Leviathan Subjugation (3)
“What the hell is that…?”
I landed back on the Leviathan's body and stared at Salao, asking. His artifact was definitely a harpoon, right…?
“A weapon.”
“No, no, I mean, your artifact is…”
“If you think hunters fight only with artifacts, you're mistaken.”
“Then what is that? Where the hell did you even get it…?”
Why would someone who rides around in a fancy boat carry a damn oar…?
“It's from my hometown. Been using it since I was a kid.”
With those words, his eyes softened, lost in nostalgia for a moment.
No way…
Weapon Manifestation - Gold
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I gripped the bastard sword and turned to look at the Leviathan. My spear was deeply embedded in one of its eyes. Normally, a wound like that would heal in no time, but this one carried my power. It couldn't recover or pull it out easily, so at least one eye was sealed until the end of this fight.
“You're the expert in underwater combat, right? So, what's the plan? If there's no surefire way, we'll do it my style.”
“…I doubt you'd listen to this doddering old man.”
“Just tell me. I'll decide after hearing it out. If it sounds fun, I might go for it.”
Salao stabbed the tip of his oar into the Leviathan's body and spoke.
“That thing floating in the sky. It yours, miss?”
“Terra? Yeah, you could say that. She'll follow my orders.”
“Good. Then I've got a plan.”
Here's what he proposed.
I wanted its heart. Salao wanted its meat. I didn't know why each of us needed those specific parts, but naturally, neither of us wanted the other's goal ruined.
So the conclusion was…
“Use her as bait?”
“Fish don't know the size of their own mouths. If it moves, we'll bite first.”
“While it's distracted by Terra, we knock it out?”
“For a young whippersnapper, you catch on quick.”
Use Terra as bait. Then, while it's focused, we hit it with a pincer attack to knock it unconscious. Solid plan… I'd used Terra as a breath artillery before, but never straight-up bait. Not bad?
Come to think of it, her true form was pretty huge, so she'd pull aggro way better—
“Uh, uh… y-yeah.”
Sigh… But thinking it over again, wasn't using Terra like that a bit too much? She was a dragon, after all. Hmm… or not? Terra might be okay putting her pride aside…?
“Terra.”
“300,000 won.”
Perfect, Terra's on board. Now for the rest…
“Hold up. If you're here, who's steering the boat right now?”
“Who else? The young lady you came with.”
Haah… Gotta wrap this up fast. Otherwise, Terra might really have to drag that thing all the way to the island.
“Just knock it out, right?”
Splash-splash-splash— Massive fish leaped from the surrounding waters.
“Terra. Be bait one more time. Pull that aggro good… See the boat down there? Lure it that way.”
Thankfully, Terra was totally hooked on the 300k. I gripped my bastard sword and scanned the surroundings.
“Whoa, that looks tasty.”
Five chunks of meat in sight.
Splash— Slash! I leaped and swung my sword wide, cleaving one fish in half. Without time to grab the mana stone, I spun around to face the incoming octopus tentacles.
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Slash-slash-slash-slash! My eyes tracked every tentacle, slicing them clean.
Sploosh! The octopus, deprived of its tentacles, spewed ink at me.
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I glared wide-eyed, searching for an escape in the near-frozen world. Spotting a sliver of light, I hurled myself toward it. Half-rolling to dodge the ink, I stood and swung my sword from above downward.
Sploosh! The octopus split in two and sank into the sea.
Glancing back, Salao—holding just his oar somehow—had sunk a shark-type monster too.
Kyaak!— Kyaooo!—
Terra let out a small roar in front of the Leviathan, drawing its attention perfectly. An island came into view bit by bit, and I swung my sword once more.
Slash!
Time to really knock it out now.
“Can I destroy the brain?!”
“As long as you don't let it flow into the body.”
Splash— Hearing that, I charged up the Leviathan's body toward its head. Using its blind spot from the lost eye, I closed in fast.
Whoosh! I raised the bastard sword high, blade downward.
Stab!
——!!
I plunged it deep.
Flap— Flutter—
“Damn, it's tough!”
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I clasped both hands together, gathering my strength.
Clang! I slammed the bastard sword down with all my might.
Kyaaaak! The thing thrashed wildly.
Still not enough?
Vrooom— Then, mana gathered massively in its mouth.
And what it was aiming at was—
Beep!
“Ha-eun!”
“Y-yes?!”
“Quick, turn around and pull out my scale! Now!”
It was the boat Ha-eun was on. Panicking at my words, she rummaged in her small handbag for the scale.
Too late to block a pressure breath now. It must've been secretly charging energy in its mouth. A trump card.
But why shoot it at Ha-eun…?!
Screeeeech! A high-pitched noise unlike any normal breath rang in my ears.
That instant, Ha-eun found my scale and pulled it out. I reached for it too.
Thud!
“Eek?!”
A sharp scream came over the radio.
And the next moment—
Splash-splash-splash-splash! My scale, returned to full size, barely deflected the pressure breath.
“Ha-eun, you okay?!”
Confirming the Leviathan's final spasm as it went limp, I hurled myself toward the boat.
Thud! Landing on the boat, I shoved my scale aside.
“Whoaaa…”
Underneath was Ha-eun, eyes sparkling.
“You idiot… Say something if you're fine!”
Of course, my scale would've blocked an attack like that easily, but humans are fragile. The impact alone from the deflection could've killed her.
But…
“Th-this is amazing…”
Ha-eun was weirdly awestruck. Adrenaline pumping, probably.
“Haa… You hunters are all the same. In a situation like this…”
Snap!
“Ow!”
“That's one life you owe me, got it?”
I flicked her forehead and headed to the helm.
“Can I drive this thing?”
“Y-yeah, probably… It's a designated skill…”
Hearing that, I yanked the lever all the way.
Vroooom!
“Whoa! B-but, unnie…?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you know how to pilot a boat?”
“Nope.”
“Huh?”
No driver's license, so no boat license either.
“Just going by feel.”
Despite everyone's worries, we headed steadily toward the surprisingly stable-looking island. With my sword jammed in its brain, the Leviathan wouldn't move for a bit. Unlike the eye, the brain was a vital organ, so recovery would take longer—better hurry.
Thud! A heavy noise from behind.
“What the—?”
Turning, a massive squid had wrapped around the boat and towline. Another kraken…?
Salao was still atop the Leviathan, fending off swarming monsters. No choice—I raised my mana to shake it off.
Shing!
“I-I'll handle it! Keep going, unnie!”
Ha-eun drew her bandage-wrapped black sword and shouted.
“Oho.”
Trailing crimson-black flames at its tip.
First time seeing it up close.
