Chapter 134 Perilous route
Chapter 134 Perilous route
Vandal woke to the rich, savory scent of toasted bread and grilled fish drifting through the narrow cabin. His stomach gave a loud, demanding rumble, reminding him sharply of how little he had eaten in the past days of chaos and flight. He sat up slowly, surprised by the relative calm in his body. The turbulent energies that had raged through his meridians felt quieter. Not gone, but no longer at war with themselves. Mei Mei’s pressure-point technique had worked.
He dressed quickly and stepped out of his small room, bare feet silent on the worn wooden planks. First, he checked the cabin where Sabine had been resting. Empty. A flicker of unease stirred in his chest. He moved to the others: Jaden’s, Jaclynn’s, Chan’s, Sera’s. All empty.
“Sabine?” His voice echoed down the narrow corridor. “Jaden? Anyone?”
No reply. His pulse quickened. Memories of ambushes and betrayals flashed through his mind as he hurried toward the stairs leading topside, taking them two at a time.
The bright morning sun and salty sea breeze hit him as he emerged onto the main deck. Relief washed over him when he spotted them. His companions were gathered near the starboard rail, helping the crew roast fish over small, controlled braziers and warming thick loaves of bread. The smell was even stronger here, mixed with the ocean’s crisp tang.
Sera noticed him first and waved a piece of golden-crusted bread. “Vandal! You’re finally up. Captain Mei Mei offered us supplies to cook with. She said the journey across this stretch of the Archibald Ocean would take a while, so we should relax and eat properly while we can.”
Chan grinned, wiping his hands on a cloth. “You look a lot better than yesterday, man. Less like you’re carrying the weight of the entire world on your shoulders.”
Vandal managed a small nod, though his gaze swept over the group. Jaden sat apart, staring silently at the rolling waves, his jaw tight. He kept clenching and unclenching his fist, knuckles pale. Sabine sat nearby, shoulders hunched, her usual fire dimmed to a weary sadness. The loss of her mother still clung to her like a shadow.
He approached Sabine quietly. She looked up, offering a sad, fragile smile. Vandal reached down and took her hand gently, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Good morning,” he said softly, including Jaden in his gaze. “To both of you.”
Jaden finally turned his head, eyes hard as flint. “There won’t be any ‘good mornings’ for me until that Grand Elder is dead. I won’t have peace until I’ve crushed him.”
The words hung heavy. Chan tried to lighten the mood, clapping his hands together. “Hey, come on. We’re on a boat heading back toward home territory. We’re alive. That’s something. We can plan our revenge properly once we regroup. Everything that happened back there was beyond our power and skill level. We should be grateful we made it out.”
Sera nodded in agreement. “He’s right. People died along the way. That pain won’t fade quickly, but--”
“What would you know about that kind of pain?” Sabine snapped suddenly, her voice cracking with raw grief. “You haven’t lost anyone important to this team. Don’t pretend to care like you understand.”
Jaclynn stepped in quickly, her tone soothing. “Sabine, one can feel remorse and sorrow even without a close attachment. Sera has been helping us this entire time. Don’t be so hard on her.”
Tension crackled between the two women. Vandal remained silent, holding Sabine’s hand a moment longer, offering what little comfort he could.
Before the argument could escalate further, Mei Mei approached from the helm, her sailing attire fluttering lightly in the wind. Her sharp eyes scanned the group with easy authority. “Good to see everyone enjoying the meal. How is the fish and bread?”
“Thank you for providing it, Captain,” Chan said politely.
Mei Mei’s lips curved into a playful smile. “Oh, it’s not free. Remember? Your friend here,” she pointed directly at Vandal, flashing him a mischievous look, “promised the payment would be taken care of.” Her gaze lingered on him a second longer. “How are you feeling today?”
“Fine,” Vandal replied evenly. “Better than yesterday.”
The way she asked carried a subtle warmth that didn’t escape Sabine. The younger woman’s expression tightened with clear annoyance, as if sensing an intimacy from the night before that she wasn’t part of.
Vandal added calmly, “I’ll come see you again today, as we discussed.”
Karlison, standing within earshot among the crew, watched the exchange with narrowed eyes. Jealousy burned openly on his face. The other crew members ate their breakfast quietly, pretending not to notice.
\---
Later that afternoon, the group had spread out across the deck, basking in the sun and the rare moment of calm. Some dozed, others stared at the endless blue horizon. Mei Mei’s voice suddenly rang out from her position near the bow.
“We’re entering an area known for echo beasts. Stay alert, but don’t panic yet.”
Most of the passengers remained relaxed until Karlison shot to his feet.
“Everyone, pay attention!” he barked. “If Captain Mei Mei says there are echo beasts nearby, then there are. She’s sailed every major route across the Archibald Ocean. Stop sleeping and get up!” He moved through the deck, kicking lightly at the bleary-eyed echo warriors to rouse them.
He made his way toward Vandal’s area. “You too, boy. Get up-” As he spoke, Karlison lashed out with his foot. While his kicks to the others had been controlled, this one carried full force, aimed viciously at a vital spot on Vandal’s torso.
Vandal’s mind sneered. In one fluid motion, he rose and stepped aside toward Mei Mei. Karlison’s powerful kick slammed into the empty deck instead. A loud crack split the air as the thick, reinforced wooden pavement shattered under the impact.
The sound jolted everyone awake. Vandal’s companions sat up sharply, eyes alert. The crew, all experienced echo warriors, recognized the damage immediately. That wood was dense and heavy. To crack it like that required significant resonance energy enhancement. If the kick had landed on Vandal’s ribs, they would have shattered.
Mei Mei’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Karlison! What is the meaning of this? You tried to murder our passenger. How has Vandal offended you that you would strike with such lethal force?”
Karlison shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Not intentional. I assumed since he has resonance energy, he was an echo warrior who could handle a playful kick. Besides, if he got injured, it would teach him to stay vigilant. He has no business relaxing so casually around people he doesn’t know. Am I right?”
Some crew members who favored Karlison nodded lightly. Others remained silent, watching Mei Mei.
She stepped forward, voice cold. “He is no stranger. We are helping them, and they are paying very well for the service. They are esteemed passengers and will be treated with respect.”
Karlison’s smile turned mocking. “If it’s about money, why not turn them in? We could have made far more. You might have even gained favor with the Resonance Council mistresses. A recommendation to your clan could have boosted your standing. Instead, you’re risking all our lives on this longer, more dangerous route for a bunch of strangers.”
Mei Mei’s face flushed with anger. “Whoever challenges my authority and will on this ship can leave. It is not by force that you work under me. I am tired of your bullshit, Karlison!”
Most of the warriors immediately began pleading with her to calm down, insisting they were not siding with Karlison and would follow her orders.
Karlison smiled wryly. “Are this white-haired boy and his people really worth putting your own crew in danger by taking such a perilous route?”
Mei Mei’s eyes flashed. “Karlison, look out!”
A massive splash erupted from the sea. Water sprayed high as the surface bubbled violently. Dark, sinuous shadows streaked beneath the ship from all directions, rushing toward the rails with terrifying speed.
“Everyone, be careful!” Mei Mei shouted, drawing her weapon. “These echo beasts are carnivorous and highly poisonous!”
The deck erupted into chaos as the first monstrous forms began to breach the water.