Chapter 80: Rescuing the Sailing Ship (3)

It was not such a grave matter for the mast to be struck, but there were many illusionists of average skill gathered around it—people who had only just come to help at Dick’s urgent call. The lightning carried with it a furious energy from heaven and earth. If it were to follow the mast and strike the deck at this moment, many would be injured, and the situation would become truly unmanageable.

Shen Duo wanted to rush to help as well, but her own strength was limited, and with Yu Sha in seclusion, it was impossible for her to divert the lightning elsewhere on her own.

Almost simultaneously with Shen Duo's thoughts, a blue beam of light shot out from beside her!

Feng Jun transformed instantly, armor enveloping him as the five-pointed star array beneath his feet burst into brilliance. Just as the lightning was about to race down the mast to the deck, he unleashed a “Serpent’s Roar,” intercepting the bolt midair and knocking the mast into the rolling river below.

In that critical moment, Feng Jun saved many low-ranking illusionists on the deck.

The tension in Shen Duo’s heart eased slightly.

As soon as Feng Jun moved, the rain poured down upon her, drenching her hair and plastering it to her cheeks, making her look somewhat bedraggled.

Yet she was smiling—a clear, comforting smile. On a brutal continent where strength determined fate, Feng Jun’s willingness to step forward at a crucial moment filled her with pride and admiration. This was a quality sorely lacking on the Sacred Radiance Continent!

Those who had just been rescued caught their breath. Feng Jun hovered in the air, the armored array beneath his feet flickering softly. His long hair, turned blue by the armor, danced in the curtain of rain. He stood there, like a god of war who had come to save the world, receiving the grateful and admiring gazes of everyone below.

Usually, the low-ranking illusionists on board would look upon someone of his strength with envy and jealousy, but at this moment, all such negative feelings had vanished, replaced only by sincere gratitude.

But they could not afford even a moment’s respite. Having narrowly escaped the dreadful lightning, a greater peril now loomed.

The torrential rain still poured down; the vortex was far from gone. The Soaring Sail was less than a hundred meters from the maelstrom now. It seemed as if, in the next instant, the ship would be mercilessly sucked in and crushed to nothing.

Shen Duo and Feng Jun both recognized the danger at once. Their thoughts strikingly aligned, they didn’t need to remind each other—they both flew toward the stern.

Winged Gale spread its great iron wings, carrying Shen Duo aloft above the deck in an instant. Water streamed from her, her eyes nearly blinded by the rain, but she paid it no mind and shouted to Dick, “Captain Dick, gather every rope you can find and secure them to the ship! Anyone with water-type or flying illusion beasts, bring them out now! If we work together, I believe we can save the Soaring Sail!”

Her shout made everyone realize what Shen Duo intended: she was going to rally the power of all their illusion beasts to serve as the ship’s engine, dragging the Soaring Sail away from the maelstrom!

In an instant, every illusionist who had such a beast summoned it. The deck was chaotic at first glance, but on closer inspection, everything moved with order; each person contributed their strength. Those without illusion beasts rummaged in their storage pouches for ropes and fastened them down, tossing the ends to the stern.

Shen Duo and Feng Jun led everyone to the stern of the Soaring Sail, instructing the illusionists to tie thick hemp ropes to their beasts. Under Shen Duo’s calm, cool commands, the tension and fear among the crew vanished. Everyone worked with desperate speed, racing against time.

Within moments, hundreds of ropes were secured. Shen Duo tied a sturdy rope to Winged Gale, and Feng Jun, having shed his armor, did the same.

When everything was ready, Shen Duo took a deep breath and shouted, “On the count of three, everyone command your beasts to pull the Soaring Sail upstream with all their might!”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three—now!”

A moment before, the Soaring Sail had been racing toward the heart of the vortex. Now, under the pull of a hundred ropes, it came to a halt in the river. On the water and in the sky, every rope was taut as a bowstring, mirroring the tension in everyone’s hearts. Each straight rope was a testament to unyielding effort and the determination not to give in.

In that moment, all the passengers of the Soaring Sail were of one mind. Every action reinforced the sense of strength that comes from unity.

Under the illusionists’ orders, the beasts gave everything they had, but even so, they could only keep the ship stationary in the water. Nature seemed intent on opposing them: the wind did not abate, but grew stronger still!

They could not simply keep the Soaring Sail from moving. The beasts had limited stamina; they were already at their limits. If this went on, some would collapse from exhaustion, and then the delicate balance would be broken, making it nearly impossible to halt the ship again.

Shen Duo anxiously searched for another solution. The driving rain and wind were wearing down everyone’s spirit. Many of the beasts groaned in distress, unable to hold on much longer.

The confidence that had filled the crew began to waver. Anxiety crept in, and more than one person’s eyes betrayed the urge to give up.

The storm showed no sign of stopping. Thunder crashed again and again in their ears.

Each rumble sounded like a death knell.

Feng Jun flew to Shen Duo’s side, his voice grave and worried. “Little Duo, this can’t go on—many of the beasts can’t hold out much longer…”

Shen Duo stared coldly at the surging river, her fists clenched at her sides. She didn’t want to give up—they had come so far, they were so close! If they could just hold on a little longer, everyone could be saved.

But Feng Jun was not wrong. If they didn’t let go and try to save at least some people while there was still time, everyone would perish in the maelstrom.

More and more illusionists looked to her, even Dick seemed to be waiting for her decision.

Unknowingly, everyone had started to see her as their leader… Deep down, they trusted her, believed she could save them.

Shen Duo stared at the churning waters, torn by inner struggle. Not far away, a small devilfish flipped above the surface and splashed back down, leaving only a small string of droplets.

Suddenly, her dark eyes lit up, a surge of excitement swelling in her chest!

How could she have forgotten the devilfish—how could she have forgotten something so important?

She turned at once, her voice ringing with determination as she called out to the others, “I have a way to save the Soaring Sail without any harm! Just hold on a little longer, and we’ll be free of danger! Please, believe in me—grit your teeth, give it one last push! Just a little more!”