am-books Chapter 113 SURROUNDED
Chapter 113 SURROUNDED
Kaelen and the others finally reached the abandoned port, its weathered wooden docks creaking softly as the waves gently lapped against the worn-out piers. The air was thick with the scent of saltwater, and seagulls cawed lazily overhead, their cries echoing over the desolate area.
As they stepped onto the cracked stone pathways leading deeper into the port, their eyes were drawn to a large ship docked at the far end. Unlike the rest of the decrepit surroundings, the ship seemed well-preserved, its hull gleaming faintly under the sunlight, with intricate runes carved into the wood along its sides.
A subtle, pulsating glow emanated from the symbols, marking it as something more than just an ordinary vessel.
Guinevere was the first to step forward, her eyes wide with fascination. "This... this is no ordinary ship. These runes—they're imbued with magic. This could take us across the sea faster than anything else we've seen."
Morris squinted at the ship. "How is it still in perfect condition? Everything else here looks like it's been rotting for years."
"It must be enchanted to protect itself from the elements," Guinevere said, running her hand along the ship's smooth surface. "If we can activate it, we could use it to sail out of here."
Kaelen's hand never left the hilt of his sword, his senses still on edge. He glanced around the area, his instincts and mana detection spell telling him something wasn't right. "Let's figure it out quickly. I don't think we're alone."
As if on cue, a sudden rustling echoed from the treeline behind them. Before anyone could react, a series of dark figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding them in a tight circle. Doran's men, dressed in dark leathers and armed with blades, crossbows, and magic, closed in on Kaelen and his companions, cutting off any path of escape.
"Well, well," a thick and manly voice suddenly sneered from the crowd. One of Doran's top lieutenants, a tall man with a scar down his cheek, stepped forward. His hand rested confidently on the hilt of his sword. "Looks like you've reached the end of the road."
Morris cursed under his breath, bringing out his scepter. "I knew something was off."
Kaelen's eyes flicked around, counting the number of enemies. There were at least twenty, all armed to the teeth. "We've been followed."
The lieutenant smirked. "Doran was generous enough to give you all a head start, but he doesn't let loose ends get away. You're coming with us, dead or alive. Doesn't matter much to us which."
Eldric stepped forward, cracking his knuckles, electricity sparking faintly around his hands. "I've always hated dealing with bottom feeders like you. Should've stayed in the shadows where you belong."
The tension in the air thickened as the group found themselves surrounded on all sides. Kaelen tightened his grip on his sword, glancing back at the enchanted ship. They were so close to freedom, but now they were boxed in.
Guinevere, her hand glowing faintly with fiery magic, whispered, "What's the plan?"
Kaelen's mind raced. They couldn't take them all head-on—not without a strategy. "We need to get on that ship. If we can hold them off long enough to figure out how to activate it, we might have a chance."
The lieutenant laughed mockingly. "Trying to escape? You'll be dead before you set foot on that ship."
Ethan, standing at Kaelen's side, unsheathed his twin daggers. "We've faced worse odds."
"You can't escape this time," the lieutenant hissed. "Your luck ends here."
Kaelen gritted his teeth, locking eyes with the man. "Luck has nothing to do with it."
Quick steps!!
With a powerful push, Kaelen shoved the lieutenant back, breaking their clash. He spun his sword in a smooth arc, the Sword Union responding to his command with perfect precision. The runes on the blade glowed with a faint golden light, signifying its upgraded power.
The lieutenant, undeterred, charged again, swinging his blade in a deadly arc. But Kaelen was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and graceful, and with a quick flick of his wrist, he unleashed his newly perfected technique.
"Thousand-Fold Slash!" Kaelen roared, his blade moving faster than the eye could follow.
The air around him seemed to ripple as Kaelen's sword moved in a blur, striking the lieutenant with a series of lightning-fast slashes. Each blow was precise, and with each strike, the lieutenant staggered backward, his defenses crumbling under the sheer force of the attack.
In the blink of an eye, Kaelen's final slash cut through the lieutenant's weapon, shattering it into pieces. The lieutenant let out a gasp of shock as he stumbled backward, his eyes wide with disbelief. Kaelen's last strike sent him sprawling to the ground, defeated.
The lieutenant lay there, gasping for breath, clutching the remnants of his broken sword. "Impossible... how...?"
Kaelen didn't respond. He simply sheathed his blade, turning back to the ship as it began to lift higher into the air. He glanced at his friends, who were already on board, watching the battle from the deck.
"Everyone, get ready!" Kaelen called as he jumped onto the ship, the levitating vessel now fully rising into the sky. Guinevere, Eldric, Morris, Sofia, and Ethan gathered at the ship's edge, watching as the port below grew smaller and smaller.
Doran's men, including the lieutenant, could only watch helplessly from the ground as the ship soared higher, out of reach. The magic within the ship pulsed with energy, carrying Kaelen and his companions far away from the abandoned port.
"That was close," Ethan muttered, wiping sweat from his brow as he leaned against the ship's railing. "Too close."
Guinevere smiled faintly, still catching her breath. "But we made it. We're safe, for now."
Morris clapped Kaelen on the back, grinning. "That thousand-fold slash of yours... you really outdid yourself this time, Kaelen. I thought the lieutenant had us for sure."
Kaelen exhaled slowly, looking down at his sword, still glowing faintly from the power of his attack. "It was close... but we're not out of danger yet."
The ship continued to rise, sailing away from the danger below. As the wind swept through their hair, the group stood together on the deck, knowing that their journey was far from over—but at least, for now, they had escaped the clutches of Doran's men.
The horizon stretched out before them, vast and open, as the ship sailed into the unknown.