废稿

草稿纸

Chapter

157

Fury

of

the

Sea,

Return

to

Alliance

The

raging

currents

of

the

Boshar

Strait

raged

endlessly.

Dark,

swirling

waters

battered

the

enchanted

vessel

from

all

directions,

while

thick

mist

seeped

through

the

layers

of

magical

barriers,

gnawing

away

at

the

protective

runes

carved

across

the

hull.

Giant

sea

wyrms,

ancient

beasts

born

of

the

strait’s

cursed

depths,

circled

the

ship.

Their

massive

bodies

churned

the

waves,

and

rows

of

sharp

fangs

glinted

coldly

beneath

the

dim

sky.

Roars

echoed

across

the

water,

carrying

a

primal

hunger

that

promised

nothing

but

death.

Kaisel

stood

rigid

on

the

deck,

his

dark

magic

flaring

nonstop.

He

wove

defensive

spells

again

and

again,

patching

the

cracking

barriers

as

the

sea

wyrms

slammed

their

bulky

frames

against

the

hull.

Behind

him,

the

patrol

ships

of

Seraglo

drew

near.

Mages

aboard

launched

wave

after

wave

of

offensive

magic,

their

glowing

spells

cutting

through

the

mist

and

crashing

onto

the

already

fragile

shield.

Cornered

between

ravenous

beasts

and

relentless

pursuers,

he

was

trapped

in

an

inescapable

death

trap.

For

a

long

while,

Kaisel

fought

with

all

his

strength.

His

mind

was

fixed

on

Scara,

on

Amelya

and

the

young

child

hidden

deep

within

the

royal

palace.

The

secret

they

guarded

was

a

blade

hang

ing

over

their

heads.

If

exposed,

all

three

would

perish

without

mercy.

Crossing

the

strait

was

his

only

choice

to

save

the

ones

he

loved.

Yet

as

he

struggled

against

the

endless

assault,

the

sounds

of

distant

battle

drifted

across

the

sea.

He

could

hear

the

clatter

of

armor,

the

shouts

of

warriors,

and

the

furious

roars

of

demon

soldiers.

Murok

the

dragon

lord

had

led

his

hellish

army

across

the

sky,

bypassing

the

sea

blockade

entirely.

The

allied

forces

on

the

wilderness

were

caught

off

guard,

fighting

on

two

fronts.

The

line

of

defense

was

crumbling

day

by

day.

Images

flashed

through

his

mind:

Dylan

holding

the

Holy

Sword

high,

standing

alone

to

lead

the

remaining

mages;

Brien

enduring

endless

battles,

trying

to

hold

the

broken

formation

together.

Once

five

great

mages

stood

side

by

side

to

defend

the

realm.

Now

most

of

them

had

fallen

in

blood.

Dylan

had

lost

nearly

all

his

old

companions.

If

Kaisel

left

now,

his

old

friend

would

be

left

to

bear

all

the

pain

and

despair

alone.

The

thought

stabbed

at

his

heart.

His

longing

for

his

loved

ones

still

burned

fiercely,

but

he

could

not

abandon

the

comrades

who

had

fought

beside

him

for

decades.

He

could

not

leave

Dylan

to

face

the

full

wrath

of

the

dark

army

all

by

himself.

Kaisel

let

out

a

low

sigh.

He

ceased

ch

anneling

magic

toward

the

distant

shores

of

Scara,

and

twisted

the

runes

on

the

ship

to

change

course.

The

enchanted

vessel

groaned

against

the

violent

currents

and

slowly

turned

back

toward

the

coast

of

Seraglo.

The

sea

wyrms

chased

for

a

distance,

then

hesitated

as

they

drew

near

shallow

water,

finally

retreating

into

the

dark

depths.

The

Seraglo

patrol

mages

watched

in

surprise,

yet

did

not

launch

further

attacks,

merely

maintaining

their

vigilance.

The

journey

back

was

no

easier.

The

currents

still

threatened

to

capsize

the

ship,

and

his

magic

was

nearly

drained

dry.

When

the

hull

finally

touched

the

sand

of

the

abandoned

harbor,

Kaisel

stepped

onto

solid

ground,

his

legs

trembling

from

exhaustion.

The

salt

wind

swept

over

his

face,

and

he

turned

his

gaze

toward

the

wilderness

where

the

war

raged.

He

had

given

up

the

journey

across

the

deadly

strait

for

the

time

being.

The

secret

in

Scara

still

haunted

him,

and

the

danger

had

never

faded.

But

he

made

his

choice.

He

would

stand

with

Dylan

and

the

rest,

holding

the

line

against

the

dark

horde.

The

road

ahead

was

still

filled

with

blood

and

danger.

But

at

this

moment,

he

was

no

longer

a

lone

fugitive

running

for

a

distant

rescue.

He

returned

to

his

old

battlefield,

ready

to

fight

alongside

those

who

shared

his

fate.