I Can Copy And Evolve Talents

Chapter 532: The Strongest Drifter

Back on the soul vessel, immediately after Northern had maneuvered his way into the other airship and drifted unnaturally away, the number of drifters attacking them had reduced drastically.

The already present ones were easily dealt with, and everything seemed to have calmed down.

The sailors and drifters who were not wounded were tending to the wounded ones. Three drifters who happened to be healers were helping to take care of the sailors’ first aid and moving on to the next as quickly as they could.

Alystren stared at the disaster with a distraught face. Shin was also beside him, glancing around with no particular emotion.

After a while, he said:

”Who are they?”

Alystren looked away, turning to the back of the ship. The soul vessel had taken heavy damage. Black smoke was enormously oozing from its rear, and its flying speed had decreased by half.

However, it was still going regardless.

Alystren sighed and looked back at Shin, ”Aren’t you worried about your son? He went and took off on his own. What is with kids these days.” He commented, holding his head with one hand.

Shin smiled softly, ”My son will be fine. You should see if your attention is needed around.”

Alystren nodded vibrantly—both of them deciding to make obvious what had just happened—before he walked away.

Shin stood towards the rail of the ship, looking back as he worried a little about Northern.

Then Ryan joined him, yawning tiredly.

”I’m glad you are safe. Your help would have gone a long way,” Shin said, glancing around at the casualties and then back to Ryan.

Ryan was silent for a moment, then he answered, his expression ever indifferent.

”If I had helped, I’d have needed to use my talent. And my talent would deal more damage to the ship than had already been done. Besides, that guy was here. I didn’t think there’d be a need for me to join.”

He said all of this with a straight and indifferent expression on his face.

”That guy?”

”Northern.”

Shin looked down and lingered for a bit before his voice rolled out again, ”If you are that confident, then Northern must be strong.”

Ryan’s expression folded sternly as he turned to look at Shin straight in the eyes.

”I watched him fight a Paragon for a bit. I happened to be nearby, waiting for lady Raven. I had taken shelter somewhere outside. The wall broke, so it was quite easy to see, and with the scope of damage of the fight, there was no one focusing that wouldn’t have seen.”

His voice settled for a bit before coming again.

”It made me realize one thing.” He looked away from Shin.

”Northern is the strongest drifter that I have ever known. Which is why I am here...”

Shin was for a moment lost in thought about all Ryan had been saying, then blinked, bringing himself back.

”Why you are here?”

Ryan looked at him and moved away from the rail, going back inside to probably continue his sleep.

Of course, typical Ryan.

It was a miracle that he had spoken this much, and this was probably the most Shin had heard him say.

At some point, Shin wasn’t sure if he knew what Ryan sounded like.

A couple of minutes later, Shin saw something pierce the clouds from behind.

It was the bow of another ship, evilly dark, in contrast to the soul vessel they were on.

Shin’s eyes narrowed as the dark bow of the approaching ship pierced through the clouds, its jagged form cutting an ominous silhouette against the gray sky.

The very sight of it sent a chill down his spine.

The vessel was unlike any he had seen before—its hull appeared to be made of dark metal, almost black, with eerie crimson lights flickering from within its crevices.

It looked like something forged in the deepest pits of darkness.

He stepped back from the rail, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. ”What in the world is that?” he muttered beneath his breath.

This was a mother vessel to the airship that had dropped the hijackers from earlier and even theirs.

Whatever this was, coming their way, wasn’t friendly, and the soul vessel was already damaged and slow.

Alystren returned to the deck just then, his face still etched with concern.

”What is it?” he asked, following Shin’s gaze.

”Another ship,” Shin answered quietly, his voice tense. ”And it doesn’t look like they’re here to help.”

Alystren squinted, trying to make out the details of the dark vessel through the swirling mist.

His heart sank when he noticed the red lights flickering along its hull—like veins pulsing with malice. ”Damn it! Them again!!”

Shin glanced at Alystren for a moment. Now more than ever before, he was sure that the old joker knew what was going on. He just did not want to say.

There were so many mysteries around him, and Shin was curious. He didn’t feel the need to indulge it.

After all, this would be over for him, his son, and Ryan once they stepped foot on Arcadia.

He just needed to manage until they got to Arcadia.

Alystren’s mind raced. The soul vessel was already in critical condition from the previous attack; it could barely keep itself in the air, let alone withstand another assault.

The sailors were tending to the wounded, and most of the drifters capable of fighting were already exhausted.

If this ship brought more enemies...

”We need to prepare,” Shin said, turning to Alystren, his voice urgent.

”Get the drifters ready, those who can still fight. We can’t let them take us by surprise.”

Alystren nodded, snapping out of his daze.

”Right. I’ll gather the others.”

As Alystren hurried off to rally the remaining drifters, Shin remained by the rail, watching the dark ship draw closer. His hand tightened on his sword hilt.

Where was Northern?

He knew Northern was strong and he shouldn’t be worried right now—Ryan’s words had confirmed it—but the thought of him being alone, possibly facing something even more dangerous than the last group of hijackers, still gnawed at him regardless.

The dark ship was closer now, its shadow looming over them like a predator circling its prey. The ship slowed as it neared, coming to a silent stop within a very close distance.

Then a platform unfolded from the ship and fell onto theirs.

A single figure walked out of the ship, marching on the platform and drawing towards them.

When Shin saw the figure, he tilted his head in shock.

”Northern?”