When Qin Yu strode into the control room, the atmosphere was heavy.
Li Ruobing was leaning over the console, her telescope fixed intently on the horizon.
Hearing footsteps, she turned sharply.
"Boss, you're finally here."
"Look over there."
She handed the telescope to Qin Yu.
He took it and raised it to his eye.
Through the lens, several discordant black dots appeared on the azure sea.
Five of them.
They were five makeshift rafts.
More like floating piles of garbage than boats.
Planks, plastic barrels, and old tires were haphazardly bound together with ropes and wire.
Though they looked dilapidated, they were moving surprisingly fast.
Clearly, their rowing skills were well-honed, and their coordination was seamless.
Each raft carried three men.
Fifteen in total.
All shirtless, their skin sunburned and peeling, clutching an assortment of weapons.
Watermelon knives, homemade spears, and even two compound crossbows of unknown origin.
The lead raft was the largest.
A bald man stood on it, a long scar running across his face, gesturing with a red plastic megaphone.
Even from this distance, Qin Yu could read the greed in his eyes.
Prey.
"Is this the fleet you mentioned?"
Qin Yu lowered the telescope, a playful smirk curling his lips.
"A bunch of garbage-picking beggars."
Li Ruobing gave a bitter laugh.
"Don't underestimate them."
"Even with their shoddy gear, surviving in these times means they've got blood on their hands."
"Look at the edges of those rafts."
Qin Yu raised the telescope again.
He saw it clearly now.
Along the edges of the rafts hung rows of stark white...
Bones.
Human leg bones, sharpened into spikes, serving both as defense and intimidation.
These were truly desperate men.
"They see us as a mobile supply depot."
Yao Xue entered as well.
She had changed into a sleek, form-fitting combat suit, her black hair tied high in a ponytail.
In her hand, she gripped a scalpel tightly.
It was her weapon of choice.
Though against enemies of this scale, a scalpel was nearly useless.
But her determination to tear a piece out of any foe remained undiminished.
Yao Qian followed behind her sister, wearing a new T-shirt and walking somewhat awkwardly.
She glanced timidly out the window.
"Brother Qin Yu... should we run?"
"This ship... it's really fast now."
She had just felt the vibrations when the reactor started up.
If Qin Yu wanted to flee, these raft rowers wouldn't even catch a whiff of the President's exhaust.
Qin Yu walked to the main console.
Hiding the cold glint that flashed in his eyes.
"Run?"
Qin Yu sounded as if he'd heard a joke.
He tapped lightly on the brand-new holographic touchscreen.
"S-Class Power Core, operational."
"Shield System, standby."
"Fire Control Radar, locked on."
The series of commands flowed smoothly.
Qin Yu turned and looked at the three women.
"Remember this."
"In my dictionary, there's no such word as 'escape.'"
"Since these scum have delivered themselves to our doorstep,"
"we'll use them as a sacrifice to christen our flag."
"Perfect timing to let this ocean know who truly rules these waters."
...
On the sea surface.
Five rafts fanned out in an arc, gradually forming an encirclement around the President.
The bald man was named Zhao Biao.
Originally a pig butcher.
After the apocalypse arrived, he quickly gathered a crew through sheer brutality and his butchering skills.
Relying on their numerical advantage, they had committed numerous acts of robbery and murder these past few days.
Earlier.
When they spotted the President looming like a steel behemoth on the water.
Everyone's eyes went wide.
So massive.
So luxurious.
Compared to this vessel, the rafts beneath their feet were like planks from an outhouse.
"Biao Ge! We've hit the jackpot! This is the real deal!"
His lackey rubbed his hands excitedly, practically drooling.
"This ship must be at least several hundred square meters, right?"
"Look up there, it even has a second level!"
"It must be stuffed full of supplies! Food and drinks piled mountain high!"
Zhao Biao licked his chapped lips.
His eyes gleaming with greedy hunger.
"More than just supplies."
"Did you all see clearly?"
"Earlier in that window, several figures passed by."
"Those were women!"
"And top-tier ones at that!"
Zhao Biao's voice dripped with lecherous intent.
After days adrift at sea with nothing but killing and rowing, they hadn't even seen a female pig.
Now suddenly encountering this massive ship with women aboard.
The pirates instantly went wild.
"Fuck! He's right!"
"Those legs! So pale!"
"Biao Ge, let's take this prize!"
"If we capture this ship, we'll be the emperors of these waters!"
Though greedy, Zhao Biao hadn't completely lost his reason.
He raised a hand, signaling his men to quiet down.
"Don't get ahead of yourselves."
"This ship is huge and well-maintained - its owner must be no pushover."
"First courtesy, then force."
"Best if we can swindle the goods without a fight."
Zhao Biao raised his megaphone.
Cleared his throat.
And bellowed toward the distant President.
"Hey--!!!"
"You on the big ship up ahead!"
"Listen up!"
"We're the Black Shark Fleet!"
"I'm Captain Zhao Biao!"
"I control these waters now!"
"Stop your ship immediately!"
"Hand over all food, drinks, and the women aboard!"
"If I'm feeling generous, I might spare the helmsman's miserable life to serve as our rowing slave!"
"Otherwise!"
"When we board, we'll chop the men into fish bait!"
"The women... heh heh! We'll make you wish you were dead!"
Zhao Biao's voice rang with extreme arrogance.
Echoing across the water.
His fourteen underlings joined the chorus.
Waving their machetes and spears.
Shouting all manner of obscenities.
"You hear us?!"
"Send out that woman in black stockings now!"
"I get first taste!"
"The one in white belongs to me!"
...
Inside the bridge.
The soundproof glass couldn't completely block the outside taunts.
Because Qin Yu had activated the external audio receiver.
Every vulgar word came through clearly into everyone's ears.
Yao Qian's face turned deathly pale as she shrank back behind Qin Yu in fear.
Yao Xue's expression was colder than ice, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the scalpel.
"Seeking death."
She spat out the words through gritted teeth.
Li Ruobing trembled with rage.
"Boss, these beasts..."
"This is the apocalypse."
Qin Yu's face remained expressionless.
He didn't even furrow his brow.
Such words, such people—he had seen far too many of them in his past life.
If he got angry over this, he would have died from rage long ago.
"Li Ruobing."
"Here!"
"Go turn on the deck's loudspeaker."
Li Ruobing was taken aback but complied.
"Boss, are you going to negotiate with them?"
Qin Yu ignored her.
He walked up to the microphone.
Tapped it lightly.
"Testing, testing."
The muffled sound boomed through the high-powered speakers around the ship, instantly drowning out the opposing shoddy plastic loudspeaker.
The sea fell silent for a moment.
Zhao Biao's men pricked up their ears.
Thinking the other side had grown afraid.
Qin Yu's lazy voice rang out.
"Zhao Biao, is it?"
"Turns out you're just a pig butcher."
"I see darkness between your brows—looks like you're in for a bloody disaster today."
Zhao Biao froze.
Then flew into a rage.
"Damn it! You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
"Think you're too good for my offer?"
"Brothers!"
"Since this brat's asking for death, let's grant his wish!"
"Spread out!"
"Surround them!"
"Dead or alive, charge forward first!"
"Once we're on that ship, it's ours!"
"Kill!!"
At Zhao Biao's command.
Five rafts instantly accelerated.
The fifteen pirates were clearly trained, their oar strokes synchronized.
Like five vicious dogs, the rafts charged toward the President from all directions.
"They're coming!"
Li Ruobing watched the approaching enemies, her palms sweating.
"Boss, our A-Class Turrets have limited firing arcs—they're too spread out!"
"And they're too close—the turrets might miss!"
Qin Yu glanced at the red dots on the screen.
Stubbed out his cigarette.
"Who said I was going to use cannons to swat mosquitoes?"
"Dealing with trash like this."
"Using cannons would be a waste of ammunition."
Qin Yu placed both hands on the brand-new silver control lever.
The one connected to the S-Class Cold Nuclear Fusion Reactor.
"Hold on tight."
"They're about to hit the jackpot."
Qin Yu's voice was soft.
But in the next second.
"Vroom——!!!"
A deep, terrifying hum emanated from the depths of the ship's hull.
It was the roar of the S-Class Engine awakening.
Not the rough vibration of a diesel engine.
But a high-frequency, scalp-tingling energy resonance.
The entire ship seemed to suddenly come alive.
The previously stationary vessel launched forward without any warning!
"Wh-what?!"
Zhao Biao, at the forefront, nearly popped his eyes out.
In his understanding.
A ship this size should start up slowly, groaning like an old ox pulling a broken cart.
But this thing in front of him.
How was it like a sports car?
Before he could process it.
The President's massive steel bow, with overwhelming force, was already crashing toward the raft directly ahead!
Three lackeys stood on that raft, brandishing spears.
At this moment.
The ferocity on their faces hadn't even faded before it was replaced by boundless terror.
What kind of ship was this?
This was a mountain crashing into them!
"Get out of the way!!!"
"Row!!!"
Too late.
The acceleration of S-Class power was increasing every second.
"Boom—Crack!!!"
A loud crash.
Without any suspense.
That raft was like an egg hitting a rock.
Along with the three people on it, it was instantly shattered to pieces.
Wood splinters flew everywhere.
Blood splattered.
The three didn't even have time to scream before being dragged under the hull.
Immediately after.
The terrifying wake from the stern formed a massive vortex.
Grinding the wooden fragments and dismembered limbs into nothingness.
Instant kill.
A true instant kill.
On the remaining four rafts, the twelve pirates were completely stunned.
Their hands holding the oars froze mid-air.
Mouths agape, they stared at the expanding blood mist on the sea surface.
At this moment.
Their worldview collapsed.
"What... what kind of monster is this?"
Zhao Biao's loudspeaker dropped onto the raft.
His legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Boss! Third Brother and the others... they're gone!"
"Just like that... gone?"
Fear.
Spreading across the sea like a plague.
Inside the bridge.
Li Ruobing gripped the handrail tightly to keep from falling.
Watching the clean, decisive impact outside the window.
She felt completely numb.
Just like that... it's over?
Without even firing a single shot?
Directly crushed?
"So this is S-Class power..."
Li Ruobing murmured to herself.
So violent.
So unreasonable.
But Qin Yu didn't treat this as anything remarkable.
He sharply turned the steering wheel.
The massive ship carved an impossibly sharp drifting angle across the sea surface.
A maneuverability that completely defied physical common sense.
The ship tilted sideways, stirring up waves over ten meters high.
"Crash—!!!"
The enormous waves, like a tsunami, violently slammed into a raft on the left side.
The three pirates on that raft, who had just begun to turn and escape.
Were directly smashed into the sea by this wall of water.
Immediately after.
The ship righted itself.
Qin Yu's fingers danced rapidly across the control panel.
"Since you're here, don't be in a hurry to leave."
"Deep-sea Guardian, stand down."
"Gatling Machine Gun Turret, activate."
"Port and starboard, free fire."
"No survivors."
As Qin Yu's cold commands were issued.
"Clack-clack-clack—"
Along both sides of the ship, the ten black muzzles of the A-Class Close-In Weapon System Machine Gun Turrets rose once more.
While they might be inadequate against S-Class Sea Beasts.
Against these flesh-and-blood humans.
It was dimensional suppression.
The gun barrels swiftly rotated, locking onto the remaining three rafts.
Zhao Biao finally regained his senses.
At this moment, there wasn't a trace left of his "Sea Emperor" arrogance.
Only pants full of piss and shit remained.
"Run! Run fast!!"
"This is a demon!!"
"Split up and run!!"
Zhao Biao frantically rowed, wishing his parents had given him two more arms.
Too late.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—!!!"
The distinctive sound of six-barrel rotary machine guns, like tearing cloth, pierced the sky.
Tongues of flame spat out.
Bullets poured down like a torrential storm.
The sea surface.
Instantly erupted into chaos.
The first raft attempting to escape was turned into a sieve within two seconds.
The three pirates on it were instantly shredded into mincemeat.
Not even leaving complete corpses behind.
The second raft.
Similarly disintegrated in an instant.
The sound of large-caliber bullets hitting human bodies was dull and horrifying.
"Thump-thump-thump!"
Blood mist dispersed in the sea breeze.
Finally.
Only Zhao Biao's raft remained.
He was the farthest away.
Rowing desperately toward the distance.
The two lackeys beside him had already been struck by stray bullets, collapsing in a pool of blood as they wailed in agony.
Zhao Biao's face was smeared with blood—whether his own or someone else's, it was impossible to tell.
As he rowed, he wept and screamed.
"Stop killing! Please, stop!"
"Sir! My lord!"
"I was wrong! I failed to recognize your greatness!"
"I surrender!"
"I'll be your dog! I can butcher pigs too! I can work!"
"Don't kill me!!!"
He was begging for mercy.
It was the primal fear of death.
Inside the cockpit.
Li Ruobing watched the figure struggling like an ant on the sea's surface, then turned to Qin Yu.
"Boss... he's surrendered."
"Should we keep him alive for interrogation?"
"Like where their base is, whether they have accomplices, and so on."
It was logical reasoning.
Capture a prisoner, extract all useful information.
But Qin Yu shook his head.
He gazed at Zhao Biao, desperately waving a white shirt in surrender.
Not a flicker of emotion showed in his eyes.
"Unnecessary."
"Trash like him, who only preys on the weak, rarely speaks the truth."
"Besides."
Qin Yu paused, his tone icy.
"My ship."
"Doesn't keep useless dogs."
"Much less a mad dog that could turn and bite at any moment."
Having said that,
Qin Yu didn't continue with the machine gun barrage.
Instead, he pushed the silver control lever once more.
"Let him witness."
"What true despair looks like."
"Ice Breaking Mode, Burst Fire."
Beneath the bow.
An inconspicuous launch port suddenly opened.
A beam of ghostly blue light, utterly silent, sliced through the air in an instant.
It wasn't an ordinary laser.
It was a High-Frequency Thermal Energy Oscillation Wave.
Though only a "Burst Fire," a mere fraction of the S-Class power's potential.
For a raft,
It meant annihilation.
"Zzz—"
The beam struck the center of Zhao Biao's raft with precision.
No explosion.
No flames.
The raft, along with Zhao Biao aboard it,
Vanished as if erased by an eraser.
Instantly vaporized.
Not even a speck of debris remained.
On the sea's surface,
Only a circular void several meters wide was left, the seawater taking several seconds to rush back in.
Producing a dull "gulping" sound.
Silence.
The entire world fell silent.
Apart from the sound of waves, there was no more of the grating loudspeaker noise, nor the nauseating pleas for mercy.
Fifteen men.
Five boats.
From appearance to total annihilation.
Less than three minutes.
This was the crushing weight of absolute power.
This was the terrifying dominance of an S-Class Power Core combined with A-Class armaments.
"Gulp."
A swallowing sound came from behind.
It was the two tattooed laborers who had been trembling in the corner all along.
They had initially thought that even if these five boats couldn't win, they'd at least cause some trouble for Qin Yu.
Perhaps, deep down, they'd even entertained the thought—"If Qin Yu loses, could we escape in the chaos?"
But now.
That notion was utterly extinguished.
Uprooted completely.
Too ruthless.
Too powerful.
This wasn't a battle.
It was trash disposal.
Qin Yu shut down the fire control system.
The silver control lever dimmed back to its dull color.
He turned around.
Looking at the stunned faces around him.
"What are you all standing around for?"
"Is the work done?"
Qin Yu brushed off nonexistent dust from his clothes.
"Li Ruobing, take some people to clean up the battlefield."
"Even if the boats are shattered."
"But salvage those crossbows, and the plastic barrels floating on the surface."
"Even a fly's worth of meat is still meat."
"Don't waste anything."
Li Ruobing took a deep breath.
She tried to calm her racing heart.
The way she looked at Qin Yu had changed.
If it was awe before,
now it was complete submission.
In this apocalyptic world,
following a soft-hearted saint would be suicide.
Only by following a decisive, overwhelmingly powerful demon king like Qin Yu
could one survive.
And survive well.
"Yes, boss!"
Li Ruobing responded loudly.
She turned and shouted at the two Tattooed Arm Men:
"What are you still staring at!"
"Didn't you hear the boss's orders?"
"Get the nets! Go salvage!"
"If you miss even one plastic bottle, I'll throw you overboard to feed the fish!"
The two Tattooed Arm Men shuddered, scrambling out of the cockpit.
Yao Qian remained standing in place.
Her small hands tightly clutching the hem of Qin Yu's clothes.
The recent slaughter was still too shocking for a homebody like her.
But she wasn't afraid of Qin Yu.
Instead,
as she looked at his back, her eyes were filled with admiration.
This was her man.
As long as she stood behind him,
even if floods raged outside, even if the whole world were enemies,
she would be safe.
"Scared?"
Qin Yu looked down at her.
Yao Qian shook her head.
Then nodded.
"Scared of them..."
"But..."
She looked up, her gaze firm.
"As long as Brother Qin Yu is here."
"I'm not afraid."
Qin Yu smiled.
He reached out and ruffled her hair.
"That's right."
"In this world."
"Mercy is an epitaph for the dead."
"And we."
"Need to live."
"And live better than anyone else."
Qin Yu turned to look out the window at the gradually calming sea.
The smell of blood had attracted several sharks, now fighting over the scraps of flesh.
This was the true ocean.
The strong prey on the weak.
Survival of the fittest.
"After this battle."
"This sea area should be quiet for a few days."
Qin Yu calculated in his mind.
With this S-Class Power Core,
the secrets of that Underwater Palace,
and the approaching "Extreme Cold Storm,"
he would conquer them all.
"Yao Xue."
Qin Yu suddenly spoke.
Yao Xue, who had been standing silently nearby, looked up.
"I'm here."
"Go take stock of our food supplies."
"Especially fresh water and meat."
"Now that we have this infinite energy source."
"It's time to upgrade our quality of life."
Watching everyone busy themselves,
this battle
had thoroughly forged the team
and demonstrated the terror of S-Class power.
"Pirates?"
"Hmph."
Qin Yu sneered.
"I hope the next wave that comes."
"Can last a little longer."
"Otherwise."
"This game would be too boring."