Chapter 9: Mallos

Vice-Admiral Rowland said to Commander Carol, "Tell the remaining officers to gear up, we're going hunting." Commander Carol looked surprised, "Don't tell me you're about to break the barriers of level 3 to reach level 4?" According to government classifications, level 4 is a turning point of power for superhumans. Superhumans who reach level 4 will obtain not just a quantitative but also qualitative increase of the power. Vice-Admiral Rowland replied with a smug smile, "Why do you think I chose to fight Jack alone when I could have used the powers of a destroyer ship to fight him? I decided to fight him alone so I can know if I have reached the peak of level 3." Commander Carol asked him with a knowing smile, "Are we finally going after that stupid fish that calls itself the king of the sea?" Vice-Admiral Rowland nodded his head.

Commander Carol picked up a megaphone and relayed orders to the officers on the boat, "There is an island four kilometres east from where we are now. According to our scouts, 'The king of the sea', Mallos goes on the island to sunbath before diving back into the sea. The moment it's on the island will be the best time for us to kill it. Move your asses and let's get going!" Raziel looked between his master and Commander Carol and asked, "If you're about to level up, why are you hunting Mallos?" Vice-Admiral Rowland said, "If you want to level up, you have to keep accumulating energy but it takes a long time. The fastest way to level up is to kill and refine the energy of someone powerful. That someone can be a human, fish or any animal that can use the Electromagnetic energy surrounding us. You refine the energy and absorb it." Commander Carol took out a healing potion and gave it to Raziel, she said, "Take it, you need it because you'll participate in the upcoming battle." Vice-Admiral Rowland continued and said, "You also have to know if you're capable of absorbing the energy you want to absorb. If you're incapable of withstanding the energy you absorb, you'll burst into pieces and that is a guaranteed death." Raziel swallowed the healing potion and said, "That's why you fought Jack to test your limits. Is this Mallos a level 3 too?" Commander Carol answered and said, "Yes, he is at the peak of level 3. Don't underestimate him because he's a fish. The Electromagnetic energy released from the depth of the seas benefited the fishes the most because they received the direct impact. The energy increased their intelligence. Out of everyone that has go e after Mallos, none has returned. He has the home ground advantage in the sea that is why we will only face him when he goes on the island." Raziel looked confused and asked, "Isn't he a fish, why does he go on the island? It's not like he can swim on the island or something." Vice-Admiral Rowland said with a frown on his face, "At level 4, a fish can acquire a human form. I'm guessing Mallos is trying to acquire a human form on the island." Raziel looked even more confused, "How do you know a fish can acquire a human form at level 4?" Commander Carol looked at Raziel and said, "That's because we've encountered one before. A level 3 superhuman of the fire pathway perished while we were fighting it. He was the youngest level 3, his name was Commander Mike. Vice-Admiral Rowland, Commander Mike and I were the ones that went after it. We killed it but at the expense of a level 3 Commander. The sad part was that a bastard stole the corpse of that level 4 fish before we could refine it. We were too exhausted to even chase after the thief." Vice-Admiral Rowland gripped the arms of chair tightly and said, "That's enough storytelling. I'll kill Mallos and refine it's energy."

One of the officers came up and said, "We are hundred meters away from the island and we can see Mallos." Vice-Admiral Rowland commanded, "Load the canons and blow that fish up!"