Chapter 82: ~Overboard.~ (1/2)
***Norfolk, Northern Ocean***
***Ascathon***
“They intend to ram us! Dive! Dive! Now!”
Our ship starts to tilt slightly, but there is no chance that the huge mass of the carrier can change its momentum in time. Everyone on deck runs for his life as the silver ship, which was coming from slightly above, starts to saw into the upper decks of my flagship as it passes by.
“My flagship!” Rage consumes me as I witness my beautiful work of art being messed up! I pour mana into my feet and leap. The jump carries me up to the hull of the enemy ship and I propel myself farther upward.
A guy in a robe and a forming fireball welcomes me as I arrive at the railing of the enemy ship. My sword flashes forward and claims his hand. The fireball is sucked into my blade and I grin as I continue hacking away bits and pieces of the enemy.
The weapon is absorbing the mana of my enemies as intended. Then I realize that there are more people on deck and turn my attention towards them. Just in time because there is a fireball coming my way.
I raise my hand and counter the spell with a bubble of water. Then I swing my sword and release the absorbed power in an arc towards the group of enemies. Two guys are blown overboard despite their barrier spells and a third is cleanly cleaved in half.
Several others are able to evade the attack and I quickly probe with my mind for their mental defences. One of them seems weaker than the rest and I assault his mind with all my will. I change his perception of his comrades into foes and he starts to attack the people at his side in a mad frenzy.
Attack spells of various kinds are coming my way and I erect a barrier to block them. I turn my blade downwards and ram it into the metal floor. Magical circles appear under me as I concentrate to change the nature of my barrier spell to redirect the onslaught of magical power into the hull of the ship under my feet.
Fire starts spew out of a portal which leads into the ship and the whole vessel tilts. People fall and start sliding over the deck to go overboard. I hold firmly to my sword until the onslaught stops because the attackers have other problems to deal with.
Then I jump while casting a levitation spell and the enemy ship topples over and starts to fall. I orient myself and find my flagship with an ugly wound in its upper hull. The enemy ship continued in its path after scraping the armour off my ship.
My attention wanders to another silver ship on collision course with me while it's heading towards my flagship. It's a bigger construction than the other ships I've seen so far. A command ship?
I head for the vessel and the people on its deck start attacking me with spells and mind magic. I feel the powerful onslaught as several minds try to overpower me at the same time. So I steel myself and start to pull mana from my mana crystal while punching through the shield of the enemy vessel.
While I land on the deck and start to hack at my closest opponent to refill my mana reserves, something impacts between the rows of defenders. People start flying left and right as Celestial creates a path of carnage through the enemy.
I grin and follow her when our path is suddenly stopped by a bandaged figure with two swords of light in his hands. He blocks Celestial's attack and breaks our momentum.
Another guy in full silver plate armour enters the scene. “So you must be Ascathon. You fit the descriptions. How about giving up now?”
Three familiar people with masks join the two men and Celestial retreats to my side. I frown and grip my sword tighter. “I think that's a little more than we can handle. The suckers from the Council are bad enough, but the other two seem to be strong too.”
A ray of light swings over the deck and I am just in time to recognize Jazira's spell and raise a barrier which envelops Celestial and me. The spell leaves a charred and smouldering deck behind. The enemy soldiers turned to ash in the blink of an eye. Just the five figures are unharmed, encircled by a barrier of their own.
“~Nyahaha. Why? I think three on five are still favourable odds if you count me in~” Jazira descends on a disk of light beside us.
“I think you shouldn't underestimate them.” I raise my sword to a defensive position. “And what are you thinking!? Firing a spell like that at your allies?”
“I trust in you. Something of that scale wouldn't harm someone whom I call an ally.” She answers cheerfully.