Chapter 9.4- The. Seadragon's Roar

It was still challenging, making the climb with my barely pubescent muscles and with very little to hold on to for support other than the rough rope. As I felt the rope sting my hand, I made a decision to start wearing gloves more often. Just because I ran hot and didn’t need them for their protection against the cold didn’t mean they wouldn’t be useful for other things— the rope burn I was feeling being a perfect example.

When I reached the deck, two of the crew men reached down to help me up. I accepted their aid with a grateful smile before turning to Igneel who was watching with what had to be amusement in those reptilian eyes.

“Not a word out of you” I said to him before I walked closer and began to tighten the saddle to ride. He growled but aid nothing else as I felt the heat of his breath lick at my face.

“Better not set me on fire, you lump” I said, smacking his nose and getting a tongue to my face for the audacity.

“Ughhhh. Your breath stinks” I took a step back. He growled again.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s focus. This will be our first time fighting together, maybe I’m nervous.” He gave me a look that I took to mean ‘Maybe?’

“Fine, I’m definitely nervous. These people were clearly expecting us so I won’t be surprised if they have scorpions or whatever” Another growl.

“Yeah, you’re right. There’s nothing they could do to stop us” I agreed before I swung myself onto the saddle.

“Brace yourselves” I told the crew of Igneel’s carrier and they moved to do so.

“Soves, Igneel” We shot out of the ship like a missile into the air, accelerating rapidly until we were just below the clouds and then his wings spread, catching the draft and keeping us flying above at a stable point.

“Lower” I said, when I realised I could barely make out the ships. We lowered ourselves and watched as the Velaryon fleet of Caravels sailed straight at the pirates— for what else could they be— as if they were going to ram into them. We outnumbered those in front of us by a fair margin so it was understandable that they began to panic and scurry like the rats they were. Of course, their fears were mistaken as instead of ramming into them, all the Velaryon ships turned hard to starboard in unison— a move that would have capsized lesser ships.

Having prepared themselves for a ramming, the pirates were unable to react in time as dozens of scorpion bolts shot from the Velaryon ships, hitting them and damaging their ships heavily. I smiled, seeing that we had this end handled before I turned Igneel about. It was my turn now.