"It's the lake monster!"
At the bow, Captain Shaw gripped the wheel tightly, his eyes blazing with excitement. After years of tracking, he had finally found the Krakken.
Dark green tentacles lashed across the lake like raging dragons, whipping up towering white waves as they surged straight toward the Friends of Fish Association.
"It's the lake monster!"
At the bow, Captain Shaw gripped the wheel tightly, his eyes blazing with excitement. After years of tracking, he had finally found Krakken.
Dark green tentacles lashed across the lake like raging dragons, whipping up towering white waves as they surged straight toward the Friends of Fish Association.
"Ben, get back! Stay away from the deck!"
Grandpa Max reached out and pulled the stunned Ben back.
"Grandpa, what should we do?" Ben asked, his voice trembling.
Gwen was just as frightened. Facing such a ferocious and monstrous creature, both felt a deep, helpless fear.
"You two head back first." Lucian stepped forward. "Leave this to me. That lake monster's target is the Friends of Fish Association—it won't go after you."
"Alright," Grandpa Max said with a grave nod. They were deep in the lake now—this was no place for mistakes. One wrong move could cost their lives.
"Damn it! I actually forgot to bring weapons today!" Captain Shaw roared angrily. "We're going back to grab our gear, then we'll come back and catch that lake monster alive!"
Whoosh!
The moment he finished, Captain Shaw slammed the throttle forward, the fishing boat tearing through swirling snowflakes as it sped toward the village.
Meanwhile, Lucian moved to the back of the boat, raised the Omnitrix on his wrist, and pressed the switch. A series of alien projections flickered to life in emerald light.
Four Arms, Diamondhead, Wildmutt, Upgrade...
Lucian shook his head. They were all strong, but none fit for underwater combat.
Beep...
A slender fish-like alien suddenly appeared on the hologram. A faint smile curved Lucian's lips.
"You're up." He slammed his hand down without hesitation.
A burst of blue light flared from the stern, followed by a splash as something fell into the water.
The roaring engine masked the sound, and Captain Shaw noticed nothing. His eyes stayed fixed ahead, burning with obsession—he couldn't wait to return, grab his special weapon, and capture the legendary lake monster.
Grandpa Max glanced toward the stern, knowing Lucian had already taken action. Ben and Gwen exchanged a look, then shrugged.
Splash!
A towering wall of white waves rose like a giant beast, roaring as it charged toward the oil tanker, claws of foam stretching wide.
At the edge of the deck, Jonah Melville's eyes gleamed coldly. "Heh, since the Mother's here, I'll take you all down at once."
He barked an order, and every armed man on deck lined up along the railing, weapons ready, facing the oncoming monster without fear.
"Roar!"
The massive creature burst through the waves with a thunderous roar, its mouth filled with jagged fangs. Its tentacles shot forward, striking at the wooden crates on the transport deck.
"Attack!" Jonah shouted. "Capture that lake monster alive—it'll sell for a fortune!"
Even as he yelled, his mind drifted to visions of luxury—Hawaiian beaches, sunshine, bikini-clad women, cherry blossoms, days drenched in gold and jade, surrounded by beauty and indulgence...
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Flashes erupted from the machine guns as streams of bullets poured forth, merging into a storm of steel that ripped through the air toward the monster.
Countless bullets howled, hammering into the lake monster's body, forcing it back with pained roars.
These specially treated rounds packed the power of sniper bullets, but fired in machine-gun bursts. Even the thick-skinned Krakken struggled under the relentless assault.
"Roar!"
Gritting its teeth through unbearable pain, the lake monster forced its tentacles forward. Like agile vines, they whipped toward the massive wooden crate.
"Quick! Increase firepower!" Jonah Melville shouted. They couldn't let the lake monster take those crates.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
A dozen armed men unleashed a storm of bullets, ignoring the heat rolling off their gun barrels as they pulled the triggers again and again, hammering the monster with relentless fire.
But it was too late.
The lake monster's body was riddled with bullet holes, covered in a dense web of wounds. None were deep, but the pain was agonizing. Even under the barrage, it swept its tentacles toward the wooden crate, trying to drag it away.
Then—something changed.
The mech guarding the crate suddenly swung its massive iron fist, slamming the injured tentacle back.
"Roar!" The lake monster howled in pain as another wave of bullets struck its body.
Covering its face, it staggered backward under the violent fire, yet still refused to retreat. That crate clearly held something it couldn't abandon...
"Hahahaha! How touching, big lake monster! I'll reunite you with it right now!"
Jonah Melville charged forward, piloting the towering mech with a furious roar. Its claws crackled with blinding electricity as it lunged straight for the lake monster.
The monster bellowed in rage, lashing out two thick tentacles like whips.
Crackle!
High-voltage current met flesh. The lightning from the mech's hands clashed with the monster's tentacles, exploding in a shower of electric arcs. Energy surged through the creature's body, forcing out a piercing, pained scream.
Already wounded, the lake monster couldn't endure the brutal current. Its eyes dulled, its movements slowed, and it began to sink into unconsciousness.
"Heh, no matter how strong you are, you'll never beat me!" Jonah Melville laughed wildly inside the cockpit. "In this world, there's no freak I can't crush!"
"Is that so?"
A cold voice came from behind.
Startled, Jonah Melville cut off the current and turned the mech around.
Freed from the surge of electricity, the lake monster let out a faint sigh of relief, its half-lidded eyes fading as it slowly sank into the lake.
"What the hell are you?" Jonah Melville shouted, staring in disbelief at the figure before him.
Covered in scales, with pale blue skin and a green light dangling from its head, the creature's face was twisted and savage, its mouth full of jagged fangs.
"Ripjaws!"
With a roar, Ripjaws lunged forward, clamping onto the mech's arm with both hands and biting down hard.
Snap!
The powerful bite sheared through the metal limb instantly. Wires sparked and crackled at the torn edge, sizzling with short-circuits.
"Ah! You damn monster!" Jonah Melville's voice shook with fury, his eyes bloodshot.
That mech had cost him years of effort and an enormous fortune. Losing just one arm meant millions in damage!
His rage boiled over. He switched the mech's fist to a spinning drill claw, its blades whirring so fast the air itself stung.
"Die, you filthy fish-man!"
The deadly spiral claw surged forward, carrying a storm of violent power, driving straight toward Ripjaws...