Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 459 In Preparations For A Battle

Even with a perfect map to print the archaic runes Amedith had seen on the ground as the devils tore the dark elves apart, it seemed that using that spell without solid ground just didn't work at all. Perhaps it was the fault of the runes themselves as they weren't exactly meant to be printed, and to test that theory Raven carved the rune he'd seen Darius ink in front of him the most.

"Minor healing," he said, throwing the scroll in the air while facing Regalia.

A waft of luminous green air whirled around the demi-wolf and the scratch on her hand carved to draw blood closed up in an instant.

"So it is the land and maybe something more after all," confirming their doubts, the party decided to rely on runes that didn't rely on any surface.

The very first was the rune carved for mass hysteria, then some healing, and at last, came the poison cloud of confusion that could choke their enemies of air. Hellfire was on Raven's mind as well, but that required prep–something he couldn't afford given the terrain they were working with.

Hiding in the shadow to carve those magic circles under the feet of those minotaurs was one thing, but doing so on the sea bed? If the hell's ocean even had one? There was just no way to do it–not without risking his life fighting against the horrors lurking deep within.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"I'll go check on the siblings again, in the meantime try to remember any runes that you can," parting with the group with those words, Raven headed upstairs again. This time, however, he wasn't met with a somber look from the elves, instead the two were loud and cheery while pulling large fish from the ocean.

The siblings on the other hand were nowhere to be seen, they'd disappeared into a housing area under a different cabin. Being twice as large as their original vessel, the ship was big enough for individual room for everyone, maybe not too big but not too small either.

'I feel like killing those idiots already, but if we don't need all the help we can get.'

"You really wanna do this without Erika?" Aria interjected, still a bit confused as to why their main healer wasn't gonna be around for the fight.

Looking back towards the door which led to the many rooms downstairs, Raven kept a stern eye at the entrance while responding to Aria's concerns.

"Asmodia and Erika, we're gonna need them both in full capacity when we get to the island," since nobody was coming up, he decided to face Aria head-on, after all. "Not to mention I want her to use her influence on the island to shift the citizens to the opposite end to where we would land. The last thing I want is trimming the numbers of potential devotees to Athenia."

"Damn it, you're right. Those knuckleheads won't listen to anyone but her and even then I doubt everyone's gonna agree."

"Doesn't matter, we just need the majority safe. You can't help those who are morons by choice," considering the fact that Erika wasn't going to keep the threat to their lives a secret, if anyone was stupid enough to stay, then, whatever happens, would be entirely their fault–or at least that's what Raven decided to believe.

Innocent casualties weren't what he wanted, but if it was between tying this mess neatly and without any of his party members dying or trying to foolishly save everyone–then the choice to be made was obvious.

'I hope their lives are worth whatever good thing you'll bring to them...'

Looking to the skies, Raven truly wished that Athenia would keep her end of the deal and bless the island as much as she'd done his homeland.

"Any day now..." Melicia whispered in the background, her eyes set on the horizon for the first ship to appear any minute. "Let's get this over with you bastards."

She was ready to face them head on and so were the others. And the only thing left to do was wait and gaze into the horizon for that first ship to finally appear.