Chapter 444 Emerald Harbor, Part 1/2
POV Admiral Agabar:
A man in a green military coat with silver, mithril, and golden medals pinned on his chest and a feather hat on his head looked out of the window, his arms crossed behind his back.
'A storm is coming.'
The dark storm clouds gathered on the horizon, the blackness mixing with the redness of the sky. High waves rocked the ships in the docks below them as the storm slowly but surely closed on.
The blue and purple beams crisscrossed all over the dark sea, the ships one by one bursting into flames.
The flashes of light sporadically revealed the sprawling island fortress's thick walls, towers, and cliffs.
'This is not good. We can't hold for much longer.'
The doors into his chamber opened, and he turned to face them.
An officer walked in and saluted, his green cape tattered and covered soothe, "Sir, the enemies are cutting through our defensive fleet."
'This is not good. What is Chrysanthemum even thinking? Why are they attacking now when the entire continent fell to the evil dragon.'
"Tighten the defensive ring and lure the enemies into the reach of our stationary weapons."
A lightning bolt halved the sky like a giant sword. Then the entire island shook as the tallest tower exploded and collapsed down the cliffs into the stormy sea, creating enormous waves.
'Even nature is against us? Why now?'
POV Vesuvius:
The dragon hidden within the clouds and the storm watched thousands of humans walk like ants throughout the fortress on the distant island.
His eyes especially lingered on the enormous wooden ships reinforced by thick metal plates engraved with runes. Their green sails fluttered in the wind with cracks and seared blackened spots all over them, betraying their recent battles.
There were dozens of them. All docked around the island in a wide defensive ring, all their glowing weapons aiming in a single direction.
'This island is closest to my territory. There is a high chance it would be used as a staging ground for the naval invasion. Also, this fleet must be eliminated while gathered in a single place.'
The dragon had already made up his mind to erase the island of existence, not leaving even a trace behind.
Bright blue barriers of light enveloped them and formed a single wall around the entire fleet. The electrifyingly bright blue and purple rays constantly flashed everywhere.
The fleet of metal ships radiating powerful mana signatures quickly approached the islands from every side, their purple barriers deflecting all the blue rays.
'Is this Chrysanthemum empire?' As a former player, Vesuvius easily recognized the signature purple mana canons of one of the major empires.
'Why are they acting now? They were always so passive and self-contained.'
Then the dragon felt mana signatures and shift in the sea currents far in the distance.
'Of course, they will win. Their weapons are just much more powerful. How could some random kingdom resist their power.'
Mana flashed on the horizon, the residual wave reaching the dragon's sensitive horns, and then a bright purple beam of mana thicker than any previous painted the sea purple as it reflected in its waters.
The crew of the defending fleet couldn't even blink before the ray smashed into one of them, the blue shield shattering like thin glass when hit by a rock.
The purple explosion of plasma and mana created a massive wave of steam and water that rocked the remaining ships. The pieces of wood and metal, all burning or melting from the heat, rained down.
'Of course, humans always find time for infighting.' With ridicule, the dragon watched as his enemies culled each other without him needing to lift even a finger.
Then more and more purple rays impacted the ships, one explosion after another enveloping the green fleet in the inferno. The smell of burned flesh and wood drifted into his nostrils, arising his mood for battle.
Vesuvius didn't move. Instead, the thick clouds hiding him darkened even more, and the air shifted to conceal the sounds of his wings.
'Truly interesting, the question is how I can get the most out of this.' his eyes dangerously gleamed as a terrifying and treacherous plan formed in his head.
POV Sailor Popeye:
The sturdy-looking ship, with its hull fully covered in shiny metal plates that gleamed with the colors of a rainbow, sailed toward the fortress of stone standing on top of the steep cliff. The titanic purple crystal canon on its front deck was still steaming.
The morale-filled cheers of the crew were assured of their victory.
"Look at those pathetic weaklings running away from our mighty fleet!"
"For the imperial Chrysanthemum!"
"Unleash all the long-range artillery!" The order spread from one ship to another, the shouts of the sailor rushing to the posts creating a racket.
Popeye lowered his head, looking through the crystal lens of the cannon he manned. The green-sailed ships popped through his entire view as his vessel approached the fortress island, piercing through the waves with its mightily enchanted hull.
"For the immortal god emperor."
"For the immortal god emperor!" His voice joined the chorus as he overflowed with zeal and pride for his almighty empire.
'Haha, now that our emperor moved, we will rule this world!'
Thousand of blue stars lit up all over the sea, and the next moment the blue rays crisscrossed everywhere he could see, connecting the two fleets.
He averted his eyes on the wooden planks below him as the blinding flashes of light accompanied by blue sparks of the rays hitting against the fleets barrier almost blinded him.
'Haha, how could these inferiors face the arcane might of our god emperor!'
He raised his head again, smirking at the unbreakable purple barrier protecting the ship.
"Fire the middle-range weapons!"
Without hesitation, he aligned his crystal crosshair at the nearest ship and placed his hand on the purple crystal ball. The crystal on the tip of his cannon flashed, and a brightly shining lance of purple energy shot toward the inferior ship.
Suddenly, the sky turned darker and the air colder. The sea froze right before his eyes, and the layer of white frost crept up the board of the ship, ignoring the barrier protecting it as if it didn't even exist. White puffs came out each time he breathed out.
"Is this our magic?"
"It must be. These inferiors would never be able to do something like this."
Then a deep voice resonated with such a ferocity he could see it creating ripples in the water, "How dare you to attack my allies, you filthy weaklings."