Chapter 8: The way of the theft

Zyro's heart shrunk, they have five hours, and didn't make it. He doesn't only hear a dozens wings, but hundreds or even more. Becoming louder as it draw closer. And at their current position, they're currently at utter disadvantage. 

Zyro glance at his calm neighbor, clinging upsidedown. And shifted his vision to the island edge, which are far from near, and even if they reach it's edge. What can they do against an entire army, airborne or not.

The dreadful sound got louder and louder. As he closed his eyes, feeling like the biggest loser in the two world. His grip had loosen it's strength, only his stolid neighbor held him on. Zyro had never expected that he'll someday fear the sound of wings, it's so dreadful, to the point it sound like a rapid gunfire of war to a child's ear. 

It got louder and closer, he could already hear it at his sides, front and everywhere. Then, it got to the point that it's all he could hear. A disturbing, chaotic flock of wings, mixed with what seems like voices from time to time. As he listened, still shutting his eyes tight.

Waiting for any form of attack anywhere in his body, prepared for pain. Seconds past after another.

'Any second now'

But none came.

...

'Just get on with it, damm it!'

Zyro grew Inpatient of his death and decided to slowly open one eye, then the other, and frowned. What beheld Infront of him filled him with dread and awe. In the dim light of moon, winged humans was gliding undera him, they wore armors made of leather and steal of ancient time, with spears or bow in hand. Everyone have outstanding wings of different colors. Brown, red, orange, yellow... Some are pure and the majority is mixed. They're all headed towards the roots as predicted, passing under him. Completely ignoring his existence at all.

'So... This is the Gricks?'

As much as he like to take a closer look at the terrifying winged warriors. The fact that they're after them still remains, and disturbingly, how could they not see them? They're just above them, even if they're was shrouded in darkness that paired with their black armor. The dou are not completely invisible.

Furthermore, if he remembered correctly. The Gricks had keen eyes.

Zyro look up at his neighbor. who's still as a statue. The man's head bend up, staring straight at their destination at the edge of the island. Completely unperturbed by the rushing Gricks army's, as if it doesn't concerned him the slightest bit. 

'Concelment? Huh, this is really one of the greatest prison, it won't imprisoned anyone... Unless. They're monsters'

Shivers run down his spine, realizing the weakness of humanity compared to other races. The argon holding him was a force to be reckoned with, same goes for the Gricks under him. Only he, a vulnerable human trapped in between such powerful creatures. 

He felt... weak.

Minutes past, the Gricks gliding down had started to subside. With only a few descending from time to time. By now, they look like black figures falling to the abyss below. Joining the horde, as they wander into the land shrouded in clouds or the collosal roots far from them. They're like midnight flies searching every corner for it's prey. 

After sometime, the four-armed knight began his move. Slower than the former, but still packed an amazing speed for someone who's upside down, while carrying a weight in one arm. Zyro grip had return it's strength, his previous fear gone, replaced anew. During this short time, he have developed many phobia that he doesn't even knew exist. 

After a thousands heartbeat, they reached the island edge. The man stop before the turning point as if waiting for something, if they continue further, they'll be traveling a long vertical direction to reach the upper land. Exposing them directly in the pale-blue moon's light, and the enemy. Without the shrouding darkness to cover their armor, they'll likely be exposed. If the enemies are not blind.

Zyro remain still, like a hanging deadman. A little used to the man's abrupt stops, not even questioning the act. Cause he already knew it'll be something bad. Or else why would he stop. By now, Zyro could already feel his arm aching muscles. His exoskeleton support are not absolute to the point he won't have to use a single muscle. Added, the near drained battery limited it's mechanical joints power, making him contribute force himself. Unfortunately, his reserve won't ascend anytime soon. While his constant use keep decreasing what's left. Sooner or later, without charge, he'll be bearing the armor's full weight with a lifeless exoskeleton. 

Zyro sigh internally, staring calmly at the sea of clouds, that actually, relatively look like a sea due to the moon's strange blue hue, illuminating the clouds. Even so, zyro was not surprised at all, heck, he wouldn't even be surprised if boats fly. His Earth's common sense had long extinguish, after encountering the torturous cage of roots, his neighbor and the Gricks. 

Another Grick descend, this one falling down straight. Disappearing through the clouds, not even glancing at the two, that they're looking for. By that, the silence continue. 

Zyro's hand was growing numb to its unchanged state for a long time. But compared to the man's task, his predicament was nothing. Just as he lost in thoughts, he suddenly notice a change under him. The island shadow is growing, rather, pointy shadows was emerging from with. Continuously growing. 

"The Gricks flaw is their pride, and their strength. They'll will do anything to remove the stain in their Honor." The man's Boise resounded in his head.

Zyro found his words awkward and wierd, still not used to this world manners of speech.

"...And we're the stain" Zyro replied, still looking down, as he make sense of the emerging shapes. Then, he have vague recognition as the shadows separates. Boats, it's the shadows of sailor ships, countless of it with different shape and sizes. 

He look up, only to see the edge of the dark stone celling. And his cockroach like neighbor, clinging upsidedown with five limbs attach. 

"And that?" Zyro ask in low tone.

"The Gricks fleet..." The man look at the vast sea of clouds painted in light-blue.

"Good thing the moon is blue" He added.

"Meaning?" Zyro was puzzled. 

"Red for war, Blue moon means peace and pale for both, so it'll be a peaceful night."

Zyro pondered for a moment, recalling every event that happened tonight. And yes, it have been dreadful, hundreds of armor clad winged warriors came to find them. His battery reserve is draining. And now, floating ships emerge, that are probably the main army. 

Still, its relatively peaceful, they're alive, breathing and unfound. And no blood was ispilled or life taken, currently.

Zyro shifted his gaze below, noticing the ships shadows advance became still. One by one, they came to a abrupt halt, then, the shadows shrank as their shapes change.

Zyro look up again.

There, under the dark stone edge, wooden ships descend diagonal carried by their mass. Numerous wing shape sails dyed red grew a it's sides like dragon wings, with long scapular at the back. And at the airships top, standing like a mighty sharks fins. Some were of the same designs, some unique. A few are massive giants, possessing gigantic body of wood, moving slowly, with numerous mighty sails atop. But most are lesser versions, more suited for speed than cargo. The smaller they are, the lesser the sails. 

Zyro was deeply disturb, his lingering common sense argue at the sight. Humans had developed flying aircrafts with years of inventions and experimentations. And it's mechanics is far from simple, specially using a light metal alloy to decrease it's weight, paired with thrust engines for mobility. Formed with ingenious architecture design, balancing tge overall weight. And strictly calculated internal programs for controls. But what's Infront of him was a wooden boat, overgrown with wing sails, with classic starring wheel serving as control. Yet still flying with ease, defying the laws of logic. 

'This guys have it easy' Zyro had taken back his thoughts about this world advancement. Their use wooden war ships are just too irrational if they have metal. Then again, it's not earth, who knows, maybe wood here are stronger than steel. But even so, for an air craft to use a boats body, that are more suitable in aquatic terrain than aerial flight.

And what disturb zyro the most is the weapons.

Being a soldier, the analysis of danger treat once seen an enemy is of at most importance. He have expected to see unique and strange long range weapons. To his surprise, the ships side don't even have cannons. There's only a tray of spears and arrows beside the passengers, some are winged and some are not, with bows or spear. Zyro was a little relieved, seeing a relatively normal human, without wings or armor. If he disregard the fact that all none winged humans aboard have dark red hairs.

Zyro continue to observe the enemies battle ships march down, ignoring their existence as it pass below them. The airships didn't possess any lights at all, yet maneuver with grace, like mighty ghastly ships in a lightless sea. Its passengers was deadly calm, searching the surroundings with sharp eyes. From time to time, they'll glance at the dou direction, only to notice nothing. 

He look at his neighbor, and whispered.

"The plan demand us to sneak at the island top to abduct a ride out here. But now, there hundreds right below us."

Hearing those words, the four-armed knight turn his head almost at 360 angle, and stare at Zyro. Sending shivers down his spine. Silence hang between them for a few moments.

Then... Time seem to slowed down, as Zyro's body suddenly turn light as a feather. No longer resisting gravities pull.

Even though he could still feel the man's tight grip around his hand.

He look up, only to see his neighbor's unattached limbs in the stone above.

His eyes widened.

'You lunatic!'

They're falling.

Towards the fleet of enemy airships.