"Crackle—"
The monster's massive body smashed through the hull, sending seawater pouring in. Its mountainous bulk slowly sank into the water, its tentacles churning the sea into a turbulent whirlpool.
Diluc's eyes turned cold, and he leaped toward the breach in the hull.
"Crash!!"
The gentle sea breeze lifted his red hair as the flames on the Blackrock Slasher surged, instantly evaporating the surrounding seawater into a thick cloud of white mist.
"Want to escape? Not that easy!"
As he spoke, he gripped the blade with both hands. Blazing Pyro energy gathered wildly along its edge, distorting the air with intense heat.
The monster seemed to sense the danger and thrashed desperately, trying to dive deeper—but it was too late.
"Dawn is coming!"
Diluc swung his sword, and the flames along the blade erupted into a fiery phoenix with a wingspan stretching dozens of meters.
"Clang! Clang! Clang—!!"
The phoenix—reminiscent of the legendary bird—spread its crimson wings and let out a piercing cry. Wherever it flew, the sea boiled, and plumes of steam rose into the sky.
Even before the phoenix made contact, the oily substance coating the monster's hide burst into flame.
"Ouch—!"
The creature shrieked, its thousands of tentacles thrashing wildly against the water and sending waves tens of meters high. But it was futile.
"BOOM!!"
The fire phoenix struck the monster's back with pinpoint accuracy. Dazzling flames shot skyward, lighting up the night as bright as day.
The searing heat instantly vaporized flesh and blood from the surface, while the residual energy seared deep into its body, incinerating organs and bones alike.
In mere seconds, the colossal, mountain-like beast became a violently burning fireball.
The sea glowed crimson, and through the billowing steam, countless charred fragments of tentacles rained down like ash.
Diluc sheathed his sword and walked away.
Behind him, the monster's remains slowly sank into the depths, leaving only drifting ashes on the surface as proof it had ever existed.
---
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
In the observation hall, Peter Parker stood breathing heavily, the steel pipe in his hand twisted and mangled.
He stood protectively in front of Gwen Stacy and Kate, with seven or eight crushed tentacle remnants scattered at his feet.
"Is it… over?"
Hearing the distant explosion and seeing the column of flame pierce the sky outside, Peter finally let out a sigh of relief—and dropped the pipe.
But before he could catch his breath, Gwen threw herself into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.
"Just now… I thought—I thought I'd never see you again…"
Her voice trembled, and her tears soaked his shoulder.
Peter's cheeks flushed. He reached up and gently patted her back, whispering:
"You… if you don't let go, we really won't see each other again!"
Harry Osborn stood to the side, arms crossed. For some reason, his throat suddenly felt tight. He cleared it loudly and called out:
"Ahem! Hurry up—the boat's about to sink!"
Kate was beside him, muttering in a strange tone:
"Oh, Jack~ Oh, Rose~ You jump, I jump~"
Hearing the teasing, Gwen Stacy blushed and let go—but still held Peter Parker's fingers tightly.
"Boom—!"
Suddenly, the hull tilted violently again, and the harsh sound of twisting metal echoed from all directions.
Harry Osborn's expression changed abruptly. "Oh no! This ship can't hold out much longer!"
Everyone stumbled toward the hall exit—only to find the stairwell had completely collapsed and the elevator shaft was twisted and deformed.
"I'll take them up. You follow closely."
Diluc's voice came from behind. Before anyone could react, he'd already hoisted Kate onto his back, wrapped his left arm around Gwen Stacy's waist, and grabbed the back of Harry Osborn's collar with his right hand.
"Hold on tight."
Diluc whispered the warning, then leapt over a five-meter-wide fracture in the deck.
Gwen Stacy's scream was torn apart by the wind. Harry Osborn squeezed his eyes shut, and Kate bit her lip hard, her fingers digging into Diluc's shoulders.
Diluc moved across the tilting, shuddering ship as if it were flat ground. Each time his boots struck the metal bulkhead, tiny sparks flew, leaving a trail of smoldering footprints behind him.
"Wait! Peter's still—!"
Gwen Stacy's exclamation cut off abruptly. She stared in shock as Peter Parker ran up the nearly vertical bulkhead—sometimes bouncing, sometimes swinging with the help of a cable, moving at surprising speed.
"Peter, you…"
Gwen's eyes widened, her voice filled with disbelief.
Peter flashed an apologetic smile. "It's a long story—I'll explain later!"
By now, the twelfth deck had tilted severely. The lifeboat swayed violently under the tension of its restraining cable, threatening to slide into the sea at any moment.
Diluc landed steadily on the edge of the deck and set the three down one by one. He unsheathed his Blackcliff Slasher—the crimson blade slicing through the night air.
The steel cable snapped. With a thunderous crash, the lifeboat plunged into the sea, sending up a massive spray of water.
"Put on your life jackets and jump."
The three nodded, quickly donned the prepared life jackets, and leapt into the water, scrambling onto the lifeboat.
Everyone made it—except Kate, who struggled with her legs. Despite the sharp pain, she jumped anyway.
Diluc stood with his back to them, his windbreaker rippling in the gale. Gwen opened her mouth to speak—but Harry Osborn pulled her aboard before she could.
Peter Parker was the last to jump. After hauling himself onto the lifeboat, he looked up at the spot where Diluc had stood.
But there was nothing there.
Only a few sparks drifted in the night wind—as if he'd never existed.
"Mr. Diluc… disappeared?!" Gwen murmured, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Before they could process it—
"BOOM—!!!"
The Argonaut's fuel tank finally gave way under the heat. A chain reaction of explosions tore the cruise ship in half.
Flames shot into the sky, lighting up the entire sea. The shockwave sent huge waves rolling outward, rocking the lifeboat violently—nearly capsizing it.
"Damn it! We need to get out of here!" Harry shouted, wrestling with the rudder.
A massive whirlpool formed on the surface, dragging the ship's wreckage toward the depths. The lifeboat's motor roared in protest, straining against the pull.
"Faster!"
Peter gripped the edge of the boat, watching as the Argo's stern slowly vanished beneath the waves.
At last, they escaped the whirlpool. The sea gradually calmed, leaving only floating debris and oil slicks—silent proof that a luxury cruise ship had once been there.
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