[Raul POV]
I have to get to the surface immediately.
That was the only thing on my mind after seizing the artifact from Siena's hands. However, the wound on my back that I received from her was deep, making it quite difficult to swim in this raging ocean. If I didn't reach the surface quickly, my body would grow weak from losing too much blood. Therefore, I mustered all my strength and tried to swim out of the depths.
After swimming upward for nearly two minutes, my head finally broke the surface.
Thunder roared loudly in my ears. The screams of the troops fighting aboard the ships were no less deafening. However, even though I was on the surface, the massive waves caused by the storm winds could drown me again if I didn't hurry onto a ship. Suddenly, I saw a large wooden plank, debris from the ships destroyed in the ocean.
I tried to swim toward the plank. But suddenly, my body was pulled back into the sea; someone had grabbed my leg with their hand. It turned out the person pulling my leg was one of the Venetian soldiers who had fallen into the sea. He was trying to reach the only wooden plank I had found. I didn't just let him, and in turn, I pulled his leg.
The man turned and began kicking his legs, trying to break free from me. We began to struggle underwater, punching and kicking each other in an attempt to drown the other. However, it seemed I would lose a contest of strength if I stayed underwater too long because of the wound Siena gave me.
For that reason, I pressed my palm against the man's chest and prepared a new ability from the second level of one of my Profound Codices.
"Pain Swap!"
The man's body was repelled deep into the ocean. His back was seen bleeding just as mine had been. However, my back now felt no pain at all, and I felt only minor scratches. Pain Swap is the second stage of my Full Vengeance Profound Codex. This ability can transfer the pain or wounds I possess and exchange them with the body of another living person.
I then swam to reach the wooden plank and pulled my body onto it. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a crescent-moon-shaped locket I had stolen from Siena. A Rune appeared on this artifact, indicating that the item was active, though Siena had not used it because she did not know its function.
— CRACK-BOOM!!!
The sound of lightning startled me; the area of the ocean was growing darker. From a distance, a giant water octopus was seen destroying the Imperial fleet. Many of them tried to attack Celestia, but none of their attacks had any effect on the Demigod.
I then pulled a mask from inside my uniform and put it on. Then, I stood up and moved the muscles in my back. A pair of black wings emerged. With Celestia's body positioned quite high in the air, I had no choice but to fly to reach her.
"Alright, let's seize half of a Demigod's power."
***
[Elena POV]
This creature cannot be stopped...
Even though the three Grand Espadas and all our Knights and mages had unleashed their attacks on this creature, not one of these attacks had been successful in having an effect.
"Fire! Do not stop! Fire your magic at that creature!"
Hundreds of magic projectiles hurtled toward the giant water octopus, even though we knew it was all in vain. All the magic was simply swallowed by the water octopus's body and had no impact. Perhaps only powerful attacks like Uncle Raymond's previous slash were capable of stopping that figure.
"Watch out! One of its tentacles is going to strike us! Leave the ship, quickly!"
The blue tentacle of the giant water octopus swung toward us. I activated Acceleration magic to run to the edge of the ship and then jumped far using Axio magic.
— CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Loud sounds of impact were heard from behind. I then landed on another ship. Turning around, I saw that the swing of one of the giant water octopus's tentacles had just destroyed three ships at once. It was truly terrifying power. At this point, it seemed half of our fleet had been destroyed by this figure. We couldn't even retreat because the Venetian Fleet had appeared and was blocking us.
If this continued, our entire force would be slaughtered in this ocean. What should we do?
"Princess Elena..."
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice from behind. Turning around, I saw a middle-aged man in his 50s walking toward me. It was Uncle Raymond—the man who had cut through the figure's water tornado.
"Do not let this dire situation disturb your mind in battle," he advised. "If our minds are in chaos, we will not be able to find a solution to the problems we face when fighting."
"But Uncle, if we don't hurry and do something, more casualties will fall from our side!"
Furthermore, I didn't understand why none of the three Grand Espadas were using their Awakening power to stop that figure. Uncle's gaze toward me suggested he knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Princess, a Grand Espada can only use their Awakening once," Uncle said softly. "This power has a time limit, and we use it only at the right moment. Currently, we still haven't found a way to defeat that figure. If our Awakening ability runs out before we find its weakness, then our secret strength will be in vain, won't it?"
I bowed my head, hearing Uncle's explanation. All I could do was lament that my strength was not yet enough to fight on the same level as the Grand Espadas.
"Nonetheless, this does not change the dire condition we are in," Uncle said, staring at the rampaging giant water octopus.
— BOOOMMM!!!
A massive explosion of fire was created on one of the octopus's tentacles. The heated water created steam that slightly covered the area around the giant water octopus.
"Isn't that Grand Espada Danilo?" I muttered.
"Correct, that is one of the attacks from his fire Nature Mana," Uncle said.
Not long after, the steam around the giant water octopus vanished. One of its tentacles was seen destroyed by Grand Espada Danilo's attack. However, losing just one tentacle did not stop the giant water octopus from attacking our fleet again.
"Power Tempest!"
Suddenly, another of the octopus's tentacles was cut by a powerful Wind Element attack, allowing the ships about to be struck by the figure's attack to retreat safely in time. That was an attack from Grand Espada Cortez de La Hoya—the younger brother of the leader of a noble family from the Empire's western region.
This time, two tentacles of the giant octopus were gone, destroyed by two Grand Espadas. At this moment, only their magic was capable of having an effect on the figure we were fighting.
"Hmm... truly a troublesome enemy," Uncle Raymond muttered while stroking his beard, seeing that the attacks of two Grand Espadas were unable to incapacitate the figure.
If I'm not mistaken, I once fought a monster that always regenerated during the survival exam last year. At that time, it was Brian who defeated that annoying monster, wasn't it? However, after doing research in the academy library, the monster we fought actually had a physical body that wasn't as large as the giant monster we defeated then.
That meant the one who defeated the monster wasn't Brian, but someone else capable of finding the monster's weakness and defeating its true body. For some reason, the only person who came to my mind was that black-haired man.
"Uncle, all living things must have a weakness, right? Even a Goddess?" I asked him.
Hearing my question, Uncle Raymond looked at me seriously this time.
"Of course, Princess. But the stronger the enemy we face, the smaller the weakness they possess." Uncle Raymond then pointed toward the circular layer protecting the woman's figure inside the head of the giant water octopus. "And I think the Barrier created by that woman is one of them."
I looked in the direction Uncle pointed. It was true; the water Element magic used by the woman inside the circular layer could be penetrated, though she would eventually reform it as it was before. However, at such a height, was there an attack from us capable of reaching and destroying that Barrier?
"Count Raymond, you've been silent this whole time and haven't helped! Have you found this creature's weakness!?" asked Grand Espada Danilo, who landed on our ship.
"Lord Danilo, the Awakening you possess allows you to fly in the air, doesn't it?" Uncle Raymond asked the youngest Grand Espada. "We will attack the Barrier surrounding that woman's body and strike her when her defense is open."
Awakening mode is the strongest ability for a Knight. Only those who have successfully unlocked all three stages of their Profound Codex are capable of using this ability.
"Very well! I will prepare my Awakening!" said Danilo, who appeared to be gathering Mana.
On the other side, Grand Espada Cortez de La Hoya landed on the adjacent ship and likewise gathered Mana to activate his Awakening.
"Princess, could you please step back for a moment?" Uncle Raymond asked me.
I stepped back as he requested. He then gathered a significant amount of Mana this time.
"Red Velmathor!" Grand Espada Danilo shouted. His body was then enveloped in a very hot magma armor. Additionally, his skin was covered in scales similar to a red dragon.
"Green Pheasant!" This time, it was Grand Espada Cortez de La Hoya who activated his Awakening. A pair of wings emerged from his back, and his body was enveloped in green Mana particles.
"Grand Platinum!"
Finally, Uncle Raymond activated his Awakening. I had only ever seen him activate this ability once, when I was ten years old. His entire body was enveloped in platinum-colored armor, with no part of his body exposed at all. If I'm not mistaken, the Awakening Uncle possesses is capable of increasing his strength, defense, and speed by up to ten times.
"Grand Espadas! Launch!"
The three of them vanished from the ships and sped toward the giant water octopus. Grand Espada Danilo's feet were seen shooting fire to propel him into flight, while Uncle Raymond relied purely on his physical strength to soar high into the air.
the woman controlled her tentacles and tried to attack the three Grand Espadas. However, magma exploded one of the tentacles, Uncle Raymond was seen cutting another tentacle about to strike him, and Grand Espada Cortez created a powerful gust of wind that destroyed the attacks directed at him. Three tentacles were destroyed instantly by their single attack.
"Lava Blast!"
Grand Espada Danilo spat hot magma toward the head of the giant octopus, causing the water in the head area to evaporate and exposing the Barrier protecting the woman controlling this magic.
"Eagle Deep Strike!"
Grand Espada Cortez soared toward the woman and then struck the Barrier protecting her with a punch that looked extremely powerful. However, when his fist made contact with the Barrier, a light appeared, sending Grand Espada Cortez's body flying far away.
However, Uncle Raymond was seen from above, already prepared to launch his attack as Grand Espada Cortez was repelled.
"Greater Shock!"
He slashed his sword and created a shockwave that struck the Barrier.
"Volcano Eruption!"
Grand Espada Danilo struck the Barrier with his fist. A massive magma explosion was created around the Barrier protecting the woman. At this moment, I could not see her condition because the Barrier protecting the woman was covered in hot magma. Grand Espada Danilo was seen retreating, while Uncle Raymond landed on a ship not far from here.
However, when the magma from Grand Espada Danilo's attack vanished, the Barrier protecting the woman was seen not yet destroyed, with only a slight scratch upon it.
"So strong..." I muttered in awe. "Even three ultimate attacks from the three strongest Knights were not yet enough to destroy her defense."
The woman reformed the octopus tentacles that were destroyed earlier. However, this time she created a dragon head at the end of the eight giant water octopus tentacles. Those dragon heads then opened their mouths and aimed them at the Aragon Imperial Fleet.
— SWOOOSSHH!!!
The dragons' mouths then spewed high-pressure water jets that destroyed dozens of ships at once. Was all I was doing just standing here? Was there nothing I could do to help defeat that creature?
The three Grand Espadas tried to attack again. However, they were blocked by the eight dragons. The three of them managed to destroy four dragons, but Uncle was seen hit by a water jet spewed by the mouth of one of the dragons.
— CRASH!!!
He was repelled and slammed into the ship where I was.
"Uncle! Are you alright!?" I hurried to his side.
"Ughhh... I think a few of my bones are broken," he replied casually. "Grand Platinum gives me wound healing every minute. So, I will surely recover before long."
— BOOOMMM!!!
A very loud explosion was heard from the direction of the fight. Smoke and steam filled the air around the giant water octopus. I faintly saw the bodies of the two Grand Espadas falling from the sky. It seemed they had just performed another attack against the woman's Barrier, but both were hit by a significant counterstrike.
Using Eagle Eye magic, I finally saw a crack in the Barrier protecting this troublesome woman.
"Princess, we must destroy her Barrier before that woman is able to restore it," Uncle Raymond said, trying to stand. "I think the Profound Codex attack you possess has enough power to destroy it."
"But, I don't know how to reach that woman who is far up in the air!"
"I will throw you and distract some of those troublesome dragon-headed tentacles," Uncle said, looking serious about this.
I nodded and walked to the edge of the ship and began to chant a magic spell. From a distance, that creature was seen destroying our fleet one by one until almost nothing remained.
— CRACK-BOOM!!!
Thunder began to roar above the sky. I began to raise my sword upward with both hands. A dozen lightning strikes began to hit my sword, making both my hands holding the sword tremble. I gathered as much energy as possible to be able to penetrate that Barrier. Not long after, Uncle was beside me and prepared.
"Princess, are you ready?" he asked me.
I nodded; Uncle then grabbed my waist and threw me powerfully toward the giant water octopus. Soon, he followed, soaring with a powerful jump. The woman noticed our arrival and directed the dragon-headed tentacles here. The mouths of the eight dragons then opened, intending to spew high-pressure water toward us.
— SWOOOSHHHH!!!!
the water jet shot here; Uncle Raymond's sword began to glow. He then shouted and slashed his sword vertically. The massive water jet was split into two parts. Even Uncle's attack just now caused the water enveloping the Barrier to be opened.
"Now, Prin—"
Uncle Raymond's words were cut off. That was because he was struck by one of the giant water octopus's tentacles.
Now I was alone in the air. The remaining seven dragon-headed tentacles began to rush here to attack me. There was nothing I could do to evade at a time like this. Furthermore, it was still too far for me to release this attack to destroy her Barrier.
However, just as the seven dragon-headed tentacles were about to strike, suddenly someone hugged me and carried my body to the side, causing me to avoid the giant water octopus's attack. I began to feel a very familiar warmth. A mask was seen fitted over the face of the man who saved me.
"You... that mask... aren't you one of the members of The Masquerade who killed the Holy Knight?" I asked, confused as to why a man like him was saving me.
"We don't have time to discuss this," the man replied seriously. "You must immediately destroy that Barrier with your magic."
I snapped back to reality and focused on the current situation. From behind this man's back, I could see the mouths of the eight dragons opening again, intending to shoot us with high-pressure water.
— SWOOOSSHH!!!
They began to shoot; this masked man then spun his body and dived into the air to avoid their spews. This man then flew closer toward the Barrier inside the head of the giant water octopus, which currently had a hole in it.
"Elena, are you ready?" the man asked me.
For some reason, he called me as if we were already very close. Nonetheless, I nodded. However, our journey would not be easy because the eight dragon-headed tentacles began to rush here to attack and bring us down.
— ROOAARRR!!!
The mouths of the eight dragons were seen wide open; their terrifying teeth looked as if they could tear our bodies to shreds if we were caught. This man then again spun his body and performed maneuvers to avoid all the dragon tentacles trying to catch us. When all had been passed, he pushed me hard toward the Barrier protecting the woman inside.
"Lightning Blade: Lion Song of Death!"
— CRACKKK!!!
My attack successfully destroyed the Barrier. Looking forward, the woman inside stared at me with hatred. Her eyeballs then lit up, causing my body to suddenly feel an extreme pain. My body was then repelled far and began to fall from the air.
My consciousness began to fade...
All I remember was a blinding light appearing as the mysterious man flew toward the woman inside the Barrier I had destroyed.
***
[Celestia POV]
How troublesome...
Unlike hundreds of years ago, the humans attacking this island are far stronger than before. Perhaps magic also evolved far during those times. Although only half of my power can be manifested in this form, those humans were able to surpass my magic, which is far stronger than theirs.
The woman who destroyed my Barrier just now—there is no mistake, she is a descendant of the lightning mage, the twin sibling of the Hero of Light who was able to defeat a Demigod from the Demon Race, the Demon King.
After I dismissed that woman, suddenly there was a black-winged man heading toward where I was. He then pressed an object against my chest. That object began to glow, and for some reason, the Mana I possessed began to be sucked into that object.
I tried to repel the man with my magic, but for some reason, I could not control my magic properly.
"What are you doing to me, Human?" I asked him irritably.
He stared at me from behind his mask and said, "It is time for you to hand over the duty of guarding this island to someone else and rest in peace."
"No! As long as those greedy humans still exist, life in the sea will always be threatened! As long as the people on this island are still free, they will guarantee the sustainability of marine life, and I will protect them from the threats of greedy humans like you!"
That's right—look at what your group does to satisfy your desires for power. You destroy people's homes and make them suffer just because you want to dominate the world. I will not entrust this future to your dirty hands.
"I have the right person to protect this island rather than yourself, Celestia," the man said, which surprised me as to how he knew my name.
"For that reason, entrust your power to them," the man continued. "That is because only in their hands will this island be far stronger and safer from attacks by outside parties who want to exploit this place."
My consciousness began to fade; it seemed the object this man used on me was an Artifact that can seal someone's Mana. But, if my power will be used to protect this island, I think I will be fine with whoever wears this power.
For that reason...
"Do you promise not to let others use my power to destroy the ocean and the people on this island?" I asked the man.
"I swear I will give it to someone who truly loves this island," the man replied with conviction.
I nodded.
After that, I looked at the ocean for the last time. Many wrecks of human ships I destroyed were seen in the ocean area. It seems to be true; violence is not the answer to creating peace and environmental conservation where creatures live. I hope the person who will receive me can solve all problems without war and destruction, as I and my predecessors have done all this time.