The Thundering Massive was so close now Celia could see the white layer of snow covering the higher parts of the steep slopes. What she couldn't see were the peaks. The dark clouds covered the sky completely. It seemed like the mountains never ended and kept going up until infinity.

"Are you certain we can do it?" Theo asked, his face even paler than usual when he was staring at the intimidating mass of black clouds. The lightning illuminated the sky from time to time, and the thunder followed soon after.

Celia gulped, the cold sweat sliding down her spine. "We have to give it a shot. Do you think Percy can do it?"

"If we don't get struck by lightning or crash at those peaks we can't see, I say have a decent chance of survival," he said in a cheery voice, but his face remained solemn, and his brow knitted.

"Captain!" Lyra yelled from the crow's nest, lowering a spyglass. "There are three ships at the foot of the mountains."

"More Chief's ships?"

"No, those sail under the Raised Cities Confederation flag!"

"Government ships here?" Theo gasped. "What business do they have here?"

"Don't know and don't care." Celia shrugged. "They can stay down there all they want while we fly right over their head and cross the mountains." She put a hand on Theo's arm and squeezed it gently. "It's time. Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'd ever been." He sighed and patted her hand. "Make sure everyone on the main deck is securely fastened to something solid. It will be a rough ride if we want to sail through that storm."

"You don't have to worry about us. Make sure all is working perfectly down there."

Theo nodded and slowly walked to the stairs leading under the deck, his metal enhancers clanking softly at the wooden deck.

"Theo, wait!" Celia called and whistled loudly.

A blue-gold blur fell from the mast right onto her outstretched arm. "Hi Boss!" the parrot squawked.

"Sir Prancer, I need you to go under the deck with Theo."

"Crackers?"

Celia rolled her eyes and fished a crumbled piece of biscuit from her pocket. "Here. Now go, and stay there until Theo says it's safe to come out."

"Yes, Boss!" The bird jumped into the air and landed on Theo's shoulder.

The man winced. "Seriously? Now I must keep this ship going and babysit your pet?"

"You know he's scared of thunder. He'll be a good boy, right, Sir Prancer."

"Good boy!" confirmed the parrot bouncing up and down.

Theo mumbled some inaudible curse and trodded down the stairs, disappearing in the gloom under the deck.

After ensuring the ship wheel was locked, Celia left the helm and strolled towards the bow. "Listen up, everyone! This is the moment all of us dreamed of for so long. Those mountains are the only thing separating us from the New World! The only obstacle left." She moved her gaze from one face to another. All of them were fearful but hopeful too. "I know it's not looking great and that weird clouds are not helping, but have courage. We've come so far already, and I'll be damned if I let this piece of fluff stop me from chasing my dreams!"

Several people laughed nervously and raised their fists in the air.

"We've been through a lot, guys, and I'm confident we'll get through this challenge as we always do." Celia raised her arm and pointed to the intimidating mountains. "And I'm sure the freedom is right there. So let's get out there and claim our freedom!"

By the crew's enthusiastic response, Celia was sure they all wanted the same thing and were ready to brace for whatever was coming their way. She adjusted her captain's hat and raised her hands to silence them again.

"Now, listen to me carefully. We will fly right into that storm because there is no way around it. It would be a bumpy ride, so I want to see everyone strapped securely to the ship. I need you all to look out for any danger that may come our way. We have no idea what's behind those clouds, so keep your guns handy and be ready to use them. Keep in pairs to ensure you have someone close giving you a hand if needed. But no stupid heroic moves, you hear me? I want to drink with you once we reach the other side of the mountains!"

People cheered, and Celia smiled and turned on her heel to return to the helm. Even though their actions sounded like suicide, she couldn't help but feel the thrill. It was risky but exciting. The time has come to face this unknown danger. A place where no one has ventured before. A brand New World full of opportunities and a chance to be the master of your own fate. There was nothing she wanted more.

The dark mass of clouds was almost upon them. The lightning and thunders bloomed deep inside like otherworldly flowers. Celia picked up a rope she had prepared earlier and fastened it to her belt, ensuring the knot was solid and wouldn't unravel. A shadow fell on her, and she looked up to meet Zed's steady gaze. "Yes?"

"I'm your pair, boss," the big man said solemnly and started to secure his rope to the base of the chimney behind her. "You said everyone has to get a partner, so here I am."

Celia smiled gratefully. "I couldn't ask for a better pair."

Zed straightened up and raised his rifle to reload it. "And if something comes our way, I'll shoot it."

"Let's hope there's nothing to shoot."

As Percy was steadily approaching the dark wall of clouds, everyone seemed to hold their breath. Celia pushed on the lever on her left to make the ship soar higher as they broke through the barrier curtain.

The clouds were heavy with moisture. Celia felt a shiver running down her spine as the damp air hit their face. The visibility was almost non-existing. she could hardly see for a couple of yards in front of the ship. The strong wind hit Percy, and Celia struggled to keep the helm straight. She looked at the console next to the helm that measured their altitude. The meter showed they were over twenty-five thousand feet and still gaining height. The highest peaks of Thundering Mountains were said to be around twenty-four thousand, so they should have enough room to fly over them safely.

"I have a bad feeling about it, boss," Zed yelled, trying to outshout the howling gale. His muscles were all tense like strings and ready to attack any second. He looked wildly around, but there was nothing to shoot. Just a raging wind from time to time broken by the deafening rumble of thunder.

"I saw something!" Abner shouted, his voice higher than usual. "Something big!"

"Must have been a bird," another crew member called with a nervous laugh.

"Bird, my ass! Birds are not as big as houses!"

"There! I saw something too!" Lyra yelled from the crow's nest.

"What was it?" Celia asked, ignoring the wind that blew off her captain hat and whipped her hair in her face. "I don't see anything."

Lyra screamed in surprise and cursed when the spyglass fell off her hands.

"Are you all right?" Abner yelled, worry lacing his voice.

"I don't know what it is, but it's huge!"

And then Calia saw it too, just in the corner of her eye. It was indeed something colossal and moving so fast it was just a darker blur amongst black clouds. But it was indeed something alive and closing at Percy. Another strong gust of wind brought a low rumbling thunder crack with it.

But there was no lightning.

Celia paled. "It's not thunder."

"It's a roar," Zed confirmed and fired his rifle at a dark shape moving nearby, but he was too slow.

"I see it there!"

"And there is another one on the port!"

"Rust and starvation!" Celia cursed, her hands on the helm sweaty despite the cold air. "Ready your weapons! Whatever it is, it's getting closer to us. Be ready to shoot─" before she finished the order, something violently hit Percy's keel, sending the ship in a wild and uncontrolled surge forward. Before the crew regained footing, a huge mass of blue scales and claws fell on the bow.

For Celia, the time stopped together with her heartbeat. The thing that was roaring on their bow was impossible. Its head was as huge as a rowing boat, and when it screeched, it showed a huge mouth full of razor-sharp teeth that could swallow the man whole. The depth of its throat was illuminated by a blue glow as if the beast had devoured lightning. Only part of the monster's body was visible, though it resembled a giant snake with glistening blue and turquoise scales. The main body also sprouted huge muscled legs digging their claws into the deck, breaking poor Percy's wood. A crocodile-like head was adorned with horns and a pristine-looking mane of brilliant white hair covering the beast's spine.

Celia shivered when she locked eyes with the creature's reptilian yellow slits. Those weren't the eyes of a wild animal─they glowed brightly with intelligence and understanding.

And anger towards those who dared to intrude on the beast's sanctuary.

What felt like an eternity was just a split second, and Percy lurched down under the monster's weight and the air filled with screams of terrified people and gunshots.

"Shoot it down!" Celia roared, trying to bring the ship back up. If they lose too much altitude, they will crash into the mountains.

But the shots didn't seem to bother the sky beast. Most of them went wide because people couldn't steady their trembling hands while facing a dragon. The ones that did reach the target slid harmlessly off the thick scales. The creature was already in motion. After leaving long gashes on the bow deck, it disengaged and disappeared in the clouds again.

Another long scaly shape fell onto one of the balloons keeping Percy afloat. With a mad roar, the legs covered with green scales sliced at the surface, cutting the metal with an ear-piercing sound.

"Shoot this thing, goddammit!" Celia screamed, but it was already too late. Hydrogen started to escape through a torn balloon, and Percy swayed to the starboard.

"What's happening up there?" came Theo's distorted voice through voicepipe.

The green dragon wasn't bothered by the bullets raining at him. It jumped to the second balloon with the grace of an eel in the water. Its claws shredded mercilessly everything they touched.

"Hold on tight, all of you!" Celia shouted to the voice pipe. She let go of the helm and grabbed the shotgun strapped to the base of the ship wheel. "Get off my ship, you overgrown lizard!" She took two shots, one of which must at least graze the beast because the huge head turned towards her, glowing yellow narrowing. "I said get off!"

The creature withdrew its head as if it were taking a breath, and when it opened its mouth, a bolt of lightning shot straight at Celia. Her eyes widened in horror as she knew she wouldn't be able to dodge in time.

Before she could blink, there was a sharp tug at her waist, and she flew backwards, barely escaping the explosion of electricity that slammed at the helm.

"I've got you, boss!" yelled Zed holding the rope she had tight to her belt.

When the smoke rose, and the bright electricity died, Celia saw charred and broken remains of the ship's wheel.

"No," she gasped, her voice breaking. She looked up, but the green dragon was already gone. More of the creatures were assaulting Percy from all sides at once. They attacked like a pack of wolves, delivering swift strikes and withdrawing just before bullets could reach them.

They were bleeding their prey out until it won't be able to run anymore.

Celia watched helplessly as her crew scrambled for cover as black scaled dragon threw another lightning bolt at the deck. The main mast broke with a horrible creak and leaned to the side, colliding with the ballon and making an even bigger tear on its surface.

"Lyra!" Celia screamed, but the red-haired woman was already jumping off the crow's nest, and Uriah was right there to catch her as if they were acrobats at the circus show, not people fighting for their lives.

Two more creatures landed on the hissing balloons and started tearing them apart with claws and teeth. At that moment, Celia knew it. It was over. All her dreams were shredded to pieces right before her eyes. And suddenly, it all made sense─why no one ever crossed the mountains or came back to tell the tale. She was foolish enough to think that she could claim the sky and call it her home while there was someone else in charge all this time.

Percy started to lose altitude faster, the wind whizzing past them, but Celia watched the dragons with a mixture of horror and awe. They were beautiful. Their long, scaled bodies soar on the winds, their long tails whipped from side to side, making all manoeuvres rapid yet smooth, and their silky manes contrasted with vicious claws and teeth. It was their domain.

They were masters of the sky.

And Celia, with her foolish pride, brought doom to all her crew.

"Drop your weapons and hold on to something!" she roared, trying to outshout wind and thunders. "We are going down fast, and it won't be a gentle landing!"

While everyone scrambled to find a relatively solid spot to grab on, Zed caught her elbow and dragged her back. He had already secured his rope around a steel chimney and was working on the knots on her line, big fingers surprisingly swift and sure.

"It was an honour fighting with you, boss," Zed yelled to her ear as they were plummeting to their death.

They were falling so fast, Celia felt her stomach in her throat, the world shrank to raging wind, screams of terrified people and holding on tight to whatever they could, to not get blown off the ship.

Celia's grip on Zed's arm was so hard she was sure her nails were making bloody holes in his skin. "I'm sorry, Zed. Lady Luck, save us," she breathed a second before they hit the water's surface.