Ghostly Cannonade

Grayson staggered under the sudden assault, taking a step back, only to realize he was back in the Serpent Queen's grand hall.

"What was that?" he asked the Queen, bewildered.

"That was a glimpse into what Jaxton and his pirates experienced—the reason they became spirits and the only bargaining chip you have to negotiate with them," the Serpent Queen said meaningfully.

"I saw a pair of evil eyes in the sky above that island. Where is it, and what exactly is on it?" Grayson persisted.

The Serpent Queen shook her head slightly, "All I know is that the island is north of Greyport, the specifics are known only to Jaxton, and what lurks there is a nightmare incarnate."

Grayson observed the fear lacing her expression, as if the terrors of the island might traverse oceans to exact a fearsome retribution for her revelations.

"I understand. Regardless of what awaits, I will uncover the truth myself. Thank you for your assistance, Your Majesty." Grayson bowed in gratitude, signaling their departure.

The Serpent Queen watched their retreating figures, her gaze returning to the crystal orb as she murmured, "You may be powerful indeed, Huntsman, but you have no idea what awaits you. Good luck..."

...

Leaving the Empress's palace, Seraphine summoned the Djinn, transforming him into a cloud to carry the trio away. They skirted Storm Ridge, making their way toward the pirates' lair—Greyport.

En route, Seraphine used her magic to heal Katheren's scrapes. "We didn't have time to check Morven's injuries," she said to Grayson. "Your fight was intense; he must have taken quite the beating."

"Don't worry, I held back. I still owe him a favor," Grayson replied with a grin, glancing at Katheren, who was sitting calmly in front of Seraphine. "Miss Assassin seems fine, and Seraphine and Elyra have been gentle."

"I really wanted to nip the fool!" Elyra, perched on Grayson's shoulder, interjected.

"There must be nothing you won't eat," Grayson chuckled, patting her little head.

"Right, but is Mr. Morven going to be okay going after Wystan's men alone?" Katheren asked with concern.

Seraphine, too, lifted her gaze to Grayson, "I worry about that as well. The enemy is four strong, and we don't know where Wystan himself is. If they gang up on Morven, he could be in grave danger."

Grayson nodded, a hint of concern hiding in his features. "You're right, but we have no other choice. We must trust that Morven is our best bet. He's a reliable partner, and I believe he can handle it."

"I believe too!" Elyra hopped off Grayson's shoulder, flapping her wings, "The skinnier the mouse, the better its chances of survival! That's what the forest mice say!"

Grayson and the ladies smiled at Elyra's words before spotting a formidable fortification at the base of Storm Ridge.

"It seems we've arrived. That must be Tyrrel's last stronghold near Greyport. Let's rest there before venturing into Greyport tonight to meet with the old ghosts," Grayson declared, standing to observe the fortress.

"Do we have to go at midnight?" Katheren asked uneasily.

"Of course, dear. If we go during the day, no one will pay us any mind. Those old ghosts are all asleep then!" Grayson nudged the owl preening on his shoulder. "Just like some lazy little birds!"

Before he could finish, Elyra pecked at his finger sharply, causing Grayson to retract his hand with a yelp. Shrugging at the feisty owl, he muttered, "Birds these days…"

They soon landed in the stronghold's square, and under the guidance of the patrol guards, they met with the Titan commander who had been briefed on their arrival and promptly offered them hospitality.

As night fell, they gathered in the commander's office to inquire about Greyport.

"Greyport was once a bustling trading post linking the continent to the Ice Islands in the kingdom of Atydis," the commander explained, spreading a map of Greyport before Grayson. "But since Atydis sank into the sea, it's become a lawless land, a haven for pirates. After years of bloodshed, it fell into Jaxton's hands."

He furrowed his brow, continuing, "An evil force then bound Jaxton and his fleet, turning them into undead specters and cursing Greyport. It's now a land of ghosts and evil, devoid of light."

The commander glanced at them gravely, "Even during the day, Greyport is shrouded in darkness, a cursed place even we Titans avoid."

Grayson turned to Seraphine and Katheren, half-joking, "Now I kind of regret this. Maybe I should've swapped jobs with Andros!"

Before he could continue, a loud boom shook the room, nearly knocking everyone off their feet.

A Titan soldier burst in, yelling, "General, we're under attack from ghost ships!"

"Activate the defense array!" the general ordered as the Titans activated six magical stone pillars around the square. Each pillar, marked with glowing runes, sent magical light converging at the center, forming an umbrella-like barrier above.

A bright pillar of light erupted skyward, and an enormous fireball, sparkling in the night, crashed against it, releasing a shower of fiery sparks.

"Good thing we were prepared!" The general watched the fireball's assault on their magical shield.

"Those pirates have cannons?" Grayson asked, astonished. "As far as I knew, dwarves only recently developed such weapons, and they haven't seen real battle yet!"

"Those cannons on Jaxton's ghost ships are no dwarven contraptions!" The general looked up at the illuminated night sky. "His ships boast ten massive cannons, firing not cannonballs, but ghosts."

"Ghosts?" Grayson, Katheren, and Seraphine echoed in unison.

"Yes, we've yet to understand how it's done. They transform spirits into luminous orbs, launching them at their targets. In flight, they resemble blazing fireballs and possess tremendous destructive power."

Before he could finish, another glowing orb descended from the heavens, piercing the magical barrier and slamming into the square's central array, sending a powerful shockwave through the ground.

The barrier dissipated, more fireballs rained down, and the outpost's halls crumbled under the explosive force. The Titan soldiers, in a panic, scattered to avoid the raining destruction.

"What was that thing that just hit the square?" Seraphine asked, shocked.

Before the general could reply, from the crater in the center of the square, a massive white skeleton leaped out, lunging toward the assembled Titan soldiers in front of the command hall.

"Take down that monster!" The general drew his sword, commanding his men to attack. The skeletal creature, swinging its massive head and flukes, engaged in fierce combat with the Titans.

Grayson, still perched on the general's shoulder, watched the white skeleton, "That looks like a blue whale's skeleton. How could they possibly launch such a massive creature from the sea?"

"Look, there's more coming!" Katheren suddenly pointed to the sky.

Grayson looked up to see another illuminated orb hurtling from the north. Trailing behind it were two flaming fireballs, their radiance casting daylight across the night sky.

Grayson followed their descent, his jaw clenched, "Damn it, they're heading right for us!"