Chapter 584: Storm (Part. I)
The wind cut like icy blades as the group advanced through the open sky, the wings of the dragons and those who had assumed draconic forms ripping through the air currents with raw power. The sea below them stretched to the horizon in a deep, endless blue.
In the lead, Monica led with a steady beat, her tail flicking to maintain balance against sudden gusts. Close behind, Samira flew with fluid movements, as if at home in the sky. Beatrice and Cassandra maintained a steady pace, while Daniela and Bellatrix flew side by side, exchanging glances of mutual attention. Scarlet, Ouroboros, and Tiamat brought up the rear, their imposing presences like living walls against any threat from behind.
In the center, Scathach and Strax flew together—Scathach in his full, colossal form, his wings stretching like black sails into the sky. With each powerful beat, the air trembled.
Securely nestled on Strax’s back were Cristine, Yennifer, Xenovia, Krissia, Rogue, and Frieren. The air currents were intense, but the protective runes created by Scathach kept the extreme cold and wind pressure from harming them.
For hours, all was just the sound of the wind, the roar of wings, and the ocean below. Until, on the horizon, the sky began to change. Dark, heavy, dense clouds began to form rapidly, as if something were pulling them toward that point. Lightning snaked within them, briefly illuminating their monstrous forms.
Monica was the first to notice. “Storm ahead,” her voice sounded firm, but there was caution.
Samira approached her, her eyes fixed on the phenomenon. “This isn’t natural.”
The group began to slow down, until they hovered in the air, their wings spread to steady themselves against sudden gusts. Strax tilted his head, looking at the heavy sky ahead.
“It seems the ocean won’t let us pass.”
Scarlet, with a slight, wry smile, said, “Or maybe it’s the mainland trying to warn us to turn back.”
Ouroboros spun in the air to face the others. “Warning or not, crossing this with so many people on our backs is going to be… complicated.”
Frieren, sitting on Strax’s back, leaned forward to get a better look. “I’ve seen storms like this before… but not in the middle of the sea. It’s unnatural, like Samira said.”
Cassandra huffed, crossing her arms even in mid-flight. “We can’t waste time waiting for this to pass. It could last for days, weeks.”
Tiamat let out a low roar, vibrating the air. “Crossing anyhow would be foolish. This kind of storm doesn’t kill with wind and rain alone.”
Beatrice glanced at Scathach, who until then had remained silently watching. “Any ideas?”
Scathach kept her gaze straight ahead, assessing every inch of the cloud barrier. “It’s not just a storm. It’s a conjuration.” She pointed with her chin. “Look how the clouds spin. The center isn’t moving naturally. This was placed here.”
Monica narrowed her eyes. “So someone is trying to stop us from getting there.”
“Or stop something from getting out,” Scarlet added, her tone dry.
Rogue, who had been silent until then behind Strax, spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear: “What if we split up? Smaller groups can get through more easily.”
Krissia shook her head. “That would only leave us vulnerable.”
Cristine tightened her grip on Strax’s scales. “We can’t just stand here. The longer we stay in the air, the more tired we’ll get.”
The wind began to pick up, pushing them back slightly. The clouds seemed to be approaching on their own.
Scathach finally spoke, her voice filled with determination. “If we stay, we’ll be swallowed by the storm even without entering it. If we press on, we’ll face whatever’s behind it. We have no choice.”
Strax turned his head slightly to look at her. “And what’s the plan?”
“Keep a tight formation. I’ll clear the way.” She was already concentrating her energy, a red glow beginning to envelop her hands. “Whoever’s carrying passengers, maintain a steady speed, without sudden swerves.”
Ouroboros watched her for a few seconds. “And if we can’t cross?”
Scathach looked at everyone, her face serious, but with a slight, defiant smile. “Then we’ll know this continent is worth the effort.”
Samira raised her voice, cutting through the sound of the wind. “Let it be quick, before it catches up with us.”
Monica adjusted her position at the front, flapping her wings harder to gain altitude. “Let’s break through.”
Strax felt Frieren’s hands lightly squeeze his scales, not out of fear, but as a silent way of saying she was ready. He looked ahead, at that living wall of clouds, and took a deep breath.
Scathach advanced a few meters, the power growing around her like a crimson whirlwind. As she raised her arms, a fissure of energy sliced through the air ahead, opening a shaky path, but one free of lightning and extreme winds.
“Now!” she screamed.
The roar of the storm was instantaneous and deafening, as if the sky itself had closed in on them. The corridor Scathach had opened trembled, its edges pulsing with unstable energy, as if the conjuration itself were trying to reform and crush whoever dared to cross.
Strax beat her wings with controlled force, feeling the air shifting direction with every second. The smell of ozone burned her nostrils. Lightning flashed so close that the light made her scales reflect silvery.
“Keep up the pace!” Monica shouted from ahead, but the sound already seemed distant, muffled by the fury around her.
Samira flew right behind her, her eyes narrowed, feeling each gust of wind like a hand trying to pluck her from the air. Cassandra and Beatrice struggled to maintain their trajectory, while Bellatrix let out short roars to coordinate with Daniela.
Scarlet glanced up quickly—and saw something that made her stomach sink. The ceiling of the cloud corridor was closing, as if giant hands were crushing a tube of light.
“Scathach!” she screamed. “It’s closing!”
Scathach didn’t respond immediately, focused on keeping the rift open. Her power flared around her, but the pressure of the storm seemed to suck her energy like a bottomless abyss.
Then came the first blow. A bolt of lightning sliced through the air from the side, striking the void just meters away from Cassandra. The impact was so strong that the burst of light made everyone close their eyes for a moment—and in that instant, the wind current shifted abruptly, pushing them upward and to the side.
The corridor began to distort.