The Glass Warrior [Weak to Strong LitRPG]

Peering over the ship's railing into the waters below, Lucas saw a massive tentacle rise from the sea, droplets cascading from its slick surface before it slapped back into the depths with a resounding splash.

That single sight was enough to throw the deck into chaos. Sailors and passengers scattered like startled insects, rushing in every direction in search of cover. Some dove behind barrels and crates, others scrambled toward the mast, gripping the rigging as if height would grant them safety. A few ran below deck, their footsteps echoing as they disappeared through the open hatch.

The old man and his granddaughter reached Lucas's side, finding him strangely still amid the commotion. Together, they peered over the railing at the monstrous shape lurking beneath the water's surface. The tentacles weren't as visible now, but the brief glimpse was enough to confirm that things were about to take a turn for the worse.

"What is that thing?" the old man asked, his voice laced with fear.

"Kraken," Lucas replied simply, as if naming an old friend.

What else could it be? It was a giant squid or an octopus—he never learned the difference. Either way, the old man, who had also come from Earth, understood the reference immediately. His face paled, and without another word, he grabbed the little girl's hand and pulled her away from the railing.

Before he got too far, however, he hesitated, turning back to Lucas with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure you want to be there when that thing attacks?"

Lucas turned to face him, his expression confused. "If no one stays to fight, won't the ship be wrecked?"

Stay to—fight? The old man stared at him, baffled. But before he could say another word, a tentacle burst from the sky, descending toward the deck like a living battering ram.

The wood beneath Lucas cracked and splintered as the massive limb struck, sending shards flying in every direction. But Lucas was no longer there.

"H-how?" the old man stammered.

A fraction of a second before impact, Lucas had vanished—only to reappear beside the writhing tentacle, sword in hand. With a swift, decisive strike, he brought the blade down, nearly severing the limb entirely. A grotesque, brackish liquid oozed from the wound, dripping onto the deck and leaving dark stains on the wooden planks.

"Get out of here! Find a place to hold—" Lucas shouted over his shoulder, watching as the old man and the little girl scrambled toward the pilothouse, the structure perched just behind the main mast.

The ship trembled as the wounded tentacle recoiled violently, the entire hull groaning in protest as if the beast itself was howling in rage.

Lucas had chosen his sword for a reason, on a crowded deck, it seemed like the wisest option. He had no intention of hiding his Glass Blades forever; he had leveled up enough to the point where it wouldn't be too suspicious if he appeared with a weird skill.

Even so, despite his explanation, his Glass Blades were anything but subtle, and he wasn't quite ready to become the center of attention just yet.

"Hey, you moron! Why the hell did you piss that thing off? Do you wanna die?"

A furious voice cut through the chaos, and Lucas turned to see one of the Hive members, a burly man with a shaved head, pointing an accusatory finger at him. Lucas recognized him from the fight with the goblin earlier.

He had been surprised with the attitude of the Hive members on board. The ones he'd encountered in the city had been polite, almost secretive. These, however, were nothing like them.

I guess I can't expect a whole faction to behave the same way, especially one so… particular.

"What do you mean I angered it?" Lucas shot back, already irritated. "It was already angry."

The man scoffed, his expression twisted in frustration. "How the hell would you know that? Are you a fucking squid expert?"

Lucas ignored him, his focus shifting back to the water. He could feel it—something was moving below. The Kraken wasn't done.

A subtle shift in the air sent a chill down his spine. His instincts screamed at him, or was it his perception? And just as he turned, the attack came.

Lucas turned just in time to witness a tentacle sweeping over the deck like a whip. The Hive member barely had time to raise his sword before he was sent flying. His body crashed into the pilothouse with bone-jarring force, nearly caving in the wooden structure. Glass shattered from the impact, and the entire ship groaned.

Before Lucas could strike again, the tentacle had already withdrawn. But he wasn't the only one fighting back.

"FIRE!"

The captain's voice rang out from the quarterdeck, his command cutting through the storm of panic.

Lucas instinctively expected the boom of a cannon, but no such thing followed. Instead, a ripple stirred beneath the surface of the sea. Something was shifting.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Water magic? Lucas wondered, raising an eyebrow.

Whatever the captain and his crew had done, though, it only made things worse.

The Kraken was no longer lingering in the depths. Lucas could see it—slowly pulling itself up along the ship's side. The massive tentacles slithered over the hull, gripping the wood like a snake.

Lucas exhaled sharply. He had no choice. He was going to have to reveal another one of his hidden abilities. Just as he raised his arm, though, a furious man stormed toward him.

The Hive member who had been thrown into the pilothouse was back, blood streaming down his temple. He shoved Lucas aside with surprising strength.

"Out of my way, you dumb fuck! I'll kill this thing and then I'll deal with you!"

With a roar, he swung his sword at one of the tentacles curling around the railing. His blade bit deep, slicing nearly halfway through. A triumphant grin spread across his face as he yanked the weapon free, preparing for another strike.

Then the ship lurched.

The impact nearly sent him sprawling, but before he could regain his footing, another tentacle coiled around his torso, pinning his arms to his sides. His sword clattered to the deck.

"H-Help me o-out!" he choked, struggling against the crushing grip. His wide-eyed companion stood frozen, paralyzed by fear.

The rest of the passengers and crew weren't faring much better. The goblins and elves watched with an almost eerie patience, as if waiting for the inevitable destruction. Meanwhile, the sailors on the main deck fought desperately, hacking at the encroaching limbs with axes and harpoons.

Lucas let out a breath, then flashed a bright smile.

"I'll help you."

He raised his arm once more.

A crackling burst of lightning erupted from his palm, illuminating the deck in an electric glow. The bolt arced through the air before plunging into the water below, sending waves of electricity rippling through the sea.

The reaction was immediate. The Kraken, mid-climb up the ship, suddenly froze, its massive body going stiff as tendrils of electricity danced across its slick, rubbery skin. The sharp scent of burnt flesh thickened the air, nauseating and acrid. A strangled gasp from the Hive member reached Lucas's ears as the lingering current surged through him as well.

Lucas allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction before cutting off the skill and stepping forward. Without hesitation, he swung his blade down, slicing through the thick tentacle wrapped around the man's torso.

The severed limb convulsed, its grip loosening as the Hive member collapsed onto the wooden deck with a dull thud. He gasped, shuddering from the residual current still coursing through his body.

Lucas barely spared him a glance, his focus locked on the dark waters below. The Kraken shuddered violently, its remaining limbs thrashing against the side of the ship in what could only be described as a mixture of pain and fury.

Then, without warning, it let out a deep, guttural noise, a sound that reverberated through the hull and began to retreat. One by one, the massive tentacles peeled away from the ship, slipping beneath the water's surface.

In mere seconds, the monster was gone, leaving behind only the wreckage of its assault. The ship rocked violently as the displaced water settled, but the immediate danger had passed.

Lucas exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders. He hadn't continued attacking for a reason. That thing? Way too strong. He had caught a glimpse of its level or rather, he hadn't. The number hadn't even registered, which meant it was likely leagues above what he could handle.

All he had done was buy the ship some time, because he doubted that display had been the full extent of the Kraken's power. However, he had shown just enough to make the creature decide it wasn't worth the trouble. And if it hadn't been for the water amplifying his lightning, he doubted it would have worked nearly as well.

Hurried footsteps approached, and Lucas turned just as the ship's captain strode toward him. The man was broad-shouldered, his grizzled hair and weathered face a testament to years spent at sea. Flanking him were several sailors, their expressions a mixture of awe and gratitude.

"Well, shit," the captain muttered, exhaling deeply. "Didn't expect to run into something that big out here." He gave Lucas an approving nod. "You did good, kid. Usually, it's smaller ones that pop up—nasty bastards, but nothing we can't handle. A Kraken of that size, though? That's rare. If you hadn't stepped in…" He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.

Lucas just shrugged. "Didn't want the ship to go down. Figured I could hold it off long enough to scare it away."

One of the nearby sailors clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, you did more than that. We owe you one."

"We sure do. We'll refund your ticket in full, you can count on that!"

Lucas gave a small nod, pleased to have gained something from all this hassle. But before he could respond, a sharp movement caught his attention.

The Hive member, still sprawled on the deck, pushed himself onto shaky legs. His face was red—whether from the lingering effects of the shock or sheer humiliation, Lucas couldn't tell. What he did know was that the guy looked pissed.

"You…" The Hive member's voice was hoarse, his breath still uneven as he staggered forward. His eyes burned with barely restrained fury. "You fucking bastard…!"

Lucas rolled his eyes. He had expected gratitude—or, at the very least, silence. Instead, the guy was seething.

"Seriously?" Lucas scoffed. "I just saved your ass."

The Hive member clenched his fists. "You humiliated me!" he snapped.

Lucas let out an exasperated sigh. "Right, because keeping you from getting turned into fish crap is such a disgrace." He folded his arms. "Maybe next time I'll let you get eaten, huh? Like your friend over there." Lucas gestured toward the man beside him, who immediately looked away.

The Hive member's face twisted in rage. Without another word, he grabbed his sword from the wooden floor and pointed it directly at Lucas.

Lucas didn't move. "You really wanna do this?" he asked, tilting his head. "Right now?"

The Hive member didn't answer he just lunged.

Lucas had been expecting it. With a quick sidestep, he dodged the attack entirely, moving fluidly out of the way. Before the Hive member could recover, Lucas pivoted and drove his foot into the man's chest with a powerful kick.

The force sent the Hive member stumbling backward, except there was no deck left behind him. His eyes widened in shock as he realized, too late, that Lucas had kicked him right off the ship.

A second later, he was gone, vanishing over the railing with a splash as he hit the water below.

For a brief moment, silence reigned.

Then, one of the other Hive members, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped forward hesitantly, as if to help his fallen comrade.

Lucas turned to him, leveling him with a flat stare. "If you try to help him," he said, voice calm but firm, "you're going in next."

The Hive member froze, looking between Lucas and the railing before quickly deciding against it. He had seen what Lucas did to that absolute monster before, and he had no intention of finding out what it felt like firsthand. He stepped back, hands raised slightly in surrender.

As Lucas turned away from the now-ruined side of the ship, he felt the weight of many gazes fixed upon him.

So much for keeping a low profile, he sighed.