Master Of None

Chapter 2791: 2791. Not Really An Island

Walker took to the air to watch as the sky oriented ships took off. He wanted to feel the changes in mana and watch the results. Not just because he knew that the new rune formations had been worked on immensely to create less gravity and even caused a whole new study of different forms of earth mana in the mages, but because these flying ships were larger.

They had been brought here in advance and prepared to handle harsh battles in the sky while also transporting goods. Yes this slowed them down a bit, but speed was not the biggest issue when traveling in the ocean or the sky. It was safety.

As the ship moved off the ground, Walker noticed hatches that could be opened to expose other harpoons or archery shooting areas. They were perfect for targeting monsters just below them which the last floating ship did not have since it was the very first successful ship.

He also noticed that there was a constant small wind barrier that was made additionally on top of the one that allowed the wind to be blocked from those on deck. This one was made specifically to deter smaller monsters, push away light rain, and also to block projectiles from the ground.

Being able to have this was a good option for those leaving the ship in a hurry as well. It meant that the flying ship could float above the ground and using ropes guards could descend to the ground. It would make protecting returning scouts much easier or joining dangerous rescues that much more successful.

This didnʼt mean he wasnʼt looking at the ships on the water though. Walker noticed the magically reinforced glass as windows on the sides. They would function as watch areas in case underwater or just at top level monsters approached. More so, it acted as a potential escape area if everything went poorly. Saving everyone below deck from being trapped in a worst case scenario.

All of these potential safety measures really spoke to who the craftsmen were in terms of skill. They cared for those using their products and worked together to ensure that people would be safe no matter who they were working on the ship.

Looking at the watch guards already positioned, Walker also knew that the squads each had properly prepared for this expedition. They were not waiting to see what might happen, they were entirely prepared for what they needed to achieve. The serious focus in their gazes told him everything they needed to know about one another and their future goals for this expedition.

Success, that was that.

”Walker, one of the scouts said that there is a flock of cloud ospreys ahead, should we adjust to avoid them?” The shout was easily heard but Waker lowered himself to the ship that Onyx was currently on and responded with a simple solution.

”I will release some mana and deter them. They arenʼt violent and just might get too scared if I donʼt do that. The flying ships are large and will cause them to fly recklessly. My mana will make them veer away before we get close.” It was a simple solution for a simple problem.

However, they had just set off and Walker was already working to avoid unnecessary problems. It made him wonder what else they might face after they had begun nearing the islands…

With the amount of force and preparations, the next hours leading in to the next full day and a half presented no issues that he had to really worry about.

Small mechanical issues were fixed before they even needed to be brought to the main party. Even the small problems with people unhappy with where they were resting between shifts that would happen with any group of people were resolved. Making it feel more like this was a slow vacation of travel rather than a real expedition.

”Are those the first islands in the distance?” Gil had been speaking with Walker about the small improvements made to the flying ships he had noticed but stopped and looked far in to the distance.

”Not yet, there shouldnʼt be anything just ahead. We should be another full day away from seeing islands right now.” The strangeness of how soon they were seeing what appeared to be an island made Walker and several angels and harpies take to the air to head off to scout. The small mapping orbs the harpies and angels held had been quickly built just for this purpose.

When they began to get closer where they could have a better look, they realized it wasnʼt shaped the same as an island, none of the five they could see looked like normal islands at all.

”Be careful and examine everything from a distance. The sands on those islands are too white and the greenery looks like it might be more like seaweed rather than trees or bushes.” Walker started to use the all around appraisal finding that the plants were all semi aquatic and could survive inside and outside saltwater. The sand was also sand crushed finely by the deep tidal waves. But he still wasnʼt sure how it would have gotten way up here on an island.

”Sir, the islands appear to be moving with the waves slightly.” This observation was able to be seen as a particularly larger wave moved and all of the islands shifted. Even worse, as they watched, another islands seemed to be slowly surfacing.

ʼ stilt island crab

This crab is known for having incredibly tough shells and extremely long legs allowing them to hold on to shallower water and grow to reach the surface of the ocean. They collect sands, seaweeds, and even monsters at times to grow on their shells and show off to other stilt crabs. If they are able to have an impressive shell they may be able to attract a mate.

Often, they will be surrounded by predators that prey on the monsters that hide around their legs or on their shells. The predators wait for the crabs to sink under the water in the night before raising to the surface in the daytime.

Normally they will be a peaceful monster that just wishes to move around shallow waters, however, they have sharp needle like shorter limbs to fight others of their kind when they are searching for a group to live with. They also possess these appendages to fight off the shell sharks which need to fend on tougher shelled prey to grow their own tougher shells over delicate skins…ʼ

”We will move around them and avoid them. They are peaceful monsters that live in groups to impress one another. They are not islands. They are crabs. They are also dangerous since they have longer limbs that focus on piercing the predators and one another they face.” Walker quickly gave the order to move around these seemingly floating islands.

He knew from the all around appraisal that these stilt crabs might think that the hills of the ships on the water might be some dangerous shell shark or worse. They could attack them or let them pass but giving them space was the safest option.

”Let the underwater scouts know that they have to come closer to the ship or board the ships. There are predators living in the waters around the legs of the stilt crabs. Itʼs better we are close to one another.”

Just as Walker said this he watched a few of the merfolk and water elves return to the boats with warnings being shouted about small predators and other monsters approaching the bottoms of the ships. It was clear that the predators who were used to waiting for the night had spotted them and thought they were getting a lucky free meal.

Others were pulling up strange looking monsters with larger eyes better suited for the night. He also spotted a few spear eels which were better known for moving quickly through the water and burring their sharp spear like noses in to prey to draw their blood then feed on them after they had bled out.

Overall, some extra hunting was happening rather than just retreating. Walker easily spotted those with better battle abilities calling on the less experienced to come underwater and watch and learn. It was a good way to learn a bit here and there since most of the predators were not strong enough to fight the main fighters head on. Meaning it was an ideal way to practice for those who needed the training.

It also meant a little extra food to be stored and prepared for the overall expedition. Not to mention a new monster to note down in the books for when they returned. Just that alone would make traveling safer in the future. But this was also a sign that the waters were becoming shallower. A sign they were nearing land faster than their original plans overall.

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