166. Kraken

Kai felt a sprinkle of fear creep into him as he stared at the kraken in all its terrifying glory—a fear he knew well, one that surfaced before every major battle. Since healing his Mana heart, he hadn’t faced a creature this intense. The battle against the Storm Sovereign had been a different matter, with the aid of the elders tipping the scales. Contrary to what he thought, now, it was just him, a handful of Enforcers, and a greenhorn Spirit Trainer. He knew this fight wouldn’t be easy. Yet, whatever fear flickered within him, he managed to push it down as the kraken’s tentacles began to writhe. He had no time to think. Hundreds of them lashed out simultaneously, green, slimy, and tipped with edges sharp enough to rival a blade. “Spread out!” Kai roared, releasing a volley of flaming arrows. The fiery projectiles scorched the beast’s slimy hide, leaving trails of smoke, but it didn’t falter. Instead, it screeched, a bone-chilling sound, and lunged into a relentless offensive. Gorak and Gareth met the charge head-on, their weapons glinting as they rushed toward the beast. Behind them, Raven and Finn positioned themselves as ranged support. The kraken retaliated, dozens of tentacles surging toward Gorak and Gareth, intent on crushing them. Kai’s mana flared as he conjured an [Ice Step] midair, shouting, “Jump!” The frozen surface materialized just in time for them to leap from it, narrowly avoiding the writhing appendages. Their blades gleamed with intent as they arced downward, aiming to sever the monstrous creature in half. Before Gorak’s weapon could connect with the kraken’s hide, a tentacle snapped around his leg, flinging him backward with brutal force. Kai reacted swiftly, casting [Featherfall] to cushion Gorak’s fall. Gareth, meanwhile, activated his shadow abilities, slipping through the chaos of tentacles with incredible speed. He closed the distance and drove his blade into the kraken’s stomach. A gush of green blood splattered across the floor, but the brief triumph was snatched away as the wound knitted itself shut in moments. More tentacles surged toward Gareth, forcing him to dodge and weave with increasing desperation. “It’s regenerating way faster than I expected!” Kai shouted. “Keep firing the exploding potions and arrows!” He didn’t bother checking if Raven and the twin acknowledged his order. Instead, he summoned [Wind Blades], guiding them through the air. The blades sliced through several tentacles, severed pieces falling to the ground with heavy thuds, kicking up dust. Kai’s eyes caught the tentacles regrowing, albeit slower than the wound on its stomach. That was a small advantage. Turning his focus back to the kraken, where Gorak and Gareth had reengaged the beast, he locked onto its many eyes, gleaming with malice. “Thanks for giving me so many targets,” he muttered under his breath, conjuring flaming arrows in the air. Not hundreds this time, but a few dozen—enough for greater control. He fired the flaming arrows toward the kraken, but its tentacles shot up, blocking them before they could hit. Kai had expected this. With a wave of his hand and a steady flow of mana, he guided the arrows, making them twist and turn through the air. They darted between the moving tentacles, aiming for the creature’s vulnerable spots. But the kraken wasn’t an easy target. Its massive limbs moved with surprising speed, slapping the arrows aside one by one. The clash of fire against the slimy tentacles lit up the cavern, but none of the attacks hit their mark. Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed through the cavern. One of the potion bombs hit the kraken’s back, erupting in a burst of light and sound. The force shook the creature, its huge body reeling as it let out a deafening screech. Green blood oozed from the blast site, dripping onto the rocky ground below. Kai didn’t waste the opening. With a sharp gesture, he sent three more flaming arrows streaking toward the kraken. This time, they moved faster, their paths more precise. The tentacles still tried to block them, but the beast wasn’t quick enough. All three arrows hit their target, plunging into the kraken’s bulbous eyes. The creature roared in agony, its cries bouncing off the cavern walls. Its body thrashed wildly, sending tremors through the ground. Green blood rained down like a foul-smelling storm, covering Gorak and Gareth as they struggled to stay upright. Kai clenched his fists, his heart pounding. He knew one thing for sure—no matter how strong a creature was, its eyes were always a weak spot. For a moment, he thought they were close to winning. But then, the kraken unleashed a deafening cry—unlike anything they had heard before. It reached deep into their cores and stirred an instinctive terror. Kai’s eyes darted to his companions. Gorak and Finn collapsed to their knees, trembling. Gareth barely managed to stay upright, his blade quivering in his hand. Raven and Claire clung to the cavern walls, their faces pale and stricken with horror. Even Kai wasn’t spared from the kraken’s screech. A wave of dread crashed over him, clouding his mind and freezing him in place. The haunting cry echoed in his head, whispering insidious thoughts. Kai clenched his fists, gritting his teeth as he fought against the oppressive weight of despair. He forced his trembling hands into motion and cast [Refresh], sending a surge of mana into his body. The spell washed over him like a cold river, clearing the fog in his mind and banishing the fatigue weighing him down. Even the soreness in his muscles faded. “Snap out of it!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. “It’s just a sound! Fight through it!” But his companions didn’t move. Fear rooted them to the spot, their eyes wide with terror. The kraken seized the moment, its massive tentacles snapping forward like coiled springs, aiming straight for Gorak and Gareth. Kai didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, summoning a [Flaming Whip] in his hand. The fiery lash crackled as he swung it with precision, severing the slimy tentacles in one powerful strike. The searing flames cauterized the wounds, preventing the severed limbs from regenerating too quickly. More tentacles followed, slithering and thrashing toward his group. Kai knew he couldn’t rely on brute force alone. He extended his free hand, casting an [Ice Beam]that froze the incoming tentacles in mid-air. Frost spread rapidly along the writhing limbs, encasing them in an unyielding crystalline shell. The kraken roared in frustration, its immense strength cracking the ice as it struggled against its bindings. With a deafening crash, the frozen tentacles shattered, shards flying in all directions. But Kai was already prepared. Channeling his mana, he unleashed a fiery explosion that engulfed the kraken’s exposed body. Flames licked at its slimy flesh, eliciting another ear-splitting scream as the beast flailed in agony. The kraken’s retaliation was swift. Its remaining tentacles slammed into the cavern ceiling, dislodging massive chunks of rock. Kai’s heart sank. “Damn it.” The boulders hurtled toward him, too fast to counter. For a split second, he braced for impact. Then, a crackling bolt of lightning tore through the air, shattering the falling rocks into harmless fragments. Kai turned, his eyes widening in surprise and relief. Claire stood firm, her gaze steady, the Storm Sovereign glowing with raw energy by her side. Lightning danced around her, illuminating the cavern with an otherworldly light. “Lord Arzan, are you okay?” she called out. Kai nodded, brushing the dust from his shoulders. But before he could respond, the Storm Sovereign, an arrogant gleam in its otherworldly eyes, stepped forward. “Human, you need to do better as my trainer’s liege,” it said, its tone dripping with disdain. Kai smirked, ignoring the jab. “Claire, go all-out. I’ll handle the rest.” Claire nodded, the Storm Sovereign roaring as lightning surged from its antlers. Bolts rained down, striking the kraken’s tentacles as they flailed wildly. Taking the chance of the distraction, Kai used [Wind Embrace] to pull Gareth and Gorak out of the kraken’s reach. Both fighters stumbled back but quickly readied their weapons, eyes locked on the beast. His eyes then shifted to the kraken’s massive body, its wounds already healing at an unnerving speed. An idea struck him. His eyes narrowed as he formulated his plan. With a quick gesture, he summoned a massive sphere of ice, hovering it above the kraken. “Claire!” he shouted. “Strike it with lightning!” The Storm Sovereign reared up, releasing a surge of electricity that tore through the ice ball. Kai didn’t let it crash down. Instead, he ignited his flames, melting the ice into a torrent of scalding water. The boiling cascade poured onto the kraken, covering its entire body. The beast shrieked, its cries shaking the dungeon as steam rose in thick clouds. It writhed, its movements growing erratic under the searing pain. The Storm Sovereign stomped its hooves, releasing a powerful lightning strike straight into the kraken’s chest, sending it reeling backward. “Now!” Kai shouted. Gareth and Gorak leaped forward, weapons flashing as they struck in unison. Their blades sliced deep, cutting into the kraken’s core. Before the beast could begin regenerating, Kai unleashed a massive wave of fiery mana, forming a [Searing Trap] that wrapped around the creature. The flames burned brightly, keeping it bound in place. As the kraken thrashed, Kai used his wind magic to propel himself high into the air, landing on its massive head. He locked eyes with the beast, his mana surging as he sent a thread of energy directly into its core. His voice was loud, talking to the monster in a dominating way. “Submit, or I will end you here and now.” The kraken’s body trembled, its movements slowing as Kai’s mana bore down on it. *** A man stood over the crumpled, bloody body of the village guard, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at the dirt. He tilted his head slightly, as if inspecting the corpse for a moment before shifting his gaze to the small village nestled beyond the hill. A scattering of simple thatched-roof houses surrounded a modest central square, where a solitary well stood. Smoke lazily drifted from a few chimneys, and the faint sound of livestock carried on the wind. “It was easier to get in than I expected,” he muttered. Behind him, another figure emerged from the shadows, a smirk twisting their lips. “These humans are pitiful. One little vein gets poked, and they bleed out like pigs.” The first man shrugged, stepping over the body. “Makes our job easier.” His boots crunched softly against the dirt path as he began walking toward the village. But before they could proceed further, faint footsteps caught their attention. A lone man was approaching, humming to himself, his lantern casting flickering light in the approaching dusk. As the newcomer came closer and spotted the group, his cheerful demeanor vanished. He froze mid-step, confusion flashing across his face before it gave way to horror. His eyes widened as recognition set in. Searᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “You—” The leader of the group moved in a blur, faster than the man could react. A single, devastating punch landed square in his stomach, and the man crumpled, blood spurting from his mouth. He fell to his knees, gasping and trembling. “Scream, and you’re dead,” the leader hissed, his voice sharp enough to carve through stone. “P-please,” the man choked out. “I don’t want to die. I have kids... please...” The leader crouched, his face inches from the man’s pale and blood-streaked face. “If you don’t want them to grow up orphans, you’ll tell me where the village head’s house is.” Tears streamed down the man’s cheeks as he pointed westward, toward a larger house standing at the edge of the village. Its modest size and the faint glow from its windows marked it as the home of someone more important than the others. “That one... that’s his house,” the man stammered, his voice barely audible. The leader stood, nodding. “Good. You’ve done your job.” The man looked up, hope flickering briefly in his eyes. “Please, spare my life...?” Before he could finish, his head snapped to the side, cleanly severed from his body. Blood sprayed across the dirt as the man tossed the lifeless form aside. He turned to his followers, his gaze like ice. “Get to work,” he commanded. “Kill everyone. No mercy. And if you’re thirsty, drink your fill—even from the babies.” The group grinned, their eyes glowing with a predatory hunger as they moved toward the village, their shadows stretching long under the fading light. The quiet village, unaware of the terror descending upon it, would soon be drenched in blood. The blood drinker glanced back at his group, a cruel smirk on his lips. "Don’t stick around for long. Finish the job. I’ll deal with the chief myself." His followers nodded silently, their expressions hungry and eager as they dispersed toward the houses. The blood drinker didn’t spare them another glance, even as the first screams erupted from the darkened village. They pierced the night but he paid them no mind. He had a mission. He strode toward the village chief's house, his pace unhurried. Reaching the modest structure, he kicked the door open with enough force to rattle the entire frame. The dull thud of the door hitting the wall echoed into the small hearth-lit room, where a man and woman stirred awake, startled. A child between them began to whimper as the shadows of the intruder loomed large. The village chief’s instincts kicked in immediately. One hand went protectively around the kid and the other darted for the knife resting by the bed. With a desperate yell, he lunged at the intruder, blade flashing in the firelight. The blood drinker didn’t flinch. He allowed the knife to sink into his chest, stopping only when it met his ribs. He glanced down, a smile stretching across his face. "You’re weak," he murmured, grabbing the man’s wrist and twisting it with a sickening crack. The chief cried out in pain as he fell to his knees. Behind him, the woman cowered, clutching the child close. The blood drinker’s cold, pale face turned to them, his eyes glinting like rubies in the firelight. The child’s cries grew louder, and the woman’s tears flowed freely. “Pathetic,” the blood drinker said, lifting his hand. Thin, crimson darts formed in the air around him, pulsing with a sinister glow. With a flick of his wrist, the darts shot forward, piercing both the woman and the child before they could scream. Blood splattered the walls, painting it red, and the room fell into a deafening silence, save for the crackling of the hearth. The village chief, his face contorted in grief and rage, looked up at his family’s murderer. "Why... Why kill them?" he croaked. The blood drinker crouched down, his lips curling into a cold smile. "You wronged the wrong person! Or rather, your baron did. And now, you’re going to pay for it." With a casual flick of his hand, the blood drinker sent the man sprawling against the wall. The chief groaned in pain, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked up, his spirit shattered. "Just kill me," he begged, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes lingered on the lifeless bodies of his wife and child. Soon, a sob escaped his lips, and another followed, and another. The blood drinker stood, towering over the broken man. "Wouldn’t you like that?” “Please! Isn’t that what you want? Do it!” “No," he said. "Someone needs to spread the story. To make sure it doesn’t happen again." The chief’s eyes widened in shock. “W-w-what?” "Run. Tell everyone you meet—if you cross Count Arzan, you die." As he spoke, flames erupted behind him, licking the walls and consuming the room in a fiery glow. The village chief scrambled to his feet, clutching his broken wrist, and staggered toward the door. He paused for one last look at the man who had destroyed his world, then fled into the night, his cries drowned by the roar of the flames and the screams echoing from the rest of the village. The blood drinker stood in the inferno, watching the chaos he had unleashed, his smirk never fading. "Message delivered," he murmured before turning back toward the village, his blood-red eyes gleaming. *** A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too. By the way, we crossed 8k followers. Thank you so much! - Patreon for 15 chaps: /extra26 Discord: invite/nc3hVSCP2n