Capítulo 31: Aqua Territory
The branches curtained a giant blue territory which had no visible lands but quite a good number of green patches indicating plants. Territories came in different shapes and sizes. Some looked like orbs; others were like a piece of a floating land mass.
The branches looked like glowing crystals were used to make them. Lin's mouth was agape as he stared admiringly at the territory they were approaching. Many gateways were laid between several points of the crystal-looking branches, allowing vessels and people to enter the territory. There were so many gateways there was barely any traffic, and each gateway had guards protecting it.
Zygoptera slowed down as she got closer to a more isolated non-busy gateway. She was stopped by two guards sitting atop two giant flying beasts. One sat upon a Pegasus-type beast, while the other sat upon a giant bird-like beast. They looked young and were clad in green armour from head to toe, leaving only their faces.
The one on the giant bird-like beast had a sword on his waist, while the other had nunchucks. "This is the Aqua territory Zaffre Guards. Please provide your pass and state your name and mission", The guard with the sword spoke. On his chest was a name tag which read 'Tendril'.
Seeing Zygoptera's condition, he thought it might not belong to any powerful faction. He awaited an answer, yet, there was none. "I repeat, this is the Aqua territory Zaffre Guards. Provide your pass, state your name and your mission, else you will be denied entry".
Everyone aboard Zygoptera just stared at the guards like they were a bunch of idiots. They had never been asked to provide a pass to enter the territory before. That was because Zygoptera was their entry pass, and everyone in their army division knew of it.
They being asked could only mean the guards were new or were from a different division. Xelen peered at them and announced, "Captain, they are green."
"Who the hell put greens out here? We have been away for only six months, and they already switched guards? Ugh! Just do what they say and get this over with. I am tired." The captain responded rather nonchalantly and threw himself into a chair, sighing as he did so. Xelen walked to a panel and spoke into a communication device. "We are GHOST."
Tendril stared wantonly at them and turned to the guard with the nunchucks Nuke, "You heard of them before?". "Nope. Never heard of them. Maybe they some kind of band?" he looked towards the damaged craft with contempt.
"Who cares? With a spacecraft like that, I wouldn't be surprised if they are just trespassers trying to pass off as genuine people. If we catch trespassers, we get extra gold coins and recognition, right?" Tendril smirked and turned towards Zygoptera, "Is that name supposed to mean something? Maybe provide a pass, and we will let you through".
Xelen turned to the captain, who pretended not to have noticed her and shut his eyes. She sighed and spoke, "This ship is our pass. If you don't recognise it, call your higher-ups and find out from them. Her name is Zygoptera".
The two guards burst into laughter as the second guard with a name tag that read 'Nuke' said, "Zygoptera? What kind of weird name is that? Are you a band coming to perform? With a ship name like that, even the higher-ups will blow your ship to bits if they saw you, so get lost now, or we will make you", he said, and they both drew their weapons while building up power.
Captain Xu wore a deep frown and stood from where he was. His patience was about crossing its limits. He could take a thousand punches to the guts, but insulting Zygoptera was something he could not condone.
"Zaffre guards stand down. We are friendlies, allow us to pass", Xelen repeated. Tendril had a cocky look as he barked, "Do you not hear me, or do you not put the Zaffre guards in your eyes. Are you that eager to die?", Tendril's power erupted like a volcano as he prepared to attack. "Fine then, I will grant your wish and send you to the afterlife. You and your shit of a ship can rot in…"
"Cut the crap!", a voice bellowed in front of the ship as a sky full of Ice spears lunged towards them. Those on board Zygoptera were shocked. Captain Xu was no longer on board. They had no idea when the captain disappeared from the ship, which reminded them once again why he was captain even though he was the weakest among them in rank. They knew that even though there were two or three ranks higher than him, they could not hold a candle to him in a one-on-one fight. He was a very talented man.
The two guards' faces turned ghastly as they saw who their attacker was. "Captain Xu Huang?" one yelled, but, it was too late. The attack was already upon them. They gathered every ounce of power they could to block the attack.
They were thrown into a crystal branch close to the gateway. They gushed out blood as their limbs got pinned to the crystal branches. Their beasts, however, were nothing to write home about. The ice spears shredded them. They missed the captain as he disappeared from their line of sight.
They felt a wave of unease wash over them as every cell in their body screamed death. Their eyes shifted from one place to another as their hearts pounded so loudly that anyone close could hear their heartbeat.
Blood dyed their armour and lips as they struggled to free themselves, but it was futile. They soon felt a tremendous wave of elemental power rush towards them from above as a blue spear suddenly appeared above their head.
At this moment, they knew how foolish they had been, but, there was nothing they could do than wait for their deaths. An enormous shield suddenly appeared above them. The spear and shield collided. The shock wave from the collision broke the ice spears pinning the two, and they dropped to the gateway like dead flies.
The shield bearer slowly dropped his shield and looked towards Captain Xu, "That was unnecessary, Xu Huang." He coldly said. He dressed the same as Captain Xu, except he had two gold bands on his arms instead of one. "Maybe you should orient your soldiers well before putting them on post, Jaga", Xu coldly replied with a cold glare. Jaga signalled the ship, and they followed him inside. He couldn't bother with the two guards.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder