With the spar concluded, Asher, Jonah, his daughter Alicia, and a contingent of 5,000 sentinels boarded the warships, setting sail down the azure river toward the southern territories.
Asher had requested a brief delay to the journey’s original departure date, citing the need to prepare his paladins.
This change in plans had an unexpected benefit: they now had two warships to themselves.
Asher stood at the bow of a ship, the wind whipping his cloak into a frenzy as he gazed out at the horizon. Nero stood steadfastly by his side, a constant presence as the salty sea air filled their lungs.
A sentinel captain, flanked by two Adeptus Paladins, steered the warship from the stern. The paladins though had never fought a naval battle, the system incorporated such knowledge into them.
This troop was meant to fight at their peak in any terrain, from mountaintops to the deepest valleys, from extreme heat to extreme cold, from land to water, even to air.
Though all rounded, they still excelled more than those trained for specific duties. Their golden armour proudly dwarfed the blue armors the sentinels donned.
50 ship moved through the vast azure water in a neat formation. The first row consisted of eleven ships, five flanking the sides of the odd numbered ship.
That was the ship Asher stood on. Turning to the right, he saw Alicia and her father, Jonah who clasped his hands behind him, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Alicia’s lips curled into a smile when her eyes met Asher’s.
“She’s the heart of this formation, isn’t she.” Leaning into Asher, Nero whispered.
Asher responded with a soft nod, a flicker of thought flashing through his eyes at that moment.
“Her talent allows her to control water to her desire. I’m afraid no matter how strong we are, we are vulnerable to her as long as we remain on this river.”
Nero’s snake eye gleamed. “You can easily freeze the water.”
“Asher cast a sidelong glance at Nero, his eyes flicking briefly toward his companion before returning to the horizon. “You don’t understand. She is effortlessly moving fifty ships, meaning controlling water is so easy that it barely takes much from her. Her talent, Tethys allows her to fuse with the water and become a water spirit. Kryos might be able to freeze everything but to do that I will lose all of my mana and that…”
A gleam flashed through his golden eyes.
“Means death.” Nero sighed.
Asher nodded.
“But if you think from the opposite side, she is a fearsome asset in naval battles. With her on our side, losing a naval battle would be almost impossible—!”
Jonah’s voice dropped to a hushed tone. “We’re closing in on the dragon’s nest.”
The knights’ heightened senses allowed them to pick up on Jonah’s subdued tone, and Asher’s men instinctively readied their weapons.
They had faced a formidable foe before – a young dragon that measured just over 7 meters in length.
But according to Okeanos, the beast they were about to encounter would be far more terrifying: larger, stronger, and capable of unleashing a scorching flame that would put their previous battle to shame.
As they drew nearer to the marked location, the air grew thick with anticipation, and the knights’ hearts pounded in unison.
The rhythmic beat echoed through their chests, intensifying with each passing moment. Ahead, the twin hills rose from the landscape, their tree-covered slopes a vibrant green.
The valley nestled between the hills, a tranquil oasis that belied the danger lurking within. According to Okeanos, this was the dragon’s lair, and they would reach it in mere seconds.
“How would we fare against it?” Nero’s brows drew an inward curve.
Asher’s eyes went to Jonah. “We have an Awoken One with us.”
Asher’s words trailed off into stunned silence as he beheld the ravaged valley. A colossal red dragon, its massive body measuring 14 meters in length, lay lifeless against the hillside. Its wingspan, wide enough to cast a shadow over the entire valley, now hung limp and still.
The dragon’s belly had been torn open, and hundreds of orcs scurried about, hauling chunks of dragon meat through a shimmering portal.
The air reeked of smoke and charred flesh. Nearby, two more dragons, each comparable in size to the one that had attacked Zorah, lay motionless on the ground, their bodies bearing the same gruesome wounds as the larger dragon.
An entire family of dragons, slaughtered!
At this sight, Asher finally discovered the mystery behind the dragon’s rage, it’s unbridled fury that made it launch an attack on the city.
The painful aspect was this was the same thing, they were about to do. However, he definitely wouldn’t kill some dragons and incite another to ravage others for what they didn’t commit.
“Abyss creatures.” His face darkened.
The moment the knights’ ships came into view, the orcs’ gaze snapped toward them, their eyes locking onto the armored warriors.
The orcs’ faces twisted into scowls, their arms crossing over their chests as they glared at the ships.
On the hilltop, a towering figure stood watch, an orc of unnatural size and strength. His muscular torso and massive arms boasting explosive power, while his wild black mane cascaded down his back, framing his menacing features.
Thick lips curled back, revealing curved fangs that jutted from his lower jaw, giving him a feral appearance.
His gaze was unyielding, his intentions clear: leave now, and they would be allowed to depart unscathed.
It was obvious that the orcs would not take kindly to being interrupted, especially with three dragon carcasses laid out before them like a macabre feast!
“Archers!”
Jonah bellowed at the top of his lungs, his eyes darkening with hate. Alicia moved her hands in tandem, causing a surge of water inland and at that moment, arrows were sent curving through the air.
The harmless water that flowed inland, held the legs of some orcs, allowing to helplessly watch the arrows meet them.
Meanwhile, the massive orc leader unleashed a deafening roar, launching himself from the hilltop with incredible force. His landing was catastrophic, crushing a ship beneath his immense weight and sending splintered wreckage flying in all directions!