Chapter 70: Heroine Dealing with Sea Creatures
*'Gya gya gya!'*
Unnatural sounds broke the silence of the night. From the depths of the ocean, countless figures began to rise. These were not the usual denizens of the sea; they were monstrous beings, twisted mockeries of human form with scales, fins, and sharp, gleaming tridents clutched in their webbed hands. Their eyes glowed with a malignant light, reflecting the dark energy that had corrupted them.
Among these creatures were even larger, more terrifying shapes. Massive shadows, resembling great whales but with an aura of malevolence, surged upwards, their enormous forms creating whirlpools as they ascended.
*'Gya gya gya...!'*
As these hideous beings broke through the surface of the water, they let out a cacophony of eerie cries. The once peaceful offshore sea was now teeming with these abominations, their grotesque forms illuminated by the pale moonlight.
These creatures, native to the darkest depths of the ocean, had long lived in isolation, undisturbed by the surface world. But now, something had driven them to emerge, something that had poisoned their sanctuary and twisted their minds with dark energy. The source of this corruption was the Water Source—a mysterious, life-giving energy that these creatures relied on.
Once pure and nourishing, it had been tainted by a dark force, driving the once peaceful creatures into a frenzy.
*'Gyo gyo gyo...'*
At the forefront of this ghastly horde was a colossal creature, resembling a monstrous whale, its body covered in barnacles and scars from countless battles in the abyss. Its eyes, like glowing coals, scanned the surface, its massive mouth opening and closing in a silent command. It was the sub-leader of this abominable legion, and it had a singular goal: to bring destruction to the world above.
*'Gyo gyo gyo'*
*'Gya gya gya'*
*'Gya gya'*
The creatures communicated in their strange, guttural language, plotting their attack. They saw the humans on the shore as nothing more than prey—weak, insignificant, and ripe for slaughter. To them, this was not just an invasion; it was a feast, a night of blood and terror.
*'Gya gya'*
Among them, a crow perched on the shoulder of the whale-like leader. This crow was unlike the others; it was the one who had orchestrated the corruption of the Water Source, tainting it with dark energy for its own sinister purposes. Unlike the other creatures, the crow retained its cunning and intellect, understanding the dangers of underestimating human strength.
The crow, serving as the true leader of the horde, had no intention of rushing blindly into battle. Instead, it planned to test the humans first, to assess their defenses before committing its full forces.
It let out a series of sharp caws, and a group of the smaller abominations detached from the main force, swimming swiftly toward the shore. These scouts were tasked with attacking the humans on the beach, gauging their strength, and reporting back before the full-scale assault began.
But before the creatures could carry out their plan, a voice rang out across the water, clear and commanding, yet tinged with a cold edge.
"Do you think I will allow you to do that? Lucan-sama is staying at the hotel over there."
*'Gya gya gya!?'*
The monsters halted in their tracks, their grotesque faces turning toward the source of the voice. It was impossible—a human, here, in the middle of the sea?
Their eyes widened as they saw her—a woman hovering in the air above the water, about ten meters up. She was ethereal, her presence almost divine. Her white dress fluttered in the night breeze, and her pink hair, glowing softly under the moonlight, framed a face of serene beauty. Her blue-green eyes shone with a fierce, protective light.
What struck the monsters most was the pair of wings spread majestically from her back. These were no ordinary wings; they were pure white, almost translucent, and held her aloft effortlessly. She was not flapping them, yet she remained suspended in the air, an angelic figure against the dark sea.
This woman was no mere human, and even the abominations felt a twinge of fear as they gazed upon her. There was an aura around her, a mystical power that radiated purity and strength, like something out of a holy scripture. It was so overwhelming that even these mindless beasts, driven by bloodlust, paused in their tracks.
Behind her, the clouds parted, revealing a sight even more terrifying to the creatures. From the gaps in the clouds, descending like vengeful spirits, were countless Marionettes. These were no ordinary—they had twisted, malevolent features. Their wide grins stretched unnaturally, their eyes were dark pits of madness, and their teeth were sharp and glinting in the moonlight.
"I will not forgive those who interfere with my and Lucan-sama's trip... Perish."
The woman's voice was soft but laced with a deadly resolve. With a single, graceful motion, she swung her hand down.
The army of Marionettes responded instantly, descending upon the sea with a speed and ferocity that defied belief.
*'Gya gya gya~~~~~~!'*
Panic erupted among the abominations. Their eerie cries turned into screams of terror as the Marionettes reached them. The monsters tried to flee, diving back into the safety of the ocean depths, but the Marionettes were relentless. They could move underwater just as easily as they did in the air.
The sea turned red as the Marionettes tore through the ranks of the abominations, their swords and spears slashing through scales and flesh with horrifying precision.
The smaller creatures were the first to fall, their bodies shredded and tossed aside like ragdolls. The larger ones put up a fight, their massive forms thrashing and crushing Marionettes with their sheer size, but it was futile. The Marionettes swarmed them, piercing through their thick hides, stabbing through eyes, mouths, and vulnerable spots with ruthless efficiency.
The whale-like leader let out a final, thunderous roar as it was overwhelmed. The Marionettes attacked from all sides, carving into its enormous body until it finally sank, defeated, into the bloodied sea.
Within minutes, the entire horde was annihilated. The abominations that had threatened to bring ruin to the coast were nothing more than dismembered corpses floating in the water, slowly sinking back into the depths from which they came.
The crow, however, had been watching from a distance. It had seen the power of the woman and her Marionettes, and it knew that this was not a fight it could win. With a final, calculating look, it spread its wings and vanished into the night, disappearing before the Marionettes could reach it.
The woman watched it go, her eyes narrowing. She would deal with that crow another time. For now, she had accomplished her goal—Lucan-sama was safe, and their trip could continue without further interference.