Chapter 786: Breaking Through the Defences!

After taking the brunt of the damage, Nikolai landed on the ship’s hull with a resounding thud while panting. He acted to save the ship, but after the fact, countless ways to stop the shell without injuring himself floated in the back of his mind.

"Ryan, hurry and find a way to get us to that fucking island!"

[I’m trying, brother! Give me a second!]

"WE DON’T HAVE A FUCKING SECOND!"

Nikolai shouted as another enormous explosion erupted beside the second transport, sending a huge plume of seawater crashing over its bow.

The two vessels were already struggling to maintain their course, and every passing moment gave the Nosferatu another opportunity to destroy them.

’Tsk...’

He glanced towards his injured arm.

The bleeding had stopped, but the muscles beneath his skin continued trembling. The force of the artillery shell had been far greater than he anticipated, and he wasn’t interested in discovering how many more his body could withstand.

’We’re still too far away.’

Even if he jumped towards the island, the distance was simply too great.

And leaving the transport without protection would be stupid.

BOOOOOOM!

Another cannon fired.

"FUCK!"

Nikolai’s golden eyes widened as he watched the projectile fly towards their position. However, before he could move, the ship suddenly lurched sideways.

BAAAAAANG!

The shell struck the ocean behind them.

An enormous wave crashed against the transport, sending several soldiers stumbling across the deck.

’Ryan?!’

[HAHAHA! BROTHER, I FOUND IT!]

"...What?!"

[There’s a narrow supply channel beneath the eastern cliffs! The larger guns can’t aim directly into it because of the rocks!]

Nikolai immediately turned towards the coastline.

The island’s eastern section consisted of enormous cliffs, with several reinforced walls and defensive bunkers overlooking the surrounding ocean.

However, between two rocky formations, he noticed a dark opening.

’That’s...’

It wasn’t particularly wide.

Certainly not enough for several enormous warships to pass through simultaneously.

But one transport?

’Maybe!’

"Can we fit?!"

[The engineers say yes! But we’ll need to approach from the southeast, and those smaller guns will tear us apart if we don’t deal with them!]

Nikolai grinned.

"That’s something I can fucking handle!"

[THEN HOLD ON!]

The transport’s engines suddenly roared.

Nikolai grabbed the railing as the enormous vessel began turning towards the eastern coastline, its reinforced hull cutting through the waves.

Behind them, the second transport followed.

However, the change in course immediately attracted the attention of several coastal batteries.

DADADADADA!

Automatic gunfire erupted from the cliffs.

Dozens of bright tracers swept across the water, striking the ship’s reinforced armour with sharp metallic impacts.

"EVERYONE DOWN!"

Nikolai roared.

Several soldiers immediately rushed behind the defensive barriers while others began returning fire from the transport’s smaller turrets.

Unfortunately, their weapons barely scratched the fortified bunkers.

’Fuck, those things are built like tanks!’

Then he noticed something.

A series of smaller openings along the lower cliffs, each containing an automatic weapon emplacement.

Unlike the enormous artillery cannons above, these guns could rotate freely towards the approaching vessels, and those were the ones approaching rapidly.

’That’s our biggest problem now.’

Nikolai tapped his communication device.

"Alexei!"

[Boss!]

"Get the assault team ready! We’re going to take that fucking channel!"

[Understood!]

"Vernan!"

[Brother!]

"Keep the second transport behind us! I don’t want those bastards getting separated!"

[Leave it to me!]

Nikolai nodded before turning towards the stairwell.

"Selene!"

The blonde vampire appeared moments later, her red eyes shining beneath the emergency lights.

"Darling, I’m here!"

"How long can you maintain a full ice-blood wall without exhausting yourself completely?"

Selene blinked. "...Quite a lot. Why?" Then her glance followed his, and her jaw dropped. "To defend the entire ship?"

"Just from those guns, not the big ones. See those smaller gun emplacements?"

"Mhm."

"I need you to protect our men from them until we’re close enough to land."

"Fufufu, is that all?"

"...Don’t get cocky."

However, Selene didn’t back down and poked his chest with the most feral grin on her lips. "Nikolai, don’t forget who I am!"

Selene raised her right hand.

Several streams of crimson blood began gathering around her fingers, spreading across the deck before forming an enormous curved barrier along the transport’s exposed side.

The blood gradually froze, transforming into thick crystalline walls.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Bullets struck the frozen surface.

Small fragments scattered across the deck, but the majority of the projectiles failed to penetrate.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow.

’Not bad...’

Selene’s control over her blood arts had improved tremendously. However, he also noticed the faint redness spreading across her cheeks. This was a race against time, and he couldn’t afford to just sit and admire his wife’s skills.

’That damn moon.’

He couldn’t allow her to keep this up for too long.

"Good! Just hold it until we reach the channel!"

"Understood!"

***

The next several minutes were absolute chaos.

The two transports accelerated towards the eastern cliffs while the Nosferatu’s defensive weapons continued firing.

Explosions erupted across the ocean.

Several shells struck the water close enough to shake the vessels, while smaller rounds hammered against their reinforced hulls.

Nikolai remained near the forward deck, occasionally destroying projectiles that threatened the navigation cabin.

However, he avoided confronting the larger artillery shells directly.

’I’m not doing that again!’

Instead, he relied upon Ryan’s instructions, forcing the transport to change course whenever the distant cannons fired. Although the human couldn’t see every projectile, he had access to the ship’s detection equipment and several experienced engineers.

Nikolai also trusted him more than anyone else on the ship.

"RYAN!"

[WHAT?!]

"HOW MUCH LONGER?!"

[THIRTY SECONDS!]

"Heh!"

Nikolai’s mouth distorted into a wide grin as he looked towards the island. The cliffs were finally close enough for him to distinguish the soldiers operating the smaller weapon emplacements.

Several vampires wearing black military uniforms stood behind reinforced barriers, directing the defensive fire towards their approaching transport.

"Well, well, there you all are!"

"Alexei!"

[Boss!]

"Here I go!"

BANG!

Nikolai kicked against the deck.

The reinforced metal buckled beneath his boots as his transforming body shot through the air, crossing the remaining distance towards the closest defensive platform. By the time he dropped, he was a monster nearing three metres in height.

Several of the vampires noticed him immediately.

"Ahhh... Enemy! OPEN FIRE!"

DADADADADA!

Dozens of bullets tore through the darkness. Nikolai twisted his body, allowing several rounds to pass beside him while the black blood covering his arms hardened into enormous blades.

A few struck his chest and shoulder, yet he didn’t stop his charge.

"It’s too fucking late! I will kill you fuckers!"

BOOOOOOM!

His body crashed into the defensive platform. Yes, he ignored the soldiers and smashed into the reinforced stone and metal. The enormous impact shattered the concrete beneath his boots, sending several soldiers stumbling backwards.

Before they could recover, Nikolai swung his right arm.

SHIIIING!

An enormous black blade tore through the nearest machine gun, splitting its reinforced mounting and the vampire operating it.

"AGHHH!"

Blood sprayed across the platform.

Nikolai twisted and drove his opposite blade into another soldier’s chest before kicking him backwards into the concrete wall.

BANG!

The vampire’s body collapsed, torn in half as the blade devoured its blood.

"COME ON! WHO’S NEXT?!"

Several more vampires rushed towards him, but seeing the destruction of the wild beast caused even the undead fiends to hesitate.

This gave another the chance to strike.

BOOOOOOM!

An enormous figure crashed through the opposite side of the platform.

The huge werewolf had already transformed, his muscular body covered in thick fur while enormous claws extended from his fingertips.

"Hahaha! Boss, this is fucking amazing!"

"Alex, be careful."

"YOU STARTED WITHOUT ME!"

"THEN HURRY THE FUCK UP!"

Alexei roared with laughter before grabbing the nearest vampire by the throat.

CRACK!

He crushed the man’s neck and threw his body towards another group of soldiers.

Nikolai couldn’t help smiling.

’This fucking monster...’

However, the situation wasn’t completely in their favour. Above them, several additional defensive positions began turning towards the platform. And from the reinforced gate leading into the island...

Once the heavy guns turned to their current position, they’d need to flee.

’Focus, destroy the enclaves!’

Dozens of armed vampires were already approaching.

’So many?’

Nikolai narrowed his eyes.

These weren’t ordinary guards.

Their movements were organised, their equipment expensive, and several possessed auras far stronger than the soldiers he’d just killed.

’Well, this is their home.’

He couldn’t expect the Nosferatu to defend their territory with weaklings.

"Alex!"

"Hm?!"

"Keep those bastards occupied!"

"Got it!"

Nikolai turned towards the closest remaining weapon emplacement.

Its enormous barrel was already rotating towards the first transport, which had almost entered the narrow channel.

’Not happening!’

He launched himself forward.

BANG!

His black blade struck the weapon’s base. The reinforced metal resisted for a moment before splitting apart under his strength.

KRAAAANG!

The entire emplacement collapsed, its enormous barrel crashing against the concrete. Several soldiers tried to escape, but Nikolai didn’t let them.

His left arm transformed into a series of sharp black claws before he rushed through them, tearing apart their weapons and bodies.

By the time he stopped, the platform was covered in blood.

"...Haa."

He glanced towards the sea.

The first transport had finally entered the channel, with the second ship not far behind, though the blood shield of Selene had shrunk greatly.

"RYAN!"

[Brother!]

"WE’VE CLEARED THE LOWER GUNS! GET THOSE FUCKING SHIPS INSIDE!"

[HAHAHA! ALREADY DOING IT!]

The transport’s engines roared. Its enormous hull passed between the cliffs, temporarily disappearing beneath the shadow of the reinforced walls. And almost immediately, the enemy’s heavy artillery stopped firing.

Despite this, Nikolai couldn’t stop.

He constantly made new plans and abandoned them with each flaw he discovered.

’Finally.’

Nikolai let out a relieved breath, they’d managed to escape the worst of the island’s defensive weapons. At least, that’s what he believed, but the inner island wasn’t safe for them to just enter.

’A smaller mounted Gatling cannon can kill even Elder Vampires and wolves...’

"Message to all troops: take a moment to recover and patch your wounds... Selene, drop the barrier and get some rest. We’re about to enter the true danger zone, prepare for close combat and extreme danger!"

In response to his words, a massive shout came from the ship’s speakers like a sonic boom.

[Yes, Lord Commander!]