| |
The crowd had fallen into panic as they shoved against each other while trampling unfortunate individuals who fell to the deck underfoot. None of Poseidon's newly anointed followers attempted to resist through an ingrained fear of ability-users, which also contributed to their own lack of a [Rite of Awakening]. The mob's first instinct was to flee after witnessing Noah become temporarily entangled within the handrails with no way to save them. The stray ice shards had cut those standing too close to Noah deeply. All pretence of unity disappeared as Ronan unleashed a wind blade into their midst, every person struggled to force their way to safety.
The [Wind Blade] ability sent an invisible ripple through the air originating from the sword in Ronan's hand. The slash of air moved unimpeded as it cut through multiple fleeing survivors in a shower of blood and limbs. Screams of terror echoed out over the ocean as a stream of blood carried a few of the gathered forgotten crystals overboard once again lost to the ocean depths. The ripple arrived at the struggling entangled Noah, it broke on his glowing-blue ethereal armor with only a flare of light where it struck. The giant Alex wasn't quite so lucky as it cut deep into his skin. He had been attempting to tear away the rail trapping Noah with his bare hands. He stopped only to shield his lover Josh with his body.
The cuts were deep but were not serious with Alex's titanic size. The wind blade continued past him to finally be stopped by Mister Kim, who stood firmly with a determined expression. He twirled his elongated whip of fire into a burning shield as Su hid at his back, along with a few opportunistic survivors. The remaining survivors had fled a distance behind Mister Kim as they glanced back in fear, still disregarding each other in their pursuit of safety. A few of those trampled under the crowd moved as they realized that they were still alive by some miracle. One man got to his feet and leapt through the break of the rail caused by Sophie's [Matter Manipulation] ability in an attempt to escape the carnage.
Before the man hit the water, a colossal tentacle broke through the surface to catch the man in midair, causing him to unleash an inhuman blood-curdling scream of terror. The Kraken had been attracted by the blood streaming into the ocean, the tentacle retreated silently beneath the waves as it carried the struggling helpless survivor with it. The tentacles didn't return, but it was wise to assume that the Kraken was still waiting patiently for its next meal. The gentlemen ability-users pushed through the crowd of fleeing survivors to approach a motionless Theodore, frozen in terror as he witnessed the outcome of his performance.
"See. Trash is always trash. They're not like us, they're weak. It's not just their fragile bodies, it's their minds." Ronan spoke to the gathered ability-users in the walkway over the sound of those dying.
"That sword should have stayed in the ocean where it belongs instead of ending up in your hands. You're a psychopath!" Noah spat at Ronan. Ronan wiped the spittle from his face while glancing at it as he ignored the insult. He stopped walking as he noticed something about the body at his feet.
"All they know how to do is cower and hide." Ronan continued as he kicked over the still body at his feet.
"Don't kill me!" The man who had been pretending to be dead raised his hands defensively, the idol of Poseidon appeared between his brows as white-lifeforce gathered.
"Finally, someone with some backbone! Try and stop me," Ronan kicked aside the cowering man's defence before stomping down on the man's chest to press him to the deck under his heel.
The man's face became visibly paler as he sacrificed his lifeforce to Poseidon to activate his idol to borrow its abilities. The fiery sky darkened into a deep crimson colour as wind and rain swelled as the ability, stirring up towering waves in the ocean below. The waves started to batter against the gigantic cruise ship, causing it to lurch.
"That's it!" Ronan shouted over the gathering squall.
Sharp rain began to descend from the amassed dark, almost black, crimson clouds. As the rain passed exposed skin, it left a blood trail as it slashed open the flesh. Those who were unable to endure it quickly fled under the overhead cover to avoid the sharp raindrops attempting to perform death by a thousand cuts. The wind began to howl as it built up momentum from the storm picking up its pace. Those pretending to be dead could no longer remain still, they risked their lives to flee the lacerating rain.
Those who remained exposed in the deadly rain was only an entangled Noah and Ronan pinning the man to the deck, who appeared immune to his ability's cutting characteristics. Ronan ignored the bleeding wounds appearing over his body as he grinned down at the man pinned beneath his foot. Noah continued to struggle futilely against the metal rail bindings wrapped around him. His ethereal blue armor shielded him entirely from the storming weather as it flared from the raindrops.
"I like a man with some backbone! If you join me, I'll let you live." Ronan offered the man as he held his sword at the man's throat, who had become increasingly pallid.
"I'll do whatever you tell me to!" The man gulped before answering.
"Good answer!" Ronan removed the sword from the man's throat as he pulled his foot off his chest. Ronan ignored the man lying on the deck, who was recovering from the shock of his stroke of fortune. The rain was no longer a blade slicing open exposed skin as the man ended his ability. But it didn't appear to be subsiding any time soon, as it continued to violently rock the cruise ship.
"Sophie, why does he still have his armour on? Strip him!" Ronan grinned at Noah as he stood just outside the range of spirit arms that could form at any time.
Orange-lifeforce enshrouded Noah from where he was attached to the metal railing, as it flowed into his [Grade 1 Spirit Armour Chestplate]. The armour automatically dismantled itself into segments as it peeled itself from his body and flew towards Ronan. It adjusted into a new twisted, ominous appearance as it reassembled onto his gigantic frame, underneath his leather vest of the Fallen.
"A perfect fit!" Ronan admired as the armour attached itself to him.
The [Grade 1 Spirit Armour Chestplate] had darkened in colour to a dull grey, decorated with an abstract scene of a man haplessly restrained in chains. Surrounded by broken corpses and a cowering naked audience while a giant wearing a crown held a sword resting lazily on its shoulder. A subtle pale-blue light shimmered through the etchings, drawing an observer's attention, and giving the armour the feeling of being alive.
The scene depicted Ronan taking Noah's armor after killing the vulnerable mass of survivors. The unfortunate Noah is powerless to resist as he is restrained. The other ability-users are displayed as naked as they could only watch on helplessly while the giant Ronan celebrates his victory.
"I think it suits me better. What do you think, Noah? No? Awh well, let's see what the others think." Ronan walked past the struggling Noah towards Theodore and the gentlemen ability-users.
