CHAPTER 115: CH114 THE KRAKEN AGAIN

A monstrous roar split the air as the waves rose like towers of liquid glass, crashing into the ship’s deck.

The Voyager lurched violently to one side, throwing passengers and crew alike to the floor. Screams filled the air, a chorus of fear and disbelief. The sails groaned, the masts trembled, and the deck creaked like it might split apart at any second.

Luther barely kept his footing, his boots sliding across the soaked planks. The world spun before Aithur’s arm snagged his collar and yanked him upright.

"Hold still," Aithur barked through gritted teeth. "You alright?"

Luther blinked, brushed wet hair from his face, and deadpanned, "Define alright. Because I’m either going to die from drowning or motion sickness."

Before Aithur could reply, another roar erupted—low, guttural, and ancient. It rose from beneath the waves like the voice of something that had been sleeping for centuries.

Luther’s eye twitched. "...You’ve got to be kidding me."

The sea split open, and from its depths, a mass of writhing black tentacles erupted, towering above the ship like serpents. The water around it turned darker than ink.

Liliana, gripping her sword at the bow, squinted through the rain. "Please tell me that’s not what I think it is."

"The Kraken again?!" Aithur shouted, sparks flaring from his fingertips.

"Yeah," Luther muttered, rubbing his temples. "Because one near-death experience wasn’t enough. I guess it missed me."

Passengers shrieked as the first tentacle slammed onto the deck, shattering barrels like glass. The ship tilted dangerously, sending nobles tumbling in a heap.

"Monster!" a noble wailed, clutching his hat. "We’re doomed!"

Another grabbed him by the collar. "You said this ship was safe!"

"I said it was expensive!" the first noble cried.

Their bickering stopped when another tentacle crashed down beside them, nearly flattening them both.

"Back! Get back!" Aithur shouted, blasting a surge of magic that burned through a slithering limb. "Liliana!"

"Already on it!" she called, her blade gleaming as she sliced through another tentacle that tried to grab the railing. The black flesh hissed and smoked under her strike.

On the upper deck, Captain Finn swore loudly enough to make even the sea blush. "Bloody sea demon! Someone get that power stone running! We’re not dying on my ship!"

A lean crewmate with a violet crystal embedded in his ear saluted and sprinted below deck.

Inside the engine chamber, mana pulsed like a living thing. A massive blue crystal throbbed at the center, veins of light crawling up the hull. The crewman slammed his hand against it, energy sparking from his palm.

On deck, Finn’s crystal glowed in answer. "There you are, my beauty! Now let’s see you run!"

The Voyager shuddered, engines roaring to life. But the Kraken’s grip tightened instantly, its tentacles digging into the hull like claws.

It shrieked, the sound rattling bones.

"More power!" Finn yelled. "Give her everything!"

Two more crewmates rushed below deck to help, their bodies trembling as they poured mana into the crystal. The air crackled, thick with salt and magic.

On deck, knights battled snapping limbs. One noble screamed as a tentacle burst through the rail. "Why didn’t I stay home?!"

"Because you wanted to see the sea!" another shouted back, ducking under a flying plank.

"Not this part of the sea!"

A tentacle whipped across the deck and sent the man flying into the storm. His scream faded into the roaring waves.

Luther saw him fall and sighed. "Typical"

He hated nobles—but he wasn’t about to let one die screaming.

"Stay here," Luther muttered to Aithur.

"Wait—Luther!"

Too late. He’d already jumped.

Wind tore at him as he fell, but before he hit the water, his hand glowed faintly green. The air wrapped around him, slowing his descent until his boots skimmed the surface. Ripples spread beneath him, yet he stood on the sea as though it were stone.

"Every damn time," he grumbled. Wind burst from beneath his feet, launching him back up. He landed on deck with the noble in his arms.

"Th-thank—" The noble began, but his eyes widened. "Don’t touch me!"

And just like that, he pushed away and ran, shrieking.

Luther blinked. Then sighed. "You’re welcome, you spoiled sea cucumber."

A soft hum echoed beside him. The demonic sword floated at shoulder height, its crimson eye gleaming. "You do pick the most grateful ones to save."

"Not now," Luther said, drawing it mid-air with a flick of his hand. The sword vibrated excitedly, spinning once in front of him like a child eager to play.

"Oooh, are we fighting again?" It chimed, its tone half-sarcastic, half-thrilled. "I hope this one screams!"

"I’ll make you scream if you don’t shut up," Luther muttered.

"Promises, promises~."

He lunged forward, slicing through one of the tentacles blocking the way. The flesh hissed under the demonic blade, black smoke rising as it burned.

"See?" Luther said, stepping aside to avoid the spray. "That’s how you cut seafood."

Liliana, who had just decapitated another limb, called from a few feet away, "Less commentary, more slashing!"

"Hey, humor helps me focus," Luther shot back.

The sword hummed smugly. "Yes, and his jokes are as sharp as my edge—oh wait, that’s not saying much."

"Shut up," both Luther and Liliana yelled in unison.

The ship tilted again. Another tentacle crashed down, tearing away a chunk of the deck. Arthur’s voice rang out from above the chaos. "Luther! The ship’s crystal is unstable! If it overloads, it’ll explode!"

"Then I’ll make the damn thing let go!" Luther shouted back.

He dashed forward, magic gathering under his boots, and slashed upward. The tentacle split cleanly, and the creature bellowed in pain. Black blood hissed where it splattered the deck.

The Kraken’s enraged roar shook the air.

Liliana leapt beside him, landing gracefully despite the rocking ship. "You’re insane," she muttered, wiping sweat and seawater from her brow.

"Takes one to sail with me," Luther shot back with a crooked grin.

She smirked. "Fair."

The sword floated beside them, its crimson light flaring. "You two flirt like people who don’t realize they’re about to be crushed."

Liliana blinked. "Excuse me—what?"

"Nothing," Luther said quickly. "It’s insane."

"I’m not insane," the sword huffed. "Just observant."

"Observant my—" Luther began but ducked as a tentacle slammed down where he stood. "—Okay, maybe later!"

The sword snickered. "Oh, please, do continue! Your suffering is my entertainment."

"Glad I could make your day," Luther muttered through clenched teeth, slashing again.

The ground shook again as another set of shadowed tentacles burst from the tentacle-covered water, their tips dripping with ooze that sizzled when it touched the deck. Aithur ducked, slicing through one with a sharp, clean swing before turning his head toward Liliana, who was mid-spin, cutting through three more with frightening precision.

"Remind me again why I thought it’d be a good idea to tag along?" Aithur grunted, raising his sword and magic just in time to parry another lashing strike. He shot her a grin, half mocking, half impressed. "Honestly, I didn’t think you’d handle all this so—"

He didn’t finish.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by a blur of red. Liliana’s blade spun from her hand like a dart, slicing clean through a tentacle that had been inches from Aithur’s face. The slimy mass fell with a wet slap right beside him.

He froze.

Slowly, he turned his head—the sword embedded in the ground beside him, the ooze dripping dangerously close to his boot. When he looked up, Liliana was already retrieving another sword from a downed soldier, her crimson eyes glinting with that familiar sharpness.

The corner of her lips curved into a smirk. "Next time you feel like doubting me," she said, voice deceptively calm despite the chaos around them, "make sure you can at least out-slice me first."

Aithur blinked, still half in shock, half amused. "Noted," he muttered, brushing off the goo from his shoulder. "But a little warning next time before you throw sharp objects near my face would be nice."

Liliana’s smirk deepened as she sidestepped another tentacle and cleaved it clean in two. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Below deck, the crystal’s pulse grew erratic, its glow almost blinding. The three crewmates screamed as they poured every drop of mana they had left into it.

On the bridge, Captain Finn clutched the wheel, his eyes wide. "Now, damn it! Get us out of here!"

The ship began to pull back, but before anyone could cheer, the Kraken turned its gaze upward—toward them.

Finn’s blood ran cold. "Oh, hell—"

The tentacle rose like a mountain.

"DOWN!" he shouted.

The impact shattered the upper deck in a storm of splinters. For a moment, silence. Just the rain.

Then—

"I said—SHUT UP!"

The air exploded with light.

The tentacle blocking the lower deck was sliced cleanly in two, the wound burning gold.

The Kraken froze mid-roar. Its countless eyes turned toward the source.

Luther stood at the deck’s center, the demonic sword blazing in his grasp. His soaked hair clung to his face; gold light flickered faintly behind his eyes.

"First, I get seasick," he said, stepping forward, each boot striking the soaked planks with calm fury. "Then I get attacked by a squid with anger issues. You know what?"

His smirk sharpened. "I’m not even angry. I’m disappointed."

The sword pulsed, its voice darkly amused. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

"Now," Luther said softly, raising the blade, "either you let go of this ship..."

The sea trembled.

"...or I’ll turn you into calamari."

The Kraken didn’t move.

Not out of defiance—out of fear.

It recognized the energy swirling around him, divine and demonic merging like oil and flame. A creature of chaos understood another—one far greater.

The waves stilled.

Luther grinned.

"Well... well well... we meet again."

The Kraken shrieked.