Riven's cackling still echoed through the shattered bridge window as Eryndra stood between him and Roy. The air crackled with a new spell. Runes erupted all over the battleship's deck, glowing sickly green, forming a circle of stone spikes that inched higher and higher. Roy saw them burst through metal plating, jagged columns threatening to tear his beloved battleship apart from within.
"Tch, you killjoy," Eryndra muttered, eyes narrowed. "Now you're trying to piss me off."
Without waiting for Roy's order, she burst forward off the bridge and into the air in a blur of motion, closing the distance between her and Riven in a heartbeat. As she landed she grabbed his face and slammed him violently onto the deck. Riven choked on laughter, rolling his eyes in manic glee despite the blow.
Eryndra's expression was one of pure disappointment, like she was unimpressed by this supposed big threat. She tightened her grip on Riven's face, ignoring the wild kicks he landed against her ribs. The runic spires around them convulsed but stalled as Riven struggled to maintain concentration.
He let out a wheezing laugh, blood trickling from his mouth. "Oho, a feisty one," he rasped, voice dripping with mock admiration. "You're strong as an ox. Bet I'd rake in a fortune selling you."
Eryndra's eyes flickered with rage. She snarled and tightened her hold until something popped. Yet Riven's laughter only grew louder.
The stone spires surged taller, gouging deeper into the deck plates. Riven's grin widened. "Say hi to your sinking ship, kiddos. Every time you smack me, these runes get juiced. Call it 'Hurt to Dirt'—hope you like the name!"
"Pretty sure I've heard lamer names, but not many," Eryndra groaned, sighing as if bored. "Anyway, I've been studying how your magic works." She pinned his arm, pressing her fingers into the burning runes along his wrist. "I just needed you to show more of it before I stole that source, perhaps it could be of use to us."
She pinned his arm, pressing her fingers into the burning runes along his wrist. "Thanks for the demonstration."
Riven's eyes darted in panic. A golden bracelet gleamed on his forearm, etched with runes and inset with shining gems—currently glowing yellow. He balled his fist, trying to keep the bracelet from slipping off his wrist.
"Hey—get off me, you psycho!" he sputtered, thrashing. She calmly shifted her grip, snapped his wrist with a sickening crunch, and in one smooth motion yanked the bracelet free.
"Yaaaagh!" Riven howled, voice cracking. The moment the bracelet left his skin, the spires flickered and shrank into nothingness. Eryndra hopped backward, the bracelet in her hand, landing beside Roy in a single graceful bound.
Riven blinked, staggering to his feet in fury. Before he could launch another minor spell the Presidroid Teddy stomped him back onto the deck.
"Sir, I am politely requesting you stay down," Teddy said in a mechanical monotone. "Fail to comply and I break your knees."
Riven glowered, face pale from the pain in his shattered wrist. "Get lost," he spat, then opened his tattered jacket. Rows of primitive grenades—already lit—gleamed in a nasty cluster.
"Grenade rig! Everyone get clear!" Roy shouted from the bridge, eyes going wide. "Now!"
Lincoln yanked Teddy away just in time. But Woodrow Wilson, an Elite model, sprang into action with no hesitation. He lunged at Riven, wrenched the jacket of grenades off him. He went to through it from the ship but Riven conjured several runes on the jacket and it wrapped Woodrow Wilson up. With his free arm Woodrow Wilson snap a salue and vaulted off the battleship's deck onto Riven's own ship.
An instant later, the entire cluster of grenades detonated with a thunderous bang. A shockwave of fire and shrapnel tore across the pirate ship, ripping the hull apart. Roy's heart seized as he watched the explosion. At the same moment, he glimpsed a hoard of gold below the pirate ship's deck—treasure glimmering in the chaotic light of the blast.
"Woodrow Wilson!" Roy screamed, voice breaking. Shock and grief mingled with a strange sense of discovery as he stared at the treasure.
Across Roy's battleship, any remaining pirates cowered in terror. Riven lay on the deck in agony, half-blind with pain and drained of mana. Teddy turned to Roy, who forced himself to steady his voice.
"Teddy," Roy said, voice still shaking from Woodrow's sacrifice, "lock this bum in the brig. Strip him of every weird trinket he's got, and, uh, hose him off, I just know he smells."
"Affirmative, Captain," Teddy replied. Two Elite Presidroids tore off Riven's gear, ignoring his shrieks, and dragged him across the deck, holding him over the side, stark naked.
A Base Model Presidroid followed with a high-powered hose. Water blasted Riven's face, curses and sputtering mixed with the roar of the spray. Once suitably drenched and humiliated, the Presidroids hauled him below.
"Serenity," Roy barked, "send a few drones and some presidroids to grab all that treasure. Then scuttle the other ships—spare the blinded captain's ship. Serves them right for sullying my baby!"
Roy watched as the last pirate other than Riven finished cleaning the deck before he was thrown off as well.
"But I did what you asked!" he yelled as he fell.
Minutes later, Roy marched into the surprisingly large brig. A two-story row of thirty cells in a locked corridor. Eryndra remained outside, arms folded, while Teddy stood guard. Roy stepped in, swiping sweat off his forehead.
Inside, Riven sat slumped against the wall, wrists bound, hair still dripping. Roy cleared his throat, trying to project confidence.
"So you really thought you could tussle with… uh… the unstoppable 'Thunder Rider,' huh? Big mistake... buddy." Roy said, voice trembling slightly but still aiming for authority.
Roy heard Eryndar cackling in the background from that pitiful attempt at intimidation.
Riven coughed, refusing to meet Roy's gaze. His broken wrist was poorly splinted, courtesy of a bored Presidroid. The golden bracelet rested on a side table, well out of his reach. Eryndra now made her entrance, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.
Roy tapped the bracelet with his finger. "I kinda like this shiny toy of yours. Show me how to use it, and maybe…" He paused dramatically. "…maybe I'll let you see daylight again."
Riven's eyes sparked with spite, then flicked toward the bracelet in resignation. The dark mage who nearly sank the battleship was now Roy's prisoner.
"Huh, 'Thunder Rider.' The legends said you were real," Riven muttered. "But there is one rumor I can't quite believe."
Roy laughed and took a small step forward. "And what rumor is that?"
"I captured a few elves the other day. They looked to be the ancient forest guardian type. I've only heard about them in legends," Riven explained.
"Okay?" Roy said as he crossed his arms.
Riven chuckled at his impatience. "The ones I caught couldn't stop weeping, talking about how they failed their mission. The begged me to kill them."
"Dark," Roy interrupted.
"They actually claimed 'The Legendary Thunder Rider' entered forbidden waters and destroyed a castle, freeing the Immortal Family. Even you can't be that suicidally dumb," Riven finished.
As if directly called to appear, Father Skeleton passed behind Roy. He was wearing a baseball cap and sneakers. Riven's face contorted in absolute terror, tears instantly filled his eyes. Roy gave a gentle smack to the back of Father Skeleton's skull.
"Didn't I forbid you from looting my closet, bone-brain?!" Roy yelled.
"Deepest apologies, oh wondrous leader!" Father Skeleton whimpered, adjusting his new kicks. "They were just too flashy to ignore!"
"Why are they wet!?" Roy yelled.
"I had a wonderful shower just a minute ago, why?"
Roy held in his frustration, turned and walked away, leaving Riven in ominous silence. Eryndra gave the prisoner one last withering look before following Roy out. The clang of the heavy door echoed through the corridor, sealing Riven's fate. The cost of crossing "the Thunder Rider."