Chapter 70
Overwhelming waves crashed in the waters near Tokyo. A fierce battle raged in Sagami Bay. Dozens of warships and fishing vessels lay shattered and sinking, their twisted metal scraps and debris floating across the sea. Drones and helicopters captured the battlefield from above, while below, Cantalanov's thick octopus tentacles writhed like a mountain range engulfing the ocean.
"Gaaah!"
"Incoming!"
A massive tentacle surged skyward through a violent spray, cleaving the air like a guillotine before wrapping around a destroyer.
"We're sinking!"
"Everyone, abandon ship!"
The deck and hull crumpled with the screech of bending steel. BOOM! Players unleashing magic and arrows leaped into the sea as the bisected destroyer, dragged by the tentacle, plunged into the depths behind them.
Melee classes could only suck their thumbs from afar, helpless to join the fight.
"Damn it! At least in the game there was solid ground to stand on!"
"How the hell are we supposed to fight without footing?!"
But the players didn't give up. Hundreds darted between vessels, raining beams of light and lightning bolts. Then, as if the entire ocean flipped over, a massive quake hit. The sea churned into a vortex.
An unstoppable current mocked the will of nature itself.
"What the—?!"
"Don't get sucked in!"
Shredded warship fragments and players alike spiraled toward the center. Those farther out barely escaped using mana.
—ROOOARRR!
A colossal monster's head burst through the surface, devouring debris in a single gulp. Cantalanov's roar sent circular shockwaves rippling outward. Then the sea level began to rise. Cantalanov was pulling up the surrounding waters.
"No, no, no!"
"Shit, the whole city'll flood at this rate!"
The players recoiled in horror, but Cantalanov pressed on, slicing through the waves with its massive bulk as if mocking them. Warships bucked wildly in the tsunami-like surge.
"Gaaah!"
"Block it! Whatever it takes!"
Building-sized tentacles pierced the surface, as if intent on toppling the city itself.
Are we just supposed to watch?
That thought flickered through everyone's minds—
WHOOOOSH!
BOOM!
Something hurtled like a cannon shell, ripping through the air with a deafening screech before slamming into Cantalanov's head.
—SKREEE!
The blow tilted the beast's enormous body, smashing it face-first into the sea. Its eight tentacles thrashed wildly, whipping up tidal waves.
"Did... did we take down Cantalanov?"
"One hit on that thing?!"
"Who the hell did that?"
The players looked skyward in confusion. And there, they saw it.
A transcendent being radiating blood-red aura from every inch of its form.
"Sertina?!"
Awe and terror mingled in their voices.
What the hell is that giant octopus?
I thought as I leaped from Cha Eun-joo's airship. It looked impressive enough in photos, but up close, its presence was insane—like it could churn the entire ocean.
Still, compared to the Tytaronths Nevaros summoned, it was less than a drop in the bucket.
"Guess I'll smack it once and figure it out later."
I pulled my fist back mid-dive and unleashed it.
BOOM!
Space itself seemed to warp from the impact as Cantalanov plunged into the depths.
"Wonder if it'd taste good boiled."
The players gawked at me, mouths agape like they'd forgotten how to speak. Beyond them, the defenseless inland and buildings came into view.
"Better drag it far from land first."
I shot toward the flailing Cantalanov as it regained its balance. WHOOSH! Air split with a sonic boom as I landed atop its head. I clamped my hand down, mana surging from my grip to pin its massive skull like a spike.
"Be good and come along now."
I hauled it out of the water with a flex of my arm.
RUMBLE!
The island-sized bulk lifted into the air, seawater cascading like a waterfall.
—ROOOAR!
Cantalanov thrashed its tentacles in a frenzy, but against my overwhelming strength, it was just a baby's tantrum.
"Whoa..."
"Insane..."
Japan's players stared in stunned silence, some faces familiar.
Omega's guild leader Sumida, huh.
I flung the airborne Cantalanov toward the distant horizon.
BOOM!
The super-heavy beast shattered the surface, blurring the sea-sky line like a nuke had detonated underwater. Spray scattered kilometers out.
"...Time to solve the food shortage, I guess."
I dove in, pummeling its body mercilessly.
THUD! BOOM!
This was no longer a world boss duel. It was one-sided brutality—the apex predator's savage domination.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
Using my agility, I circled it like a knife peeling an apple, landing dozens of punches in a blink. The colossal form wobbled like a helium balloon with every hit.
—SKREEE!
Cantalanov swung its eight tentacles to snag me, smashing its own head in the process. Each had the power to crumple a destroyer in one strike—terrifying, but to me? Less than a kid's punch. It couldn't even land, and if it did, no real damage.
"Quit flailing."
WHAM!
I punted it like a soccer ball back toward the horizon. It skipped across the waves like a stone before plunging in again.
SPLASH!
Blood rained from the sky—some from its wounds, some from the blood clouds I conjured. Vast swaths of ocean turned crimson.
Finally, Cantalanov bolted, desperately swimming deep to escape.
"Not happening."
I crossed two fingers and pointed upward.
"Come back up."
RUMBLE...
The entire sea vibrated. The blood permeating the waters responded to my will like a living thing.
SURGE!
Waves roiled violently. The blood shackled Cantalanov like iron chains, forming a massive prison that halted its flight.
Then the sea surface bulged upward in a dome.
RUMBLE!
Trapped in the enormous blood orb, Cantalanov rose above the waves into the sky—a sight beyond words, transcendent and majestic.
Players rubbed their eyes in disbelief, staring upward.
I locked eyes with Cantalanov's panicked pupils and deployed mana everywhere.
"Did some research beforehand."
Thousands of blood swords gleamed under the sun, encircling it. I'd analyzed my unique skill Bloodsword structure to bypass the 100-unit limit.
"Heard you dive when things get tough."
That firepower enthusiast's post was a big help—minus the constant trash-talk about me. I'd make him eat those words with a little fist someday.
"Knowledge always wins."
With that, I unleashed the mana.
Thousands of blood swords pierced its body at once.
CRUNCH!
—SKREEEEE!
Cantalanov writhed in agony within the sphere.
"How long can you keep up that pointless struggling?"
Ten more blood swords materialized—this time supersized, beyond normal blade limits. Giant gifts.
"Let's see you take these."
The ten swords charged. My blood-red eyes blazed with cruel cross light.
"I'll keep going till you die."
Yeah. Decision made watching this thing.
...Dinner's gonna be boiled octopus tonight.
Cha Eun-joo mentioned something on the way that kinda stung, but whatever. Tastes good anyway.
"G-Guild leader... what the hell is this?"
Omega guild member stammered. Sumida swallowed hard, staring at the spectacle.
They'd encountered Sertina a couple times before, but witnessing her fight up close? First time. It was so absurd, words failed.
"Hm... a natural disaster pass by or something?"
Arms crossed, that was all Sumida could muster. She was beyond human power—an entity outside normal bounds. No human could touch her, so it fit.
Even so, yeeting that monster with raw strength...
Then Sertina dove toward them. Sumida straightened up instinctively. He knew she wasn't a threat now, but the tension was real.
Her presence is no joke.
Sertina streaked across the sky toward the coastline. As she neared the ground—
"...!"
Her body suddenly wobbled and dropped. Arms flailing, she plummeted.
SPLASH!
"...?"
In that split-second before she hit the water, Sumida caught it: Sertina's wide-eyed shock, locking eyes with him.
Why's the flight time running out right now?!