NOVEL NEXT 36 – Storm
[You have slain Corrupted Great White.]
[You have gained 5632 ever coins.]
[Your maximum energy has increased by 11. Creatures of the mini-boss rank will no longer increase this stat.]
[You have obtained: Jaws Guard]
[Jaws Guard]
Rating: Epic
Defense: 36
Durability: 190/190
Requirements: Slayer of Jaws, the Great White
Effects:
- Great White's Strength (Passive): +2 str
- Seaborne (passive): Allow you to hold your breath longer underwater. You will experience lower resistance when moving in the water.
- Summoning (active): Consume 80 energy to summon an energy construct of Jaws. Jaws will jump up from the summoned surface and devour one target. Then apply a low-level beheading judgment on them. If they pass, they take massive damage. If they fail, they instantly die. Cooldown of 3 days.
Description: Jaws was a powerful predator of the sea until he met a certain Nightmare. Now all that remains of his existence is this armguard forged from his terrifying teeth.
With the notification, Genji launched a powerful kick into the water, propelling himself to the surface.
*Gasp gasp*
He greedily gulped down massive amounts of air as his body worked hard to replenish the oxygen in his blood. After recovering, he swam towards the ship. When the crew saw him approaching, they lowered a rope and pulled him up.
"You're incredible, Captain," Ed said, amazed at how someone could become so strong without relying on curses. It was inspirational and made the idea of submitting seem like the best choice he'd ever made.
"Give me some towels," Genji ordered, brushing back his hair and pushing out most of the seawater.
"Aye, aye, Captain!"
Genji walked past the crowd and sat down at his usual meditation place. Looking back, he saw Logan approaching him.
"That was very reckless of you," Logan stated.
"Someone had to do something, and I happened to be that person," Genji replied.
"But you could have died there!"
"But I didn't," Genji said, causing Logan to throw his arms up.
"Aren't you afraid when you saw that monster?"
"Fear is a hindrance when it comes to killing."
Logan sighed, realizing he couldn't comprehend his teammate's thought process. One moment, the person was meditating alone, and the next, he jumped into the sea to battle a giant shark. That demented smile, too – Logan was convinced this person wasn't entirely sane. Who laughs like that in the face of danger?
'I guess he stays true to his name. Every time I think I've seen everything there is to him, he brings out something that makes me look at him in a new light,' Logan thought to himself.
"I guess I understand why 7156 looks at you so favorably."
"And I think favorably of him as well."
As a customer, that is. Genji chuckled to himself leaving the last part unsaid.
"Captain, here's your towel." A pirate came over with a dry cloth.
"I guess we will go back to fishing," Logan said, deciding to take his leave.
"More days passed, and things had become increasingly interesting, or rather, troublesome. It was interesting for the crewmates as their boredom was resolved, though they might have preferred their idleness over their current situation. While they hadn't encountered any pirates, they had encountered plenty of fish and other indescribable deep-sea dwellers.
Just numerous creatures leaping out of the water and seaking their next meal in the form of an unfortunate sailor. Nothing too strong, but the constant attacks were starting to annoy everyone. Genji would occasionally get up to help but would otherwise continue his meditation.
The others couldn't help but wonder how he could remain so calm like this. For God's sake, there was a storm of fish happening right now! Their entire ship was covered in the bodies of flying fish, and you're telling me the captain was still meditating?
Genji swung [Jaguar] and swiped at a passing fish out of the air as he casually walked over.
"What's wrong? Isn't this what you were looking for? Now you don't have to worry about having nothing to do," he remarked.
"If this is what excitement is, then I would prefer boredom any day," Silver replied, struggling to stay in formation with the others.
As they weren't as skilled as Genji, they had to approach this problem clumsily: stay in formation and cut down anything that came their way. Then pray they didn't get overwhelmed.
"But how the hell were you able to walk around like that?" Logan asked.
Genji leaned aside to dodge an incoming fin before knocking it down with his hilt.
"Just dodge and cut."
"Just dodge and cut," he said. "You make it sound so easy."
"If you could get the hang of it, it was decent."
Genji kicked a fish's body upwards to knock another fish away from him.
"So what did it mean to get the hang of it, anyway?" Logan inquired.
"You just had to sense their positions and act appropriately."
"You sucked at explaining, you know?"
"I did, and I didn't care," Genji replied nonchalantly.
With that, the group continued to fend off the massive amounts of predatory fish until the wave receded. Feeling exhausted, the group threw down their weapons and fell on their behinds, not caring for the blood that splattered as a result.
"So that's the difference between high proficiency and a low one. Seriously, Enigma, how could you fight so well? I had a master's level in swordsmanship, but I couldn't seem to replicate your moves."
Logan was almost certain Genji had other proficiencies beyond what he told him. Like hell, he would believe an expert level in all weapons could move like that. Just from those movements, Logan speculated Genji had a dodging proficiency and a swordsman one. And at a decent level as well.
"Don't worry about it." Genji left his signature phrase before sitting back down to meditate.
[You have slain an elite jellyfish x 14]
[Jaguar has absorbed the paralysis poison]
Genji pulled himself up from the water and took out a healing potion. He had just finished a hazardous battle against a group of cursed jellyfish in the water. As for how this situation came about, we need to mention River Stream. While they were sailing, the bottom of the ship was hit by a giant whale and tilted. River Stream, who was fishing at the time, got flung off before he could grab anything.
Luckily, the whale was just passing by, so no harm was done there. One of the crew members quickly jumped into the sea to fetch River, but they realized he was caught by an octopus that refused to let go.
Helpless in the situation, the crew member returned to the ship to explain what was happening. Upon hearing this, Genji jumped down as River was running out of air. After a few cuts from Genji's sword, River was freed from his binding and escorted back to the ship.
But before Genji could climb back up, he was pulled underwater by another sea creature. Then the seawater was dyed red again, but the commotion eventually attracted this group of jellyfish. What was particularly vexing was not the creatures themselves but the electricity they discharged.
That, and the paralysis poison in their tentacles, made it so that one misstep could result in him getting chain-stunned. And since he was underwater, Genji couldn't use his speed. Luckily, [Jaws Guard] gave him some leeway with its seaborne effect, and swift movement seemed to disregard the environment. With this combination, he managed to finish the fight and climbed back up before more trouble could arise.
"Next time, tie a rope together or something, River. I don't want to deal with that problem again."
"Sorry about that," River Stream replied sheepishly, deciding to stop for the day. That was one scary experience, and he didn't want to risk it anymore. So much so, that he considered finding a new pastime for the journey ahead.
"Land! I see land!"
A series of excited shouts came from the crow's nest as the pirates spotted a shore. It couldn't be helped; they had sailed for too long with the fish and birds. By now, they were craving another human presence and some new food. Their eagerness, however, didn't last long, as when they set foot on the island, they discovered it was a wild island barren of civilization.
Other than some wildlife, there were no signs of people anywhere. This realization demoralized the crew as they were starting to miss the opportunities for plundering and revelry that usually came with the people on the islands.
Fortunately, the island had all the necessities for their journey, allowing them to restock for the trip ahead.
"Okay, things are getting strange. It's been like 3 weeks, and we haven't come across a single sign of people. Where have all the pirates that are so common?"
"As much as I want to deny it, I think you're right. Something's off about this part of the sea. We haven't seen a single ship for so long."
"And why are there so many sea creatures?"
"Do you think the sea creatures are the reason?"
"You know what? I think you're right. It's a shame we don't have a map of this area," the crew members muttered to themselves.
"Shit! I understand now," Ed suddenly exclaimed as he gazed into the clear, starry night.
"What do you understand?" Logan asked.
"No time for explanations. We need to get out of here. Right now!"
Ed hurriedly climbed down from the crow's nest and started yelling orders to the crew.
"Quick! We need to shift the sails. Check the compass often and make sure we are going in the right direction."
Ed was hysterical as he frantically did everything he could to change the course of the ship. After setting everything on the correct course, Ed finally calmed down enough to answer some questions.
"What's going on, Ed?" Genji noticed the commotion and walked over.
"I finally understand why we've only encountered sea creatures."
"So what is the reason? And can you explain why you were so anxious?" Logan chimed in.
"From the position of the stars, I was able to roughly determine our location."
"So where are we that had you so terrified?"
"The forbidden area for all sailors. The Devil's Zone."
Ed was very pale when he mentioned the name. His hands were shaking as beads of sweat rolled down his face.
"Is it supposed to be scary?"
Logan had a hard time believing the danger of the place. They had been sailing for about a month by now, and they were fine. Sure, there were annoying creatures occasionally, but nothing too dangerous.
"You don't get it. No one has managed to escape this zone! The only information I could get on it was from people who knew others who entered this area. There have been no direct accounts of this place."
"Not even one?"
"None!" Ed's voice was firm when he answered it. It was evident that he didn't think highly of their chances.
"No way! Does that mean we will die?"
River Stream was becoming scared. This was not how he pictured his death, especially not when he had two loving parents.
"I don't know. That's why I'm desperate to leave. Although I don't know what the danger is, I don't want to meet it."
Stormy clouds came into view as they continued sailing. It turned out Ed's call to keep an eye on the compass was the right one. There had been many times when the currents had caused the ship to deviate from its initial path. It was a small change, but after some time, there would be massive deviations.
And this was only the result of a few hours of sailing. Just imagine the accumulation from the past month. A chill went down everyone's spine when they realized this.
"Shit. I had a feeling things were too easy," Logan muttered to himself.
"Sir Ed. If we keep sailing, we will hit a storm," a crewmate called out.
"Is there no way around it?"
"No sir. The cloud is too big. It will take hours if not days to get through."
Genji came over at this point and gave his orders.
"Go into it."
The crew hesitated and looked at Ed. This was a small action, but it showed the dynamics of the crew. Although Genji took over as captain in name, their true loyalties lay with Ed. Ed gritted his teeth and said, "Do it. I would rather take the risk with the storm than stay here any longer."
"Aye!"
The crewmates went off to make the preparations to face the upcoming squall. Then they went full speed into the pervasive clouds. The rain started to fall, and waves rocked the ship. Genji ignored the environment and stared into the clouds. Something about this place irked him. He couldn't put his finger on it like an itch that you can't reach.
As they continued, the weather worsened. The mild rain changed into a downpour, and a strong wind started blowing against them. The mast made creaking sounds, but the crew pushed on. They closed the sails and started manually rowing. Groups of men pushed and pulled on these giant paddles as they did everything they could to fight the waves.
The boat rocked back and forth violently, causing people to find cover from the winds. At this point, one couldn't help but wonder if everything was worth the effort. Why would they try so hard against the weather when they could come back on another day?
"We sure are unlucky that the weather became like this when we tried to leave," Logan casually remarked to ease the mood.
That's when it hit Genji. The reason behind his unease. The clouds above and the waves below. Everything was too coincidental like they were guided by an outside force. Everything about the events felt unnatural. Genji could sense the difference between this current weather and the ones on a normal day. It felt like there was a will behind it.
Genji ran out of the room and looked into the sea. Nothing. It was too dark and windy to see anything.
"What happened?"
Logan ran after him when Genji suddenly ran out. Genji didn't answer him and drew his saber. Then it burst into shadow flames. Genji raised his sword and prepared to confirm his guesses. If it's as he thought, then they are in serious trouble. But before he could swing [Jaguar], the boat jerked violently, sending Genji flying backward. At the rate he's flying, he will land in the sea.
The timing of the impact was too convenient, practically confirming the theory in his head. But if it's as he thought, then falling into the waters now is a death sentence. A sense of crisis overwhelmed him, causing the world to slow as his mind raced for ideas.
"What can I do?"
Genji scanned the area for a way and saw a loose rope flailing about a few meters away from him. The intense winds caused the air to crackle with each swing, threatening to heavily wound anyone unlucky enough to get in its path. It was a dangerous option, but Genji had no choice.
Reaching into his storage, Genji brought out a smaller rope, and in a last-ditch effort, he swung his rope at the flailing one. Luckily, it coiled around it, giving Genji leverage to pull himself in.
*Thud*
The rope smacked his arm, causing a sharp pain to race up his nerves. Genji ignored the pain, opting to securely wrap his arm with the thick rope, and allowed himself to be flung about in the wind. Eventually, his momentum dissipated, and Genji landed on the ship.
By then, his head was dizzy, his hand had turned purple, and his body felt sore all over. Genji pushed aside his discomfort and raised his saber to cleave down onto the ocean surface.
The shadow flame spread across the surface of the waters, cutting through the waves as a massive amount of energy was drained. Genji felt weak, but he continued to channel more into the attack, propagating it to continue burning. Soon, the wind died down, and the boat stopped shaking. Everything returned to normal.
"YEAHHHHHHHH"
The crew came out and started cheering for their amazing captain, but Genji's face didn't let up.
"Don't stand there. Take this chance to get out of here!"
His voice had become urgent which was uncharacteristic of him since Genji always maintained a calm image among the crew.
"What's wrong, Enigma? Didn't you cut the storm?"
"Idiot! I didn't cut anything! That only scared the-"
Before he could finish his sentence, massive tentacles burst out of the water and wrapped around the boat. Then there was no "then." The boat burst into chunks of wood, sending everyone flying. Genji activated lightweight and glided along the surface of the waters for a few seconds before he sunk down.
When he surfaced, he cast insight on the tentacles.
[Kraken]
Health: 31,839/32,100
Energy: 460/460
Con: 31
Str: 32
Dex: 28
Int: 23
Spc: 18
Skills:
- BOSS (Passive): +9,000 hp
- Titan (Passive): +20,000 hp, -10 movement speed, +5 defense
- Weather control (Active): Able to control the weather in its domain
No further skills can be read.
[Warning: This is a creature that exceeds the limits of this world. Engagement is not advised.]
Over 30,000 health points! And a creature of legends as well. And just like its legend, destruction will always follow with its appearance. Genji pulled himself up onto a wooden plank and stabilized himself.
Wolf Step, Swift Movement
Then Genji shot toward the Kraken again, [Jaguar] raised and bursting with shadow flames. He channeled everything into this one strike, cleaving down on a tentacle.
-5372
Upon contact, the flame burnt through the massive tentacles, severing it and generating another huge splash on the way down.
*KKKKKKAAAAAAHHHHH*
The piercing shriek full of both pain and rage deafened Genji. Many more tentacles burst out from the waters and started flailing about, sending massive waves crashing into Genji as the storm continued. Thunder boomed above him, and impactful waves dragged everyone in many directions.
Genji tried to gain control of his body, but his exhausted body refused to obey. Using the last of his strength, he shoved [Jaguar] into his storage space before he blacked out, leaving the waves to carry him.