I teleport to the airspace over the eastern part of my domain.
There, a vast river flowed, flanked by forests on both sides.
A single ship was making its way along that river.
With its black sails catching the wind, it was a vessel of the Demon Lord's army.
The occasional unnatural burst of acceleration was likely due to a mounted propulsion device.
That ship, developed for combat, was a product of various concentrated technologies.
Running alongside it was a dark shadow sinking beneath the water's surface.
Only a large dorsal fin was visible.
Then the shadow leaped upwards, bursting powerfully onto the surface.
It was a shark, shrouded in miasma, its mouth gaping wide as it lunged at the ship.
Its body was a deep grey, reflecting the sunlight with a dull sheen.
That shark must be a beast from the outside world.
The mage dragon cannon mounted on the ship fired.
The projectile struck the shark's belly and exploded.
Flesh and blood sprayed outward.
The shark twisted violently and fell back into the river.
That section of the river immediately discolored to a dark, bloody red.
Just as I thought it might die, the shark resumed its movement through the water without pause.
From its presence, it was clear it was biding its time, intent on hunting the ship.
(It doesn't seem to be struggling.)
I transferred aboard the ship.
There, my subordinates were working in a frantic bustle.
They were occupied with loading cannonballs and keeping the sharks at bay.
Their movements were extremely nimble, and the operation as a whole appeared well-coordinated.
The fruits of the training conducted in the former Demon Territory, no doubt.
There was a figure standing at the center of the subordinates, barking orders.
The one who kept shouting with an axe raised high was Dolda the dullahan.
"Pour every last drop of magic you've got into it! Forget about conserving energy! Once we've sunk that shark, I'll treat you all to the finest liquor! You hear me, you bastards?!"
A booming, spirited voice rang out from the wolf's head.
The subordinates answered with a roar of their own.
Their torrential barrage of attacks was brilliantly suppressing the shark's offensive.
The troops' morale was at a constant peak, and they seemed to be performing beyond their usual capabilities.
(As expected of a great pirate.)
I admired Dolda's command ability.
The epithet "Thunderclap" was no empty title.
Naval combat was Dolda's stage.
Even against a beast from the outside world, that much apparently did not change.
Dolda possessed outstanding combat prowess, yet did not rely on it alone.
He placed greater importance in rallying his subordinates and drawing out the maximum strength of the group as a whole.
It was a different kind of strength from Henry's, who likewise commanded armies.
Meanwhile, Logan came to me.
Judging by the situation, he was likely Dolda's adjutant.
When Logan approached me, he smiled calmly.
"It seems you've returned safely. I'm relieved."
"I'm sorry for being late. I caused you trouble."
"Don't worry about it. We're even."
At that moment, a violent shake hit the ship.
A shark had rammed it.
My subordinates murmured in alarm, but a sharp command from Dolda got them moving again.
I watched this unfold as I turned to Logan.
"What's the situation?"
"I'll explain briefly."
Nodding, Logan spoke quickly.
Sharks had apparently appeared without warning and begun attacking villages and towns along the river.
They were said to be able to freely alter their size, allowing them to travel through even the smallest waterways.
Using this trait, the sharks had been slaughtering people.
Currently, they were targeting the Demon Lord's army's ships, launching relentless attacks.
They showed considerable persistence and, for now, showed no signs of fleeing.
The troublesome aspect was that attacks on sharks while submerged seemed completely ineffective.
Even above water, they displayed remarkable regenerative abilities, making them nearly immortal.
This was why the Demon Lord's army remained unconquered.
"Even if we try to restrain it, the creature gnaws through the binding spells. Those fangs seem to possess the power to shatter magical structures. Spirit magic is also exceptionally ineffective."
Logan let out a grumble.
His expression made his struggle evident.
For people, magic was a powerful offensive tool.
If it proved ineffective, however, the range of countermeasures dwindled instantly.
Creatures from the outside world universally shared a tendency to resist spells.
Feeling at a disadvantage was unavoidable.
Across the gap where they spoke, the shark leaped.
A coordinated volley was launched, all shots finding their mark.
The shark recoiled, spouting blood as it retreated into the river.
It must have suffered considerable damage, yet the perception magic tracked the shark swimming underwater.
Its movement showed no sign of slowing; its wounds seemed to have already healed.
(An astonishing regenerative ability.)
In terms of terrain advantage, the enemy held the upper hand.
Combined with their magic resistance and regenerative powers, they became an exceptionally troublesome foe.
There was little concern about the Demon Lord's army being defeated, but our side lacked a decisive blow.
The battlefield was at a stalemate.
Understanding the situation, I decided on a course of action and began walking across the ship's deck.
I could break this deadlock.
Convinced of this, I offered Logan a word of praise as we passed each other.
"You've held out well up to now. I'll take care of the rest."
"I'm counting on you."
Accepting my old friend's words, I soared back into the sky.