The Flower Is Finished

I remained deep within the vast ocean. At that moment, I was accompanied by a purple fish I had named Milo. His body was violet in color, with faint patterns along his tail, and since he turned out to be male, I gave him the name Milo.

"Do you know where the shell is?" I asked Milo, who was swimming while occasionally glancing back at me.

"I know where it is, but going there might be far too dangerous for you."

I frowned at once, staring at him as if to confirm his words. Was there really anything worse than what had already happened? Was there anything worse than one person dying to save thousands—even millions—of others? The question surfaced in my mind, but I kept it to myself and continued following wherever Milo led me.

"I can guide you there, but I'm not sure I can help you," he continued.

"Wait… is that place dangerous for you as well?"

He only cleared his throat softly before answering, "Yes. It may be dangerous for you too, and for all the creatures living here."

"Alright. Then just show me the way. I'll take it myself."

We kept swimming for what felt like a long time. Eventually, we arrived at a deep cave. Inside, I saw several shells being tightly guarded by a giant octopus. The surrounding water grew colder, and the sunlight dimmed. Had I not eaten the herbal leaf earlier, my chest would have felt as if it were being crushed by a massive stone.

"I'm sure you can take it," Milo said enthusiastically. I knew that behind his words, he was trying to hide his own tension as he stared at the enormous octopus before me.

"I can't even speak," I murmured, shocked by what I was seeing.

"I'll hide here. I hope you succeed." After that, Milo quickly left my side.

I swallowed hard, anxiety filling my chest. The octopus before me was truly enormous, and beneath its body lay the shells it guarded fiercely. "There's no other way," I whispered. I looked around the darkness, and faintly, I could see Milo watching me from a distance.

I grew restless, thinking of how to defeat the creature, knowing it had many tentacles that could intertwine if I attacked alone.

As I hesitated, Milo suddenly returned, gripping a small pebble in his tiny mouth.

"What are you doing with that pebble?" I asked. He gestured for me to accept it.

"I'll throw this pebble at its eye. It will wake up and chase me—maybe that's the best way to help you," he said, though his voice was filled with unease.

"I'm afraid something might happen to you…"

He snapped back irritably, "Just stay quiet. You don't understand how vicious that octopus is."

Before I could respond, a shark suddenly swam toward the octopus. In an instant, the octopus opened its eyes and wrapped its tentacles tightly around the shark's massive body. The water at the ocean floor shook violently; the current felt as if it could drag anyone away. The shark struggled to break free, but the octopus was far stronger.

"If you fight that octopus, you'll feel exactly what that shark is feeling now," Milo warned.

"There's no other way? Maybe… my ancient fire?"

But Milo quickly shook his head, rejecting the idea.

"There's no other option."

"Alright," I said. "So what's the plan?"

"Distract it, don't you think?"

"Exactly." He gave a faint smile.

Swimming slowly, Milo approached the octopus. After making sure the situation was calm, he moved closer. With his tiny mouth, Milo threw the first pebble.

It struck the octopus's eye. Then another. And another. At first, the octopus remained still, seemingly too lazy to react to something so small. But after several throws, its anger was finally provoked.

"He's small, but clever," I murmured softly, watching his determination as he faced a creature far larger than himself.

As expected, the octopus fully opened its eyes and began searching for Milo. Its gaze was sharp and threatening. My heart shrank as it stretched a tentacle toward him, but Milo moved swiftly, causing the octopus's rage to grow even stronger.

I kept watching them, waiting for the right moment. When the octopus slowly rose and began chasing Milo, I swam as fast as I could toward the shells beneath its body.

Nervously, I grabbed one of the shells. Instantly, I felt a strange jolt—an unexplainable sensation, like an energy that did not belong to this world.

I tried pulling it gently, but the shell seemed bound to the octopus, making it difficult to remove.

I pulled harder.

Suddenly, Milo shouted loudly, "Hurry! Take the shell!"

Using all my strength, I yanked it free. After securing one, I tried to grab two more at once, but something felt wrong—the surface was harder, as if resisting my touch, as though something unseen was watching from behind it.

I managed to pull away and turned toward Milo, who was suddenly being chased.

"Run. Now," Milo said quietly but urgently.

With great effort, I swam away from the octopus, but one of its tentacles caught my leg. I struggled desperately to free myself.

"Aaaah… help!" I screamed as the octopus seized my leg and pulled hard.

"Use your sword, you idiot!" Milo shouted loudly.

Without hesitation, I reached for the sword strapped to my waist.

Crash!

"Aaaaaah!"

With great difficulty, I swung my sword and cut the tentacle that was binding me. A terrifying roar echoed through the water.

The octopus released me instantly, leaving my leg numb where it had been tightly wrapped.

"Move! Hurry!" Milo dragged me away, and I followed him.

I didn't know how long Milo pulled me along. The effects of the herbal plant were wearing off, and suddenly my chest began to ache.

"Can you go any faster?" I whispered weakly. Milo seemed to realize what was happening to me.

"Damn it… the distance to the surface is still far."

The pain intensified. I clutched my chest, feeling as though a massive stone was crushing my heart.

"I know you can do this," Milo said softly. And then, suddenly, I felt something ignite—fire burning through every vein in my body.

"I can't…"

After saying that, my vision blurred. The sunlight above was barely visible anymore, and I could only rely on Milo, who was still pulling me forward.

In my mind, questions echoed—how could such a small fish possess such strength? How could he pull a body far larger than his own? I wondered silently, unable to say it aloud.

"Farrel, wait," Milo said. "I'll bring this shell to h

eal you."

After that, I completely closed my eyes, hearing Milo scream my name as darkness swallowed me.