Chapter 59: Deep-sea Dungeon Raid Part 9

"Kyaaaaaaah!!!!"

-Booooooom!!!!!!

A scream echoed, followed by an explosion.

This time, the body of a deep-sea eel person lay torn apart and rolling around on the floor.

"Well done, Roshanak."

"Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing!"

"Hmm, monster hunting?"

I couldn't help but smile broadly as I watched Roshanak, who was shrieking at the top of her lungs. Her magical power was truly remarkable. Though somewhat unrefined, our enemy was akin to a "Chimera"—a powerful being crafted by powerful magic. To grind such creatures into dust was no small feat and required significant skill.

Roshanak used her magic "instinctively". The entire process of chanting spells and arranging magical power was as natural to her as breathing; this was likely thanks to the mermaid blood coursing through her veins. Although it was clumsy, her quick responses and potent effects were tremendous advantages. It meant she would become much stronger as she grew more accustomed to her powers.

"Good job, Roshanak. Just keep it up."

I patted her shoulder, thinking to myself how beneficial it would be to have her continue as my companion.

I found myself growing greedy for a moment but I had already promised her "freedom" once our current mission was concluded. No, it wasn't just a promise; it was a vow. No matter how reluctant I was, I knew I had to let her go when the time came.

What a waste.

My leisurely thoughts came to an abrupt end at this point. Whether due to Roshanak's magic or the screams that followed, the spiny octopus people and deep-sea eel people had taken notice of us. They stopped what they were doing and charged in our direction.

Now, it was my turn to step in.

It's still imperfect, but this is the best method.

I rode the current and leaped high. A wave of nausea hit me, but I clenched my teeth and focused my mind. A bright flash engulfed my vision.

-Swish!

In an instant, my body transformed and I started riding a huge wave.

This was all thanks to [Beast Transformation].

Since the time I spent with the armored shark "Sharp" had been brief, this [Beast Transformation] was unstable. Therefore, it was crucial to dispatch these creatures as quickly as possible.

The real enemy isn't these minions, it's the Kraken.

The sensation was different from when I transformed into a shadow wolf. Everything felt natural and comfortable then, but now as an armored shark, it was as if I was wearing clothes that did not fit my body.

Let's finish this quickly.

I swam swiftly while cutting through the waves as I charged towards them. That's when the deep-sea eel people started spewing out electricity at me. But it was futile. The armored shark isn't named so for nothing. The electric attacks couldn't penetrate my skin, which was thick as stone.

-Boom!!!!

-Kieeeeee!!!

I bit into the thick body of a deep-sea eel person without hesitation. As I spun rapidly with hundreds of teeth clamped onto its slippery form, the head that was attached like a mismatched part fell off. I smashed the rolling head with my tail and swam towards the next target.

-Squelch!

-Kieeeee!

-Crunch!

-Kiaaaaaaa!

The taste of the deep-sea eel's body was truly repulsive. It was covered in a slimy fluid all over its long body, so every bite brought me close to retching. I couldn't be more grateful for being transformed into an armored shark through [Beast Transformation]. Thanks to being an armored shark, I could tear the bodies apart in one go with my powerful jaws.

-Swirl!

The problem, however, lay with the spiny octopus people.

Unlike the deep-sea eel people, the spiny octopus people had weapons. They wielded huge swords that, despite being clearly rusted, were sharp enough to pierce the skin of an armored shark.

This is no ordinary blade.

It was clear that something magical was imbued within it. However, this was not the time to analyze it. Given the massive and bulky nature of the armored shark's body, just avoiding the stabbing swords was overwhelming. Moreover…

-Swish…

Perhaps since this time's [Beast Transformation] was incomplete, my skills faltered momentarily, causing my fins to disappear and reappear intermittently. I bit down with all my might on the deep-sea eel êrson in front of me before the [Beast Transformation] could be completely released. At that moment, I felt a sword piercing my side.

-Crack!

Was my lower body about to be severed? That's a problem not even [Wound Healing] could solve…

"…Huh?"

Contrary to my expectations, it wasn't my lower body that had been severed, but the head of the spiny octopus person wielding the sword.

After the [Beast Transformation] wore off, I found myself rolling on the ground. The pain in my side wasn't just my imagination, as blood began to seep out.

"Are you alright?"

Lloyd who had just decapitated the spiny octopus human helped me to my feet.

"I'm fine."

"Sorry for the delay."

"It wasn't late. The timing was actually perfect."

I used [Forest Healing] while leaning on him for support. The life energy of the sea mosses converged, amplifying the healing power and regenerating the sliced wound. Ah, the regeneration of the wound hurts more, much more.

"That's no ordinary blade. It must be enchanted…"

"I know."

Lloyd calmly dispatched the spiny octopus monsters. One, two, three, four… Wait, looking at this, isn't he the monster instead?

His swordsmanship was orthodox yet had a strange twist to it. It was also unbecoming of a knight to excessively confirm the kill.

There must be a story behind him.

The problem is, it's likely not the kind of story that's pleasant to hear.

In any case, without Lloyd speaking of it himself, there's no need or chance to hear his story. Getting too involved with such a person does no good. I forcefully ignored the speculations bubbling up in my mind.

"Once we deal with these…"

I glanced beyond the pillar. The lurking ominous presence in the darkness felt sharply unsettling.

"It will start to move."

The Kraken.

It seemed there was an unspoken rule against attacking the spiny octopus people or the deep-abyss eel people. The Kraken remained motionless in the darkness. If the Kraken were to extend its tentacles in such a tangled situation, it would likely end up killing friend and foe alike without distinction.

Lloyd cast a sidelong glance at the Kraken and then nodded his head. Even at the mention of the Kraken moving, his face remained calm. How typical of him.

"The Kraken has three hearts."

I recalled a strategy video about the Abyss I had seen once. The Kraken's hearts were located next to its right eye, next to its left eye, and one between the eyes. Just as humans have a preference for using their left or right hand, Krakens also have a side they favor over the other, which varies from one to another. The side that is less used and therefore more sluggish would be the one without wounds and cleaner. The standard strategy was to attack this side first to take out one heart, then move on to the opposite heart, and finally burst the central heart between the eyes.

The tentacle that had attacked me came from the left. The tentacle that had pierced through the body of the armored shark, Sharp, had also come from the left. This meant that this creature was likely left-handed…. or perhaps left-tentacled in the Kraken's case. Its movements on the right would be relatively slow.

"Let's take out the right heart first."

Lloyd nodded his head without a word. El's face was tense, and Roshanak's teeth clattered in fear. Since she had been in the sea for a long time, she must have a lot of fear of the Kraken. I patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't be nervous."

As soon as El and Lloyd had dispatched the last of the spiny octopus people, a strong quake shook the entire area, twisting the space around us. To be precise, it wasn't an earthquake. It was the Kraken finally stirring.

– Rumbleeee…

– Splash!

– Thump!

– Splutter!

We rolled across the floor and dodged tentacles that struck down from all directions. Fortunately, the dust kicked up by the tentacles embedding into the ground created a thick haze that helped conceal our movements from the creature's gaze. Within this dust fog, we stealthily slashed at the tentacles and started cutting them down again and again.

– Fwoosh!

The Kraken's tentacles had an incredibly rapid regenerative ability; even when severed, they would regrow within minutes. To counter this, I fired arrows into the cut ends of the tentacles that Lloyd and El had sliced.

– Thwack!

Black seaweed grew from the arrows embedded in the tentacles and started wrapping around the cut ends like a net. Although the tentacles attempted to regenerate, they were hindered by the black seaweed and they formed strange lumps instead.

Cutting, shooting, cutting again, and shooting again.

It was said that the Kraken's tentacles were countless, yet with continuous slashing, their limits inevitably began to show. The creature's movements started to slow down noticeably.

– Krrrrr…

Seemingly reconsidering its strategy, the Kraken attempted to turn its massive body away. I seized that opportunity without hesitation.

– Sssshhhh!!!

I shouted towards Lloyd who was charging forward and slicing through tentacles.

"Next to the right eye!"

With his swordsmanship, he could pierce the Kraken's heart. Like the wind, Lloyd darted through the multitude of tentacles. Sensing danger, the Kraken expelled a jet of ink, not ordinary ink, but one with a poisonous property similar to the mucus of its tentacles. Had I not given him an antidote potion beforehand, Lloyd might have collapsed on the spot.

But.

– Pffft!!!!!

He did not fall.

His terrifyingly large and chillingly sharp sword plunged deep into the Kraken, causing one of its eyes to burst, and a mist of the creature's characteristic dark blue blood to spread.

– Gurgle!

Lloyd didn't stop there; he twisted his sword and drove it deeper. Was it a confirmation kill again? To be so fearless in that position… I could only speechlessly watch his audacious actions.

With an attack of that magnitude, the Kraken's heart should have been torn apart and the shock would have made it unable to move for a while. If we quickly take care of the left heart as well, we might be able to defeat the creature more easily than anticipated.

"...!"

Suddenly, one of the Kraken's eyes flashed. What's happening? I looked back at Lloyd. His expression was strange as well. He seemed to be lacking the "certainty" that he had struck the Kraken's heart.

Could it be?

"Dodge!!"

Without a moment to think further, I darted between the tentacles, grabbed Lloyd, and rolled on the ground with him. My vision was obscured by the black ink and the Kraken's blood.

– Pffft!!!!!

Then came an overwhelming pain.

It was a familiar sensation that I knew all too well. The agony of the tentacles piercing through the body and twisting the internal organs.

"Cough…"

But there was something even more dreadful waiting for me beyond this pain.