Chapter 4: What Is the Extraordinary

[Sailor Basic Swordsmanship Level 2: Begin to grasp the power of fundamental swordsmanship for sea combat, with strength equivalent to a master who has trained for three years and successfully mastered the basics. Strength +0.2, Agility +0.2]

After dispatching another sailor, Liu Zhi impatiently leveled up his Sailor Basic Swordsmanship. He saw more and more pirates leaping onto the ship from both sides, and it seemed increasingly difficult for the sailors to secure victory. Yet the sailors aboard remained remarkably confident; even when faced with a growing horde of enemies, not one of them faltered.

Suddenly, a signal flare shot into the sky like a burst of fireworks. Liu Zhi, engaged in battle with a pirate, instinctively looked up. The pirate, undeterred by the distraction, swung his blade at Liu Zhi’s neck. Fortunately, Liu Zhi’s upgraded swordsmanship meant he no longer resembled the novice he once was. As the enemy’s blade came down, Liu Zhi deftly twisted his wrist, positioning his curved sword just in time to block the attack.

The boost in stats granted by the swordsmanship upgrade made him stronger and more resilient than an ordinary man, enabling him to withstand the deadly blow. However, the advantage Liu Zhi had at the start was quickly suppressed; the pirate, having identified Liu Zhi’s weakness, launched a reckless, all-out assault.

Liu Zhi found himself overwhelmed by the relentless attacks, forced to retreat with each strike, his focus stretched to the limit to fend off his opponent, fearful that a moment’s carelessness would mean instant death. Because of this, he failed to notice the +1 and +2 notifications flashing at the edge of his vision.

Then, from the distance came the sound of horns. Several ships, similar in size to the one Liu Zhi was on, appeared around them. The flags they flew resembled those of Liu Zhi’s ship—vessels under the command of the Westsay Silver Fleet.

Their arrival was swift and strategic, soon encircling the two pirate ships from multiple angles, just as the pirates had trapped Liu Zhi’s ship. The pirates quickly realized the situation had turned against them. Their leader, who had already boarded the ship, shouted loudly, seemingly to rally his crew.

But the captain of Liu Zhi’s ship was quicker to respond.

“Ha! The end of the pirates is here. We have not sacrificed in vain. Take them down—for the king!” he cried.

“For the king!” the sailors roared, surging toward the pirates. Though there was no obvious data, Liu Zhi sensed a marked increase in their strength, as if they had been struck by a bloodthirsty spell.

The pirates, who had previously held the upper hand, now fell into disarray. Liu Zhi seized the opportunity to hold back the pirate who had been pressing him so fiercely.

The longer Liu Zhi fought, the more fluid his movements became. Excitement surged within him, and in a flash of inspiration, he exploited a moment when his opponent let down his guard, slicing into the flow of the enemy’s blade and striking his left hand.

This blow filled Liu Zhi with confidence. He was about to press forward and finish off his formidable adversary when suddenly he felt a chill behind him. Without knowing what had happened, he instinctively ducked.

Liu Zhi then saw that the captain, who had remained at the helm until now, had drawn his long sword and was charging down with the officers. Though they wielded the same Sailor Basic Swordsmanship, Liu Zhi felt their techniques were entirely different. As their blades swung, the sound was not merely the whistle of steel, but the crash of waves against rocks.

He sensed the air around them thickening, even glimpsed droplets like dew dripping from their blade edges. The captain and his officers rushed past Liu Zhi; when they had passed, Liu Zhi found the pirate he had initially fought already dead—the seemingly frail but powerful foe had not survived even a single stroke from the captain’s group.

What truly caught Liu Zhi’s attention, however, was not the pirate’s demise, but the way his body rapidly shriveled, a layer of white frost forming on him, making him look like salted, air-dried meat.

At that moment, a voice sounded behind Liu Zhi.

“That’s the supernatural trait of Westsay Naval Swordsmanship. Sunshine and seawater are its hallmarks, but when taken to the extreme, you can see the result for yourself.”

Liu Zhi turned to see the sailor who had earlier guided him in swordsmanship standing nearby, visibly relaxed, as though victory was already assured.

But Liu Zhi’s focus was on a single word from the sailor’s explanation: “Supernatural trait?”

“Yes,” the sailor replied, “You’re of Westsay noble birth, even if down on your luck. How could you not know this?”

“Poor talent. My family more or less gave up on me,” Liu Zhi offered as a plausible excuse for his ignorance.

“I see, that explains why you’re here. Actually, it’s not a secret. Anyone could tell you the basics. Most swordsmanship, practiced diligently for over ten years, allows one to gradually grasp the true essence, granting abilities beyond the ordinary. For example, the basic Sailor Swordsmanship you’re learning—after about ten years of practice, you can master a supernatural skill akin to walking on waves, fighting on the sea.

It’s the best swordsmanship for sailors, but for you, it’s not much use. When you return to Westsay, you’d do well to learn from your family. Even if you don’t study our Westsay Naval Swordsmanship, the army’s swordsmanship—though inferior—is still better than your basic sailor swordsmanship.”

Liu Zhi, confronted by this navy sailor who looked down on the army, did not bother to reply. He was now pondering the nature of this world—was supernatural swordsmanship so commonplace that anyone could wield it?

Before he could process it, the sound of chains and ropes came from both sides of the deck. Liu Zhi turned and saw sailors using iron chains and cables to secure the two pirate ships to their own.

“All right, head back to your cabin. There’s nothing more to do up here,” the sailor said to Liu Zhi.

“May I ask what happened?” Liu Zhi, though he had his suspicions, could not help but ask.