frightfiction Chapter 1180: The Thunderstorm and the Apprentice
Chapter 1180: The Thunderstorm and the Apprentice
Boom! Boom!
The thunderstorm struck without warning.
Winds wailed across the dockyard and rain hammered against the ships...
Then, sure enough, waves crashed violently against the shore!
Providence and Excellence groaned under the pressure, but thankfully, they were anchored safely in the dockyard and not out in the open seas.
Shane quickly rallied the crew. "Secure the barricades! Hold the lines!"
Layla reinforced the defenses with telekinesis, locking down loose cargo and debris.
Tundra and Travis’ Clone braced the barricades, while Elsa and Lily worked together to redirect torrents of rainwater away from the ships.
Everyone worked together...
At this time, even Shinja’s Stormblade cut down the waves coming at their ships...
Then, Chaloem’s calm presence steadied the panicked survivors. He released an aura that put everyone at ease. They still knew the danger around them, but they now had a clear view of what they could do in this situation.
At this time, the dragons circled above with their wings beating against the storm winds...
They were also aware of the danger that the humans were facing. They even started roaring defiantly as lightning flashed across the sky.
At the very least, their presence alone gave the crew courage that they would be protected from the lightning.
But then, from the raging waters, new threats emerged.
Figures clawed their way out of the surf!
Murloc Zombies, their terrifying forms started dragging themselves onto the dockyard. Behind them, hulking figures also from the waves...
They were Legged-Shark Zombies! They’re disgusting hybrids that could walk forward on mutated limbs with their jaws capable of breaking almost anything...
"Sea zombies!" Shane shouted. "Defend the ships! And the dockyard!"
Just like that, the survivors moved in to assist the Warden Units below as they tightened their formation.
Shields were raised, weapons were drawn, and every fighter braced themselves against the storm and the zombies...
"This rain... It’s irritating..."
"The light from the orbs aren’t enough... Someone, release some light, please!"
"Fire! Use fire!"
At this time, Chaloem realized that they were at a disadvantage because of visibility. After hearing the others complain, he immediately made his move...
He pressed his palms together, and after a few breaths, his hands were suddenly on fire!
Then, with a wave of his hands, he targeted the lamps that Mystra and others placed for the Light Orbs!
Whoosh~ Whoosh~
Suddenly, Chaloem’s Aura Flame lit up the whole place, allowing them to see the situation a lot clearer...
"Now! This is better!"
"Thank you, Sir Chaloem!"
"Amitabha!"
Still, the problem continued...
The rain poured down in heavy sheets, soaking armor and clothes, while the wind pushed against them so hard it felt like the dockyard itself might be torn apart.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Finally, explosions rang out as Tundra hurled his bombs into the advancing sea zombies.
The blasts lit up the night for brief moments, showing the bodies of the crawling zombies out of the water.
Shinja also made his move as he swung his Stormblade, cutting down the first creatures that reached the barricades.
"Get out of the way!"
Elsa and Lily then combined their powers, sending waves of water and slicing winds to push the attackers back into the sea.
This time, they wouldn’t get overwhelmed by the attacks!
Then, after Chaloem provided better lights to everyone, he also worked together with the Warden Units to stop the advance of the Sea Zombies...
"What a terrible weather... There were no signs at all... Is this because we break the ritual grounds?" Travis’ Clone muttered as he fought at the front, striking down anything that broke through.
Unfortunately, no one could really answer him.
The storm just started getting strong...
Whoosh~ Whoosh~
The rain blurred their vision, and it made the ground slippery and dangerous... Every step felt heavy. The waves kept throwing more bodies onto the dockyard while Murloc Zombies dragged themselves forward...
Thankfully, these Zombies weren’t that strong. Perhaps, they were only low-grade to mid-grade.
The only concern was their number and those behind them... the massive Legged-Shark Zombies!
They rose from the water, with their outrageous limbs carrying them forward...
As the battle began, they soon realized that normal skills and attacks wouldn’t work against them.
It was as if the storm multiplied their power!
They seemed to have gotten stronger compared to the last time they faced them.
"Be careful! They’re buffed! Go all out!" Shane shouted.
With this in consideration, the defenders just briefly struggled to hold the line...
Soon, they started pouring out more Spirit Points to cast their skills.
Furthermore, it was at this time that the dragons descended.
With a thunderous roar, the first dragon, Hunter, unleashed a torrent of flame that lit up the stormy night. The fire washed over the dockyard, burning dozens of Murloc Zombies as they tried to crawl from the waves!
The second dragon, Winter, dove low with its massive body crashing into the Legged-Shark Zombies with unstoppable force.
Boom!
The impact sent the creatures tumbling back into the water, but their screeches were drowned out by the storm.
Their combined strength turned the tide so quickly!
The dockyard, which had been moments away from being overrun, was now perfectly safe thanks to the dragons’ protection.
"Alright! Stick together!"
Shane said as he raised his talisman, pouring his Spirit Points into it.
It was the Warden’s Talisman!
It then glowed brightly, and soon, spectral centaurs appeared, charging forward to reinforce the perimeter!
Their ghostly weapons struck down the struggling sea zombies, buying precious time.
Natalie also no longer hesitated as she lifted her staff, and bursts of radiant light shot outward, burning away the corrupted flesh of the creatures that had managed to climb onto the dockyard!
Together, the defenders pushed back against the thunderstorm and the undead assault.
Every survivor fought with everything they had, and slowly, the waves of enemies began to thin...
The dragons circled above, roaring again and again, keeping the dockyard safe.
By the time dawn’s first light broke through the clouds, the storm had weakened...
But at the very least, most of them who hadn’t reached the cap just yet had leveled up and were already getting close to the limit.
Nonetheless, the dockyard was battered, the barricades placed by the elves were basically gone, and the survivors were soaked and exhausted.
Still, they were alive. Providence and Excellence still stood, their hulls were scarred, but they remained intact.
Meanwhile, the dragons perched above the ships, and as soon as they confirmed that everything was finally under control, they swiftly found a comfortable spot on the deck before coiling themselves to sleep...
Shane looked out at the endless sea, filled with floating corpses...
"Alright, everyone... Loot them all!"
***
In the meantime, back in the Omega Stronghold, the secret chamber that Alex chose was quiet except for the quiet hiss coming from the draining mana crystals.
Their glow filled the room with a soft light, casting long shadows across the stone walls.
Merlin stood at the center with his staff planted firmly beside him. At this time, his sweat was beading on his forehead. The ritual circle glowed faintly and soon, its runes were fading as the last of the energy dispersed.
Alex sat cross‑legged within the circle and he was breathing calmly... But deep inside, he could feel it... the faint spark of mana now alive inside him.
It was small, fragile, but it was there. His eyes widened as he clenched his fists, sensing the warmth flowing through his veins.
Merlin exhaled slowly, lowering his staff. "It’s done," he said.
"Your mana has awakened."
Alex looked up, concern flickering across his face. "Master Merlin... are you alright? You look exhausted."
He didn’t immediately celebrate as he saw Merlin’s face.
Merlin chuckled softly, leaning against the wall. "I’m fine. It took more crystals than I expected, but you brought plenty. It seems you knew your talent wasn’t the strongest."
Alex scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "I... had a feeling. I didn’t want to waste your effort, so I gathered as much as I could."
Merlin nodded approvingly. "That was wise. Mana awakening is never simple, especially for someone without natural affinity. But you endured, and the ritual succeeded. Congratulations... You can now start the path of being a mage."
Alex’s excitement bubbled over. He jumped to his feet, raising his hands as if preparing to cast.
"Then let me try! Maybe a mana shield... or a magic missile!"
Merlin laughed outright this time, shaking his head. "You just awakened mana, Alex. It’s barely a spark inside you, and you’re already old. Your body needs time to adjust. If you try to cast now, you’ll collapse before the spell even forms."
Alex froze, then lowered his hands sheepishly. "So... no shield?"
"No shield," Merlin said firmly. "No missile either. For now, you must learn to feel the mana, to guide it through your body. Control comes first. Power comes later."
Alex sighed, but his grin returned quickly. "Alright. I’ll listen. I’ll train. Even if I’m only a novice, I’ll make the most of it."
Merlin’s tired eyes softened.
"That determination will serve you better than any spell. Magic is not about rushing. It is about patience, discipline, and understanding. If you can master those, even a small spark like yours can shine brightly."
Alex bowed deeply...
"Thank you, Master Merlin. I’ll do whatever it takes."