New Power (2)
Endless ocean stretched out before them. The chartered brigantine sliced through the waves toward the open sea. The captain said they'd reach the destination in about five kilometers.
Time to suit up.
What Isabella Queen sought was her mother's necklace. Five years ago, her mother had perished in a shipwreck. In the middle of the ocean, performing a religious ritual on deck with countless followers, disaster struck.
The queen's mother had been the leader of a pagan cult. The queen herself hailed from high society, once a sought-after exotic dancer among the nobility. But why the necklace and not her mother's remains? Isabella wasn't some dutiful daughter desperate to retrieve a memento out of longing for her lost mother.
The necklace was a treasure imbued with mysterious power. Naru had no idea what abilities it held or the secrets of that power. Only the queen knew.
His role was simple: fulfill the client's request. Poking into unnecessary details would only put his life at risk.
"Is this the armor you got last week?"
"Yeah, how's it look?"
He'd changed into the armor and stepped out of the cabin when he ran into Sophia in the corridor. With no one else she knew on board, she'd been sticking close to him.
"It's covered in green scales, with webbed fins... You look just like a merman."
"Probably for swimming faster underwater. It's stretchy and lightweight, unlike regular armor."
Chatting idly with her, they headed up to the deck. Suddenly, a massive galleon loomed directly ahead, anchored motionless in the sea.
That spot was exactly where he wanted to be.
"Who the hell are you lot? This is our turf—get lost!"
Someone yelled from the other ship.
Adventurers?
Naru strode to the stern.
"I'm Kang Naru from Thunderfield Guild! Acting on the orders of the great Isabella Queen in this sector!"
"Kang Naru? You mean that limping hero Kang Naru?"
Laughter erupted from the other ship. Soon, a familiar figure appeared, twirling a dagger casually in one hand.
"Hey, Kang Naru! Long time no see!"
His name was Setterd, leader of the infamous Iron Fist Brothers mercenary band. Everyone on that ship looked like his crew.
"I'm here on the queen's orders too, searching this area! I got here first, so beat it! Haha!"
Naru's eyebrow twitched. He'd sent a letter promising to retrieve it, but apparently, the queen had commissioned multiple parties.
First to find it wins, huh? That woman. Her whole approach to requests was fucked from the start.
"Fine, first to find it claims it!"
Setterd smirked.
"You wanna go?"
"We're both on the queen's orders, so we're equally qualified! What choice do we have? Finder's keepers!"
"Looks like you're solo. Think you can take us alone?"
The Iron Fist Brothers crowded the rails, roaring battle cries and hurling crude taunts to flex their numbers.
"Boys! Stab the bastard underwater if you see him—I don't care! Just smash him!"
"Yes, boss!"
"Fuck off before we ram you, you shits! We claimed this spot first!"
The Iron Fist Brothers brandished their blades in threat. The captain approached with a worried frown.
"What now?"
No options. The Iron Fist Brothers had a brutal reputation, and with Naru diving, he worried for Sophia and the crew left aboard.
"We back off. Let them have the spot."
They steered the ship as far away as possible to another area. As soon as they anchored, Naru donned his finned helmet and prepared to dive.
He turned to Sophia one last time.
"I'll be back."
"They say if you die at sea, your soul can't reach the afterlife—it's trapped in the ocean forever. So don't die. Come back safe."
Seeing the queen's mother made that sound true enough. Naru shrugged.
"Got it."
With a splash, he plunged into the sea. As he sank, bubbles trailing, something incredible happened.
The Sea Princess's skin armor fused with his body like a fish to water. Metal and leather merged seamlessly with his flesh, becoming his very skin. No discomfort at all.
His entire body shimmered emerald, transforming him in the blink of an eye into a true denizen of the deep—a merman. Even the Dragon King would be fooled by the perfection.
"Incredible..."
He touched his unrecognizable face, then tested swimming. Breathing underwater? Effortless. Fins twitching at will? Check. Speed surpassing a shark? Absolutely. Webs between his fingers, and his cock retracted like a whale's, extending smoothly on arousal.
Everything was perfect.
"Swim test done. Now for the main event..."
Time to hunt that necklace. Kicking up foam, he shot forward in a straight line at blinding speed.
"Potions ready? Down 'em!"
"Underwater breathing potions ain't cheap—don't waste a drop!"
"Finished? Dive!"
Splash! Splash! Splash!
The Iron Fist Brothers, clad in diving gear, leaped from their ship. Setterd watched intently.
Since running into Naru, the smirk had vanished from his face.
"Kang Naru..."
He'd once witnessed Naru hunt up close. The way he'd butchered that monstrous beast was awe-inspiring. Pure chills. He'd been speechless, realizing such a monster existed.
From then on, he'd kept tabs. But Naru had burned bright briefly, then faded from memory—and Setterd's interest.
Until today. Out of nowhere.
Knowing Naru's skill, Setterd tensed at the thought of him snatching the prize. No choice but to go all out.
"That bitch queen fucked this up royally."
Grumbling, Setterd chugged his two-hour underwater breathing potion, tossed the empty vial, and dove.
Thirty subordinates swam the depths, methodically sweeping their divided sectors.
Has to be around here.
They signaled, narrowing the search. After thirty minutes, word came: shipwreck found.
I win!
Setterd grinned, bubbles escaping his mouth.
This way.
He followed his men to the wreck. There it was—the shattered hull. Cheers and thumbs-up all around.
Tonight, booze and women in both fists, party like mad.
Find the necklace.
Got it.
Yes, sir.
Just as Setterd signaled the order—
Shrieeek.
Something sliced through the water at high speed. An ominous sound evoking deep-sea terror echoed from all sides.
Then several subordinates spewed blood and died, long tentacles piercing their chests.
Fuck, monster!
Battle stations, all!
A madwoman scuttled on ten tentacles. Her upper body was a middle-aged woman's, hair like writhing kelp floating wildly. Eyes pitch-black, no whites. Decaying skin a dark purple.
That bitch has the necklace!
Setterd's eyes widened. He knew instantly—that was the prize.
Kraaa!
The monster opened wide, unleashing unknown magic. Wave-like pulses rippled outward.
On contact, his men froze in place, crushed by overwhelming terror, bodies trembling helplessly. Nothing else possible.
Even battle-hardened Setterd couldn't move.
Th-this... no way, Pressure?
Felt like paralysis, but wasn't. Pure panic. A horrific technique to terrify foes for minutes.
Don't fuck with me—I ain't affected!
He resisted, but not a twitch. Not even a finger.
Shit! Damn it!
This was no ordinary monster. Lord-class, top-tier. Why here? Should've scouted more!
Proper prep, and Pressure wouldn't have landed!
Overconfident...
As he tsked in regret, a tentacle invaded his mouth, exiting through his anus. Eyes rolled back, body went limp.
More tentacles rampaged, skewering his men one by one.
"Gahk...!"
Glug-glug.
As the tentacle withdrew, seawater flooded his mouth like a bullet.
In his final moments, adrift in the water, vision blurring... he saw it.
Far off, the monster—distracted by them—having its head cleanly severed.
Incredible. Someone else here? Ah...!
Face indistinct, but he knew the feel. That sword slicing the neck—gleaming even underwater. Lancer.
Its owner...
Kang Naru...! You wield Pressure too, and used us as bait...!
With that thought, Setterd breathed his last.