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Chapter 391: Crisis

When the morning dawned clear and bright, the sun cast a golden sheen over the restless waves.

Aeliana stood at the edge of her ship's deck, her veil in place, her posture poised and steady as she surveyed the vast expanse of the sea. Despite the stillness of the morning, the anticipation in the air was palpable.

She had spent the previous night poring over reports from the attendants she had sent to investigate the enigmatic swordsman named Luca. The findings were sparse, to her frustration. He had no notable affiliations, no recognized ties to guilds or noble houses, and no established reputation beyond this expedition. Yet, his skill was undeniable, a clear anomaly amidst the sea of adventurers.

'Who are you, really?' Aeliana thought, her gaze drifting toward the distant platforms where the day's battles would soon unfold. 'No one fights like that without a story.'

Madeleina stood silently by her side, ever the vigilant attendant. She cast a brief glance at her lady before speaking softly. "You seem eager this morning, my lady. Did you rest well?"

Aeliana nodded faintly, her hands clasped in front of her. "I did. And today… I want to see more."

Madeleina arched an elegant brow. "More, my lady?"

"Yes," Aeliana replied, her voice calm but edged with determination. "More of this expedition, more of these battles. I've spent too long locked away from the world, watching it through secondhand accounts and rumors. Here, I can see it unfold in real time. I want to take in as much as I can."

The faintest smile flickered across Madeleina's lips. "As you wish, my lady. The platforms are being prepared as we speak. The first wave of monsters will arrive shortly."

Aeliana's attention sharpened as she turned her gaze to the platforms once more. The mages were already at work, their spells carving intricate sigils into the air as glowing constructs began to materialize over the water. The adventurers and mercenaries were assembling in their assigned formations, their weapons gleaming in the morning light.

Her eyes scanned the gathering figures, searching for him. It didn't take long. Luca stood near the edge of the Fourth Station, his stance casual, his sword resting against his shoulder as though the chaos ahead was nothing more than a casual inconvenience. Even from this distance, there was something about his demeanor that set him apart—the way he moved, the way he observed his surroundings with an air of unshakable confidence.

Aeliana's lips pressed into a faint line beneath her veil. "Madeleina," she said softly, not tearing her gaze away from him. "Do we have anyone close enough to report on him directly?"

Madeleina's expression was calm as she stepped closer to Aeliana, her tone measured and professional. "If you're asking about something akin to yesterday, my lady, then I'm afraid not. The artifact we used has its limitations. It's highly susceptible to interference from the mana of Awakened individuals, especially those of high rank. Most of the adventurers here fall into that category."

Aeliana's eyes lingered on Luca's distant figure, the faint glimmer of his peculiar blade catching her attention once more. Her lips pressed together as she absorbed Madeleina's explanation. "I see," she said quietly. "That's unfortunate."

"I agree, my lady," Madeleina replied. "However, we can still gather reports from our stationed attendants and rely on observations made after the battles. It may not be as immediate, but it will be thorough."

Aeliana nodded, her gaze finally breaking from Luca to settle on the prepared platforms. The mages were nearly finished stabilizing the magical constructs, and the first wave of monsters was beginning to churn the distant waters. The faint rumble of their approach was a constant backdrop, growing louder with each passing moment.

"Very well," Aeliana said, her voice calm but tinged with disappointment. "I suppose I'll have to be content with what I can see from here."

She turned and moved gracefully to her seat, the high-backed chair positioned to provide the best vantage point of the unfolding battlefield. As she settled, her hands resting lightly on the armrests, she cast one last glance toward the Fourth Station.

'He moves like he's untouchable,' she thought, her curiosity refusing to wane. 'I wonder… how far does that confidence go?'

It was a question of wonder.

*******

Aeliana sat transfixed, her gaze fixed on the projection displaying the battlefield. Her focus had sharpened throughout the battle, drawn to the two figures who stood out so distinctly—Luca with his unpredictable, lethal grace, and Elara with her masterful command of frost magic. Every movement, every strike, felt like a performance crafted to hold her attention.

She leaned slightly forward, her veil shifting with the motion. 'Exhilarating,' she thought, her fingers lightly gripping the armrest of her chair. Luca's blade seemed alive, moving with an uncanny rhythm that sliced through the chaos. Elara, on the other hand, was a tempest of frost, her spells turning the battlefield into a frozen canvas of destruction.

"They're remarkable," Aeliana murmured, almost to herself.

Madeleina, standing silently by her side, glanced at her with a knowing look. "Indeed, my lady. Both display exceptional skill."

As the battle wound to a close, with the adventurers clearing the final wave of monsters, Aeliana felt a rare sense of satisfaction. She had watched knights train for hours, seen soldiers spar, but this—it had been something else entirely. The synergy between strength and precision, raw power and tactical magic, had left her breathless.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Madeleina's voice, low and steady but carrying an edge of tension. "My lady… something is not right."

Aeliana blinked, her attention snapping to her attendant. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice calm but cautious.

Madeleina's gaze shifted to the horizon, her expression darkening. "The energy… it's changing. I've felt this before. Something is—"

Before she could finish, a sound like thunder cracked through the air.

BOOM!

Aeliana's eyes widened as the projection trembled, the images flickering momentarily before stabilizing. A massive splash followed, sending waves rippling across the sea and the platforms below.

And then, a shadow rose.

It stretched across the water, impossibly large and growing larger still, its shape monstrous and undefined. The sky seemed to darken around it, the sunlight swallowed by its sheer presence. A low, guttural sound echoed across the battlefield—a sound that sent chills racing down Aeliana's spine.

"What is that?" Aeliana whispered, her voice barely audible.

SPLASH! CRACK!

The projection flickered violently as the massive form rose from the sea, its writhing tentacles glistening with seawater and an eerie sheen that reflected the dimming light. The monster loomed over the battlefield, its sheer size dwarfing the adventurers and ships scattered around the platforms. Aeliana's breath hitched, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of her chair.

"What… what is that thing?" she whispered, her voice barely audible beneath the cacophony of the scene.

Madeleina, standing at her side, shook her head, her expression grim. "I've never seen anything like it, my lady. This isn't a creature from any records I've studied. Whatever it is… it's beyond anything we anticipated."

The monster's massive tentacles surged upward, then crashed down with terrifying force.

CRACK!

One of the platforms buckled instantly under the blow, splintering into fragments that were hurled into the air. Adventurers scrambled to dodge the debris, their cries drowned out by the roar of the waves. A second tentacle swung toward one of the ships, its impact sending a shockwave through the water.

SPLASH!

The ship rocked violently, several of its crew thrown overboard. Panic erupted as sailors and knights alike scrambled to secure their positions, their shouts mixing with the guttural roar of the beast.

Aeliana's heart raced as she watched the chaos unfold. The projection zoomed in on one of the platforms where adventurers desperately fought back. Luca was among them, his blade flashing as he moved with precise, calculated steps to avoid the monstrous tentacles.

The sea itself seemed to rise in rebellion. Smaller sea monsters that had retreated earlier now surged forward, their forms twisting unnaturally as though under the command of the great beast. Waves crashed against the platforms, the churning waters pulling adventurers into the depths.

"This is madness," Madeleina said, her voice tense. "The sea… it's alive with fury. Whatever that thing is, it's controlling everything."

A deep crisis occurred in front of their eyes.

Chapter 392: Crisis (2)

The shadow engulfed the battlefield like a stormcloud, plunging the area into an eerie twilight. The massive form rising from the sea cast its oppressive presence over the platforms, and a bone-chilling roar vibrated through the air, freezing every adventurer in place.

Elara, still slumped on the ground, barely managed to lift her head as a colossal tentacle arced upward, its glossy surface reflecting the dim light. Her breath hitched as the monstrous appendage descended with terrifying speed, aimed directly at her position.

She tried to move, her hands scrambling weakly for her staff, but her body refused to obey. Her mana reserves were too low, her limbs too heavy. The realization struck her like ice in her veins—she couldn't escape.

The tentacle crashed down with a deafening BOOM, the platform beneath it shuddering violently. Splinters of wood and icy shards flew in every direction as the force of the impact rippled outward.

"ELARA!" Cedric's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding.

Before she could process what was happening, Cedric was there. He stepped in front of her, his shield glowing with a golden light as he planted his feet firmly on the ground. With a deep, steadying breath, he raised his free hand and channeled his mana.

「Knight's Resolve」 (3-star shield technique)

A shimmering barrier erupted in front of them, golden and unyielding. The air around it seemed to hum with power, the shield gleaming like sunlight piercing through a storm.

The tentacle slammed into the barrier with a thunderous CRACK, the force of the impact reverberating through the platform. Cedric gritted his teeth, his body braced against the massive pressure. "Hold!" he growled, pouring more of his mana into the shield.

The barrier held, but only barely. Cracks began to spiderweb across its surface as the overwhelming weight of the monster's attack bore down on them.

"Cedric!" Elara cried, her voice hoarse with panic.

He didn't look back, his focus entirely on the barrier. "Stay behind me!" he barked, his voice strained but resolute. "I will take care of it!"

The shield finally gave way with a shattering CRASH, and the remaining force of the blow sent both Cedric and Elara hurtling backward. The icy platform beneath them splintered as they skidded across it, the momentum stopping only when they hit the far edge.

Elara gasped, the wind knocked from her lungs as she scrambled to her knees. "Cedric!" she choked, her eyes darting to him.

"I am….. fine." Cedric said, his voice low and strained.

Cedric's face remained grim, his expression devoid of the usual reassuring smile. He pushed himself upright, his movements heavy but deliberate. A faint tremor in his legs betrayed the toll of the attack he had just endured.

"Lady Elara," he said, his voice steady but strained, "you must be careful… That strike just now—it was far stronger than anything we've faced so far."

As if to emphasize his words, Cedric leaned forward slightly, coughing harshly before spitting out a streak of blood onto the icy platform. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, his other gripping his sword tightly. Despite his injuries, he stood tall, his shield ready.

Elara stared at him, a knot of panic tightening in her chest. "Cedric, you're hurt—"

"I'll manage," he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Focus, Elara. You can't let your guard down."

Before she could respond, the air grew thicker, an oppressive weight pressing down on the battlefield. The massive creature let out another guttural roar, its monstrous form looming larger as more of its tentacles rose from the churning sea.

Suddenly, figures clad in gleaming armor surged forward—the knights of the Dukedom. Their movements were swift and coordinated as they formed a protective line near the mages and adventurers. Each knight placed a hand over their core, their mana flaring to life as shields of energy shimmered into existence around them.

"Elara!" Cedric barked, snapping her attention back to him. "Stay close to the knights if you can't hold your own."

Before she could reply, Captain Eryndor's voice thundered across the chaos. "EVERYONE! GET READY TO PROTECT YOURSELVES!"

His warning was cut short as the monstrous tentacles began their assault.

BOOM! CRACK!

One tentacle smashed into the nearest ship, splitting its deck with a deafening crash. Sailors and knights were hurled into the air, their screams lost amidst the chaos. Another tentacle slammed into a temporary platform conjured by the mages, splintering it and sending icy debris cascading into the sea.

RUMBLE!

The platforms quaked under the repeated strikes, the mages struggling to maintain the spellwork that kept them afloat. The ground beneath Elara and Cedric trembled violently, nearly throwing them off balance.

Another tentacle, enormous and menacing, surged downward toward Elara and Cedric with terrifying speed. The air around it seemed to warp, the sheer force of its descent roaring like a hurricane. Elara's heart pounded in her chest as she raised her staff instinctively, but she knew she wouldn't have time to cast a defense.

SLASH!

A sharp sound cut through the chaos, followed by a spray of blue liquid as the tentacle was sliced cleanly in midair. Elara blinked, barely processing what had happened as a figure darted forward—a flash of dark movement weaving through the battlefield.

SLASH! WHOOSH! SLASH!

One by one, the tentacles were struck down, each cut precise and brutal. The blue ichor of the beast spilled into the air, its grotesque scent wafting through the battlefield. And then, standing amidst the carnage, Lucavion emerged, his blade gleaming faintly with dark energy.

"FOCUS ON THE PORES!" he shouted, his commanding voice cutting through the chaos. "LIMIT THE RANGE OF TENTACLES!"

His words snapped the adventurers and knights out of their stunned stupor. They shifted their focus, their attacks now aimed with newfound precision at the writhing appendages.

"AND IF YOU SEE THE PORES SHINE, EVADE!" Lucavion's voice rang out again, firm and resolute.

As if on cue, the pores on the severed tentacle he had just cut began to glow, a sickly blue light radiating from them. The warriors closest to it froze for a moment, unsure of what was happening.

"MOVE!" Lucavion roared, channeling mana into his legs. With an explosive burst of energy, he leaped high into the air, a black streak against the dim, chaotic sky.

WHIRR!

The glowing pores suddenly erupted, releasing a storm of small, needle-like darts that shot upward in pursuit of Lucavion. The deadly projectiles whistled through the air, glinting faintly in the dim light.

Lucavion twisted midair, his movements impossibly fast and fluid. SWOOSH! SWOOSH! He evaded the darts with precision, his body flipping and twisting as he descended back toward the platform.

"THEY'RE POISONOUS!" he shouted as he landed, his blade carving through another tentacle with a single powerful stroke. "DON'T GET HIT!"

Elara's breath caught as she watched him, her heart racing at the sheer intensity of the scene. His instructions were clear, his movements impossibly swift, but the situation was spiraling out of control. More tentacles surged forward, their glowing pores threatening to unleash more deadly projectiles.

But the her fingers tightened around her staff as her wide eyes followed Lucavion's movements. Her breath was shallow, her heart thudding in her chest as his voice rang in her ears. His commands were precise, deliberate, as though he wasn't just reacting to the chaos but knew exactly how it would unfold.

"Does he know what this is?" she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of the battlefield.

"Elara, stay back!" Cedric said, his voice filled with urgency as he positioned himself beside her, shield at the ready. "You can't push yourself too far again—"

"He looks like he knows what this is…" she interrupted, her gaze still fixed on Lucavion. She stood, forcing her exhausted body upright. Her frost magic crackled faintly around her, though her reserves were dangerously low.

Just then, one of the adventurers nearby, a burly man wielding a double-edged axe, shouted toward Lucavion. "Hey! You there! How do you know all this? Do you know what this thing is?"

Lucavion, who had just landed from another agile maneuver, twisted slightly to glance at the adventurer. His blade dripped with the eerie blue ichor of the tentacle he'd severed, and his coat swayed lightly in the sea breeze. For a moment, he didn't respond, as though weighing his words.

Then, his lips curled into a smirk—a grin that bordered on madness, his sharp eyes gleaming with an unsettling mix of excitement and determination.

"Yes," he said, his voice low but carrying clearly across the chaos. The single word froze the air around them, the weight of it palpable.

Lucavion straightened, his blade resting lazily on his shoulder as he turned to face the scattered adventurers and knights. His gaze swept over them, and the smirk on his face deepened into something more wild, almost feral.

"We are against a Kraken."

Chapter 393: Crisis (3)

Lucavion's sharp eyes fixed on the towering monstrosity before them, its grotesque form casting an oppressive shadow over the battlefield. The word lingered in his mind, heavy with meaning.

A Kraken...

The name echoed through his thoughts like a resonant chime, stirring memories and calculations alike. This was no mere beast of the sea. It was an ancient terror, a force of nature that had claimed countless lives and destroyed entire fleets. And yet, here it was, towering above them, its writhing tentacles a chaotic symphony of destruction.

Lucavion's smirk faltered briefly, replaced by a contemplative frown as he tightened his grip on his estoc.

'There's a reason I came all this way, after all….'

His gaze shifted momentarily, taking in the scattered adventurers and knights, their fear and confusion palpable in the air. But his thoughts were elsewhere, pulling together the pieces of a larger puzzle. By coming here, he stood to gain more than just another notch on his blade.

The first reason, of course, was personal growth. Breaking through to 4-star with his [Flame of Equinox] core had been his priority. Though the exact reason for his previous inability to advance remained elusive, he understood one thing well: opportunities to face life-and-death challenges were the keys to his evolution. The battlefield provided those in abundance.

The second reason was far more delicate. His presence here aligned with his greater goal—to meet certain daughters, one of them a piece of his Master's legacy scattered across the world and the other one, well….

He had met the first, Elara, fully and properly.

And he had partially encountered the second.

Partially, Lucavion thought, his smirk returning faintly. But that meeting isn't far off now.

But these reasons right now were overshadowed by the third one.

Lucavion's hand shifted slightly, his palm brushing against his chest where the faint glow of his core lay hidden. A strange pulse resonated within him, rhythmic and deliberate, like the beat of an otherworldly heart.

"Indeed..." he murmured to himself, his voice low, nearly drowned out by the chaos around him. "[Devourer of Stars]... it's pulsating."

The core at the center of his being—a gift, a burden, a mystery bestowed upon him by his Master—was not just a source of his power. It was a link to something far greater. And now, standing in the shadow of the Kraken, that link was alive, resonating with the beast's monstrous presence.

'It's as if it recognizes this thing.'

Lucavion's dark eyes narrowed, his smirk fading as his thoughts turned inward. The [Devourer of Stars] core was rarely active without reason. For it to react now, in the presence of the Kraken, meant that this creature was tied to its purpose. Its pulsation wasn't random; it was a call, a connection, perhaps even a challenge.

'Indeed….In the novel, it was also mentioned that….'

He inhaled deeply, feeling the heat of his [Flame of Equinox] simmer beneath the surface, ready to ignite at a moment's notice. The strength he had gained, the enemies he had faced, all of it was leading to this moment. And though the sight of the Kraken was enough to make even the bravest tremble, Lucavion's smirk returned, sharper and more dangerous than ever.

"Let's see," he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with dark amusement. "Let's see if you're worthy of stirring my core."

[You're insane,] Vitaliara remarked, her tone carrying a mix of awe and exasperation. [That thing's power is immense, and you're still grinning like you're about to open a birthday present.]

'Why not?' Lucavion replied inwardly, his smirk deepening. 'Monsters like this don't come around every day. It'd be a shame not to enjoy it.'

[There is absolutely no one in this world I've seen,] Vitaliara began, her tone teetering between disbelief and reluctant admiration, [who would talk about a Kraken like this. You're either brilliant or completely mad.]

Lucavion chuckled softly, his dark eyes locked on the towering monstrosity as it roared, sending waves crashing against the platforms. 'Why not both?'

Vitaliara let out an exaggerated sigh, but her voice turned sharper, more serious. [But this Kraken… It's not normal.]

Lucavion's smirk shifted into a faint frown of intrigue. 'Not normal, huh?' He tightened his grip on his estoc, the faint shimmer of [Flame of Equinox] sparking at its edge, flickering with anticipation.

'So you've seen a Kraken before, then?' he asked, his inner voice calm, curious.

[Three times,] Vitaliara admitted, her tone tinged with the weight of experience. [And each time, it was a force of destruction—raw, untamed, terrifying. But this one…] She trailed off, her unease palpable even through their shared connection.

'This one… what?' Lucavion pressed, though he already had an inkling of what she meant. 'Let me take a guess….Otherworldly?'

Vitaliara's eyes, her glowing form perched invisibly within Lucavion's mind, seemed to widen slightly at his words. [Otherworldly? How—]

Before she could finish, Lucavion's body tensed. His sharp instincts screamed at him, and without hesitation, he sidestepped, his movements fluid as a massive tentacle crashed down where he had just stood. The platform quaked violently under the force, splinters of wood flying into the air.

Lucavion's smirk returned, sharper and more dangerous. 'Too slow.'

With a burst of energy, he leaped onto the tentacle, his feet barely touching its slick surface before he launched himself upward. His estoc, wreathed in the dense flames of [Flame of Equinox], arced downward in a clean, devastating slash.

FWOOOM!

The flame-coated blade carved through the tentacle with terrifying ease, the flames igniting the ichor-filled appendage. A roar of pain reverberated from the Kraken as the severed piece splashed into the churning sea below, steaming as it dissolved into the salty depths.

[How did you know?] Vitaliara's voice rang out again, sharper now, tinged with surprise.

Lucavion landed smoothly on the edge of another platform, his smirk deepening as he rotated his blade casually. "I can feel it too," he said, his tone almost lazy, though his eyes gleamed with a calculating intensity. "That energy... it's pulsating in the space around us. It's not native. It feels..." He trailed off, his smirk fading into a faint frown. "Repulsing. Like it doesn't belong here."

[You really are sensitive,] Vitaliara remarked, though her voice carried a note of both concern and admiration. [It's rare for someone to pick up on something so subtle, especially in the middle of a fight like this.]

Lucavion chuckled softly, his dark eyes narrowing as he watched the Kraken writhe in agony, its remaining tentacles thrashing with renewed fury. "I don't need to be sensitive to notice something that blatant, Vitaliara," he said. "This thing—whatever it is—doesn't just feel out of place. It feels wrong."

The Kraken let out another guttural roar, its monstrous body shuddering as it began to draw more of its appendages upward from the depths. The oppressive aura in the air thickened, pressing against the adventurers and knights like an invisible weight.

"Looks like it didn't appreciate that," Lucavion muttered, a glint of amusement flickering in his gaze. "Good. Let's see what else you've got, big guy."

[You're enjoying this way too much,] Vitaliara said, her voice tinged with exasperation. [I hope you know what you're doing, because this thing isn't going down easily.]

"Wouldn't want it to," Lucavion replied smoothly, his smirk returning. He tightened his grip on his estoc, the flames along its edge flaring brighter as he prepared for the Kraken's next move. "What's the point of a challenge if it's not worthy of me?"

With that, he launched himself back into the fray, his movements swift and precise as the Kraken retaliated, its monstrous appendages crashing down with unrelenting force. But Lucavion was already moving, weaving through the chaos with an almost inhuman grace, his blade ready to strike at every opportunity.

'Otherworldly or not,' he thought to himself, his smirk widening. 'You're going to learn what it means to face me.'

Lucavion's blade sliced cleanly through another writhing tentacle, flames igniting along the severed appendage as it fell into the churning sea below. The Kraken's guttural roar reverberated through the battlefield, its rage palpable as its massive body writhed with renewed aggression.

"Focus your strikes on the joints!" Lucavion shouted over the chaos, his voice cutting through the din of battle. "Those are its weakest points—the connective tissue is less armored there!"

The adventurers and knights nearby hesitated only for a moment before following his instructions. A group of mercenaries lunged toward one of the creature's flailing appendages, their weapons targeting the base where the thick, slick tentacle connected to the main body. Their blades bit deeper this time, eliciting another bellow of pain from the Kraken.

"Watch the pores!" Lucavion warned, leaping nimbly to another platform as a glowing tentacle slammed into the space he had just vacated. "When they glow, it means it's about to release those darts. If you can't dodge them, shield yourself with something solid!"

As if on cue, a section of the Kraken's tentacle began to radiate a sickly blue light. The nearest adventurer, a burly axeman, froze in panic.

"MOVE!" Lucavion roared, his voice sharp with command.

The axeman dove just in time as a storm of needle-like projectiles shot from the glowing pores, embedding themselves into the icy platform with lethal precision.

"You see that?" Lucavion continued, his blade glinting as he parried an incoming tentacle. "That's the real threat of this thing. It's not just brute force—it's those cursed darts. Don't give it the chance to pin you down."

[You're giving quite the lecture,] Vitaliara mused, her tone amused despite the gravity of the situation. [Is this your way of showing off?]

'Hardly,' Lucavion replied inwardly, his smirk deepening as he sidestepped another attack. 'Knowledge is power, Vitaliara. These idiots would get themselves killed if I didn't clue them in.'

[And where did this sudden expertise on Kraken anatomy come from?] Vitaliara teased, though her tone hinted at genuine curiosity.

Lucavion chuckled, his estoc igniting as he slashed upward, severing another smaller tentacle. "Let's just say stars are guiding me."

[Heh….]

The truth, of course, was far more specific. His knowledge came not from study or experience, but from the novel's detailed description of this exact encounter.

Though it was for another time….