The Nightmare Wizard

As William and the sailors feasted on the roasted Kraken meat, the atmosphere, despite the surrounding destruction, was surprisingly cheerful. The sound of laughter and the crackle of fire filled the air.

Renno, with a steaming piece of tentacle in his hand, chewed enthusiastically before speaking. "I just thank the gods our target was the Kraken. Imagine if we’d tried to hunt the Leviathan!" His tone was a mix of genuine relief and a barely perceptible shiver.

The mention of the Leviathan captured William’s attention. "Aren’t they equally strong?" he asked, curiosity overcoming his hunger. The idea of a creature even more powerful than the Kraken was overwhelming.

Renno let out a laugh that echoed among the sailors. "Equally strong? Not at all, boy! The Leviathan devours Krakens like snacks. Like they’re just mere squid for a giant." He paused, his gaze lost on the horizon. "It’s said that without the Leviathan, this sea would be infested with Krakens, or at least that’s how it was in the past, according to legends. That’s why this sea is known as ’The Kraken’s Nest’. It’s a predator, yes, but it’s also the one that cleanses these oceans, allowing other species to survive. The Leviathan only feeds on powerful beings; Krakens, on the other hand, kill anything that moves, which is why sharks flee as soon as they sense their presence."

Upon hearing this, William was surprised. He’d never imagined how difficult it would be to navigate this sea if it were infested with such monsters. Full of curiosity, he asked: "What’s the legend of the Leviathan?"

Renno took a big swig of beer, wiping the foam from his lips before answering. "It’s normal you don’t know that story. It’s told in the ports of the magical continent; this place is too desolate. But I’ll tell you. The legend says this place was the lair of hundreds, if not thousands, of Krakens. They protected these seas, preventing anyone from reaching the desolate continent. Nobody knows what attracted them or why they were here, but they made their nest."

Renno continued, his voice acquiring a more mystical tone. "One day, out of nowhere, the Leviathan appeared and exterminated them all, becoming the new supreme ruler of these waters. The Leviathan was a Level 4 beast, while the Kraken King was a Level 3 beast and its children Level 2, so it was a massacre."

"But then," Renno lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret, "the Leviathan made an unforgivable mistake. A high-ranking mage was passing through this sea, looking for something. Some say he came to solve the mystery of the desolate continent; others, that he was looking for the heir of a powerful family who had been hiding in the desolate continent. Nobody really knows exactly what he was doing, but the Leviathan dared to stand in his way."