XXIX
Famming gave us the exact location of where the massive cannon was hidden before she embarked on her journey of recruiting other fleets to join our cause, assisted by the Night Guild. She took our submarine and had it repainted to bear the Vindor insignia, personally fixing a few parts to make it operate better and faster. As they rid the bodies off the vessel, Tarsus and his guild members bid their goodbyes to us, wishing us the best of luck.
I explained my entire plan to Fulcan, Famming, and Tarsus after a new location was chosen for erecting another tent. The plan seemed complicated, but it was no more than a simple procedure. If everyone played their part and succeeded on time, we would be able to take out the overlord and his men before he got the chance to destroy the capital of Grozorg.
Famming and Tarsus would try to reform the Pirate Empire, creating a union between fleets to fight for a common purpose. In this case, the fleets would band together to fight the growing power of the Leviathans, destroying the fleets to prevent them from ruling over the ocean. In the deeper scheme of things, destroying the fleets would destroy a portion of Helterium’s army, ultimately weakening him. Knowing Tarsus’ ability of ferromancy, I requested him to replicate Famming’s priceless golden-diamond pin, distributing the pins to every captain who joined the Pirate Confederacy. The goal of creating so many pins would also throw the Leviathans off; none of them would know where the real key was hidden. The true pin would be concealed by Fulcan underwater, while Famming wore a replicated one as well.
Meanwhile, Fulcan’s army and my guild would buy Famming and Tarsus time, compiling all the cannons we could from the shipwreck. Even the smaller cannons proved to be effective against the titanic statues, the heavy payload smashing the stone structures into pieces. The only problem was the large bronze shield each warrior carried. Surprisingly, the thick bronze could deflect a projected cannon ball, dealing no damage to the stone warrior. The Army of Light and the Blood Guild would try to demolish as many of Helterium’s warriors as possible before he woke the last of the statues. The overlord had also positioned his army around Awk Roluun since the auditorium in his palace was too small to fit the myriad of stone warriors, so our men would position cannons all around the underwater capital city of the water domain as well, taking out the statues as they arrived and catching them off guard.
When the fleets finished their mission, the Vindors would join us underwater while the other pirates would stay on the sea surface just in case the final step failed. All our troops underwater would march into Helterium’s palace with Famming’s champion cannon, and we would take out the statues within the auditorium, hopefully killing the overlord in the process. Famming had given us more information regarding the cannon, and to our help, we learned that the payload of the large cannon were explosives. If we could fire even three shots at the supporting pillars, the ancient underwater castle would crumble in no time. Upon taking out the overlord, we would finally end this dreaded war.
After salvaging a total of two hundred cannons, I divided the army and my guild evenly to take charge of one cannon, rolling it into position around Awk Roluun. It was night-time, but it was also impossible to tell in the deep blue. It would be dark underwater even during the brightest afternoons. Fulcan stayed in the main tent, guarded by General Othniel and Corporal Zartan, both personally selected by the king.
The entire city was finally encircled by our cannons. Each group carried only five cannonballs with them, so every shot counted. As the night progressed, cannonballs were silently fired, the sounds muffled by the thick waters. Communication was impossible outside any airtight environment in the ocean, so every man was on their own when they stepped foot outside of the conference tent. Famming had given us heavy ankle bracelets earlier which pinned us down to the ground, keeping us from constantly drifting upwards.
I did not assign myself to a group. Instead, I drifted through the water, circling the city to see if any one side needed more men or ammunition. So far, the plan was working fairly well. Though some soldiers from the Army of Light still fell to the deadly rock giants, many crumbled before the powerful cannons, and Helterium’s army was slowly decimated.
Famming had briefly instructed me on basic motion underwater prior to embarking on her mission, so my swimming technique had improved, granting a faster and more efficient movement underwater. Perhaps I would one day grow to appreciate water and its unique nature.
The night went on with more and more statues crumbling. None of the Army of Light was positioned near the palace, however, in fear of Helterium realizing what was happening to his stone army. Slowly, we were taking out his army before he could even complete it.
As I drifted through the water, a soldier of Fulcan’s army tugged on my cloak. He pointed to his cannon, then to the indented sandy floor beside him. Finally, he pointed upwards at an incoming stone statue a couple hundred meters away and closing. He had run out of ammunition, and there were no cannons nearby to assist him. As I turned my head to search for a solution, another soldier rapidly swam towards me, gesturing the same message.
The statue was surprisingly fast underwater. It approached us swiftly and smashed the cannon in one blow, not retreating in its steps. I motioned the soldiers to head to the king’s tent while I diverted the giant’s attention. I was greeted with more and more soldiers who had run out of ammunition. Slowly, the tables were turning against us as the statues destroyed our cannons and army one by one.
Gesturing for all the soldiers to return to the main tent, I tried to get everyone back in one piece. We had completed our duty, and our only choice now was to wait for Famming and the Night Guild.
“We need more time!” I shouted, entering the tent. “We’re out of ammunition, and Famming needs more time!”
I had originally planned for our duty to be completed in a much longer time frame, but with Helterium suddenly speeding up his process, there was nothing we could do.
“We just have to wait. Position all the men around the tent, Corporal Zartan. If it means we defend this tent with our blades, we must do it.”
“As you say, your majesty,” the corporal quickly responded. He gathered some of his men and left the tent.
“What if the overlord discovers the location of the weapon?” General Othniel asked.
“He won’t, according to Famming,” I replied.
“Should we bring it into this tent just in case?” the general continued, evading my statement.
“Listen to Ulterium, general. Bringing it to this tent will be the destruction of us. It would surely lure the overlord to us, and not only would he destroy the cannon, but he would also destroy our entire army.”
The general left the tent as well, grabbing a couple of soldiers with him.
“So we just wait now. For better or for worse.”
“Not what I would do in my younger years, but patience proves to be deadly, Ulterium. Perhaps waiting is our success in this war.”
“Don’t you find it odd?”
“What?”
“Why would Helterium be the first to join Tyrannust? If you recall, he was the first to become overlord, and in the same day Tyrannust became corrupted.”
“Some things are better off unknown,” the king said plainly.
“Do you know something?”
“I hope not. Get some rest, Ulterium. It’s late in the night and you did your part well. My men will protect us for the night. If I said thank you to you every time I owed you one, you’d be sick of it.”
“You have my loyalty, your majesty.”
“Don’t call me that. We’re brothers, just not by blood.”
The king laughed and slapped me on the back. I chuckled in return and left the tent, joining the fighting force outside.
Famming had finally returned, spreading her success to every soldier she met on her way before arriving to the king. The army had lured the statues away from the king’s tent, and I had just returned to check on the king before she barged in, boasting of the birth of the Pirate Confederacy.
“Thank ye fer yer suggestion, Ulterium. Now we have every pirate on our side, and we took out those damned Leviathans in no time. It was all one great success.”
“So how many more troops do we have now?”
“Well let me count. The Taniwhas were the first to join, those eager sea dogs, then we got the Kaiju, Afanc, Kraken, uh...Scylla, Tlanusi, Cetus, Zin, Hydra, and...the Qalupalik. Damn, those Qalupaliks were hard to convince, but they’re with the Confederacy now. And the best part? The Leviathans are no more. All fifty ships have been destroyed. Some pins were stolen by the Leviathan captains, but in the end, they all fell to our blades ‘n guns.”
“Perfect, we’re right on schedule,” Fulcan spoke. “Thank you, Famming, thank you, Tarsus. Have you told the Confederacy the rest of the plan?”
“Briefly. The Confederacy was excited to join the cause. But mostly to join us Vindors. I’m tellin’ ye, we’re the best troops on sea now. I told them that we had no more ships, and every fleet was inclined on lending their ships to us. Above all, none of those sea dogs like that damned Tyrannust. They were more then willin’ to help us defeat Helterium.”
“Great. We’re at a good start.”
“Not quite,” I interrupted. “Famming, our army underwater ran out of ammunition too quickly. We lost a good amount of men, and all the statues have been awakened. Helterium has already begun his march.”
“Where’s the giant cannon Famming talked about?” Tarsus asked.
“No one’s touched it. It should still be back at the palace.”
All of a sudden, General Othniel and three soldiers burst in, dropping to their knees in front of the king.
“I’m sorry, your majesty - please forgive me!”
The four soldiers begged for mercy from the king, faces pressed against the sandy floor in grief.
“General, what is it?”
“I thought...I thought I could help advance the war if we brought the champion cannon to this tent.”
“You what?!” Famming shouted.
“What happened?” Fulcan asked through gritted teeth.
“The Hydromancer just leapt out in front of us all of a sudden and destroyed the cannon and-"
“It what?!” Famming raged.
“I’m sorry, your majesty!”
Fulcan stepped forward and picked up the general by his collar. His fiery eyes glared into the general’s whimpering face, enraged.
“I thought I told you not to do a thing!” The king roared. “Who told you the location?”
“I’m sorry, your highness!”
“What is sorry going to do now? You destroyed our only hope!”
“Sir!” Another soldier from the Army of Light rushed in. “The troops are closing in! We have to get to the palace to take out the overlord before the stone warriors arrive at our hideout!”
Fulcan glared at the general without blinking. His face was twisted in rage, and his grip on the general’s collared tightened all the more.
“Othniel, welcome back to the frontlines. Zartan! Congratulations on your promotion, general!”
Zartan saluted and bowed before the king quickly.
“Army of Light and Purity! Change of plans!” Fulcan shouted, throwing down the general. “Everyone, retreat!”
“Sir,” the soldier that barged in began.
“We will all march back to Tenebris! That is an order!”
“But sir-"
“‘Sir’ me again!” The king roared, sending the soldier stumbling backwards. “Their march has begun, so let them march! Let’s see how far they can get when they reach Tenebris!”