yasinovel Chapter 1224: A way to safety (2)
Chapter 1224: A way to safety (2)
The stars emerged across the darkening sky as Erik stood at the edge of the tiny island on which the duo spent the last few days.
The last hints of sunset faded over the horizon, leaving only starlight to illuminate the ocean before them, and that was exactly what Erik wanted and waited for.
"Ready?" Erik asked, glancing at the clone who had saved his life.
The clone nodded but was clearly scared.
The clone had witnessed the devastating power of Mur’s creatures firsthand. He had seen how the three-headed void ravagers had torn through their army, ripping off Erik’s arm and leg, shredding his wings, and leaving no survivors.
The memory of his brothers sacrificing themselves to allow their escape still haunted him. Even the weakest creatures on Mur were as powerful as elite predators from Mannard and knowing they would have to navigate these waters with just the two of them filled him with dread, but he wasn’t the only one.
Erik, too, was agitated after what had happened on the first day of their journey.
[How’s the weather looking?] Erik asked the biological computer, studying the star-filled sky above them.
[There will be clear conditions for the foreseeable future,] the system said. [No cloud cover expected. The stars and moonlight will provide excellent visibility.]
The system paused. [Unfortunately, that same visibility works against us. The clear sky means we’ll be more easily spotted. The moon will make our silhouette visible from the waters and will make your bodies even more visible from above.]
Erik grimaced at this news.
[We could wait for cloudier conditions,] the system said, [but there’s no guarantee when that might happen. And staying here much longer increases our risk of being found by the thaids.]
Erik looked out over the dark waters. The stars reflected off the waves, creating a beautiful but treacherous scene. Somewhere out there, creatures were hunting, and they might stumble upon them.
The clone shifted uncomfortably beside him, likely having the same thoughts. They had barely survived Mur’s predators—neither of them wanted to face another. Stay connected via novelhall.Côm
Then, saying nothing, they both shapeshifted. Erik’s body became smaller as feathers grew from his skin. Soon, he had turned into a small black-feathered seagull, which made him hard to be spotted in the dark.
The clone’s transformation was even more dramatic. Its human form shrank until only a tiny bug remained, barely larger than a grain of sand.
With quick movements, it scurried between Erik’s feathers, finding a safe position where it could rest without risk of falling and where Erik’s feathers would keep him hidden.
That disappointed the clone. Not making many clones, in his opinion, was going to be a mistake. More clones meant more eyes to watch their surroundings and more people during a fight.
However, he also knew that to have more clones meant they would have to wait for a while before they would hatch, and some more until they matured, and if they remained idle for who knew how much time, nothing would ensure the blackguards wouldn’t have a technological breakthrough that would make this whole expedition a failure. They had to strike fast and as soon as possible.
The problem was that being on Mur, hoping to survive with just the two of them, was akin to suicide. The clone still hoped Erik would change his mind.
Erik paused.
The clone remained silent. The endless ocean spread out beneath them. From time to time, something moved in the waters below, making both Erik and the clone shiver. Hidden safely in Erik’s feathers, the clone made small adjustments to stay comfortable, or better, hidden.
Erik’s flight pattern remained perfectly steady as his companions were mentioned, his wings cutting through the air without hesitation.
In his mind, though, thoughts of concern mixed with a strong sense of resolve, and the clone sensed them. He knew exactly what needed to be done, even as worry for his friends gnawed at him.
Unease spread.
"We’ll find them," the clone said through their mental link, trying to project confidence despite the uncertainty in his thoughts. His tiny form shifted slightly among Erik’s feathers as he spoke.
"First, we need to survive this flight," Erik said, his wings cutting through the cold night air. "Then we will see what Mur has in store for us..."