Chapter 161 : Altar of the Sea (3)

There were two ways to clear the Altar of the Sea event.

The first was the standard method. Under the sea, the green light shining from the altar was a hint in itself.

When the altar activated, a random Lizardfolk's pupils would suddenly turn green.

Offering a Lizardfolk with the same green pupils as the altar's light would fulfill the condition, and the Altar of the Sea would bestow the ‘Blessing of the Sea God’.

The Lizard King also seemed to know this method. But for some reason, he had declared that he would not offer a Lizardfolk as a sacrifice.

‘Then there’s only one method left…….’

The second and final way to complete the Altar of the Sea event was to offer a fake sacrifice.

After offering a doll instead of a sacrifice on the altar, one just had to break the doll before the altar could confirm that what it thought was a sacrifice was, in fact, a doll.

In that case, the servant of the Sea God sealed beneath the altar would awaken in a rage.

The one who broke the doll would immediately fall into various status effects, including fainting, and if they couldn't escape, they would meet their death at the hands of the Sea God's servant who would appear shortly after.

The servant of the Sea God sleeping beneath the Altar of the Sea was a being called the ‘Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.’

Instead of suckers, it had thousands of eyeballs, and anyone who met its gaze would fall into various status effects, including petrification.

If one killed the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes under such adverse conditions, they could clear the Altar of the Sea event and receive the ‘Blessing of the Sea God’.

The Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes was not a tricky boss mob simply because of its status-effect-inducing eyes.

It also had high HP and many kinds of resistance values, making it not easy to kill, and its attack power was also formidable.

Choosing the second method would surely result in a tremendous number of casualties.

But the Lizard King's gaze was unwavering as he stared at me firmly.

“Lizard. Altar. Break.”

The Lizard King repeated his words, perhaps thinking I hadn't understood him.

“You are strong. Help Lizard. Reward there is.”

The Lizard King said, looking at me. His tone was still firm, but it somehow sounded like a plea.

“He is the Lizard King, Lord Urseca. He knows full well that you are strong, Polarin, and wants to give you a suitable reward if you help the Lizardfolk.”

Soler explained the Lizard King’s short words in full. It seemed Soler had spent time with the Lizardfolk and had come to understand their language well.

“Your power. Needed.”

“He says he needs your power.”

I looked back and forth between Soler, who had become a Lizard-language translator, and the Lizard King Urseca.

Huu…….

My thoughts grew complex.

I knew all too well by now that this world was not simply a game world.

I didn't know who the Lizardfolk with green pupils were, but they could be a very precious individual to the Lizardfolk.

‘……I can’t force them to sacrifice someone.’

I had faced a similar crossroads during the third Dragon’s Trial, the World of Recurrence.

I had broken through the World of Recurrence without sacrificing Pieto, no, Keldric.

Choosing the second method of destroying the Altar of the Sea would surely be a difficult path.

However, I had no right to order the Lizardfolk to offer one of their own kind.

If the Altar of the Sea event had appeared when I was playing as Adjak, would I have fought the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes?

Probably not. Because it wasn't efficient.

But in this world, I didn't move solely based on efficiency.

‘I have to try, even if it’s difficult.’

If I had to fight anyway, how should I deal with the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.

No matter what, the battle would only begin once I dragged the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes out of the sea.

The Lizardfolk might be able to, but humans couldn't fight underwater. It was hard to hold one's breath for long, and it would be difficult to move easily against the water's resistance.

An excellent bait was needed to lure the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes out of the water while enduring various cursed states.

The real battle with the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes would only start after that.

‘Should I have brought the Jar of Spirits?’

I inwardly regretted not having the Jar of Spirits that I had left with Hike.

If I could get help from a water spirit, it would be a considerable force.

Arandir, too, had been out of touch since he went to the Spirit Realm.

In a situation like this, it was more important to figure out what I had rather than regret what I didn't.

‘Even if I can't use it now, it will be helpful when I need it more. Lady Hike isn't likely to keep a weak spirit, and Lord Arandir said he would bring as many spirits as possible.’

As the time I was lost in thought alone grew longer, Soler’s brow furrowed with worry.

I nodded and spoke.

“Then let's do it. Do you have a plan?”

The Lizard King nodded firmly.

A slight smile appeared on his large lips.

“Plan. There is.”

“He says he has a plan.”

I looked at Soler with a wry expression.

“I can understand the short phrases, so you don't have to translate.”

“Hmph.”

Soler snorted.

Urseca paid her no mind and continued speaking.

“Ancestor drawing. There is. Don't know if it's a record.”

“He says there are records of the Lizardfolk ancestors. Though I’m not sure if you could call it a record.”

Soler said in a stiffer voice than before.

This time, I couldn't understand Urseca's words at all, so I gave her a thumbs-up.

The Lizard King spread a huge scroll on the cliff.

Then, a painting appeared.

“Three people. Kill octopus. Altar doll breaker. Rescuer. Octopus slayer.”

“He says three people are enough to kill the octopus. The one who breaks the altar's doll and……”

Following Urseca's words, the translator started working, but since it was a picture, I could judge for myself.

On the far left of the picture was a Lizardfolk diving into the sea to place a doll on the altar.

In the center, another Lizardfolk was coming out with the broken doll and a limp Lizardfolk.

Finally, on the right, there was a Lizardfolk charging towards the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes floating in the sky.

A huge yellow lightning bolt was carved over its body.

It was a picture of only three people killing the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes.

‘It’s not a record, but practically a prophecy.’

In this world, the Altar of the Sea was a random event that could occur at any time, but it was also an event that only happened once.

It seemed more like a prophecy than a depiction of what the Lizardfolk ancestors had experienced.

A doll offered instead of a sacrifice. When the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes was trapped under the temple, it couldn't distinguish whether it was a real sacrifice or a doll.

It would have just been happy that a sacrifice had arrived and stretched out its many legs, but if the doll was broken before it could obtain the sacrifice, the event of fighting the enraged Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes would occur.

“Polarin. Break doll. Soler. Bring out Polarin. Me. Kill octopus.”

Urseca said to me in a determined voice.

I could understand his words without translation, but I had no intention of following them as they were.

“No, I will kill the octopus.”

I drew Maron.

Pajijijik──!

Intense sparks flew from Maron.

Ten Thousand Thunderbolts Breaking the Heavens.

I showed its prelude to Urseca.

The lightning in the Lizardfolk ancestors' drawing was huge, but my lightning would not be lacking in any way.

“I will be the one to strike the lightning.”

Khahahak!

Urseca laughed so hard it looked like his mouth would tear.

***

The battle plan was delivered to everyone.

The Lizardfolk, the Black Veil, and my companions also moved busily.

The battle would be fought by me, Soler, and Urseca, but that didn't mean the others would just stand by and watch.

As the altar activated, the sea churned and seethed.

The currents changed, and following the green light emitted by the altar, it gathered all sorts of sea beasts, starting from the monsters of the deep.

Splash!

A giant shark leaped high above the sea's surface.

It was a creature showing off its terrifying teeth.

But the shark’s majesty did not last long.

Just as the shark was about to return to the sea, a crocodile almost the size of a mountain opened its jaws wide and ate it.

Seeing this, Keldric shook his head and said.

“That’s a Grade 1 Beast, a Meaka, right?”

“Yes. It's my first time seeing one too, but be careful. Meakas are also famous for moving in packs.”

Keldric patted my shoulder.

“We'll manage somehow. Don't worry, just focus on finishing what you have to do.”

“That's right. We're just here to set the stage for you to shine, Polarin. We’ll do our best not to be a burden.”

“Hey, Sir Everchen, a burden? You have an important role, so I'm counting on you.”

Although a decisive battle was ahead, the atmosphere wasn't completely somber.

It would be a difficult task, but we had faith in each other that we could overcome it. Just as we had overcome countless things until now.

Urseca's plan was simple, but that made it easier to steel ourselves.

The strategy for the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes would be carried out by three people, with the rest only providing support.

The others would deal with the surrounding beasts so that Urseca and Soler could reach the altar with as much strength reserved as possible and they just had to move away from the altar before the doll was placed on it.

The important thing was the roles of Soler, Urseca, and myself.

Among them, my role was the most crucial.

If I failed, the others, exhausted from fighting the beasts, would have to charge at the Octopus of Ten thousand Eyes.

A three-person clear of the Octopus of Ten Thousand Eyes, something I had never even done in the game.

It would be a much more difficult challenge than when I was using a keyboard and mouse, but I had to succeed.

“Tribe of Thick Scales and Shining Eyes! Forward!”

As soon as Urseca's words ended, the Lizardfolk screamed and leaped into the sea.

It was an impressive sight, each of them holding their own weapons and fearlessly jumping into the sea teeming with beasts.

“The Tribe of Thick Scales and Shining Eyes, that's what the Lizardfolk call themselves.”

Soler informed me from the side. I nodded my head as if to say thank you.

“Black Veil. Forward!”

The Black Veil also followed, leaping into the sea.

Most of the Black Veil's main forces, including Ingelram and Pinnon, were being deployed.

It would be a very important battle for Soler as much as it was for me.

I didn't need to shout "Forward!".

Everchen and Keldric, who had already simplified their equipment and put it into their subspace, waved at me.

The two of them put Colodum's Lungs in their mouths.

It was a piece of equipment that helped them breathe underwater to some extent.

However, its duration wasn't that long.

I could only hope they would finish their work quickly and return safely.

Kaaargh!

A scream was heard from the sea.

But Keldric and Everchen, far from showing any signs of tension, actually started running towards the cliff.

“……Be careful.”

“See you soon.”

After the two of them entered the sea, I looked at Urseca and Soler.

The time for us to gather our strength and destroy the Altar of the Sea was approaching.