Chapter 445: Nothing Without Escaping: Price Surges and Pocket Formations (3)
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
A large amount of meat was transported from the icehouse in Starshine City. After being drenched in fresh blood, it was sent to dozens of islands on the south side of the archipelago or placed on fishing boats, which were anchored in specific water locations to act as bait.
These meat placements seemed random, but when viewed from above, they formed a pyramid-like pattern. T
he wider side faced outward, while the pointed side pointed towards the deeper part of the archipelago.
Sea beasts had a penchant for meat, and once they caught the scent of blood, they went into a frenzy, desperate to feed.
So, Ji Chen reused an old trick and placed meat at specific locations, following the principle that the Ocean Crown used small boats as bait. This way, the attracted sea beasts would gradually enter the pocket formation, narrowing the battlefield’s width. This ensured that the sea beasts obediently advanced towards the defensive line and didn’t scatter elsewhere.
After all, no matter how high the quality of the Ocean Crown’s forces, they numbered only a few thousand, and their defensive range was limited. If the sea beast horde ran amok, they would be helpless.
The coastal defense artillery on various islands was reactivated, and troops from the Starshine Islands took up positions.
It’s unclear whether the Starshine City Council had a change of heart or for some other reason, but they finally made up their minds to resist the sea beasts.
As a result, shiploads of cannonballs and torpedoes, originally used for defending against enemy ships, were placed in the waterways that the pocket formation had to pass through, guided by the Ocean Crown.
As time passed, thanks to everyone’s efforts, a vast net covering the southern side of the Starshine Islands gradually took shape.
At the pinnacle of the “pyramid,” there were two islands situated close to each other, resembling a pair of upright figures, stretching for over ten kilometers in the southeast and southwest directions. These islands had steep, knife-edged cliffs, and in between them, there was a strait about three kilometers wide.
This was where the final defense line was located. If the plan went smoothly, most of the sea beasts would be lured here, and thanks to the natural terrain, they would be confined to this area.
The narrowness of the defensive line would stop them from making full use of their huge numbers, making them repeatedly assault this
three-kilometer-long defensive barrier with just a small portion of the sea beasts until the very last one was defeated.
Of course, this was the most ideal outcome.
Ji Chen stood at the highest point of the western mountain peak, gazing at the layers of islands in the distance. He clenched his fists tightly as if he could see the massive sea beast tide surging toward them.
To say that there was no nervousness would definitely be a lie.
After all, it was a million-strong sea beast tide. Even if this number was an exaggerated figure, there would definitely be some variations in the actual count, but there was no doubt that there were eighty to ninety thousand sea beasts.
This meant that each of their military units had to kill a whopping 150 sea beasts.
Even with the assistance of alchemical cannons, torpedoes, and the like, they could only kill a small portion. The outcome of this battle still depended on the Ocean Crown.
If they won, they could take away a substantial reward, and they wouldn’t have to worry about the resources needed to recruit the next round of military units.
If they lost, they could only run away in embarrassment, and the Starshine Islands would be engulfed by the sea beast tide, turning into a dead zone, with countless natives becoming food for the beasts.
Suddenly, he felt a weight on his shoulders.
Wu-wu—
A muffled horn suddenly sounded.
Ji Chen’s expression sharpened.
The sea beast tide was here!