For a couple decades now, the city of Ilaidis had been dealing in Black market operations. Straight through the Lord of the city, it was an easy way to get weapons, exotic animals, and every human trade. Being known as Etern's black market starting line, the route would head West and up though the Volkik Straight. It then went up the Hanzaba River, hit the Whirlplex and straight back down the Xanzaba River. When it traveled to the Split Straight, they reached back to Ilaidis.
The Lord of Ilaidis, Sir Dirupa, made it a point to hire as many strong Warriors as his budget allowed. It has only been within the last three years he had to start doing this. Pirates had been attacking his ships due to them knowing what are on the ships.
On this trip, Sophron was hired. Gold up front, his plans were to leave when they docked in La Varonge. If all had gone well, Sophron would be in Baro-Op, his home town, within three days. If all went as planned.
The bells of the ship lit up the harbor as the crew began shuffling onto the ship. A trip around the island usually took about four days, without stopping. Since they were trying to get rid of the black market goods, it could take up to two weeks.
The cabin that the warriors were staying in had four beds in it. Sophron took a top bunk, placing his bag on top of the blankets. As he went to leave the cabin, a man with long red hair and a short red beard, bumped into him. He was large and muscular, probably having close to 150 pounds on Sophron. Not to mention probably a foot taller.
"Ahh, a bunk mate!" the large man slapped Sophron on the shoulder. "My name is McKay!" he excitedly introduced himself.
Sophron returned the slap on the man's shoulder. "Sophron. Sophron Mercer."
"Well, Sophron, it should be a good voyage. Talked to the Captain and he said that the other cities will have our backs from the coast as we pass them." he took the bottom of the other bunk and laid back, "Dirupa already paid them to help."
As Sophron turned to leave the cabin, another man, about as young as his youngest son was. He had brown hair, but dark yellow serpent eyes. His skin was a light green-brown tint. Spikes grey out of the side of his head and out of his forearms. A long bow wrapped with reptilian scales sat on his back. The string was around his shoulder and was made out hair from a dragon.
He was a lot shorter than Sophron. As he looked up, the serpent eyes put holes through him. Sophron stepped to the side and the boy walked through.
"Thank you, sir." he said and jumped on the top bunk above McKay. "I look forward to joining you two on this voyage."
"Not one for introduction, eh son?" McKay looked up at him.
The lizard boy put a hand to his chest. "Apologies to you gentleman, my name is Vial Mortas. I'm a Lizian Man from Bledatah." Sophron and McKay introduced themselves.
As introductions concluded, Sophron left for the main deck. The smell on the ship was fresh and clean, mixing with the crisp aroma of the sea. He looked out to the open ocean and watched the sun glint off the waves. With a sigh, he was approached by a red haired woman who was smoking a rolled cigarette. Her eyes the same shade of the sea.
"So, you're one of the people who are going to help protect the cargo?" she asked exhaling, the smoke pouring out of her mouth and nostrils.
Sophron turned to her and nodded, "Yeah, I'm in need of the money right now." he explained.
"I didn't ask why," she expressed her disinterest. "My only concern is if you can actually fight and we're not wasting our resources."
Sophron blushed out of frustration. "Well," he began, "I guess we will find out if we are attacked." he turned back to the ocean.
"Very well. I do appreciate a man who keeps to himself. We set sail soon. Tight schedule around here." she turned around and began walking away. Only a couple steps were taken when she stopped again and said, "By the way, when the Captain asks you something, no matter how small, you respond to them. Next time, you'll answer to me." she continued to leave.
As the boat's Bells sounded off one again, the anchor began to get raised. The shop began turning off of the dock when a little girl came running up to the shop.
Panting and waving her arms, she screams, "Wait for me!" she put out an arm as vines shot out of the tops of her fingers. They wrapped around the railing and she pulled herself onto the ship. She did a rolling land when the vines launched her into the air.
"Phew." she exhausted, propping her glasses back up on her nose. "I can't believe I was running late." she said as she stood, standing no more than five feet.
Patting herself down and adjusting her over sized sweater, she walked past Sophron. As quick as her arrival was, she was gone, below the main deck.
All four guard were now accounted for. Sophron Mercer of multiple elements. McKay of fire. Vial Mortas, the Lizian archer. And finally Flora Hireles of the Plant element.
The sun was begining to set as they trailed the coast. So far it was a quiet journey, the waters were even calm. As they turned to the river, just over the coastal cliff, the watcher spotted a column of smoke.
Las Nera, the city that was supposed to be guarding them as they went by, was burning. While getting in closer, two battle ships made an appearance. The watched called the approaching ships out and the bells began ringing.
The four in the cabin shot out of their bunks and ran up to the main deck. Once they were up, the cannons started shooting from the enemy ships. What was once calm waters, the cannon fire began kicking waves up and rocking their ship.
"Get ready to fire! Draw in closer so we can storm them!" the Captain yelled, directing her crew mates. "Fire as soon as you have them in your sights!"
The ship turned so port side was facing the enemy ships. They drew in closer and began firing their cannons. Being impatient, Sophron drew the air in the palms of his hands. Using a boost from the air he drew, he shot himself into the air. Now, almost crawling through the air, he dodged there cannon fire.
once above a ship, he started falling down towards it. Crashing into the main deck, he made a crater in the thick wood. With clenched fists, he focused a black aura into his palms. The auras moved to shape that of tonfas, only having blades instead of a blunt aura of energy.
Before the dust had settled, he launched himself out of the debris. He began making quick work of the enemy's crew, using the aura to slice through them.
"Get off my ship!" a large man in a leather trench coat swung a pair of brass knuckles towards Sophron. Sophron stepped out of the way just in time to dodge it.
Sophron took a quick glance towards the ship he was on. Still quite a ways away. He turned his attention to the large man. With a cigarette held between his lips, the large man charged at Sophron once again. Sophron hopped out of the way, and although he was a couple of feet away, he punched the air towards the man. The blades of the aura tonfa shot towards the large man.
The man punched the aura and it shattered like glass, disappearing in the air. Holding his arms up, the brass knuckles began to crackles with lightning.
"Lightning Element," Sophron whispered. The weakness to lightning was Earth, but being out at sea, the closest thing to the earth element was either at the bottom of the ocean or a jaunt away from where they were. He had to think.
The large man began punching at Sophron, what sounded like thunder came with each strike. A wave of lightning bounced off of te knuckles with each thrust. Sophron kept dodging, getting in closer Everytime he moved out of the way.
When Sophron was right under him, he brought an arm back. From his knuckles, the sand from in between the main decks board started forming around his hand. In a moment's notice he couldn't draw anymore sand from the boards. All the sand solidified into almost a brick, and with all his strength, Sophron jumped up into the man's chin.
The man flew backwards and landed a couple feet back. Sophron hopped into the air, raising his arm. Coming down, he flung his hand down and crashed into his sternum. With all his ribs cracked, the man laid there.
Cannon fire continued. The ship rocked with each shot. Those not firing the cannons focused their attention back to Sophron. He was surrounded by twenty or so men. The brick that was around his hand fell back to sand. He kept his hand clenched around some.
The crew began attacking. By that time, his ship rolled to the other, bigger enemy ship. Sophron threw some of the sand in his hand into the crew's eyes. He raised his arms into the air and the black aura formed into another weapon. This time a pike that was as long as he was tall.
He began picking off the men, waving and swinging the pike around. Never did the pike stop. Slashing and stabbing through the men before him, he took a glance to the other ship and noticed that the ship he was on had started smoking. Time was running out to help his crew.
Instinct began sinking in, Sophron jumped into the air, his pike disappearing and his hands using the air to boost himself. While a fair distance in the air, he turned his body to where he was going to be falling head first. With his arms to his side, he sent air from his palms to start catching speed. Before hitting the deck, the black aura formed around his head. He crashed into the ship and split it in two before hitting the water underneath it.
Back on their ship, the captain frantically shouted orders to her crew. "Protect Lady Black Wave at all costs! If the ship goes down, we do too!" The crew had breached the other, larger ship, but was taking direct cannon damage. Members of the Lady Black Wave attempted to keep it afloat, however it had been taking water since the cannons first started firing.
Vial had taken a spot above everyone with the lookout. Using his bow, he had been able to take enemies out using an acid based arrow. The arrows that had missed had started eating away at the wood of the ship. So either way, whether he hit or missed, it was still an eventual win.
McKay was one the enemy ship, using a giant claymore to slice through the enemies. Mixed with his fire powers, he took on anyone that was in his way. All while making the ship take as much damage as possible.
Flora was back on the Lady Black Wave, attempting to fix the holes made by the cannon balls. However, the plants she had on her only expanded so far before she had to use the wood of the ship to repair. Which meant that water would be stopped at the risk of the old ship's wood being weaker than before.
Sophron had then joined in on the fight on the enemies ship, shooting himself out of the water. Landing next to McKay, his aura changed to twin ninjatos. The two stood back to back as they were surrounded by enemy crew. The crew began walking towards them. Drawing closer, Sophron and McKay gripped their weapons tight. Embracing the oncoming attack.