"What the hell just happened?" Roy roared, still jolted by the sudden lurch beneath his feet. One moment, he'd been on the Nightshatter's bridge; the next, he felt himself plunging through empty space.
Lutrian cast his gaze frantically around what looked like a roaring ocean, pinpointing Roy, Eryndra, Takara, and Warrex in the chaos. All four tumbled through saltwater that threatened to drag them under. Yet something felt off—wrong.
"Calm down," Lutrian called out, voice nearly lost in the rush of waves. "This isn't real!"
Roy spat out a mouthful of brine, arms thrashing to keep himself afloat. "Feels pretty real to me! How can you be sure?"
Light flared around Lutrian, faint at first but rapidly intensifying until the entire "sea" glowed with an eerie brilliance. His voice wavered from the strain. "She—Sorrowclaw—didn't know about 'that family'. Look around; they're missing. She's only twisting illusions around those she was aware of."
Eryndra managed to kick herself upright, windmilling her arms. "So what do we do?"
"Nothing. I've got it," Lutrian answered. His hands clasped together, and he let out a short, forceful shout. A shockwave of white-hot illumination erupted from his core, piercing the mirage. The roaring water instantly flattened out, draining away to reveal the Nightshatter's real metal flooring. They'd never left it.
"—tain!" Serenity's voice blared into Roy's ears. "Can you hear me? You were just… swimming in place, like a bunch of dorks!"
Roy's dropped his head in embarrassment. He glanced around. The bridge was dry, aside from wet footprints leading to the captains quarters. "That damn, wet shoe wearing skeleton, I swear..." he said.
He and the others stood there, dripping sweat, heartbeats hammering. No sign of the ocean that had swallowed them. A sudden, small voice cut through the intercom. "Enemy… detected… on ship."
Roy stiffened. "Serenity," he said, forcing calm despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins, "who was that?"
Serenity's usually crisp tone crackled. "I'll explain later, Captain. For a second after Lutrian broke the illusion, I detected a new presence onboard. Then it vanished from sensors."
Roy clenched his fist, swiveling toward the nearest overhead speaker. "All Super Elite Presidroids to the bridge! Every other model, get inside and help track down this intruder. Let Serenity handle the outside fight!"
While the crew scattered to obey, the external cannons thundered on, raking the sea around them. Roy jogged back into the bridge, scanning the displays. Four smaller ships flanked the flagship, all glimmering with inscriptions that rapidly healed any damage the Nightshatter's shells inflicted. He could see a feed from a distant airborne drone a silhouette spinning on the flagship's bow. Flames coiled around her hands and formed a massive orb that dwarfed the Nightshatter. With a gentle flick of her wrist it rocketed towards the Nightshatter.
Roy's gut twisted. "Serenity, sensors on that fireball?"
A beat later, the AI's voice returned. "No heat signature. All illusions."
Sure enough, the monstrosity of flame ghosted harmlessly through the Nightshatter's hull and blinked out. Roy blew out a shaky breath.
"She's trying to break away!" Takara yelled, pointing at the screen. Indeed, the flagship accelerated, pulling its four sister ships into a tight wedge behind it. They moved so fast it almost looked unnatural, some magical propulsion method that gave them an edge in open water.
Roy bit out a string of curses under his breath. "We're losing them. They'll outrun us if we don't act."
A polite tap on Roy's shoulder made him jump. One Presidroid offered him a wax-paper bundle. "Captain, your sandwich!"
He scowled at first—then huffed a short, incredulous laugh. "You're late," he muttered, snatching the food. "Serenity, do we have a clean shot?"
"All artillery attempts are getting blocked by illusions, runic repairs, or some combination," Serenity reported. "We need another strategy to slow them."
Takara took a shaky breath. "We could lay torpedoes in their path. If they detonate beneath or ahead of those ships, the shockwaves might knock them off course."
Roy's eyes lit up. "Yes... I, uh, yes, let's do it."
Moments later, rolling explosions blossomed beneath the waves ahead of the fleeing vessels. Columns of churning foam surged up, scattering water and debris. One of the smaller ships lurched sideways, forced to slow. The flagship itself listed for an instant, illusions flickering. The entire wedge lost a few knots of speed. Slowly, the Nightshatter gained on them.
Outside, Warrex stood near the deck's railing, wind whipping his hair as he focused on the flagship. "Captain!" he shouted over the roar of cannons. "Once we're close, let me jump aboard."
Roy strode to the hatch, half a sandwich still clutched in his hand. "And do what?"
Warrex's eyes gleamed with cold intent. "I'll handle them from the inside—cut them down until only Sorrowclaw is left. Then we can capture her."
Roy nearly choked on his sandwich. He coughed, waving his free hand dismissively. "Just kill her and be done with it."
Takara shot Roy a concerned look, he usually wasn't that blunt, but Warrex's grin only grew sharper. "I've long awaited this day."
At that moment, Eryndra joined them, arms loose at her sides. "I can throw him," she said simply, eyeing the shrinking distance. "We're well within in my range."
Warrex's grin faltered ever so slightly as he imagined being flung a mile across open water, but he steeled himself. "Y-yes. Let's not drag this out."
They hurried to a clear stretch of deck. Eryndra crouched, bracing herself. Warrex sprinted, planted a foot against a crate, and vaulted toward her outstretched hands. She heaved, unleashing a burst of strength that sent Warrex skyward in a soaring arc. The Nightshatter vanished below him, replaced by the dizzying sight of the churning sea. He could barely keep his eyes open, the wind blowing by made it difficult to even raise an arm.
Warrex tucked his limbs in close as he somehow silently landed onto the enemy flagship's rear deck before bursting off at full speed. The few crew members nearby were too preoccupied with defensive wards or repairs to notice him. Warrex scuttled behind a stack of crates, scanning for watchers. Shadows twisted on the rigging overhead, Sorrowclaw's illusions flickered about the sails, real flames blending with false ones to confuse any who might attack. He gave a small, savage grin and moved in.
A pair of archers patrolled near the mainmast, muttering about the changing illusions. Warrex surged from the dark, axe hilt cracking the first archer's skull. He kicked the second overboard before the man could even draw breath to scream. Then Warrex ducked back, weaving through illusions that flickered and bent. Sometimes robed mages drifted by, looking strangely uniform, eyes vacant and glassy—likely illusions themselves or entranced henchmen. He cut down or shoved aside anyone who seemed real, some toppling lifelessly into the roiling sea.
He methodically traversed the ship, isolating pockets of the crew and silently killing them. Sorrowclaw's presence glowed at the bow, he could feel her illusions swirling in that direction, somehow fueling the ship's wards. After a few hushed minutes, he realized he'd encountered no serious resistance. The entire enemy crew had been small, or maybe they had already died in the prior battle. Either way, no one remained.
At last, Warrex crept toward the bow, heartbeat steady in expectation of a final showdown. Sorrowclaw stood there, arms upraised, elegantly dancing, as illusions shot out like blazing streams from her fingertips. He lunged, swinging his axe at her back—and hit nothing.
The image shimmered, dissolving into wisps of light.
"Captain," Warrex whispered into his comm, a knot forming in his stomach. "She's not actually here. This is a decoy. Captain?" Static crackled in his ear. "Captain, respond!" Still nothing.
Back on the Nightshatter, a sudden, dreadful stillness filled the bridge. Takara lay sprawled by the bulkhead, blood matted in her hair. She moved her lips as if screaming, but no sound emerged. Lutrian and Eryndra rushed in, alarms blaring in the background.
"What happened?" Lutrian demanded, kneeling by Takara. "Where's Roy?"
Takara's mouth opened in silent terror, and she grabbed Lutrian's arm with desperate strength. An odd hush smothered the entire room, a cunning auditory illusion. Lutrian scowled, calling on his light magic. A faint glow kindled around his ears, letting him pierce the silence.
"—the ocean!" Takara's voice suddenly burst back in like a thunderclap. She almost choked on her words, eyes wild. "He's gone!"
Eryndra's stomach plummeted. "Where is he? And the Presidroids?"
A flicker passed across the entire bridge. The illusion parted just enough to reveal the Presidroids all flailing and firing at nonexistent attackers. A lazy laugh echoed behind them. Sorrowclaw's figure lounged in the captain's chair, tiny illusory images rippled around her like fine silk. She gave them a playful wave.
"Roy, was that his name?" she purred mockingly. "I tossed him overboard a moment ago. No, five minutes ago. Maybe ten. Hard to keep track when you're having this much fun! If he's still breathing, I hope he knows how to swim."
Eryndra's fury flared white-hot. She lunged in a blur of movement, slicing at Sorrowclaw's throat. Her blade found purchase, severing head from shoulders in one fluid slash. She followed up by booting the head out of the bridge door and into the ocean, only for the body to vanish immediately afterward. Enraged, Eryndra snarled, "Serenity, track her! She's using illusions to hide again!"
Lutrian steadied himself. "Let me do it." He jerked his chin at Takara, who was still on the floor. "Eryndra, see to her injuries."
Eryndra grudgingly moved to help Takara, though her eyes burned to tear Sorrowclaw apart with her own hands. Lutrian stood in place, breath coming fast. He concentrated until his vision glowed. A sprawl of overlapping illusions peeled back in from his point of view, revealing half a dozen false Sorrowclaws scattered around the bridge. One of them appeared extra-lifelike in a corner. Another hovered behind the center console. But in a deeper layer, he glimpsed the real figure cowering behind an illusion dozens of layers thick.
He feigned a strike at the nearest fake, hoping to trick Sorrowclaw into staying put. She fell for it, he felt her presence relax for half a beat. Then, with a swift pivot, he lunged at her true location. His shimmering blade carved deep, slicing from her shoulder to her hip. Illusions shattered in a spray of sparks as she crumpled, blood seeping onto the deck.
She shakily got to her feet and tried to conjure another illusion, but only a weak flicker formed. In desperation, she scribbled runes in blood over her wound and they activated, trying to hold her body together by sheer will.
Eryndra rushed in, ready to deliver a finishing blow. Lutrian blocked her with a flash of light, shouting over the din of illusions flickering out. "No! Wait! Warrex can interrogate her. She's worthless to us if she's dead."
Before Eryndra could argue, a voice like creeping frost resonated softly from behind, chilling the air and stopping everyone dead. "No need."
Slowly, they turned. From the captain's quarters emerged Father Skeleton, his appearance absurdly incongruous at first glance, an oversized conical straw hat perched jauntily atop his skull, gaudy retro shutter shades concealing dark eye sockets, bright parachute pants rustling with each casual, rattling step. A terrifying stillness suffused the bridge. Every step Father Skeleton took seemed to drain warmth, leaving behind a numbing dread. Sorrowclaw's remaining mana flickered and sputtered out entirely, her eyes filling rapidly with primal fear.
Her knees buckled as she whispered in horror, "If—If I had known, I would never—"
Father Skeleton tilted his head slowly, causing the room's shadows to dance unnaturally. "Enough," he murmured, the quiet command heavy as lead, echoing into the marrow of their bones. "You lesser Children of the Fifth exhaust my patience. Speak only... if I command it."
The air turned frigid, and his clothing began smoldering at the edges, dissolving into smoking cinders. Black and orange flames erupted silently from his skull, flowing down his form like viscous, burning ink. From nothingness itself, dark, imposing armor manifested, adhering to his bones in a grotesque yet awe-inspiring spectacle. Shadows gathered, forming an ornate, sinister throne of inky fire behind him, onto which he sank casually, as if mildly bored by the spectacle.
Father Skeleton rested one armored hand lightly atop Sorrowclaw's trembling head, slowly running metallic fingertips through her hair in an almost gentle caress. "Now... speak," he whispered, each word carrying unbearable weight.
Sorrowclaw sobbed uncontrollably, voice shaking with terror. "When I walked in, somehow the girl still saw me. So I ram her head into the wall a few times and then...," she paused, dreading the next words, "I—I threw the captain and his metal golem attendant overboard with a chained iron weight. It—it was less than ten minutes ago, left side of the ship. Oh! And he, um, he—he cast a small spell as he sank, that's all I swear!"
Father Skeleton inclined his head slightly, voice coolly indifferent. "Scion, one hand, please."
Instantly, Skellbro blurred into existence, faster than the thoughts of anyone in the room, a sickly emerald blade flashing. He sliced through Sorrowclaw's wrist without pause, chuckling softly as he vanished. She shrieked violently, her wrist appearing untouched yet her agony excruciatingly real. Lutrian's legs buckled involuntarily, dropping him to one knee, overwhelmed by primal dread. Eryndra, frozen mid-step, eyes wide with rare fear, watched helplessly as the horror unfolded.
"Again," Father Skeleton murmured, bored.
Skellbro reappeared with sickening speed, cutting seven more swift slashes through the same wrist, in the same exact spot. Each invisible slice layered unimaginable agony upon her, exponentially magnified with every passing second. Skellbro casually kicked her shin before disappearing again, leaving Sorrowclaw writhing and screaming in ceaseless torment.
Father Skeleton's voice cut softly through her shrieks. "You now bear the Curse of the Gloaming Scion. Feel that anguish eternally, savor your endless undeath."
Sorrowclaw, choking on tears and pain, wailed desperately, "He might still—he could—please stop! I swear—it was five minutes at most! That's every detail, every last detail, please! , "
Father Skeleton leaned forward slowly, the shadowy flames of his armor flickering darkly. "And? Consider yourself fortunate we ceased at merely eight slashes. Should the young master not be recovered by dawn, you shall endure a million more...every...day...for a thousand years."
With delicate cruelty, he tapped a finger against her forehead. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed limp, her breathing ragged and shallow. Instantly, Father Skeleton's fiery armor and throne dissolved into smoke, leaving only his skeletal frame wavering unsteadily. Bones rattling weakly, he crumbled abruptly into a scattered heap on the deck.
A suffocating silence settled over the bridge, broken only by Sorrowclaw's faint, anguished breaths and Takara's suppressed sobs. Finally, Serenity's hesitant voice crackled softly through the speakers. "Warrex, do you copy? The flagship is secured, yes? Turn it around if you can, we must find Roy."