Chapter 126: Stranded
Scene: The storm rages violently as the tornado barrels toward the ship. Commander Elara, with quick thinking and experience, calls the group to action. The group scrambles to hold the ship together while attempting to combat the deadly force of nature. The ship creaks and groans as the winds roar, and the waters swell around them.
Narrator: The tornado strikes with full force, sending the ship reeling. The group, seasoned as they are, has never faced a storm like this. Commander Elara rallies them to fight back, but nature's fury proves to be a formidable opponent. Desperation takes hold as the tornado threatens to tear them apart and drag them beneath the waves.
The group gathers on deck, the winds howling around them, rain pelting down in torrents. Commander Elara's voice cuts through the chaos, barking orders with urgency.
Commander Elara: (shouting) Aria, reinforce the ship! The rest of you, focus your mana and try to contain that tornado!
Aria concentrates, her hands glowing as she summons her Mana Liquid to form protective barriers around the ship, attempting to strengthen the failing mana runes. The others—Eren, Rylan, Asher, and Zarek—gather their mana and fire it toward the tornado in a desperate attempt to surround and contain it.
Eren's Red Mana, Rylan's Mana Mist, Asher's Liquid Mana, and Zarek's White Divine Mana collide with the spiraling winds of the tornado, but the force is too strong. Their combined effort strains against the power of the storm, but cracks begin to form in their mana barriers.
Eren: (gritting his teeth) It's not enough!
The tornado pushes back, breaking through their mana, shattering their control. The winds surge forward, and the ship is engulfed in the chaos. Aria's mana fails, and the ship is caught in the swirling vortex.
Narrator: The group's efforts are in vain. The tornado swallows the ship whole, dragging them under the water. As they struggle against the raging currents, the ship fills with water, and their strength begins to falter. Submerged, they fight to hold their breath, losing focus as they are pulled deeper and deeper beneath the surface.
Water rushes into the ship, and the group is thrown into a state of panic. Eren, Rylan, Aria, Asher, Commander Elara, and Zarek are submerged, the freezing cold of the ocean biting into their skin as they struggle to stay afloat. Their vision blurs, and their lungs burn as they fight to hold on to what little air they have left.
As the water rises, Zarek, straining against the pressure of the storm, spots an island in the distance—a small, dark mass through the storm's veil. His eyes narrow in concentration, and he gathers his strength, focusing his mana with everything he has left.
Zarek: (gritting his teeth) Hold on...!
In a final burst of energy, Zarek teleports the entire group, along with the ship, to the island. The transition is jarring, but in a flash of light, the storm vanishes, and the group finds themselves thrown onto the beach of the small island, gasping for air.
Narrator: The sudden shift leaves the group disoriented, but they are alive—rescued by Zarek's powerful teleportation. For a moment, silence falls as they catch their breath, the roar of the storm now a distant memory. Commander Elara, still in shock, turns to Zarek, both amazed and relieved by what he has just done.
Commander Elara stands up, water dripping from her armor, and looks at Zarek with wide eyes, still trying to process the events of the past few moments.
Commander Elara: (surprised) Zarek... that was... incredible. You teleported us with the ship?
Zarek, exhausted but composed, nods, wiping water from his face.
Zarek: (calmly) It was the only way. I wasn't sure if it would work.
The others slowly gather themselves, coughing and sputtering as they recover from nearly drowning. Eren shakes the water from his hair and looks at Zarek, a mixture of gratitude and surprise in his expression.
Eren: (breathing heavily) Thanks, Zarek... we wouldn't have made it without you.
Zarek gives a faint nod, his usual aloofness slipping slightly as he acknowledges their gratitude. For now, there is no tension between him and the group—only relief that they are alive.
Narrator: As the group regains their strength, the reality of their situation begins to sink in. They are stranded on an unfamiliar island, their ship damaged, and the storm has cost them more than just time.
Eren, still recovering from the ordeal, speaks up, his voice calm but laced with concern.
Eren: (seriously) While we were underwater... I used my Mana Burst. I could sense something... an ominous presence. I think that tornado wasn't natural—it was caused by someone.
Rylan furrows his brow, looking to Eren.
Rylan: (thoughtfully) Are you sure? If someone's controlling storms like that...
Eren nods, his expression serious.
Eren: (confidently) I'm sure. Whoever it was, they're powerful. We need to be prepared in case they come after us again.
Commander Elara steps forward, taking charge as usual.
Commander Elara: (authoritatively) First things first—we need to assess the damage to the ship and see if we can repair it. We can't stay stranded here. Aria and I will search the island for food and supplies. The rest of you, focus on repairing the ship.
The group agrees, and they split up. Aria and Commander Elara head into the thick jungle of the island to search for food, while Eren, Rylan, Asher, and Zarek begin working on the ship. Despite being shaken, the group moves with purpose, knowing they need to regain their strength before continuing their journey.
Narrator: The island is small and seemingly deserted. As Aria and Commander Elara explore the dense foliage, they find wild fruits, herbs, and fresh water—a relief after the harrowing experience of the storm. Meanwhile, the boys begin their repairs on the ship, using what materials they can salvage from the wreck.
After a few hours, Commander Elara and Aria return with armfuls of food, placing it in the center of the beach where the others have gathered. The ship wasn't damaged too badly in the storm, and the repairs are nearly complete.
The group sits together around a small fire, sharing the food Aria and Elara gathered. Despite the day's challenges, there's a sense of camaraderie, and the tension that once existed between them seems to fade.
Narrator: But as they prepare to continue their journey, a sudden realization hits them—a critical loss that could jeopardize everything.
Eren suddenly freezes, his eyes widening as he realizes something important is missing.
Eren: (panicking) The map. We've lost the map to Zisteria.
The group stares at him in shock, their faces falling as the weight of the loss settles over them. The map, which had been their only guide to the distant land of Zisteria, must have been swept away in the storm. The tension returns, and panic spreads among them.
Rylan: (frustrated) Without that map, how are we supposed to find Zisteria? It could be anywhere!
Commander Elara's brow furrows in thought, but she remains calm, trying to keep everyone focused.
Commander Elara: (calmly) We'll figure it out. There's no use panicking now. We'll rest tonight, gather our strength, and come up with a plan in the morning. We can't afford to give up now.
Narrator: With their path unclear and the map to Zisteria lost, the group faces a new challenge. Stranded on an island, their only hope lies in their ability to regroup and find a way forward. The road to Zisteria may have become longer, but their resolve remains.
The chapter ends with the group settling down for the night, the island quiet around them. As they prepare to sleep, the weight of their lost map looms over them, but they know they must push forward, no matter what. The journey to Zisteria has become even more uncertain, but their mission continues.