A Holy Light ascended once more, stirring up a howling West Wind throughout the sky.

WHOOSH…

The wind propelled those fire ships and the warships squeezed into the bay, charging them towards the Pirate Fleet blocking the bay's exit.

The brief burst of powerful maneuverability allowed the tall Castilian Carrack Ships to tower over and board the pirate ships.

The cost, however, was apparent in the white-haired Sun Crown Priest, who seemed to age several more years instantly and almost toppled over from the gust of wind.

This was the Mandate of Heaven associated with using the True Cross, requiring one to suffer like The Shackled Creator, bearing the weight of sins.

No matter how great the power wielded, it would be met with an equally severe backlash.

Who would have guessed that this seemingly ancient, white-haired man was actually just in his forties?

Moreover, the Invincible Fleet's title effect, "Unbeatable Banner," had been significantly diminished with the reversal in combat effectiveness, no longer giving them a crushing advantage against other enemies.

Blue Hair Halding also realized he might have underestimated the amount of help the Church, as an external ally, could provide.

"The True Cross, huh? We believe in the Creator too, but we don't acknowledge that guy nailed to the Cross as the Incarnation of God. He's just a powerful Transcendent, after all. All heretics must die!"

Moreover, after achieving such a significant military success in one fell swoop, they had gained the upper hand in combat strength.

They did not fear a head-on battle now; it was simply a matter of the cost.

Blue Hair Halding clenched his teeth and, with a grand wave of his hand, declared, "Sea Monster Legion, advance! Brothers, kill them all for me! This is the battle for the founding of our nation. After this fight, you will all be the founding heroes of the Barbary Pirate Kingdom! Gold, spices, beauties, titles—everything will be yours!"

"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"

The opposing Invincible Fleet was no less determined.

Had they not started fighting, it would be one thing. But once the battle began, neither side could afford to back down.

If they retreated, the order they maintained in their respective territories through deterrence would vanish into thin air.

"Charge with me! Castilia is the sole overlord of the seas!"

The Invincible Fleet and the Barbary Pirates were like two tentacles. They represented the East Coast's overlord, the Kingdom of Castile, and the West Coast's overlord, the Star Moon Empire. In an instant, they transformed Campeche Bay into a meat grinder!

「An hour after they commenced battle.」

Another Blue Hole opened on the battlefield, throwing a section of the Allied Army, who were ready to take advantage of the People of Castilia, into the fray.

Among them were several leaders from major powers and their personal guards.

"A misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"

As fortunes turned, Admiral Newman's shouts, reminiscent of the frogmen earlier, were instantly drowned out by the battle cries of the Barbary Pirates.

Moreover, as fellow East Coast nations that also followed the Church, in a war concerning heresy, it seemed they couldn't afford to take a different side.

Thus, in a confused state, they became fresh reinforcements for the People of Castilia, making the battle even more deadlocked and brutal.

Flashes of swords and knives, the volleys of firearms, war cries that shook the heavens...

Countless seagull messengers circled over the battlefield, delivering first-hand intelligence to the major and minor powers throughout the Bantaan Archipelago.

This was a battle where the People of Castilia schemed against the natives; the Barbary Pirates schemed against the former and the natives; and some unnamed nobody schemed against them all.

Regardless of the outcome, it was destined to become the crucial turning point for a reshuffling of power among the various factions of the Bantaan Archipelago!