Crimson Heart

44

The sea lay unnaturally calm as their ship drifted slowly, the sails hanging limp in the still air. Psylocke's patience wore thin, her fingers tapping impatiently on the edge of the boat as she scanned the horizon.

Psylocke: "This is ridiculous. At this rate, we'll be skeletons before we even catch sight of the prison."

William chuckled, stepping forward with a glint in his eyes. He extended his hands, William smiled and closed his eyes, mentally channeling the invocation he needed. A moment later, a powerful gust of wind filled the sail, and the ship surged forward with sudden speed. 

Psylocke: grinning "Now that's more like it! Keep that up, and we might just get there with a bit of our sanity left."

William matched her grin, keeping his focus on sustaining the spell as they sliced through the water with newfound momentum. The once-still sea had turned into a rapid pathway, carrying them closer to the Shackling Prison and the answers they sought.

Back on Ionia's shores, Jing Yuan stood on the elevated village watchtower, his gaze sharp as he surveyed the horizon. A dark line of enemy forces moved swiftly toward the village outskirts, far sooner than they had anticipated. Legion soldiers marched in precise formations, and the air buzzed ominously with the hum of their weapons. Nearby, William's friends prepared for battle, each face marked by a blend of resolve and worry.

Kazuha adjusted the grip on his sword, watching the approaching Legion with a flicker of trepidation. He glanced back toward the sea, his heart heavy as he thought of William and Psylocke, now far away on their dangerous journey.

Kazuha: whispering to himself "William... I hope you've made some progress on your end."

Jing Yuan joined them, his greatsword resting against his shoulder, his expression calm but serious.

Jing Yuan: "They've arrived sooner than we expected. Stand firm, everyone. We can't let them breach the village or threaten its people."

A flicker of determination passed through each of them. Sombra's fingers danced over her tech gloves, eyes narrowing with focus. She projected a map of the village's defenses, her purple holographic skull glowing with a mischievous glint.

Sombra: "Let's keep them busy. With any luck, William will return with just the edge we need."

Yanqing, already warming up his icy blades, gave Kazuha a reassuring nod, his eyes glimmering with fierce resolve.

Yanqing: "We'll hold our ground. And when William returns, we'll make sure this place is still standing."

Kazuha took a deep breath, his own calm settling over him. As the Legion neared, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, silently sending a prayer to the winds for William's success, his hope intertwined with the faint rustle of the breeze.

As William and Psylocke sailed through the open sea, a sudden rumble of thunder filled the sky, and the air grew thick with the scent of rain. In moments, heavy droplets poured down, and a fierce storm erupted around them. The calm seas had turned wild, waves crashing against their ship with relentless force. Lightning flashed across the dark clouds, and the wind whipped with an intensity that left Psylocke gripping the ship's mast.

William's senses heightened, and a chill ran through him as he felt the unmistakable presence of the Raiden Shogun. She had entered Ionia, her formidable power rippling through the very air around them.

Suddenly, a massive wave surged toward their ship, towering above them like a wall of liquid fury. Realizing there was no time to waste, William reached deep within, channeling his magic. In an instant, his body shifted and transformed, feathers emerging where his skin had been, until he took the form of a giant falcon, wings stretching wide and powerful.