The Ruler of the Lake, Leviathan's Minion
An unusual amount of mana began converging from the seven ships confronting the Ruler of the Lake—Leviathan’s minion. Maintaining their composure before the onrushing horde of monsters, the fleet’s flanks opened wide, revealing massive cannon barrels.
“Thunder shells ready yet, Chief Gunner?”
“All guns loaded and prepared!”
“Then fire only the odd-numbered cannons the moment they enter one-kilometer range!”
At Jackson’s roar, every odd-numbered cannon across the ships belched flame. Hundreds of shells streaked through the sky trailing sparks before slamming into the lake surface and the monsters. A lightning storm erupted across the entire area.
“Kieeeeeeeeek!”
“Kiiiiiiik!”
The monsters convulsed in agony beneath the mana-laden barrage of lightning. Weaker creatures died instantly from the shock; even the hardier ones fainted or lost consciousness. Jackson watched it all with a calm face, chewing on his pipe as he issued the next order.
“Even-numbered cannons, prepare! Hit them with frost shells before they can shake it off!”
“Aye!”
While the odd cannons reloaded, the even-numbered guns—already primed—unleashed their volley. Like the thunder shells before them, these projectiles scattered frost across the heavens and delivered the finishing blow to the recovering monsters.
Craaaaaack!
The whole area froze solid, locking both living creatures and inanimate objects outside the flow of time. Jackson stared at the monsters suspended as if time itself had stopped, then turned his sharp gaze across the frozen lake. From long experience, he knew two volleys alone wouldn’t finish the real threats.
Crack. Craaack.
Just as expected, the ice began to split. From the fissures, monsters brimming with extraordinary power emerged. Jackson grinned as though he had foreseen it all and bellowed.
“Harpooners! Sharpen those spears and jump!”
“Aye! Aye! Captain!”
“Gunners, reload on the double! Wave Catchers, with me—we’re stopping their advance!”
Hundreds of cannons on the seven vessels were serviced at frantic speed. Meanwhile, some of the sailors on deck leaped into the lake without the slightest hesitation. Gripping enormous harpoons in one hand, they landed on the water. The surface, which had rippled like thick slime, held firm beneath their feet.
From there they sliced through the waves as smoothly as if riding motorboats. The sight reminded Argo of fighter jets launching from an aircraft carrier. Once he confirmed the harpooners had scattered in every direction, Jackson shouted again.
“Wave Catchers! We’re raising the waves together! Time to teach these arrogant bastards who think every drop of water in the world belongs to them a lesson!”
At his command, the handful of Wave Catchers aboard moved to the bow. To sailors, a ship was something far more special than it was in other regions. Vessels crafted with the West’s unique shipbuilding techniques acted as catalysts that amplified the mysteries of Westerners and served as the very foundation allowing them to claim dominion over the sea.
Moreover, because mysteries existed, ships with long histories and great accomplishments could even awaken their own Ego. Not to mention that the space sustaining Argo’s party would collapse if the ship were destroyed. So Jackson and the Wave Catchers poured every ounce of strength into drawing forth their mysteries.
Ruuuuuumble!
Water surged upward around the ships. Massive streams capable of swallowing buildings moved at the Wave Catchers’ command. When the water-attribute mages assigned to the fleet joined in, the resulting wave grew large enough to engulf Jackson’s entire armada and hurtled toward the monsters.
Even the creatures that had survived the cannon fire could not ignore such power—yet the Wave Catchers’ attack never landed. A colossal force blanketed the area, and the water that had been rushing forward as if to devour everything suddenly fell still, as though it had all been an illusion.
Watching the water vanish silently into the lake, Jackson laughed savagely.
“Hah. Came out earlier than I thought?”
“Should we call the harpooners back to the ships?”
“Have them hold position. The Ruler of the Lake is that party’s problem.”
After making the swift decision in answer to his first mate, Jackson turned to look at Argo’s group standing atop the water. He had no idea how strong they truly were, but for the sake of what lay ahead, he needed to witness the power of Northern adventurers. Only then could he calculate their odds against a Named Monster.
I’m looking forward to seeing how they handle the Ruler of the Lake.
With that thought, he focused his full attention on the monsters, eager to see how the Maritime Kingdom’s benchmark would be challenged.
We watched the monsters battling the fleet with calm detachment.
“Is that an Elraid?”
“Strictly speaking it’s an Elraid subspecies. Different region, different evolution. From the power I’m sensing, it’s far weaker than the ones back home in the North.”
“Still, I never expected to see Northern monsters in another region.”
“Monsters exist all over the world. It’s only natural. Aside from the Central region, you’ll run into Northern breeds elsewhere too.”
Answering Neon’s curious question, I looked forward. A colossal shape was moving beneath the lake. Even when I tried to probe it with my senses, some unknown power blocked my perception, so I gave up and summoned my servants instead.
Dozens of Ikeloses and Umbras appeared. Without hesitation I reached out to Umbra.
“Time to test the new fusion skill, friend.”
It nodded, grasped my hand, and merged with me. My physical body transformed into a spiritual one, then advanced another step into something beyond even that—something from another dimension. The phenomenon was the result of Umbra’s nature fusing with my own. Of course it didn’t grant full immunity to physical attacks, but it would drastically reduce the damage. It would also let me perform movements and strikes impossible for a normal human body.
I turned to check on my companions. This was their first time fighting on water, yet the experience they had gained battling bizarre monsters served them well; they had already finished their combat preparations with practiced ease.
Neon was raising his dark magic and preparing spells. Adela and Beatrice had sprouted wings and covered themselves in chitinous armor. Once I confirmed everyone was ready, I drew a summoning circle in the air.
“Shall we start by giving them a proper greeting?”
A fissure opened above the circle and cold descended. The lake surface froze where the chill touched it. From beyond the crack, a gigantic ice spear hurtled forward.
At Yotun the Frost Giant’s attack, I punched the air with a delighted grin.
“That’s right—always open with a big one!”
The area around the embedded spear froze solid. For a moment the radius of ice surpassed even the fleet’s frost barrage. Then the thick, massive ice shattered, and the Ruler of the Lake revealed itself.
“Grrrrrrrr.”
The Peer that made living creatures shudder, a body large enough to coil around a small island, and a roar that declared itself the undisputed apex predator. A giant dragon covered in sea-blue scales glared at me.
I smirked at the look in its eyes—the look one gave an intruder causing trouble in its own territory.
“So you really are Leviathan’s minion.”
I realized it instinctively. I couldn’t explain how, but I sensed this sea dragon was not a complete being. It had been born from something else. Perhaps it was because I had already encountered and fought the mountain dragon’s servants on the front lines.
“Interesting. Did Leviathan order you to guard the ruins?”
“Grrrrr.”
The sea dragon spat an incomprehensible sound in reply, then opened its maw. Massive water-attribute mana was visible down its throat; it was preparing a breath attack. The spell had apparently been readied underwater, because it finished before we could react and came blasting out.
It charged straight at Neon.
“Goddammit! Why is it always me?!”
“Our party’s tank, as expected!”
Neon barely managed to cast Blink and dodge, wearing a deeply wronged expression. But what could he do? To the sea dragon, the evasion tank who flaunted his dark magic so openly seemed particularly irritating.
Adela and Beatrice nodded in agreement.
“Monsters originally dislike dark magic.”
“The ones in the Central region didn’t!”
“That’s because Central monsters are the strange ones.”
At the two princesses’ decisive words, Neon let out a long sigh. If this was the price of becoming a black mage, he would just have to accept it. Steel himself, he cast the spell he had prepared beforehand.
“Fine, whatever! Paralyze!”
Neon’s dark magic reached the sea dragon. The curse slipped through its magical defense and took hold. I gave the dark mage—who had successfully landed the curse, as expected of someone who had caught the interest of a Demon Archduke—a thumbs-up, then kicked off the surface.
The squishy sensation interfered with my footing, but it didn’t matter. I crossed the lake like a shadow, arrived beneath the sea dragon, and climbed its body like a salmon fighting its way up a waterfall until I stood on its face.
At the same time, the Ikeloses that had followed me scattered in every direction, distracting the creature. Seizing the opening, I layered Umbra onto my sword-spear and cloaked it in aura.
Thanks to the fusion with Umbra, the aura glowed with a menacing black light. I looked at it with satisfaction, then turned my gaze to the sea dragon that was swatting at the Ikeloses like annoying flies.
“You won’t walk away unharmed either.”
The effects of fusion depended on which summon you merged with. Fusing with Ikelos greatly strengthened physical stats and defense. Fusing with Umbra dramatically increased speed and added a special defense-penetration property to attacks.
“Have a taste of aura with defense penetration!”
The aura carrying the power of another dimension sliced across the sea dragon’s face. Its tough scales parted like tofu, exposing the flesh beneath. Caught off guard by the deep wound, the creature thrashed and screamed in pain.
The real hunt had just begun.