"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

The Calm Before the Storm

The morning air was still, but the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.

Seraphis strode into the armory, her fingers trailing over the cold steel of various weapons.

Her gaze settled on a crate of massive crossbolts, the ones designed for her fortress' Downstrike Crossbows.

She knelt down, inspecting them, then smirked.

"A mage, huh?" she mused.

She reached for the ritual dagger strapped to her hip, its obsidian blade gleaming in the dim torchlight.

With steady hands, she carved intricate anti-magic engravings into the shafts of each crossbolt.

By the time she was done, dozens of the heavy bolts bore the sigils of magic negation.

Seraphis wiped her dagger clean and stood.

"Replace the old bolts with these," she commanded.

Her crew rushed to obey, hauling the newly enchanted ammunition to the Downstrike emplacements on the fortress walls.

She exhaled, rolling her shoulders.

"He's almost here," she murmured.

A Warning from the Watchtower

A shout from above broke the morning stillness.

"Ship ahead! Ship ahead!"

Seraphis turned sharply, her gaze snapping to the watchtower above the gate.

The scout was pointing frantically toward the horizon.

She climbed up the stone steps of the fortress wall in swift strides, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the massive warship cutting through the waves.

It was twice the size of most pirate vessels, its black sails embroidered with jagged silver streaks—the symbol of Stormcaller.

A storm began to gather above it, dark clouds forming in the once-clear sky.

Seraphis grinned.

"Right on time."

She raised a fist, signaling her crew.

"Ready yourselves," she commanded.

"The enemy is coming."

The Arrowstorms on the towers were loaded.

The Downstrike Crossbows were aimed.

Her entire fortress braced for battle.

Stormcaller Summons the Tempest

On the deck of the warship, Stormcaller stood at the bow, his dark cloak billowing in the wind.

He raised his hands, chanting in an ancient tongue.

His magic surged outward, and the sky responded.

Lightning cracked through the heavens, illuminating his piercing silver eyes.

The sea churned, waves rising violently.

He smirked.

"Let's see what she can do," he muttered.

With a snap of his fingers, bolts of lightning shot down from the heavens, aimed directly at Raven Perch.

A Counter to the Storm

Seraphis watched the sky light up, feeling the raw power of the storm descending toward them.

She didn’t flinch.

Instead, she turned to her archers.

"Aim at the skies! FIRE!"

The Arrowstorms released their payload, unleashing a rain of anti-magic bolts into the darkened clouds.

The moment they struck, the runes activated.

Lightning fizzled out, devoured by the enchanted steel.

The sky, once filled with raging energy, dimmed slightly.

Aboard the warship, Stormcaller’s eyes widened in shock.

"Fuck."

He clenched his jaw.

"She has anti-magic bolts," he growled.

A crew member looked at him with concern.

"What do we do, captain?"

Stormcaller’s expression hardened.

"We still fight," he said coldly.

He drew his saber, the blade crackling with residual electricity.

"Forward! Let’s see if she can handle a storm up close!"

The Battle Begins

Seraphis watched the warship push forward, now coming into range of her fortress' primary weapons.

She smiled.

"Perfect."

She turned to the Downstrike crew.

"Aim at their hull! Fire!"

The first wave of anti-magic bolts tore through the air, slamming into the side of Stormcaller's ship.

The wood splintered, leaving jagged holes.

The ship shook violently, but it kept coming.

Stormcaller stood firm on the deck, his cloak whipping behind him.

He raised a hand, chanting again, this time sending a vortex of wind toward the fortress.

The force was strong enough to push the next volley of bolts off course.

Seraphis narrowed her eyes.

"So he can use wind magic too…"

She turned to her cannoneers.

"Switch to grappling shot," she ordered.

"If he wants to fight up close, let's pull him in."

Hooking the Prey

The cannoneers worked quickly, loading the massive harpoon-like cannons.

Seraphis raised her hand.

"Fire!"

The harpoons shot forward, chains rattling as they buried deep into the enemy ship.

The fortress' crew immediately began pulling, slowly dragging the warship toward Raven Perch.

Stormcaller’s crew scrambled, trying to cut the chains.

But Seraphis anticipated this.

She turned to the archers.

"Anyone who goes near those chains—kill them."

Arrows rained down, picking off anyone attempting to sever the lines.

Stormcaller clenched his jaw.

"She’s forcing us in. Clever."

But he wasn’t about to be outplayed.

The Counterattack

Stormcaller lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, a blast of concentrated wind shot forward, slamming into the fortress.

It rattled the walls, forcing Seraphis to brace herself.

One of the harpoons snapped loose, and the ship lurched slightly to the side.

Seraphis narrowed her eyes.

"So, you’re that strong? Let’s see you handle this."

She turned to her crew operating the Downstrike Crossbows.

"Load the heavy rounds. Aim for the deck."

The massive siege bolts were locked in place.

Seraphis watched the ship sway in the waves, then smiled.

"Fire."

The Downstrike bolts shot forward, each one capable of tearing through solid steel.

One smashed through the main mast, sending splinters flying.

Another buried itself into the deck, taking out several crew members.

Stormcaller cursed, gripping the railing as his ship shuddered from the impact.

He turned his gaze to Seraphis, eyes burning with rage.

The battle had only just begun.

Seraphis smirked as she watched Stormcaller steady himself.

She could see the fury in his gaze, but she remained unfazed.

"Is that all?" she taunted, her voice carrying over the water.

Stormcaller grinned darkly.

"Oh, you’ll see soon enough," he muttered under his breath.

The war was just getting started.