章節 27: The Chase

The Amberskins had commandeered an ancestral draconic vessel, a marvel of ancient engineering that now bore them swiftly away from the relentless undead horde. As they soared through the skies, the undead dragons — monstrous, skeletal beasts with glowing eyes — pursued them with eerie persistence.

The chase was a harrowing race, each moment filled with the deafening roar of the undead dragons and the whistling of the wind against the ship's hull. Despite the urgency, the crew managed a brief respite as they adjusted to their new reality. But peace was fleeting.

The first of their pursuers to catch up were the nimble dragonkin, mounted on their undead dragons, survivors from the previous clash. Their agile forms darted in and out of the shadows, their eyes gleaming with cold hunger. Soon, two massive Nix dragons and a fearsome Dracolich appeared on the horizon, their menacing forms steadily closing in on the floating fortress.

The trio of dragons hovered menacingly about 30 meters away, their breaths a chilling reminder of the danger that loomed just beyond reach. The Amberskins braced for battle, their weapons at the ready, as the ship's arbalests were primed for a fight.

As the seconds ticked by, the dragons gained ground, their relentless pursuit making the air snapped with tension. In a heart-stopping moment, the dragons finally overtook the ship.

"Looks like we're going to have to fight these beasts," Von said, his voice sharp as he reloaded his guns.

Horizon was armed only with a sword and shield, and felt the unfamiliarity of aerial combat weigh heavily on him. The challenge of fighting on the floating deck and the beasts in the sky was daunting, but he steeled himself for the aerial confrontation. As the first Nix dragon loomed large before them, Horizon joined Von, preparing to face the terror that was now fast approaching.

Meanwhile, Atyan, Nukkos, and the remaining warriors engaged the second Nix dragon, their bravery evident even as their efforts seemed barely a scratch against the beast's toughened hide.

Both dragons alternated between streaking alongside the Warsled and landing with bone-shattering force on the deck, their roars mingling with the clatter of weapons and the cries of battle.

Atyan and Nukkos fought valiantly, their efforts commendable but insufficient against the undead monstrosities.

The clash was brutal and unrelenting, the Amberskins' courage and resilience put to the ultimate test as they fought to hold their ground against the encroaching darkness.

Horizon and Von had managed to bring down one of the Nix dragons with a combination of grit and skill. With a final, brutal strike, the second beast fell under the combined might of the Amberskins.

A tense silence fell over the deck as the crew took a much-needed breather. Potions were passed around, the last of their supply, barely enough to soothe their wounds. The air felt heavier with dread, each sip a bitter reminder that they were nearly out of resources, teetering on the edge of collapse.

The brief respite didn't last long.

A bone-chilling roar echoed through the sky as the Dracolich, the true harbinger of death, closed in. The sky itself seemed to darken as its monstrous form neared. This undead dragon, far more massive and intelligent than the others, was no mindless beast.

Its decayed wings spread wide, casting a shadow over the Warsled. From a safe distance, out of the ship's arbalest range, the Dracolich unleashed its fury. Raging winds and necrotic energy lashed at the ship, the very air around it swirling with death.

"We're not done yet," Von muttered, loading his guns with a grim sense of finality. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the new threat.

This wasn't like the others. The Dracolich moved with terrifying calmness, avoiding the range of the ship's powerful arbalests and keeping just out of reach of conventional attacks. Its glowing eyes scanned the ship, cold and calculating, as if it could feel their every weakness. Worse still, it possessed all the lethal skills of a Nix dragon, but its endurance was unmatched — its HP bar stretched out endlessly, nearly twice of that the Nix Dragon.

"It's stronger than the Nix Dragon. Twice more stronger," Horizon muttered, his sword and shield feeling insignificant against the looming terror. He could see the crew's resolve faltering under the Dracolich's dark presence, but there was no time for fear.

With a powerful beat of its wings, the Dracolich let out another earth-shattering roar and descended on the Warsled, unleashing a torrent of dark energy. The deck trembled under its assault, and the crew scrambled to hold their ground.

Horizon and Von exchanged a quick glance — they would have to push beyond their limits if they were going to survive this.

As the Dracolich hovered above them, its skeletal form radiating an aura of death, the Amberskins prepared for their final stand against a foe that was far beyond anything they had faced before.

The real battle had just begun.