A low hanging branch smashed into his sternum as Asd struggled to right himself, his hands precariously holding on to the rope ladder that was hanging down from the airship. Asd could feel the airship shook and rumbled as he went through a few more trees, after a certain height it seemed the rate of ascension for the airship had slowed down and as a result Asd was suffering for it. He heaved, taking the rope ladder one rung at a time, but still having to close his eyes every few seconds or for a very long duration as leaves and branches slapped against him, one after the other leaving rather nasty cuts.
"God's damn-it woman! Isn't there something you can do to help him come up!" Boris's loud voice could be heard by Asd over the loud howl of the wind.
"Well how do you expect me to do that when you can't keep the bloody ship steady! Plus, do you see how will the winds are, I can't even focus on my damn spells so shut up! Cause your stupid elven voice is not helping!" Asd rolled his eyes at their arguments as he heaved himself upwards, relying mostly on his strength to fight the power of the wind that was wildly buffeting his body. it was so strong that the rope ladder was being pushed back by the currents as the airship picked its way forwards.
Asd gave a loud roar as he pulled himself upwards, letting go of the rope ladder as he went over and landed on the deck, his claws digging furrow into it as he brought himself to a screeching halt. His sudden move had caught both Boris and Professor Mona off guard, his actions and movements were definitely unexpected for them, but to Asd it didn't matter, he was alive.
[Master Watch out!]
Gaia's warning came on time as Asd turned to the side long enough to watch the unforgiving wind launch a tree trunk in his direction. It was an unexpected move, but Asd had no other choice but to face it head on as he stretched forth his hands and intercepted the two-meter-long piece of wood. But it didn't matter how he braced himself, he was blasted backwards, the tree trunk flying alongside him as they both went over the side of the airship, Asd's life once again in danger.
"Asd!" Boris shocked scream cause a momentary lapsed of concentration as the airship dipped to the side. Asd was holding on for their life, his claws stabbed deeply into a wooden section on the port side of the airship. Mona waved her cane and a barrier of purple and red covered her and the two satyrs, keeping their feet solidly planted on the deck of the airship and protected from the squalls of a fierce windstorm.
Asd slowly dragged himself back up, one claw at a time whilst struggling to fight the ever increasing power of the wind. He got over the edge just in time to see a Sailor struck in the head by a stray piece of concrete, his head bashing open as the wind carried his blood around, splashing it onto the shocked faces of his closest crew members, prompting to let go of the rope line he had used to secure himself to the ship. The wind did not overlook such an opportunity as he was whipped off the deck and thrown backwards against the main mast, his body making a sickening thud and a loud crack as he went limp and the wind blew him all over, his unconscious form trailing behind the ship like a kite while a line remained connected to waist.
*Bang! Crash! Creeeak! *
Asd rushed towards Boris who was at the wheel and trying to stir them to safety, but there wasn't much he could do about their current situation. Asd dodged a small coin side pebble that went on to clip the struggling dwarf at the side of his head, Boris growled out in anger, his focus razor sharp as blood seemed to trickle down the side of his head in soft but steady rivulets.
"Boris! You're hurt! Where's the captain?" Asd asked as he dragged a stray piece of cloth from the rush of debris around them and tried to wipe Boris's face and head of the blood that was currently flowing down. Boris made a sharp veer of the ship to the starboard side, just quick enough for a ten-meter-long piece of concrete to fly past them, clipping the sides of the airship and damaging one of its wings. Due to that Boris lost control of the airship as it veered on, turning on its axis and the wind buffeted it left and right with Asd and Boris struggling to bring the airship back into balance by tugging hard on the wheel.
Asd dug his claws into the deck below and pulled Boris down just as an elven sailor flew over their head and off the side of the airship. He still had a life line connected to the ship, but if he would be able to survive the maelstrom of destruction out there was totally and completely up to fate. Asd gritted his teeth in pain, the rough movements of the airship were putting a lot of pressure on his claws and fingers and he already felt one of his nails has been pulled out. Boris tapped Asd on the shoulder as he got up to quickly grab the wheel, dragging it sharply in the opposite direction and bringing it to a sharp halt that pushed Asd forwards over the ground and forced the ships wheel to break with a loud crack and pull off, throwing the dwarf backwards.
Asd rolled on the ground until he came to where professor Mona had erected a barrier, she didn't hesitate as she pulled him in, offering safety and protection from the travails and terrible destruction being cause by the storm. And then it began to rain, just as in that moment the Airship began to tilt over, dark clouds and lightning flashes filling the sky around them. it was just enough light for Asd to see Boris slowly getting back to his feet as the wound on his head seemed to bleed even more profusely.
The old dwarf was stumbling on his feet, but he was slowly making headway towards them and safety, though from the looks of things he might not be able to make it in time before the ship completely tilted over. Asd watched and then turned to look at the other sailors only to discover a sight that chilled him down to his very bones. The sailors were yelling in fear as the edge of a particularly large landmass with black jagged cliffs and stalagmites the size of buildings jutting out of the ground. The ship was tilting over, but it was also heading for a collision course with those rocks…. There was no way they would be able survive that, perhaps not without Professor Mona's shield. And that was a realization the other sailors made as they began to rush in their direction.
Asd turned to Mona, noticing a light furrow on her brows. There was a look of annoyance on it, and Asd got the feeling she was about to do something. But whatever the fuck it was, he didn't expect what came next. Boris made it, sure he was still bleeding profusely but once he got into the barrier that Professor Mona had made, things would be stable enough for them to figure out a way to save his life. But it seems the moon elf had other plans in mind. Boris reached at the same time two other sailors made it over, their frantic scrambling offset by the look of hope that was etched all over their face, and then just as they were close enough, fingers almost as the barrier, Professor Mona stamped the butt of her cane hard on the deck of the ship.
D
The barrier flashed as massive arcs of lightning flew outwards and shocked every livening thing with a three-meter radius. Including Boris who crumpled to the deck like a sack of potatoes seemingly lifeless. Asd didn't know whether Boris was still alive or not, he was caught off guard and shocked by the action Professor Mona had just taken.
"Why Did You Do That!" Asd yelled as he scrambled up to his feet, tempted and about to rush out to save Boris.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Young Asd. I would not have been able to maintain the barrier if there was any more people within it. Besides you don't have to worry your head about the common people who would never be able to reach the threshold of what you can and will achieve, it is their privilege to die for you, besides; its already too late.
The airship tilted fully until it was laying on its portside, the wind still carrying it forwards as the sheets of rain dropping fiercely became even more heavier, stinging on impact and leaving large bruises and welts on the body of those who were under it. The sailors all had a line around their waist keeping them attached to the ship and safe if they were thrown aboard, even Boris. But at this point it didn't matter as the ship's deck smashed into the rocks, its momentum smashing some to dust while massive cracks appeared on the deck as the mast and sails were ruined, each hit more jarring that the last as the wind carried the ship forwards like a child smashing a toy through other toys,
And on they went until a particularly nasty hit divided the airship in two, sending both halves careening into the darkness as death made its harvest and the storm raged on.