Chapter 58 - Alliance of the Tides
The ocean erupted into chaos.
A third tentacle burst through the waves.
It struck an Abyss Legion warship, tearing the vessel clean in half.
Wood, steel, and shattered crystal rained into the sea.
Sailors from both fleets struggled to stay afloat.
The creature below did not distinguish friend from foe.
To it...
Everything above the waves was prey.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts glowed.
Emergency Update
Unknown Ancient Beast
Seal Integrity: 88%
Current Objective:
Prevent the breaking of the Third Seal.
Estimated Time Until Seal Failure:
2 Hours
---
Thalassor roared, its voice echoing across the sea.
"Do not let it reach the surface!"
"If the Second Chain breaks..."
"The Kingdom of Tides will sink beneath the ocean."
---
Kai looked toward Admiral Nereus.
Their eyes met across the battlefield.
Neither lowered their weapon.
Neither attacked.
Finally, Nereus spoke.
"We can continue fighting each other..."
"...or stop the thing beneath us."
Kai nodded.
"We settle our differences later."
"For now..."
"We save everyone."
Nereus smiled.
"So be it."
---
The Abyss Legion sounded its great conch horns.
The surviving fifty-two warships changed formation.
Instead of surrounding Kai's fleet...
They formed a defensive circle around the ancient gate.
Kai raised his spear.
"Everyone!"
"The enemy has changed!"
"Protect the seal!"
Cheers answered him from every ship.
---
Selene joined Kai.
"You trust him?"
"No."
Kai replied honestly.
"But I trust his actions."
Ignis chuckled.
"That's usually enough."
---
Suddenly...
The sea split open.
An enormous head emerged.
It resembled a giant squid, yet its skin was covered in black crystal.
Hundreds of glowing blue eyes opened across its body.
Its roar shook the heavens.
The Book struggled to identify it.
---
Ancient Beast Identified
Name: Krakenoth
Title: Devourer of the Abyss
Rank: Divine
Status:
Partially Sealed
Corruption Level: 100%
Warning:
Extremely Aggressive
---
Krakenoth's countless eyes fixed upon the glowing Star Fragment behind the gate.
It ignored the ships entirely.
It wanted only one thing.
Freedom.
---
"Incoming!"
A massive tentacle swung toward the merchant fleet.
Kai leapt into the air.
"Spirit Step!"
The Crimson Flame Fox launched from his shoulder.
"Eclipse Blaze!"
Crimson and golden fire spiralled around the tentacle.
The corruption hissed and cracked.
At the same moment, Selene's moonlit blade sliced through the black crystal covering its surface.
The tentacle recoiled with a deafening screech.
---
Far below, the Leviathan watched.
"The corruption weakens..."
"Again!"
---
Nereus raised both hands.
The sea obeyed.
Towering pillars of water erupted around Krakenoth, binding several tentacles.
Kai watched in surprise.
"So that's why you're called Tidebreaker."
Nereus smirked.
"I've had a few centuries to practise."
---
For a brief moment...
The battle turned in their favour.
Then the ocean grew silent.
Krakenoth stopped struggling.
Every one of its blue eyes closed.
The Book flashed crimson.
Warning
Energy Spike Detected
Recommended Action:
Immediate Retreat
---
Ignis's pupils narrowed.
"Kai!"
"It's gathering corruption!"
Before anyone could move...
Every eye on Krakenoth opened at once.
A beam of black energy erupted into the sky.
The clouds above twisted into a massive vortex.
Rain turned black.
Lightning cracked across the heavens.
The Third Seal trembled violently.
Seal Integrity:
88%... 84%... 80%...
Thalassor cried out in pain.
One of the ancient chains snapped.
CRACK!
The entire sea shook.
From beneath the gate...
A second colossal tentacle emerged.
Then a third.
Then a fourth.
Krakenoth had only begun to awaken.
---
As despair spread across the battlefield...
The Compass of Dawn, hanging from Kai's belt, suddenly glowed with brilliant golden light.
Instead of pointing toward the gate...
Its needle slowly turned west.
The Book displayed a new message.
Hidden Objective Discovered
Find the Pearl of Tides
Location:
Unknown Island
Distance:
47 kilometres west.
Description:
A relic created by the First Beast Sovereign.
Only the Pearl of Tides can restore the Third Seal.
Kai looked toward the western horizon.
"There isn't enough time..."
Nereus stepped beside him.
"I'll hold Krakenoth."
Kai looked at him in surprise.
"Alone?"
The admiral drew a long sapphire trident from his back.
For the first time, his calm expression disappeared.
"I have protected this sea for four thousand seven hundred years."
"If today is the day I fall..."
"So be it."
He pointed his trident toward the distant island.
"Go, Beast Sovereign."
"Bring back the Pearl."
"I'll make sure the sea is still here when you return."
Kai hesitated for only a heartbeat.
Then he nodded.
"Hold on."
"We'll be back."
With Selene, Ignis, the Crimson Flame Fox, and Rowan beside him, Kai boarded a swift skiff powered by spirit crystals.
As it sped west across the waves, none of them noticed the lone figure standing atop a distant cliff.
Wrapped in a cloak of living shadows, the Archivist watched the battle unfold.
"This is where the First Sovereign failed..."
It whispered.
"Let us see..."
"...whether the Ninth makes the same choice."