The sail back to Argenta was a short one, and the fleet was in high spirits. Not only would they get credit from the Floating City for going to help, they didn't actually need to do anything but show up and scare away the attackers, who were much closer than originally anticipated.
Normally the defense fleets should have detected the problem at least a day or two out, or even a trading vessel should have spotted them, but for some reason, these ones had slipped by until they were detected by the forces on shore.
That was something that they would have to look into before they left the city, along with anything else that the locals might know about the giants' ambitions and the capabilities that they showed against the local fleet.
Something about this attack felt very off to Cain like it was a simple distraction from something much more important that was going to be happening somewhere else.
Once the Captains had gathered near the pier, Cain informed them all of his thoughts. "I think the real target is somewhere else, and they were hoping to pull strong forces away from there by sending a weaker fleet here. The way they immediately ran before even testing us gives me a bad feeling." Cain informed the others.
"Me too. I've got my crew asking all up and down the coast to see what might be happening." One of the Captains agreed while everyone waited on the news to make their next move.
"I've found it. A hundred knots offshore of the northwestern corner of the Central Continent. A trading ship headed to Assah saw a giant fleet and asked me to inquire about protection for his ships." One of the deckhand Elves calls out.
"Nila, if you could do the honors this time. We don't have an exact destination, but you will be the fastest way to get there from here." Cain called out, and all the ships got ready to set sail again.
Nila's fast travel was more like the Dark Phoenix, moving through the shadows between realities, but it was incredibly quick, and this part of the Northern Continent was quite close to the Central Continent, as far as ocean crossings went. They should be able to reach the last known location within a day.
One man was sent to inform the harbor master of the additional attack and add him as a friend on his list so that they could directly contact the patrol fleet if the Giants came back again. He was not very confident that they wouldn't come back as soon as the Elves left, but Cain's summons assured him that they had eaten everything that moved from the ships, and some of the things that didn't.
Racing through the ocean felt like they were on a wild goose chase, just reacting to the news. But what else could they do? They didn't know what the enemy was after and they didn't have a report of their total strength yet. The best they could hope for until they did know more was just to prevent any major attacks.
They had sailed through the rest of the day and most of the night when the next update came to them.
[Boss, there is a fleet of Frost Giants, with dozens of awakened warriors among them, headed for the Northern edge of the Demon Kingdom. Uncle Aggie wants me to come and play, can you convince my mom?] Neffie asked Cain through private message.
[Do you seriously think I could convince your mom to let you go to battle on a different Continent? You're dreaming little Demon Queen. But I have a deal for you. Tell Aggramor that I will come there myself to help out and then we both can tell you all about it. We will have to hold a full Guild meeting about this soon, if they're attacking the Central Continent.] Cain replied, certain that the little demon wouldn't be happy, but also certain that it would cause a neverending nightmare with Lickity if he did encourage her to go.
"You are no fun at all. I never get to do anything.] Neffie pouted, hoping to change his mind.
[You have an entire city to defend and Dinosaur Cavalry. How could you call that never doing anything fun?] Cain asked her, thinking she was being dramatic.
[But they don't attack at night and it has been like five hours since dinner and there's nothing to do.] Neffie complained.
There it was, it is the middle of the night on the shores of the Eastern Continent and she is bored.
[Meditate and try to sleep a little. Since the attacks almost never happen at night, you should sleep while they're not happening so that you are rested and ready when they do.] Cain suggested, knowing she was going to be mentally insulting him for even suggesting it.
[Or maybe talk to your dad about a midnight snack. I'll bet he has hidden cookies that you can have while you wait for me and Aggramor to finish up.] Cain added, throwing Cixelcid under the bus.
He would get over it. Nighttime snack requests were just a run-of-the-mill part of being a parent after all. It was certainly better than having to go to battle in the middle of the night anyhow.
[They had better be the good shortbread cookies.] Neffie agreed, going to look for her dad, who was securely tucked into bed at this time of night.
"Boss, I can sense awakened life forms ahead. Nila, turn to port fifteen degrees and we should run right into them." Moana called out, unable to see much in the dark, but Leviathans never navigated by sight anyhow. Mana sensing and echolocation were much more effective.
They dropped out of Nila's fast travel spell just after the glow of fires along the shore drew their attention. The Giants had made land and were attacking, while the Demon Army was doing its best to hold them off until more awakened fighters could be brought to the shores to assist them.
"I will transform and go fight on land with my summons. The awakened Giants should come to me. You take out the fleet and the weaker ones." Were Cain's final words before he leaped into the air and transformed into his full twenty-meter tall Ancient form and raced to shore. He had never seen a proper Frost Giant in person, this was a prime opportunity to add them to his collection.
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