Arcane: Winds of Change

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Chapter 40: The Battle

In other words, Gangplank never intended to obtain this batch of goods through trading. As he initially said, trades are built on the premise that both parties have equal power, and he clearly didn't consider Phil to be his equal. "I don't see the intent to trade in your eyes," Phil said directly. "When I was raiding and pillaging against the Noxian navy, you were still running around in diapers," Gangplank sneered. "Did you see my ship when you arrived? That's a Noxian warship." It's the Leviathan, Swain's battleship, a point of pride for Gangplank but a mark of shame for Noxus. 

"Well, what a pity. Looks like I need a new partner," Phil said as the 098X Solvent Blade gradually appeared in his hand, its intense technological vibe clashing with the surroundings. And Gangplank? He drew the Bilgewater Cutlass from his waist. This weapon not only boasts superior quality but also symbolizes the title of Pirate King. However, the first thing Gangplank did upon acquiring this sword was to kill his own father, plunging these seas into chaos once again, with factions rising all over. "Oh, filial son, using a patricidal weapon to kill me?" Phil assumed his usual trash-talking stance as he entered battle mode. 

But the battle wasn't initiated by Phil or Gangplank; it was Jinx. Perhaps feeling a twinge of embarrassment about transforming into a magical girl during battle, Jinx refrained from using her skin's bonuses. Her hand-held Pow-Pow gun spit fire as she swept towards Gangplank's men. With the sound of gunfire, Gangplank and Phil clashed. The flaming cutlass and solvent blade collided, striking sparks. After a standoff, to Phil's surprise, flames crept down the blades toward him. As fire reached his armor, Phil felt a burning sensation despite the armor's protection. He swiftly retreated a few steps. 

True to its name, the Bilgewater Cutlass, a symbol of dominion over these seas, proved no mere showpiece. Phil spun his sword hilt, causing a green light to flare from his body, repairing his Living Flame Armor and himself. Gangplank wasn't going to let Phil recover as he delivered another slash. Phil transformed into a sword light, his speed so fast it was hard to track, leaving several deep cuts on Gangplank. Unfortunately, Gangplank's vital areas were wrapped in the Armor of the Dead, giving Phil no opening. With a "bang," Gangplank's pistol spat fire. Phil dodged, but the shot's tremendous power gouged a small pit beneath his feet. 

"Damn, this guy's got a full set already," Phil cursed internally. He usually relied on his gear to crush opponents, but now he faced someone with even more lavish equipment. So young, yet already wielding a full set—it's undeniable, having a good father pays off. Phil decided not to stall any longer. His armor glowed again, and his speed became ghostly, drawing out a trail of light. His blade transformed into its complete form. He lunged directly at Gangplank, striking. Gangplank couldn't block in time; he could only protect his body with his sword but was still forced back by the impact. Phil's attacks grew faster, and Gangplank could only endure with difficulty, accumulating more wounds, though none were fatal. 

Compared to Phil and Gangplank's deadlock, Jinx had switched her weapons to Fishbones and Zap. The physical damage shifted to magic damage, becoming even harder to defend against. "Pow! I'm the Star Guardian, and you're just a gun~" As enemies fell one by one, Fishbones circled around Jinx a few times, seemingly showing off. "Jinx, take the others and head back first. I'll catch up soon," Phil ordered. Though his subordinates were bolstered by the Twilight Elixir and had taken down most of Gangplank's men, with the enemy's overwhelming numbers, a tactical retreat was prudent.

Upon hearing Phil's command, everyone naturally had no objections, and there was no dramatic scene where someone insisted on staying behind. As they watched the group leave, even taking away the faintly glowing ones, Phil breathed a sigh of relief and focused entirely on the battle. By this time, Gangplank had gradually adapted to Phil's fighting rhythm. Having spent years riding the waves, his combat experience naturally surpassed Phil's. He adopted a tactic of inflicting injuries on the enemy even at his own expense, seizing opportunities to counterattack rather than wasting energy on defense. As the mech issued an overload alarm, Phil realized it was time to leave. Executing another Alpha Strike, he left several wounds on Gangplank, who now looked quite harrowing.

"Goodbye," Phil said as he controlled his landing spot, appearing beside one of Gangplank's underlings who still had a breath left—oh, perhaps not anymore. Then, his mech jets flared as he vanished from Gangplank's sight at an incredible speed. Behind him, he could vaguely hear Gangplank's furious roars. At this moment, reinforcements slowly arrived, and Gangplank was nearly livid enough to burst a blood vessel: "Capture that group for me! I'll hang them at the docks and torture them to death!"

Elsewhere, Phil had just reached the docks; he hadn't even boarded the ship when his mech disassembled and retracted, causing him to stumble. The battle had drained him significantly, leaving multiple scorched wounds on his body from the Bilgewater Cutlass. Steadying himself, he returned to the ship.

"Boss, what should we do now?" Balter asked.

"Let's leave here for now. I underestimated the heroes of the world, haha," Phil replied, leaning on Jinx and seeing the concern and slight anger in her eyes, he laughed it off. This time, he truly underestimated the situation, thinking everything could unfold according to his memory and underestimating the strength of others.

"We took a hit this time, but we'll accept it. Next time, we'll reclaim our ground. Our immediate priority is to leave here; otherwise, it'll be troublesome if we're caught," Phil said seriously, addressing both himself and Jinx. However, Jinx's current stability was reassuring to Phil. Observing the remaining potions, Phil couldn't help but worry if this failed mission would affect Silco's plans. This was his first big mistake.

Jinx noticed Phil's concern: "You're much better than me, Phil. I always mess things up, whereas you make everything right."

"Don't overthink it, Jinx. We all make mistakes, and we all grow," Phil said, patting Jinx's head and gazing at the gradually distant Bilgewater.