Jackal Among Snakes

Shortly before the battle between the Imperial Navy of the Great Chu and Argrave’s own forces began, Argrave had word sent off to the delegates of the Blackgard Union—more specifically, to the newly established Merovin. Once word reached the deities, they would be heading to this location. Argrave wanted to deal with the first wave of mortal participants long before they could ever arrive, if only so he could potentially curb the damage the gods might inflict on both sides of the conflict. Sataistador’s report only spoke of sea gods. This attack was meant to establish a foothold—a scouting party, in essence.

When the towering fleet came into sight for these further down, subtle signals spread out across the coastline indicating to Argrave’s allies in hiding that it was their time to get in position. It was evident that the Great Chu navy had scouted some locations that were prime for landing, and so their route was somewhat predictable. Argrave himself descended from the high cliffs and joined up with the towering white dragon, Crystal Wind, and his retinue.

The Great Chu’s Sea Dragon was large enough to accommodate uncountable forces, and among them would be the elite of the elites. They were protecting the life of an emperor reigning over an empire at least a thousand years old. Argrave would ostensibly be assaulting a fortress, and was bringing the people to match.

Argrave and Anneliese were the leaders for this operation. They brought six S-rank spellcasters with them: Rowe the Righteous, Vasilisa of Quadreign, Castro, Onychinusa, and the newly anointed Duchess and Duke of Dirracha, Vera and Hegazar. Alongside their ground troops—elite Veidimen warriors with officers like Grimalt, armed with divine weapons and enchanted gear—it was an incredibly potent force. Argrave wished for Orion and Melanie to come, but he didn’t dare divert them from the protection of Vysenn and Sandelabara. That was just as important as this operation, he felt. Galamon was here, too, and would be taking command of the Veidimen navy.

Argrave walked up to the group of six spellcasters. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“You promised to repair the ruined city,” Vera shook her head, gray hair swaying with the cold northern winds. She fixed her orange eyes on him and continued somewhat accusingly, “I still wonder if you’ve played us. But it’s a weight that was on our shoulders larger than this battle, certainly.”

“And it helps your kingdom as much as it does our economy, I suspect,” Hegazar noted. “We are but humble servants of the king and kingdom.”

Argrave was glad that this greedy couple were cooperative—it was likely because they saw the benefits of being on the king’s good side rather than any genuine altruism, but it had paid out in Argrave’s favor for this battle. With six of the best spellcasters in the kingdom at their side, Argrave felt they could easily match any foreign mages that the Emperor Ji Meng had brought. Importantly, these six were adaptable, and could react to the new styles of their foes well.

“I wasn’t aware that ships that large could even float,” Rowe the Righteous noted, staring out across the ocean past the craggy rocks concealing the naval base. “But my dragon can take us there. And I can help with the rest.”

“I’m glad of that,” Argrave nodded. “Anneliese—everyone is caught up on what to do?”

“Yes.” Her confirmation was confident.

“Alright.” He no longer felt the need to add anything when he saw her confidence, but people looked at him expectantly, perhaps expecting some of his words as a leader. He obliged, continuing, “In the Great Chu, people view their emperor as a literal son of heaven. This battle is to be the most vicious—and most important—part of this confrontation. If you follow everything Anneliese said, I’m confident we can pull this off. Only a few more minutes, and we’ll begin.”Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

Argrave reached into his pockets and pulled free a Brumesinger. He looked into its golden eyes, pet its black fur, and stashed it back away. “Onychinusa—everyone was immunized to the Brumesingers?”

“I took them to the dryads. If they were stupid enough not to get the blessing, they deserve it,” she shrugged.

“Then we’re all set,” Argrave nodded, ignoring her crassness in light of her necessity.

With that said, Argrave walked over to Galamon. With a word, the two walked away from the crowd. Once they had some distance, he said quietly, “Let’s talk removed from our roles, you and me. You’ll be commanding the Veidimen forces once again… as Veid’s champion, this time.”

Galamon put his fist against his chest. “Our victory will be complete. You need not worry about anything outside of your battle, Your Maj—no, Argrave,” he corrected, remembering Argrave’s request to speak removed from their roles.

Argrave gave his oldest friend a decisive nod. “And what we discussed?”

“…I will lead them even after this battle, as you requested.” Galamon lowered his head respectfully.

Argrave felt there was a lot left unsaid between them, yet they lacked the time to say it. Instead, he left saying, “Be safe, Galamon.”

“You as well, Argrave.”

Walking away from Galamon, Argrave looked to the large white dragon. Once everyone got on, this battle would begin. Nervousness brewed within him, but he pushed it down and walked toward the dragon. He grabbed the horn on its head and lifted himself up, then walked down to take position on its broad back. With a command, everyone followed him up onto its back.

Argrave clung to the dragon’s protruding spine, Anneliese joining him shortly. The Veidimen were the first to join, lining up in organized ranks where they’d long ago been designated. Shortly after the spellcasters came, taking position just behind Argrave and Anneliese. Rowe took his place on the dragon’s head, and it slowly turned its huge body toward the ocean as it prepared to fly. As Argrave gave one last nod to Galamon, Crystal Wind began to beat its giant draconic wings, and they took to the sky. Argrave saw the Great Chu fleet at the edge of the coast, just where the rocks began.

When the giant white dragon Crystal Wind broke above the rocks concealing its form, eight loud horns echoed across the coast. As soon as it was high enough to let the winds carry it, Rowe’s dragon cut through the air, heading toward the Sea Dragon as quickly as its huge frame could manage. Argrave looked side-to-side as Durran and his wyverns burst up into the air, heading to the east and west as though making to avoid the ships. In reality, they were flanking, where they might shepherd the ships into treacherous waters.

Argrave looked around as the dragon passed above the ocean. Longships cut out of hidden crevices in the rocks, jamming their way into strategic areas that they might board their foes easily. Already spellcasters took to battle, where the fastest among them sent fire and wind to create openings for the troops. The battle had begun, and the ambush seemed successful. But Argrave turned his head away, reminding himself that he ought to be focused on only one thing.

Oars pushed out the side of the turtle ships as they turned from relying on sails to relying on the strength of the men within. As the dragon neared, spells rushed at them from subtle compartments. Sheer cold erupted from Crystal Wind’s maw as it passed, stopping lesser spells in their track. Onychinusa, meanwhile, split apart into magic and reformed below the dragon, casting wards to shield from the few that made it past.

Anneliese called out over the wind, “You were right, Argrave! They’re employing shamanic magic!”

From the beginning Anneliese had been assigned to scout with her [Truesight] to confirm the presence of shamanic magic, and so Argrave accepted her words calmly. If their foes were using magic of this nature, likely at Erlebnis’ warning, they possessed ways to counter their strongest spells. [Requite] would be countered.

As they neared the Sea Dragon, ballistae mounted on the floating fortress zipped through the air at Crystal Wind. Rowe’s deft maneuvering avoided the least threatening, while Onychinusa in her impermeable form dealt with all others. As Argrave watched, he saw eight mana ripples spread out from different corners of the ship. It was time for their pivotal role to be acted out in this coup de main.

“Here it is!” Argrave called out, signaling to all others.

Rowe slowed his dragon, suspending it just before the flagship of the Imperial Navy. As Argrave clung to Crystal Wind’s back, the enormity of the fortress dawned at him. This vessel was large enough to be a city. The eight spells completed, finally unleashing their wrath and the signature move of the Sea Dragon.

Spells from the Great Chu had some unique aspects to them—one of the largest was their use of what occurred naturally to achieve greater power. This spell called upon the great ocean beneath the Sea Dragon. From the eight positions where the spells was cast, the vast and turbulent ocean coalesced into eight great eastern dragons. They writhed through the air like the tentacles of a kraken, then surged in on Crystal Wind like biting snakes. Each spell was as large as the dragon. It was almost instinct for Argrave to call upon [Requite] and returns those massive attacks back at their foes, but the enemy possessed shamanic magic and they couldn’t guarantee such a counter would not fail.

All of the spellcasters who’d agreed to come on this assault rushed up the dragon’s back, near its shoulders. It tilted backward and beat its wing to stay in place, and the Veidimen retinue clung to the dragon’s spikes as it tilted dangerously. Atop its head and neck, everyone prepared the most powerful ice magic that they could possibly muster.

As the water dragons neared, a wave of unimaginably powerful ice rocketed forth toward each and every spell. The dragon spewed its breath of sheer cold. Argrave sent the A-rank [Ice Maul] from both hands, imbuing both attacks with blood magic thanks to his perfected [Blood Infusion]. Anneliese, Vera, Vasilisa, Rowe, Castro, and Onychinusa all combatted the seemingly-unstoppable wave of magic. The two forces met, and the sheer pandemonium made it unclear which attack had won out.

Hegazar, meanwhile, master of illusions, conjured an S-rank illusion spell to shield all of them from the sight of the world. Once it had taken hold, Castro conjured a great burst of wind beneath them, sending crystals of ice scattering everywhere as Crystal Wind ascended into the air. To all observers, the ice crystals and fast winds would make this spot appear like nothing more than his namesake. But all the while, they soared above the Sea Dragon, heading for the back while spurred by a tailwind. As they flew, Argrave called upon his blood echoes to make a single [Bloodfeud Bow] as it passed over the fortress.

By the time they reached the back, Argrave’s [Bloodfeud Bow] was completed. With a pointed finger, the maroon bolt spread toward the back deck of the floating fortress. When it neared, a gigantic and awe-inspiring ward shielded the fortress. The bolt hit and pierced, yet even as it fragmented new magic already came to repair the hole. Indeed—the whole of the Sea Dragon was protected by a magic ward.

Crystal Wind swooped down, bunching its wings together to fit through the hole. They fell toward the wooden deck below. Moments before impact its wing spread to stop its descent, and the shift of momentum was enough to force Argrave to his knees. The dragon landed, looking out across the vast deck.

“Get off!” shouted Rowe, looking around frantically. “Don’t care to stick around!”

Argrave looked back to his struggling retinue, then shouted, “Come on! It’s time to go!”

Argrave and his whole force—save Rowe—dismounted Crystal Wind. When their feet were on the deck of the Sea Dragon, his dragon lifted up into the air once more. Above, Rowe called upon [Winter’s Awl] to break the ward once again, and left. His role was to block off any retreat.

Back on the deck, meanwhile, forces already emerged, running up from stairs below deck and taking disciplined positions. Bells and horns echoed out. Having only ever seen it in a distance in Heroes of Berendar, Argrave didn’t know the layout of this ship. It was so giant that working it out might take time. For now, though, they were on a flat deck at the back of the ship. A towering square building awaited them ahead, undoubtedly containing the elite troops of the Great Chu.

And its emperor, of course.

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