"So, are you ready, Élodie?" I asked, my eyes locked onto hers.
"Yeah, I trust you." She looked serious.
"Alright then," I smirked, "let's do this." I shifted my focus back to the giant octopus.
I leaped towards the creature, my black katana aimed straight at it, but one of its massive tentacles blocked the strike.
I landed on the tentacle for a split second before jumping again, my sword now glowing with mana.
Slashing downward, I cut through its limb. "One down."
I used the severed tentacle as a foothold and launched myself even higher.
WHUOOO!!
It lashed out with two more tentacles.
I grinned.
"Three." I sliced through both in a blink.
Still mid-air, I let gravity pull me toward its face, my katana ready to land the final blow.
WHUOOO!!
It tried to block again, but I cut through more of its limbs.
"Seven."
Then, out of nowhere—fire?
The damn thing breathed fire at me. What the hell?!
The flames engulfed me, and I fell into the ocean.
WHUOOO!!!
Sinking into the cold water, I smirked. "Eight."
Élodie had been waiting for this moment. Her magic was already charged up.
"Thanks, Nao. INFERNAL FLAME!"
A massive fire dragon took form, shooting straight toward the octopus. The explosion that followed was insane.
Smoke filled the air, and the creature was nowhere in sight.
"Is it… over?" Élodie panted, exhausted from using so much mana.
She collapsed, but Nadja caught her.
"Captain, you okay?" Nadja asked.
"I'm fine… but Nao…"
"Don't worry," Nadja smiled. "He planned all of this."
---
30 minutes earlier
"Alright, here's the plan," I said, gathering everyone.
"Nadja, you can't use magic, so I'll explain everything to Élodie. Manabu, you go find a lifeboat and release it near here. The fight might cause strong winds that'll push it further away from the ship."
"Then, Nadja, you take care of Élodie after she uses her magic. That much mana is gonna drain her completely."
"But what if it doesn't work?" Nadja asked, sounding doubtful.
"There are two possible outcomes. One—we successfully block its attack. Two—it survives but runs away. Octopuses are smart."
"So we're not killing it? What if it comes back for revenge? Or attacks another ship?" Nadja looked worried.
"Don't worry. Someone out there has a serious grudge against that thing."
"Who?" they both asked at the same time.
"You'll see," I smirked.
---
Deep in the ocean
WHUOOO!!!!
The octopus darted through the water, desperately trying to escape.
Other sea creatures scattered, making way for it.
But then—a shadow.
Something was chasing it.
A hand reached out, sinking its fingers into the octopus's flesh.
The creature thrashed, but it was useless.
For the first time, the great beast looked… terrified.
Like it was staring at Death itself.
"Bloop bloop (bye-bye~)," the shadow whispered.
The octopus let out one last, desperate WHUOOO!!!
---
"Boss, why are we releasing a lifeboat?" one of Manabu's men asked.
"Maybe he needs it in case he falls into the water?" Manabu guessed.
"That makes sense… but why release it so far?" The guy squinted at the tiny boat drifting away.
"Maybe he figured the fight would push it that far?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
"Anyway, let's go help Nadja with the rest of the repairs."
"Got it."
---
Meanwhile, I was floating on the lifeboat, staring up at the night sky.
"...Was I too rough?" I muttered to myself.
I thought back to what I did—ripping off the octopus's flesh over and over until it finally gave in.
Maybe I went overboard… but it should be able to regenerate, right?
I sighed, sitting up.
"That's what you get for messing with Nao," I said smugly, stretching my arms.
Then I yawned.
"...Time to head back."
Grabbing the oars, I started rowing toward the ship. It looked way further than I expected.
"Damn, was it really this far? I should've thought this through," I groaned.
Still, the moon was beautiful, and the cool ocean breeze was refreshing.
For once, I felt peaceful.
---
The next morning, everyone was busy repairing the ship after last night's chaos.
Nadja leaned over the railing, staring at the water.
Élodie walked up behind her. "Something wrong?"
"Hmm." Nadja sighed. "Where is that guy? The sun's already up."
Élodie followed her gaze. "Wait… isn't that him?"
Nadja's eyes widened. "Wait, did he row all the way back?"
Out in the distance, I was still paddling.
I groaned, exhausted. "Damn it… I really didn't think this through."
"NAO!!" Nadja waved at me.
I frowned. "Seriously, they couldn't stop the ship and pick me up?"
Frustrated, I channeled mana into the oars.
With one powerful stroke, my entire lifeboat shot into the air.
Nadja and Élodie's jaws dropped.
"Are we seriously watching a boat fly right now?" Élodie whispered.
"That's what it looks like…" Nadja blinked in disbelief.
"ARGHHH!!"
I crash-landed face-first onto the deck. My lifeboat splashed into the water below.
Nadja ran up. "Nao! Are you okay?"
Is she stupid? I just FELL from the sky!
I groaned, stood up, and walked toward my room without a word.
"…Okay," I muttered, leaving behind the absolute mess I had just made.
Everyone just stared at me like I was insane.
…
Damn it.