Page 156 of The Last Guardian

Wind—the air was pushing me up. Arthur’s power.

My fingers reached the mast platform as I pulled myself up with all my strength; the rain poured, drenching my hair and clothes.

Despite the rain, I could still make out the other ship facing us. The red-eyed figure was still looking at our boat.

I leaned against the quivering timber of the mast, my fingers wrapped around my bow, as I saw the figure again, standing alone on the ship.

It was a man.

While Hells ravaged our ship, the man just watched the monsters attacking us. With a deep breath, I pressed my foot against the rail and readied my bow.

With the strong gust of wind against me, I had to be precise. The angle of the mast, the distance, the movement, the timing.

I took a breath, and in a heartbeat, I released the arrow.

The arrow whistled through the air, swift and agile. It continued its course before planting itself in the man’s foot.

Damn it.

The figure raised his eyes to meet mine. In the gloom, I could make out a twisted grin on his face.

A presence brushed against me; a hot shadow crept into my personal space, gently touching my skin. Emerging from the rope ladder, Zaid stood on the little platform, his arms ablaze with black flames, his sword still in his hand, his face filled with rage.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Zaidkiel roared, fury blazing in his eyes. The sounds of battle still reverberated, even from where we were.

“What do you think I’m doing?” I asked, taking another arrow. I ignited the point with the flames dancing around his fist. Our gaze locked for an instant. His eyes burned with fury and fear and… awe? The arrow ignited into a blaze.

The flames flickered in front of me, and before Zaid had a chance to seize it, I fired the arrow.

The flaming arrow shot out, tracing an orange glow in the midst of the blue storm. It pierced the air… and struck.

The man kept his smile and raised his hand to receive the arrow. The arrow stopped in front of him, bouncing in the air. Then it died out.

The world stopped, chasing away every bit of air from my lungs.

The arrow’s flame disappeared, taking refuge in the palm of the man’s hand. I saw flames burst from his hand, forming fireballs.

An attack, a swift motion.

The fire was charging at me, the man launching it in my direction.

Zaid bellowed my brother’s name above the din of the deck, wrapping his arms around my waist, and a haze of smoke and black ashes swirled around us, whisking us away from the mast.

My spine collided with the wooden surface first; Zaid was on top of me, his legs anchoring me in place. Our eyes met for a minute, his gaze sharp. A light enveloped us, illuminating the sea.

A blast of fire erupted.

Zaid shielded me with his body, my head hiding against his torso—and fire burst in an explosion.

The sound of terrified shrieks and howls, mixed with a piercing hiss, resonated around us. The mast where we had been a moment ago—engulfed in flames.

Then, from far away, a voice reverberated throughout the expanse. As deep as the depths of the sea. As old as the heavens. As disgusting as the Hells.

Like a summons.

All the creatures turned their eyes toward the black ship, the man with the crimson eyes raising his hand to call them.

The sound of their claws against the wood vibrated through the ship, their hideous, high-pitched voices speaking a language I didn’t understand.