Chapter 645: Running is not cowardice!
The Kraken's massive tentacles slammed into the ocean with tremendous force, sending a deafening roar across the waves and causing an enormous wall of water to rise, crashing down with violent intensity.
BAAAMMM! WHAAAAMMM! BAAAAAAMMM!!!
Snowflake hissed sharply, her serpentine body slithering frantically to avoid the incoming waves of water that shot toward her like razor-sharp blades.
Each wave sliced through the air, threatening to cut through anything in its path!!
Aether stood firmly on her head, his piercing gaze fixed on the Kraken—no, on Mortimer, who now seemed fully capable of controlling the monstrous creature. The Kraken moved toward them with a terrifying grace, gliding over the water's surface as if it were an extension of its being.
The beast unleashed continuous waves of ocean fury at them, its attacks relentless.
SssssssHHHH!!
The Kraken unleashed a volley of bluish-white, icy projectiles that crackled with deadly energy. Snowflake twisted and turned, narrowly avoiding the barrage. Her shimmering tail came dangerously close to freezing over, mere inches from being encased in solid ice.
"HIIISSS~!" she hissed, her speed increasing as she slithered with desperation and agility.
"Is that all you've got? Fight me properly, you coward!!!" the Kraken bellowed, its deep, guttural voice filled with unbridled rage.
Aether remained silent, his expression unreadable. He leaned closer to Snowflake, whispering something softly into her ear. Without hesitation, he leapt from her head, as Snowflake dove deep into the ocean, her sleek body slicing through the water below.
"Ah, now that's more like it, slave!" the Kraken sneered with a cruel grin, its voice dripping with arrogance.
It wasted no time, hurling its razor-sharp tentacles toward Aether with blinding speed. The sharp edges shimmered ominously, ready to tear through him.
Aether raised one hand, and in an instant, his entire body was engulfed in roaring purple flames. The fiery aura surged around him as he shot forward like a comet, heading straight for the monstrous beast.
"Do you think you can escape me so easily?" the Kraken roared its voice a mix of fury and glee. "This day will be your last, you pathetic filth!" With a monstrous roar, its tentacles morphed into gleaming, axe-like blades, each one swinging with deadly precision toward Aether.
Aether's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the sudden transformation, but he didn't falter. He charged forward, weaving through the onslaught of deadly tentacles with uncanny precision. Each swing narrowly missed him as he pushed closer to his target, undeterred by the danger.
"Hahaha... Do you really think getting close to me will change your fate? You're an IDIOT!!" the Kraken laughed, its voice tinged with disdain. Yet, beneath its mocking tone was a trace of desperation.
The curse was beginning to wear on its body, sapping its strength with every passing moment.
'I don't have much time left,' Mortimer thought grimly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Aether dart around him like a relentless star.
The tentacles struggled to land a single hit, their sharp edges slashing through empty air.
Slash
Slash!
Mortimer knew the truth: he could not be defeated unless the ocean itself disappeared—a miracle that seemed impossible. But his body was reaching its limit. The curse was exacting a heavy toll, and the Arcane energy was burning him alive from within due to the curse!
"KKRRRAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
The Kraken let out an ear-splitting roar.... It shifted its strategy, eyeing Aether's movements and... One of the axe-like tentacles suddenly softened, its sharp edges morphing into a jelly-like structure, and—
Bloopp!
"What the—?" Aether's momentum was abruptly halted as the jelly-like tentacle ensnared him mid-dodge. His zig-zag pattern of movement failed to anticipate this sudden change.
Purple flames erupted from his body, attempting to burn through the jelly, but instead of dissolving, the strange substance hardened and tightened its grip around him.
"Hahahaha...." The Kraken's laughter echoed across the ocean. "As I said, slave... You're far too inexperienced to challenge me!" It tightened its grip even more, rendering Aether almost immobile. His limbs twitched, but the viscous jelly restricted his movement to the point of futility.
"Tell me, Slave... How did you gain these powers? How is it even possible when I've already stolen your future? That's not how the world works. That's not how the universe's Law operates! Answer me!" the monster roared, its voice filled with fury!
Mortimer really wanted to know how this would happen!
Aether's expression twisted into one of disgust, "Damn... your mouth stinks," he muttered, his nose wrinkling.
"...." The Kraken paused for a moment, stunned by the unexpected response. Its expression shifted into one of confusion, then irritation.
"You insolent wretch... You asked for this!" the Kraken growled. Its massive maw opened wide, revealing a swirling orb of bluish-white energy gathering at its centre, "Don't worry—I'll freeze you for eternity.... My eternal slave!" It unleashed the icy blast with a triumphant roar.
Splash...
Before the attack could hit its target, the ocean beneath them began to swirl violently.... The Kraken staggered slightly, its many eyes darting downward only to see... A massive whirlpool had formed beneath it.
The Kraken frowned, its many eyes narrowing as it scanned the depths of the ocean. Then it spotted something—something white moving rapidly in a circular motion far below. Realization dawned on its grotesque face.
"That snake..." it muttered, its tone tinged with surprise.
Mortimer, controlling the Kraken's massive form, had assumed the serpent had fled, especially since he could no longer sense its presence. His brow furrowed as he pieced it together. 'Come to think of it... I couldn't sense its presence even when it was near. What a peculiar monster...' His thoughts came to an abrupt halt as he noticed something else. The figure trapped in his jelly-like tentacle—Aether—was gone.
"See ya~" Aether's amused voice rang out. Hovering in the sky, he waved at the Kraken with a playful smirk.
"NOOOOOO!!!" The Kraken let out an enraged roar, thrashing wildly as it attempted to escape the rapidly growing whirlpool beneath it. The powerful vortex rotated with the force of an unending torpedo, pulling the massive creature deeper and deeper.
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BAAAMMM! WHAAAAMMM! BAAAAAAMMM!!!
Its tentacles whipped and flailed in desperation, but the relentless force of the whirlpool refused to let go.
"KRRRRRRRAAAAA—ggggllloppppp!!!"
With a final, gurgling roar, the Kraken was swallowed by the ocean.
Moments later, Snowflake reappeared on the surface, her shimmering white body gliding gracefully through the water, though the whirlpool she'd created was still spinning fiercely.
Aether landed on her head, steadying himself as he glanced down at the turbulent waters.
"How deep is it now?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity.
"SSSOOOO DEEEPP~ 20 meeee~," Snowflake replied, her voice playful as she measured the depth, referencing her own massive length multiplied by twenty.
Aether's lips twitched, struggling to contain a grimace. "That's... way too much," he muttered, scratching the back of his head, "Can I really pull this off? I cannot make mistake... hmmm"
The whirlpool began to slow, its ferocity fading... The ocean calmed, its surface returning to an eerie stillness. Both Aether and Snowflake cautiously scanned the area, their senses on high alert.
Aether shook his head, sighing. "There's no way that old man died that easi--"
His instincts kicked in a heartbeat later. Without hesitation, Aether stomped hard on Snowflake's head, forcing her to dive underwater as he shot upward into the sky.
A mere second later, five colossal tentacles—each tipped with gleaming, axe-like ice blades—crashed down on the exact spot Snowflake had been moments ago.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
The force of the impact split the water apart, briefly exposing the ocean floor beneath the surface.
Aether exhaled in relief as he spotted Snowflake slithering off to the side, unharmed but clearly shaken. Turning his attention back to the attack, his expression hardened. What he saw made his eyes widen in disbelief....
Kraken.. NO! There were five of them now snf... they were fucking real!!
"Hahaha... Thanks to you, I found a few friends, Aether," The water moulded Kraken or Mortimer grin widened as he gestured toward the other Krakens, their massive, fleshy forms towering over the waves.
"Fuck..." Aether muttered under his breath, his voice low but filled with annoyance. His gaze swept the waters, noticing movement in the distance. To his growing frustration, other aquatic creatures—whales, sharks, and even massive seahorses—were emerging, drawn to the call of their master.
"That's..." Aether's voice trailed off as he landed back on Snowflake's head.
The serpent hissed softly, her expression shifting to one of grave seriousness.
"I guess I understand now," Aether muttered, his tone calm yet laced with an odd sense of admiration. "The King of the Ocean... Quite the title, huh?"
Mortimer's gaze darkened as he scrutinized Aether's calm demeanour. The young man's unwavering expression unsettled him, and for a fleeting moment, he wondered if Aether had brought reinforcements—dragons capable of turning the tide of battle.... But no such help appeared.
"You see, Mortimer..." Aether began, "If I'd wanted to, I could have teleported us back to my Empire during that vulnerable moment" and thought 'Sure, it would've cost me a million AP,' and continued, ".. Taking you down there would've been easy. You're at your strongest here, and in Pyra, you'd stand no chance."
He paused, letting his words sink in before a mischievous grin spread across his face. "But what's the fun in that?
You can call me a hypocrite or whatever you like, but winning on your turf?
Tsk, tsk, tsk... Now that's a taste I'd savour. The thrill, the satisfaction—it's unparalleled." He licked his lips as if relishing the thought of victory.
Mortimer's expression tightened. After a moment, he chuckled darkly. "I see... So that's how it is," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "But that arrogance of yours will be your downfall." His voice boomed with command as he pointed at Aether. "KILL HIM!!!"
"KARRRRRRYYHHH!!"
The horde responded immediately. The Krakens, the whales, the sharks, and countless other aquatic creatures surged forward with terrifying speed, their collective cries echoing across the ocean.
Snowflake hissed in alarm, her body coiling defensively. She knew that facing such a massive army would be nearly impossible.. She glanced at her Master thinking.. as long as her master was with her, she knew she could face anyth----
"Whatttttt~?" Snowflake's voice was filled with disbelief... Aether was... running away?