Kraken Hunter
With all preparations complete for the colossal Kraken, Prokho set sail. It began slicing through the vast ocean of the 39th floor. The ship's speed was impressive indeed. With both mana engines fired up and sails fully unfurled to harness the wind and the sylphs' aid, it surged forward at tremendous velocity.
In the captain's quarters, the captain and the regular party members had gathered.
"It's the first day, so things should be quiet, right?"
At Gisohee's question, the captain let out a deep sigh before replying.
"I hope to God they stay that way."
Namgung Seojun gave a wry smile at Captain Kang Inho's response. His Super Sense was picking up an ambiguous vibe.
Something's gonna happen. Here's hoping it's nothing major.
They pressed on, praying nothing big would crop up. Ten minutes later, as Prokho maintained its brisk pace, the watchman atop the highest mast rang the bell and shouted.
DONG DONG DONG!!!
"Monster incoming!"
A massive sea monster was approaching from the distant waters, churning through the waves.
The captain immediately gauged its approach speed and bellowed,
"Full speed ahead! Battle stations!"
At his command, the engine room crew cranked the mana engines to maximum power, the gunners readied the mana cannons, and the combat personnel on deck prepared for fight.
The gunners were quickest off the mark.
"Cannons ready!"
Receiving the report from the gun deck, the captain shouted,
"Fire at will!"
"Fire!"
At the captain's order, the gunners unleashed both mana cannons.
BOOM! BOOM!
Enormous blasts erupted from the two cannons as massive mana orbs rocketed out.
"Miss! But the monster's altered course."
The shots hadn't hit the approaching behemoth, but the massive explosions slowed its advance.
The captain peered through his magical spyglass to reassess the monster's speed.
Slower now, but still faster than the ship.
In the end, Captain Kang Inho called out to Namgung Seojun on deck.
"Party leader, it's closing in—handle it!"
Seojun nodded and addressed his party.
"Everyone, get ready!"
"Got it."
The party members pulled out their prepared gear—devices resembling bazookas, which they slung over their shoulders.
"Ready."
What they'd prepared were super-mana ballistae, weapons that fired enormous mana arrows using the user's own mana. Modeled after Earth's bazookas, their hallmark was arrows infused with the shooter's mana that flew like missiles.
"Fire!"
At the command, everyone channeled mana into their super-mana ballistae and fired.
WHOOSH!
The massive mana iron arrows launched by the party streaked like small missiles. Gisohee's shot, guided by her superior aim, struck true.
THUNK!
"Kweeeek!"
The gigantic sea monster pursuing Prokho let out a agonized screech, its speed naturally slackening.
"Hit!"
"Nice one, Sohee."
"Whoa, Sohee nailed it!"
Gisohee beamed at the praise from her comrades, but Seojun urged them on.
"Focus! Reload and fire again!"
Under his direction, the party reloaded with help from the deckhands and kept up the barrage, holding the giant monster at bay with sheer firepower.
"Hyungnim, ready."
Meanwhile, Lee Guho finished casting his spell.
"Do it!"
At Namgung Seojun's go-ahead, Lee Guho chanted,
"Ice Storm!"
His widest-area 4th-class spell, Ice Storm, unleashed a hail of ice chunks that pelted the monster.
"Kweeeek!!!"
The beast took heavy damage from the Ice Storm and fled into the ocean depths.
"Full speed! Go, go!!"
Seeing the monster retreat as their chance, Captain Kang Inho ordered a rapid escape, and Prokho bolted from the area. They could have hunted it down if they'd committed, but the captain prioritized speed over the kill.
Five hours later...
Kweek... kweek... ugh...
The massive sea monster nursed its wounds from Namgung Seojun's party deep underwater. It had been an unexpected counterattack. Having dismissed the small ship as easy prey, it got hammered instead—especially by Lee Guho's Ice Storm, which inflicted serious damage.
Still, enough time had passed since the fight that it surfaced to hunt anew.
But then!
SWOOSH.
"Kweeeek!!"
A colossal tentacle seized the monster. Injured as it was, the beast couldn't resist and was dragged into a massive maw and swallowed whole.
CRUNCH... CRUNCH...
"Kuaek!!"
The predator devouring the massive sea monster without mercy was none other than the apex of this region: the infamous colossal Kraken.
Meanwhile, Prokho and its passengers continued their swift voyage.
Suddenly, Namgung Seojun shouted,
"Everyone, brace yourselves! Hold on tight!"
His curt, urgent tone signaled danger. Everyone on board grabbed the nearest fixed object.
And then!
THUD!
Prokho rocked violently.
No reefs, calm seas... a sudden impact? Nothing to hit...
As most pondered this, the ship halted, and a massive tentacle lined with suckers rose from the sea.
"It's a Kraken!"
A Kraken it was. Fortunately, judging by the tentacle's size, it wasn't the colossal variety ruling these waters.
Seojun calmly shouted,
"Not the colossal one! Snap to it!"
His words steadied the group, and he issued orders.
"Stay calm and prep for battle! Everyone to the deck!"
Party members and crew formed a circle on deck, weapons drawn, eyes locked on the Kraken's tentacles.
SWOOSH.
As a tentacle lashed out aggressively, Namgung Seojun pierced it clean through with his sword.
"Kweeeek!"
The Kraken screeched in pain, and Seojun gave the next command.
"Lee Guho, magic!"
"Firebolt! Firebolt!"
Two Firebolts slammed into the Kraken's main body simultaneously. It writhed in agony.
"Kweeeek!!"
"Maintain circular formation! Li Zhangwei, Leto, Pinara—attack on your own!"
Li Zhangwei, Leto, and Pinara unleashed their prepared strikes.
"Holy Thrust!"
"Holy Shield Bash!"
"Continuous Thrust!"
The trio's assaults made the Kraken wail, flailing its enormous tentacles wildly.
THWACK!
"Hold the line!"
THWACK! THWACK! BOOM!!
The party blocked the tentacles with shields. A few were sent flying by the powerful blows, but no fatalities.
"Ah... I'm caught! Help!"
Some got snagged by tentacles. Seojun dashed over and severed the tips.
Kweeeek!
They dropped free amid the Kraken's screams.
"Keep attacking!"
Lee Guho hurled more spells, while Pinara, Li Zhangwei, and Leto focused fire on the beast.
Kweeeeek!!
Overwhelmed, the Kraken withdrew its tentacles to flee. But before it could, Seojun leaped onto its head.
"Radiant Strike!"
Using his unique skill, he drove his sword into the Kraken's skull.
Kraaah!!
As the blade sank in, the enraged Kraken lashed every available tentacle at him, but he ditched the sword and retreated to the ship.
And then!
"Emerald Missile!"
Lee Guho's long-chanted, most powerful 4th-class spell activated. The missile homed in on the Kraken's eye, piercing its head clean through.
The Kraken's movements ceased.
You have defeated a large monster.
You have acquired an achievement.
They'd succeeded in hunting the Kraken!
"We won!"
The entire crew and party cheered in victory. Even a small Kraken was a massive accomplishment.
Having triumphed, they turned to battlefield cleanup. No deaths, thankfully, but plenty of wounded—Pharos and Yuki busied themselves with healing spells. The crew patched the ship's damage on the fly, while mobile party members harvested the Kraken's byproducts.
"Lucky no other monsters closed in during the fight."
Captain Kang Inho remarked in the captain's quarters, and Namgung Seojun agreed.
"We were near the village, so no colossal Kraken territory. Plus, the one we fought was basically a juvenile. Dodged a bullet there."
Prime location, undersized opponent—a real stroke of luck.
"I'll remind the party and crew not to get complacent."
The gap in size and destructive power between this small Kraken and a colossal one was immense. Time to reinforce that some monsters were off-limits and stay vigilant.