An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

Chapter 2640

The massive claw came crashing down. Neville’s lone arm shot out to grab the winch chain. His empty left sleeve flapped wildly in the wind while the veins in his remaining right arm bulged as he wrapped the iron chain as thick as his forearm around his waist. He managed to haul the tilting ship back half an inch through sheer force.

“Form the iron chain formation,” he bellowed. The deck trembled under his thunderous roar. 20 burly soldiers immediately rushed forward to hammer the chain’s barbed end into the gunwale posts.

When the giant claw struck the chain with mountain-shattering force, Neville’s knees buckled suddenly while his boot heels carved deep furrows in the planking. He forced down the rush of metallic taste rising in his throat.

“This beast’s claws could crush iron and stone,” he muttered as he watched the crack spreading along the iron chain.

With a sudden surge of strength from his lone arm, he yanked the chain sharply to the side.

The giant claw scraped past the mast and smashed a hole ten feet wide in the deck. Wood splinters mixed with seawater erupted upward while three soldiers who couldn’t dodge in time were instantly swept to the bottom of the sea.

Enraged, the Brineclaw swept its barbed left claw across the deck. Neville’s pupils contracted sharply while he ripped open the powder pouch at his belt.

“Light it!”

The moment the fuse began hissing, he hurled the powder pouch straight at the claw. With a deafening blast, dark green fluid splattered everywhere, leaving only a few scorch marks on the claw’s shell.

But those rows of spikes tore through the ship’s hull, and the resulting stench carried corrosive white mist. Wherever the droplets touched the deck planking, the wood began rotting at a visible rate.

“Its weak spot is the underbelly,” Neville shouted, his one arm pointing straight at the Brineclaw’s floating midsection. ” Eron, take ten men and use hooked spears to snare its legs.”

spears glinted in the dim light as they pierced

struck its shell, and the hooks

the deck. Their screams cut

on its eyestalks.” Neville unstrapped the composite bow from his

the arrows’ trailing flames streaked toward the beast’s protruding compound eyes. But the arrows hadn’t even reached it before its massive claw

the deck, igniting the canvas sails. Thick smoke stung the crew’s eyes, making it nearly

Brineclaw suddenly submerged its massive body, leaving

of dread slammed into Neville as he shouted, “Everyone, grab onto something!

churn the water frantically

giant claws climbed the angled deck. With each snap,

to finish this

claw with a howl. He pulled the fuse just before the pincers crushed him. Through the thunderous blast, several spikes on the massive claw were blown off, yet the shell remained

the shockwaves. He watched the soldiers fall one after another, then caught sight of a faint gap along the edge of Brineclaw’s belly plate. Pale pink flesh peeked through, rising and falling with

the armor-piercing spike,” he roared toward the weapons

him a foot-long spike of

into the air. He spun half a turn in

and blood instantly stained

you beast!” he roared, yanking the ring-hilted sword from his

hilt to the blade. The steel caught

was all