CHAPTER 532: CHAPTER 481: THE FINAL BATTLE BEGINS

Time flew by swiftly.

The next day, the "Thorny Crown Sea Serpent" Pipi caught up with the "Storm Horn." Under Aiven’s orders, it submerged and accompanied the battleship, becoming another unexpected trump card for the "Storm Horn."

Of course, it’s better not to use it against the Hilus People if it’s not necessary.

During this time, on the Mind Network, they also caught a distant glimpse of the "Red Maple" heading north after a failed mission, and onboard was the pale-faced Grand Knight Griffith, who could hardly hide it.

Aiven hesitated repeatedly, considering his own survival, he ultimately chose not to take the risk of engaging in battle.

He never underestimated a Peak Grand Knight; taking advantage of his illness might not take his life. Especially since it was Olivia’s first time using [Star Shatter], she wasn’t confident about the effect on witchcraft, and it was impossible to determine his true injury.

Moreover, they were already aware of the Alliance possessing some unknown reconnaissance method.

If Griffith was feigning, and he rushed up recklessly, he might end up gifting himself a rendition of "Cool Cool."

"I’ll spare you for now, and bring it back with interest during the decisive battle. Vice Admiral Elvis should be interested in this Peak Grand Knight’s life, I just need to handle the backstab."

The two Quasi-Legendary Battleships headed north, each rejoining its respective forces.

On the ninth day.

Because the plan to ambush the "Storm Horn" was foiled, and the Quasi-Legendary’s strength advantage wasn’t achieved, this round was considered a draw for both sides. Hilus couldn’t find any more opportunities to exploit, ultimately allowing the Alliance’s reinforcements to enter smoothly.

The top naval power naturally has the pride of being the top naval power and didn’t bother with conspiracy and trickery, assembling the fleet and setting up for battle.

The battlefield was chosen to be in the largest bay on the west coast of the Southern Continent—the Benin Gulf, also known as the "Slave Gulf." To the north of this sea area was the Phaletis Colony Nigeria, relatively unaffected by the war, and to the southeast was Lupita in Hilus Luanda Cape.

And in the vast region on the Southern Continent between them, there were numerous colonies, tribes, and principalities. The infamous slave vendor, the Dahomey Kingdom, was located here.

Relying on the colonies and ports on the shore, both sides had relatively sufficient materials and ammunition supplies. Even if a battleship was damaged, it could quickly retreat into the dock for repairs and re-enter the battlefield.

As both sides halted guerrilla tactics, the power balance became clear.

Tulip Alliance:

The reinforcements consisted of twenty-three warships. Even if more battleships could reinforce later, they wouldn’t make it in time for this war. Among them were six cruisers and supply ships, and seventeen Level 4 Battleships and above.

With Ilya, one of the pillars, withdrawing troops and each colony’s naval base being raided, all available Level 4 and above battleships totaled only sixteen, including the returning Gel and his "May Wind."

After merging, the total battleships amounted to 33, plus several cruisers for the fleet’s support.

However, no one would count cruisers as combat power. Inserting a batch of light cavalry among a group of heavy knights is nothing short of disastrous, even for joint marches, let alone warfare.

The Fleet Commander was still held by Vice Admiral Temple Elvis, the highest-ranked, strongest among the Tulip Alliance in the Southern Continent.

Hilus Side:

The expedition fleet initially had 31 battleships. Some were captured or sunk since the war began, leaving ten out of combat, but the remaining ones were mostly towering Level 3 and 4 battleships resembling buildings.

Combined with the colony garrison’s naval fleet, the total number of battleships reached 40. The Level 3 Ships held absolute superiority, even if the Alliance’s fleet combined, the disadvantage was significant.

In this maritime battle, the Naval Supreme Commander remained Vice Admiral Griffith, and the other Vice Admiral Ricard was the Army Supreme Commander.

In battles on land and sea more than a month ago.

Under Ricard’s command, the army continually achieved victories against the Tulip Colonies’ fortresses and even captured the "Land Gold Mine," outperforming Griffith’s navy considerably.

Fighting had reached a point of deep hatred, making it impossible to revert to a pre-war peaceful state.

At this time, not even divine intervention could prevent this massive battle involving 73 battleships and over 30,000 troops.

For either side, the significance of this battle was extraordinary!

In the early morning, the fog on the sea had not completely dissipated.

But the two roaring fleets, like giant clouds carrying positive and negative charges, slowly approached. If they collided, it would be a thunderous storm shaking the Southern Continent and even the entire human world!

"Raise the command flag!"

The Hilus side was first to act. On the command ship "San Juan" of Army Supreme Commander Vice Admiral Ricard, the flag representing supreme command authority was raised.

Decades ago, the battle line ship concept was first proposed by the Hilus People.

However, each country’s main battleships, while named the same as the Hilus "Battleship," differed significantly after decades of development influenced by naval philosophies, technological levels, resource constraints, and other factors.

The Hilus’s ships were like fortresses with tall superstructures, carrying the era’s most elite Ministry of the Army units.

On the Tulip side, due to a more advanced industrial system, their ships were lower and more agile while having more refined cannons.

Boom—

A signal cannon fired from the fleet flagship.

It truly lives up to its reputation as the world’s number one. The entire Invincible Fleet immediately arranged in battle formation. Each ship was either fully sailed or reefed, adjusting according to the statuses of nearby ships, and in the shortest time, it had already formed the famous "Crescent Array."

It boasted wings that extended towards the enemy and a thick central area.

This formation was most advantageous for the towering superstructures of the Hilus battleships, resembling fortresses, as they... invincible army!

Since rising two hundred years ago, the true foundation of the Invincible Fleet’s reputation has always relied on elite army soldiers. The army, though their reliance, to a certain extent became their shackle.

A strong army inevitably depended more on the army, and on the battleships, it was the army commanders who held the highest authority, with tactical choices inevitably leaning towards boarding battles.

The Crescent Array was daunting because the Alliance Fleet could only attack its outstretched wings. But there awaited the strongest warships in the fleet, and if any of these ships suffered severe damage, they could easily retreat to the center of the fleet for protection.

On the other hand, if any Alliance ship recklessly charged between the two extending points, it would certainly be encircled and cut off from the rear by the powerful Hilus warships from either the left or right wing.

Then they would find themselves inside the encirclement, where side warships with wind advantage would easily catch them in the narrow waters.

"Invincible Fleet! Break them frontally!"

"Eternal Flame, Supreme!"

"For His Majesty the King!"

Opposite them, the pressure on the Alliance side was evidently not small.

This was the first large-scale battle line engagement, and facing the onrushing Hilus people, the Commander knew he had to inspire the soldiers.

The voice of Vice Admiral, Peak Grand Knight Elvis, echoed through the entire fleet:

"Soldiers, we, who once, like all the seamen on the continent, could only reach the farthest oceans of the world by following the ships of the Hilus people. The St. Cruz people sail the world’s most turbulent and treacherous seas as if they were born to do so.

They are undoubtedly powerful.

But!

Now they want to trample the Tulip Alliance, to take away the wealth and minerals we have cultivated over two hundred years!

....

If they achieve victory here, they will eventually come to the heartland of the Alliance, take our lands and homes, enslave our children, and destroy the faith in the Goddess.

Now answer the Hilus people with your guns and cannons, do you agree?"

"No——!!!"

The Vice Admiral raised his command flag to mark the position of the Fleet Commander, then issued the first order:

"Seize the wind with the battle line!"

Abandoning outdated command methods like signal guns and signal flags, all officers above Captain in the fleet had connected to the Mind Network.

Commander Vice Admiral Elvis possessed a god’s-eye view, able to see every corner of the battlefield, and orders could be delivered to a specific combat module of a particular ship, essentially making the fleet his own limbs, responding at will.

This was a liberating experience never felt before in decades of military service.

Swish, swish, swish...

The fleet moved in unison, seemingly even more well-drilled than the supposedly unbeatable Hilus people, quickly forming into a single column.

The Tulip’s "Naval Battle Regulations" clearly defined the column as the standard formation in naval combat: "All ships of each division must strive to maintain a line with their division leader..."

At the same time, the Alliance’s battle line began maneuvering to seize the wind advantage!

Generally, there is a common misconception that a sailing ship is pushed by the wind.

In fact, the primary source of power for a sailing ship is the so-called "Bernoulli Effect," which means when air flows over a curved surface like an airfoil, it creates a forward and upward lift.

Thus, a sailing ship can advance at an angle against the wind.

When sailing straight downwind, the Bernoulli Effect disappears, and the ship cannot achieve its highest speed.

Therefore, warships typically do not sail directly downwind and are usually at an angle to the wind direction. Now with the southwest wind and the enemy ships traveling northeast slightly northward, positioning our fleet parallel to their port side constitutes the windward position.

Whoosh—

The battle line of 33 warships advanced obliquely, heading against the fierce "Crescent Array" in the clear morning breeze, while on the lead ship of the battle line hoisted high were dark green heads!

A preemptive blow to the morale of the Hilus soldiers.

"Hilus Navy Deputy Commander Steel Knight Kungang Tita has been beheaded!"

"Hilus Navy Deputy Commander Steel Knight Kungang Tita has been beheaded!"

"..."