This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist

[Motor]: How do we deal with whatever's under the sea?

[Rita]: Think about the apprentices who fell in. Every one of them struggled hard before that unknown thing showed up.

The exchange lasted less than thirty seconds, but it was enough for everyone to calm down and settle on their next move.

Rita turned to Maple Syrup. "When you use \\[Thunder God's Blessing] through a weapon, does the chain appear automatically? Anything I need to know?"

Maple Syrup knew Rita had that strange skill that let her cast once any skill that had been used on her. She answered quickly, face serious.

"Before the weapon hits the water, you have to stop it midair. The chain appears automatically. You just need to grab it tight. But it'll drain your mana hard. Most important, you have to shout the skill name out loud. If you don't, the lightning won't answer."

The moment Fat Goose heard that, he knew what Rita was planning. She had copied his skill [Just Do It for Me] before.

He clapped her shoulder. "You're good to go."

A buff appeared over Rita: [Thicker Broth, Stronger Drink].

That skill let the user freely convert health into mana and back.

Rita pulled on her pumpkin hat that regenerated 1 percent of HP per second and couldn't help groaning. "Who names skills this stupid? No wonder you never used it on us."

Fat Goose snapped, "You talk too much sometimes!"

…

Meanwhile, Ship 16 was still slamming one vessel after another into the hole under the cue's strikes.

The crew tried steering off the shot path, fighting to dodge the cue. Other ships scattered wildly, desperate to avoid the same fate.

Every apprentice on the sea was scrambling toward the red pillar. Even if they couldn't grab the treasure yet, they wanted position. When Ship 7 arrived, whoever was already there would get first shot.

The ships darted like schools of fish, forcing the cue to adjust angles nonstop.

Only Ship 7 just sat there, spinning in place like fools, puzzling things out while the whole sea burned with urgency.

A blood elf pointed at the screen where Rita was holding her squad back, frustration written all over her face. She turned to the black cat beside her. "That's really Lightchaser's apprentice?"

The black cat hesitated. "…Should be."

But then it straightened proudly. "Lightchaser wasn't reckless. She looked fast, but most of the time she thought first.

"When it was urgent, she acted right away, thinking as she moved. People called her decisive, not rash, because even if she was wrong, she could still turn it around."

"I get it." The blood elf frowned. "I just think… her apprentice feels more like Cinders sometimes. You know that vibe? Everyone's in a rush, and she looks like she is too, but the more urgent it gets, the slower she moves."

She paused, noticing the expressions on the squad's faces on screen—realization dawning, brows unfurling, their tension dissolving into calm.

The blood elf muttered, "And the thing is, she's usually right."

The black cat stifled a laugh with its paw. "That's Lightchaser's headache."

…

Rita hurled her dagger toward the red pillar, shouting, "Thunder God's Blessing!!"

Maple Syrup let out a long breath, smirking. "Kidding. You don't actually need to say it."

Rita stared. "…Has anyone told you you're unbelievably childish sometimes?"

From the stern, Mistblade shouted, "Quit faking! You looked like you enjoyed yelling it."

Rita: ˙?˙ ?

The dagger, scavenged from a port city, spun through the air. Like Maple Syrup's spear, it crystallized into violet lightning the moment the blessing took hold.

As Ship 16 crashed by, Rita had already wrapped the thunder chain tight around her wrist and grabbed the mast with her free hand.

Mistblade, Maple Syrup, and Fat Goose all yanked the chain back together with her, while Motor wrestled the helm, ready to patch up damage the instant it landed.

Ship 16 scraped past them.

Without Ship 7 to follow up, it couldn't pocket a single target this turn.

The cue swapped hands. The dark cloud cue pulled back. The white cloud cue lined up on Ship 1.

From the striker's view, what was the best way to win now?

Destroy another odd-numbered ship. Leave just one on the field, and like the dark cloud side, they would gain unlimited strike privilege.

That meant only Ships 1 and 7 were under real threat now.

Rita and her squad pulled toward the red pillar, silently sending Ship 1 their heartfelt blessing: please, sink fast.

As ships dwindled, the cloud figure behind the waterfall had only grown sharper. And now, perhaps, it was finally serious.

No one saw when the cue struck Ship 1. One moment it lined up. The next, it was gone.

Not even a chance to use defensive skills. It was already airborne before anyone realized.

The ship twisted mid-flight, tearing apart into pieces. Planks and beams scattered across the sea. Most of the hull was gone, but somehow it hadn't been completely destroyed.

A plank burst from the wreckage, carrying all five apprentices still alive.

Above it, Pine Bloom glided on dark green wings, Wither Monarch in hand.

On the plank itself stood Autumn Deer, shielding the glowing No. 1 ball.

Autumn Bear and Clay Rider balanced atop the deer's back, and clinging stubbornly to the bear's shoulders was Frenzied Shark.

The five of them were all grim-faced, gray hair and feathers whipping in the wind, radiating pure battle aura. All they needed was a blasting theme song.

Fat Goose nearly forgot the chain, shouting, "You can do that?!"

Rita's eyes widened. "That badass?!"

Maple Syrup nodded sagely. "See? Just keep your face serious, heavy. Like Pine Bloom's group—no expression, no shame. Add some bloodlust, like Frenzied Shark."

Rita glanced between Pine Bloom and Frenzied Shark's stiff expressions. "…Yeah, but I think they heard you. Pine Bloom's face just went green."

Mistblade chimed in dryly. "Maybe it's the wing color reflecting on her face."

Fat Goose added, "Then what about Frenzied Shark? His face is red."

Pine Bloom and Frenzied Shark, drifting by on their plank, whipped their heads around together. "Will you shut up?!"

Motor spotted the drifting wreckage and gaped. "That thing still has five percent durability?!"

Fat Goose's voice tightened. "How much do we have left? Can we take it?"

Motor shook his head. "I'm not sure. Really not sure. Repairs alone can't cover this. Ship 1 has a skill called [No Insurance]. I don't know if that's the only reason they're still alive."