The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-482

Chapter 482: The Naval Battle (4)

Who once said that the first life emerged from the sea?

In a worldview dominated by creationism, there would only be a few who agree with such a statement.

However, many would agree with the idea that the last life would perish in the sea.

...Boom!

The final battle with the demons began as a naval conflict.

A raging black sea, a storm blowing fiercely, columns of fire from archers breaking through the ocean surface, and deep-sea monsters baring their fangs.

The invincible fleet of the Donquixote Clan and the allied forces of Tochka were engaged in a massive war against the demon’s minions.

The battlefield was the Empire’s capital, ‘Venetior.’

Once the gathering place of all culture and fashion, the richest and most sophisticated individuals once strolled gracefully through its streets. Now, it had become the center of a fierce naval battle, with tidal waves, storms, and torrential rains raging.

At the heart of this immense chaos lay one single, vast, and terrifying presence.

A creature that often appeared in sailors' epics.

Though no one had ever seen it, everyone knew of its terror.

A mysterious being said to be capable of dragging entire islands into the deep sea with each of its eight legs.

The Kraken

Risk Level: S+

Size: ?

Location of Discovery: Lower Depths of the Deep Sea

-Also known as the ‘Overlord of the Abyss’ or ‘The Adversary of Nouvellebag.’

One of the two legendary sea creatures said to have been born when light and darkness were created.

Among the various creatures frequently mentioned in sailors’ epics, it is by far the most feared.

Even while lying dormant on the deep sea floor, too cold and dark for anything else to survive, when it begins to move, it can reshape the entire geography of the oceans.

No one knows why this terrifying creature, which should be deep within the depths of ocean, now here in Venetior.

Its enormous, round head, covered in barnacles, limpets, and seaweed, resembles an island from afar.

Its eight tentacles, each as massive as a mountain range.

Its two enormous circular eyes burn yellow as if feeding on the darkness of the deep sea.

The Kraken.

Creak-

Orca gritted his teeth.

Boom Boom Boom!

The full force of his club collided with the Kraken’s tentacle, which was crashing down towards the ship.

Even Orca, one of the strongest people in the current time, couldn’t fully withstand the Kraken’s tentacle.

The arrows from the knights of Usher also faltered before the Kraken’s overwhelming size and defense.

The Kraken charged forward, its entire body covered in layers of barnacle shells, limpets, and coral, forming an armor made of tens, hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of layers.

Bang Bang Bang!

A hole was torn in Usher’s fire net, and hordes of monsters began pouring in.

These creatures, tearing through the net, started making holes in the ship's hull or clambering onto the deck by grabbing onto the railings.

Several ships of the invincible fleet were already showing signs of sinking.

But the allied forces were not to be underestimated.

D'Ordume, Souaré, Bdissem, and Flubber stepped forward.

“Leave it to us. That thing is the devil of the deep sea that frequently attacked our Nouvellebag! We have a mountain of debts to repay.”

“We’ve fought it a few times before. See that scar on its eye? I gave it that about 10 years ago.”

“Who would’ve thought we’d meet again here?”

[……! ……! ……!]

D'Ordume created a whirlwind of slashes, scraping off the barnacles and shells clinging to the Kraken’s body.

Whirrrrr-

The thick shell armor, which seemed to have been layered over eons, was shaved off by his axe blade.

The living shells shattered, bursting with fluids, and the dead corals beneath them crumbled easily.

Souaré also drew upon her Dwarven strength.

She lifted skyscrapers from the now-submerged capital and used the earth and stones to pierce the Kraken’s underside.

Bang Bang Bang Bang!

The Kraken let out a heavy roar from beneath the water.

Taking advantage of the moment, Bdissem wrapped countless chains around the Kraken's body.

Flubber, too, expanded its form, spreading out to cover and dissolve part of the Kraken's body.

Oooooooooh-

The sound of a ship's horn echoed from beneath the sea.

It was the Kraken’s roar of agony.

The water began to boil, and the earth started to tremble.

…*Slash!*

Vikir sliced through one of the Kraken’s tentacles as it came crashing down towards the ship.

As the dark blue blood splattered, a cold, briny scent filled the air.

At that moment.

“Friend! Now’s the time!”

Tudor’s voice rang out from behind.

Vikir turned to see Tudor steering a ship directly towards the Kraken.

A ship with a large, pointed spear at the front was charging fiercely at the Kraken.

Crash!

The small fleet led by Tudor finally managed to sever one of the Kraken's tentacles.

It was a feat that even the mighty Orca and Sade hadn’t been able to accomplish.

Tudor shouted triumphantly at Vikir.

“We’ll handle this gatekeeper! You push forward!”

“…….”

Vikir quietly watched Tudor.

When they had first met at the Academy, he had been just a fledgling, but in the past few years, he had rapidly risen to the ranks of heroes.

Seeing him now, commanding numerous ships and facing off against the Kraken, Vikir felt that there was no need to worry anymore.

Given a little more time, he might surpass even the great hero Tudor from Vikir’s past life.

This time, he would survive without dying.

And the presence of Sancho and Bianca by Tudor’s side only strengthened Vikir’s confidence.

“Vikir! We’ve got your back!”

“You said we don’t have time! We’ll manage things here somehow!”

Tudor closed the conversation with a powerful shout.

“My friend! Go and become a legend!”

At the same time, the invincible fleet and the Kraken clashed ferociously once more.

Deafening explosions, showers of fire, tsunamis, and earthquakes turned the sky and sea into a chaotic maelstrom.

Morg’s magic, Quovadis’s holy barrier, and Bourgeois’ resources continued to explode.

Even the hounds of Baskerville were biting into the Kraken’s massive body with all their might.

Finally, Vikir boarded a small boat.

His plan was to break through the gap where the Kraken’s gaze didn’t reach and advance towards the imperial palace.

Then.

Swoosh!

The Kraken’s body suddenly flipped over.

A moment later, a giant eye turned to focus on Vikir.

The Kraken had a hidden eye at its rear, in addition to the two visible ones!

Rumble Rumble Rumble Rumble-

The Kraken’s eight legs began to withdraw from the front lines and turned towards Vikir.

The severed and charred legs, still retaining their shape, were swung wildly at him.

“……!”

Just as Vikir gritted his teeth and drew his sword.

Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom Boom!

The water behind Vikir exploded violently.

Eight legs. Eight massive legs.

The eight enormous legs that burst through the sea surface clashed with the Kraken’s tentacles.

[Kraaaaaaaa!]

Baby Madam… How had she managed to follow them all the way here?

Leaving her offsprings behind, she had come after Vikir alone, now standing atop the clock tower of the capital where they had once soared together, her eight legs unfurled.

Bang Bang Bang Bang!

As soon as she burst out from beneath the water, Baby Madam pinned down the Kraken's legs.

The Kraken, already struggling with the spreading poison, was visibly startled by the presence of another creature as large as itself.

Soon, the allied forces began bombarding the Kraken again from behind, taking advantage of its distraction from the struggle with Baby Madam.

Oooooooooh!

The Kraken had no choice but to turn its body once more.

Naturally, Vikir slipped out of its focus.

"…Thank you."

For the first time, Vikir acknowledged that he owed someone.

Though the friends who would have been overjoyed to hear these words weren’t there to hear them.

Then, Vikir's boat, powered by a strong southeast wind, sped forward furiously.

Riding the fierce wind, strong enough to snap the mast, the small vessel shot forward like an arrow.

Finally.

Crash!

Vikir's boat, riding a high wave, crashed against a solid staircase and shattered.

Before the boat could break apart, Vikir leaped off the deck and landed on the stairs.

Golden steps that seemed to stretch endlessly towards the sky.

Though the lower part was submerged in the sea, they still stood tall and magnificent.

Above them lay the imperial palace, usually hidden by the clouds.

Thunk-

Vikir took a step onto the staircase leading to the imperial palace.

…*Creak!*

The sound of a coffin being dragged along chains echoed.

Vikir climbed the stairs, pulling a coffin behind him.

...And from afar, Kirko, despite the urgency, tilted her head in curiosity as she watched Vikir's diminishing figure.

"What’s in that coffin? Who’s inside?"

“Come to think of it, big brother has been carrying that coffin around ever since he left Tochka.”

The one who answered was Sinclaire.

Dolores, also puzzled, spoke up.

“I asked him about it last night because I was curious.”

"Yeah, me too. He said it contains the spirits of all the comrades who have died so far."

Aiyen nodded in agreement.

Then, finally, Camus narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

“Hmm. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

If Camus, a great sorceress, had such a premonition, it was serious.

Aiyen, Dolores, Sinclaire, and Kirko all turned their gazes toward her, silently asking for the reason.

Eventually, Camus answered their unspoken question.

“...It’s just a woman’s intuition, I guess?”