Nathan

Year 2850 | Month 12 | Day 27

When I reach the ships by walking on the floor of the sea, I come to a rather late realization.

I have no idea how to recognize them without climbing aboard the ships. Since I have no way to recognize their scents or presences.

After all, I wasn’t a vampire the last time I saw them.

I cross my arms at the sea floor, ignoring my constant drowning as I stare upwards. Only to eventually just begin swimming up towards the ship below before placing my hand on the hull and activating multiple fire spells directly between my hand and the hull. One after another.

All spells to spew fire forth from my hand directly on the hull, slowly melting the hull itself until I make a hole in it.

Then I just casually float through the hole in the hull, finding soldiers inside rushing away from the running water while magicians move closer. Seemingly attempting to figure out how to patch it before they pause at the sight of me.

I ignore them as I begin moving far faster than a human through the ship, quickly passing the flow of water while beginning my search.

Unfortunately for me, I don’t find anyone I recognize on the ship. So I just go to the deck and jump off, leaving the crew rushing around in a panic both due to my impromptu intrusion and the not-so-little hole in their hull.

And without pause, I move on to the next ship, doing the exact same thing.

Then the next.

And the next.

And the next.

One ship after another, just burning a hole through their hull since they don’t have an easier way inside. Then going through the ship and searching for my friends.

Eventually I get to the larger ships of their fleet and have to ignore bullets and spells flying at me as I float up to their ships. The crew clearly having been warned about my actions by the other ships by now.

And when I enter their ships, I find myself faced with Class C magicians from time to time. But I just kill them without too much difficulty thanks to the cramped space of the ship corridors.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

By the time I finish searching all of the ships and make it back to the beach, preparing to pass through the barrier again, I glance back to find half of the enemy fleet sinking into the water. The crews on the ships clearly not having been able to patch the hole I made in their ships.

There’s probably also quite a bit fewer powerful magicians remaining.

Hmm. Well, that wasn’t particularly discrete, but it worked. And it’ll probably get me more benefits as well.

Anyways, I didn’t find any of my friends on board. But I did overhear some things and even found a map. One with the exact details on which nations are attacking where.

So after bringing those details back to the count, getting more than a little appreciation from him in return, I go ahead and head out towards my next destination.

According to the map and other details I’ve acquired, the Republic is attacking three different locations. Three different noble territories.

And of those three, two are territories belonging to nobles who are antagonistic towards me.

Duke Stretarious and Countess Kolar. Neither of whom like me.

The duke seems to want me in pain and to be unhappy, with a strange happiness at seeing it clear in his gaze. Meanwhile the countess just doesn’t like the threat I pose.

The countess won’t likely do anything to interfere with my actions even if she sees me as a threat, but the duke will likely try to get in my way just to annoy me. Even if he won’t attack me. Just try to make things a little more difficult for me to annoy me.

As for the third territory? The territory of Count Draxis?

That’s probably the easiest one to visit. Since the count seemed completely apathetic towards me.

Which was rather surprising. What with how all of the other nobles were either antagonistic towards me, neutral towards me and focusing on the war, or supportive of my strength for the war.

None of them other than this count were straight up apathetic.

So from what I’ve seen of him, he’ll just ignore my presence.

Then there’s the number of armies attacking them. Since the republic has multiple attacking forces. At least four per territory. With more in the duke and countess’s territories, strictly due to the friction these two nobles have with the others.

And most importantly, there’s the magicians leading each of the forces.

This is the main reason why I start heading over towards the count’s territory.

Because the general leading one of the forces there is the Healer General, Jacob Argent.

Also known as Cyria’s father.

And if there’s any army she’ll be in, there’s a good chance it’ll be his.

I’ll also be able to make contact with him when I’m there. Since I did meet the man once back when I was at the academy. And he seemed to take a liking to me for some reason.

He also seemed to pity me. Almost like he knew what I was going through.

The man never said a word though, so I have no idea if he actually knows anything or not.

I quickly run across the beach, occasionally passing by another battlefield and ignoring them when they attack me. Only occasionally attacking back at the ones who are too stubborn to let me pass unbothered. And after running at superhuman speeds for over two days, I make it to the count’s territory.

It doesn’t take me long to find the first battlefield either, and to my complete lack of surprise, the enemy has actually already breached the barrier and are fighting on the beach shores itself.

With a certain general fighting right at the front of the battle, healing their soldiers as he goes.

The corners of my lips quirk upwards.

Time for a reunion.