Chapter 83: Battle Between the Moon and the Abyss

The Great Elder of the Ocean emerged from the water with heavy steps. His shell was full of cracks and scars, marks of countless battles. Every movement raised waves that struck with force, imposing silence among all present. Jax adjusted the bow in his hand and measured the elder in silence. He saw no offensive power in him, but the pressure he emitted was brutal, as if the entire sea was ready to crush him if he took a wrong step. The elder advanced slowly, each step echoing across the battlefield. He raised a hand, and before him rose a rotating liquid wall: [Water Barrier]. The wall was so dense it seemed to swallow light, ready to block any attack coming toward him. Jax tensed his Lunar Bow and fired a shining arrow that split the air in two. The projectile hit the [Water Barrier], but instead of piercing it, the arrow simply disintegrated as if it had never existed. The wall didn’t even tremble. Jax frowned, surprised by the strength of the barrier. He fired several more arrows; each sank into the [Water Barrier] without piercing it, colliding and bouncing with force. His attacks had no effect. Then, taking a deep breath and focusing his mana, he prepared his next move: the [Timeless Lunar Arrow], an arrow capable of teleporting and opening a breach in time to strike from impossible angles. Jax activated the [Timeless Lunar Arrow], which bypassed the [Water Barrier] and hit the turtle directly on the forehead. The elder’s head recoiled from the impact, but only a small scratch remained. However, the damage reflected and returned to Jax. He managed to move slightly, dodging the direct hit to his head, but as he shifted, the arrow struck his shoulder. The blow was so brutal it caused severe damage, dislocating his shoulder instantly. Jax readjusted his shoulder with a painful crack, recalling the intensity of the last impact. The girls, watching, had red eyes from seeing their man suffer that way. Determined to break the limit of what the turtle could return in damage, he activated [Lunar Dusk] and shot the arrow directly at the elder’s face. For the first time, the turtle squinted, feeling fear. The explosion was devastating: Jax took brutal damage, his armor destroyed, leaving him gravely injured. The turtle also suffered deep wounds, blood running down its face as it laughed like a madman, thrilled to feel so much damage in its entire life. Its eyes turned red as its thirst for blood surged. Enraged, the turtle launched an attack at Jax, using brute strength and water abilities to try to take him down. Jax stood firm, remembering the training with the mages and archers. He activated [Spellbreaker] and neutralized the magical attacks the turtle sent his way. Every returned or launched strike from the turtle was easily stopped; its offensive powers proved surprisingly weak against Jax’s defense. With each diverted attack, Jax realized the turtle relied more on its defensive ability than offensive strength. The elder, despite his size and reputation, couldn’t inflict real damage, and Jax began evaluating his next moves while maintaining his active defense. Jax and the turtle stared at each other, measuring every movement of the other. The elder incited him with a deep voice, roaring as he struck the water with force. "Attack me, human! In ocean battles, there is no room for cowards." But Jax simply smirked mockingly, crossing his arms. "I know your ability," he said. "If I don’t attack you, you can’t hurt me." The turtle grew furious, its voice resonating with indignation throughout the ocean. "No one has ever shown such cowardice before me!" it roared. Jax shrugged, his gaze cold and confident. "That’s not bravery... it’s stupidity." The ocean roared around them, but both remained firm, stuck in a tense stalemate. The Mermaid Queen intervened from her throne of water and coral, looking at the elder with firmness. "Step back, Great Elder! You won’t be able to defeat him," she said authoritatively. The turtle frowned, clearly irritated, but replied in a deep voice. "I can still fight. Don’t underestimate me." Jax turned his gaze to the Queen, expression serious. "I haven’t used my best ability yet," he said. "If I use it, I could even kill him... but I don’t want to assassinate such a wise being." The Queen nodded, eyes fixed on Jax. "I know you’ve been holding back. Neither you nor your girls behind you show fear. Fine... I order the retreat. We will not attempt to take this island again, but I will attack the continent." Jax raised an eyebrow and replied calmly. "The continent isn’t my problem. You can do whatever you want. But if you attack the Soaring Dragon Kingdom, I would be very grateful." The Mermaid Queen turned on her giant lobster, casting a defiant glance at Jax before slowly submerging into the ocean. The roar of the waves faded as the enormous creature disappeared beneath the surface, taking the momentary threat with it. Jax fell to his knees on the wet sand, exhausted, his body trembling and breathing ragged. The effort of the battle had left deep marks on his armor and vital strength. The girls ran to his side, eyes red with worry and hearts pounding from the fear of losing him. "Jax... are you okay?" asked Lira, kneeling in front of him and touching his injured shoulder. "You idiot... you almost scared us to death," murmured Anya, frowning as she assessed his wounds. Karely and Elnara surrounded him, helping him stand while speaking urgently. "You can’t keep going like this... we need you on your feet!" exclaimed Lía, gripping his arm firmly. Carefully, together they carried him, supporting him on shoulders and arms as they advanced toward a nearby hut, improvised as a safe shelter. "Come on, Jax... you need to rest," said Neri gently, placing a blanket over him once inside the hut. Jax sighed, closing his eyes, feeling for the first time the relief of having survived one of the most brutal battles he had ever faced. The girls stayed around him, attentive and worried, protecting him even in his moment of vulnerability.