Chapter 42 - Nautical Legend

After a hardy dinner, I trained with my group of trainees before kicking back on the upper deck. It was a nice change of pace now to not be in a hurry to get to the next place for a bit. Sure we would need to make supply runs along the shoreline, but that was manageable. Things would get more difficult supply wise as we went further north as the Russian cities would be spread further apart. The other thing was that many Chinese citizens fled northward for more open terrain to survive on. Most of them probably understood the danger of staying in overcrowded China, and had left for the wide expanses of the Russian plains for safety.

'If they don't have weapons though the wild animals there are going to cause them quite a lot of harm.', I thought looking up at the moon.

Hearing some people approach me, I sighed and looked over to see Shigure and Maya. Asking them what was wrong, they said they wanted to see me. Sitting up properly to give them my full attention, I waited for them to speak.

"We'd like to have private lessons.", Maya told me, "It's extremely frustrating to the both of us that you are endangering your life for all of us constantly."

"They aren't the only ones.", Saya stated leaning out the window, "All of us are kind of fed up with it. We'd all like to learn some more combat skills to help you out."

'I am not in any danger though...', I thought, "What are you wanting me to train you in?"

"You have a wide array of experiences with many weapons. Could you potentially teach us about those?", they asked.

Looking back into the wheelhouse, I could see that all my lovers appeared to want the same thing. I couldn't blame them really for feeling that way, I mean they didn't realize I was pretty difficult to kill since I got a resistance skill for everything that hurt me. Knowing it would make them happy, strengthen our bond, and ultimately make them more capable to defend themselves...I agreed.

"Kyoko, can you get some pistols from the armory along with training kits?", I requested.

"Pistols...", they groaned.

"Listen, you ladies need to start somewhere. All of you get some training knives as well, you will need them.", I told them getting up from my seat, "Meet me back here in ten minutes."

Ten minutes later, I loaded the training rounds in the pistols. The way they worked was when the trigger was pulled the firing pin hit a button on the round that fired a laser. The targets would light up where they were shot showing how accurate your shot was. It was something I used quite a lot when I was in boarding school just to have fun.

"Alright, we are using pistols tonight because they are very easy to conceal. In the event we get into a fight with Umbrella you all might not be able to shoulder a rifle and they are too far for your weapons to reach.", I stated, "I want you to get used to holding a pistol in one hand and a knife in the other."

Demonstrating the position, I stated it was the safest method for a quick response. Giving them their pistols, I immediately had to swat Saya and Rei on the butt. Telling them the only time they needed to put a finger on the trigger was when they were going to shoot. If they got frightened or tripped they were liable to fire their gun, and injure themselves or others. Instructing them to keep their pistol aimed down, I said they were only to point their pistol at someone they intended to kill.

"All of you need to be ready to kill an actual person, not just the undead. Guns aren't like the weapons many of you are accustomed too. There is little effort put into killing with a gun, you get disconnected with the value a life holds when you can take it away so easily.", I told them, "Don't lose your sense of life value...you'll become no better than animals that will kill just because you can no matter whom it is."

Having them practice doing quick draw motions with the pistols, I wanted them to get accustomed to the fluid motion and have them increase their reaction time. Every second I can shave down on their draw time was increasing their chances of surviving a fight with a trained soldier. Sure these drills weren't all that needed for a few of them, but they seemed to enjoy showing off.

"So I got a question", Rei said, "How fast is your quick draw?"

"You want me to show you?", I retorted with a smirk.

Nodding their heads they stepped to the side, and gave me room. Loading six of the training rounds in a revolver, I steadied my breathing. In a flash I drew the revolver, and headshot each of the targets before they could blink. Seeing the targets light up in the head of each one, they all started clapping while staring in disbelief.

"Damn you are fast!", Rika laughed, "I don't know anyone as fast on the draw as you."

"He is certainly impressive.", the others admitted.

"I don't expect you to be that fast, but you will get better with time.", I chuckled.

"So what was the knife for?", Nina asked.

"Once you are done practicing with the pistols, I want you to try knife throwing. It is an efficient, silent way to end your opponent without alerting anyone.", I stated.

"Why did you ask for dummy knives then?", Saeko and Maya inquired.

"We have far too many klutzy women here to trust with real knives.", I pointed out, "I don't want to watch one of you die on your own knife..."

"I am not that klutzy!!", Shizuka pouted puffing her cheeks out.

"Shizuka...he didn't name anyone...", Yuko and Rika sighed.

"Oh right, oops.", she giggled.

"Haha!", the others laughed.

"Alright, give it shot.", I stated as I some targets up for them.

Flinging the knives at the targets...let's just say they couldn't hit a barn with their knives. They either completely missed, hit the target with the hilt of the blade,...or forgot to let go when throwing the blade. Staring at Saya, who had been the one to forget to let go, her face turned bright red with embarrassment. Patting her head I told her it was alright to be nervous during practice. Unfortunately her competitive nature forced her into trying to prove she could do it. Flinging her arm backwards in an exaggerated fashion, the knife slipped out and ended up in Shigure's breasts.

Looking back to she the knife there, Saya admitted the practice knives were a good choice on my part. Giving her a kiss on the cheek, I told her she'd get better with time and not to give up on me. Nodding her head she said she'd keep trying with a smile on her face.

"Alright ladies, we have been at this for the better part of two hours. Go get a shower, I got the helm so enjoy yourselves.", I told them.

---Saeko POV---

Grabbing our bathing supplies, we all went to take a shower in one of group showers. Getting stripped down, we got into the shower to wash up. The American style bathing was different than the ones most of us were used too, but it was definitely better than what we had on the Ferry. Glancing over to my left, I saw Maya scrubbing her face with soap and decided to talk to her.

"So, are you going to join our group?", I asked her.

"Excuse me?", Maya retorted.

"Don't play ignorant, I know you like Victor.", I giggled, "You like spending time with him, and you are around him quite a lot like me."

"I...I feel calm walking around with him, and just having him there.", Maya admitted, "I haven't made a move yet because I want to know if he likes me."

"He does.", Renka chimed in matter of factly.

"Yes, I agree with Renka.", Daiyu added, "He finds you very attractive, same with Miss Shigure."

"He...he does?", Shigure repeated like it was a question.

"Ugh...I can't believe neither of you haven't realized that.", Saya sighed.

"Ah to be young and in love.", Namiyo and Yuriko laughed.

"You'd be okay with us?", Maya asked.

"If we weren't you'd have found out by now.", I told them, "It would be reassuring to have a second samurai in our group, Pucca's good with a Katana but not at the level you are."

"Well excuse me.", Pucca sighed, "Kendo was more of a hobby for me."

"I am not insulting you, you are a good Kendo Captain.", I said trying to soften the blow.

"No no, it's fine I know I am not as proficient as either of you. If you don't mind, I would like assistance improving that skill.", Pucca asked.

"We can do that.", Maya and I told her.

Chatting about our various life experiences and about Victor prior to this world going down the drain, things were going swimmingly till the ship shook violently. The impact didn't feel like we had run aground or that we had hit something...it felt more like something hit us. Washing off in a hurry, we got dressed and ran up to the wheelhouse.

---Victor POV---

"Son of bitch!!", I snapped as I fought to correct our course, "Damn fucking undead sea creature!"

Grabbing my sword I kicked on the lights to illuminate the creature holding us. Seeing a series of large tentacles on the ship I realized we were dealing with a Giant Squid.

"You have to fucking me...of all the bloody times to run into a sea monster!", I spat.

"Victor, what is going on!", the women shouted.

"We can now include animals in the victims of this shit!!", I told them activating the auto turrets to cut the tentacles, "A Giant Squid is attacking the ship, Saya and Kyoko take the helm. I am going down to cut us free. All of the rest of you need to make sure no one leave their rooms. They are liable to get knocked overboard!"

"We are on it!", they acknowledged.

Rushing out of the room, I went down to the deck to start lopping off tentacles from the ship. Coming over the PA system, Yuko and Shizuka told people to stay in their rooms for the time being. Telling them that a sea creature was attacking, it was unsafe for them to be on the deck. Most of them were happy to oblige, and those that weren't in their rooms were scrambling to get back. Among them where Saito and his friends who had been playing games by themselves. Seeing me running down towards them they came to me instead of trying to get to safety.

"Get to your rooms now!!", I shouted.

Sensing their movement the squid went to grab them, but I launched myself forwards and pushed them out of the way. Grabbing a hold of me instead I managed to tell them to get back to their rooms again before I was pulled under. Looking around for the main body of the Kraken, I used my system to see what information I could get.

"<Krakken Level 50>", the HUD alerted to me.

"Well then...", I chuckled, "A Kraken!! Now we are talking!!"

Cutting the tentacle off of me I went towards the beast. My plan was to get a lot of meat of this thing as eating might give beneficial effects to the group. Not only that...this fucker was going to pay for trying to pull my ship down! Realizing that I wasn't fleeing from it, the monster knew that something was off. Swatting at me with one of it's tentacles, I lopped it of with a swing of my sword. Realizing that I was causing damage to it's body, the Kraken started to back away.

Shooting through the water to pursue the Kraken, the beast was very pissed off at me. Realizing that I wasn't going to back down the beast opened it's mouth it and shot at me to try and eat me. Smirking at the creature, I grabbed my sword with both hands and dove into the creatures mouth. Dashing past the thousands of teeth it had, I went straight for it's heart. Using my HUD to identify where it was, I severed it's organ sentencing it to a quick death.

Having regenerated the majority of it's tentacles before it died, this beast would feed us for a very long time. Carrying it back above the water, I waved to the people on the boat.

"I hope you all like squid!! We are going to have a few tons of fresh squid to eat!!", I laughed.

"You are the only foolhardy man I know that would jump in to fight a damn sea monster!!", Saya and Mikoto shouted.

"I think Hayato would do it too!", I remarked, "There should be an island nearby, let's dock there and process this thing."

Dragging the Kraken onto the shore of the island, we all got to see the size of the creature. It's head was half the length of the ship, and it's tentacles were almost as long as the ship.

"You did good kid!!", the Master's laughed as they patted me on the back, "This will make a fine addition to our supplies!! Fortunately all of us love squid!!"

"Let's take all we can. Smoke it, freeze it, and any other method to preserve it long term.", I said, "I'd hate to waste all this meat after all."

"Victor!!", Kikyo shouted running over to me.

Turning to face her I assumed she wanted to thank me for saving Saito. Expecting a verbal thank you I was in shock when I received a kiss on the lips. It took a second for my mind to process what was going on.

"Saito told me you jumped in the way to protect him with no armor and only a sword!!", she cried, "Thank you so very much!! He was so petrified that he had gotten you killed because he was out playing."

"That's ridiculous, I stepped in because I promised to show him how to be a man. A good man would jump in to protect a child in danger.", I stated her, "I made the choice, he can't blame himself when he is still just a child."

"Mr. Victor!!", Saito shouted running over with tears streaming down his cheek, "You are okay!!"

Not far behind him were the other children he had been playing with. Looking at me with a fearful expression all of them asked if they were going to be punished for playing after dark.

"I am not mad in the least about that.", I assured them, "Next time we make an emergency call please go where we tell you. I was running down to the deck to cut the ship free from the tentacles, coming to me was very dangerous."

"We are sorry.", they apologized.

"As long as you understand that you need to be more careful, I will let this slide this time.", I told them.

"Victor, thank you for saving my sister!", Kenichi said bowing his head to me, "I...I should have been there to save my little sister."

"I am sure you were busy, and none of us assumed that we would run into a Giant Squid.", I chuckled, "It's very unusual for one of them to just attack the ship all of a sudden, I think this virus is messing with them."

"Is this going to be safe to eat?", Kiriko asked.

"I took a few bites, and I am fine.", I stated.

"You are a special case, we will want to test the meat before we eat it.", Yuko laughed.

I was going to walk over, and help with the processing when I realized that Kikyo was still holding on to me. Asking her if everything was alright, she told me she wanted me to be Saito's father permanently.

"I am more sure than ever you are the right man for my son and I.", she told me, "You saved us from those evil people that would have used us as shields, gave us a safe place to stay, provide for all of us, and...you treat my son the way I wanted my exhusband too. Please say you will be his father permanently, and take me as your own."

"Ahem...", Maya interjected, "I will be in your care as well."

'Uh...did I miss something?', I thought, 'I was fairly certain I needed to work with her more...'

"Jumping in harms way with no protection to save the children earn you not only a lot of points in the system, but points with the women on the ship.", Midna snickered, "You are such a hunk!!"

"Don't tease me like that...", I groaned, "Be honest with me."

"I am being honest, you taking command and saving the kids was the push they needed. They don't realize that you can basically live in water, all of them thought you might drown fighting that thing. Even Hayato in the other Masters were about to jump in after you.", Midna told me, "All the children were bawling their eyes out thinking they killed you because they didn't listen."

"That's fair...", I admitted, "So this is something similar to the Hero Effect of saving someone's life, and they fall for you?"

"Meh...these three really liked you before hand.", Midna stated, "I mean you have spent a lot of time with them in close quarters, and in Kikyo's case you have been acting as her son's father. You have given him guidance, shown him fatherly love when he was down, and have been a stable support for their family since meeting them. Saving her son again only reaffirmed you are willing to do what is necessary to protect her son, even risking your own neck. Be real here, you know her...why wouldn't she fall for that?"

Pulling the two of them into a hug, I thanked them for their kind words and accepted their confessions.