Chapter 371: Luxury Travel (2)
Chapter 371: Luxury Travel (2)
To be honest, I don’t feel like the Giant Nautilus is a formidable enemy.
If the Main Body of the Nautilus had crawled out, I would have turned pale and frantically contacted the Management Bureau, but a mere minion like the Giant Nautilus just feels like a strong monster.
Even during the Pillar of Light Incident, it was only because the culprit behind everything was inside that we didn't have the luxury to divert our strength to the Giant Nautilus. If we had been given enough time back then, we could have easily exterminated it.
And compared to then, I’ve become several times stronger.
So, I don't feel any great sense of danger regarding the Giant Nautilus itself.
What worries me is that the seal on the Nautilus’s Main Body was breached, even if only for a moment.
I knew it would break someday, but for that gap to open, even temporarily...
The future where the seal might fully break terrifies me more than the tentacles flailing right in front of my eyes.
…Of course, this is just my own personal worry.
“Hukkiyaaaak!”
For others—like Baek Si-hyun, who was caught by a tentacle and was being swung through the air—the monster right in front of them was the bigger problem.
…Wait, what was she doing to get caught right from the start?
Fortunately, the Giant Nautilus also seemed disoriented from the seal just breaking. Even as its massive body slowly rose to the surface, it hadn't yet committed any hostile acts, like attacking the ship or slamming down the flailing Baek Si-hyun.
Even so.
“Passengers! Please stay calm and evacuate to the designated areas as instructed!”
“Anyone with Hero qualifications, please gather on the lobby deck! I repeat! Those with Hero qualifications, please report to the lobby deck…!”
“I, the monster-specialist Hero Heat Absorber, am here, so do not worry! The number of monsters I’ve slain alone is… uh… wow, that’s pretty big…”
It was a situation more than capable of capsizing a cruise ship.
Whether the monster had acted hostily yet or not didn't matter.
The moment a monster larger than the ship itself popped up in front of them, it was only natural for ordinary people to panic. Especially when the monster wasn't even fully out yet, and it was already bigger than the vessel.
It really is huge.
Originally, this thing was even bigger than an aircraft carrier…
The luxury cruise ship was massive in its own right, but it looked small compared to that insane Giant Nautilus.
In the first place, among the giant monsters I’ve seen, the only ones that were larger or even similar in size were the Colossus, the Gray Eater, and the Void Runner—maybe those three.
Because of its size, I could probably manage to exterminate it, but I couldn't guarantee the safety of the ship at all.
The bigger they are, the more tenacious their life force.
While I was busy driving my hammer into its head, there was a high probability it would thrash around and sink the ship.
…The ship is definitely going to blow.
As for casualties… hopefully, it’ll work out.
The civilians would be evacuating to the shelters in the refuge areas.
As for the Heroes… they’ll find a way to survive.
I had some concerns that the shelters in the refuge areas might be flimsy, but according to the catalog, they were built to be incredibly sturdy. Unless there was embezzlement or false advertising, they should hold up.
Still, just in case, I should take one precaution.
“Hey. Spirit.”
‘…Pong?’
Startled by my voice, the spirit that had been floating beside me made a bubbling sound and turned its gaze toward me.
“There aren't any other sealed entities that broke free besides that one, right?”
‘None.’
“No flesh monsters either, right?”
Those hellish monsters that multiply by infecting corpses. If their seal had been broken, I’d have to forget the Giant Nautilus and immediately send an emergency signal to the Management Bureau to mobilize all Heroes.
‘None. Only that one. Just one.’
That’s a relief.
“Then, I’ll handle that thing. You guys focus on saving the people.”
‘People? Save?’
Hmm. Is its intelligence still lacking?
It was speaking quite clearly just a moment ago.
“The people who ran away. If an attack goes toward them, block it. And for the ones on the deck, if they get hit or fall off, protect them.”
The spirit was a bit slow, but I didn't get flustered. I explained my intent in simple terms.
After talking to tentacles for so long, my ability to communicate with those with low comprehension has really improved…
‘Understood.’
As if proving my improved communication skills, the spirit didn't ask any more questions. It bobbed through the air with a few more "pongs" before disappearing into The Sea.
At the same time, though barely visible to the naked eye, transparent orbs of water filled with significant power surged upward.
Entities that even I could hardly perceive just by looking.
They rose from The Sea and scattered quickly.
Some rushed into the ship.
Others slowly approached the Heroes gathered on the deck and stopped beside them.
In the midst of all this, no one noticed that a new ally had joined the battlefield.
So, this is how it works.
I knew that spirits would help if an incident occurred near water, but I didn't know exactly how they helped.
I had assumed they just lent their strength or something.
But looking at it now, they were literally participating in the battle themselves.
Without being caught by anyone, hiding their presence.
Perhaps they had acted the same way during the Gray Eater incident.
We just didn't know.
Even now, if I looked around without knowing anything, I would only perceive it as Otherworldly Power naturally coalescing in the area.
Since they were called spirits, I had naturally imagined humanoid forms like a Spirit Queen.
But their essence was nature itself.
I suppose if they push that to the extreme, they can camouflage themselves that perfectly.
Well, it’s for the best.
With this, I’ve done as much as I can to minimize casualties.
Now all that’s left is to exterminate that nautilus as quickly as possible…
“Hukkiyaaaak!”
I can’t stay serious because of that bizarre screaming that’s been going on for a while now.
Baek Si-hyun was still caught in a tentacle, letting out those weird shrieks.
What’s more annoying is that she isn't playing around; she’s desperately trying to escape, yet that’s the result.
She was enduring the pain in her own body while shocking the tentacle with electricity.
Summoned weapons were flying everywhere, trying to sever the limb.
She was even swinging a sharp sword with one hand.
And yet, she still couldn't break free, letting out those strange screams in mid-air.
…What on earth is she doing?
Since she still has the energy to scream, it doesn't look like she’s being crushed to death.
Seeing as she’s constantly emitting power, she’s probably maintaining a telekinetic barrier around herself, knowing she’s in danger.
But why does her scream sound so pathetic?
“Higiu-huyai-ooooo!”
“….”
I wasn't the only one thinking this. The Heroes gathered on the deck were also staring at the flying Baek Si-hyun with expressions of utter confusion.
It was clearly a crisis, yet it was impossible to focus on the battle.
What was even funnier was that the nautilus seemed to feel the same way. Distracted by the tiny gnat making bizarre noises in front of it, the monster didn't even attack the ship. It just kept spinning the tentacle holding Baek Si-hyun as it rose further above the water.
“…What exactly is going on, Senior?”
“I don't know.”
I really didn't.
If that was an intentional act to draw The Enemy’s attention, then Baek Si-hyun could be considered the MVP of this battle.
Is it not just because it’s annoyed, but because Baek Si-hyun’s attacks are actually threatening despite how they look?
Is that why it’s focusing all its attention on her?
If that’s true…
Could it be that this thing is much weaker than the Giant Nautilus I remember?
Maybe the seal isn't fully undone, or because it’s borrowing power from the Main Body, it becomes extremely weak without it.
If so, it would make sense for it to prioritize Baek Si-hyun, who is dealing strong attacks…
With that thought, I checked The Enemy’s capacity to confirm its strength.
But as expected, I couldn't tell.
That was the only thought that drifted through my mind.
If it were a humanoid or a small monster, I could estimate its combat ability by the total amount of Otherworldly Power it held.
If it were human-shaped, even with little power, I could infer its strength from its movements.
But giant monsters are a different story.
The way they distribute power within their bodies is completely different from humans, and in some cases, you can't feel any Otherworldly Power at all.
With humanoids, you look at the heart, brain, Dantian, or the weapon in their hand.
Even if their internal biology is completely different, once the whole body is in view, you can see where the power gathers and flows.
However, giant monsters have physical capabilities on a whole different dimension to begin with.
Their bodies maintain such massive forms without any special abilities. In other words, because their physical performance is already so high, there are monsters that exceed B-Rank purely through physical strength without any Otherworldly Power. Thus, I can't make a definitive judgment based on power levels alone.
There’s also the problem that it’s hard to grasp the total amount of power a monster holds in one glance because of its sheer size.
In this case, both applied.
“Kki-heee-ack!”
Judging by how it maintains that massive frame, its physical body must be at an absurd level.
On top of that, while the power it holds seems small at a glance, there’s a high possibility that more power is hidden deep within where I can't perceive it.
Now… what should I do?
“Kkyuaaaaak!”
While I was contemplating, the Heroes who had been dazed also began to move.
Some Heroes poured their strongest attacks toward the Giant Nautilus. But to the nautilus, those actions were likely no more than gnats buzzing around.
Most of the Heroes acting like that now were low-quality ones who didn't understand the gap between themselves and The Enemy and were just blindly firing off strong techniques.
The attacks of such beings were predictable.
Those in the upper ranks were, like me, observing The Enemy from a distance where they could jump in at any moment, or they were clinging to The Enemy and dealing weak, harassing attacks.
I thought the nautilus would ignore those pathetic attacks and continue playing with Baek Si-hyun or attack the conspicuously large ship.
But contrary to my expectations, the nautilus turned its gaze toward the Heroes.
“…Why?”
Thump. Thump.
The tentacles slammed down toward the Heroes.
The attacks smashed the deck and twisted metal.
But the Heroes dodged the attacks with ease and poured their own strikes into the tentacles that remained on the deck for a moment.
The Cycle repeated. Over and over.
Some were caught by tentacles, and others failed to dodge, but even then, other Heroes helped them, so no one was seriously injured.
Seeing the flow of battle, those who had been watching from behind also drew their weapons and jumped in. Those who had been conserving their strength began to deal powerful blows.
Because they realized that, despite its size, the Giant Nautilus was weak.
Yes, this thing is weak.
It’s huge, but it’s like a water balloon.
Its attacks are slow, its body is fragile, and its power only comes from its mass.
I don't know why a powerful monster appeared so weak, but the fact that it’s weak right now doesn't change.
If so, there’s only one thing to do.
“Let’s end this in one shot.”
Ptooey.
I spit on my hands and regrip my hammer.
Then, I begin to gather my strength.
Thump.
As a shockwave spreads around me, my limiter is released, and my emotions flare up.
Anger toward the nautilus that tried to erase humanity with a businesslike attitude.
Anger toward the monster that killed countless Heroes in the past.
Anger for ruining my luxury vacation.
Those emotions gather within me, swelling the power contained in The Hammer.
Yes.
There is only one thing I need to do.
Before this entity can do anything strange, I will annihilate it here.
If it has special abilities, I’ll blow its body apart before it can play that card.
If it’s in a weakened state because the seal isn't fully undone, I’ll blast it away before it can recover its strength.
A short-term decisive battle.
Before this entity can swallow the ship.
I described it as weak, but its size isn't going anywhere. Even now, every tentacle strike warps the deck.
If I don't exterminate it quickly, the ship will inevitably sink.
That’s why I’m ending this fast.
Thump.
The moment the necessary power is gathered, another shockwave ripples out from my body.
Perhaps because the shockwave echoed through the area, a straight path opened up on the battlefield.
The Heroes, realizing who held the greatest power here, cleared a straight line for me.
“Go! Poyo!”
The signal to start the sprint was given by my partner, who had slipped in at some point.
Along with my partner’s voice, glowing Magic Circles bloomed in a straight line.
Blue Magic Circles that guaranteed the deck wouldn't break even if I poured all my strength into it.
I run across them.
Fast, just fast.
And as I did, a smile played on my lips.
What do you mean the ship’s sinking is a certainty, Yellow King?
With so many people here.
Even if I weren't here, they might not have been able to save the ship, but they would have saved the passengers.
But now, I’ve been added to the mix.
Do you really think the ship will sink in this situation?
There’s no such thing as a fixed future.
So.
“Goodbye, you nautilus bastard. You’re not even fit for Seafood Stew.”
I’m dedicating this hammer strike to the Enterprise crew members who were sacrificed because of you.
Thump.
Ending my sprint, I jumped and brought The Hammer down, slamming it into the shell.
The nautilus’s house, which looked sturdy and was located slightly above its head.
However, it failed to do its job.
The Hammer, imbued with my power, shattered the shell with pathetic ease.
Without losing its momentum, The Hammer continued on to vibrate through the nautilus’s inner flesh.
Boom!
Unable to withstand the impact of The Hammer, white and red squelchy flesh exploded and scattered in all directions.
Disgusting mucus sprayed over my body.
But The Hammer didn't stop.
Even after crushing the shell and exploding the organs, there was still an immense amount of power left in The Hammer.
So, The Hammer kept swinging.
The sensation in my hands kept changing.
The feeling of hitting something hard. The feeling of hitting something soft.
The external carapace, made of several layers, kept breaking away, and I struck the soft internal organs.
After repeating this several times and unleashing all my power.
At the spot where I stopped my hammer.
“Piece of trash.”
Only a monster turned into a useless hunk of meat remained—enough to make me spit out those words.
The shell it wore to protect itself was so cracked and full of holes that it could no longer serve its purpose.
The inner flesh that the sturdy shell used to hide had turned into mush, unable to withstand the shockwaves spreading from the point of impact.
With its home destroyed and its organs crushed, the monster…
It let its flailing tentacles drop limply and just twitched miserably while spewing bubbles.
It no longer had the strength to harm anything.
“Well. It’s over.”
Recovery or whatever, this thing has absolutely no strength left to do anything.
Since the spot hit by The Hammer had a straight hole blown through it, I could see the internal state clearly.
From the beginning, there was almost no Otherworldly Power inside this thing.
It was probably the type of monster that fights by receiving power from its Main Body.
Its physical body alone was above mid-A-Rank, making it a heinous creature just by existing.
But you picked the wrong opponent, didn't you?
To think you’d be resurrected while I’m here.
If the Main Body had been there, or if it had swallowed its surroundings to fill itself with Otherworldly Power, there might have been a future where it unleashed more violent destruction.
But that future vanished the moment I crushed this damn bastard.
“Ugh… I need to wash up first.”
I stink of rot and fish.
Now that this mess has happened, the Management Bureau will show up and things will get hectic, but I’ll think about that later. First, my body.
Just as I was about to jump off the nautilus.
Rattle.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, my balance broke, and I stumbled.
What? A final struggle?
I was currently standing on top of the nautilus’s head.
So if the nautilus moved in a final struggle, it was only natural that the platform I was on would be affected immediately.
Tsk. I guess as expected of an O-Rank minion, it doesn't die in one hit.
Ptooey.
I clicked my tongue, spat on the dying nautilus’s head, and steadied my stance.
For whatever was to come next.
Thump.
A massive sound echoed, and the floor began to tilt.
Here it comes.
With that thought, I focused my senses.
To prepare for the ensuing attack.
And about five seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
…What?
Thump. Splash.
However, the sound of something moving and the sound of water shifting continued.
By the time I questioned it a few more times.
I realized the true nature of that sound.
“…Ah, dammit.”
It was tilting.
The monster’s corpse, having lost its life and unable to maintain its own body.
Thinking about it, it was only natural.
This massive body hadn't evaporated; its insides had just been ground up until it died. So what would happen?
“It’ll either sink or fall over somewhere.”
The problem here was that the corpse of this Giant Nautilus had begun to fall over.
“Haha. Dammit.”
I couldn't help but laugh.
Because in this situation, there was nothing I could do.
The situation where the corpse of the dead nautilus was crushing the Titanic II.
What was I supposed to do in this situation?
I didn't even have an aerial platform.
Well. Anyway.
Having given up on everything, I calmly pulled a metal rod from my pocket, put it in my mouth.
And quietly apologized to those involved.
“Five years without an accident… there it goes…”
“Kyahiu-hiyaaaak!”
Boom!
With a sound closer to an explosion, a massive pillar of water erupted.
And just like that, everything sank along with the giant pillar of water.