A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 864: A Devil In The Dark

[Nala, Llyniel, Leira, Sera, Ella, and Halimeʼs POV]

The six girls sat on board the Draconia Battleship sailing East in a meeting room with a few sofas they could relax on. While there, the tannoy sounded to life with the captainʼs voice, ”Sailors! A storm is incoming, and we must make it through to save the king! Hold on tight.”

When Ella heard this, she told the girls to be careful, but Nala questioned, ”Wonʼt the ship protect us?”

After speaking, everyone looked at the lion girl, who shrugged, ”I donʼt use ships to travel; Iʼve only been on two, including this one,” she explained.

The others giggled, but Leira commented, ”So whatʼs the Orientia Continent like? Iʼve never been there.”

Before anyone could reply, Sera questioned, ”What people make up the continent?”

Ella was the one who answered, ”It is made up of four empires and many kingdoms, fox demi-humans, black dragons, tiger demi-humans, and nomadic orcs that room the Green Sea, which is a massive grassland that covers a lot of Orientia.”

The five girls nodded, ”Anyone hostile toward Archer and Draconia?”

”No. Aisha told me the kingdom trades with the fox and tiger demi-humans,” the half-elf answered. ”We shouldnʼt have problems with the realms, just the monsters who roam the land.”

Everyone nodded in understanding. The snake girl Halime was about to speak but was cut off by the boom of thunder. This made some of them jump, but then they rushed to the main deck.

When the girls arrived, they witnessed a vicious storm building above. The sea was starting to become rough, and the air was thick with the salty tang of the ocean. The wind howled with an unsettling intensity.

Dark clouds loomed on the horizon, swirling and growing as they watched. The approaching storm was unlike anything they had ever seen. Nala, her lion ears twitching nervously, gripped the railing tightly.

”Iʼve never seen a storm like this,” she admitted, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Then the wood elf Llyniel remarked, ʼSomething beneath the water is causing this; I hope Kassandraʼs group is safe.ʼ

The others nodded in agreement. ”Demetra, Kassandra, and Teuila are skilled in the deep sea,” Leira noted, ”but Iʼm concerned for Hemera, given her affinity for sun magic.”

With the storm intensifying, the group retreated inside the ship as the sun set, exhaustion creeping in. Ella and Nala remained awake, exchanging concerned glances. The lion girl commented, ”Will Archer be okay?”

Ella looked at the blonde girl and nodded, ”Yes, heʼll be fine once we get back to Draconia with the ingredients Lucrezia will create.”

The half-elf witnesses Nalaʼs relief as she sighs before replying, ”Thatʼs good. I wonder where theyʼre getting all this poison.”

ʼʼIʼm sure it has something to do with the Terravain magic. Luce believes they are targeting his mana due to being a white dragon,” Ella revealed. ”She said once he wakes up, his anti- Venom skill will be leveled up, allowing him to fight the poison again.”

Nala nodded before standing up, ”Iʼm going to sleep; I can feel the tiredness creeping on me,” she said. ”Night El.”

”Goodnight, Nala,” Ella replied before turning to the nearby window.

The Battlegroup carrying the six girls barreled through the storm, ignoring the waves that struck the ship. During the journey, Llyniel, Nala, Halime, and Sera hid in their rooms due to seasickness, which made Ella and Leira giggle at the group.

By the time they reached the eastern continent, the ships were battered by the storm, but none sunk. Ella and the girls found themselves on the deck while the captain explained their destination.

”You see the city in the distance? Itʼs called Tigerclaw Bay and is one of the Ganeshan Empireʼs ports,” the captain said. ”The trading fleet travels here to sell Draconian food, which seems popular.”

The girls nodded before Halime questioned, ”Where is the Green Sea Jungle?”

When the man heard this, his eyes widened, but he soon explained with a knowing smile, ”It borders the Green Sea on the Ganeshan northern border. Just leave Tigerclaw Bay north and follow the trade routes. There will be loads of monsters, but I know you ladies are powerful and will be able to do it.”

They all nodded as the Battlegroup approached the port. The vessel they were on continued alone as the other ships waited for them in open water. Soon, the ship came to a stop and started docking.

***

[Siaʼs POV]

Sia didnʼt know what to make of the ruins she was looking at, but she stepped forward. She wanted to explore and walk through the city, taking in all the sights. Some of the structures were just rubble.

Debris littered the street, and there were signs of the people who once called this city home, but Sia wondered what period it came from. She looked around while speaking to herself, ”Itʼs not the Ishtara people; maybe the Arcadians? Yes, itʼs got to be them.”

The Arcadians were the people who came before the current age of the world. Scholars claim that an empire covered half of Thrylos in its time, but something happened that brought them to their knees.

Historians call it the Downfall, but no one knows the reason behind it. Some say it was the world fighting back, and others say it was the dark gods. Sia continued her careful trek through the ruins.

”This is so creepy, everything so quiet and still,ʼ she thought while examining her surroundings.

She came to what looked to be an Adventurer or Mercenary Guild, as its rotten sign had a sword and shield on it. Sia entered the old building and looked around, only to come to a stop as it was similar to the guilds populating the world today.

A counter ran down one wall while doors were behind it. Several quest boards were on the opposite side of the large hall. Rotton chairs and tables littered the ample space, and thatʼs when Sia saw a bar in one corner.

Sia shook her head. ”It looks like the guilds have stayed the same all these years,” she said while glancing around.

After thoroughly exploring the building, she departed and wandered deeper into the city until a faint chittering noise caught her attention. The sound sent a shiver down her spine,

prompting her to whirl around.

What she saw next left her stunned. ʼSpider humans!ʼ she panicked inwardly as she saw a creature descending from a nearby building.

The unexpected sight shocked her. Such monsters were unfamiliar to her, and their unsettling movement sent chills through her. The monsterʼs eight legs left holes in the wall while it scuttled down the building.

It was black with red stripes running down its legs and body, but what caught her attention, even more, was the upper half of a human woman with jet-black hair and eight beady eyes

that watched her.

Sia poised herself to strike, but just then, a womanʼs strange voice reached her keen ears, ”All hail the Al-Maseeh At-Tinyan. His wife has finally found us! The legends were true!”

Thatʼs when the spider monster approached and knelt as much as the creature could, ”Where is he? Al-Maseeh At-Tinyan must be with you!”

Sia was confused but shook her head and assumed the creature was speaking about Archer. ”Heʼs dying. The swarm poisoned him, and his wives will heal him. Thatʼs all I know.”ʼ The humanoid spider woman stiffened, ”They poisoned him? Who attacked him!”

Just as Sia was about to reply, the tattoo received a message that shocked her. It told her that Archer was dying due to poison, but the girls had split up while looking for the ingredients, and a group of them had to raid the Verdantia Continent for Holy Leaf.

When Sia heard this, a smile appeared, causing the spider to grab her by the arms as it spoke, ”Something has happened? Your expression just changed.”

Sia nodded, ”My sister wives are searching for the ingredients to help cure him, but they are all found in dangerous locations.”

The spider didnʼt respond but just looked at her. This caused Sia to question, ”What is this Al- Maseeh At-Tinyan you speak off?”

Thatʼs when the monster shook her humanoid head and replied, ”The spider goddess foretold that he freed our cousins and has helped them thrive in a new realm. Weʼve been waiting centuries for his arrival.”

Siaʼs eyes widened, ʼIs there something he isnʼt involved in? Or are the gods up to their games

again?ʼ

She shrugged as the spider spoke, ”Wife of Al-Maseeh At-tinyan, come to our home, and youʼll be safe. Many powerful monsters linger in this city.”

”Another wife is resting; we must get her before leaving,” Sia remarked, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil. ”Anyway, whatʼs your name?”

”Shila, My Lady,” the spider woman replied with a slight bow. ”I will call for aid to help with

the other one.”

As she spoke, Shila emitted a peculiar sound that sent shivers down Siaʼs spine. Moments later, more spider creatures emerged from the shadows. Shila began speaking in their language, and when she finished, they all knelt before Sia, a sign of respect and allegiance.

Following that, Sia led the spider people to where Mary lay sleeping. As soon as Shila saw the gray-haired woman, she let out a piercing scream. Alarmed, Sia turned to the spider woman and asked, ”Why are you screaming?”

Sia then noticed that all the spiders were pointing at Mary in unison. Shilaʼs voice trembled as she spoke in a shakey voice, ”A devil of the dark.”

[Sorry for the one chapter today. I have family coming over for my birthday, so I wonʼt be able to write the usual two. Will be back to normal tomorrow]