~Castor’s Perspective~
I pull out my spear and point it at the Emerald Empress’ face. The 10 members of the crew defending the ship surround her. A group of 10 Emerald Skull Pirates surround the ship with flight spells.
“Why the fuck would you target us?” I ask.
She laughs at my words. A cold, cruel, heartless laugh befitting someone with her reputation.
“Simple,” she says matter-of-factly. “You’re a threat to my men. And that boy who keeps on manipulating our magic attacks. We saw that lightning kid drag him here. You’re the biggest threat to our fleet. And I have no intention of letting you live.”
I look at her with disgust. She’s nothing if not honest. And I hate honest bastards. I signal to my crew. They ready their weapons. Sage looks around in amusement.
“Very well. I’m going to have so much fun.”
She signals to her pirates. Before any of them can react, 2 die to fire imbued bullets as Avery flies past using a flight spell. Another one dies when Archibald runs out and shoots one with a musket. The rest of the crew springs into action. Avery looks at me.
“Reinforcements are on the way,” he says. I watch as William sends an aura slash at a pirate. It cuts the pirate in half at the waist.
“Got it,” I reply. “Let’s get Sage.”
We jump at Sage as she looks up at us. She dodges us.
“You two against me?” she asks. “Very well then.”
I lunge at her, holding my spear in my right hand. Sage dodges my stab and sends a blast of electricity only for it to get intercepted by an arrow of fire from Avery. I whip out my flintlock and fire a shot at her neck. She barely dodges before sending a slash at my face. I leap away before it hits me. Avery sends a beam of flames that Sage intercepts with a beam of lightning. The two stand there for a few moments, neither able to move.
I try to aim my gun at Sage’s head. But before I can do anything, one of our crewmates, Anne, lunges at Sage with a dagger imbued with magma. Sage notices and grabs her arm before the dagger can land and throws her at Avery. Anne hits Avery and both of them go flying backwards.
Anne gets up just as Sage leaps at her and cuts right through her.
“Anne!” I yell. I turn to Sage. “You’ll pay for this.”
She smiles, her sword stained with blood. Before either of us can do anything, someone blitzes into Sage in a flash of light, sending her flying off the ship. She recovers quickly, activating a flight spell before looking at her assailant.
Averill stands there, gauntlets glowing with light as he looks at Sage. He clenches his fist as he looks at her.
“Sage,” he says. “This ends here.”
Sage spits at him.
“Averill,” she says with venom. “I was wondering when you would show up.”
He says nothing as he creates a light magic circle.
“Well then. I’m here. Let’s dance.”
Sage smiles as she charges her weapons with electricity.
“Alright then, let’s dance.”
The two pirate leaders fly at each other, their weapons charged with magic energy.
End of Chapter XXXVII