Narrator's POV
A lightning fell on the group of monsters, making them separate from each other which allowed Stelle to quickly approach one of them with her Lance in hand, in a quick lunge she stabbed its torso completely before bursting out flames to incinerate the monster, pulling the weapon out of its body, the monster started to slowly regenerate but Stelle immediately stabbed the weapon on the ground letting a pillar of flame engulf what little remained of the monster completely incinerating it.
"Excuse me!"
Ryan went past one of the Knights, snatching the halberd away from his hand, even though the man clearly told him to return it, his hands gripped the weapon in his hands getting a feel for it before quickly spinning it and slashing at another monster splitting it in half.
"Huh...this weapon is of good quality"
He made a gesture with his hand, letting a magic circle appear under the regenerating before letting out a flame that slowly consumed its body, another 2 monsters lunged at Ryan from behind but before they attacked, a miniature black hole appeared between them and quickly expanded completely consuming both of them before quickly disappearing.
Between the small amount of Cloud Knights and the group of the Astral Express, the monsters were quickly dealt with, and one of the soldiers approached the Fox woman.
"Lady Tingyun, the Mara-Struck have been repelled" he saluted the woman before speaking again. "Please, allow us to escort you back to the Sky-Faring Commission, immediately"
"I heard you, but it'd be rude to leave without thanking our benefactors" the fox woman drove a hand to her chest before looking at the Astral Express group "My name is Tingyun, I'm the amicassador for the Luofu Sky-Faring Commission merchant guild, may I venture to know the illustrious names of my heroes?" She asked with a little smile.
"Illustrious names?..." March scratched the back of her head with a mix of confusion and embarrassment in her face. "Uhm, sure, I'm March 7th, these are Dan Hent, Serval, Mr. Welt Yang, Stel-"
"Galactic Baseballer!" Stelle quickly 'corrected' her friend.
"I'm not saying that! And when did you give yourself that title?!" She looked at the Racoon a bit annoyed before sighing and looking back at Tingyun. "Please ignore her, she's Stelle and the last one is Ryan"
Tingyun smiled briefly before speaking again. "Thank all of you for coming, but there's something I don't understand, Starskiff Haven is under lockdown, and since none of you are Xianzhou residents, may I ask how you got here?" Her curious expression soon turned into a serious one. "If you can't offer any explanation, these Cloud Knights will have to escort you out"
At the woman's words, Welt quickly gave a step forward. "We called for port transfer and got no response but then someone opened the Jade Gate for us, when we arrived, there was no one to be found so we started to make our own way through"
Listening to him, Tingyun responded. "How could that be? My ship was the last one to enter into the port before the Jade Gate was shut, the Sky-Faring Commission has already closed Starskiff Haven entirely..."
"We're telling the truth, you can confirm it by checking the Jade Gate's access history" he let out a soft sigh. "Honestly, we found it weird ourselves when the gate opened but no one came to greet us"
"...are you with the Astral Express?" she asked making Welt slowly nod.
"Indeed, have you heard of us?"
"I have...I'm sorry, you've arrived at a bad time, the Xianzhou has suffered and incident so whether you came here for leisure, treatment or trade, I'm afraid you can get through with it now" she explained with a little sigh. "For your safety, you should hurry to Central Starskiff Haven and take refuge, I'll take you to Madam Yukong of the Sky-Faring Commission and let her decide how to proceed"
"We actually caught wind of the incident you mention, Miss Tingyun, we're here to help with the sealing of the Stellaron" hearing this made Tingyun's ears perk up slightly.
"Hehe, your actions have already revealed your kind hearts to me, but I can't make you any promises, with you being outsiders only Madam Yukong has the authority to consider your offer" she explained before shaking her head a little. "But there's no need to worry! Madam Yukong is a kind-hearted woman, but now, we need to get to safety, I'll lead the way"
"We thank you, Lady Tingyun, also, we found some Knights who were unconscious, we hid them safely around here"
"I see...once we get to the Sky-Faring Commission I'll make sure to send a small squad to find them and safely take them back" with that she turned around and started to slowly walk away.
the Astral Express slowly following her while Ryan glanced at Tingyun before burrowing his eyes a little.
"I have a question, Miss Tingyun" Ryan looked at the woman who briefly glanced at him. "Those...things back there, what were they exactly?"
"Hmmm...we call them Mara-Struck, the Long-Life curse, it is an affliction that strikes all Long-Life Species, we still don't understand it completely, but many believe it is either due to Yaoshi the abundance giving us immortality, or an accumulation of memories that become tougher to process over long periods of time" after briefly explaining the affliction, Ryan slowly drove a hand to his chin.
"Yaoshi gave them immortality...but they suffer this affliction because of it, when I become an Aeon, would I also be able to gift such abilities? And would they suffer because of it?" He burrowed his brows lightly before shaking his head a little. "It's a little too soon to think about that...I don't even know what kind of Aeon I'll be..."
...
The group slowly stopped and looked straight seeing a few containers blocking their way, Tingyun let out a soft sigh at the sight of their obstructed path.
"Looks like the Cloud Knights obstructed the path as part of the Lockdown"
"Will we have to take a longer route?" Welt asked but Tingyun shook her head.
"No need for that, these containers should be able to be moved around with a control panel...it should be around here"
The fox woman was about to look around for said control panel, but Stelle passed right at her side pushing Ryan to the front, after letting the confused boy in front of the container she cleared her throat.
"Ryan I choose you!" She rose her voice pointing forward. "Use your signature move!"
"...." He looked at Stelle before silently glancing at the rest of the group, and then back at the trailblazer. "What is my signature more again?"
"You know...the magic circle thingy" she explained as if it was the most obvious thing ever.
"Oh...is that really what you consider my signature move?" He now asked somewhat confused.
"You don't really show much you know? You should have laser eyes by now or something"
"Why don't YOU get laser eyes?"
"Maybe I should!"
Welt cleared his throat catching the attention of both Ryan and Stelle. "Can we please continue?...Ryan"
"Yes Mr.Yang, sorry"
He cleared his throat before making a small hand gesture letting a magic circle appear under the group, Ryan slowly elevated the circle until they stood at the same height as the containers, they then carefully walked over the containers and hopped down at the other side, completely bypassing the blockade.
"Oh my~ isn't that convenient?" Tingyun smiled as she hopped down the container and approached Ryan, lightly leaning on him with a smile. "Do you have more tricks like those?"
"...no, not really" Ryan replied making Tingyun let out a small chuckle.
"If you say so" she smiled before starting to again lead the way.
"You seem to have your guard up around her..." Serval lowered her voice a little while getting close to Ryan.
"She somehow reminds me of the woman who raised me...she was a Witch so I had to be very careful with my words around her" Ryan let's out a soft sigh.
"A witch uh? Sounds...interesting..." Serval smiled a bit nervous.
"Let's just go, the sooner we separate from that woman the less wary I'll have to be" he immediately started to walk and the blonde quickly followed behind.
"Ah look! The Starskiff is there in the distance, we'll be able to get to safety with it" Tingyun smiled pointing at the vehicle in the distance.
"Careful Ms.Tingyun!"
Welt quickly grabbed the woman's shoulder yanking her close to him, a Mara-Struck fell from above slamming a great shield on the ground letting out some golden lightning the enemy then tightly gripped its spear before throwing it directly at Tingyun though Stelle got in the middle making a barrier with her Lance letting the flying weapon crash with it, her barrier cracked and shattered though it also stopped the spear that vanished in small golden petals.
"Okay! That one is definitely tougher" Stelle spoke recovering from the recoil of her broken barrier.
"Stelle, Serval, remain close to Ms.Tingyun in case more arrive, March keep and eye around and support us as best you can, Ryan, with me" Welt pushed his glasses up grabbing his cane.
"Yes, Mr.Yang!" The entire group replied in unison.
Welt and Ryan immediately ran towards the Mara-Struck who made some distance by jumping backwards, Welt waved the cane throwing a wave of dark energy and the monster quickly blocked it with its greatshield noticably being dragged back because of the force, at the same time Ryan quickly ran around it and lunged the scabbard directly at the enemy's back but after getting close, the Mara-Struck turned around and used the long pole of the spear to parry away the boy's weapon, he used his free hand to make an orange magic circle in his palm and pointing it towards at the Mara-Struck a fireball came out exploding directly on its front with the expansive wave sending Ryan backwards.
He looked at the monster after the flames disappeared and saw it already regenerating. "He regenerates fast, my fire magic might not be enough to out-damage it, I'll have to trust Mr.Yang or use True Death to damage it"
The Mara-Struck rose its spear letting out a distorted battle cry, two more Mara-Struck soon arrived from the distance from Stelle and Serval's side.
"We'll take care of them! You two focus on the boss!" Stelle spoke towards Welt and Ryan while the cloud knights remained with Tingyun.
While Stelle threw herself at the two monster that just arrived, March aimed her bow at the one with the greatshield who turned around to block another attack from Welt, she let go of her arrow letting it quickly fly and pierce the monster's ankle, the projectile quickly started to expand covering the Mara-Struck's foot basically sticking it on the ground.
Ryan immediately saw this as an opportunity and grabbed the scabbard, lunging directly at the Mara-Struck he prepared to stab it with the scabbard, yet again, the black smoke formed a cloak around him just as he threw his attack.
Everything immediately changed around him, Ryan didn't find himself in the Luofu anymore, and couldn't move at all, instead he now found himself in what seemed to be the depths of the universe, a sea of endless stars surrounding him completely, he was barely able to move his eyes to the side.
"You're the one with that disgusting smell of death"
A single drop of sweat slowly dripped down Ryan's forehead as the clock around him dissapeared, the figure intensely stared at him, one green eye locked directly on him, the long blonde hair and slim body stood far away in the distance, and yet, Ryan could feel the pressure as if THEY were right in front of him.
"Yaoshi?!"
"Ryan!"
Welt's voice made him immediately react, blinking rapidly he was yet again on the Luofu, with a thrown spear accompanied by lightning just inches away from his chest, he managed to move slightly but the weapon still pierced his left shoulder sending him backwards and slamming him against a nearby container basically impaling his shoulder against it.
With a small grunt he quickly grabbed the spear and forcefully pulled it out of his shoulder, he fell on one knee quickly grasping the hole on his shoulder immediately starting to heal it with magic.
"Dammit! Yaoshi knows about me now?! And THEY didn't seem to like me"
A burst of Flame and Lightning caught his eye, staring at the side he saw how Serval and Stelle had already finished with the two Mara-Struck who had arrived before, meanwhile the Shielded Mara-Struck had freed itself from March's Ice and continued blocking Welt's attack although the man clearly was holding back.
The hole in his shoulder had already closed, even though the wound still continued bleeding, he stopped healing it and instead put his hand on the floor, letting a Fire magic circle appear under the Mara-Struck, a torrent of fire completely engulfed the monster but soon after a bash with the shield broke the magic circle, the body of the Mara-Struck let out some smoke accompanied by small embers still lingering on its body, fortunately the attack seemed to distract him enough for Welt to move.
The Adult briefly let go of his cane, dark matter completely surrounding it as a black hole formed around the Mara-Struck, then in a flash he grabbed his cane again and dashed through the black hole, tapping the floor with the cane a slash appeared on the black hole splitting it in half making a small explosion of Dark Matter leaving absolutely nothing of the Mara-Struck.
Seeing this, Ryan sighed and again started to heal his shoulder, Welt immediately got close and kneeled down, looking at the boy with some worry.
"Ryan, what happened?" He asked in a whisper.
"I got distracted..." He replied with a small grunt. "Yaoshi looked at me"
The man widened his eyes a little before frowning. "Are you sure about that?"
"I'd even say THEY were glaring at me..." Slowly, he stood up with his hand still healing his shoulder.
With the grown still in his face he also stood up. "That's problematic, do you think it was because..."
"Very probably, THEY Specifically said I smell of death" he let out a deep sigh, though a small drop of sweat proved his nervousness. "I don't like this"
"Ryan! Are you okay?!" Stelle asked worryingly approaching alongside the rest.
"Yeah, I'll be fine, almost done healing it" Ryan removed his hand briefly, letting them catch a glimpse of the almost completely healed shoulder.
"Your clothes now have a hole in them too, not fashionable at all" Stelle spoke again, seemingly not worried anymore.
"That's not a problem" he soon finished healing his shoulder, and with a green glow the hole in his clawed seemed to repair itself as if nothing happened. "There, like new"
"I say we take this opportunity to go into th Starskiff" Tingyun smiled lightly at the group while looking at the distant ship. "It doesn't look like there're more Mara-Struck around"
"Lady Tingyun is right" Welt nodded his head and looked at the trailblazers and Ryan.
"Then please, let me take the lead" Tingyun didn't seem to want to waste any time, as she quickly started to walk towards the Starskiff.
"I don't like when NPC's go ahead in escort missions" Stelle immediately went after the woman.
The group quickly followed the Racoon girl, quickly getting to the Starskiff, Ryan looked at it a bit weirdly, just like the Luofu....it seemed like it was just a boat.
"Ryan! How about you drive it?" Stelle looked at the white-haired with a smile.
"I don't think that's a good idea" Welt immediately spoke.
"I can barely steer a regular boat straight Stelle, I don't want to touch one of these..." Ryan looked at the Starskiff with some distrust.
"Fufu, as interesting at the idea sounds" Tingyun slowly walked into the starskiff looking at the rest. "All amicassadord know their way around a starskiff so please, relax and allow me to take us to Starskiff Haven"
After the woman word's, the group slowly joined into the flying boat, though Ryan still seemed a bit unsure about it, sitting down, the woman immediately started to navigate across the place with the vehicle.
...
"It definitely felt weird...."
Ryan was the last one to walk out of the starskiff, seemingly glad that he now has some actually foothold.
"Are you sure you don't have motion sickness? That's a regular trait in protagonists" Stelle looked at him and Ryan simply groaned.
"Stelle shut up"
The Fox woman quickly cleared her throat catching the attention of the group. "Now that we're here, on Behalf of the Sky-Faring Commission..."
After Tingyun caught his attention, he was able to see the place they had stopped in, he saw the numerous building both close as in the distance, the various plants and decorations that adorned the place, and also saw other starskiffs circulating around.
"Allow me to welcome you to Starskiff Haven"
★ ★ ★
A/N: Damn, yet again, 2 months to update, I really need to lock in-
Also finished the latest Trailblaze quest, I don't know where the hell I'll be putting Ryan in Amphoreous, but it'll be a problem for future me, also Evernight kinda makes me go awuuga.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed