Irwin's Journey - The Cardsmith-Chapter 288: The next step

Daubutim tried to remain calm, slowly opening and closing his hands.

Tension will not result in a good ending. His father's cold words echoed through his head.

Forcing himself to calm down, he took a deep breath and continued to observe The Concerto as it dodged the enormous tentacled beast.

Seven minutes in, he thought, as a tiny portion of him continued counting.

"We need to figure out how to make more of those ships," Basil said, standing beside him.

Daubutim looked at him, raising an eyebrow, causing the warden of Portal Keep to shrug.

"Imagine if one or two of those had come and attacked us. Look at the difference between those two ships Irwin brought and the best we had before: Xi'kroak's ship. One of those ships would have decimated our entire navy of creaky old merchant vessels," Basil said.

Daubutim glanced at The Zura'ix and agreed with Basil. The only reason the ship was keeping out of reach of the tentacled monster was because its crew was incredibly well-practiced and knew their ship. Even then, they kept threading the eye of the needle, and he wondered how long they could keep this up.

"That big one could go and help," Basil grunted, sounding annoyed as he glared to the side. "He's just staying back here."

Daubutim took a quick glance at the massive whales that were going for another loop around the harbor. The lead one, easily twice as large as the others, was heavily scarred and larger than all of the ships present. A single large, badly-healed wound around its main dorsal fin looked like it could have been made by one of the Oculithar's tentacles. The Chaos Whales around it looked smoother, with fewer wounds, and the calves in their center were dark with pale blue streaks. All of them had a large eye with three smaller ones above it on each side of their head.

Daubutim refocused on the ships.

"I think all of the others are young, even those larger ones. The big one might be too afraid to act because it would mean leaving the young ones alone," he said.

"Seriously?" Basil muttered. "You think those massive things aren't fully grown? I thought the big one was a male, and the others were his herd."

Daubutim didn’t react. He was sure that Basil was rambling as he tried to cope with the fact that he couldn't do anything. They stood just on the sidelines, watching as others risked their lives to keep the three monsters away.

He did become very proficient at this, Daubutim thought.

The Concerto took a tight turn, dodging two of the longer tentacles while continuing to draw the monster away. Every other moment, concussive blasts came from the main deck where Boohm stood, trying to keep his aim straight. Still, with all his attacks, there wasn't as much a single wound on the beast. Just a few tiny-looking scuff marks.

Minutes ticked by, and soon, it became obvious that if one of the ships was going to have an issue, it would be The Zura'ix. Although it had been the top ship before, it was slower and less agile than the other two. Only its smaller size worked to its advantage, but even then, Daubutim knew it was only a matter of time.

"The Zura'ix won't make it," he said.

As if to prove him right, a tentacle managed to scrape across the hull of the Zura'ix, leaving behind splintered, dented wood.

"What can we do?" Basil snapped, his sword out, tip in the ground, and his hands wrapped around its hilt in a stranglehold.

"Nothing. There is nobody here to help them, and even if the other ships would assist, it would be useless. They would just get slaughtered," Daubutim said.

Another tentacle reached out, and The Zura'ix barely managed to dodge.

"How much longer?"

"We are only on eight minutes and seven seconds," Daubutim said. "Even by the best estimates, they are only just over halfway through."

"The Ruby's Revenge is heading there," Basil hissed. "I think Xi'kroak will try to help his wife."

Daubutim didn't correct Basil's mistake, even though he knew Xi'kroak and La'suna weren't bonded in that way. The term was close enough.

Instead, he watched as the sailed ship rotated on its side, dodging between two of the tentacles as it rushed toward the hardpressed Zura'ix.

"Do you think it will-" Basil began when one of the tentacles pierced The Zura'ix from the bottom, wrapping around its mast and yanking it toward the large demonic monster.

"Dammit," Basil roared, stepping forward and pointing his sword at the monster.

Small specs jumped from The Zura'ix as it was being torn apart, some flying away, others plummeting to the rocky ground below.

The Ruby's Revenge was shooting down, angling as it did, and Daubutim watched in slight awe as a few of the sailors of the Zura'ix were caught on the sails as it shot by below, wreckage bouncing off from the red barrier around the ship. Those that were flying and levitating shot after the ship, landing on the deck, but not everyone was that lucky. Daubutim watched as seven small specks slammed into the ground, no longer moving.

Both Oculithar chased after The Ruby's Revenge for a moment; then the furthest one slowed down. It turned around, and its red eyes focused on the harbor.

"Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT," Basil roared as his full plate, dark and with blued edges, appeared around him. His previously light brown hair began glowing as it rose up into clumped spikes, while his massive sword began gleaming, pale blueish lightning rippling around the edge.

Daubutim's mind began churning as he started calculating how much time they could gain if the weak ships went in one at a time to try and distract the Oculithar. His attention was diverted as Basil turned and ran toward the Chaos Whales circling the harbor.

"You punk! If you want those younguns to survive, you better help me stop that thing!' Basil roared as he pointed his sword at the lead Chaos Whale and then at the incoming Oculithar.

Did his mind snap? Daubutim thought.

"Stop, you might agitate-" he shouted, only to stop when Basil continued roaring at the top of his voice, ordering the largest Chaos Whale to help them.

Daubutim was about to use his lightning to move after him and stop him when he froze in his tracks. The massive whale let out a deep, rumbling sound as its eyes focused on Basil. Then it sped up, heading toward the edge of the harbor, while the small flock of Chaos Whales continued their circling.

For a moment, he feared the Chaos Whales was charging, and then he watched in disbelief as the Chaos Whale moved alongside the harbor. One of its massive dorsal fins slammed onto the wood and stone dock, cracking it. Basil reached it and ran up across the fin before he stopped beside the massive eyes.

"Charge!" the crazed guardian roared, his sword rippling with lightning as he pointed it at the rapidly incoming Oculithar.

"Insane," Daubutim muttered as he watched the Chaos Whale surge forward, its tall and dorsal fin shattering a section of the docks.

He felt his mind bog down and forced his heartcard to speed up his thoughts, counteracting them.

The Chaos Whale began building up speed, and a small ripple of lightning seemed to run across its back.

Daubutim's eyes widened as he saw the lightning start to coalesce around Basil, and his sword began glowing ever brighter. Lightning rippled across its edge, arced away into the Chaos Whale, then back, and within two seconds, Basil stood in the center of a forest of lightning that grew from the side of the Chaos Whale.

Is it boosting his power or somehow copying it? Daubutim thought.

A flash of blue blinded him, almost immediately followed by the deafening crack of a nearby lightning strike that caused his ears to ring. Blinking rapidly, he saw the afterimage of a web of jagged lightning bolts moving away from Basil's sword and striking the Oculithar.

Focusing on the Oculithar, Daubutim felt a slight hope as he saw long wounds covering its center, one eye blinded. Deep purple blood streamed from puckered rips in the black flesh. The Oculithar slowed, but it didn't stop, and a quick look showed that Basil had dropped to his knees. His armor, gray with blue highlights, had blackened, and it looked like thin cracks ran along the line of his sword. Still, blue lightning began forming again, and Daubutim thought he saw a look of resolve in the other's eyes.

The Chaos Whale began moving sideways, and the Oculithar shot after it.

It's not moving as fast as it did before, Daubutim thought as he watched the Chaos Whale fly away.

Had the lightning cost it something, or… was it baiting the Oculithar? Ten seconds later, he was sure. The Chaos Whale flew away at exactly the speed the Oculithar was, sometimes slowing a bit, then speeding up to stay out of reach.

It was drawing the Oculithar away while a less massive storm of lightning was forming on its left dorsal fin.

It's giving Basil more power, but at a cost, Daubutim thought. And it's drawing the Oculithar away. These Chaos Whales are far more intelligent than I was led to believe.

He watched as the third Oculithar was drawn further away. When it began slowing, a bolt of lightning, much smaller than the initial one, struck it. This time, it managed to close its eyes, preventing any from being blinded, but another few wounds joined the first batch.

Daubutim kept watching as minutes began ticking by. Finally, almost fifteen minutes in, people began running out of the portal building.

That's faster than should be possible, he thought, somewhat surprised.

Greldo appeared beside him while Trimdir, Dahlia, Esther, Montain, and Selene came running towards them. The latter three had two Ganvils each, their own and a bigger one which Daubutim knew were the rank fives. Clarish came staggering behind them, her face pale from card overuse.

"Where is… ah, so The Zura'ix is no more," Greldo said, looking around. "Wait, is that Basil?!"

Daubutim didn't respond but focused on the incoming smiths.

"Trimdir, you and Esther are to head back right away," Daubutim said, keeping his tone calm. "If we fail, we can't risk losing you."

The smiths slowed. They had been staring at the distant Oculithar, ships, and Chaos whale, but now the three Granitians turned to look at him in surprise. Trimdir just snorted.

"Not happening," the smith said. "Though I agree with you on one thing. Esther, head back. If anything happens to the rest of us, you are to train all the smiths as best you can."

"But-" Esther began.

"Do it, sis," Montain interrupted her. "You know he is right!"

"Trimdir, you also need to head back," Daubutim said, staring at the older smith, projecting as much authority as he could.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Trimdir opened his mouth, then hesitated. Daubutim held his gaze, saying nothing. He knew the older smith had always been bad with authority; Bron had told him that much, but right now, he needed him to listen.

"What about Hou'dor?" Trimdir finally said. "Won't he be needed?"

Daubutim looked at the Ganvil, then at Trimdir, trying to weight all the options. If he asked Trimdir to head back without his bonded Ganvil, he would likely refuse, but would the other three be enough?

"We will be fine without Hou'dor," one of the Ganvils said.

Nim'dor, Daubutim knew, Hou'dor's brother.

"I'll handle The Concerto, and the others can barrier the Ruby's Revenge," the Ganvil continued. "All of us have more energy now, and these Oculithar are much smaller."

Daubutim frowned. "Hou'dor?" he asked.

"As much as I want to disagree, Nim is right," the other Ganvil said. "If they can't hold it, my presence wouldn't help enough."

"Then it's settled," Daubutim said. "Greldo, bring Dahlia and Nim'dor to The Concerto, then take the rest to The Ruby's Revenge. Trimdir, you and Esther be ready to flee through the Portal."

Greldo was moving before he finished, grabbing Montain and Selene.

"This is going to be unpleasant," he said just before he vanished.

Daubutim turned to watch the distant Ruby's Revenge and saw a few specks appear on its deck. A few seconds later, Greldo returned, staggering slightly. The barrier around The Ruby's Revenge was already increasing in density, showing the two Ganvils were hard at work.

"Alright, if things go south, we will draw them away," he said as he grabbed Greldo's shoulder.

"Hope to see you soon," he said before vanishing.

Daubutim watched him appear on the deck of The Concerto, a tiny speck that seemed to drop to his knees.

"Alright, I'll start signaling the ships to attack the Oculithar," Daubutim said with a look at Clarish. "Try and rest. You will likely have to save Basil."

Clarish grimaced, then sat down, closing her eyes.

I hope this works, Daubutim thought, knowing his father would have been highly annoyed at the lack of certainty with the plan. After today, he was going to figure out a plan to deal with these Oculithar, small and big, if they ever showed up again. He had no idea how yet, but he would.

As his eyes blazed with red lightning, he began signaling the waiting fleet to attack the Oculithar as soon as they were starting to wrap their tentacles around The Conerto and Ruby's Revenge.

--

"Left," Zender shouted.

Irwin spun the wheel without hesitating, sensing the incoming bundle of soulforce and maneuvering their ship just out of reach. His head was throbbing, and if he wasn't using both of his selves, he knew he'd never have been able to dodge all of the tentacles. Knowing Xi'kroak was doing it with just one made him wonder just how good he was.

Movement from the corner of his eye made him look in worry that something had managed to get through, only to see Greldo and Dahlia appear. His friend dropped to his knees, but Irwin had no time to worry as he saw Nim'dor flash to the prow position and turn to his large size.

"Dahlia, start boosting the soulforce saturation," he shouted. "Earila, get ready to take over as soon as the barrier is up!"

"Ready, Captain," a voice came from beside him.

Irwin didn't react as he felt another bundle of blinding soulforce shoot forward. He jabbed the runes, and the ship plummeted down, just under another swiping attack.

"Right!" Zender screamed a fraction later.

I'm getting sick of this, Irwin thought as he spun the wheel, the gravity and propulsion causing them to spin sideways.

"Captain, the barrier is up," Nim'dor's voice boomed out. "I can hold it for a short while, but I'll need you to start forging fast!"

"Ambraz, keep an eye out if you need to help," Irwin said as he straightened the ship and looked at Earila.

"Ready!" she said, her eyes wide and face pale but looking ready for anything.

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Irwin took his hands from the wheel and jumped away for her to take over. One of the massive tentacles slammed into their now silvery shield, causing a dull thunk. Then it wrapped around it as the Oculithar pulled itself forward.

"It's holding," Ambraz hissed.

Irwin felt a slight relief as he shot across the cacophony of soundwaves that rippled around, arriving near Nim'dor.

Dahlia was already hammering on a card, and waves and ripples of soulforce were moving around her.

"Where's Hou'dor?" Irwin asked.

"He, Trimdir, Esther, and Nava'malder are not coming. Daubutim says it's too dangerous, and they will flee back to the world if things don't work out," Nim'dor said.

Nava'malder? Ah, right. Esther's bonded Ganvil, Irwin thought as he plucked a few cards from his pocket.

Greldo came stumbling towards him, holding out a large pack. Irwin took them and deposited them in his soulscape.

"I just grabbed as many cards as I could find," his friend croaked.

Irwin nodded as he mechanically put a card on Ambraz's surface before slamming his hammer down.

He didn't bother with anything fancy but simply forced his will upon the card, ripping its resonance as far to the side as he could to generate the maximum soulforce. Part of him was playing his soulstrum guitar, while the other part hammered the card, watching ripples of soulforce move around. There was a startled gasp from Nim'dor, which he ignored. Instead, he focused on reforging.

As soon as he could, he began taking a few glances around when he could.

He immediately saw that the Oculithar trying to wrap around their barrier wasn't just much smaller than the one that had attacked them. It was also much weaker. Even with only one rank-five, its tentacles weren't making as much as a dent into the barrier, and as he rapidly increased the ambient soulforce, he knew they would be safe, at least for a while. He risked a longer look.

The dozens of old merchant vessels they had captured over the years were moving towards them, and balls of energy, waves of fire, and lances of ice poured from them, battering the side of the Oculithar. Although each hit only left a small wound or scuff mark, Irwin could already see that the damage was increasing.

It might take a while, but we can do this, he thought, focusing on the card and slamming his hammer down before quickly looking around again.

The Ruby's Revenge was far to the side, its barriers so intensely blood red that the black tentacles wrapping were easy to see. Another group of ships was hovering away from it, a barrage of attacks raining down from it onto the second Ocullithar.

Further out was the largest Chaos Whale, and Irwin hissed as he saw the flagging soulforce signature on its left dorsal fin. Ever since he had gained his ability to sense and hear soulforce to the level he had now, the only one who he'd seen with such a low, insatiable soulforce had been Hind.

A sense of worry grew in him, but he offloaded it to his guitar-playing self, keeping one of him clear of thought- a trick he'd learned recently. It would take his other self a bit longer to work through it, but it was worth having a clear head.

"Basil won't survive much longer," he said, without stopping his reforging. "Grell, as soon as you can, go there and get him to safety."

"Irwin…" his friend muttered.

Irwin looked to the side where Greldo sat against the railing, grimacing. One look told him enough. His friend had vastly overused his card, and it would be hours before he could do anything.

"I'm sorry. We needed to rush, so Clarish and I used our abilities inside the tunnel to get here fast. It was… not fun-" Greldo said.

"Are you two suicidal?" Nim'ron snapped. "Teleporting inside a world-corridor is a good way to get yourself killed!"

"We had no other choice," Greldo groaned. "Esther and the others weren't together, and if we hadn't teleported through the corridor, we'd not even have been here yet."

"And if you had died, you would never have made it," Nim'ron grunted. "Captain, if you can boost the soulforce more and faster, we might be able to hold out against two of these things."

"Wait, shouldn't The Ruby's Revenge do that?" Greldo said. "They have two rank fives, and-"

"No," Nim'ron said. "Ras'zin and Mor'vin aren't as strong as I am, and Irwin and Dahlia are generating more ambient soulforce than Montain and Selene are."

"Great," Greldo grunted.

Irwin looked at Basil.

"How much more are we talking?" he asked Nim'ron.

"Double."

"What are you-"

"That's insane?"

Irwin ignored Greldo and the others, focusing on the card he'd still been working on as he sensed it start to expel more soulforce as it neared completion. He'd continued hammering it and only now realized that even with both his selves, he'd only barely managed not to screw it up. Clamping his control around the resonating card, he struck the final blow, then watched as the card shuddered and shook before almost hesitantly solidifying into a topaz card.

Can't let myself get so distracted.

He took up the card, inspecting the slightly unstable final product, and turned to Nim'ron.

"Can you eat this for power?"

Nim'ron snorted. "No. Eating cards to get a quick boost of power is something rank one and two Ganvils can do before they get used to the soulforce of their bonded smith. All you can do is purify the surrounding soulforce. Which you need to hurry up with."

Irwin nodded, staring at Dahlia, who was still working on reforging cards as fast as she could.

"Earila, move towards the whale and the other Oculithar," he shouted.

"I don't- Are you sure? …" Earila rambled before shouting back. "Yes, captain!"

Irwin grabbed his stack of cards and riffled through them. He needed to boost the ambient soulforce faster than what he had been doing, which could be done in two ways. If he could make another heartcard, that would work, but they wouldn't have the time to bring someone here. That left reforging cards, and the higher, the better. The problem was that higher meant it would drain him faster.

Have to try.

He grabbed a Topaz card and put it on the Ambraz's back. It was a weapon summon and fire-type, showing a spear surrounded by flames. It was not something he would have risked using normally as it was one he'd wanted to reforge and give away. Besides, due to his high compatibility with the card, a lot of its energy would be absorbed by Ambraz.

That was unless he went high.

"Kid, are you sure?" Ambraz whispered, seeming to know what he was planning.

Irwin just nodded.

"Earila, get us close, but don't engage until Nim'ron tells you he is ready," he shouted.

"Yes, Captain!"

Irwin knew that if he was going to try and go beyond Ruby, especially in these situations, he could only try for the easiest one. He listened to the resonance and was about to begin playing a Galadin song when he held back. Looking at the Chaos Whales, he instead began playing the song he'd so long ago learned. He had to change it to accommodate the difference in the card's resonance, but it took surprisingly little effort.

Fully focused on his task, he struck down on the card and began focusing on the resonance, finding the path that would both accommodate the card's own innate direction, as well as his own soul card and heart card's types.

He felt a wave of joy as he reforged the card, allowing it to go in the direction it seemed inclined to go instead of forcing it. Within moments, he was in a rush, time slipping away, and only the tiny reminder that he had to rush made him move as fast as he could.

Before he knew it, the card began glowing brighter, and he stared down at the Emerald card.

That was the easy part, he thought.

Without holding back or letting himself be distracted, he struck again. As he worked, he felt the surrounding ambient soulforce begin to fluctuate with his soulstrum guitar's resonance. The song he was playing began to become audible beyond just his soulscape, and at some point, his humming turned to wordless singing.

As the resonance began changing, the difficulty increased, and he noticed exactly when Ambraz stepped in to iron out some tiny flaws. Part of him kept track of the changes, trying to incorporate them into his song, and as he continued, the flaws became less and less as he sensed the card's resonance start to match that of his soulcard.

When the card finally solidified, expelling a tremendous wave of soulforce that in his senses and eyes rippled and washed over everything in his periphery.

"Here we go," he whispered, sensing the changes in the card. His self inside his soulforce summoned his tablatures, allowing it to record what would happen next. Then, he struck again.

He'd attempted going to Diamond rank before, even somewhat succeeding one time with the help of Ambraz, only for the card to shatter moments after. That wouldn't do now, but he wasn't trying to make a card for someone specific. No, all he needed was for it to be completed.

Within two strikes, the card's resonance changed, going from the simple song of an instrument to multiple overlapping resonances. Just keeping the resonance from rippling out of control became intense. Another strike later, he felt Ambraz jump in and take over part of the smaller fluctuations while he continued directing the main flow.

Irwin felt his soulforce draining rapidly as it was used to keep control over the card, and within moments, he lost track of what was going on. One part of him was playing, changing the song and resonance of his own soulcard to match that of the rapidly evolving card, while the other kept it in place, stopping it from spiraling out of control.

More and more burning red clouds of soulforce wafted from the card, obscuring everything but the burning card silhouette from his view.

As hard as it was, everything seemed to be going fine until he reached the halfway mark. The card's resonance began speeding up while he felt something in the card seem to crystalize. He had no time to think if that had happened the previous time, nor did he care. He forced his will on the card, desiring it to continue growing and not shatter. His soulcard and heartcard were humming and vibrating within the confines of his soulscape, radiating a sort of joy, but Irwin had no time to focus on it.

Tiny bits of the rhythm of one of the now many instruments that seemed to compose the diamond heartcard-to-be began falling behind. A dissonance was inbound, and all of his focus was stretched thin, as was that of Ambraz. The previous time, he'd let go of some of the resonance, focusing only on keeping the main chords in check, and it had worked- to a degree. He was already doing better, but what if it would shatter again?! It needed to be finished properly. To solidify!

A deep rumbling hum burst out from somewhere, wrapping around his song. The resonance of the soulforce, both his, the card's, and the ambient soulforce all seemed to slow for a moment, then the calming song, which he'd not heard in a long time, seemed to douse the impending crises.

It's adding another layer below the resonance song, Irwin thought, as he changed his own song slightly to better integrate it with the foreign one.

Within moments, the card's nearly explosive instability calmed, and the song slowed just slightly. The tempo went from energetic to merely upbeat and more laid-back while some of the higher vibrations lowered a fraction. The changes were minute, but as Irwin continued playing and singing along with the deep, beautiful hum, he sensed something profound within them.

He tried to pinpoint it, but there was so little of his focus left to use that he gave up and just enjoyed the process.