Chapter 64: Against the Kraken - Second Round!
Two more slashes followed, and the tentacle finally detached, falling lifelessly into the water, staining it red. Without hesitation, Mikael moved on, cutting down a second tentacle using the same method.
The other tentacles quickly reacted, sensing the loss of their companions. Although it seemed as if it had taken a long time, the entire exchange had only lasted a few seconds due to Mikael's supersonic speed. Enraged by the loss of three of its appendages, the Kraken began thrashing its remaining tentacles wildly, targeting the supposed source\ of its pain, the big floating object.
The enormous appendages slammed into the ship with deafening crashes, causing significant damage with every impact. Despite their soft texture, the sheer size of the tentacles made them incredibly heavy, and their weight alone was enough to cause considerable destruction.
Mikael didn't pause for a moment. He severed the fourth tentacle with precision, though it took slightly longer than before, as the tentacle was now thrashing and more difficult to target. He quickly followed up by cutting down the fifth and sixth tentacles. One by one, eight tentacles fell, leaving only twelve remaining.
Realizing that the Kraken changed its strategy, Mikael noticed all the surviving tentacles and even the dead ones submerging themselves back into the water.
As the Kraken retreated, Mikael quickly glanced around the ship and winced at the sight. The damage was severe—most of the sailors on the main deck had been killed, crushed under the attacking tentacles. The ship itself was in bad shape. One of the three masts had fallen, and the main deck was in disarray. The hull had sustained several small holes, and water was pouring in. If nothing was done, the ship would inevitably sink.
His eyes scanned the area until he spotted the vice captain, hiding nearby. He appeared before him in the blink of an eye, his high-speed movement making it seem as though he had teleported.
The vice captain, startled by Mikael's sudden appearance, opened his mouth to ask what was happening. Just moments ago, the Kraken's tentacles had been wreaking havoc, causing catastrophic damage. Now, in an instant, the tentacles had vanished, and Mikael was standing before him.
Before he could speak, Mikael cut him off. "There are holes in the hull, and water is already flooding the ship. I need you to take command and have the crew seal the breaches, or at least slow the water's progress. I'll handle the Kraken and return to help afterward."
With that, Mikael wasted no time and dove into the dark water.
"Kraken? What's that?" the vice captain muttered under his breath before shaking his head. He sighed and got to work, rallying the crew who had taken shelter on the lower deck. Most were unarmed, having been in enclosed spaces out of the Kraken's reach. Ruimis quickly divided the crew into two groups. The smaller group was tasked with moving the injured from the main deck to the infirmary below, while the larger group spread out across the ship, either sealing the breaches or, if that wasn't possible, slowing the water's infiltration.