Chapter 112: Floating Archipelago (2)
Clang, clang!
Cannons revealed themselves as hatches opened all around the ship.
Each one was a top-of-the-line magical cannon, recently purchased at a high price from the Magic Tower.
Bang! Ka-boom! Bang!
Each time a cannon spewed fire, the ship shook violently, and sprays of seawater shot up from the surface.
– Attention, passengers. Due to the presence of Sea Creatures in these waters, we request that all guests proceed to the cabins as directed by the crew....
Boom! Boom-boom!
The cannon fire was so deafening that it drowned out the announcement.
The mercenaries, who had been eyeing Theo’s group, swiftly sprang into action in unison.
Their familiarity with the current situation was evident in each movement.
‘So, it was true that Sea Creatures have been appearing more frequently these days?’
With eyes brimming with spiritual essence, Theo carefully observed the faces of the senior mercenaries.
Hwaaak!
“Not a single cannon’s hitting! Damn it, those swindlers at the Magic Tower! They charge a fortune, and none of this stuff actually works!”
A beastman with a dog’s head grumbled as he hefted a spear nearly twice his size, slamming it down below.
Just in time, a Sea Creature attempting to climb up the railing was violently thrown back down into the water.
“Agreed. We might seriously have to tell Lord Antonio to end this contract next time.”
The gunslinger pulled components from his pack, assembling a massive gatling gun before unleashing it upon the water’s surface.
Dr-r-r-r-r-r!
Large and small Sea Creatures bled into the sea as gunfire tore into them, turning the surrounding water red.
“Stop your noisy chatter and try grouping those things together! They’re too scattered to hit effectively!”
The only one who held Theo’s interest, a fire-magic user, popped a cigarette into his mouth and snapped his fingers repeatedly.
Thanks to the magic gloves with embedded magic circles, the activated spells began bombing the targets, but they still struggled to hit creatures moving below the water’s surface.
Yet, the power was undeniable; the spells had a substantial impact on Sea Creatures targeting the ship.
Other mercenaries wielding various weaponry also joined the fray, slashing and repelling Sea Creatures, showing their skill.
Some even displayed impressive aura control.
They may have seemed less competent compared to Selperd and Arin, but they weren’t lacking by any measure.
In fact, some were at a level worthy of being called “elite.”
Thud!
Thud!
「Theo! How much longer are you going to wait?」
「Hurry up and decide what to do.」
Standing guard beside Theo, Selperd and Arin urged him to make a decision.
‘Found it.’
Theo recognized that among the mercenaries was exactly the person he had been seeking, and a confident smile appeared on his face.
He had found someone with a temperament similar to that of Slow Gang, whom he had previously encountered.
It seemed wise, after all, not to warn them in advance that a Sea Creature would be approaching.
No, in truth, Theo had been the one to lure them here.
He had drawn them up from the depths by enticing them with a magic scent he concocted while analyzing the Sea King’s magic.
「The two of you, please hold off the Sea Creatures without causing any harm to civilians. I’ll move independently.」
「What on earth are you planning? Alright.」
「I’ll restrain myself from fully displaying my skills, at least for now.」
Swoosh—
The moment Selperd and Arin unleashed their sword energy into the air, the heads of the Sea Creatures exploded in unison.
– It’s sword energy! A swordmaster has intervened!
– We can stop them! Push them back with all you’ve got!
Smiles returned to the faces of both the crew and the mercenaries.
Though terrifying as enemies, they were incredibly reassuring as allies.
Meanwhile, Theo was moving in a different direction from the two.
– Damn it! I had my suspicions, but it’s really a Sea Serpent!
Kroooar!
At that very moment, a massive Sea Serpent, stretching tens of meters long, emerged from the sea and began coiling tightly around the ship.
Crack—
The ship sustained damage in several areas.
The cannons fired flames in a desperate attempt to drive the creature away, but they only bounced off the serpent’s body, splintering the deck in a scene of utter chaos.
This creature was classified as a top-tier Sea Creature, even among its kind.
Recently, it had reportedly devoured a couple of ships, living up to its fearsome reputation.
“Fire! Rain down fire! Hurry!”
“I’m doing it! Stop shouting—it’s distracting!”
Gray Gang, a fire mage, gritted his teeth as he recited his spell.
‘Damn it, I need to take down that bastard, Lant, or whatever his name is, too. What on earth is going on here!’
Gray’s true identity was that of a Grade 2 member of Black Skull.
Normally, he served as part of Antonio’s guard, and his primary task was to smuggle information from the Spinola family whenever needed.
Moments earlier, he had eavesdropped on Theo’s party as they spoke about the Sea King.
The Sea King was a figure kept highly confidential not only by the Three Shipping Families but also by Black Skull.
The fact that Theo had come in search of it hinted at some unknown connection to the Troyban family.
So, he had planned to seize the opportunity and reveal his hidden abilities to capture Theo alive.
At the same time, Gray’s heart pounded as he watched the Balmung, the treasure they’d just begun to get hints about, sink down into the ocean depths.
“The Sea Serpent! We need to capture the Sea Serpent first! Capture that damn thing!”
Gray’s desperate cries were drowned out by the cannon blasts.
Meanwhile, Theo observed the underwater struggle between Umbra and the Sea Serpent.
The Sea Serpent, still enraged from its earlier injury, had wrapped its long body tightly around Umbra in retaliation.
Umbra, however, held its grip and bit down harder, practically pulverizing the serpent in its jaws.
Both creatures seemed equally matched, neither willing to yield.
But Theo knew that if he left things as they were, Umbra would eventually be in danger.
This was, after all, the Sea Serpent’s domain, and Umbra couldn’t breathe underwater.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
With that, Theo activated Wind Thunder God, quickly closing in on the Sea Serpent while summoning Death Beat.
Then, four Thunder Dragons materialized, rising up around him.
As the Meridian Enhancing Technique intensified, the Thunder Dragons, now charged with even more intense heat, twisted their bodies, sending immense bubbles erupting across the ocean’s surface.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The four Thunder Dragons struck the Sea Serpent in a series of explosive impacts, boosting their output to separate it from Umbra.
Due to the seawater’s conductive properties, the Thunder Energy spread even more explosively, engulfing the Sea Serpent’s entire body. It seeped into its wounds, inflicting severe internal injuries.
Kuroooo...!
[Activating ‘Skill: Wyvern Taming’ to lure the Sea Serpent.]
In that instant, Theo closed the gap to the Sea Serpent and activated his prepared skill.
A skill specialized for taming magical creatures or spiritual beings from dragon species.
[The Sea Serpent resists fiercely, causing the lure to fail.]
[Reactivating the skill.]
[The Sea Serpent’s resistance is strong, causing the charm to fail again.]
[Reactivating the skill.]
.
.
[Activating ‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization’ to attempt breaking the Sea Serpent’s mental barrier.]
In mere seconds, the skill was cast repeatedly.
Finally, Theo achieved his intended objective.
[Successfully breached a portion of the Sea Serpent’s mental barrier.]
[Reading a fragment of its thoughts.]
A surge of light!
A series of vivid scenes flashed before Theo’s eyes.
A deep-sea plain, emerging only after diving through the depths of a massive undersea canyon.
There, stretched out beyond sight, a colossal ancient dragon writhed in agony, its enormous, elongated form impossible to fully capture within one’s field of vision.
The Sea King.
Theo realized this was the being Lothbrok had spoken of.
Shiver—
The oppressive aura and magical force exuding from the Sea King were immense.
Each twist of its massive body agitated the ocean’s mantle, causing undersea volcanoes to erupt and triggering earthquakes across continents, leading to cataclysmic disasters.
-Father.
The Sea Serpent gazed at the Sea King with eyes filled with sorrow.
For a very long time, the Sea Serpent had lived as both child and vassal to the Sea King, driven by one desire—to somehow ease the Sea King’s suffering.
-Please hold on a little longer. I’ll find someone who can help, no matter what.
With that, the Sea Serpent had ventured beyond the ocean depths, bringing along its fellow Sea Creatures.
It believed that perhaps the human race, living outside the sea and capable of wielding the mysterious power of magic, might have a way to lessen the Sea King’s pain.
‘I misunderstood.’
Only then did Theo realize his mistake.
The Sea Serpent and the Sea Creatures had never intended to harm humans. They had simply resisted because the fearful humans had attacked them first.
In fact, at the beginning, they had even attempted to communicate.
Although it had failed each time.
-Human.
Back to reality.
Theo met the pained gaze of the Sea Serpent.
-There’s a familiar scent on you, one like my father’s, unlike the other humans. Can you help him?
A desperate plea.
Theo nodded.
He would.
-I will trust you.
And then, the bell chimed.
Ding!
Ding!
[The lure has succeeded.]
[You have tamed the Sea Serpent as your subordinate.]
[Please name it.]
‘Pontus.’
An ancient name, meaning the sea.
[‘Sea Serpent: Pontus’ bows its head to its new master.]