Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Even with a perfect map to print the archaic runes Amedith had seen on the ground as the devils tore the dark elves apart, it seemed that using that spell without solid ground just didn't work at all. Perhaps it was the fault of the runes themselves as they weren't exactly meant to be printed, and to test that theory Raven carved the rune he'd seen Darius ink in front of him the most.

"Minor healing," he said, throwing the scroll in the air while facing Regalia.

A waft of luminous green air whirled around the demi-wolf and the scratch on her hand carved to draw blood closed up in an instant.

"So it is the land and maybe something more after all," confirming their doubts, the party decided to rely on runes that didn't rely on any surface.

The very first was the rune carved for mass hysteria, then some healing, and at last, came the poison cloud of confusion that could choke their enemies of air. Hellfire was on Raven's mind as well, but that required prep–something he couldn't afford given the terrain they were working with.

Hiding in the shadow to carve those magic circles under the feet of those minotaurs was one thing, but doing so on the sea bed? If the hell's ocean even had one? There was just no way to do it–not without risking his life fighting against the horrors lurking deep within.

"I'll go check on the siblings again, in the meantime try to remember any runes that you can," parting with the group with those words, Raven headed upstairs again. This time, however, he wasn't met with a somber look from the elves, instead the two were loud and cheery while pulling large fish from the ocean.

The siblings on the other hand were nowhere to be seen, they'd disappeared into a housing area under a different cabin. Being twice as large as their original vessel, the ship was big enough for individual room for everyone, maybe not too big but not too small either.

'I feel like killing those idiots already, but if we don't need all the help we can get.'

Reaching into his pocket, Raven produced the dark-scale jewelry that could consume all light in his surroundings. He intended to use it against the ships, but given that they would be battling in the open its effectiveness remained to be seen when all there was around them was the horizon.

'A day or two, we should meet them midway to Lantherem soon.'

Placing the jewelry back into his pocket, he decided to join the girls in the fishing while waiting for the night to grow deeper so that he could attempt to brainwash Jahandeer's sisters. If Athenia's words were true while giving him that blessing then nothing could stop them from being his except for perhaps the influence of another god–which the Djinn didn't appear to have at all.

Making use of that disadvantage, Raven slipped in the middle of the night when the siblings were finally asleep. But instead of taking control of their minds outright, he planted a seed of revulsion and hatred towards their brother. He wanted their transition from loving to scornful to be fluid and not in haste.

'Last time I changed the minds of those Centurian girls at once, they really did go insane.'

Despite that, ensuring he could make them do as he commands if the situation calls for it, Raven left the room with surprising ease. Now the only question that stood before him was…

'I guess we'll just have to wait and see if this gift works on Djinns or not.'

In theory, he had no doubts, but if even immortals could die, there was nothing absolute in this world. Even his shadow steps could've been detected just now, and the gift could've also failed, but thankfully it doesn't seem to have as of now.

Returning to the girls, Raven whispered to him his plans, all the while the trio casually fished along. A day or two more and the party will run into those fleets and would be forced to fight against the hunter of witches. That rifle was still a pain to deflect, but even for that Raven had an excellent idea.

"Just make sure you're not too close to her and if possible strike down anyone who tries to use a fire or holy spell," directing them before the battle, he ensured they would be prepared for anything.

"You really wanna do this without Erika?" Aria interjected, still a bit confused as to why their main healer wasn't gonna be around for the fight.

Looking back towards the door which led to the many rooms downstairs, Raven kept a stern eye at the entrance while responding to Aria's concerns.

"Asmodia and Erika, we're gonna need them both in full capacity when we get to the island," since nobody was coming up, he decided to face Aria head-on, after all. "Not to mention I want her to use her influence on the island to shift the citizens to the opposite end to where we would land. The last thing I want is trimming the numbers of potential devotees to Athenia."

"Damn it, you're right. Those knuckleheads won't listen to anyone but her and even then I doubt everyone's gonna agree."

"Doesn't matter, we just need the majority safe. You can't help those who are morons by choice," considering the fact that Erika wasn't going to keep the threat to their lives a secret, if anyone was stupid enough to stay, then, whatever happens, would be entirely their fault–or at least that's what Raven decided to believe.

Innocent casualties weren't what he wanted, but if it was between tying this mess neatly and without any of his party members dying or trying to foolishly save everyone–then the choice to be made was obvious.

'I hope their lives are worth whatever good thing you'll bring to them…'

Looking to the skies, Raven truly wished that Athenia would keep her end of the deal and bless the island as much as she'd done his homeland.

"Any day now…" Melicia whispered in the background, her eyes set on the horizon for the first ship to appear any minute. "Let's get this over with you bastards."

She was ready to face them head on and so were the others. And the only thing left to do was wait and gaze into the horizon for that first ship to finally appear.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om