Night had descended upon the central lands. Only eight hours ago, the city of Krome was invaded and taken over by Huldian Pirates led by Dyrin. The people of Krome now walked on the plains after four hours of traversing through the marshlands.
Lit up by torches or fire spells, and surrounded by the remaining soldiers of Krome, the citizens walked like a blob, careful not to lose anyone. Leading the march was the hybrid salamander, Rico, who was being dictated where to go by Rapl and the officials.
"Your eye is splendid master Ashkin," one of the officials remarked as Rapl looked through the night using his all-seeing-eyes.
Trying to be humble, Rapl tried to brush it off, "I can only see slightly better in the dark, nothing too crazy." But as he continued to look, he saw a horde of trees out to the horizon. Using a zoom technique Artefus taught him, he saw that the trees had an umbrella look to them, "Trees in the horizon, they look like the ones you drew."
The officials nodded, "Yes, they are the Dark Swamp, should we prepare for rest?" One of the officials suggested, causing Rapl to look back. The people of Krome were starting to get tired, it had been almost four hours since they last rested.
"Yes, tell them that we will rest outside the swamp, there, inform me more of these lands." After twenty minutes of walking, the people of Krome came to the entrance of the Dark Swamp. There they began to lay down and eat, some even napped; Rapl got off Rico as he cleared his voice to the crowd, "WE WILL GO IN HALF AN HOUR!! FILL YOUR STOMACHS AND REST YOUR LEGS!!"
After his announcement, the rest of the champions of Zan including the swordsaint and red scars came up to Rapl. With most of the high-ranking soldiers present, the officials began to explain the land ahead of them.
Stretching over a few kilometers, the Dark Swamp is unique for its foliage. The Telirian mangroves are unique trees known for their umbrella-like tops, thick with large stems and leaves. Being under them is no different from being at night, even at the sunniest of days. The swamp has a large pathway cutting right through it, one that can fit the people of Krome if lined up.
While listening to the officials, Rapl had one thought in his mind the entire ride: "How deep are the waters of the swamp?" He asked, but the officials also didn't know. However, someone overheard their discussion.
"Lord Ashkin!" A soldier called as he approached Rapl, "I am of the merfolk race, if you may give me an Aegis to protect me from any creatures, I can go and check it out for you." Rapl nodded at the request. As the soldier took off his armor, Rapl was a bit taken aback by his appearance.
He had gills in his neck and his hands and feet were webbed, on his back and arms were fins, but aside from these, he looked like a normal human. As a Kendrian, Rapl didn't see too many of the other races other than the main three, elves, orcs, and humans, so seeing merfolk was eye-opening for him, reminding him of how big his world had gotten.
As the merfolk soldier descended the dark murky depths, Rapl casted an Aegis on him. But while doing so, he hoped not to hear a certain number, one that was going to dictate if he should prepare for battle or not. But as the merfolk's body began to rise from the water, Rapl's eyes widened at what came next.
"Twenty-five feet."
"Tell everyone to get ready to go, we'll start crossing in five minutes!" Rapl sternly commanded, leading the officials and the rest of his group to lift an eyebrow.
"Rapl we've just walked for four hours, everyone is tired," Sevi quickly replied, his mind wondering what Rapl was getting up to. But everyone saw Rapl's eyes, he was hard in thought.
"I found it weird that they didn't attack us when we were passing the plains," Rapl began, "I know full well Dyrin and his soldiers were going to be cautious in battling the city of Magri, so I expected them to attack us during our march, but none came, leading to my conclusion that they are trying to catch up to us to attack us here in these swamps."
Everyone then felt Rapl's desperation, Sevi, who took in Rapl's thoughts, also thought about it hard, "Although this mangrove swamp is thick, there are still gaps to it that can fit a boat right?" Immediately the officials also got what the two were thinking, they instantly announced the change of plans.
Meanwhile, a group of boats entered the Dark Swamp, baring about two thousand men led by Dyrin and Ja'Klei, "The name of this place does not disappoint huh?" Dyrin had his main fleet stay behind to conserve space and to watch out if Krome had backup coming.
"You sure you can fight?" Ja'Klei asked, still seeing Dyrin's bandaged wounds. The pirate leader merely brushed off the orc's worries, leading Ja'Klei to get a bit angry, "Here you go again, sure, you beat Ashkin and Malvoza, but don't let it go to your head."
"I'll be fine Ja'Klei," Dyrin finally responded, "Ashkin and I were equally injured in that battle, sure Malvoza damaged me but you guys healed me up real quick, I'm sure I'm stronger than him now." Yet even with Dyrin trying to calm Ja'Klei's nerves, he still saw his worry, "Psh, don't worry about it too much, plus, we've got more champions than them now."
Ja'Klei's brows curled more at Dyrin's excuse, "So what? None of them are stronger than Tuck, Frieda, and Verti." But from outside the tent of the boat came a pretty cranky lady.
"HUH!? ARE YOU SAYING I CAN'T BEAT TUCK!!" It was one of Dyrin's captains, Helga, a warrior with an affinity for blades. Ja'Klei stared at the human with a dumbstruck glare.
"Helga, you literally lost to him in a duel a week ago." The blade master tried to stutter a response, but none came. Then, from outside, another captain entered; wielding a hammer and baring a hulking body, this was Ivor, one of Dyrin's stronger captains.
"Dyrin, take a look at this," he called, leading Dyrin to get up from his seat as he made his way to the deck, quickly followed by Ja'Klei and Helga. There seven more of the captains he brought resided, quiet as if in a hunt, and Dyrin saw why. A trail of torches all marching in one large pathway, "Your estimation was correct, we caught up."
Dyrin grinned as he signaled something to Ja'Klei with his finger, the orc then turned to the torches their army had, "Dim them." One by one the bright flames of the Huldian boats dimmed, barely being seen under the darkness of the forest. The boats began to slowly creep up towards the lights.
The soldiers of Dyrin readied their blades in case any Zanian soldiers were protecting the crowd. All sounds died down as the sailors of the boats used their perception to move seamlessly through the trees and foliage.
But the closer they approached the trail, the more it didn't seem right. Due to their distance, they began to see the individual torches instead of a big horde of orange and yellow. All the fires were moving, yes, but they were the exact same size, exact same height, and most of all, they weren't torches.
The murky waters began to rage, causing the ships to get unsteady, "WHAT IS THIS!! A SPELL!!" One of the captains yelled as the soldiers looked overboard to check what it was. Their hearts sunk as their torches managed to illuminate a few feet into the water, and it showed them a scaly ruddle-like tail.
"IT'S A SWAMP LURKE-" But before the soldiers could finish what they were about to say, a beast came out from the water, boarding one of the ships. The soldiers who were there in the battle of Krome recognized it as the beast that was helping Zan.
"RICO'S IN THERE GO!!" Then suddenly, rows of arrows began to fire from the night sky, no, they began to fire below the canopy. Warriors began to lift their shields to block them, but they left themselves open as Rico began to swing his tail around, also shooting his venom at warriors far away from him.
But as the Huldian soldiers started to try to attack him, Rico quickly left the boat, sinking into the murky depths. But when they thought that was the only threat below their ships, they were horrified as webbed hands reached out from below their ships, and the merfolk pulled back their bows and fired at the exposed pirates.
The Huldians had thought they had the upper hand in water, but now they were being contested, "DAMMIT!! IT'S A TRAP!!" Ja'Klei remarked as he began to chant a spell. An Aegis shield came up last minute right before a ball of fire descended on the ships. But in that time when the ball of fire was being cast, Dyrin, Ja'Klei, and the rest of the champions saw hundreds of Zanian troops on the trees, their bows pulled back as they continued to fire.
Moments ago, Rapl noticed while walking with the people of Krome that the branches on top of the trees were thick enough for someone to be on them; and due to the thick foliage, it was borderline impossible to see anyone on it without any magic or gifts.
So after telling this to the officials and soldiers, it was Sevi who quickly made a plan. The main group would continue with fewer torches protected by most of the remaining army. Rapl would lead a small army up the trees and put some merfolk and Rico below the waters, using Sevi, Rapl, and other fire mages' mana, they would create a trail of fire using A Hundred Fireflies emulating a trail of torches.
So as the ships of Dyrin sailed right below them, they triggered their trap. Rapl, as a champion, waited for the right time, next to him were Bok, Sevi, Alex, Leena, and the swordsaint. So as Dyrin's eyes diverted away, in a split second, Rapl's eyes began to pulse.
"IGNI!!"
"FLASH!!"
Rapl and Sevi both cast at the same time, their fists enveloping with mana as they descended towards Ja'Klei's shield. And with both attacks hitting, the Aegis shattered, opening the soldiers again to be fired upon. Ja'Klei and Dyrin's eyes both widened as they saw the Lich Apprentice again.
But in a matter of milliseconds, Ja'Klei began to chant a spell, "FULCRUM!!" From Ja'Klei's staff came a torrent of flames directed at the two, but Rapl already knew a reaction like that would happen.
To meet his speed, Bok descended down faster than the fire could reach the two, "Enveloping Gale." And with a swing of his blade, he covered all three of them in the wind.
"Winter's Rain." Then suddenly, Dyrin's boat began to feel very cold, and not a moment later, sharp icicles started to fall down toward Dyrin and his champions. Because of this, Ja'Klei had to stop casting as he had to dodge.
"I gotta say you've impressed me, Lich," Dyrin remarked as he slowly walked towards the wind, his knife beginning to ignite, "But that's the trickery out of the way, NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE REMATCH!!" Dyrin's blade lit on fire as Rapl exited the Enveloping Gale.
On the air, Rapl's hand began to spaz, but with a firm fist, he controlled it, as sparks of lightning began to come out from it.
"FLAME SHOT!!"
"CRACKING BOLT!!"
Dyrin's eyes widened as he saw thunder come from Rapl's hands, but he later found out why. The Winter's Rain of Alex cast an icicle on top of Dyrin's head; Sevi, who saw Rapl was going in with lightning, used a fire spell to melt it. Water fell on Dyrin, covering his body.
Knowing the damage was going to be higher, Dyrin added more mana into his Flame Shot, hoping it would stop Rapl from hitting him. But as he cast it towards Rapl, his figure dissolved. And from behind Dyrin, Rapl was charging up, "Cracking Bolt." Blasting the back of Dyrin, and further hurting him due to the water, Rapl sent the Huldian pirate rolling on the ground.
It was a sight that utterly bewildered Ja'Klei, who saw all of that happen in under five seconds. "LORD ASHKIN HAS BORDED!!" The swordsaint yelled, causing all the champions of Zan to drop down, apart from Leena who continued to fire arrows at the champions below.
A hectic battle then ensued, with Ja'Klei instantly turning to the dark swordsman he fought in the morning, "I believe we didn't get to finish?" Bok tauntingly asked as he pulled out his blade.
"I'd also like to get back to that." Spells and wind began to clash as, in another part of the boat, Sevi and Alex were being attacked by Helga and a few champions. Helga charged in with her blades, crossing them to cut either of the twins in two. But before she could cut Sevi, a spike of ice came from the ground.
And not a while later, Sevi appeared at her side, his hands igniting as he readied a spell, "Blast." Helga was sent back a few feet from the explosion; seeing their chance, the champions tried to attack Sevi, but he was too fast, as he darted and dodged most of their attacks with ease.
"Frozen Land." Soldiers in the boat turned to the floor, as it began to be engulfed in slippery ice. The swordsaint held off the other champions with Ivor along with their soldiers; Leena assisted him, raining hell towards the champions, leaving the two leaders to face each other.
Dyrin, who was still recoiling from the shot, held his chest tightly as he tried to steady his breathing, "A-Ain't that a shot?" He blurted out with a chuckle, turning towards the Lich's apprentice; he saw his ship, engulfed in a battle full of color, yet the pulsing blue eyes of the man known as Ashkin were the things he paid the most attention to.
Rapl slowly walked towards Dyrin, his fists surging with mana, preparing to battle yet again, and this time, he wouldn't lose, "I'll give you credit, Dyrin of Hulda, you defeated me the first time we fought," Rapl complimented, yet his voice carried a bit of poison in it, "But you made one fatal mistake, you didn't kill me… and I tell you this Unbreakable Spirit, I learn from my opponents."