Somewhere in the South Atlantic.
The sea began to shake and, suddenly, space itself started to distort. Massive dark-gray patches materialized: dimensional portals, and from them the ships of the main Kartnod Armada fleet began to emerge.
"Sir, we have exited the dimensional jump. We are recalibrating our calculations to determine our exact location right now. Are there any signs that we were followed?" Kaisel asked.
"No, sir. Our visual systems do not detect any enemy vessels."
"Perfect. For now, stop using your communication signals. I believe that by using them carelessly, they were able to locate us so quickly. I was arrogant to believe we were superior based on the preliminary information we had."
"Understood. Internal usage is being disabled. We will use only our own communication systems. Search for a flow; the Earth may have become unstable, but the ley lines do not change. Once you find one, we will use it to communicate with the others."
"Sir, there are extremely dense fluctuations in this area."
Kaisel smiled.
"Very well. Connect me with Ilyan immediately."
Meanwhile, in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chiapas.
The battle was taking a direction they had not expected.
One of the officers spoke:
"Sir, the Claimoor have been repelled. They cannot penetrate their units, and with the arrival of those other ships, six of our vessels have already suffered severe damage."
"There is no other option. Even if it costs us another ten magical reactors, release the five Leviathans. We will sink those vermin just as we did the cursed Sevianko. If we cannot sink those ships, we can still perform a dimensional jump and withdraw, just as Morvak did."
I thought he had been defeated by his own negligence, but apparently not. He lacked sufficient resources, and according to the reports we received, those damned traitors were waiting for us, along with these cursed silver ships.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted when one of the communications officers spoke.
"We are receiving a transmission from Admiral Kaisel. Shall I connect him immediately?"
Kaisel's image materialized in the air. Without waiting for Ilyan to say a word, he ordered them to disconnect from the communication network they had been using and perform a full-fleet dimensional withdrawal. They were to leave nothing behind. Once they had moved far enough away, he would explain the reason for the decision.
"As you command, sir."
Ilyan pressed a button on his command console and issued the order:
"To all ships: disconnect your links to the local network and execute a temporal jump to the coordinates being transmitted now. We will use the Conception Links to transport the damaged vessels. This is a highest-priority order issued by Admiral Kaisel."
No one doubted, questioned, or challenged the withdrawal order.
Portals began forming behind the fleet, and one by one the ships entered them. No one questioned Lord Kaisel's commands. To his men, his orders were nearly divine, and they obeyed without hesitation.
When they emerged from the portals, all they could see was an immense blue expanse and water in every direction. They were guided southward, far enough from the coast to avoid attack.
"Sir, shall we search for ley-line flows and use our own communication systems without reconnecting to the networks used by the people of this era?"
"Do so immediately and contact Admiral Kaisel. We need to know what happened for him to make such a decision."
"Several ships have sustained severe damage."
"Have the engineers repair them so they can move under their own power instead of being towed by other vessels."
Their black hulls reflected the sunlight with a dull and ominous glow.
On the bridge of the Annihilator, Ilyan gazed across the vast sea and wondered: if the Lord had been forced to make such a decision, could those cursed enemies truly possess enough strength to stop them?
Meanwhile, farther south.
The enormous moai statues appeared motionless on the screens, silent stone sentinels that had witnessed the passage of centuries.
"Easter Island," he murmured.
"So that is what they call it. Inform command immediately that we have successfully located the dimensional entrance and detected no signs of resistance. There are only natives of this era, and they do not appear to be magic users."
"Deploy reconnaissance immediately. I want a complete scan of the island and the seabed within a fifty-kilometer radius. We need to confirm the exact location."
The orders were transmitted at once.
Probes departed from the ships while operators analyzed thousands of data streams.
Several minutes passed.
Finally, an officer stood up.
"Sir... we have found something."
"Report."
"We have detected a massive concentration of energy fifteen meters beneath the surface. The readings match."
The officer immediately reported to his captain.
"Lord Zisel, we have confirmation. We found the seal, and the magical indicators show that it has deteriorated by eighty percent."
"Transmit that information immediately and await further orders from the admiral."
Meanwhile, somewhere in the South Atlantic.
"Sir, we are receiving a signal from Commander Ilyan aboard the Annihilator."
"Connect him immediately."
An image materialized in the air, revealing Ilyan.
"All ships have been successfully relocated. Losses currently stand at six vessels destroyed and twelve more suffering various levels of damage."
"Your orders, Admiral?" Ilyan asked.
"We are sending you a new route. Proceed to that location immediately. The Fifth Division has discovered the entrance to Atlantis."
"Our operational base that was sealed by the deities."
"How many dimensional reactors do you have remaining?"
"After the two battles, we have nine left."
"Excellent," Kaisel replied. "That is enough to destroy the seal. Once we gain entry, we will be able to repair our fleet and replenish our arsenals. Use one of the reactors to reach these coordinates. Make five consecutive jumps to avoid detection. Their technology is not particularly advanced, but the traitors still retain much of our own, and they would become a serious problem if they discover us before we enter Atlantis."
"For now, it is hidden within the Mirror Dimension, an isolated and concealed plane. During the war, it was used as one of our bases. There should still be arsenals and facilities capable of repairing our ships."
"And it is a place inaccessible to the traitors."
Kaisel turned his gaze toward the planetary map.
"What we need now is time."
He activated a projection.
Ireland appeared highlighted.
"Ten months."
"According to our informants, the primary seal will finish breaking in ten months."
"During that time, we will repair our ships and replenish our weapon stockpiles."
No one questioned the decision.
The image of Ireland disappeared.