Chapter 82
The sudden appearance of the ghost fleet.
Not just a ragtag fleet made up of fishing boats, but an organized fleet that even included warships from the South Korean Navy.
While the confirmation that a ghost fleet was indeed roaming the East Sea was a significant discovery…
‘This is troublesome.’
Kim Tae-sik, who had somehow calmed himself with the help of Baek Seol-hwa and was leading the Pohang fleet, found the situation problematic.
He had never seriously considered the possibility of conducting a proper naval battle against zombies. He had only expected to recover or destroy drifting fishing boats that had become ghost ships.
‘Most of them are fishing boats, but the ghost fleet includes proper warships. They outnumber us significantly.’
Even if ghost ships truly existed in the East Sea, his plan had been to suppress them by boarding with awakened marines. For this, he had assembled a fleet consisting of coastal patrol boats and corvettes designed for coastal defense.
In other words, the fleet under Kim Tae-sik’s command lacked the strength to conduct a full-scale naval battle and was equipped only for coastal security.
Given this state of affairs, he judged that engaging in combat with a ghost fleet equipped with warships would be overwhelmingly disadvantageous.
‘If those ships still retain their performance from their days in the South Korean Navy, it’s unlikely we could achieve a decisive victory based on performance alone.’
There was no overwhelming technological or performance advantage on Pohang’s side worth mentioning.
The opposing fleet was also composed of fishing boats and warships previously used by South Korea. The performance of both fleets was likely similar, with perhaps a slight edge in favor of the Pohang fleet.
They were outnumbered, and the performance of the ships was almost evenly matched.
“What should we do now?”
“Hmmm.”
Kim Tae-sik, as the commander, wanted to issue an immediate retreat from the East Sea. However, as the captain, he was subordinate to Baek Seol-hwa, who held supreme command.
Since he had no authority to issue a retreat order on his own, it was only natural for him to consult Baek Seol-hwa for her decision.
‘If only the power of the Dragon God Bahamut’s contractor could be used.’
Even in this dire situation, Kim Tae-sik and his crew had a source of hope to cling to.
It was the fact that Baek Seol-hwa, their supreme commander, was the Priestess of the Dragon and a contractor of God Bahamut.
Given that there was a high chance of Bahamut providing some miraculous strategy or extraordinary magic, Kim Tae-sik cautiously asked Baek Seol-hwa for her decision.
“There is something I’ve been meaning to test against the ghost fleet.”
“Test, you say?”
Despite the ghost fleet looming before them, Baek Seol-hwa showed no signs of distress. Instead, she wore a confident smile and let out a light laugh.
It was almost as if she had been waiting for the ghost fleet to appear. Rising from her seat on the command platform, Baek Seol-hwa gave an order to Kim Tae-sik as the Priestess of the Dragon.
“Maintain a certain distance between the patrol ship and the ghost fleet.”
“Do you have a plan?”
Essentially, this was an order to set a course close to the ghost fleet. In other words, she was instructing them to engage with the fleet right before their eyes.
Naturally, Kim Tae-sik asked if she really had a plan.
Blindly charging in without any strategy was not something a soldier should aspire to, and Kim Tae-sik had no intention of wasting his life on a meaningless charge.
Sensing Kim Tae-sik’s unease, Baek Seol-hwa smiled warmly and provided a detailed explanation.
“Yes. You could call it magic taught to me by Lord Bahamut. Through my contract with him, I’ve gained magic that is perfectly suited for this. As it happens, Lord Bahamut specifically instructed me to test that magic on the ghost fleet.”
“I see…! It’s an order from Lord Bahamut, then?”
“Yes. So there is no need for you to fear. Victory is already in our hands.”
Even Kim Tae-sik was well aware of the greatness of the Priestess of the Dragon.
In particular, having personally experienced Bahamut’s magic once before, Kim Tae-sik couldn’t help but harbor high expectations for the magic taught by Bahamut.
Moreover, he had heard rumors about the power possessed by Choi Yuna and knew that Baek Seol-hwa was already renowned as the strongest awakened in Pohang.
Now that Baek Seol-hwa had become the Priestess of the Dragon, she might display power far surpassing that of ordinary awakened individuals.
‘Indeed. Just remembering the abilities she displayed when she was in perfect form… There’s no reason for us to fear that fleet!’
Kim Tae-sik recalled Baek Seol-hwa’s abilities from before Pohang’s liberation. Even those abilities alone would be sufficient to take on the fleet.
She had always been a dependable ally when she fought on their side.
Moreover, with her contract with God Bahamut, she was undoubtedly one of the strongest awakened individuals in all of Korea.
“You heard the Priestess of the Dragon! Maintain some distance and pursue the ghost fleet.”
“Roger.”
With that, Kim Tae-sik found a way to rationalize his thoughts, and under that belief, he faithfully followed Baek Seol-hwa’s orders.
Given the numerous miracles he had personally witnessed, there was no contradiction in the logic forming in his mind now.
All that was left was for Baek Seol-hwa to prove the logic in Kim Tae-sik’s mind with her actions.
This was likely the same thought held by the marines and crew waiting quietly aboard the patrol ships and speedboats.
“The sea is rough.”
Avoiding the many gazes filled with anticipation, Baek Seol-hwa stepped out of the bridge and headed for the deck. In a calm voice, she remarked on the sight of the rough waves stirred by the appearance of the ghost fleet.
The sea, which had been calm just moments ago, had suddenly grown turbulent with the appearance of the ghost fleet. Yet, there was no fear in her demeanor.
It was because…
[Indeed. This may be proof that the ghost fleet is no ordinary fleet.]
“Do you think it’s truly a fleet operated by ghosts?”
[Who knows? We’ll only find out by approaching it.]
While she hadn’t mentioned it to Kim Tae-sik, God Bahamut was watching the scene unfold through Baek Seol-hwa.
From Bahamut’s perspective, this was effectively the first naval battle led by the Balhut Cult. For this reason, Bahamut was sharing Baek Seol-hwa’s vision in real time and issuing commands to her.
This explained Baek Seol-hwa’s confidence. She knew that Bahamut was watching over her and the battle unfolding before them.
“It’s a bit frightening.”
[Do not worry. I am with you.]
“I know, my lord.”
Even as fear of the impending battle crept in, Baek Seol-hwa had God Bahamut by her side.
Thus, she stood on the deck with a fearless stride, exuding courage for the marines, crew, and Kim Tae-sik watching her from the ships.
Baek Seol-hwa’s specialty was stepping forward and presenting herself as a courageous and brave warrior to the public.
“Kyaaaaack!”
As if envious of her brave demeanor, the ghosts drifting near the ghost fleet began to shriek loudly.
Hearing the sound, Baek Seol-hwa felt a stifling sensation in her chest. She picked up the communicator and contacted Kim Tae-sik, who was in the bridge.
“This noise is giving me a headache. Is everyone inside the ship alright?”
“We’re feeling a bit dizzy.”
It seemed the marines and crew were affected by the ghostly screams.
Since the bridge effectively blocked external noise, those inside weren’t as severely impacted by the banshee-like screams. However, the marines outside, who had been exposed directly to the sound, were either in a state of disarray or had fled deep into the cabins in terror.
[It appears to be a type of Undead that induces a special status effect on those who hear its cries. Is it what’s commonly referred to as a banshee? No, the wail of a banshee is said to cause instant death upon hearing it. It might be a lesser form of Undead.]
“Let’s call them banshees for simplicity. From our perspective, their wails might as well be considered a first-strike weapon.”
[Hmm, that makes sense.]
God Bahamut observed the situation intently, mentioning the banshee-like Undead that hovered in the air.
While noting that the banshee’s wail could cause instant death, Bahamut remarked on how even now, numerous awakened marines were losing their will to fight and retreating deep into the cabins to escape the sound.
To ordinary humans, such terrifying beings might as well be banshees, so Baek Seol-hwa decided to name them as such.
Bahamut agreed with her suggestion and, witnessing the marines screaming in response to the wails, issued an immediate command to Baek Seol-hwa.
[The wail of a banshee is difficult for even awakened individuals to withstand for long. Let’s begin.]
“Yes. Let’s start with a light shot. Boom!”
With a boom, the power of Seol-hwa’s magic reached its peak over the East Sea.
A ship that had appeared to be a fishing vessel was engulfed in a massive explosion, flames billowing into the sky alongside a mushroom cloud.
In an instant, the keel of the ship sustained critical damage, rendering it immobile. The vessel began to sink slowly.
While this had little direct effect on the banshees wailing in the distance, the fishing boats blocking the corvette’s path were sinking one by one.
“Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom!”
Baek Seol-hwa caused explosions on every fishing boat obstructing the corvette’s course.
The ships were filled with zombies, and she deemed them too dangerous to salvage or return to Pohang. The likelihood of survivors aboard was very low.
Without hesitation, Seol-hwa destroyed the keels of the ships, causing them to sink indiscriminately as she maneuvered the corvette into a zone where she could directly confront the banshees.
[A fleet of fishing boats is a fitting description.]
“Yes. Tae-sik, maintain this distance, and if I give the order, fall back immediately.”
“Understood.”
However, as if the fishing boats had been brought from foreign waters, the seemingly endless number of vessels caused Bahamut to remark in exasperation, even calling it a fishing boat fleet.
As the corvette continued to advance, more fishing boats emerged, blocking its path one after another.
Ignoring them was not an option. Zombies aboard the ships climbed onto the decks, threatening the corvette.
While the sheer size of the corvette, designed for military use, made it relatively safe, the ominous presence of the ghost fleet created psychological pressure on the marines and Kim Tae-sik in the bridge.
“There’s still no response from the ship that appears to be the flagship.”
Seol-hwa calmly sank the obstructing fishing boats one by one, clearing a path for the corvette to approach close enough to visually confirm the ghost fleet.
Finally, a large warship, likely the flagship, revealed itself. Observing the ship, Seol-hwa remarked that there had been no response from it yet.
[However, the banshees have started deploying. Now then, let’s see you test the magic I taught you.]
It seemed the enemy intended to intercept the corvette. Instead of intercepting with ships or aircraft, ghosts began appearing and slowly approached the corvette and patrol boats.
The terrifying sight caused the marines inside the cabin to hold their breath. Bahamut coldly observed that the banshees were being deployed and ordered Seol-hwa to use her special magic.
“Yes, leave it to me, Lord Bahamut.”
As Seol-hwa prepared her ultimate magic…
“There’s a speedboat approaching from the flank!”
“What!?”
An unidentified speedboat appeared on the corvette’s flank and began charging toward it.
Startled by the sudden appearance of the speedboat, Kim Tae-sik quickly issued a command.
“Deploy the patrol boats escorting the corvette to intercept!”
The patrol boats began moving to intercept the speedboat immediately.
“Kyaaaaaaaack!”
However, as the patrol boats moved to intercept, the banshees’ wails grew louder, echoing through the air.
“What… What is this?! No, I don’t want this! Save me! Please!”
The banshees’ wails drained the courage of even the bravest marines.
Terrified and panicked, the marines began lashing out and injuring their comrades in their confusion.
[As expected, the wails seem to forcibly imprint the emotion of fear on their targets. Seol-hwa, are you alright?]
“Yes, I’m fine. As the Priestess of the Dragon, as long as I am with Lord Bahamut, I have no fear.”
[Oh, really…?]
Bahamut couldn’t help but think she had incredible courage.
And then…
“In that case, let’s show them the magic bestowed upon me by the Dragon God.”
In accordance with Bahamut’s command, Seol-hwa gathered her magic and activated the spell she had acquired through her contract with the Dragon God.
“Turn Undead.”
For a moment, the scene stilled…
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