Eleos reacted quickly when the water began to spin violently. Feeling the pull of the current growing stronger beneath her feet, she pushed herself toward the shore with all her strength. The swirling water tried to drag her back, but she managed to reach the shallows and stumble onto the ground just before the vortex could pull her in. She turned around immediately, her eyes wide with alarm as she watched the lake twist unnaturally.
In the middle of the lake, the situation was far worse. Michio and several of his wives, who had been swimming not far from Arman and Altair, were caught directly in the growing current. The water dragged them steadily toward the center of the lake, their bodies pulled by the spiraling force beneath the surface. They struggled desperately to swim against it, but the vortex was far too strong.
Below the surface, Altair felt himself being dragged deeper and deeper into the darkness of the lake. The pressure of the water increased as the unseen force tightened around him, pulling him toward the depths. Just as the pull became almost unbearable, the water suddenly exploded outward.
With a thunderous surge, a massive creature burst up from the depths of the lake.
A gigantic Kraken emerged, its enormous body rising through the swirling water while its massive tentacles whipped violently in every direction. The sudden eruption shattered the vortex, and Altair was violently thrown upward by the explosive force of the creature breaking the surface.
His body was hurled high into the air above the lake.
For a brief moment, everything spun around him as dizziness clouded his senses. But Altair quickly forced himself to focus. As he regained awareness while still in midair, his eyes sharpened with calm determination.
Shadows gathered instantly around his hand.
He summoned his Shadow Weapon, the dark energy forming into a deadly blade as he prepared himself for battle even before landing.
Below him, the enormous Kraken spread its tentacles across the surface of the lake, towering above the water like a nightmare rising from the depths.
Eleos raised her hand, dark energy gathering around her palm as she cast Bestow Curse upon the massive Kraken. A wave of necrotic energy spread across the creature's slick, armored hide, weakening its movements. At the same moment, Arman focused his mana, forming a blazing Fire Sphere above his hand. The swirling orb burned fiercely as heat rippled through the air.
Meanwhile, Altair pushed through the water with swift, controlled strokes. A tentacle slammed down toward him, but he twisted his body and narrowly dodged the crushing bash. Using the brief opening, he surged forward and struck with Shadow Strike, his blade cloaked in dark energy as it cut into the Kraken's flesh.
But the wound did not last long. The Kraken's monstrous body pulsed, its Regenerative Core rapidly restoring the damage it had taken. With a furious roar, the beast gathered the surrounding water and unleashed a massive tidal wave. The surge crashed into the group before they could fully escape its reach. All of them were thrown back by the force.
"Oh my God!" Eleos exclaimed as she struggled to regain her balance.
"It's too powerful…" Altair muttered, clutching his chest where the impact had struck him.
Refusing to give up, Eleos stepped forward again. Dark necrotic energy gathered around her hand as she cast Inflict Wounds, sending a surge of destructive power into the Kraken's body.
Beside her, Arman reshaped his spell. The Fire Sphere compressed and elongated, transforming into a blazing spear of fire. By modifying the shape, he focused its energy to increase its piercing power before launching it toward the monster.
At the same time, Altair vanished into the shadows. Using the darkness around the Kraken, he slipped behind the creature. His ability Shadow Form manifested two blades made entirely of shadow in his hands. With swift precision, he lunged forward and slashed deep into the Kraken's back.
The creature roared in fury. One of its massive tentacles whipped around and gripped Altair tightly, lifting him off the water before violently swinging him and hurling him into the sea.
"OH MY GOD, ALTAIR!" Eleos screamed.
"Ughh…" Altair groaned in pain, struggling to move his body.
Eleos immediately rushed toward him, placing her glowing hand over his wounds. Warm divine energy flowed through her palm as she cast Cure Wounds, sealing the damage and restoring his strength.
While the Kraken was momentarily focused on Altair, the others managed to escape the dangerous center of the water. Michio and his wives swam quickly toward the shore where their weapons had been left behind. Within moments they returned, now armed and ready.
Joining the battle, they charged forward and began attacking the Kraken together, their strikes adding to the relentless assault against the monstrous creature. The battle had grown even more chaotic, but now the party was no longer fighting alone.
Arman quickly raised both hands and cast Water Barrier, a flowing shield of condensed water forming around the party. The barrier swirled gently around them, reducing the force of the waves crashing from the Kraken's attacks.
"Keep attacking, guys!!" Eleos shouted, gripping her mace tightly.
Suddenly, Michio dashed forward. To everyone's surprise, he began running across the surface of the water, his body surrounded by a powerful aura. Moving with incredible speed, he struck the Kraken again and again from above the water, leaping and dodging its tentacle flails and crashing waves like a seasoned warrior.
Altair followed him closely, though he had to swim between strikes. Using Shadow Strike, he repeatedly lunged in and out of the fight, slashing at the Kraken whenever an opening appeared. He tried his best to evade the attacks, but without the ability to stand on the water like Michio, some of the blows still managed to hit him.
The Kraken was now heavily wounded. Its body pulsed as it struggled to regenerate, but the damage had become too much. The monster roared in rage, its massive tentacles thrashing violently before unleashing Maelstrom Crash. The surrounding water twisted into a destructive vortex, sending everyone flying away as the violent surge struck them hard.
Bruised and exhausted, the party struggled to stand again. The situation was becoming desperate.
Then Michio suddenly pointed toward a specific spot on the Kraken's massive body.
"Attack that point together!!" he shouted.
Altair reacted first. Forming shadow energy in his hand, he unleashed a barrage of shadow daggers, sending multiple blades flying toward the exact spot Michio had indicated.
At the same time, Eleos hurled her mace forward, its head glowing with holy power as it spun through the air.
Arman gathered a large amount of mana into his hands. The Fire Sphere grew larger and brighter, swelling into something closer to a blazing fireball before he launched it with full force.
All three attacks struck the same point on the Kraken's body.
For a moment, the monster trembled. The flesh around the wound tried to regenerate… but this time, it failed. The energy inside its body collapsed, and the gigantic creature let out a final roar before going completely still.
The Kraken was dead.
Cheers erupted among the group as relief washed over them. Exhausted, they made their way to the shore of the lake, collapsing onto the ground to rest and regain their strength.
"At last… that stupid creature died," Altair said while lying on the ground.
"Yeah… finally. I'm so tired…" Arman replied, breathing heavily.
"I'm sooo hungry…" Altair groaned.
"HANG ON, GUYS! Let's cook first, then eat to regain our energy!" Eleos said enthusiastically.
Michio grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, Altair. If you faint from hunger, I'll wake you up with mouth-to-mouth."
Altair suddenly shot upright.
"Let's cook," Arman said calmly.
"I… can't cook…" Eleos admitted.
With an annoyed and slightly angry expression, Altair ended up doing the cooking himself. Soon, pieces of the Kraken were roasting over the fire, filling the air with a surprisingly delicious aroma.
The group ate well that night, finally relaxing after the brutal battle. Under the quiet night sky beside the lake, they rested and regained their strength.
Fortunately, no monsters came to disturb their sleep.
≡ Status ≡
Arman — Human — Level 9
Occupation: Mage
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HP: 178 / 178
Mana: 138 / 138
Stamina: 156 / 156
Mana Control: 27%
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Spells
• Minor Fire Sphere – Oxygen Compression
• Flame Bolt
• Mana Push
• Mage's Hand
• Earth Spike
• Earth Forming
• Water Droplets
• Water Barrier
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Skills
• Mana Perception Lv.2
≡ Status ≡
Altair Everett — Human — Level 14
Occupation: Assassin
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HP: 224 / 224
Mana: 118 / 118
Stamina: 206 / 206
Mana Control: 37%
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Skills
• Shadow Cloak
• Enhanced Perception
• Agility Boost
• Weapon Form (Shadow)
• Shadow Strike
• Shadow Assault
≡ Status ≡
Eleos Anaidea — Human — Level 10
Occupation: Gravebound Cleric
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HP: 202 / 202
Mana: 262 / 262
Stamina: 116 / 116
Mana Control: 50%
Divinity Affinity: Death
Spiritual Resonance: High
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Abilities
• Cure Wounds
• Inflict Wounds
• Bestow Curse
• Wither and Bloom
• Grave Ward