Chapter Eleven
The atmosphere on the ship plunges into a bone-chilling freeze, enveloping Miles in a suffocating wave of dread that tugs at deep-seated memories of his time in the cells. Anxiety gnaws at him as he glances over at Lilith, who is visibly trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around herself in a feeble attempt to ward off the encroaching cold. Thoughts of the twins rush through his mind, spurring him into action as he strides over to Crimson. "I think we are under—" But before he can finish his warning, a massive figure descends from the sky, crashing down in front of him with an earth-shaking thud—Junk, now towering before him with arms transformed into solid ice.
Miles's eyes widen in disbelief. "Are those new arms?" he stammers, disbelief laced in his voice.
"Yes, you punk!" Junk snarls, his voice dripping with disdain. Without hesitation, he lunges forward, slamming Miles aside with a force that sends him sprawling, unconscious, off the edge of the ship and plummeting into the abyss below.
Lilith gasps, panic igniting within her. A surge of determination sweeps over her as she turns and shouts to Crimson, who is desperately trying to navigate the ship through the tempestuous winds. In a split-second decision, she leaps into the fray, launching herself off the boat to catch Miles before he meets the ground.
"No!" Junk bellows, his anger erupting as he reaches for Lilith, trying to snag her before she can dive. His frustration echoes off the ship's steel frame. "Looks like I have to send a signal to my brother," he mutters darkly, preparing to unleash a devastating spell. But just as he gathers his icy aura, the sharp twang of a crossbow snaps through the air, and a bolt shoots from behind him, slicing through the wind and tearing off his ear.
"Ahhh!" Junk screams, shock and pain coursing through him as he clutches the gory remnant of his ear. He whirls around to find Crimson standing there, unwavering, his crossbow aimed unwaveringly at Junk, fury etched across his face.
"Where are my friends?" Crimson demands, his voice a low growl, intense enough to freeze the air around them.
Junk smirks, bloodied but defiant. "I killed them," he spits back, relishing the anguish he knows his words will provoke.
"Cut the crap, Junk. I know you're too much of a sore loser to do anything without your brother's command," Crimson shoots back, resolve to harden in his expression.
"Oh really?" Junk taunts, his solid ice arms raised in a mock salute, entering a fighting stance reminiscent of a seasoned boxer, ready to unleash hell.
Crimson's eyes narrow like slits, a fiery determination igniting within him as adrenaline surges through his veins. He feels the weight of the battle in the air around him, a charged silence that brings every muscle in his body to life. With a swift, decisive motion, he hurls his crossbow aside, its thud swallowed by the tension that hangs heavy between him and his opponent.
In one fluid movement, he transitions into a fighting stance, his fists now adorned with gleaming brass knuckles that catch the faint light, promising pain. The sound of the metal clinking against his skin echoes like a war drum as he prepares to unleash a storm of fury. Every heartbeat roars in his ears, and he can sense the thrill of the challenge, an electrifying pulse that pushes him forward. This was it—just him and the impending chaos, a showdown that would test the very limits of his strength and resolve.
As Miles plummets through the air, the verdant canopy of the forest looms ever closer, a sea of emeralds just waiting to embrace him. In an electrifying moment, Lilith reaches out, her fingers clasping his with an urgency that radiates warmth through the chill of the fall. The trees rush up to meet them, leaves whispering secrets and branches clawing at their skin as they spiral downwards.
Without a flicker of hesitation, Lilith dives into her pocket, retrieving two shimmering seeds that glint in the dappled sunlight. She crushes them with a fierce determination, and in an instant, magic ignites. Vines burst forth, spiralling and twisting through the air, transforming into a protective cocoon that surrounds them in an explosion of vibrant green.