Chapter 863: Beauty And Mystery
[Kassandra, Demetra, Teuila and Hemera's POV]
It took them a couple of days to see Avidia in the distance; Kassandra was standing on the main deck of their Battleship. While there, Teuila and Hemera joined her as the blue-haired girl spoke, "Where are the Ghost Leviathans? Do you know?"
The Kraken girl nodded, "Yes. They lurk around the Deep Trench. Are you able to travel that deep, Teuila?"
"Of course! I'm an Aquarian, and we're descended from the trench mermaids," Teuila replied with a smile.
"What about me?" Hemera asked with a worried expression. "Will sun magic be useful?"
Kassandra smiled, "Yes Hemi. Your Sun Blast spell can be used to damage the Leviathans of the deep as it's extremely hot."
The sun elf nodded just as the sailors rushed around the deck; one of the commanders approached them and said, "We have a fleet of pirates bearing down on us, My Lady. Can we ask for your help in repelling their attack?"
Before they could answer, Demetra leaped over the railing, plunged to the sea below, and dived deep before transforming into her Demon Shark form. She breached the surface and let out a blood-curdling roar before diving back down.
When Kassandra saw this, she joined the shark girl and transformed into her Kraken form. The two Titans rushed toward the pirate fleet just as the Draconia Battlegroup opened fire. Mana cannons lit the dark sky, and the shells sliced through the air and peppered the enemies.
Explosions rang out as the pirates returned fire, but the Draconians activated their mana shields, blocking the attack. But it was too late for the attacking fleet as Demetra tore through their flagship.
'Oh wow!' Teuila thought. 'He's ships are powerful.'
As the Demon Shark destroyed the attacking pirates, something told Teuila to grab Hemera and throw them into the ocean. Something hit the battleship deck, causing a ripple of explosions that tore apart the vessel.
Once they hit the water, Teuila grabbed the sun elf and started speeding away from the sinking ship. While going there, Kassandra followed behind the two girls when she noticed a massive fleet firing on the Draconian Battlegroup.
Demetra finished off the ships before swimming toward Teuila and Hemara. When she got close, the shark grabbed both in her maw and fled into the deep as mana shells started landing around them.
"Dive Kass! Those things will hurt us otherwise," the shark girl said as they got deeper.
She cast a spell to keep Hemera safe as the two Titans came to a stop on the sea floor. Demetra opened her mouth to let the girls sit on her head as Kassandra watched the surface as the warships traded blows with the newcomers.
Unfortunately, the Draconians were outnumbered, and soon, their ships slowly sank to the bottom, making the four girls feel bad, but there was nothing they could do. Following that, the four of them started traveling along the sea floor.
Demetra slowly swam as Kassandra was patrolling the area. Teuila asked the Kraken girl, "How long until we reach the Deep Trench?"
"A few hours," Kassandra answered while killing a sand shark that tried to attack them. "We have to travel north, and it lies between the Pluoria and Frostwood Continents."
The Aquarian girl nodded before getting comfortable on Demetra's head while admiring the deep ocean. As they reached the Deep Sea, the scenery transformed into a mesmerizing underwater wonderland.
Strange and beautiful creatures swam alongside them-jellyfish with long, trailing tendrils glowed in the dark, schools of fish that shimmered like liquid silver, and large, majestic rays gliding gracefully through the water.
Teuila's eyes widened with awe. "This is incredible," she whispered.
Kassandra nodded, her Kraken form casting a faint blue light on the sea floor. "It's a different world down here," she said, her voice serene. One full of beauty and mystery."
Hemera's gaze was fixed on the glowing corals dotted the ocean floor. "I've never seen anything like this," she said, her voice tinged with wonder. "It's like a dream."
Demetra swam closer to a cluster of glowing anemones, her shark form blending seamlessly with the shadows. "The deep sea holds many secrets," she said, her voice thoughtful. "But it also holds many dangers. We must stay vigilant."
They all agreed and continued their journey until spotting a deep chasm sinking into the darkness. Demetra and Kassandra stopped above it while readying themselves to travel into the Ghost Leviathan's home.
***
[Hecate, Maeve, Nefertiti and Talila's POV]
The four girls were planning out their mission to the Southlands. Talila, Maeve, and Hecate looked at the pink-haired succubus, who explained, "The Howling Forest is a dangerous place full of cannibal tribes that hunt anyone who enters."
"They aren't an issue. Are there any powerful monsters lurking in the forest?" Talila asked with a severe expression.
Nefertiti nodded, "Tree Giants roam the deep forest and all kinds of monsters."'
Talila nodded and stood up, "I'm going to the ship's armory to see what arrows they have in stock."
After speaking, the silver-haired elf left the room while Maeve sharpened her sword and Hecate meditated in one corner. Nefertiti joined her and started circling mana through her body to increase her mana pool.
The journey south only took a day, and when they pulled out the Southland's shore, the girls were ushered into a landing craft with one thousand Dragon Marines. The vessels left the Battleship and approached the beach with the girls in the first one.
When they got closer, Hecate spotted something, "People on the beach. They are casting
spells."
"Shoot them, Tali! Make sure to disrupt their magic," Nefertiti ordered. "Maeve, can you use range weapons?"
Maeve shook her head, "I can only use the sword, Nefi."
The succubus nodded, "Hecate, help me clear the beach for us to land."
"Yes," the moon elf. "I will use Moon Blast."
Following that, a storm of spells rained down on the landing crafts, causing chaos to erupt as they retaliated. Nefertiti cast Arcane Storm, which sent pink thunderbolts slicing through the air and hitting the tribe's people.
Talila's eyes widened, 'Wow she's got stronger over the last couple week,' she thought.
While doing that, the vessel next to them exploded as a green-colored blast hit it. The marines were vaporized with a second. The four girls' eyes widened in shock, causing Talila to speed up her shooting.
She was using mana arrows that detonated, causing the tribesman to burn in the bright red fire. Soon, the land crafts hit the beach, and the Dragon Marines rushed out and attacked the enemy, who were taken aback.
Talila continued to shoot arrows while Maeve rushed in and cut down several tribesmen. Five minutes later, the battle ended, and the Marines started searching the area while the girls prepared to enter the forest.
The Dragon Marines surrounded them, and the commander told Nefertiti that nine hundred and fifty of them remained. She nodded and ordered three hundred fifty to stay with the landing craft to secure their escape while the rest would join them.
The small army entered the forest following that, and everything went wrong from the minute they stepped in. The atmosphere changed as the Marines spread out while making sure the four girls were safe.
As they got deeper and the forest closed around them, the first scream was heard, causing the four to rush in its direction only to see a group being attacked by a group of Jungle Lions. The monsters ambushed the marines from a bush and took two out before being pushed back. But several arrows from Talila ended the creature's lives. Nefertiti ordered them to spread out and keep an eye out. As they moved deeper into the forest, a chilling sound began to rise around them: the wild whistles of the cannibal tribes.
The noise grew louder, echoing through the trees and sending shivers down their spines. "They're close," Hecate whispered, her voice tense.
Suddenly, chaos erupted. The ground shook as the tribesmen charged, their wild cries filling the air. The Dragon Marines emerged from the shadows, their weapons drawn and ready. A fierce battle ensued, with the marines clearing a path through the enemy to allow the girls to
pass.
"Keep moving!" Nefertiti shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "We have to reach the heart of the forest!"
The girls pressed forward, their movements swift and coordinated. Talila fired mana arrows into the fray, each shot finding its mark and exploding in a burst of red fire. Hecate unleashed her Moon Blast, silvery light slicing through the tribesmen.
Maeve swung her sword precisely, cutting down anyone who dared approach. As they fought, the forest seemed to come alive with even more dangers. Tree Giants, their massive forms towering above, joined the fray, their branches swinging like giant clubs.
The marines fought valiantly, holding the line and protecting the girls as they advanced. Nefertiti raised her hands, casting Arcane Storm. Pink thunderbolts crackled through the air, striking down the Tree Giants and temporarily clearing the chaos.
"Now's our chance!" she yelled.
The girls sprinted through the opening, their breaths coming in sharp gasps as they dodged
and weaved through the underbrush. The sounds of battle faded behind them, but the danger
was far from over.
Just as they thought they were clear, a massive roar echoed through the forest. A Tree Giant, larger than the previous ones, emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing with malevolent
intent.
"We need to take it down," Maeve said, her voice steely with determination.