Monster of the Sea (2)

A sudden hush fell over everything. The loud wind and crashing waves quieted, and Morvain only heard the fast thumping of his own heart.

He stayed still, afraid to move or even take a breath. He kept his eyes halfway closed, not daring to fully open them. This wasn't how he thought things would go. This wasn't his fight, and he didn't want to be a part of it at all.

Regaining control of his racing heart with a few deep breaths, Morvain peered cautiously from behind the mast into the unsettling stillness. Across the way, a chilling tableau unfolded — more than a dozen lifeless bodies.

Limbs twisted unnaturally, and some lay with their insides exposed, creating a gruesome scene that would be etched into his mind for a long time. Yet, amidst the horror, he couldn't linger on these thoughts.

He reminded himself of his purpose here, a task that demanded his attention in the aftermath of the devastating water assault.

His gaze fixed on the monstrous creature. Instead of wreaking havoc, it seemed to stand still, almost as if it were appreciating the chaos it had unleashed upon the ship. Akin to a proud artist or engineer surveying their masterpiece.

The survivors, now in shock, were paralyzed with fear. Despite being Awakened, they trembled before the terror the monster embodied.

Meanwhile, the relentless rain continued to pour. It was as if a storm had descended both upon the sea and the sky, a relentless deluge adding another layer of turmoil to the already chaotic scene.

A silent understanding spread among the survivors. They figured they might buy a few more minutes from the Kraken if they stayed put. So, without saying anything, they all crouched down on the ground, catching their breath and waiting anxiously.

They exchanged glances, as if hoping someone had a smart plan to deal with the monstrous creature. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. They all shared a moment of quiet, collectively fearing what would happen next in this dangerous situation.

Their peaceful moment of catching their breath came to an abrupt end when a person, out of nowhere, started shouting and sprinting toward them from behind. Everyone turned to stare at the person, as if they were out of their mind for disrupting the silence and riling up the Kraken.

The captain, recognizing the culprit, muttered, "I thought he was smart."

The guy was yelling something at the top of his lungs, but thanks to the rain, all they could make out was some incomprehensible gibberish. The situation went from tense to downright bizarre.

"Seriously, why aren't they moving?" Morvain grumbled as he hurried towards them. His steps were all over the place, thanks to the slippery wet deck beneath him. And then it happened – he slipped.

However, just before his face could become best friends with the hard deck, he managed to extend his hand and steady himself. "Phew! That was close. Could've broken a few bones there."

Onlookers, on the other hand, were utterly confused about what this guy was up to. They thought he'd gone mad, perhaps trying to provoke the Kraken. The scene had turned from tense to a bit of a comedy in a matter of moments.

Morvain gathered himself and made a swift dash forward, this time being more cautious about where he placed his feet. When he reached the group, everyone sported annoyed expressions.

"What in the world are you doing, boy?" the captain shouted. "You don't even have any abilities! You're just provoking the Kraken!"

Ignoring the scolding, Morvain glanced towards the monster.

'Shit! It is still looking at us. No, wait, I mean looking at them.'

Taking a deep breath, Morvain shouted again, "There's a blue spear stuck in the Kraken's back! That's what's slowing it down!" Then, like a little puppy, he scampered away.

The people stood there dumbfounded, exchanging puzzled looks as if hoping someone had a clue about what he was talking about. Just as the confusion settled in, another ominous growl echoed, and Morvain glanced back to see the tentacle descending surprisingly fast for his not-so-athletic legs.

Accepting his fate, Morvain stood still as the tentacle approached.

'Well, life was fun. I enjoyed my short run,' he thought, bracing himself for the imminent impact, closing his eyes. 'Goodbye, Lavender. Please don't go getting married while I'm gone.'

Suddenly, the collision occurred, and instead of turning into paste, Morvain was thrown to the side. To his relief, he found himself intact, and something was attached to his body. Quickly opening his eyes, he realized it wasn't the tentacle that hit him; it was a person.

It was the spear guy – he had just saved Morvain's life!

Glancing around, Morvain observed the tentacle wreaking havoc on the mast and deck, sparing him from its destructive path.

'Phew! Life is indeed fun. I guess I can stick around a little longer.'

Morvain took a good look at the spear guy: porcelain skin, long and silky blond hair, and crystal blue eyes, even deeper in color than Lumiere's, with a captivating allure. Clad in light armor, Morvain could sense there was some serious muscle beneath it all.

'He's the kind of guy any girl would swoon over. Even Lavender might get over her grief if she sees him,' Morvain thought. 'I already hate this bastard.' Undoubtedly stronger and more handsome than he'd ever be, and that irked him to no end.

Morvain was jolted from his thoughts when the spear guy spoke, "Get up and run to the deck. It's safe there." Tempted to scream 'Shut the fuck up,' Morvain opted for a nod and promptly stood up, dashing away like a startled chicken.

Observing Morvain's hasty retreat, the spear guy grinned.

"What an unusual lad."

With a swift motion, he rose and sprinted toward the Kraken. The rain had ceased, and visibility dramatically improved.

The moment was crucial, a turning point to put an end to the ordeal. The options were clear: either succumb to the impending danger, accepting defeat without a fight, or confront the peril head-on, fully aware that it might demand everything from them. It all came down to a matter of choice.