BOOM! A shell exploded at the stern of the Narwhal. The blast was so powerful it threw the bow high into the air, and everyone on deck was tossed about, including Margaret and Charles.
Helpless in midair, she was unable to reorient herself. This was a perfect chance for a sneak attack, and Charles wasn't about to waste it. A thirty-centimeter-long, razor-sharp Black Thorn suddenly materialized, stabbing toward the gap between the ribs beneath Margaret's armpit. That spot was closest to the heart; if this blow landed, Margaret would be killed instantly. As a trophy from the Earth's surface, the Black Thorns were incredibly sharp. Charles had already tested them and knew they were strong enough to pierce even his own reinforced skin.
