“So if we assume they all have one of these paintings, that will explain why no boats have been launched from the docks to intercept. Not only do we need to save the prisoners, but we need to break the illusions as well. Fuck! Amanda was right. I am getting involved in some other bullshit,” muttered Deacon.

“I’m glad you brought her up. What’s the plan to find her? I know this seems like we’re treading the same ground but I’m getting worried she’s going to do something crazy,” asked Ralph.

“Well—” began Deacon before the boat lurched heavily to its left side.

They all ran out of the captain’s quarters to see everyone else on the deck looking over the railing on the left side of the boat. After a few minutes people started screaming. Deacon and his team pushed through the crowd to look over the edge. There was a dark shadow practically the same size as the boat passing underneath them. Deacon spun around and ran to the right side of the ship nudging his way past the freed slaves. From here a large, forward cuving horn could be seen breaching the waves and heading toward the next ship.

“Well that was lucky. I wonder why it bypassed us?” asked Hani.

“That is a Carachorus. It must have been drawn here due to the blood. It’s a big one too. Bad luck for that pirate vessel. It must not have sensed any heat in the lower decks. Makes sense. All the freed slaves are up here. I suggest we make for the port,” said the Captain while giving hand signals to his sailors.

Deacon was still connected to all the other people on the boat through his party skill. He decided to hit the Carachorus with an inspect.

Carachorus- Mega marine fauna. These carnivores hunt the depths of the oceans. They’re natural enemies are the fabled megalodons as well as sea serpents. Considered rare in shallow waters they normally hunt the currents in the wide ocean. The horn of the Carachorus has been known to possess great magical properties and is actively sought after by the various magic guilds. Level 30 Mystical/Alpha Beast.

“Why are you grinning and wringing your hands, boss?” asked Hani.

“I’m going to fight that thing and take its soul. That horn looks like a giant can opener. I’ve got to have it,” replied Deacon as he put his right foot up on the railing.

“Are you out of your mind. Look at the size of that thing. Do you anticipate just punching it to death. Think moron,” chastised Ralph as he pulled Deacon off the railing.

“Ralph’s right. You need to get over there and free those slaves before that monster cracks that ship open like a soft boiled egg,” said Sophie.

“How’s he going to get there? He can’t outswim that thing and the boat is more than his fancy jump away. Unless…” Tantus trailed off while started to stroke his chin in contemplation.

“Come on my favorite mage. Hit me with that brilliant intellect of yours,” cheered Deacon.

“I don’t think I’ll be of much help in this instance. This body is too slow and can’t swim,” came the voice of Alfred who just now made it over to everyone from the fishing vessel.

“No worries, bud. Ralph’s no help either,” joked Deacon before being punched in the arm by Ralph.

“I might be able to gust of wind you over there if I… no, no that won’t work you’re immune to elemental magic. Between the rain and storm gusts I just don’t see how you can make the distance,” Tantus said shrugging.

“You’re a genius!” Deacon cried out as he hopped up onto the railing.

“What’d I say? Hey you’ll fall!” Tantus shouted.

“Just figure out how the painting works and how we can exploit it. I’ll try to take the next boat and fend off the delicious looking alpha monster. Ralph can stand around and watch. We’ll be out of capable sailors soon, so I need at least this one ship to survive and evacuate the people I free,” shouted Deacon over the waves as he jumped straight up into the storm above them.

Using Spectral Jump, Deacon managed to soar up into the air. His plan was shaky at best. He’d use the rain from the storm to run over to the ship from the air. Those on deck would obviously be focused on the Carachorus that’s about to attack them. They shouldn’t be looking up. Deacon just needed to concentrate like he did back in the village and walk on the raindrops using his sandals.

Deacon found himself bounding back and forth between steps in an effort to catch up to the monster and reach the ship first. He lost his footing several times but being this far up gave him multiple opportunities to recover. Focusing his mind on the task and letting all other concerns go, he managed to bound ahead of the great beast and was targeting the crows nest of the next ship. As he got closer to his landing zone the whole ship rocked to the side. He could now hear shouts of orders being called out on the deck.

The one calling the orders pointed a hand glowing with black energy at the Carachorus. The Carachorus was climbing the side of the ship. Now that it was out of the water, Deacon could see that it was a mix between a horned beetle with six fins instead of chitinous legs. Each fin ended in a barbed spike that dug into the wood of the ship. The captain, Deacon guessed, released the black swirling energy that was emanating from his hand. It slammed into the carapace of the beast before that small section shuddered and blew outward. That earned him a bubbling groan from the monster. Then without warning, the horn of the beast started glowing blue before a concentrated stream of water ripped through the top deck as the Carachorus swept its head back and forth.

The mast that was holding up the crows nest was sliced clean through. All the rigging and sails fell to the deck along with one Nether Monk. After Deacon made contact with the deck, a wave of blood washed over him. He looked up to see most of the defenders that were throwing harpoons at the monster lay in chunks on the deck. Pieces of segmented bodies slid back and forth as the waves and the weight of the beast rocked the boat. The captain looked furious at the stew his crew had turned into. He clapped both hands together and a line of black energy grew between his outstretched hands. As the captain looked up to target the monster, its maw came down around his torso.

Deacon watched as the captain was bitten in half. The captain’s legs flopping to the deck as another one of the Carachorus’s six appendages reached over the railing. Deacon was still half buried in the rubble of the crows nest and decking nearby was splintered. The boards starting to curl up now that they weren’t nailed down and secured. He had two options. Deacon could slip through the deck and free the slaves below or he could fight off the monster who was about to rampage up here destroying the entire boat. He chose the latter.

A frontal assault would be suicide. Since this was a marine animal, he figured changing to Infernal energy would be his best bet. He said his command phrase and phased himself out of the debris. Standing up he could see that the Carachorus was chewing on the wheel connected to the ships rudder. This was all just above the captains cabin. This ship being similar in design to the last one. Before Deacon took his first step toward the back of the creature, a large white curve of holy energy slammed into its side from out over the ocean. Deacon snapped his head in the direction the arc came from to see Ralph standing on the deck of the first pirate ship holding his sword in two hands before him. In the dim light beneath the storm clouds, the energy running up and down Ralph’s blade illuminated a wide grin under a mat of dark hair.

The holy strike dug into the monsters carapace. Deacon could swear that the blade of holy light was sawing back and forth into the tough exterior before it winked out existence. The Carachorus bellowed from the damage done to its side. It began to reposition itself to face the other ship. It was the size of two shipping containers so watching it try to turn on the boat was hilarious. Every placement of its fins broke off larger and larger chunks of the ship. Deacon knew it was now or never. He pointed at the grove Ralph had dug into its armor and fired off an Infernal beam. The red hot energy lanced across the deck and slammed into the creature. Red light started pouring out of its eyes as Deacon’s attack punched through the remaining durability of its shell. The head spun at an impossible angle and pointed its horn at Deacon. The stream of water from its horn punched right into Deacon’s chest launching him off the ship and down into the waves below. His health had dropped by twenty percent from the concussive force alone. Deacon couldn’t open his lungs as they deflated upon impact. He hoped cat’s grace would save him, but it seemed he was shot up and out over the water. Just high enough that the perk wouldn’t activate.

Deacon slammed into the water at an angle. He started to float back up, finding his vision was dimming. Then a large dark shape settled over him. His lungs still weren’t responding to him, and he had a slate notification stating he was asphyxiating. The last thing he saw before passing out was wavy green seaweed.