Advent of Eternity - Chapter 144 (Patreon)

The Withered Rose swung in a sharp turn, cutting through the sea and setting out in a direct collision course for the approaching two bandit ships. Stix stood by the cannon, a crystal ball loaded and aiming down its sights.

“Let me know when,” Stix said, her voice terse. “It’s in range, I think.”

“Are you sure you’ll hit?” Knell asked.

“The angle we’re at isn’t great, but their angle isn’t the best either. If we’re in range, they are too.”

“I know,” Knell replied. “Don’t miss your first shot. Aim for the wheel. If they can’t steer, we’ll be able to sail circles around them.”

“Don’t forget I’ve yet to shoot one of these,” Stix said, gripping the sides of the cannon tightly. “I’m not so sure I’ll land the first shot right where I’m aiming.”

“Just do what you can,” Knell said. “Maud, make sure Lillicent is safe below deck. I don’t even think she’s aware of the battle we’re about to start, but she shouldn’t be in it. She’s not prepared for a serious fight like this.”

Maud nodded. “She has been informed.”

“Good.”

Knell watched the other ship closely. The outermost, smallest ship started to swing around as well, bringing them into its cannon range. Maud steered the Withered Rose, keeping them out of direct range.

“I’m in range,” Stix said. “I can try to shoot whenever–”

“Now.”

A crack of lighting split the air. Blue fire erupted from the cannon Stix launched the cannonball, carving a streak of glistening light through the sky. It screamed, smashing into the side of the smaller bandit ship with a massive crash.

Wood splintered and shrapnel flew everywhere as the cannonball carved a path across the top of the ship’s deck and demolished its cabin, leaving a path of smoldering cyan flame in its wake.

“Sixteen Seas,” Maya breathed.

Screams and cries rose up from the bandit ship. They were close enough now that Knell could see men running across the deck, trying to put out the fire. Others manned the cannons, calling out orders to each other.

“We’re about to be broadside,” Maud announced. “I would get ready.”

Knell nodded. He gathered his magic, drinking deeply from the well within him, and readied himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Stix desperately reloading their cannon, but she wouldn’t get it loaded before they were in range.

Sure enough, a dozen loud cracks ripped through the air. Knell slammed the hilt of his staff into the deck and a wall of green energy erupted along the side of the Withered Rose. It shimmered in the daylight, standing still for an instant.

One after another, twelve cannon balls slammed into the barrier. Knell drew in a strangled, hissing gasp. He staggered, gripping the staff so tightly that his knuckles went white, and focused all of his attention on keeping the barrier up.

Ripples washed out over the barrier from the impacts of each cannonball, riding over each other like waves. Surprised calls came from the deck of the other ship, but they were professionals. Even as they started to pass, Knell could see the crew start to load more cannons. Maud spun the wheel of the Withered Rose, bringing them around toward the back of the other two ships.

A wave of exhaustion washed over Knell from the effort of keeping Warp up. He let the spell drop, sighing in relief, and the cannonballs splashed harmlessly into the ocean behind them.

The skeleton had been right about one thing – the Withered Rose was a dozen times more maneuverable than the other ships were – and the extra speed they both seemed to have worked against them, as they sailed past the Withered Rose too quickly to unleash a second volley.

“I’m ready,” Stix said.

“Fire.”

Stix lit the cannon once more. Another thundering boom ripped through the day. Maya flinched slightly as the crystal ball tore across the air. This time, Stix’s aim was truer. Her shot smashed into the back of the ship, carrying onward and blowing its wheel to smithereens.

To Knell’s delight, the ball kept going. It grazed the side of one of the masts, causing it to creak dangerously.

“Good shot!” Maya exclaimed.

“It’s not done,” Knell said grimly. “The bigger threat is the larger ship.”

Stix hurried to load another cannonball, only pausing for a moment to glance back at Knell.

“Uh… there’s no chance that Milo was sitting around in the cabin of the ship we just demolished, is there?”

“He would have been in the brig,” Knell said. “He wasn’t there, but we can’t afford to sink them yet. It’s far more likely that he’s on the ship that Cyll is currently boarding, though. Assuming he boarded, that is. We’re going to need to reinforce him. Can you do the same thing you just did and target their wheel?”

Stix swallowed, then nodded. “Yeah. But when we go for the largest ship, we’ll be right in the path of way more cannons. Can you block that?”

“I will do what I must. Hopefully, Cyll will take care of enough that we won’t have to worry about all of their cannons being trained on us.”

***

Cyll’s hand was stuck in a wall, and people were staring at him. He’d always appreciated a good play, even more when he was the star of it, but this was something else.

“What?” Cyll demanded furiously, grabbing Lassie from his back and bringing it down hard on his arm. The blade cut through flesh and bone like butter, severing it instantly and spraying the ship hull with blood.

Cyll’s arm squelched as a new arm sprung forth. He flexed his fingers, then tossed Lassie into his newly reformed hand and turned toward the terrified bandits staring at him. Their eyes were wide and mouths so far open that he could have stuck his fist straight into them and avoided hitting any teeth.

“Never seen a man appear out of thin air before?” Cyll asked, twirling Lassie at his side. “I’ve heard it’s a trick to die for.”

Then he stabbed the closest man.

What else was he going to do?

That snapped the others out of their shock. They let out cries of fury, drawing cutlasses and charging Cyll. That, of course, didn’t help them any more than standing still and gawking had helped the first man.

Not a single one of them tried to use anything more than a weapon, so Cyll didn’t have to worry about a dangerous path. And, better yet, they were in a smaller room, so there weren’t any witnesses.

Cyll didn’t even bother blocking their attacks. He let their swords swing through his body, choosing to trade blow for blow. Lassie ripped a man in half, killing him instantly. The other three bandits ran Cyll through, and relief washed over their faces.

It only lasted about as long as it took him to stab the next man. Then there was a lot of screaming.

That didn’t last long either.

A minute later, the door to the room swung open and Cyll strode out of it, dragging Lassie along the ground behind him. His clothes were covered with blood, and only about half of it was his. A maniacal laugh slipped out of his mouth as he started to run, his feet slamming against the deck of the ship.

“Come on, Lassie,” Cyll growled. “The Cap asked for a distraction. Why don’t we give it to him?”

The sword warmed in his grip, and energy poured out of its hilt and into his body. Cyll’s gate grew loping and his eyes bloodshot. Smells intensified all around him – sweat, anger, and salt all mixing together in a cacophony.

A bandit down a stairwell, his sword drawn as he searched for the source of the intrusion. Cyll slammed into him, driving Lassie through his heart without even stopping. The man’s dying whimper was lost as Cyll threw him out of the way and charged up the stairs.

He burst out of the stairwell, skidding to a stop in a long, wide room. Cannons covered each side of it, and easily two dozen bandits were manning them. Many of them already had flintlocks drawn and aimed at him, and a man in the back of the room had a crackling ball of white lightning swirling above his hand.

“Hello,” Cyll said, baring his teeth. “Would anybody happen to know where I can find the pantry? I got lost.”

Dozens of cracks split the air as the bandits opened fire, filling Cyll’s body with bullets. An instant later, a bolt of crackling lightning slammed into his chest, picking him up and throwing him into the wall.

Cyll slid down, his body already reforming, and lurched forward. The nearest bandit vanished in a spray of blood as Lassie removed his head. Cyll grabbed the man’s body, using it like a shield as another bolt of lightning arced forth.

“Come on!” Cyll roared, throwing the man aside and charging at the next bandit. “You’ll need more than that to kill me!”

Magic rumbled. Cyll dove, narrowly avoiding a streak of brilliant energy that ripped an enormous hole through the wood beneath his feet. He spun as he rose, carving two men apart in one move. Cyll jumped back, avoiding a brilliant flash of light that erupted beside him. He wasn’t sure what it would have done, but it probably wouldn’t have been fun.

Screams and calls for help rose into the air as Cyll tore through the bandits like a tornado of metal and blood. The Path user in the back of the room continued to rain magic into him, but the man was clearly starting to realize that his spells weren’t doing much.

Unfortunately for him, he only realized that when Cyll had mowed through a little over half of the other men in the room. The mage turned, starting to flee for the stairs. Cyll didn’t let him.

He reared back and hurled Lassie. The massive sword – possibly the most unwieldy piece of metal to ever fly – spun once in a perfect circle, then slammed into the man’s back with such force that it pinned him to the wall.

The gaze of every remaining bandit in the room went from Cyll’s hand to the sword – notably no longer in it. Then they split into two groups. The first – and smartest – ran for the exit as fast as they could. The second took Cyll’s disarming as a chance to gain the edge over him and charged.

Cyll met the fools eagerly. He didn’t need a weapon for these idiots. Cyll slipped under a sword blow, driving his elbow up into a bandit’s chin, then grabbed two other bandits and rang their heads against each other so hard that he felt the vibration run down his arms.

Spinning, Cyll used one of the bandits in his hands like a shield, blocking another bandit’s sword with their back. He grabbed the sword before the attacking bandit could pull it free, ripping it out himself and running the man through. Then he dropped both bandits, diving into a third.

They went down in a bundle of limbs, and Cyll’s teeth found his throat. Blood splattered across the deck, joining the growing pool of life that had spilled at his feet, and Cyll rose again. He spun, searching for the next target. There were no more.

A grin crossed Cyll’s face and he strode up to Lassie, ripping her out of the dead mage. The sword twitched in his hand, striking him on the forehead.

“Ouch!” Cyll snapped. “What was that for?”

The sword vibrated.

“Seriously? I just used the shitty sword for a moment.”

Lassie trembled again.

“Sorry, sorry. It won’t happen again.”

The sword went still in his hand once more. Cyll shook his head, then started up the stairs toward the upper deck, running his tongue across his lips.

“There’s a distraction for you, Cap. And, if that wasn’t enough, it’s about to get a whole lot bigger.”