The air was tense as the group gathered near the wrecked ship.
The colossal dragon-turtle titan moved with agonizing slowness in the distance, its massive form covering a great part of the horizon.
For the moment, its gradual movements bought them precious time.
"We've got injured people, no working ships, and that thing"—she gestured at the titan—"looming in the distance. We need to move fast." Vaqal began, her voice steady but urgent.
Wuxian glanced around, his brow furrowed. "We're low on supplies too. Barely any potions left and no food nor water."
Elliot perked up at the mention of potions. A memory surfaced—a flicker of hope. "The Infinite Pouch," he muttered to himself, his eyes lighting up.
"Right! You have it with you, right?" Amiyan asked, in a sudden shift in mood.
"It's bound to us," Elliot explained, his hand stretching out as he concentrated. "If it's still intact, it should come back to me."
Moments later, a faint shimmer appeared in the air above them. The pouch, waterlogged but intact, flew from the ocean depths and into Elliot's grasp. Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
Elliot immediately rummaged through the bag, pulling out vials of potions and small packs of food. "Here," he said, passing them around.
"You're a lifesaver, Elliot!" Roshan exclaimed, her voice brightening for the first time in hours. Her eyes sparkled as she sidled up to him, hands outstretched. "Now, where are my sweets?"
Elliot rolled his eyes and handed her the pouch. "Knock yourself out. Just don't pig yourself up into a food coma–"
Before he could finish, Roshan let out a shriek.
"What is it?" Wuxian asked, alarmed.
"There's something grabbing me!" Roshan yelped, yanking her arm out of the pouch. With her, a tiny tree-like golem tumbled out, followed by two others.
The group froze in astonishment as the golems emerged. The first one, adorned with small flowers, ran straight to Wuxian and wrapped its stubby arms around his leg.
"Hey, it's you!" Wuxian exclaimed, his initial confusion turning into recognition. "The one that gave me flowers in the palace!"
Another golem darted toward Roshan, chirping softly as it clung to her skirt. She blinked in disbelief before her expression softened. "Huh. It's you! Hehe, so you decided to be my servant."
The third golem toddled toward Elliot, its round eyes glinting as it looked up at him expectantly. "Uh, hello." Elliot said awkwardly, crouching to meet its gaze.
Amara, who had been tending to the injured, turned to observe the commotion. "Are those the same golems that were in the Palace?"
"Looks like it," Amiyan said, crossing his arms with a bemused expression. "They've taken a liking to us. I wonder how they got inside."
"They're adorable," Roshan cooed, her earlier panic forgotten. "Can we keep them?"
"Focus, children." Elder Vaqal interjected, though even she couldn't entirely hide his amusement. "We have bigger issues to deal with."
Vaqal's tone shifted to urgency. "We need to get to the Pygmaian main islands and warn them about the titan. It's heading straight for us, and if it keeps moving, it could destroy everything in its path. We also need to inform the Archon of this situation."
"Problem is," Altan said, gesturing at the shattered remains of the ships around them, "none of our vessels are seaworthy anymore."
Amiyan studied the golems thoughtfully. "What about them?"
"The golems?" Roshan asked, tilting her head.
"Yes," Amiyan said. "They're made of wood, right? Tree spirits. If we channel enough mana into them, they might grow large enough to carry us."
"That's insane," Wuxian said, but his tone held a hint of intrigue.
Amiyan shrugged. "It's possible. I've seen similar techniques used with nature spirits in Isantanah."
"The problem," Vaqal interjected, "is that we're all drained of mana after the last battle."
"I'm not," Elliot said, drawing the group's attention.
"What do you mean?" Amara asked, concern flickering in her gaze.
Elliot hesitated, struggling to explain the strange sensation that had been building within him since his encounter with the ruins. "I don't know how to describe it. I feel... overflowing. Like there's more mana in me than my body can handle."
"Are you sure you're not pushing yourself?" Amiyan said, his voice sharp. "You could burn yourself out if you're not careful."
"It's worth the risk," Elliot replied, his tone firm. "We don't have time to argue."
Elliot knelt beside the smallest golem, placing his hands gently on its wooden frame. "Alright, buddy," he murmured. "Let's see what you can do."
As he began to channel his mana, a soft golden glow enveloped the golem.
It chirped in surprise, its tiny body trembling as it started to grow.
The others watched in awe as the golem expanded, its limbs thickening and elongating.
Leaves sprouted from its back, and its flower-covered head stretched upward like a blossoming crown of tree.
By the time Elliot released his grip, the once-tiny creature had transformed into a towering wooden behemoth, large enough to carry several people.
"Wow..." Roshan breathed. "It's not cute anymore."
"No kidding," Wuxian said, craning his neck to take in the golem's massive form.
Elliot proceeds to grow the other two. Elliot swayed slightly, the exertion evident in his posture. Amara was at his side in an instant, steadying him. "You shouldn't push yourself like that," she said softly, her concern clear.
"I'm fine," Elliot assured her, though he leaned on her arm for support.
With the golem ready, the group began to discuss their next steps.
"We need to split up," Vaqal said. "Altan and I will take the golem to the main islands to report the titan's approach and request reinforcements. We'll also try to secure a ship to reach the Archon."
"Amara and I will stay here with the injured," Roshan added. "We'll use the remaining potions and one of the smaller golems to evacuate if necessary."
"That leaves the rest of us. What do you wanna do?" Amiyan said, his gaze shifting to Elliot, a hint of concern hidden behind his usual confidence.
Elliot nodded, his brow furrowing slightly as his thoughts remained focused on the immense creature in the distance. "I need to figure out what it's doing and why I keep hearing that... calling from the citadel."
Roshan scoffed, stepping forward with her arms crossed. "That's crazy! You're telling me you're hearing voices now? Don't tell me, are you planning to climb up that thing?"
Elliot gave her a half-smile, trying to ease the tension. "I know it sounds insane, but I can feel something—it's not just some random coincidence. I don't know how to explain it, but this titan... the citadel... it's all connected."
Amara stepped closer, her voice soft but laced with worry. Her eyes lingered on Elliot for a moment too long, betraying her concern. "Are you sure you'll be alright? We've been through a lot already."
Elliot turned toward her, his expression warm despite the growing unease in his chest. He gave a small, reassuring smile.
"I'll be fine. It doesn't look hostile, at least not yet." His gaze flickered toward the looming titan, a strange determination settling in.
"Besides, I have the Infinity Pouch, a giant golem, mana potions... I'm more than ready. Just focus on keeping everyone safe here."
Amara hesitated, clearly not fully convinced but nodding in agreement. She placed a hand on his arm, her grip light but firm. "I'll be watching. Be careful, Elliot."
Amiyan placed a hand on Elliot's shoulder, his tone shifting to something more pragmatic. "Let's not waste any more time. The titan won't wait for us to figure things out. We've got a limited window before things get even messier."
"You're coming?", Elliot asked, his expression visibly surprised.
"Sigh. I'll go with you too. Besides, it's not everyday that I'll get to climb an ancient dragon," Wuxian added, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Elliot met their eyes, he nods smiling gently. "All right. Let's get moving."
As the group began to prepare for their respective tasks, Elliot stood still for a moment, watching them.
The rest of the world seemed to fall away as his focus returned to the echoing call from the citadel. The haunting melody had grown stronger, its resonance vibrating through him, as though it was beckoning him to a fate he couldn't escape.