Chapter 69
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Translator: Prime Works
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Fugitive and Challenger (1)
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Kuaaaaa—!
An explosive spray of water shot up into the air.
Through it charged a massive silhouette.
Ninety meters in total length.
A marine monster weighing around 2,500 tons.
The Gigatitan roared as it unfurled its crouched body.
It shattered the scattering waves entirely, hurtling forward like a massive meteor.
Its bulky head slammed into the waist of the mermaid statue.
Kwaaaaaang—!
It was a head hardened by intertwined ivory and chitin.
A body slam carrying the full weight of 2,500 tons.
The mermaid statue could not withstand that single blow.
Even at its tallest, the statue was only 29 meters high.
Before the Gigatitan's overwhelming size, it was nothing more than a toy.
In that transcendent body slam, the mermaid statue's waist snapped in two in an instant.
Crack!
The upper half of the shattered statue flew off.
As if launched from a trebuchet.
It sliced through the sky above the sea in front of Creemo Harbor, soaring hundreds of meters.
It crashed into the central square of the peaceful Creemo City, which was settling into evening.
Kwajak! Kuang—!
The sudden fall of the statue.
It was no different from a rock weighing dozens of tons plummeting down.
The statue pulverized the cobblestones and fountain in one go.
It bounced and rolled without restraint.
It barreled toward the edge of the square.
It crushed five buildings, including a peaceful bakery, flower shop, and fruit stand.
It continued rolling across the main street until it slammed into a bell tower.
Screams erupted belatedly.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“U, uwaaak!”
“W-What is that! What the hell is that!”
“Hey! Over here! Someone’s down!”
“Somebody help!”
The statue that had come flying out of nowhere like a bolt from the blue, and the buildings crushed beneath it.
The screams and shouts of those buried in the debris and those trying to rescue them mingled together.
Amid the thick clouds of dust and scattered stone fragments, terrified people scrambled in chaos.
The devastation was all too sudden.
That catastrophe was clearly visible from the galleons floating in the outer sea as well.
“What in the world... what on earth...! Kristin! Don’t let go of my hand!”
A middle-aged man clutching his daughter’s hand tightly amid the massive disaster.
Creemo Count’s eyes widened in shock.
A distraught cry escaped his gaping mouth.
He simply couldn’t believe the situation unfolding before him.
The horrors entering his vision felt utterly unreal.
It defied everything he’d ever imagined, clashing with his common sense.
‘How... why on earth did that thing charge all the way here?’
It made no sense.
And it couldn’t.
For the past ten years, the Gigatitan had only appeared far out in the outer sea.
Even when it showed itself, it merely attacked ships sailing there. It had never launched an assault this close to the city.
‘Could it be... because of the mermaid statue?’
The count’s contorted gaze turned toward where the statue had stood.
The imposing statue that had been there just moments ago was gone.
Only its waist and below remained, pitifully crushed.
The count’s gaze twisted further.
‘I hoped the Gigatitan would see that statue, feel threatened, and move its habitat elsewhere...’
But the situation seemed to have backfired.
Rather than relocating its habitat, the massive monster had chosen to attack what it perceived as the threat: the mermaid statue.
It was a bitter pill for the count to swallow.
‘Is this my mistake?’
His eyes sank heavily.
The puzzle pieces of the current situation clicked together rapidly in the count’s mind.
‘It must be because of the mermaid statue. That’s why the Gigatitan’s behavior deviated from the norm. That’s why the coastal watchposts failed to detect its approach early.’
The Gigatitan’s usual pattern was different from today.
Whenever it appeared, it roared openly from far out at sea.
Thanks to those grand roars, detecting it had always been easy.
It was a declaration to all that this was its territory.
That had been the Gigatitan’s pattern over the past ten years.
Thus, the coastal watchposts focused on spotting it and alerting the city.
But today was different.
‘It approached by crawling along the ocean floor, submerged below the surface. Astonishingly stealthy and bold.’
This wasn’t mere territorial display.
Not posturing, but an attack.
Not a warning to intruders, but punishment.
That was the new behavioral pattern the Gigatitan displayed today.
‘But those two predicted it.’
The count’s gaze shifted to the opposite side of the deck.
Two young men stood there.
Lloyd and Haviel.
‘Especially that brash fellow’s knight escort. He said he sensed the Gigatitan approaching from below the surface.’
A presence his own knight, Sir Giovanni, hadn’t detected.
Yet that silver-haired knight had.
The implication was clear.
“Watch out, my lord! Don’t let go of my hand!”
A strong grip reached out toward the count, lost in thought.
It seized his wrist firmly.
Pulled him in.
As if rescuing someone from drowning.
It stretched and pulled with all its might, holding him steady.
Thanks to that, even on the wildly pitching deck, the count and his lady didn’t fall.
“My apologies, my lord.”
A gruff voice cried out, choked with emotion.
It was Sir Giovanni, the count’s escort knight.
Sir Giovanni looked at them with mournful eyes.
A faint, bitter smile crossed Creemo Count’s face.
“Don’t blame yourself, Sir Giovanni.”
“But my lord, I...”
“You did your utmost best. It’s just that even your best couldn’t bridge the gap with that silver-haired knight. No one in our city detected the Gigatitan’s approach. Not even I predicted it. How could I blame only you?”
“My lord...”
“This situation is in no way your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s me.”
The count’s voice grew heavy with regret.
A clear voice rang out toward the count.
“Lord Count! It’s great that you’re building trust with your loyal knight, but could you hear me out for a moment!”
It was Lloyd’s shout.
Gripping the railing from the opposite side of the deck, Lloyd yelled.
“People have fallen overboard! Call the captain right now!”
The sea he pointed to in his shout.
Indeed, chaos reigned there.
Five galleons that hadn’t escaped the statue’s vicinity had been badly damaged.
Many passengers had plunged into the sea.
To make matters worse, the waters churned violently.
Because of the Gigatitan.
The 90-meter behemoth had thrashed wildly.
The surrounding waters, caught in its waves, were a cauldron of turmoil. People and galleon wreckage swirled in eddies, flailing desperately.
Lloyd’s shout continued.
“Our top priority is rescuing them! Lord Count, take command of this ship and save as many as you can! I’m heading to the city!”
“The city? What do you mean!”
“It looks like Creemo Harbor’s about to get an uninvited guest of massive proportions!”
Lloyd’s hand pointed to one side again.
There loomed the Gigatitan, head raised high.
It rose amid the churning waves, staring piercingly in one direction.
The distant target of the monster’s gaze.
There lay the mermaid statue.
The upper half, embedded in the side of a spire after flying hundreds of meters.
“It seems that thing thinks the mermaid statue isn’t done for yet!”
“You don’t mean it’s going to come ashore to finish smashing it?”
“More than likely!”
Right after Lloyd’s resounding reply.
As if to prove his words, the Gigatitan began to move.
It lowered its body.
Its enormous bulk parted the waves.
It started swimming toward the city.
“If that thing hits the city, the damage will be beyond control!”
“Th-Then what should we do!”
“I’ll go!”
“What?”
The count doubted his ears.
Go there himself?
Did he mean to swim there?
But Lloyd gave no further reply.
As if even responding was a waste of time, he exchanged a glance with the silver-haired knight.
They dashed toward the stern together.
They tossed something into the air.
Soon, three large summoned beasts materialized in midair.
“Ppoddong!”
“Bangul!”
“Hamang!”
Tuwang—! Splash!
The enlarged Ppoddong and Bangul dove into the churning sea.
Hamang followed suit.
Lloyd and Haviel then leaped into the sea after them.
They mounted Bangul’s back.
“Alright, everyone! Before we head out, pull as many people out of the water as you can!”
“Ppo! Bang! Ha!”
Bangul, carrying Lloyd and Haviel.
Ppoddong and Hamang too.
They all moved busily.
They rescued those floundering nearby.
After saving the elderly and children who seemed most urgent, Lloyd shrank Ppoddong and Hamang, tucking them into his bosom.
Then they set off toward the city.
“Alright, Bangul?”
“Bangul?”
“Let’s go!”
Lloyd patted Bangul’s flank.
Gulp gulp, jingle jangle!
Bangul, having gulped seawater, wagged its tail.
After a brief clear chime from its bell, a ferocious explosion erupted from its rear.
Kwaaaaaang—!
Volcanic Eruption skill activated.
The expelled gas battered the waves fiercely.
The recoil propelled Bangul’s floating body forward at tremendous speed.
Like a rocket launching, or a banana boat slicing the sea, it shot toward the harbor.
Splash!
Just like that, Lloyd and Haviel aboard Bangul vanished in an instant.
Only then did the count snap to his senses.
“Everyone! Get the ropes! Captain! Get the crew moving! Hurry!”
This was no time to stand dazed.
They had to save every soul they could.
The count flung off his cumbersome coat.
He directed the captain and crew at the top of his lungs.
A long, long night of disaster had begun.
♣
Kwang! Boom! Kwaaang!
Twilight’s darkness dyed the sky.
Amid it came thunderous booms, as if to drive back the gloom.
Cannons spat fire.
Kwaaang—!
A 14-centimeter caliber, 9.1-kilogram iron cannonball flew at a muzzle velocity of 408 meters per second.
It sliced through the darkening sky over the outer sea and struck its target.
Splack!
Around 600 kJ of kinetic energy converted into impact force.
The target flinched.
From the tickle.
Grrrruk!
The Gigatitan, struck squarely on the forehead by the heavy culverin shot, shook its head.
The hit spot itched.
The itching persisted.
Swaeek! Swaaaek! Pfft! Puck!
The watchposts lining the coast.
Every one fired its coastal defense heavy culverin.
Black cannonballs flew, pummeling the Gigatitan’s body.
Of course, they inflicted no damage.
Mere(?) heavy cannonballs couldn’t pierce the Gigatitan’s shell of fused ivory and chitin. Not even a scratch.
The Gigatitan roared.
Grurrruk!
Landing was imminent.
The waves parted.
It rose onto the shore, churning fierce waves.
Its eight pairs of centipede-like legs crushed the coastal rocks and watchposts.
“U, uwaaak!”
“Run!”
The soldiers guarding Creemo Coast Watchpost 23 screamed.
They flailed to avoid being buried under the collapsing structure.
The watchpost captain shouted.
“Everyone out! Run!”
The middle-aged captain shoved his soldiers.
But contrary to his words, he didn’t flee the post.
After sending all the soldiers out, he remained alone.
He peered up at the monster through the collapsed roof.
‘Guarding this place is my duty. You think I’ll let you pass easily!’
A torch was now in the captain’s hand.
Beside him lay scattered powder kegs.
He hurled the torch at the kegs.
Only after checking for remaining soldiers did he dash outside.
He sprinted away with all his might.
By then, flames had caught the powder kegs.
Thud-kwaak—!
Watchpost 23 exploded in a massive boom.
The post’s cannons, shot, and brick walls shattered completely. Countless fragments shot up and outward, battering the Gigatitan’s underbelly.
“Hahaha! Take that!”
The 23rd watchpost captain, barely escaping the blast, yelled.
He shook his fist, glaring at the Gigatitan.
‘That’s gotta hurt plenty!’
Of course.
The post’s stockpiled powder had detonated entirely.
It had taken the full blast to its underside.
No creature could emerge unscathed.
‘That’s on a whole different level from cannonballs!’
Its tough shell must have been engulfed in flames.
Pummeled by countless shards.
So now, even that monster couldn’t rampage carelessly...
Gruk?
The Gigatitan looked down this way.
Then it shook its ninth leg.
The flames clinging to its toe went out.
That was it.
The Gigatitan resumed walking.
As if nothing had happened.
As if utterly unharmed.
‘Huh?’
The 23rd watchpost captain’s eyes wavered.
He couldn’t believe it.
‘How?’
While he stood stunned, the Gigatitan’s massive body pressed forward relentlessly.
It felt like a surreal nightmare.
But this was stark reality.
The Gigatitan’s huge eyes fixed on Creemo’s city streets.
Its stride toward the mermaid statue embedded in the square’s spire.
The defenseless citizens and his own family in its path.
‘Damn it all!’
Grit!
The 23rd watchpost captain ground his teeth.
His family was in the city.
His wife, pregnant with their first child after ten years of marriage.
Yet that monster advanced unchecked toward the city where she was.
‘I have to stop it, no matter what.’
Resolve burned in the captain’s eyes.
He bent at the waist.
Picked up a stone.
Charged.
Hurled it.
“Uwaaaah! You bastard! Stop right there!”
He shouted.
Threw another stone.
It didn’t matter if it didn’t hit.
Damage didn’t matter.
Even if he died here.
His only goal was halting the monster’s advance.
Buying even a few seconds.
He believed those fleeting seconds could save his wife.
“Stop! I said stop!”
He kept shouting.
Threw, and threw again.
Was it thanks to the watchpost captain’s resolve?
Gruk!
For a moment, the Gigatitan’s stride halted as if by magic.
Then its massive head swiveled back toward him with a creak.
Grurruk?
“H-Ha... haha...”
Their eyes met.
The captain forced a smile.
Toward him, one of the Gigatitan’s enormous feet descended.
The captain’s face twisted.
This is the end.
He gripped the stone tightly.
Stared defiantly at the oncoming foot.
That was the moment.
“Hamang!”
Twuaang—!
Out of nowhere.
A 60-meter water balloon—no, a waterlogged hippo—came rolling in and slammed a body check into the Gigatitan’s flank.