As I pushed myself away from the man’s body, a cloud of smoke and fog rises out of him. Soon the human figure morphs into that of a ratman. That’ll be a troublesome spell to deal with in the future. I just know it. I throw on my dark blue robes; threaded with dragon scale thread, and fasten my dagger to my belt before sliding on the rings and three shingled necklaces made of the apostle’s bones that I had been given from Sir Lior after I had killed said apostle, and fasten the feathery cloak to my back I pick up my staff; unfurling the bit of the apostle’s skin around the middle so that I could touch the wood directly. I feel its effects immediately, but this time I’m able to keep my sense of self. I’ll need all the buffs I could get. An army of 500 is not something that should be trifled with. With these items on, I receive the following buffs:
+150 Magic, thanks to the rings, necklace, and staff.
+30 Endurance thanks to the robes
+50 Wind Affinity Thanks to the cloak
And
+100 Mana Sensitivity thanks to the staff as well.
“Clio, Shadow.” Let’s go.
It took me about five minutes to get dressed and sprint out of the door. I run down toward the coast and spot Paul along the path. He’s with both his brother and sister, I wave him down.
“Get everyone out of here, now,” I tell him.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“5 ships carrying 500 soldiers are approaching from beyond the fogwall,” I answer.
His face loses color for a second as he runs to sound the alarm we had in place; a bell attached to the top of the tallest building we could find. A series of quick peals meant to evacuate. As soon as that sound rang out across the cove, people began to rush toward the doorway back to Earth.
“What’s going on?” Dylan asked. She was with Jenna, and both of them were in swimwear with water dripping down their hair.
“We’re under attack. Jenna, do you think you could help with the evacuation? Dylan, I know it’s a lot to ask, but can you also help?”
“How about you? Seth, Fen, and the entire militia are gone, are you planning on waiting for them to return?”
I shake my head.
“No, I’ll hold them back to make sure you all have enough time to evacuate.”
“That’s suicide!”
“I can do it.”
Before she could argue anymore I ordered Clio and Shadow to follow Jenna back to Earth, and hurry down to the coast; pushing past the waves of panicking people until I could get close enough to one of the buildings on the upper of the town. I hop down from rooftop to rooftop until I land on the soft yellow sandy beach. On the way, I could only think of one solution to get over the waters to the ships quick enough, so I made my way to the roots of the mountain and once more struck the gong.
By the time Ikit arrives from his underwater abode, the shadows of the approaching ships appear through the distant fogs.
“You called.”
“Yes...this is an awkward thing to ask, but can I ride you?”
“Ride...me?”
I point toward the horizon, and his serpentine head follows the motion.
“Are we under attack?”
I nod.
“I will not allow this place to become inhabited by the Harlots of War again.”
His melodic voice hissed with hate as his long tongue darted from his mouth. The very waters trembled at his words, and the winds grew fierce.
“So you wish for me to carry you? So be it.”
Ikit turns towards me, before dipping his head into the waters and emerging with a mouthful of water.
“No, no, you don’t need to —”
He expels the water over me. The water soaks into my clothes and soothes the aches in my flesh. Droplets run down into my mouth and burn in my core as my magic stat increases temporarily. My mind is much clearer as well, though that could just be from the shock of having gallons of water poured over me.
“Th...thank you.”
“You are welcome.” Ikit coos. “Now.”
He lowers his head until his chin is pressed against the sand.
“Here. Step on my head, and I will carry you. We will attack these Rokites together.”
I suppose I’m not going to be alone in this fight. I stepped forward, up onto Ikit’s massive head, and kneeled down to center my balance as the rainbow wyrm began to move through the low-lapping waves. As I gain my courage, I stand up; curl my toes around the rim of one of the large scales on its head to keep me steady, and feel the wind rush by and catch in my cape as we go to intercept the ships heading to the Cove; their shadows looming through the fog.
The ships had three sails each along their long, narrow bodies. Along the hull was a decoratively carved black serpent curling around; its wings upright and caressing the largest of the sails in the center of the ship. Even from here, I could feel the pull of the wind hurrying towards those wings. Black gemstones glimmered along its long body, save for the white of its fangs. They were massive; each of the serpents would be comparable to Ikit in size if it were a living thing.
The five ships were arranged in a v-formation, with the lead ship piercing through the fogwall moments before Ikit and I managed to surf halfway the distance between the bay and the fogwall.
A burly dogman stood at the front of the lead ship, raising a large single-edged blade in the air and giving a rousing speech to the soldiers on board. As the other ships begin to push into the space around the cove, the large dogman turns to me and begins to stride in the air, with his hands behind his back as if he were figure skating. The salty winds of the sea rushing toward the wings behind him flowed past his white and black spotted mane as rose his sword in a mock salute when he was halfway the distance from the ship to me; a distance he closed in a second. He comes to a stop and glares up at me atop Ikit’s head.
“You! Sage of Earth! Who held back the White One’s Advances! I, Barakar Apostle of The White One, challenge you today to combat! Despair! For your arrogance, will bring only death to those around you!” He bellows as he points his blade, “Now! Know dea—”
“Breathe through me, oh thou airy daughters of the wind.”
I point my staff forward and mentally draw the rune as a howling gale forms in front of me and roars forth. With the increase in Magic and Mana Sensitivity provided by my items, I’m able to make out the faint outlines of tiny dancing women forming at the end of my staff as the spell forms. The apostle Barakar yelps as the Billow slams into him sending him flying back toward his ship. His body slams against the bow with such force that it causes the ship to bank hard to its left. Barakar’s body hits the waters soon after the ship collides with the one next to it, bringing both to a halt. The cheering from all ships stopped as the ones furthest in the back were halfway through the fogwall.
Stolen novel; please report.
“Leave the lead ship intact.”
“Do you plan on salvaging the Ichor within it? Smart move.”
It’s as if he could read my mind. Other than killing the White One I had no clue how we would get our hands on ichor, but if they were just going to come here with some, might as well take it, right? I had plans for it, that went beyond searching for Monica. Plans of conquest and rebirth. I stretch my legs as I get ready, and take a few deep breaths.
“Sorry Ikit, this might hurt a bit,” I say as I kneel down a little.
“It is fine.”
“Oh you ruler of Olympus, lend thy power to my steps.”
Lightning formed around my feet and propelled me forward. Ikit grunts in pain a little as I hurtle toward the center of the closest ship, and land on top of a satyr at the helm; crushing it into the wooden deck. The hundred or so Rokites on board look toward me at the front of the ship.
“Breath of the salamanders, breathe through me.”
Igni manifests in front of me and steps through me to take the flow of fire mana and breathe it out through my mouth as a cone of red flame blasts out from my parted lips. The conal wave of flame washes over the gathered forces and consumes them. They scream as their bodies smolder. A blade crashes against my Repel beside me. One of them had managed to dodge that? I grab hold of its face with my left arm and cast. Djinn’s Arrow point-blank into its face. A large figure of a man made of bright orange flame forms above me, and draws back the string of his bow and lets loose. The wind-flame arrow washes over the creature’s head, and it falls back, writhing on the ground. Half of the forces above the deck were dead or dying. A hatch opened up near the smoldering mast, and more Rokites poured out.
They let loose with arrows and slings, while those armed with spears and swords and maces charge forward over the charred wood and writhing, mass of burning flesh. We all stagger while Ikit swims beneath the formation, and emerges on the other side of the formation. He wraps himself around the front of the ship and squeezes until it snaps and begins to sink.
“From the fiery realm of Injeble I call for thee: ignite to hold back my enemies.”
Two motes of light form on either side of the ship, and dart across it in the blink of an eye. In their wake, a wall of flame ignites to life; bisecting the ship along its width through the largest mast. Those on the ship beside us finally found their footing and had lined the edge of the ship; bows and slings at the ready as they took aim for me. Those on my side of the wall of flame charged forward; weapons raised.
“Dance before me, oh daughters of the wind.”
The tiny figures formed on the deck of the ship in front of me and began to spin together. A dervish, half the size of the ship’s main mast formed and howled forward; picking up the first ratman it came across and tearing up the charred wood as it crashed into the wall of flame, and carrying a strand of the fire with it as it leaped over the space between the two ships, and interrupted the firing line.
Arrows and slings were let loose in my direction. They slammed against my shield cracked it, and pushed me back a step as the melee units closed in.
“Dance for me, oh daughters of the wind,” I incant.
The Sylphs form a dome of wind around me, as I quick cast Djinn’s Volley. A line of Djinn — figures of flame and smoke dressed in flowing robes, like those worn by the Sufis armed with bows formed above me as they pulled back their bows made of flame and wind, and let loose at my command. The pained screams let me know that some found their marks as the arrows and bullets let loose from the slings were deflected by the flowing wind.
A dogman, wielding a heavy shield, pushes in through the dome of wind and slams his shield into my body. Scorch marks line the creature’s shield. His dark eyes peered out from beneath a heavy metal helmet, and heavy metal pauldrons sat on his shoulders. He stabbed forward with a short spear. It collided against my Repel, but the recoil didn’t seem to stop him. I grab hold of the edge of his shield and yank down until my staff is pointed directly in front of his face.
“You that binds the all, move for me.”
There was a slight glimmer as aether gathered at the tip of my staff and exploded out; turning the creature’s head into a paste as its body was jerked back and thrown aside. By this time, the ship beside us set up a boarding plank, and melee fighters rushed across. I let the dome of wind die down.
“Ignite above me, oh thou motes of flame.”
A figure of flame that I recognized as Igni sprinted in the air in an arcing fashion, leaving balls of white flames in her wake. At my command, these motes of flame shoot out in straight lines and collide against the exposed flanks of those boarding the ship. They fall to the waters both in pain and in an attempt to put out the consuming flames. Their heavy infantry pushed their way forward regardless; their large tower shields blocking the flame.
Being able to visualize the beings I called upon was a boon, I came to realize.
“Lend me thy blade, oh djinn.” I incant.
A figure of flame and smoke forms above me, and I visualize him going behind the rank of shielded Efrans before releasing the spell. The djinn draws a large scimitar from his back and swings across their throats. Five of them fall; their heads rolling like a drum across the hollow deck.
A minotaur the ship over roared as he leaped the distance between the two ships. The one I was on rocked at the force of his landing as he charged forward. A blade’s slash wouldn’t do much to those ropy muscles, I would need something to penetrate.
“A spear, oh Djinn.”
A djinn carrying a long spear formed beside me and charged forward: stabbing the spear through the creature’s heart. It stumbled forward and collapsed in a fallen heap.
Ikit raised his head and a geyser of boiling water swept the deck of the ship next to the one he was currently crushing with his massive body. Half of the forces either died from the boiling water or were pushed off the deck and into the sea. The mast at the center of this ship collapsed and fell like a cut tree, onto the deck of the ship next to me. The Efrans there ran around with pails of water, while the archers let loose another volley, that was scattered by my Repel. I bend down and pick up the dead dogman’s short spear that had fallen onto the deck at my feet.
“Oh you ruler of Olympus, lend thy power to my steps.”
The whole ship keeled as I rocket forward, stab into the head of one of the archers with the pilum, and pin it to the wooden deck. As soon as I land I quick cast Djinn’s Volley. The robed figures form a semi-circle around me as twenty flaming arrows fly out and into the group of gathered Efrans. Every arrow finds a target; though some are deflected by shields, or tanked with large bodies.
“Dance before me, oh daughters of the wind.”
Before they could begin to spin, I pushed the circle of Sylphs toward the center of the largest group of survivors; led by a heavy infantry unit guarding a pair of archers, and a spearman who was just now peeking out to charge me, and let loose the spell. Winds howled to life in the middle of the group and picked up one of the archers. The force of the wind shoves the heavily armored dogman to the ground. As he struggles to get up, I rush forward and jam the short spear through the back of his neck.
The dervish tosses the archer into one of the smaller masts with such force that the wood cracks and buckles, and falls onto a satyr underneath who failed to scramble out of the way. The spearman of the group sprang to his feet and charged, as did a few of the other survivors on board. Their weapons clang against my Repel and a quick burst of wind pushes them back. I retreat off of the ship to the first one I landed on, now beginning to break apart.
“From the fiery realm of Injeble I call for thee: ignite to hold back my enemies.”
The two motes of light run across the rim of the second ship, providing temporary cover as I incant one of my longer spells.
“Daughters of the skies above, who dwell within the airy realms, and breathe the winds, and daughters of the seas below, who dwell within the deep, dark world, and move the ever-changing waves, join together in dance.”
The flow of mana in this spell is so sensitive that any disturbance from an attack could cause it to fall apart, and for the mana to violently flow back into me. I visualize the Sylphs above the ship that I had just leaped from, and the Undines directly beneath before releasing the spell.
From the hull of the ship came a deep, worrying groan that froze the creatures currently trying to push through the flame wall toward me as the water beneath the longship bulged and swelled, and the clouds gathered above the mast. A swirling pillar of wind fell down upon the ship, and a swirling pillar of water rose from underneath it; cracking the hull in two. Several Efrans were caught in the flow, and tossed around violently, as the ship folded in on itself as the sea’s water flowed into it.
The pull of the waters by the Waterspout pulled both ships adjacent to it in. One of the fallen masts tears through the wood of the hull of the ship I stood on, as I cast Billow to knock the back of the lead ship away from the wreckage so we could salvage whatever Ichor had been used on the ship. Once the Waterspout dies down, the ship I stood on begins to sink beneath the waves. Pounding from below the decks, on the hatch covered with fallen debris let me know the panic of the creatures down below.
I used Lightning Step and landed on one of the halves of the ship split in two: the force of the lightning against the ground was the final nail of the coffin for the longship, as it cracked in two at the hull. I cast it again and rocketed to the middle, lead ship. I had to keep this one intact. The crew looked upon me with a look of both horror and panic as I pointed my staff forward.
Three dogmen sprang forward as the ship rocked from Ikit’s undulations as he coiled around and crushed the ship beside us.
“Lend thy blade, oh Djinn.”
I visualized the djinn standing above the charging trio and slashing down. The giant creature swung downward, and the wave of flame crashed over them: driving them to the ground. Flame and air splattered out from the impact and scorched the dark wooden ship. The three died upon the impact. I quick cast Djinn’s Volley as a line of smoke and flame archers formed behind me and shot forth into the crowd. A wall of water rose from the sea and swept in front of the group, and caught the flaming arrows. Chained figures began to appear in the wall of water, and I knew them at once to be water spirits. I drew in fire mana and sent it forward toward the forming spell.
The fire mana intermingled with the chained water spirits, and a burst of steam spat forth, casting a small cloud of hanging mist that cast a small cloud of coverage for the others.
“Dance before me, oh daughters of the wind.”
Several sylphs formed on the deck in front of me and spun together in a kind of dance, causing the wind itself to form a vortex. I pulled as much wind mana as I could and pushed it down into the forming spell. All the mist grew larger and larger until it was so large that I could no longer contain it, and let it loose.
My feet left the ground momentarily as the dervish howled forward into the mist. As it was impossible to get earth mana here in the middle of the water, the mage beyond the mist had no way to counter it. Several of the smaller dogmen were tossed to the side, or up into the air. Several dived into the water, only to be pulled down into the deep by the sinking ships on either side of us. The ship that Ikit had coiled around cracked and sank, as the dogmen aboard swung their weapons at the giant sea serpent.
Once the dervish died, only the largest of the dogmen, and the mage: hidden behind one of the large dogmen who carried a tower shield planted on the deck in front of himself. There were about fifteen left, at a quick glance.
I quick cast Djinn’s Volley. They stopped, and let the arrows splatter against the metal shields, and then began to inch forward. I cast it again, but this time I visualized the lines of Djinn behind the line. They let loose their arrows into their backs. They howled as the flaming arrows pierced through their backs, and six of them fell dead, or dying, and the formation was temporarily broken.
“Oh you ruler of Olympus, lend thy power to my steps.”
Once more the ship rocked as lightning spat forth from my feet and sent me rocking forward into the middle of the broken formation. I pointed to the right with my staff.
“You that bind the all, move for me.”
Aether formed at the tip of the staff and shot forth. Its elbow collapsed inwards. Then its ribs, and then its spine as it was flung into the dogman beside it, who fell to the ground at the force. A weapon strike bounced off my Repel to my left, and I turned around and punched forward with all the force I could muster into the side of the head of the attacker. Its head snapped to the side, and it fell limp momentarily before seizing on the ground.
The two others still standing, and the mage, turn toward me, and once more array themselves in a line.
“Dance for me, oh djinn.”
I visualized the djinn forming around the small formation, and it formed in front of me. Djinn, dressed in long, flowing robes formed a small circle around the four and began to spin: their robes flowing around them. At their spinning a small dome of flame and wind forms, encircling the small group. Water began to rise from either side of the ship, as bound water spirits pulled the tides to heel. I take in Igni’s mana and split it in two: sending streams of fire mana into the mass: countering the spell, and casting another pall of mist and fog. I then sent the streams of Igni’s mana into the Djinn’s Dance, as the orange flames turned red and hotter. I visualized the spell collapsing inwards just as another water spell was being formed. The Djinn swept inwards and across the Efrans before vanishing. Those within the dome were left a smoldering, twitching mess. I picked up a spear near my foot, of one shot dead by the line of Djinn during my initial attack, and finished them with off.
This was the ship with the Ichor in it. The one that had managed to cut through the fogwall, and would help us find Monica: stuck deep within the Ratmen city. I recast Repel and headed to the lower decks of the rocking ship, and with spell and spear, I killed the rest of the crew: their bodies cluttering the halls and rooms where they fell.