"GET READY!

  IT'S COMING FROM EVERYWHERE!" he shouted.

  Before anyone could react—

  The sea went silent.

  No wind.

  No waves.

  No creaking wood.

  Then—

  The water around both ships began to sink inward.

  It didn't splash.

  It didn't rise.

  It sunk.

  As if something massive beneath them was pulling the ocean into itself.

  Bron's eyes widened.

  "Battle positions! NOW!"

  The sea exploded.

  A colossal tentacle burst from the depths, thicker than the ship's mast, covered in dark blue flesh and lined with pale suction cups the size of shields. It slammed into the water between the two ships, sending waves crashing over the decks.

  Men were thrown off their feet.

  Another tentacle rose—this one wrapping around the second ship's hull.

  Wood cracked.

  Sailors screamed.

  Bron quickly got into action. He ran toward the second ship, trying to help the other crew who were caught by surprise.

  The tentacle gripped the main body of the ship so hard that for a moment Freston believed they were doomed.

  Kier gripped the black object hard.

  Then he turned his focus toward Bron.

  As Bron got ready to jump to the other ship, he stretched his right hand and opened his palm.

  From the tips of his fingers, a silver glow began to flow, spreading until it covered his entire palm.

  But it did not scatter like normal light. Instead, it condensed there—shimmering and fluid, like liquid silver swirling within his hand.

  "Come!"

  Immediately after Bron yelled, from his chamber an axe stormed out, covered in the same light that Bron had.

  The axe landed perfectly in Bron's hand.

  He tightened his grip—

  and jumped.

  He saw the tentacle that had wrapped around the ship's hull as he was about to cut it down.

  As he was still mid-air,

  Three tentacles exploded from the sea—thinner, faster, deadlier.

  Bron, caught off guard, abandoned the mission to cut the giant tentacle.

  Then, with a single swing, he sliced the three tentacles like butter.

  Green blood poured out freely.

  The tentacles escaped through the sea.

  Bron landed on the other ship's deck.

  There it was chaos. The ship was moving like crazy. It was hard to keep balance.

  Most of the men there weren't able to maintain good balance.

  The ship tilted sideways as if the sea monster wanted to crush the ships together.

  Bron changed his stance, his footing aligned with the situation.

  As he looked up,

  men fell like raging stones from the top of a mountain. He saw Freston holding for his dear life onto some ropes.

  Then he called out, "My lady, where are you?"

  Bron quickly began to search for her where he had last seen her.

  She was holding strong onto the ship's balustrades.

  She was fine. She had more balance than any other sailor there.

  Then the ship was shocked. Cracks were heard, but it still held strong.

  The giant tentacle began to lift the entire ship. It became impossible to get back on without losing balance.

  As Bron thought of a way to cut the tentacle down, a spear pierced through the air right behind Bron's neck.

  SHK—! The spear pierced right through its flesh, creating a huge hole.

  The monster was forced to release its grip and let the ships down.

  A huge splash was heard as the giant ship met the sea surface once again.

  The one who threw the spear was the one with long black hair.

  It felt like a moment of peace. The last tentacle had retreated.

  "Bron—no, Captain Bron—what was that?" Freston asked. "I thought these were calm waters."

  "There is no time for chatting. Any of you who can fight, grab a weapon. This is far from over,"

  Bron said.

  What he said was true. On the other ship five men were outside to help.

  Including Kier, there were six.

  Even though Kier had been able to sense the monster's attack, he still wasn't able to settle the bad feeling.

  Kier looked over at the other ship. They had gotten more damage than them.

  It didn't last for long.

  The moment of peace was over.

  From the deepest level of the sea, a bright blue light came out.

  The water glowed. Sailors on the other ship were eager to see where the light came from, so they stretched their heads to look.

  "No, don't look down!" Bron yelled.

  But rather than curiosity, they were drawn to it.

  Most of the men from the second ship slowly approached. Even Captain Freston approached.

  As they looked down, the blue light glowing from the depths of the ocean began to feel like a peaceful dream.

  And like that, those who saw the light fell unconscious.

  Bron quickly moved to save as many as he could.

  But

  the monster was faster.

  Twelve tentacles—smaller ones—along with two giant ones appeared from everywhere.

  From both ships.

  The smaller ones wrapped around the bodies of the unconscious men.

  The larger ones wrapped around the ships themselves, making it impossible to move.

  Bron and the guy with long hair threw their weapons toward the smaller tentacles.

  They cut right through their flesh.

  But this time it was different.

  They didn't go back to the sea.

  Instead, they regenerated at an insane speed, wrapping around the men once more.

  Then they tried to get back to the water.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  But they suddenly stopped.

  The surface of the sea trembled.

  Then—

  it hardened.

  Water turned rigid as crystal, locking into place with a violent crack. The ocean itself obeyed her will.

  The tentacles thrashed, but the sea had already claimed them.

  Liquid became prison.

  Current became chains.

  They couldn't move.

  "HURRY! I CAN'T HOLD IT MUCH LONGER!"

  The lady stood above them, palm facing the storm below.

  From her hand, water flowed endlessly— not falling, not splashing— but merging.

  It didn't simply pour.

  It commanded.

  Her stream fused with the ocean, reinforcing the hardened surface, strengthening the grip with every second she endured.

  The sea was no longer wild.

  It was hers.

  The guy with long hair instantly got to work.

  Bron saw that even Freston had been captured, so he immediately went to save him.

  Kier was truly amazed by her ability. She had basically handcuffed the monster.

  Whimp. A small tentacle came down, hitting with powerful force like a whip.

  Kier dodged at the last second.

  Wood cracked. But it still held strong.

  The five other men that were on board were protecting the ship. Three of them jumped to the other side to help.

  'Where are Noah and Clad in this situation?!' Kier asked himself.

  Then three loud gunshots were heard.

  Bang!

  Bang!

  Bang!

  With a classic pistol in his hand, Clad fired three times at the big tentacle,

  which was ready to slam onto the ship with its huge weight and force.

  The shots created by the gunfire left a huge wound. It even tried to regenerate, but the monster did it slowly.

  It bought some time.

  "Kier!" Clad called him.

  "What?" Kier responded.

  "Go and help the others. We are going to get the hell out of here."

  Kier nodded.

  Then he turned to the other ship. The girl who had stopped the tentacles from moving was barely holding them.

  Then she released her technique.

  The tentacles were now free. The sailors were also released, but the monster started to rampage.

  It slammed its tentacles everywhere.

  Bron cut them. The others pierced them with their spears, but they regenerated faster.

  The men who were unconscious were taken again. Their weapons fell into the sea. The sailors themselves were taken hostage.

  "CLAD, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO KILL IT!!" Bron yelled.

  "WE NEED TO FIND ITS HEAD THEN!"

  Clad responded.

  The monster went into a frenzy.

  Tentacles lashed in every direction, smashing wood, tearing ropes, splintering the deck.

  It was chaos — wild, erratic.

  Even Kier struggled to read its movements.

  Still, his footwork held.

  He dodged.

  One strike.

  Then another.

  And another.

  Between breaths, his eyes flicked toward her.

  She was on her knees, gasping for air.

  Another swing — he twisted aside.

  Then—

  A vibration.

  Subtle. Wrong.

  It traveled through the deck and into his bones.

  It's heading toward her.

  The thought struck instantly.

  But in that split second, he forgot his right side.

  A smaller tentacle snapped like a whip.

  No time.

  Kier raised the black object in his left hand and deflected it, the impact jolting through his arm as the strike veered off course instead of crushing him.

  He pivoted toward her.

  She was pushing herself up.

  The vibration intensified.

  Faster. Closer.

  Kier dropped low at the edge of the deck and leapt high.

  At that exact moment—

  The sea exploded.

  A massive tentacle burst upward where she had been standing seconds before.

  Kier landed meters away from her. The thud of his boots made her look up.

  He didn't stop.

  He ran.

  It was him versus the tentacle now — and the distance was not on his side.

  Her eyes locked onto him.

  Shock. Confusion.

  "WATCH OUT!" Kier roared.

  She turned—

  And saw it rising behind her.

  Too sudden.

  Too close.

  She froze.

  Just as it descended—

  Kier launched himself headfirst, legs trailing behind like a spear thrown by fate itself.

  He collided into her and shoved her aside.

  She tumbled clear.

  But Kier—

  Wasn't as lucky.

  The tentacle coiled around him mid-air.

  Tight.

  Then it yanked him back with violent force.

  The impact stole the air from his lungs. His vision blurred, mind fading at the edges.

  And in that suspended second—

  His grip loosened.

  The black object — the one he treasured most — slipped from his hand.

  It fell.

  Spinning.

  Vanishing into the dark sea below.

  Time stopped.

  Cold flooded his veins.

  "No… THE SWORD!" he shouted, the words tearing from him before he realized.

  Then a second later he was slammed at the surface of the sea.

  Water splashed.

  From the powerful impact he nearly lost consciousness. His vision became blurry. The little air he had left escaped from the impact.

  The tentacle started to pull him towards the source of light that came from the deepest part of the sea.

  It was wrapped around his belly leaving the hands and the legs free but unable to do anything. Kier was facing the surface. With his half opened eyes and with a blurred vision Kier noticed that the two ships had started to move.

  They are leaving. He thought. It didn't bother him at all.

  A moment passed, his eyes fixed on the ship.

  Not too long after that he noticed that the ships escaped from his vision. Now it was him, the sea and the monster who bleached blue light behind his back.

  The water pressure got stronger. It tightened the body.

  His ears were blocked. He couldn't hear the sea currents and the movements that he made.

  After losing the sword—

  He was on a state of giving up.

  He made no move to free himself. He shut his eyes and let his body free.

  His heart beat slower, yet each pulse rang louder, like a distant bell echoing in the silence.

  The water around him–

  became a prison, a prison of void. Only nothingness and his thoughts were free.

  As the creature pulled him towards itself, the water pressure became stronger.

  He felt itchy on his right arm, so he slowly started to open his eyes. He could see it.

  The black robe tied around his forearm. He locked his eyes on it. Trying to recall the moment he got it, but couldn't.

  That moment was a void in his memory.

  A promise.

  He recalled.

  I made a promise. I promised someone precious to me that I would deliver the sword to her.

  That sword was entrusted to me. I have to keep my promise.

  But now it is pointless. I have lost it and I can not do anything about it. I don't have any strength left. My chest hurts, my whole body screams of pain.

  Trying to do something wouldn't change anything in the first place. It is already too late.

  Yeah.. It's too late..

  I will eventually get eaten by this creature. I bet it will hurt like hell. And soon after death will follow.

  I wonder how it will feel. The news about my death I am sure it will reach the village, the ear of the one who took care of me all these years. How will she feel? What about the old man? Bron? Clad? Elia? The others?

  They might feel sad or even cry, but after some time passes they will forget. After all they have their own lives to live, they have to move on.

  After all of that, when normal life hits again.

  I'll be forgotten. And that's when I'll truly die.

  Yeah and the promise I made will fade away. They were just words, empty words.. right?

  If so… then why? Why do I feel this pain in my chest? It burns and freezes at the same time. Am I regretting something?

  No. It doesn't matter. There's nothing I can do. I lost.

  The promise… you made a mistake trusting me with it. I am not worthy.

  I don't feel anything anymore. Maybe I am already dead.

  And yet… memories flood back. The moment I swore the promise. The moment I pledged to fulfill it.

  The robe. The promise I made when it was given to me. Didn't I make another one then?

  What was it… that I promised so half-heartedly? And what about her, when I left the island? I hope… I hope she never sheds a tear for my empty words.

  Empty.

  Empty words.

  A half-hearted promise.

  Do I really see it that way? Can I really reduce my vow to nothing?

  His eyes snapped wide open.

  Since when—since when did I accept a cowardly death like this?

  I never stepped forward with doubt. I trained for seven long years for this opportunity.

  All that sweat, all that struggle, all the waiting…

  Only to end like this?

  If this were the ending I wanted, I would have stayed on that island and never come out.

  No.

  If I die, it will not be like this.

  If I die It will only be after I keep my promise… or die trying to fulfill it.

  Enough.

  I've had enough of this weak, pathetic side of myself.

  There will be no tears shed over my grave.

  Especially not hers.

  No promise… will ever be broken.

  For that… I pour every ounce of my heart into the words I swore.

  I swear it again. No matter what happens, no matter how impossible it seems, I will be true to my word.

  Start beating, heart! Harder!

  We are not done yet!

  As it was commended by its owner the heart was struck by something within. It heated.

  I have to take responsibility.

  He clenched his teeth hard. The blood started to rush rapidly on his veins. The heart even without enough oxygen started to pound rapidly.

  Both his hands gripped the tentacle. His fingers pierced like knives on its flesh.

  The tentacle gripped harder and tightened his chest to its limit.

  The body screamed. It can not hold it anymore. Behind his back, just a meter away, rested the monster's opened mouth. Inside it was the glowing eye that it had. It was bigger than a small house in the village. Its teeth looked sharp and ready.

  Kier didn't see it. He felt it behind him. So, even in the terrible condition he was in, he gripped the monster harder.

  The tentacle didn't stop pulling him toward its mouth. It became even faster.

  That is why he focused his entire strength on his arms.

  He screamed loudly in his mind.

  Putting force in opposite directions, he was able to tear apart its flesh with brute force.

  The blood surrounded him. Now he was free.

  He faced the monster head-on.

  With the body condition that I am in, I cannot use it—not to mention that I overdid it this morning.

  Another tentacle came. Its head didn't move.

  Kier waited until it came close and dodged. He moved his hand in an attempt to swim.

  If he had to survive he needed something to kill it. He was in one of the deepest parts of the sea. The pressure was overwhelming.

  He searched his surroundings. Left. Right. And left again.

  That's when a silver spear shined from the bottom. It must have been one of those guys' spears.

  He swam with all the strength he had left.

  The tentacles came faster.

  He got it.

  With his left hand he gripped it hard and pierced through the tentacles.

  The head moved and so did Kier.

  They yet again found themselves facing each other, with Kier right above it.

  He got into a position suitable for launching the spear. And so did the monster, which launched all its tentacles toward Kier.

  You, monster. I know that you cannot hear me. I know that you cannot understand me. But be a witness.

  Be a witness to what I am about to say.

  For every promise I have made, for every word I have given, I shall see its end. I'll make sure that no matter what, even if I have to crawl back from hell, I'll keep my word.

  And this is me saying it with all my soul.

  Now—

  I thank you for showing me the deepest part of the sea. I will need it if I want to aim for the highest of the sky.

  And so the spear was launched toward its eye with all the strength and will he had left. It moved faster than its tentacles.

  It moved swiftly and pierced right through its eye.

  The tentacles were just a hair away from killing Kier. But they dropped. The monster was dead.

  Kier's body was way past its limit so it shut itself down.

  Kier lost consciousness.

  Then, not long after, an arm wrapped around him. It pulled him toward the surface.

  Kier somewhat felt it. But he couldn't react.

  It feels warm, he thought. It's warm and nice.

  It felt peaceful. Then he felt constant pressure on his chest. That's when it came without permission.

  Cough.

  Cough.

  The seawater he had swallowed came out.

  His lungs desperately filled themselves with air. He breathed heavily and hard. With his blurred vision he saw three figures standing above him.

  Then he passed out from exhaustion.

  Time flew by. The ships sailed.

  And without noticing, hours had passed.

  In the captain's chamber, where sunlight came in without permission, the boy who had been asleep woke up.

  The light hurt his eyes. He checked his surroundings. There was only one person. She looked like a maid. After all, she was cleaning something.

  "Hey, where am I?" Kier asked.

  The maid freaked out as if a dead man had been resurrected. She saw Kier and after a moment rushed outside.

  Kier had questions.

  Then—boom. Bron came through. He rushed inside.

  "Kier! You woke up?" Bron joyfully asked.

  "Yeah."

  "What a relief," Bron said.

  "Hey, where are we?" Kier asked as he remembered what happened.

  "We are on a ship. What do you mean?"

  "No, I have to go back." He jumped off the bed and rushed to the door.

  Bron grew worried.

  "I have to find the sword."

  "Kier, wait!"

  Kier didn't listen and, without wasting a second, opened the door.

  As he opened it he took a step. That's when he froze.

  Behind the door was the girl he had saved before.

  They were face to face with each other. She was shorter than Kier.

  They both froze and stared at each other.

  As Kier was about to move he noticed that she held an object in her arms.

  It was the sword that he had lost when trying to save her.

  She noticed what he was staring at.

  "Here." She gave it to Kier. "It's a thank you for saving me."

  She didn't want to show it, but she was really embarrassed for saying those words.

  Kier was shocked. He wouldn't have thought that such a prideful girl could say such words.

  "Well, you have slept for quite some time and it's already 5 pm. But you are just in time to see the capital city of Irene," Bron said from behind.

  "We have arrived," Bron said.

  Kier looked into the distance. An amazing city, even larger than he imagined, rested on that land.

  But for now he had one question.

  "You never introduced yourself, right?

  I am Kier, by the way."

  "Aulen. My name is Aulen."