[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-reborn-king":3,"chapter-the-reborn-king-the-reborn-king-chapter-473":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Reborn King",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1100656,1437,"Chapter 473: A Weapon Never Seen Before","the-reborn-king-chapter-473",473,"\u003Cp>Alfred stared ahead at the massive fleet ripping through the water, charging towards him. The setting sun sat atop the water, changing its clear waters into a vibrant orange. With his hands behind his back, he turned towards the captain of the ship and nodded. The captain nodded in return and turned, giving the order to the sailor behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sailor moved quickly and raised a flag on the back of the ship. With it raised, the captain spun the wheel, avoiding a confrontation and skirting the outside of the enemy fleet. Across the deck, men happily smiled as they loaded the cannons. It was the first time they would use them in battle, and many couldn’t help but be excited. They were slow with it, despite having received training; they were still not accustomed to the new weaponry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking towards the enemy fleet, he could see that they were confused about what he and his fleet were doing. It was a small fleet of eleven ships, and unlike the enemy, which clumped together to avoid being outnumbered when boarded, his fleet was split into two columns, encircling it like a snake’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back at the ships behind him, he saw the proud lion of his family lying high. Turning to face the Severian fleet, he saw them staying close to one another, wary of a trap, and smiled. Looking down at the crew, he waited for the right moment. Clutching the railing and leaning over it, he opened his eyes, a cold gleam in them. Lifting his right hand, the crew looked up at him, waiting for the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"FIRE!\" The sailors didn’t say a word, lighting the fuses and moving back, covering their ears. Alfred did the same and watched the enemy fleet. For a few seconds, only the sound of the rope burning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel watched from the centre of the fleet. Seeing the Ammary fleet circle around him, he couldn’t help but wonder what they were doing. Did they wish to strike from behind, or were they going to hug his fleet but not engage until they landed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand the tactic at all, especially given their outnumbered position. Compared to his fifty-odd ships, he counted eleven. \"Do you have any clue what they are doing?\" Turning to the captain of his ship, a man renowned within Severia for his skill, he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sighed and watched. \"It’s strange. I can only assume they will wait for us to land to strike from behind, or they want to keep us on edge. The reality is that it’s a mind game, but we don’t need to play. If we split the fleet and turn into them, we can cut them off and take each of them down, one by one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We lose our advantage.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We still have it. Five on one. It’s good odds.\" The captain said confidently, looking back at the enemy fleet, \"But they have a weird design, those boats. See those gaps on the side. None of ours have those.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel looked and shrugged, \"They remind me of the arrowslits.\" Watching Gabriel, I couldn’t help but feel he was missing something, something important. He didn’t know Alfred, but Constance did. In the back of his mind, he could still hear the warning Constance gave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’He’s emotional, easily swayed by them, but when he is in control, there is a tactical mind that will only act when confident. Be wary; don’t fall for his tricks or listen to his words. They are full of lies even if he believes them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel looked at he boats and noticed the one on the port side. It was slightly larger than the rest, but beyond that, it held a single extra flag. All of the other ships had large black banners with a golden lion on them, but this one had an extra, smaller one at the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Emperor is on that-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he could only describe as the erupting of a volcano cut Gabriel off, leaving his and everyone who heard it, ears ringing. Falling onto the railing and holding himself up, he looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All around, the explosion went off, and with shaking hands, Gabriel covered his ears and ground his teeth, taking a deep breath. Looking around, he saw some of his ships damaged beyond repair. Holes burrowed through their hulls, filling them with water. The sails tore apart as dark shadows flew past, crashing into whatever blocked their paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All around, the men were silent, trying to adjust to the sound they had just heard. Gabriel recovered quickly, being in the centre of the fleet and watched the damage as the two Ammary lines circled around behind, switching sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"WHAT WAS THAT?\" Gabriel asked, not realising he was shouting. The captain shook his head, unable to understand, and looked at his own fleet. Six ships were instantly made redundant as they filled with water, which could then be removed. Those who recovered quicker on other boats tried to help them but failed to do so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I...I....I... I don’t know. I have no idea.\" The captain took a few deep breaths and looked at the armada fleet getting into position once again. \"We have to split.\" Looking at Gabriel, the Templar saw the fear in his eyes. It was something he had never seen, something he couldn’t comprehend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"SPLIT!\" Gabriel cried out, his voice being drowned out in the moans of men still recovering and the breaking off wood from boats crumbling. \"SPLIT! SPLIT! SPL-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eruptions went off again, and Gabriel clutched his ears again, not daring to remove his hands a second too early. \"FUCK!\" His curse was drowned out, and looking to the captain, the man understood what needed to be done. Spinning the wheel as hard as he could, he looked down at his men below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"SIGNAL IT! BREAK!\" Still recovering, they did as ordered and ran to the bell hanging on the mast. Ringing it, those nearby heard and did the same, sending a chorus of bell rings throughout the waters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>--------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred stood still, his face warped with slight pain at how loud the sound was. He expected it, but it was anything beyond his belief. He was lucky to have prepared cloth to stuff in their ears, or they would have surely gone deaf. Looking at the Severian fleet, around ten ships had been damaged beyond repair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crews on them desperately tried to call for help, but were ignored by the rest of the fleet, who quickly tried to split apart. \"They reacted quicker than we thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aye.\" Captain Parry said with a smile, \"But how many of them are fleeing and how many will continue to fight is another question.\" Parry turned to face the sailor behind him, \"Signal behind. Tell them to prepare for boardings and to spread out further.\" The sailor nodded and raised two different flags with patterns on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing ahead, Parry watched the enemy fleet as his men readied the cannons once more. It was a move they couldn’t keep pulling off, with enough ammo to fire two more times. Pulling them out, they spun them around and used the ship’s tilt to push them to the other side. Hastily loading them, they locked them in place and waited for the order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred focuses on the enemy. The fleet had slowly split, and he was losing the opportunity to get them whilst they were bunched up. He knew his men would struggle to hit a single target, especially if they moved quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Come on. Please. Let some of them flee.’Clutching the railing, he took a few deep breaths, watching. Even with the new weaponry, he was still vastly outnumbered. He couldn’t risk letting this battle drag on. \"Captain Parry?\" Looking at the man, Alfred nodded, \"It’s time. Whilst we still have a chance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parry smiled and turned to the sailor behind him. \"SignalThe Martyr.Give it its order.\" The sailor took a deep breath and nodded. Raising a red flag, he closed his eyes and silently prayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>------------------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One is off course,\" Gabriel said, watching a single ship slowly turn into his fleet. The Captain took out his telescope and watched the ship. Looking at it, he frowned and handed it to Gabriel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are undermanned. It’s at best a skeleton crew.\" The captain frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They all look old. I can’t really tell.\" Gabriel felt his heart race. He tried to understand as he watched the ship approach the far end of his fleet. They had split quickly, but many were still clumped, turning into one another in their panic at an attack they had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gabriel watched, his heart freezing as he saw smoke coming from the ship. \"Oh, Sol.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything went silent for a second before an explosion that sent shockwaves across the whole sea erupted. The deafening explosion knocked many to the ground, including Gabriel, as he clutched his ringing ears. The fireball erupted from inside the ship, expanding out, blowing all near it up with it. Debris fell from the sky, raining hellfire on those below who couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred fell to his knees, clutching his ears, closing his eyes as he thought about the order he gave before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>--------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am asking a heavy task of you men. One I would never wish to order.\" The face of the old sailors before him was filled with grim determination as they steeled themselves for the order. \"When ordered, I wish for you to drive into the enemy lines and light a fire that rivals Sol’s own.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all knew what it meant and closed their eyes. Looking at their comrades, the young men who would be sailing with them. One stepped forward, his eyes ready but hesitating for a second. \"If we do this, what do we get?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Glory for yourself. Buried in the field of swords. Your families will be given wealth that even their grandchildren won’t be able to spend.\" Alfred took a deep breath, \"I am asking you this. Any who refuse, I won’t hold a grudge against them.\" He paused, swallowing the saliva in his mouth, \"Will you all die for me? Will you give your life so the Empire can be victorious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alfred watched as a few left without hesitation. Only twenty-odd stayed behind, happy to provide an opportunity to their families that they would never be able to give when alive. \"Thank you all.\" Lowering his head to them, he stayed unmoving for a minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-----------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peeking up at the fireball, Alfred didn’t smile, knowing he had ordered twenty men to kill themselves for him. He didn’t believe in God. He saw what came after, but without realising, he formed a symbol of Sol, praying that they would find peace in the afterlife.\u003C\u002Fp>",1821,"2026-06-03T11:17:51.400Z","2026-06-03T11:17:48.775Z",1,"novelbin.me","0dfa30c26a4206635b2c5759ba290a2c9744840ab660a98c0346cece219ec1d9","the-reborn-king-chapter-474","the-reborn-king-chapter-472",487,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-reborn-king-cover.jpg"]