Chapter 76: 14th Floor. The Great Sea (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: 14th Floor. The Great Sea (4)
[Kwoooooooooh!]
A shriek of agony tore through the depths. The Kraken’s limbs thrashed, sending violent tremors through the Great Sea.
[Kwooh! Kwooooooh!]
Thump! Boom!
Eight massive tentacles swung, generating colossal shockwaves. Kang Jun-hyeok moved fluidly, weaving through the onslaught as he stared the monster down.
“Not quite blinded, then.”
Its eyes were massive, protected by thick corneas. He had only managed to score a deep gouge rather than a killing blow to the organ. However, the beast would likely struggle to open that eye for the time being.
[Kwoooooooooh!]
The Kraken let out a roar of pure fury. Its colossal tentacles shifted, zeroing in on Kang Jun-hyeok.
Rumble!
The sea surged from that movement alone. A direct hit would likely shave off half his health in an instant. But it didn't matter—as long as he didn't get hit.
He moved with explosive speed, evading the strikes. The Kraken relied heavily on its sight; in its current state, having lost half its vision, landing a hit on him was an impossible task.
Narrowly dodging a limb, Jun-hyeok thrust his spear into the tentacle. The tip sank deep, and dark blood gushed into the water.
[Kwooooooh!]
The Kraken writhed in pain, its tentacles flailing violently. Jun-hyeok evaded with uncanny precision and hurled his spear. The weapon whistled through the water, embedding itself deep into the Kraken’s mantle. Once again, the beast erupted in a pained shriek.
[Kwooh! Kwoooooooooh!]
The Kraken’s body shook violently. Ripples surged outward as something akin to ultrasonic waves swept through the ocean.
It was a wave of mental domination.
This was the Kraken’s innate ability. An adult Kraken could dominate every living creature in the Great Sea. Even as a juvenile, it could easily crush the mind of an ordinary human.
However...
“It won't work.”
Kang Jun-hyeok shook off the pressure with a casual tilt of his head.
[You have acquired the Mental Immunity skill.]
[The proficiency of the Mental Immunity skill has increased from F to E.]
[The proficiency of the Mental Immunity skill has increased from E to D.]
Despite his regression, his mental fortitude remained intact. There was no way he would be affected by the mental domination of a mere juvenile.
Crunch.
After a continuous barrage of stabs and strikes against the flailing limbs, the tip of one tentacle was finally severed. From the Kraken’s perspective, it was barely the size of a fingertip, but given the beast's scale, the piece was as large as Jun-hyeok’s torso.
He snatched up the severed meat. The beast writhed in agony.
[Kwooh. Kwooooh...]
The Kraken ceased its physical attacks. It seemed to hesitate for a moment before unleashing another wave of mental domination.
“I told you, it won't work.”
Jun-hyeok shook his head dismissively, preparing for the Kraken’s next move. But he soon realized something was wrong. From the distance, a massive crowd was rushing toward him.
“Uwoooooh!”
“Woooooo!”
The Fishmen let out bizarre shrieks as they threw themselves at Kang Jun-hyeok. His expression shifted.
“This is unexpected.”
Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue, dodging the grasping hands of a Fishman trying to seize him.
A Kraken could dominate the minds of countless living beings, but the level of control varied based on its growth. A juvenile could dominate minds, but that was usually the extent of it; it could deploy thralls simply, but it couldn't issue specific, complex commands.
Yet, the Kraken had just ordered the Fishmen to target him specifically.
Is it already evolving into a sub-adult?
[Kwooooooh!]
Having commanded the Fishmen, the Kraken swung its tentacles once more. Jun-hyeok, who was about to dodge as before, hesitated.
To the Kraken, the Fishmen were nothing more than disposable tools. It didn't care about their safety at all. If Jun-hyeok dodged the swinging tentacle, the Fishmen trying to grab him would take the direct hit.
Forced to hold his ground, he raised his shield. The tentacle, swinging with enough force to cleave the sea, collided with the shield and sent Jun-hyeok skidding through the water.
“Ugh.”
A heavy impact shook his frame. Even though he had blocked it, his health had been depleted.
[Kwooooooh!]
Excited that its attack had finally connected, the Kraken swung its tentacles even more violently. Combined with the interference of the Fishmen, Jun-hyeok was unable to maneuver properly.
[Kwooooooh!]
Finally, the Kraken caught him. It wrapped a long tentacle around his body, intending to crush the life out of him. A colossal force pressed down on Jun-hyeok—overwhelming power that was impossible to break with physical strength alone.
[Repulsion.]
He activated a skill.
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave radiated from Jun-hyeok’s body. For a split second, the constriction loosened. With his path cleared, he instantly triggered another skill.
[Rift Movement.]
He shifted outside the range of the tentacles. He looked back at the Kraken, which was now thrashing in a fit of rage after losing its prey.
I could force the issue if I really wanted to, but...
The Fishmen would be slaughtered in the crossfire. If that happened, a Perfect Clear would be out of reach. He couldn't handle this alone.
“See you in a bit.”
Jun-hyeok retreated to the Merfolk village. The Chief rushed toward him in a panic.
“W-what happened?!”
The massive shockwaves shaking the Great Sea had reached the village. The Merfolk were trembling in terror at the waves of intense power. Jun-hyeok calmly explained the situation: that a Kraken had taken up residence in the Fishmen's village, that the monster was controlling them through mental domination, and that Alfram, the guardian of the Great Sea, was likely being puppeted as well.
The Chief was aghast. “A-a Kraken? Is that true?”
“I have proof right here.”
Jun-hyeok showed him the severed piece of the Kraken’s tentacle. The Chief nearly collapsed. Even as a mere fragment, it possessed a presence that inspired instant dread.
“Heavens! How could this happen?!”
The Kraken—the legendary monster of the ocean and the ruler of the Great Sea. The emperor of the deep that could turn all living things into slaves. The legend was well-known among the Merfolk, but they had always thought of it as a myth—yet it had built a nest right next door.
The Chief’s face turned pale. “T-then, could it be that we too...?”
“No. I don't think so.”
The current Kraken was, at most, a juvenile on the verge of becoming a sub-adult. Mental domination on such a wide scale was beyond its current reach. Controlling Alfram and the Fishmen was likely already taxing its strength.
The Chief let out a sigh of relief. “That is a mercy, at least...”
“It’s still a problem, though.”
“Y-yes, indeed.”
A Kraken had appeared. This wasn't a simple territorial dispute; it was a catastrophe that could collapse the entire order of the Great Sea. The Chief swallowed hard.
“...I must send word to the Merfolk Kingdom.”
It was a sound judgment. No matter if it was a juvenile, a few Merfolk were no match for it. The standard way to clear the quest was likely to contact the Kingdom and summon powerful knights.
However, Jun-hyeok shook his head.
“It’s a logical choice, but it will be too late.”
“T-too late? What do you mean?”
“The Kraken knows it’s been discovered.”
It knew its location was compromised. It had been impossible to approach that closely and return without being noticed.
“It won't just sit still. It will move Alfram and the Fishmen to attack. How far is it from here to the Merfolk Kingdom?”
“...Even at the fastest pace, it takes three days.”
“Then, by the time you deliberate and dispatch knights, it will take a week. That’s more than enough time for this village to be destroyed.”
Even if they eventually slew the Kraken, their home would be in ruins. The Chief’s face turned white.
“A-ah... what should we do...?”
“There is one way.”
Jun-hyeok smiled thinly.
* * *
“W-what is this way you speak of?”
The Chief clung to him as if he were his last hope. Jun-hyeok spoke calmly.
“We face the Kraken ourselves and strike it down.”
“...I-is that even possible?”
“It is. How do you think I managed to cut off that tentacle?”
“...Ah.”
The Chief’s eyes widened. The human before him had not only survived an encounter with the Kraken but had also succeeded in wounding it. He was a being with the power to fight the monster of the sea.
“I can handle the Kraken. The problem is that the Fishmen will try to stop me.”
“...So you want us to handle the Fishmen.”
“It’s nothing too grand. You just need to hold them back so they can't interfere with my fight.”
“Hmm...”
The Chief looked conflicted. To fight against the Kraken’s forces was a terrifying prospect. Jun-hyeok spoke in a subtle but powerful tone.
“Are you going to run away?”
“E-excuse me?”
“You said the Fishmen were friends of this village. They are being controlled against their will. Even if you flee and seek help from the Kingdom, they will all be killed in the eventual purge. You will lose your home and your friends.”
The Chief’s eyes wavered. Jun-hyeok drove the point home.
“You will not die. I will face the Kraken, and I will be victorious. I swear it on the honor of the Nameless God.”
He spoke with the intense conviction of a pilgrim serving his deity. The Chief’s gaze slowly steadied. Soon, he nodded.
“The Fishmen are our friends. If they are being dominated by a wicked Kraken, we must risk our lives to save them. Wait just a moment. I will persuade my people.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Jun-hyeok smiled.
[The proficiency of the Persuasion skill has increased significantly.]
[The proficiency of the Acting skill has increased significantly.]
The standard way to clear the 14th floor was likely to receive aid from the Merfolk Kingdom. But that was too tedious. It would take at least a week, and if complications arose, it could take a month. Not only that, but the rewards would be split.
The Kraken. Even as a juvenile, it was a legendary monster he had rarely encountered. If he were to slay such an enemy himself, the gains would be astronomical. Just imagining it was enough to make him giddy.
And it’s not just for my benefit.
This was the most efficient way to handle the situation. There was only one problem.
The Master of All Weapons gave a faint chuckle.
[You are quite greedy.]
“Really? I think I’m being quite reasonable.”
[A Player should be, I suppose. The only problem is that you actually have to win.]
The Kraken was a monster. Even as a juvenile, it was not an opponent a Player at this level should be able to face. In the Master of All Weapons' judgment, Jun-hyeok’s chances of victory were slim. Since this was the judgment of an entity with vast experience, there was almost no chance it was wrong.
“You don't need to worry about that,” Jun-hyeok replied with absolute confidence. “It won't be a problem.”
[I shall look forward to it.]
Anticipation seeped into the weapon's voice.
A short while later, the Chief returned with a grim expression. Behind him stood the Merfolk, their faces filled with resolve.
Jun-hyeok smiled brightly.
“It seems you’ve made up your minds. Then let us go—to save the sea.”
And for his reward.
Jun-hyeok drew his weapon.