Leviathan Subjugation (4)

A faint crimson flame clings to the tip of the sword Ha-eun draws.

Yeah, Ha-eun's artifact is definitely on the cooler side. Most regular hunters' artifacts look like everyday objects you could find anywhere.

That thought sparks a bit of curiosity in me. Can I even awaken? The power I wield is just my innate dragon strength. It's more than enough for clearing gates or hunting monsters, so I've never really considered it... but hunters seem to draw their power from somewhere else entirely. If I got an artifact, what would it look like?

"Hah!"

Schwing!

In that instant, one of the kraken's tentacles slices clean off from Ha-eun's strike. Her stance is way more stable than before. Looks like Bern's lessons stuck with her pretty well. Still not up to my standards, though.

Huff huff huff. Vroooom!

With one tentacle severed, the boat's engine roars as it starts inching forward. Schwing!

This time, a vertical slice against an incoming attack. It cleaves it neatly in half, but the tentacle's still attached to the kraken's body.

"Hyah!"

Anticipating that, she twists her body, weaving the tentacles into a horizontal slash. The motion flows naturally like water... but.

She still hasn't shaken it off.

A sword style that doesn't suit her body. Bern mentioned it last time too. Totally useless.

Step.

I step forward.

A scabbard similar to Ha-eun's. She must've learned the basics from Bern, so I can help with the rest.

"Unnie...?"

I'm no sword master myself, but I've picked up a few things sparring with Bern. I've seen how he swings it, and even Kairan. Feels like I could mimic it.

Clack.

Left hand on the scabbard, right on the hilt.

Shing.

The blade peeks out, flashing in the sunlight.

Sching.

A short sword cry rings out. The blade slides back into the scabbard. To the casual eye, it looks like I did nothing.

Kaboom!

"Wha...?"

All the kraken's tentacles gripping the boat sever at once.

Hmm. What should I call this? Moonlight Draw Slash - Mimic. Yeah, that fits. It's just a copycat technique, after all.

Crack.

Ah, but... even as a mimic, 500,000 won wasn't enough to hold this technique properly. Shatters after one swing?

"Uh, Unnie, you know how to use a sword too...?"

"Nah? Well... more like I just copied what Bern does."

"I can cook, okay? You've never even seen me do it properly..."

Whatever... not the point.

Thud. Vroooom!

I head back to the boat's helm and gun it toward the island.

"Gah?! Unnie!"

And then.

Thwack!

With all its tentacles gone, the kraken—using magic?—suddenly launches itself at the boat. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Looks like it wants to chomp the whole thing and regrow its limbs.

Can't let that happen—

Taat!

Before I can even move, Ha-eun leaps forward sword-first. Did seeing me use mine fire her up? She's charging like she has something to prove.

I hurriedly try to stop her, but.

"I have to... I have to do something too—!"

One of the bandages around her sword unravels smoothly.

And then.

Whoosh!

The crimson flame at the blade's tip erupts massively, engulfing the sword. She looks shocked too, but the swing's already in motion.

With the flames bursting fiercely.

Sizzle schwing!

The massive blaze she unleashes cleaves the kraken's body clean in half.

***

The kraken's bisected corpse plummets into the sea. The cut looks ragged, like it was torn apart by force.

"Whoa... how'd you do that?"

"I-I don't really know..."

The bandages have already rewound around the sword. Weird.

Vrooom.

With nothing left in the way, the boat speeds ahead. Salao returns to the boat too, tossing his oar halfway into the hold and heading to the helm.

"I'll take it from here, old man."

Miraculously, the engine's output spikes the moment he grabs the wheel. I slump into the chair, thinking it's time to rest.

"Whew, exhausting."

"..."

Ha-eun still can't take her eyes off her sword. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠As I'm about to ask what's on her mind, Salao speaks first.

"Saw that flame earlier. Same as Park Sang-hyuk the hunter."

"Y-yes..."

"I'm a man of the sea, so I don't care for fire. But there was something to that dark blaze of yours. Hone it sharper still."

Listening to that, the distant island suddenly looms close. I figure we'll slow down and prepare to land, starting to stand—

"Stay seated. Brace for impact."

"Huh...?"

Instead, he throttles up.

"Wait, what're you—"

Before I can finish.

Crash crash crash!

"Gyaah!"

The boat smashes into the beach and flips halfway over.

"Argh... what the hell?!"

I shake off the sand and stand, fuming. Salao ignores me, grabbing the harpoon line.

"Lend a hand?"

He says quietly, glancing at us.

...Are all sailors like this? Way too grumpy...

"Unbelievable..."

Grip.

Grousing, I grab the line anyway. At his signal, we pull.

Whoosh.

"Huh."

Pulls way lighter than expected. Artifact power?

The leviathan drags toward shore. But hauling that bulk all the way would take all night.

"Terra, give it a tug!"

Thud!

The massive earth dragon lands on the beach, bites the midpoint of the line with her huge jaws, and soars up again.

Fwoosh!

The leviathan rockets in at insane speed.

Squelch.

"Starting to regen already, huh."

No big deal since it's out of the water. Once the heart's exposed, no more healing.

Flop.

I collapse onto the sand.

"...Unnie, what're you doing?"

"Copying Terra."

Even I burn a ton of energy moving underwater. So tiring. But... got the leviathan heart, so worth it.

Squawk.

Gulls circle overhead, eyeing the incoming leviathan for scraps. Reminds me of those mermaids. They swarmed the kraken earlier too, eager to chow down.

...Oh yeah.

"Hey, you said you'd take some meat, right?"

"Indeed."

"Share a bit with me too. For the mermaids."

They helped me snag new treasure, so fair trade. They loved the kraken, bet they'll dig this too.

I sit up. Terra's hauling the leviathan along. Heart should be close now.

Whoosh.

"Hold up, Terra."

Found it. I dash over in one step, probe the mana inside.

Thump.

Definite. "Can I just yank the heart?"

"Drain the blood while you're at it."

"How you planning to haul this?"

"Same way as always."

...Harpoon it and drag?

"Gonna attract every monster between here and America..."

At this size, the boat'll crawl, and by arrival, might be just bones.

Salao doesn't look away from the writhing leviathan.

"If so, my luck ends there."

Hmm... some seafarer philosophy I don't get. Whatever, I got my treasure—no greed for scraps. He'll manage.

"Heart's mine then?"

"Take it."

Bastard sword in hand.

Schwing!

I slice open the mana-rich spot.

Tap.

I plunge my hand deep inside. Squishy mana core.

———!!

Sensing the threat, the half-regenerated leviathan thrashes with a roar, but.

Rip!

I yank the heart out first.

Thump.

Still squishing and pulsing. I force mana in to crystallize it early, rinse the blood in the sea, and—

A ruby-like gem sparkles in a perfect form. Hard to believe it came from that grotesque beast.

"Hoo... wanna take a nibble...?"

Collection rate ticks up. But... induces deep-sea phobia? Don't feel anything. Maybe needs a special trigger.

As I'm mesmerized by the gem, Ha-eun approaches.

"...Unnie, can we talk once we're back in Haeundae?"

"Huh?"

Her voice carries unusual resolve, unlike her usual self.

"About... my sword... my brother—no, about me and my family."

Probably that emotional flame burst earlier. Something's shifted in her.

"Unnie... I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠want to ask for your help."