsion efficiency, navigation, endurance, even anti-sinking design... all have decades of generational gaps.

Anyone who has experienced both types of ships can unmistakably feel the differences, naturally making comparisons in their minds.

Not only that.

In comparison to the past, what Xia Nan faces now isn’t merely a simple storm.

Reflecting against the distant indistinct curtain of rain and lead-gray clouds, his pitch-black eyes focus as he gazes at the sea ahead.

Beneath the increasingly intense sea waves, ominous shadows are rapidly approaching the Vengeance Blade Blade’s direction along with the storm.

If there are no surprises, it will be a school of tens of thousands of Saw-tooth Sharks.

Recalling not long ago when Druid Hai Yin shattered a shark that frenziedly gnawed at the ship’s boards.

Like crops devastated by locusts or prey caught in a piranha’s eyes, Xia Nan doubts these provoked Saw-tooth Sharks would ignore the Vengeance Blade Blade.

Given their number, specifications, and terrifying bite force capable of puncturing holes... Xia Nan doubts if a wooden ship like the Vengeance Blade Blade can truly withstand it.

Boom—

Thunder’s echoes reverberate across the sky.

Unnoticed, the originally gentle sunlight had vanished entirely, replaced by oppressive, gloomy gray-black clouds.

The ocean wind grew stronger, and its howling could be heard sweeping overhead.

A sense of moisture suddenly touched the tip of his nose.

Raindrops.

The speed at which storms sweep in is unimaginable.

What seemed distant not long ago, once the wooden ship fell under the devouring lead clouds above, from scattered raindrops to downpour-like rain curtains, it only took several breaths.

The usually shimmering, gentle seawater now transformed into towering gloomy black ridges, roaring from the horizon; the desperately adjusted ship was first hoisted onto the wave crest, then plummeted sharply, causing a sensation of weightlessness.

Raindrops, akin to ice needles soaked in seawater, densely pierced every inch of skin as they were swept along by the gale; the deck beneath the feet tilted upward, making the entire ship feel as if it were suspended in mid-air by an invisible rope, swaying between waves.

Lead clouds, gale, ocean waves, torrential rain... It was a scene resembling the end of the world.

It’s difficult to imagine that not long ago, this sea area was so warm and gentle.

At this moment, Xia Nan couldn’t help but entertain a rather irreverent, strange thought.

No wonder the [Sea Goddess] Ambory was nicknamed the "The Shrewish Queen."

While names can contradict, nicknames rarely go wrong.

Of course, it was merely a complaint in his mind; if returning to reality, not even the most foolish and utterly ignorant landlubber would dare call the great, beautiful, noble, and worship-worthy goddess such a name at this moment.

As the storm descends, the deck becomes the main battlefield for everyone.

The number of crew members on the Vengeance Blade Blade’s deck at this moment is much greater than when the weather was sunny.

Paradoxically, during a storm, staying on the deck is the safer option.

However, this safety comes with conditions.

Remaining in the cabin involves caution about not being hit by falling items as the ship shakes or tripping over one’s feet, seemingly safer than the deck, where one could be swept into the ocean by waves at any moment.

However, if the ship fails to withstand the waves and capsizes, the cabin, sealed to prevent water entry with only a few doors, will quickly be filled with seawater.

The cabin beneath the deck would become a gigantic trap in an instant.

Turning upside down, if one wants to breathe air, they must float upwards to the rapidly rising cabin roof; to escape, they’ll need to hold their breath and dive through cargo-laden, tool-filled corridors to seek an exit, akin to a coffin sinking into the water.

Even if one’s enormous perseverance and miraculous luck help them find an exit amid the water-filled corridors and escape, they’d likely be dragged to the deep sea floor by the sinking ship, gazing despairingly at the water’s surface above.

Given such circumstances, even if the deck seems more dangerous, to avoid the catastrophic scenario of the entire ship overturning, most crew members choose to come to the deck, assisting in maintaining the ship’s balance.

"Boom!"

Lightning flashes, and thunder follows closely.

Another colossal wave crashes upon the ship’s body, causing the deck to tilt at an astonishing angle, where even the most experienced old sailors find it hard to maintain their balance; holding onto the mast tightly, they twist around in the tumult, practically relying on the grip of their arms to prevent being thrown off.

Yet, contrasting starkly with the crew is Xia Nan’s steady stance, seemingly rooted to the deck without needing any support.

With an agility attribute as high as "11", affecting his Reaction speed, balance ability, and agility degree, coupled with the [Tidal Shaping] specialty providing balance bonuses on unstable surfaces, and the silent increase in body gravity from [Gravity Control], Xia Nan practically navigates the terrain like it’s flat ground.

The crew’s preparations are complete; as the storm really arrives, it’s time for the adventurers to show their integral roles as the team core.