Abyssal Awakening

'Damn! I should've done something once I realised he was bringing along the shipments.' Alice gritted her teeth.

After her preparations yesterday, she thought things were going to be fine.

However, two issues cropped up.

First, Darrow was far stronger than what she had originally anticipated. The second, Lorien WANTED the shipments to be bunched together!

*BANG!!!

Landing down from above, Darrow gave Alice a glance before turning to Minerva.

"Can you handle Lorien?" He asked with a serious expression.

"Leave it to me!" Minerva grinned as Darrow nodded with a smile.

He gave her head a pat before turning to Alice.

"Calista, care to join me for a moment?" He offered as Alice paused for a moment before nodding her head.

"Virn, send down the order. Have the crew focus on ending Lorien with Minerva. I'll intercept the traders with Calista over here." Darrow requested as Virn gave Alice a hesitant glance.

But if Darrow was giving her his trust then so be it.

"Alright."

With Virn now sending out the order, Darrow pulled out a small wooden boat and threw it out to sea. Jumping down, he called Alice over.

Alice's smile twitched seeing the boat clearly too small for the two of them.

"Please tell me you're not asking me to jump into this boat with you."

"Why not? This boat has been with me since I was but a sailor." Darrow laughed, giving the side of the boat a confident slap.

The wood was practically crying under his slap as Alice found herself feeling doubtful.

However, seeing his insistent gaze, she sighed and jumped down.

"Wouldn't it be better for you to get one of your crew rather than me? Weren't we just fighting each other right now?" Alice asked, taking a seat around the back while Darrow tapped his foot and the boat began to move through the water towards the traders.

"We weren't fighting to the death and I already know about your contract with Minerva. I merely wanted to see what kind of person could make my friend's daughter feel defeat." Darrow shrugged nonchalantly while taking a seat opposite her.

It was going to take a brief moment for them to reach the traders so Darrow wanted to take this chance to speak to her.

"Now that we got the chance to speak, why did you come to Caethis?" Darrow asked as his aura shifted to a more serious one.

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Furrowing her brows, Alice was about to say something when Darrow interrupted.

"We can fight. But I'd rather us focus on these traders that are looking to disrupt the peace that I painstakingly built."

Hearing this, Alice understood that Darrow didn't intend to kill her while their intentions aligned.

"Travelling and money. I came here because I wanted to travel east and ran out of money." Alice shrugged.

It wasn't a secret that she was doing this for money considering her contract with Lorien and Minerva.

"Then that certainly makes things easier for me. And that demonstration at the beach?"

Darrow wanted to know what kind of situation caused Alice to unleash such a devastating attack.

"Experiments. I found a new toy so I figured I'd take it out for a test drive. Who knew it'd split the sea in half." Alice shrugged once more.

While Alice was nonchalant, Darrow felt his eyelid twitch momentarily.

That demonstration at the beach was… an experiment?n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Setting that aside, it sounds like you know of these traders. Three eyes in a flame." Alice gestured to the ships in the distance.

"I only know that they've been on the rise overseas and in the Abyss. Other than that, there's no information on them. I don't know who created the group, why they created the group or where they're based." Darrow admitted.

"If you want information from me then sorry to disappoint, but I know less than you do."

"I'm aware." Darrow nodded with a laugh.

Seeing how this man can be joking on moment, serious in another, Alice felt was though she was being thrown around by two people. She couldn't get an accurate judgement on this man in front of her.

"So why do you need me to follow? With what you've shown me, you can probably take care of them by yourself." Alice asked the question that was bothering her.

In terms of pure experience and close quarters combat, it was clear that Darrow outmatched both her and Alyss.

No matter how many tricks she tried to pull in close quarters, he was able to react, adapt and even counter in one move.

"To introduce new variables. As the figure head for Caethis, even if it's been governed by three parties, my skills are rather well known. There's no doubt that the traders have prepared something for me and Minerva. So if I throw you into the mix, wouldn't that disrupt their plans?" Darrow chuckled.

"My services don't come cheap. Especially in a situation like this."

Without even saying anything, Darrow tossed over a pouch to Alice.

"!!!" Widening her eyes at the heft of this pouch, Alice hesitantly opened it and saw 20 Platina sitting in the bag.

"Downpayment. I'll give you another 30 if the peace is undisturbed by the end of today." Darrow offered.

"Well sh*t, what's all you had to say boss. What can I do for you?" Alice grinned, throwing the pouch into her bag.

50 platina!

With this kind of money, she wouldn't need to worry about food, mead or clothing for a while.

And when paired with the other contracts that she has, she would've almost earned 100 platina from this trip to Caethis!

"I want you to give me a hand when it comes to dealing with the traders. But you don't need to interfere much. The key is to step in if they have a hard counter for me."

"And you're not scared I'll switch sides boss?" Alice questioned.

"Not even a little." Darrow stared at her confidently, surprising Alice.

Both Minerva and Lorien had their own doubts and took risks when establishing the contract.

But Darrow is saying he didn't doubt her at all? Alice found it bizarre.

"Well aren't you the confident one. Do you put your trust in everyone like this?"

"Call it a hunch. Now then, I believe we've talked long enough. Let's give these traders a little welcoming party." Darrow stood up before folding his arms.

*BANG!!!!

A tyrannical aura erupted from his body as Alice's pupil constricted in shock.

Now that he wasn't restraining himself, Alice felt the full force of his energy.

A Lord that's not a Lord!!!

It was clear that Darrow's power was already touching the realm of Lords without even needing a seventh Sigil! It lacked the feeling of a 'title' that she usually got from Lords.

But this raw power…

It's undeniable!

Luminescent Sigils lit up around his body as the waves trembled.

*RUMBLE!!!

The seas cried out in shock as dark clouds loomed from above.

"What did you think about Minerva's Phantom Fleet?" Darrow asked with a grin.

"Pretty bad if I'm being honest. Especially with her being a glaring weakness." Alice admitted honestly.

"Exactly. The Phantom Fleet is great for group combat but lacks the proper defences to protect the caster.

"Now, what do you think of the true Phantom Fleet?"

*BANG!!!

Parting the clouds, ghost ships began to descend while more ships burst out from the sea.

Each ghost ship was bigger than even the biggest 'real' ship that Darrow had prepared. Each was covered head to toe in weapons that all began to focus towards the Traders in the distance.

With the speed at which the cannons were moving, Alice found it difficult to find a gap.

She could instinctively see the wave of cannons that this fleet would fire and unless she was fighting at full power from the get go, there was no way she'll get through this barrage.

But the biggest difference of all was that Darrow wasn't focusing on commanding the fleet! It was automatic!

Summoning his cutlass once more, Darrow's muscles bulged as he took a step forward and unleashed a single slash.

SEA SPLITTER!

In an instant, a crimson arc shot out, carving the sea in two! The Void warped from the raw force that was pushed out with this strike, rendering all spatial abilities ineffective!

*BANG!!!

One of the ships created a barrier to block this strike only for it to be cleaved in half without resistance.

The other ships quickly steered away from danger and as spectral arms manifested in front of the slash.

Purple chains and runic markings decorated the arms as it collided with the arc.

"Tsk, seems like there's someone pretty capable on those ships." Darrow scratched his chin before flicking his fingers.

*RUMBLE!!!

The fleet of over 30 ghost ships turned towards the Traders and began to gather energy.

It felt as though a blackhole had just been opened and even Alice could feel her energy dropping as everything was being siphoned!

"Fire!!!" Darrow commanded!

*BANG!!!

Countless cannon shots echoed out in unison as each was as powerful as a Void Flux that Alice would cast!

Facing this kind of barrage, it was no exaggeration to say that no city that she's seen so far could withstand this attack.

And yet, this kind of powerful Hunter STILL wasn't a Lord!

What would happen if he was to gain his seventh Sigil? What title would he get? How much power would he obtain?

Alice found herself not having the answers to any of these questions.

Hell, she couldn't even figure out a way she would fend against this barrage of attacks!

To survive, she'll have to use everything she's got!

There was only one thing Alice could say for Darrow.

He is strong!