The tension on the beach rose to whole new levels. The rate of distrust and weariness in the card mage eyes was telling.
Kairo and his group finished boarding their ship. Waiting at the edges, Kairo observed his contestants from his high spot. Each and every one of them had their way to navigate through the second water body.
Kairo learned after inquiry that the only reason the ships had not departed yet was because there was a regular interval at which it was safe to attempt to sail the second water body. Anything outside of that safe time would encounter ferocious resistance.
Kairo didn't even ask more about what the resistance exactly was. Sorel was reluctant to talk of it as if it brought back too many somber memories.
"Depart," Ortega fired one green bobbin into the air. The sparkles moved like a living star, twinkling as it circled into the air above them before turning into a myriad of green particles.
The two boats were set in motion. Kairo retreated from the edges of the boat as it began moving. Propelled by its propulsor, it began sailing the water.
Actually the card mage police had two such boats. The first team composed of Mirelle, Kairo, Nyx, Sorel and a group of reapers, while on the second boat was David Ortega, Danzan, Fabian and the others.
Selis and her people stood on top of the whale this time around. While the ICMA took their helicopters. Some freelance card mages rode on floating beasts.
While others still could run in the void propelled by fiery boots. Another one arrogantly flew above the card mage police ship, using its wings made of spinning winds to make spins and pirouettes in the air. His smile was provocative and arrogant, causing many onboard to frown.
"Let them be. The real party has not even started," a reaper said. This appeared to be the leader of the group, fidgeting with a sharp knife. Kairo was unconsciously staying away from him, keeping contact with the card mages from the city they came from.
"It's not about who looks the coolest but about who gets chosen destiny first," Kairo reminded himself. There was no need for the card mage police officers to compete at this level. Kairo figured out most of the leaders here had understood that. That was why only the freelancers were this excited.
"Keep in mind, Kairo. We have two main priorities. First, we need to ensure chosen destiny goes back with us," Mirelle said standing by Kairo's side. "The other objective is Selis Variant."
"Without the mage, the cards are useless. I understand," Kairo said. The underground card masters was a very powerful organization. Among the competitors here, their group single-handedly matched the powerhouse of the card mage police.
Selis was their pillar exactly like Magnus was for the card mage police. If she was out of the equation, their foundations would crumble and it will be easier for them to be completely dismantled.
"Is that even possible?" Kairo couldn't help but ask in his heart. He didn't doubt his abilities nor that of the captains, but this was Selis Variant. A grade six criminal or card mage sovereign and an equal to his father. The level of card magic she had displayed the last time left Kairo questioning their chances against her.
Kairo returned his focus to the moving ship. Now that he was here, he was curious about what made the island of card fossils this special. He moved to the forefront of the ship to glance at the water body.
The bluish water rocked above the surface as if there was something swimming underneath. Kairo could get a glimpse of what felt like a tail, but before he could confirm anything it vanished. The card mages moved without a single ounce of resistance. At first glance it looked nothing special, as the card mages were going for another simple sail in the ocean.
Clouds began gathering in the sky, forming a miasma that blocked their entire vision. Giving the impression that the weather was changing on a whim.
"Get ready, they are coming," a reaper warned them.
The reapers all began ejecting their cards from their launchers, summoning a wide range of defensive abilities.
Kairo swept his gaze all over the ship only to notice that the reapers had become really tense as if they awaited something. "Better get ready." He wasn't sure of what was coming but he knew from experience in this kind of situation it was better to follow the mass.
There was a loud cry ahead of them.
The water parted to the side, shooting to several meters in the sky. It was very brief but Kairo would have bet to have seen a humanoid figure in the water. The figure was like floating on water, its eyes deep and sharp. Mimicking that of a predator marking its prey.
It tilted its head in the sky and let out a cry, the type that sounded like some sort of alert mechanism.
"Summon the shield," Mirelle ordered at the forefront.
One after another, a group of card mages stepped to the four corners of the ship. From their card launcher, a card was ejected at the same time. Their movement was coordinated and synchronised, that of an elite unit that had been trained for this kind of maneuver.
The next thing Kairo saw was a massive blue veil that engulfed the ship, encasing it into a vibrant shield.
Thunder clapped above the shield, falling right from above them.
The electricity rippled around it, causing the ship to sway violently in the water. Kairo took a grip at the edges when the waves rose with the ship; the water splashed above the boat, almost throwing away several card mages on their butts.
Only the reapers were firm enough to stay grounded. This caused them to flash even more with an aura of superiority. This type of encounter was their playing ground.
"What the hell is that?" Kairo asked. His eyes glued to the beings that were created in the sky.
In the middle of the lightning field, massive wings flapped out as if an eagle was about to take the sky. One after the other, birds made of thunder burst forth, born of the lightning field. They swooped down in volleys, striking the shield again and again.
The impacts made Kairo's ears bleed. Kairo raised a single arm to shield his ears from the pain. The other one still glued to the edges of the boat. Unfortunately he wasn't like the reapers and could not stay standing with the swaying of the ship in the chaotic water.
"This was just the first wave of attack. Kairo and the others, protect the shield bearers until we reach the coast," Mirelle's voice was the light that they needed in this chaotic situation.
Kairo nodded and let go of his grip on the edges. The ship swayed to the left, sending a wave of water in his direction. Kairo frowned slightly, unable to keep his balance. He slid down the edges and smacked his head on the watery boat. "Damn... I start hating this mission on water," he cursed. The pain was sharp and disturbing but he quickly stood up.
The card launcher ejected his cards from his wrist launcher, which Kairo caught effortlessly in his fingers. This was one of the reasons the card launchers were made this tiny and small, such that they could deploy their card magic quickly and efficiently as it was most of the time the deciding factor between life and death.
He summoned both the sand paladin and the protector armor. Encased in the knight-like armor, he took the forefront of the ship. Because of the weight of the protector armor, Kairo managed to get a firmer grip on the ship boat.
The sand paladin on his part continuously dangled left and right, mimicking a drunkard. Kairo could only sigh in frustration; he wouldn't be able to use him effectively here. "Sorry buddy, it's not your turn to shine." Kairo forced the sand paladin to return to his card.
He stepped on the northern corner of the ship. Spreading his arms, he took a deep breath. In his palm there were flickers of light that continuously grew. "The gray card with the ember sky protector now has this ability. It takes some time to be summoned. I can only endure for now." Kairo gritted his teeth.
The shield protected from the thunder birds but their attacks continuously rippled above, striking restlessly all those who were daring enough to stay close to the shield. This was exactly where Kairo was, because the shield bearers could not run away from the four corners; they needed to be protected.
"What the hell is the bureaucrat doing? This shield can only protect from the impacts, not the thunder."
"Forget about them and focus on protecting the others."
The sound of the impacts grew with time, causing the mages' skepticism to fall on Kairo's deaf ears. His mind was focused on keeping the shield bearer intact. The coast of the island was coming into view at the horizon. Kairo was well aware he just had to bear a little longer.
There was a loud explosion just above their head.
In the sky, the figure who had been arrogantly flying above them fell like a fried chicken. His body crashed onto their shield. He had turned grey like he had been painted black. Sliding on the shield's edges, he fell just in front of Kairo's eyes.
There was nothing more in them. They were blank. "He is dead," Kairo gulped down.