If they were going to fight a group of pirating cultivators, Anton didn’t intend to let them have free use of their ships. He saw a number of shipboard weapons that couldn’t be there just for the sake of fun. As the battle broke out his first shot went at the sails of what appeared to be the flagship, while his second targeted oars and third the various ballistae. His first shot was nearly blocked by one of the pirates, the wide blade intended to cut apart the sail barely twisting out of the way to avoid the man’s parrying sword. The shot curved back around, slicing through parts of the sail from behind, and the enchantments proved inadequate to resist a peak Essence Collection attack.

His second shot was from one of his other bows, fired by natural energy but all physical. He managed to snap apart several oars in a row on one side before the rowing cultivators’ energy stopped his own. As for his shots on the weapons, those were the sturdiest and barely took any damage.

The barrier protecting their ships held, and Anton was quite pleased with his ability to attack outward. It was difficult, but Catarina had developed to the point of being a formation master. Her Life Transformation cultivation helped her stitch together anything missing. Of course, just enduring a bombardment would eventually wear them down. A permanent structure might have the capabilities to resist such an attack but their three ships made an imperfect formation.

Barriers all had limits. This particular one was made with the intention of allowing people to pass through it, and that ultimately had to happen in both directions. But it still provided an advantage for the defensive side, who could attack outward at the approaching enemies.

Some chose not to rely on the defensive formation. Or rather, Fuzz took off running with Alva on his back, likely without considering the situation at all. The young archer was only a short way behind Anton in cultivation now, the main difference between them being her lacking decades of experience hunting with a bow. But in terms of practical battle experience, she still outclassed the Anton of a hundred years old. Her style had first mimicked his own, but now was its own thing that involved moved quickly and attacking from inconvenient angles to defend. Fuzz was fast enough that Anton wasn’t terribly worried about someone catching her, and those who could attack her at range would have to contend with being shot in response.

Timothy, Hoyt, Devon, and many of the others moved towards the front line, supporting themselves on the water or what outcroppings of stone were convenient. Neither were as steady of footing as they would like, but their opponents had to deal with the same. Others remained on the ships, maneuvering them to try to get some advantage.

The first opponent to encounter Timothy was a large woman who held a two-handed curved blade. The force of her attack swung down towards him, but he raised his shield to block. He had long passed the point where that was anything close to a passive response- the angle of their connection was timed to provide maximum counterforce, sending the weapon flying out of her hand.

A moment after that Devon entangled her in chains before Hoyt beheaded her. Three against one might not be exactly fair, but it was her own fault for breaking away from her allies. Finishing her off quickly was the right move, and none of them were going to follow useless models of ‘fairness’ in an actual battle. Especially not when every person they defeated brought the numbers closer into balance for their side.

Marsen stood on a floating chunk of ice, finding having a flat surface made him more effective. It didn’t tilt except at his urging and wouldn’t break easily. Those who had tried found the attempt left them open to being frozen, and whether it was just a hand or their whole body such a result wasn’t good for them. Marsen was focusing on the Spirit Building cultivators making their way over. Not all of them were capable of easily supporting their weight atop the water, but one of the leading ships had slipped into the barrier. It didn’t have enough velocity to trigger the defenses, a balancing factor to make it otherwise more efficient.

Marsen hopped on board, causing ice to freeze on the surface of the ship. Even if he couldn’t directly cause damage, locking oars in place and making sails inflexible greatly reduced the effectiveness of the ship. Marsen was close to the top ranks of his generation among the Frostmirror Sect, more through determination and willingness to experiment than raw talent. Though he did have to admit he would never have gotten to where he was without a good measure of the latter.

As others joined him on the ship to fend off the stronger cultivators, he slowed everyone they were fighting against. Some were less affected, but even if it was only a marginal change it could screw up critical timings on their part.

It was impossible for the cultivators to form solid lines with their numbers. Both sides were unable to completely prevent people from slipping through the gaps, resulting in the old man who seemed to be in command finding his way to Catarina. “Tough luck young lady, but even a specialist like you will never defeat me while holding together a formation.” Water rose up all around the lead vessel, splashing over everything but mostly gathering around the Life Transformation man and Catarina.

“Is that so?” she said as she held her sword between them. “Then perhaps I should drop it.”

The old man lacked any traditional weapons in his hand, but up close it was simple to make out the metallic claws clutched in his grip. Careful eyes would also see similar contraptions attached to his feet. The old man charged towards Catarina, shrinking the wall of water in towards them as he did so. “Good idea. Drop it and our artillery can get back to work.”

Their weapons clashed as Catarina held her position, barely keeping the claws and water away. She couldn’t afford either wounds or restricted movement, but she had to maintain her position at the center of the formation. The next several exchanges happened without any more words, simply Catarina’s face wrinkling ever more in worry and concentration.

“That’s enough,” the man said. “You’re hardly a swordmaster. With your power split up, I know you can’t even harm me.” He grinned, his energy sharpening around the hand and foot blades. He stepped back in, a whirl of attacks that Catarina barely tumbled through, and not unscathed.

Blood dripped from her forehead, shoulders, and a gash on her abdomen. Then the man twisted his feet, the claws grasping on the wood of the ship to thrust him forward with great speed, the claws on his hands going for her throat. But before they could reach her, he found himself stopped in place as energy suddenly collapsed all around him. An instant later, Catarina cut his arms off at the elbow.

“You’re about half right there,” she said as she stepped forward to lop off his head. “But as it turns out I’m actually at my strongest here.”

The man might have still been alive for a moment, but he was unable to speak. At most he could wonder why the formation suddenly turned from an external barrier into a restrictive formation. If Catarina had been inclined to answer him, she would have been able to tell him it was always both.

She looked around for her next target. It had taken Velvet and Anton longer than she hoped to take out the enchanted ballistae, but they couldn’t afford to have everyone dealing with those while they fought. If nothing else it could ruin their ships and make everything following difficult.

The pirates were quickly realizing that they had made a grave error. In addition to not recognizing Catarina’s presence and status as a Life Transformation expert- even in the early part of the stage- the others were also no pushovers. Their greed and the thought that nobody would be able to track them down for revenge had caused them to overreach.

When they turned to flee, they found it quite a difficult task. Parts of their ships were crippled, and those who were able to swim at great speed or walk atop the waves- or who could simply jump between rock outcroppings- found that they had to contend with enemy archers… and even a few compromised and still quite enchanted ballistae. When the call to surrender went out Spirit Building cultivators capitulated first, followed by some of the Essence Collection cultivators. Many continued to choose to flee, but none escaped.

Restraints for so many cultivators were a bit difficult to come up with, though the pirates themselves happened to have some. The biggest part was divesting them of their weapons and armor, followed by Catarina setting up a temporary formation to suppress their intake and use of natural energy.

The leadership quickly discussed what to do with them. Unlike the Twin Soul Sect, these pirates weren’t something they had an eternal grudge with.

“I think we should kill them,” Matriarch Afi stated clearly, “The same as they would have done with us.”

“While that’s certainly fair,” Anton responded, “We need to consider what the people of the Exalted Archipelago would think. And the Worthy Shore Society.”

She nodded slowly. “True. But perhaps it is better that they know nothing.”

“That’s… impossible now,” Anton admitted. “We just engaged in battle on the border of their territory.” He turned his head. “They have… several elders who have clearly taken note of our presence. Their opinions will likely determine our fate here.”

“Are they close enough to listen?” she asked.

“It’s hard to say,” Anton shrugged. “But I think not.”

“Well, I think we should just go to them,” said elder Chifuniro of the Desert Hippo Sect. “We can deal with the ships and the cleanup later. Best not to keep them waiting.”

After some discussion of how they would approach the diplomatic situation awaiting them, they returned to navigating their way among the rocks, leaving behind the extra ships they had insufficient crew for. At least, insufficient without more individual training in the area.

They went more or less straight for the group Anton sensed. They were clearly of the same sect, and as long as the travelers hadn’t been totally lied to they should be the Worthy Shore Society. As they got closer Anton became aware that the Worthy Shore Society was far more than a minor sect. The few Life Transformation elders he had felt meant they were not weak, but as they approached he felt more presences beyond a large formation they had guarding their territory. His senses were dimmed beyond that point, but he knew there were more than a few additional Life Transformation cultivators present. Thankfully, they weren’t looming at the edge of the sect as if planning to attack.

Anton hoped that was because they didn’t intend to and not because they could attack from where they were. But it was too late to turn around regardless- even as the fight began, it was too late to avoid their notice and judgment. He just hoped they were reasonable. Matriarch Afi had planned what to say, and they would have to go with that.

The navigability of the area only grew worse as they approached, but fortunately before it reached the worst possible parts they were stopped by the four elders. Two men and two women at Life Transformation, along with a great quantity of lesser disciples arrayed behind them.

“Who approaches the Worthy Shore Society?” one of the men called out.

Matriarch Afi steeled herself. “We are cultivators from Brogora, here to speak with you. We come in peace.”

“You speak those words with blood on your hands,” the man retorted. A pressure swept over them. “And captives as well.”

“We were attacked by pirates. They intended to kill us all.”

“Hmph.” The man looked towards Catarina. “And you. You are stronger than her. Why are you not the one speaking?”

Catarina was obviously caught off guard at that question. “Well… I’m not very diplomatic.”

“Perfect,” the man said. “You will speak then. What happened?”

Sensing that it wasn’t an option, Catarina explained. Briefly. “Well, basically what she said. They came to attack us, said no one would miss us, and then we killed them. I cut off their leader’s head and we captured anyone who would surrender to see what you would say.”

“This leader… who was it?” the man asked.

Catarina gestured to the body, which had not yet been disposed of. “I’m sure you saw it. That guy.”

“The Sea Tiger.” The man got a wide smile on his face. “He finally chose the wrong targets. Good. Somehow they were always ready to flee if we came after them. This time they ventured too close to our territory… and chose the wrong targets. So then, what is the purpose of your visit?”

Matriarch Afi knew just the right things to say… but Catarina was still the one in charge of speaking. So she got straight to the point. “There’s an invasion coming in a couple decades. We want to make sure people here are going to be prepared so it doesn’t cause trouble for us later. And we’re worried about the Twin Soul Sect and people like them.”

“We know of all this,” the man said. “I personally returned from Everheart’s Tomb of ascension, along with several others. But seeing that you have come such a long way, we should speak somewhere more comfortable. Oh, and just throw the bodies into the water, except that man’s head. Some others here will be quite glad to see it.”

Anton quietly breathed a sigh of relief. What was it about cultivators that made them show off the power and be intimidating, even when they were essentially friendly? Anton wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t complain too much as he’d used similar tactics to squeeze information out of people. When they were guilty they tripped up an awful lot, and there was much to learn from innocent panic as well. An unpanicked response was information of its own.