Valeria drew her sword in one smooth motion. "Great. Now we've got a fish to fry."
Noir followed suit, steel flashing as he pointed his blade at the grotesque figure on deck. Celeste leapt down from the quarterdeck, landing lightly behind them. "Don't worry, I've got your backs."
The creature stood motionless for a moment, staring with hollow, lifeless eyes. Then, without warning, it let out a monstrous, inhuman howl. The sound pierced the air like shattered glass, so loud and unnatural that the three companions had to cover their ears in pain.
"What the hell is it doing?!" Valeria shouted, wincing.
"It's calling reinforcements!" Celeste cried, barely audible through the roar. "That's no ordinary Drown! That's a Grand Drown!"
Celeste struggled to lift her staff, casting a shimmering barrier between them and the creature. But her magic was no match for the power of the howl. The shield cracked, then shattered like fragile ice.
Noir's hands clutched his ears as the sound rattled his skull. His knees buckled. "It's... it's too loud...!" he groaned, voice shaking. The world spun, and for a moment, he teetered on the edge of unconsciousness.
Then, sudden silence.
The creature fell still. The shriek stopped.
All three collapsed to their knees, gasping for breath, the aftermath of the howl still ringing in their heads.
But the silence didn't last.
The ship shuddered violently beneath their feet. Scraping, thudding, something climbing up the sides.
Valeria's eyes narrowed. "Damn it. We've got more of them."
From the edges of the deck, pale limbs clawed their way up. Undead Drowns, dozens of them, crawled aboard the ship, their decaying hands gripping wood and steel alike.
"Celeste!" Valeria barked, sword raised. "We've got company!"
"I see them." Celeste tapped her staff to the deck. "Vel'kora trin!"
A sphere of light burst outward, forming a protective barrier around the trio. The horde reached the edge and began hammering against it, clawing and gnashing, desperate to break through.
The Grand Drown remained still, watching.
"How long can you hold it?" Valeria asked, casting a glance at Celeste.
Celeste's skin had gone pale, her breath ragged. "Not long... the barrier's self-regenerating, but they're overwhelming it."
Valeria rushed to her side just as Celeste stumbled, catching her before she hit the deck. "Hold on. You've done enough. Let me-"
CRACK.
The Grand Drown moved.
It raised its rusted trident high, then hurled it with monstrous force.
The weapon pierced the barrier like it was paper.
Time slowed.
Valeria's eyes widened. The trident spun through the air, aimed straight at them.
"Move!" she yelled, but before she could react, Noir stepped forward.
He pushed Celeste and Valeria aside and took the full force of the trident.
The sound was sickening. Metal slammed into flesh and bone.
Noir was thrown backwards, the trident driving him across the deck. His body hit the boards hard, the weapon pinning him in place.
Blood pooled beneath him.
"Noir!!" Valeria screamed, racing toward him.
His eyes flickered open, just barely.
A breath. Shallow. Then another. Weak.
"Val... Celeste..." he whispered.
Celeste dropped beside him, hands trembling as she reached for his wound, but it was too deep.
He smiled faintly. "Guess... I really was meant to leave the farm... huh...?"
His voice faded. His gaze began to lose focus.
With a final, peaceful breath, Noir's eyes closed.
And he fell still, claimed by the cold, endless silence of the sea.
[—To be Continued—]