Despite the low hit rate, people are always filled with awe toward the unknown, and Yan Mo was no exception.
He had to change the course of the battle, to fight in the way he was best at, to close in on the enemy and then board their ships for hand-to-hand combat.
At that moment, with his forces four times greater in number, and with the fearless Rock Pirates, he could easily tear apart the Suo Lun Fleet!
"Closer, closer, closer..." Yan Mo shouted his orders vociferously!
The signal horn sounded, and dozens of pirates perched on the masts desperately waved their flags!
At this moment, Yan Mo had only one thought in his mind, once I get close enough, you’re finished, Suo Lun!
In the brisk southern wind, the Rock Demon Fleet made full speed southward.
A distance of one thousand five hundred meters, which was about five minutes’ time.
Whereas Suo Lun needed more than seven minutes for each round of cannon fire.
Without needing orders from Suo Lun, the Suo Lun Fleet also retreated at full speed to the south, keeping a certain distance from the Rock Demon Fleet.
Thus, the two fleets continued sailing southward.
However, the Rock Pirate Fleet was known for its swiftness, outpacing Suo Lun’s fleet.
Eight minutes later, Suo Lun’s fleet completed the second round of loading the cannons.
By this time, the distance between the two fleets had closed to around one thousand three hundred meters.
With an order, Suo Lun’s fleet opened fire for the second time.
Another earth-shattering roar erupted as hundreds of cannonballs, like black lightning, streaked across more than a thousand meters and screamed towards the Rock Demon Fleet.
From the air, Suo Lun clearly saw that still, nearly twenty live rounds had hit their mark.
The hit rate was low, yet whenever there was a hit, it inevitably resulted in a sea of blood and howls of ghosts and wolves.
Both fleets, their sails fully unfurled, sailed continuously to the south.
Every eight minutes or so, the Suo Lun Fleet commenced a new round of bombardment.
And every eight minutes, Yan Mo’s fleet closed in by more than a hundred meters.
One fleet was desperately fleeing; the other was frantically pursuing.
"Open fire, open fire, open fire!"
"Boom, boom, boom, boom..."
The Suo Lun Fleet had launched twelve rounds of attacks.
They had inflicted damage on more than a hundred of Yan Mo’s ships and killed several thousand pirates.
Among them, eight warships had been struck in vital areas, with seawater flooding in relentlessly, so they had to be abandoned.
This victory unquestionably seemed colossal.
And Yan Mo was nearly driven mad; he was completely passive, just watching powerlessly as Suo Lun fired volley after volley.
Each one took away hundreds of lives.
Though the casualties and damages were not substantial, the damage to morale was too great.
Finally, in his zealous pursuit, he was only about five hundred meters from the Suo Lun Fleet, clearly seeing the enemy’s warships.
A five hundred meter distance required another hour to close the gap, during which time they would endure another five or six rounds of Suo Lun’s cannon fire.
"You just wait, Suo Lun, once I catch up, I will annihilate you!" Yan Mo howled in pain.
And at that moment, Suo Lun gave an order!
Switch to chain shot!
Chain shot, is to connect two cannonballs with a chain before firing them.
This is an absolute killer of warships, sails, and masts!
Moreover, at a distance of four to five hundred meters, the hit rate of the chain shot would far exceed that of solid iron shot.
Thus, this chain shot attack from Suo Lun could deliver a fatal blow to Yan Mo!
"Open fire, open fire, open fire!"
Following the command, a barrage of artillery fire rang out once more.
Then, nearly two hundred chain shots, with their chains billowing, flew out.
The two cannonballs connected by the chain, under the effect of centrifugal force, spun toward the Rock Demon Fleet.
In the air, they made a ghastly wailing sound!
The chain shot, the demonic reaper of sailing warships!
Suo Lun’s eyes widened, filled with boundless anticipation for the outcome!
Note: Here’s the first update. I only slept four hours last night, and then was out all day today. After returning to the hotel this evening, I was so tired, I almost held my eyelids open with matchsticks as I typed this. I ask for your support, thank you, everyone!