Ming yanked a pair of yoga pants from his bag and presented them to Poseidon, saying, "Though there's a charm in brawling shirtless, perhaps you should put these on. No need for theatrics on my account."
"You..."
Poseidon furrowed his brows and gritted his teeth. Was there something wrong with this man's mind? Couldn't he take this combat seriously? Didn't he realize they were in the midst of a fight?
"Not wearing them?"
Ming tucked the yoga pants back into his pocket. "Very well, I'll keep them for you. Just in case you change your mind~"
"Silence!"
With rage boiling within, Poseidon lunged. He no longer wished to hear this man speak; every word was a thorn in his side.
Launching himself onto the whale's head, he threw a powerful punch. He knew Ming wouldn't dare step back. Touching the seawater would paralyze him, making it easy for him to end the fight. 'Run if you dare, or take my blow,' he thought.
But as the punch neared its target, a figure with the body of a snake and human features appeared. A pair of mesmerizing eyes gazed back, and the figure, with a voice as tender and intoxicating as wine, whispered, "Am I beautiful?"
"..."
Poseidon hesitated, his fist faltering. The woman before him seemed familiar, invoking a feeling he'd buried deep within. He stuttered, "Be...beautiful~"
The mysterious woman turned to the man and said, "Done, boss."
Ming summoned Euryale back and, without acknowledging the 'god of the sea,' turned his gaze to the skies. At that moment, Raoul descended, his six arms wrapping around Poseidon, lifting off with powerful beats of his wings towards the mountaintop. Ming, with wings of his own, followed closely behind.
Upon landing on the mountain's summit platform, Raoul swiftly entered a tent, dragging Poseidon into a muddy pit. Poseidon's paralysis ended, and he let out a roar, struggling against the six mighty arms that encircled him.
Raoul's deep voice echoed, his six arms gripping tighter. But the difference in strength was evident; Poseidon was slowly breaking free. At that moment, Frank, who had entered the tent earlier, leaped into the mud pit. Together with Raoul, they pinned the sea god Poseidon between them, preventing his escape.
The setting was picturesque, but the mud pit tainted its beauty.
Poseidon was livid, confronted with an experience unfamiliar to him. Before him stood a minotaur, locking him in place face-to-face, and behind was a muscular werewolf, holding him in a tight embrace.
Most infuriatingly, this werewolf wasn't wearing pants!
He roared, his power surging, showing signs of breaking free.
"Just hold on, I'm here!" exclaimed the Black-haired Pig Demon as he entered the tent and began to disrobe.
Poseidon's eyes widened in disbelief. As if two weren't enough... now a third? And why were they all undressing?
Damn!
After shedding his clothes, the Black-haired Pig Demon jumped into the mud pit. The three-on-one pressure made it nearly impossible for Poseidon to harness his strength.
Ming rushed into the tent, closing its entrance behind him. Turning, he observed the four beings in the mud—writhing, struggling, cursing, their faces pressed close together. He felt extra to be there, especially since they seemed paired off.
Yet, at that moment, he had to play the villain and break apart these paired creatures. He promptly ordered, "Lift his arms!"
Raoul freed his hands, raising Poseidon's arms.
With a click, Ming slapped handcuffs onto the sea god.
Seething with rage, Poseidon activated his abilities.
[The tent's effect is triggered. Silence falls~]
"..."
Ming paused, taken aback. Had the god's ability truly been successful?
Yet, inside the tent, nothing appeared amiss. Poseidon remained trapped in the muck. So, what was his power?
Outside, Mike and his companions took advantage of the brief respite to defeat the few remaining sea monsters atop the mountain.
Suddenly, a colossal explosion erupted from the sea. Like a mountain emerging from the depths, it was covered in corals, shells, seaweed, crabs, and other marine life.
"What in blazes is that?"
"Look! It's moving!"
"Holy... that thing is massive!"
"..."
Everyone stared, their gazes fixed on the colossal entity. It rotated, lifting its head to reveal pale red, round eyes. Eight tentacles dramatically spread across the sea, causing tumultuous waves. Even the mighty Octopus King seemed insignificant compared to just one of its tentacles.
The Northern Sea Behemoth— the Kraken.
Standing at the mountain's peak with his sword in hand, Mike blurted out, "Bloody hell..."
Inside the tent, finding no anomalies, Ming swiftly turned and exited, only to gaze at the moving 'hill' in the ocean, quietly murmuring the same expletive.
Rushing back inside the tent, Ming deduced this to be Poseidon's power or innate ability. The priority now was to either bridge with or defeat Poseidon.
Ming swiftly retrieved prepared necklaces and rings, slipping them onto Poseidon's fingers while presenting him with the Da Vinci.
[Your Da Vinci, observing the scene, croaked, "Quite thrilling! You lot sure know how to have fun."]
[Da Vinci activated its collection ability, seizing all rings and necklaces~ Triggered 'Stripped Helper', Skill X1, Ability X1]
"Good."
Checking the acquired abilities, Ming deemed them transferable and continued fitting rings on Poseidon. The sea god, growing more irate, began to speak but was abruptly silenced when the Black-haired Pig Demon shoved a clump of mud into his mouth, scolding, "It's fine to talk, but don't spew spit all over me."
Poseidon's urge to retch intensified, but his mouth was sealed. He struggled against the binding power of the mud pit and the firm grip of the three beings' ten arms. More pressingly, the skill he intended to activate... vanished.
Ming continued placing rings on him. Admittedly, he felt awkward—after all, rings were typically reserved for marriage proposals. And to top it off, not a word of thanks from the sea deity. How rude.
[Your Da Vinci activated its collection ability, collecting successfully~ Triggered 'Stripped Helper', gained Ability X1, Skill X1~]
[Your foodie crawls out of the pocket, looks at the scene, and becomes excited, "I also want to play in the mud!" Da Vinci glared at it, "Don't pick up bad habits; we little frogs should remain innocent."]
"Continue."
Ming was thrilled. If they kept this up, victory was in sight.
[Trigger tent effect, silence failed~]
"What's wrong with this tent today?"
Suddenly, Poseidon's body began to expand dramatically. His head and limbs grew larger, and he spat out the mud. "Unexpectedly, you managed to strip away my divine power and abilities. But don't forget, I am a god! Do you think mere mortals like you can mock me? Die!"
With that, he swung his massive fist toward the Black-haired Pig Demon.n0veluSb.C0m
"Hee~"
That gentle voice rang out once more. Poseidon's swinging fist froze mid-air as he gazed into the enchanting eyes of the woman. Again summoned by Ming from the space, Euryale, with a smile as captivating as blooming peach blossoms, said, "Aren't I beautiful?"
"..."
Poseidon was trapped in a dilemma. He knew agreeing would make him immobilized, but he couldn't resist her charm. Then, a voice echoed in his mind: You lost one talent and one skill~
Damn it!
He glared at the man holding the frog, accusing him silently.
Then, Euryale spoke again, "Lord Poseidon, you truly fascinate me. Would you like to take care of me?"
Without hesitation, Poseidon nodded, "I DO~"
Immobility struck!
Instant regret consumed Poseidon, but facing the woman after his mental guard was shattered was just too overwhelming!
With a seething rage, he stared at Euryale and the mischievously grinning Ming, his teeth gritted in fury, "You two are truly despicable!"