Chapter 53: The Young Fox in Resonance

Chapter Fifty-three: The Harmonized Young Fox

Thanks to Sir Newton’s refinements, the upper limit of harmonized magic now stands at sixty-four people wielding the same weapon in unison. So far, the weapon that shows the highest harmonization efficiency remains the longbow.

As for the longsword… while it is possible to harmonize its use, its effect pales in comparison to the longbow. After all, it’s nearly impossible to ensure everyone’s strikes land on precisely the same spot at the same time. Furthermore, a single thrust or slash from a sword cannot match the impact of a volley of arrows from longbows.

With longbows, as long as everyone aims at one point and releases their arrows together, the action is simple and easy to coordinate. If the renowned sharpshooters under Sir Scarmon are at the helm, the devastating might of their harmonized attack would be enough to make even a dragon wail in agony.

Vinego’s idea seemed to ignite Sir Newton’s inspiration instantly; the esteemed chief magician now appears intent on developing a set of magical devices, based on this principle, designed specifically for slaying dragons.

However, this is now of little concern to Vinego.

What mattered to Vinego was that Viscount Sarim generously gifted him some treasures from his collection, as a reward for creating six sets of harmonized longbows.

Though those items weren’t of much direct use to Vinego, he found a better way to utilize them. He used the Eye of Insight to record and analyze every magical array inscribed on each artifact.

Regrettably, Vinego himself lacked any real magical knowledge and couldn’t learn magic.

Although he could use character construction systems like “The Alchemist’s Atelier” to craft items, without the ability to acquire magical knowledge, his understanding of magic was limited to “copying existing magical arrays.” He could not expand or innovate upon them.

The most he could do was combine a few simple arrays in the most basic fashion, achieving only the least efficient hybrid effects.

It could be said that Vinego, with his rudimentary grasp of magic and a wealth of bizarre and whimsical ideas, had managed to create things that even astounded Sir Newton, the chief magician.

…

“We’re almost at our destination. It seems nothing untoward will happen along this route after all. Did our earlier actions scare them off?” asked Merak.

“Our adversary doesn’t seem the type to be so easily frightened,” Vinego replied with a contemptuous smirk.

They sat at the bow of the ship, following the previous arrangement: Merak’s squad on the left flank, the Battering Ram team on the right, with Sir Sarim commanding from the center, and Vinego’s squad acting as the roving, mobile unit.

The main force on the ship remained Sir Sarim’s swordsmen.

Though Vinego was confident he could defeat most swordsmen one-on-one, or even take on three or five at once, he had absolutely no intention of testing his strength against a well-ordered phalanx of swordsmen.

“Lady Frith is hardly bored enough to toy with us. If she said there’s a threat along this route, then there is one. The question is, how do we draw it out?” Vinego scratched his head.

“Perhaps we don’t need to worry about that,” Merak observed. “I doubt Viscount Sarim will let us collect our reward without a challenge.”

“Speaking of the Battering Ram, their name is fitting—they focus far too much on offense. Their only priest can do nothing but heal. Truly, they exist solely as a force for breaching defenses,” Vinego remarked, turning to the other side. The Battering Ram team members, who never got along with him, glared daggers in his direction before turning away in disdain.

Bad relations were a given; after all, not one of the four’s names had been mentioned so far…

“Oh dear, I’m being disliked,” Vinego said with a laugh as he turned away. At this, Ramen, seeing him turn, cheerfully trotted over.

“Stop bumping into me!” Vinego cried.

Honey giggled as she ran up from the side, leapt onto Ramen’s back, and grabbed hold of the iron chain—originally meant for securing gear, but in Honey’s eyes, it had clearly become her reins.

“Ramen, Ramen, charge that way!” little Honey cried.

Ramen glanced at Vinego, who spread his hands wordlessly. The clever little whale, reassured, happily began playing with Honey.

It was true—Honey managed to make friends with almost any animal she met at first sight, magical beasts included.

“Something’s off ahead,” Sophie, who had been silently holding her sword, suddenly stood up.

“Vini,” Merak clapped his hands. His teammate, the equally taciturn archer, nodded slightly and sprang up the mast with a whoosh.

Sharpshooters always had excellent vision. She gazed into the distance for a moment, then leapt back down to the deck and nodded lightly.

“How many?” Merak asked.

“Ten ships. Chains across the water,” Viraine replied.

“Oh, you two always speak like this, never considering our ability to understand,” Vinego complained jovially, rummaging through his leather backpack. He pulled out a small, pitch-black box and fiddled with it.

“What’s that?” Viraine asked, her tone betraying a trace of curiosity, though her pretty face remained expressionless. She was never one for smiling.

“Give it a try.” Vinego opened the black box, pulled out two crystal lenses, and pointed at his eyes.

Viraine took the box and, imitating Vinego, brought it to her eyes. She let out a startled cry and quickly pulled it away, but after a moment, she brought it back for another look.

“What’s that? Viraine got startled? Let me see too!” Yarrow immediately crowded in, looping her arm through Vinego’s. “Little Fox, Little Fox!”

“Telescope,” Vinego replied shamelessly, bestowing the device with a new name.

The principle was the same as a telescope: pure crystal lenses, refined through alchemy to an extraordinary level of clarity, and further enchanted to resist atmospheric interference, granting the magic scope impressive resolution and magnification.

“Ten ships, about fifty men each, standard arms—they’re the Bellwether Cult,” Viraine quickly reported.

“Five hundred? Let me see.” Vinego took the telescope and soared into the air.

From above, the view was even clearer. He scanned the scene swiftly—though using such optical tools greatly diminished the power of the Eye of Insight.

Vinego landed back on deck, tossed the telescope to Viraine, and said, “It’s yours.”

It was only a prototype, and Vinego already planned to make a more portable version soon—something smaller, with slightly reduced clarity and magnification would suffice, as he had no need for such a high-grade optical device just yet.

“Viscount Sarim, what’s your assessment?” he asked.

“The enemy is not strong, but they have numbers on their side. In terms of naval combat, our ship’s armaments are hardly enough to take on ten at once,” Sarim mused.

“Then it’s down to boarding action?”

“Let the Battering Ram lead the assault,” Vinego pointed to the four nearby. “Their offensive power is second to none, though I can’t say I like them.”

“Agreed,” grunted the Battering Ram’s ranger. “I might not like you, but I have to admit your strength…”

“Well then, Commander, assign our tasks,” Vinego said with a smile.

“We’ll proceed as planned. They’re nothing but a rabble,” Sir Sarim sneered, drawing the longsword slung across his back and raising it skyward.

“Honor!”

The swordsmen drew their blades in unison, raising them high and shouting their rallying cry. The chorus soared to the heavens, stirring even the usually lackadaisical Vinego’s blood.

“Sophie, Honey, come with me. Get your cards ready—it’s time,” Vinego said with a soft chuckle.

The flagship slowed, for with iron chains stretched across the river, it was impossible to simply forge ahead. Instead, they would serve the enemy a little appetizer first.

Although the Kingdom of Enros specialized in magic, it possessed the requisite scientific advancements as well—such as the casting of cannons, which were roughly analogous to the ancient muzzle-loaders Vinego knew.

If there was a difference, it was that the materials were enhanced, at least in part, by magicians or alchemists, rendering them tougher and more heat-resistant.

This great ship boasted twenty broadside cannons, ten per side—enough for a devastating volley. As for the Bellwether Cult… they surely lacked the means to obtain such heavily restricted contraband.

Boom! Boom!

The thunderous roar of a broadside—ten pitch-black cannonballs howled through the air, splashing great columns of water into the channel ahead. Yet, the accuracy was still lacking; only with massed guns against massed targets did cannons show their true value in this world.

“Switch to alchemical shells—fire a volley,” ordered Viscount Sarim, dissatisfied with the results.

Alchemical shells required extra preparation, usually involving the transmutation of the shell’s core into flammable iron powder, into which an accelerant was injected. Upon impact, the two would react violently, shattering the shell and sending shrapnel flying, or even igniting the wooden hulls.

Of course, the original terminology used by alchemists and magicians was far more complex, but a physics-based explanation is easier to grasp—even if not entirely accurate.

Sure enough, the expensive fragmentation and incendiary shells made a world of difference. Even glancing hits could scatter deadly shards or set enemy ships ablaze. Still, in Vinego’s eyes, the design was not advanced enough—the shrapnel count was too low, and the incendiary effect not quite satisfactory.

Licking his lips, Vinego could hardly contain his excitement.