Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System

"What the actual fuck is this!" Athena shouted, her voice strained from the constant barrage of attacks.

Cyrus nodded, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the largest creature still standing. He gathered his remaining energy, channeling it into his blade. The aetheric light around the sword grew brighter, crackling with raw power.

"Ugh! FUCK! FUCK THESE STUPID ASS TENTACLE HENTAI MONSTERS! JUST DIE!" he shouted with tension.

Athena raised her staff, channeling her own energy into a single point. They both unleashed their attacks at the same time—Cyrus' blade slicing through the creature's core while Athena's blast of Aether disintegrated its tentacles. The monster let out a deafening screech before collapsing into a pile of ash.

But even as the last creature fell, the ominous [Round 3] panel flickered, taunting them with the promise of yet another wave.

Cyrus stood, panting heavily, his aether blade still crackling with residual energy. The air around him felt thick, oppressive, and yet he couldn't help but laugh nervously, his breathless chuckle echoing in the darkness. He glanced over at Athena, who was barely holding herself together, her sharp eyes locked on the flickering panel that still hung in the air.

"We did it, right?" he asked, the laugh dying in his throat as the panel before them flickered one last time. The [Round 3] lettering dimmed, and for a moment, hope sparked in his chest—until it faded, only to be replaced with something much worse.

[Round 4].

Cyrus' heart sank. A shiver ran down his spine, his muscles tensing instinctively. This was too familiar—far too similar to the endless trials he had endured to class up. "No, no, no..." he muttered, his hands tightening around his blade as a new wave of creatures formed from the shadows.

Bigger. Faster. Deadlier.

The black tentacles rose from the ground, twisting together to create monstrous forms. These creatures weren't just mindless masses of writhing limbs anymore. Their shapes were sharper, more humanoid—each one towering over them with twisted, grotesque faces, eyes glaring from within the mass of squirming tendrils. The sense of dread deepened as their presence loomed, each one radiating a hunger that chilled Cyrus to the bone.

Athena swallowed hard, her expression unreadable. "This isn't going to stop," she said, her voice low but steady. She raised her staff, the glow of Aether starting to surround her hands again.

Without waiting, the first creature lunged. It moved with terrifying speed, its tentacles flaring out in all directions like a massive, living net. Cyrus's instincts kicked in—he dropped to the ground just as the mass of limbs came crashing toward him, rolling to the side and coming up with a rapid upward slash. His blade cut through the nearest tentacle, severing it cleanly, but more were already converging on him. He twisted his body, barely dodging another attack, then swung his blade again, hacking away at the limbs before they could entangle him. Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

But these monsters weren't like the ones before. They adapted, their attacks more coordinated. A thick tentacle lashed out toward his legs, and though he tried to dodge, it caught his ankle and yanked him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the breath out of him. The creature loomed over him, tentacles reaching down to ensnare him completely.

Before it could, Athena fired a concentrated blast of Aether, the beam of energy hitting the creature square in the chest. The force of the attack sent it stumbling back, releasing its hold on Cyrus. He scrambled to his feet, nodding his thanks to Athena before charging forward again.

This time, he used his momentum to propel himself upward, leaping high into the air. His blade glowed brighter as he channeled more of his Aether into it, then came down with a powerful downward strike. The blow cleaved through the creature's head, splitting it in half. The mass of tentacles writhed in agony, disintegrating into black smoke.

But there was no time to celebrate. Two more creatures were already closing in, their tentacles whipping through the air. Cyrus sidestepped the first attack, narrowly avoiding a strike that would've snapped his neck. He swung his blade in a wide arc, forcing the tentacles back, but the second creature was faster. It lunged at him with terrifying speed, its tentacles wrapping around his sword arm.

Cyrus gritted his teeth, trying to pull free, but the grip was too tight. The monster's tendrils began to constrict, squeezing his arm painfully, trying to rip the sword from his grasp. In desperation, he let go of the blade, shifting his weight and throwing a hard kick into the creature's chest. The impact sent it stumbling backward just enough for him to break free. Without wasting a second, he summoned another aether blade in his free hand, spinning around to deliver a sweeping slash that severed the tentacles holding him.

Athena was right beside him now, her staff spinning in her hands as she deflected another attack. A wave of black tendrils surged toward her, but she twirled her staff in a tight, controlled motion, forming a barrier of Aether that repelled the assault. She countered with a burst of energy, sending shards of light scattering through the air, piercing through the approaching tentacles.

"Stick together!" she shouted, her voice sharp as she moved in sync with Cyrus.

The two of them worked as one now, their movements fluid and instinctive. Cyrus focused on staying mobile, using his speed to outmaneuver the larger, more sluggish creatures. He darted in and out of their reach, striking at their weak points with quick, precise slashes. Every time a tentacle came close, he'd twist his body just enough to avoid it, countering with a lethal strike before retreating again.

Athena, on the other hand, was the anchor. She controlled the flow of the battle, her Aetheric blasts keeping the creatures at bay, creating openings for Cyrus to exploit. Whenever the monsters pressed in too close, she'd send a shockwave of energy pulsing outward, buying them precious seconds to reposition.

Another creature lunged at them from the side, its tentacles spreading wide in an attempt to envelop them both. Cyrus reacted instantly, leaping forward and slashing through the mass of limbs, cutting a path through the darkness. He landed in a crouch, spinning on his heel to face the next threat, but the creature was already upon him. Its tentacles wrapped around his legs, pulling him off balance.

Athena shouted his name, but Cyrus was already acting. He slashed at the tentacles with his blade, cutting them away as fast as they could regenerate. As soon as he was free, he rolled backward, coming up just in time to deflect another attack with his sword. The impact rattled his bones, but he held firm, countering with a swift strike that severed the creature's head.

But it wasn't enough. More creatures were coming—bigger, faster, more aggressive. The air around them was thick with the scent of decay, and the ground trembled under the weight of the approaching horde.

A massive tentacle came crashing down toward Athena, but she dodged to the side, her staff glowing brightly as she fired another blast of Aether. The creature reeled back, but it was only a temporary reprieve. Another wave of tentacles surged toward her, forcing her to retreat.

Cyrus knew they couldn't hold out much longer. They needed a new strategy.

"We're getting overwhelmed!" he shouted, dodging another strike.

"Then we hit them harder!" Athena replied, her eyes flashing with determination. She raised her staff, gathering her energy for a powerful attack.

But just as she was about to unleash her spell, the ground beneath them trembled violently. A new creature emerged from the shadows—massive, towering over the others, its body a writhing mass of black tentacles. Its presence was suffocating, a wave of dread washing over them as it slowly advanced.

Cyrus tightened his grip on his blade, his heart pounding in his chest. The air was thick with tension, and every movement felt like it could be their last.

"I'll distract it," Cyrus said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his gut.

Athena glanced at him, hesitation in her eyes, but she nodded. "Be careful."

With that, Cyrus charged forward, his body moving on pure instinct. The creature roared, its tentacles whipping toward him like a storm of serpents. But he was faster. He dodged left, then right, weaving through the onslaught with a dancer's grace. His blade flashed in the dim light as he struck at the creature's limbs, cutting them down one by one.

But the creature was relentless. It pressed forward, forcing him to retreat, but he stayed just out of reach, always one step ahead.

Athena, meanwhile, was gathering her power. Her staff glowed brighter and brighter, the energy around it swirling like a vortex. She aimed carefully, waiting for the right moment.

Cyrus dodged another attack, his body moving in a blur as he sidestepped the creature's reach. Then, with a powerful leap, he lunged forward, his blade slicing through the creature's torso.

"Now!" he shouted.