Chapter 86 - Letting the Cat Slip Through Your Fingers
Rygar ran across the sea, creating ice platforms as support. He followed the trail left by the ship, focusing on the scent left by the passengers. Upon spotting it in the distance, he increased his speed, charging into a final sprint before powerfully leaping onto the deck.
As he landed, the dull thud of his impact echoed through the ship, drawing the crew's attention. The men stared at him in astonishment—some widening their eyes, others exchanging incredulous glances. The short captain hurried toward him, breathing heavily, his expression a mix of shock and relief.
"Sir! I thought you were dead!" he exclaimed, panting. "We got caught in the aftermath of a battle between superpowered monsters! The waves were colossal! I was terrified when I heard you were in the sea. Where have you been? Did you see which creatures were fighting?"
Rygar reflected for a moment, replaying the battle in his mind. The waters boiled with lightning, the ocean erupted in fiery explosions, and he recalled the sheer magnitude of the Kraken and its absurd abilities. Taking a deep breath, he answered naturally:
"It was a massive Kraken, dark-toned, covered in a tough crust. It controlled lightning and had red eyes. The other beast..." Rygar paused briefly, observing the captain's reaction before continuing, "was a creature that spewed fire and lightning and leapt through the sky."
The captain's face turned pale with every word. His lips parted in a reflex of contained terror, and as understanding dawned in his mind, cold sweat began to form on his forehead.
"My God! We're doomed!" The man ran a trembling hand through his hair. "Zeroth... The Lord of Storms has awakened!"
Rygar furrowed his brow. The name meant nothing to him. "Who is this Zeroth?" He had learned much from his master about the world, but it wasn't as if he knew everything she did—after all, it was the accumulated knowledge of 500 years.
The captain turned his gaze to the horizon, his breathing uneven. "Zeroth is an octopus-like beast that fought countless heroes in the past. None ever managed to kill him. There are stories that say that, many years ago, even Saint Milis himself couldn't defeat him—only drive him away. He's a legendary creature that has brought destruction for thousands of years. Whenever he awakens, storms ravage the seas, and beaches are swallowed wherever he appears."
The captain seemed genuinely frightened. "In fact, even today, some coastal tribes worship him as a Sea God!"
Rygar remained silent for a moment. Was this monster really that famous? If he told the captain that he had killed it, he'd probably be seen as either a liar or a lunatic.