39: Kill Gold

While the Eagle Beak Strait echoed with the roar of battle, Flamingo Island was enveloped in the dead silence before a major war. Linn stood behind the newly reinforced bulwark of the west dock, the sea breeze carrying a strong scent of blood and char. On the distant horizon, no sails were yet visible, but his heart was already taut.

"Is everything ready?" Linn's voice was low and steady, reaching the ears of every captain behind him.

"My Lord, 'iron sand no. 1' and 'iron sand no. 2' are hidden behind the reefs on both sides of the main dock as per your instructions. Their Ballistae are strung and ready to flank any incoming enemy ships," Ocean replied, stroking the silver spear in his hand. His High Silver Rank battle Qi slowly circulated within him, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

"All shore defense Ballistae are in position, providing crossfire coverage over the dock entrance," Clay added. The Personal Guard members behind him were silent as mountains, but their tightly gripped weapons betrayed their inner tension and resolve.

Karl's First Squad was dispersed behind the makeshift breastworks and ruins near the dock, bows and crossbows in hand, blades drawn. Further afield on the high ground, Elise's figure was faintly visible. With a longbow on her back, her sharp gaze swept across the vast sea. The excellent vision granted by her Elven Bloodline made her the best lookout and sniper.

Linn nodded slightly. His plan was simple and cruel: use the terrain and Ballistae advantage to weaken the enemy as much as possible at sea, then drag the battle into a brutal landing defense and street fight, using numbers and terrain to compensate for the lack of high-end combat power, creating an opportunity to encircle the Gold Knight.

Everyone rested in shifts, quietly waiting for the Flamingo relief fleet.

The next morning!

"They're here!" Elise's clear, cold voice carried through the sea breeze from the high ground.

Several black dots appeared on the horizon to the northeast, rapidly growing larger. Soon, five scarred but still murderous pirate warships broke through the waves, led by the large warship flying Wolfgang's flag. On the bow, "iron wall" Wolfgang, clad in heavy armor and holding a massive shield, exuded a Gold Novice pressure that, even from afar, felt substantial, causing many soldiers on the dock to gasp for breath.

"Don't panic! Stick to the plan!" Linn's voice was like a stabilizing anchor, steadying the morale of the army.

Wolfgang evidently also saw the Iron Sand Island army arrayed on the dock, as well as Linn's fluttering banner. His cold face showed no expression; he simply waved his hand.

"Charge in, reclaim the dock, kill them all!"

The pirate fleet unfurled its sails, like arrows leaving a bowstring, charging straight for the main dock entrance!

"Now! Ballistae, fire!" Linn waved his Staff!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The two Iron Sand Island warships hidden behind the reefs were the first to attack! Eight heavy Ballista bolts, with terrifying shrieks, like invitations from the Grim Reaper, cross-fired at the two pirate ships leading the charge!

The modified arrowheads pierced the hull. Magical energy exploded!

"Boom! Crack!"

The side of one pirate ship was hit repeatedly, its planks instantly shattered, creating a large hole. Seawater poured in frantically, and the ship began to list! The other had its main mast shot through, the massive sail crashing down, and its speed drastically reduced!

At the same time, the shore defense Ballistae also roared! Several bolts accurately shot towards Wolfgang's flagship!

Wolfgang snorted coldly, thrusting his massive tower shield forward!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The heavy Ballista bolts struck the tower shield, producing deafening crashes, but only leaving a few white marks on the shield's surface before bouncing off and falling into the sea! The defensive power of a Gold Rank was terrifying!

But the other pirate ships were not so lucky. Under the crossfire from the Ballistae on both sides and the front, two more ships suffered heavy damage and lost their combat effectiveness. Only Wolfgang's flagship and one other ship, braving the rain of arrows and sporadic Ballista bolts, forced their way into the dock, smashing hard against the pier!

"Kill!" The pirates, eyes red, brandished their weapons, leaping from their ships and charging towards Iron Sand Island's defenses.

"Fire arrows!" Karl roared.

Dense volleys of arrows shot out from behind the breastworks, like flying locusts, turning the charging pirates into pincushions.

On the high ground, Elise's eyes were cold, her bow drawn like a full moon, her arrows like meteors! She specifically targeted pirate sub-leaders or those who showed ferocity, felling them with a single, incredibly accurate arrow, greatly disrupting the pirates' attack rhythm.

However, Wolfgang moved. Like a human fortress, he leaped directly from the ship, landing heavily on the dock, shaking the ground. He didn't even use his sword, just charged with his massive shield!

"Boom!"

A section of the makeshift breastwork, along with several First Squad soldiers behind it, was shattered by his impact, wall and men alike!

Once a Gold Rank expert joined the ground battle, it was a massacre for ordinary soldiers!

"Now! Surround him!" A fierce glint flashed in Linn's eyes, and fire elements frantically gathered at the tip of his Staff!

"Blaze Explosion!"

A scorching, fiery fireball, over a meter in diameter, carrying high temperatures that warped the air, howled as it smashed towards Wolfgang!

Wolfgang felt the threat. His massive shield slammed to the ground, and a solid golden battle Qi barrier instantly unfolded!

"Rumble!!"

The fireball struck the barrier, erupting with a deafening roar and a sky full of fire. The violent shockwave sent surrounding pirates and soldiers flying. The battle Qi barrier shook violently but did not shatter!

"Attack!" Linn shouted.

Ocean, who had been waiting for a long time, let out a long howl. His High Silver Rank battle Qi fully erupted, and the silver spear in his hand was like a venomous Dragon emerging from its lair, charging with an unstoppable Aura, piercing directly towards Wolfgang's side ribs! On the other side, the battle slave Hildo, with hollow eyes and completely under Linn's control, also wielded his heavy battle-axe, like an emotionless killing machine, fearlessly hacking at Wolfgang's back!

Three High Silver Ranks, besieging one Gold Novice!

"Insects!" Wolfgang roared. His massive shield spun abruptly, first deflecting Ocean's sure-kill spear with a "clang," then its edge, like a heavy hammer, smashed towards Hildo's battle-axe!

"Bang!"

Hildo was shaken back repeatedly by the immense force, the skin between his thumb and forefinger splitting, but he seemed to feel no pain. After steadying himself, he pounced again!

Ocean's spear moved like a Dragon, constantly circling and attacking Wolfgang, looking for an opening. Clay also directed the skilled members of the Personal Guard to harass from the periphery with bows, crossbows, and javelins. Linn continuously unleashed Fireball Spells and Vine Entanglement. Although unable to break through Wolfgang's defense, these greatly interfered with his movements and consumed his battle Qi.

The battle was exceptionally fierce. Ocean was swept by the aftershocks of Wolfgang's shield bashes several times, spitting blood, his silver spear nearly slipping from his grasp. Hildo was covered in blood, his left arm bent at an unnatural angle, clearly fractured, but he continued to attack frantically. Ordinary soldiers who tried to approach were often instantly flattened into pulp by Wolfgang's casual blows before they could even get close.

Wolfgang was like a Bedrock. Although besieged, his defense was impenetrable. His occasional counterattacks put Ocean and Hildo in perilous situations. The chasm between Gold and Silver Ranks was simply too vast!

Linn looked at the struggling Ocean and the nearly crippled Hildo, then at the constantly falling soldiers around them. A hint of resolve flashed in his eyes. He couldn't drag this out any longer!

"Hildo! Hold him!" Through the Soul link, Linn issued his final and most brutal command to Hildo.

Hildo, who had been mechanically attacking, suddenly stiffened, then a strange light flashed in his eyes. He completely abandoned defense, letting out an inhuman roar, and lunged forward, using his only intact arm and body to tightly embrace Wolfgang's shield-holding left arm and half of his body!

"Get lost!" Wolfgang was both shocked and enraged. He clenched his right fist, glowing with golden battle Qi, and slammed it hard into Hildo's back!

"Crack!" A clear sound of bones breaking came, and Hildo spat out a large mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. But like a maggot in a bone, he clung on tightly, creating a precious and sole opportunity for Linn!

"Ocean!" Linn shrieked, and the magic he had long prepared instantly erupted! This time, it was no longer scattered fireballs, but a slender, searing white "Flame Spear Spell" that he had compressed and condensed from a massive amount of magic power, containing terrifying penetrative force! At the same time, his powerful Mental Energy also transformed into an invisible sharp cone, fiercely stabbing towards Wolfgang's mind!

Wolfgang was held tightly by Hildo, his movements restricted, and then struck by Linn's Mental Energy impact, causing his consciousness to momentarily waver! That indestructible massive shield shifted slightly, an almost imperceptible deviation!

Now!

Ocean understood perfectly. He poured all his battle Qi, all his will, and all his desire for victory into this one spear thrust! He and the silver spear seemed to become one, transforming into a silver streak that tore through space, piercing like lightning through the tiny gap exposed by Wolfgang's shield!

"Pfft!"

The silver spear accurately pierced through the gap in the faceplate, which was not entirely covered by the helmet, and penetrated Wolfgang's skull!

Wolfgang's body stiffened abruptly, the light in his eyes rapidly dimmed, and the massive shield, a symbol of absolute defense, fell heavily onto the dock's stone slabs with a "clank."

Gold Knight, "iron wall" Wolfgang, dead!

For a moment, the entire dock battlefield fell into a dead silence. Both pirates and Iron Sand Island soldiers were stunned by this unbelievable scene.

Ocean pulled out his long spear, stumbled back, leaning on the spear and panting heavily, completely exhausted. Linn's face was pale; continuous high-intensity spellcasting and Mental Energy impact had also greatly depleted him. As for Hildo, he had long since lost all signs of life, yet he still maintained the posture of embracing Wolfgang, like an eternal sculpture.

After a brief silence, the Iron Sand Island soldiers erupted in thunderous cheers! The remaining pirates completely lost their fighting spirit, either kneeling in surrender or scattering like headless flies.

Linn looked at Wolfgang's corpse, then at the sacrificed Hildo and the many soldiers. There was no joy of victory in his heart, only heaviness. He walked forward, slowly pulled out Ocean's silver spear, and then raised it above his head.

"Clear the battlefield! Treat the wounded!" His voice was weary, but it spread clearly across the dock, "We won!"

The defense battle of Flamingo Island concluded with Iron Sand Island's tragic victory. They successfully killed the Gold Knight Wolfgang, but also paid a heavy price: the battle slave Hildo dead, Ocean severely wounded, and over twenty ordinary soldiers killed or seriously injured.

"My Lord! Should we support the Eagle Beak Strait?" Clay stepped forward to ask Linn.

"No, what we need to do now is recover from our injuries and quietly await the results. We have already dealt with half of the enemies; the rest is up to them."

Linn was thinking that no matter who won the battle at Eagle Beak Strait, he would not be threatened. Nocturne was not to be underestimated. If the Flamingo Pirate Group won, it would also be a tragic victory, and even if they wanted to counterattack Flamingo Island, the pirates would have no chance of winning.

"Yes, My Lord." Clay was about to turn to continue directing the cleanup of the battlefield and distributing potions to treat the wounded, but Linn called him back.

"Clay, send a small boat back to inform Hogan to lead the Second Squad to sweep through the other small pirate lairs that Cedric had coerced. Their lairs are empty now; plunder everything." Linn's eyes were sinister. He intended to seize this opportunity to loot all available resources.

Clay's eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but admire Linn. The resource allocation discussed before the war did not include resources from other islands.