| 040 | Elder Leviathan Critical Stage

Somewhere in the high seas was the United Navy Armada and a pitch-black eastern dragon engaging against a lone Elder Leviathan who had its herd blown up into bits by UN freedom warheads.

The small fleet of warships belonging to the United Navy maintained a linear formation and distance from the brawling monsters. 

After all, none would desire to become part of the collateral damage brought about by the monster brawl. 

From the looks of it, the naval force double-teaming against the sea monster was winning the vicious clashes. 

Dozens of injuries shrouded the Elder Leviathan's body as its tough hide could neither resist the firepower nor biting strength of the United Navy Armada and eastern dragon.

It kept screeching from the unbearable pain it found itself in and wanted to escape. But there was no way the United Navy would let it escape.

With the amount of taxpayer money spent on dealing with this fish. At the very least, they wanted to kill it so that it wouldn't bother them ever again. 

Precautionary measures were always a predominant part of the United Navy's logos. It was better for the problem to not be a problem than to wait for it to be an issue.

It was simple logic.

Through this thought process, the moment the Elder Leviathan dared to show its back to the United Navy. 5-inch shells from the warships' naval guns would blow its back into damnation.

Afterward, the eastern dragon would bite its neck and try to tear as much flesh as possible from the Elder Leviathan, bringing about a spill of dark blue blood into the ocean.

The Elder Leviathan was severely injured and cornered by forces it couldn't clearly comprehend. What it thought to be its prey would soon become its executioner.

Obviously, it didn't want to meet its end after living for centuries on the high seas. But there was nothing it could do as it was alone, surrounded by its adversaries.

Its herd of Leviathans that it had cultivated for a century was blown into bits and sunk into the depths of the high seas in mere seconds by strange radiant exploding birds.

How such birds could sacrifice themselves and die in an explosive manner was a question that it couldn't answer.

Nevertheless, what mattered wasn't its curiosities and wonders, but its survival. It needed to escape the circumstances it found itself.

And to do so, it must do everything it can to fight against the adversaries that dared to corner it. Even if it does die, it must take its enemies with it.

Quite an ironic and interesting logic as it was the same thoughts that the ones that called for it had before their untimely sacrifice and deaths.

A question does arise, however. How can it escape from this situation or perhaps take out its opponents? Well, one mustn't underestimate the capabilities of a cornered beast. 

There was a reason why it survived for centuries.

――<● >――

In the interiors of the Combat Information Center residing inside the UNS Light Bringer, Fleet Admiral Abraham Shepherd watched the monster brawl with deep interest.

He observed it through the monitor screen and saw the Elder Leviathan being slowly defeated by the combined force of the United Navy's Armada and the dragoness.

Sadly though… Things in this world were never meant to sail smoothly.

"Sir, a high-frequency spike is detected. It's currently rising at an accelerated pace." One of the radio operators reported with an anxious voice. 

Abraham raised an eyebrow, wondering what the radio operator meant about the high-frequency spike.

"Fleet Admiral, our communication and radars will be hit hard." An intelligence officer clarified, which made Abraham realize the seriousness of the situation.

"Send out to the data link."

"Provide maximum firepower support. Communications will be down for a mom-" Before Abraham could continue uttering his orders, a thunderous explosion resounded.

*BOOM!!!*

The UNS Light Bringer and its armada shook from the potent force of the explosion. Their metallic walls and decks trembled for a few seconds before calming down.

"Give me a report!" Abraham sternly commanded, wanting to know the current situation.

"Status report, Sir. The Elder Leviathan just unleashed a high-concentrated energy wave. And…" The intelligence officer seemed hesitant to continue.

But the middle-aged man didn't have time for hesitation.

"And what? Tell me."

"None of our sophisticated systems are properly working. The radar array is completely down and communication got knocked out. But that isn't… The most problematic thing, Sir."

"The UNS Light Bringer, Our ship… It's rising from the sea." The last words of the intelligence officer shocked Abraham.

How the hell would a several thousand-ton warship levitate from the seas?

"Sir, Leviathan Alpha is exuding a high-voltage electrostatic field. It's slowly growing…" One of the naval personnel relayed and pointed at the somewhat static monitor screen.

"Sh*t!" Noticing the current state of the Elder Leviathan, Abraham felt that they got unknowingly hit by the second stage of a sea monster boss.

"Fire our naval gun and get our missiles up in the air, don't let the fish continue! Otherwise, we will be fried!" Abraham deafeningly ordered with his heart rapidly beating.

The naval personnel immediately started moving for a counter-engagement. However, they were slowly losing their balance as the warship was steadily tilting backward.

If this continues, even if they defeat the Elder Leviathan, they'll probably sink from their current problematic position.

Meanwhile, in the high seas was the Elder Leviathan, levitating with a thick field of electrostatic energy surrounding it. Its dozens of eyes glowed as though it was a deity descending from the skies.

The capabilities of a cornered beast weren't to be underestimated. 

Laplace watched the circumstances of her allies and opponent with a dominating gaze. She quietly slithered behind the Elder Leviathan, who had concentrated its attention on the armada of warships.

The eastern dragon calmly bid her time, and her patience was rewarded with glee.

Another barrage of missiles escaped the confines of the warships. They propelled themselves into the air and pierced through the heavens. 

*Swoooshhh!* *Swiiishhhh!* *Swuuuushhh!*

The naval guns of the warships also followed the barrage with suppressive fire pointed towards the Elder Leviathan.

*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*

In an instant, the Elder Leviathan's electrostatic suppression field was met with explosions. Unfortunately, however, some missiles had their guiding systems completely broken by the field and they sadly sank into the vicious tides. 

But the 5-inch shells of naval guns had proven themselves to be effective as they pierced through the electrostatic suppression field and impacted the head of the Elder Leviathan.

*SCREECHHH!!!*

It cried out in pain of course, but Laplace wasn't willing to let such an opportunity go. So, without any hesitation or delay, she hastened and attacked the Elder Leviathan from the back.

*ROAR!!!*

She bit its head with her sharp fangs and tried to slither around its body, trying to constrict the body of the sea monster.

Though… It wasn't without its problems. Laplace felt the sharp pain, rivaling that of a thousand ants biting across her body. 

The electrostatic suppression field of the Elder Leviathan was trying to fry her into crisps and turn her into a fried lizard. Laplace could only grit her teeth and hope that she could kill the Elder Leviathan before it could cook her.