The Glass Warrior [Weak to Strong LitRPG]

Lucas exhaled, running a hand through his hair now that it was all said and done.
He hadn't wanted to start shit with the Hive. Really, he hadn't. But his patience had limits, and that guy had crossed the line. If they wanted to hold a grudge over it, fine. That was their problem. He hadn't grown strong just to be pushed around by people weaker than him.

The stronger he became, the more enemies he would make, it was inevitable. Power drew conflict like a flame drew moths. The more he traveled, the more trouble he would attract, and there wasn't much he could do to stop that. Not unless he was willing to crawl into a hole and stay there forever.

Pushing the Hive from his thoughts, his gaze dropped to the sea below, a cold weight settling in his chest. That had been way too close.

Lucas had no illusions, he didn't stand a chance against that thing. He had felt its strength from the very start, and despite how he had carried himself in the fight, he had been ready to flee through a gate the moment things turned against him.

I got lucky. That thing must've decided the ship was just a particularly "spicy" meal and went looking for something easier to digest, he reasoned.

The idea that the Kraken had actually feared him after his last attack never even crossed his mind. As far as Lucas was concerned, the only reason it had left was simple disinterest.

…

From a corner of the ship, one of the goblins, the one Lucas had fought earlier, watched him with cautious eyes.

He had been close enough to witness everything as it unfolded, ready to activate his countermeasure so he and his friends could escape. He had been sure the ship was doomed, certain it would sink beneath the waves. And yet, somehow, that human had managed to drive the beast away.

He had seen enough to know Lucas probably couldn't have actually defeated it. But still, even if that whole exchange had been more luck than anything else, what explained the casual way he had tossed that other human overboard?

The goblin had fought that man before. He wasn't the strongest, but he wasn't weak either. And yet, Lucas had sent him flying without even using a single skill.

"Stay away from that one," he warned the others, his voice low, his expression weary. "Don't provoke him."

The others nodded in silent agreement, as if the thought of provoking such a person had never crossed their minds.

…

Lucas was more than a little weirded out by all the attention he was getting after the captain left. It wasn't exactly hostile, but there was a certain weight to it, an awareness in people's eyes when they looked at him. Not in the mood for scrutiny, he moved to a quieter part of the deck, away from most prying eyes.

He didn't stay alone for long. A familiar face approached him with an easygoing smile.

"I had no idea you were that strong!" the old man said.

Lucas shook his head. "It was more luck than strength, honestly."

"You're too modest. Half the people on this ship were scared out of their minds, and the other half was trying to find a way out. But you stood your ground and fought back," the old man said, admiration clear in his tone.

"I'm used to being in danger," Lucas admitted. "But if things had really gone south, I'd have been packing my things too."

The old man nodded, though the respect in his gaze never wavered.

"I never told you my name, did I? I'm Yacob. And this here is Ingrid."

Lucas inclined his head. "Nice to meet you both. I'm Lucas."

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"Right, Lucas." Yacob's expression shifted slightly. "You were talking earlier about that city of yours… Sorry, I forgot the name."

"Zoria."

"Yes, Zoria. You mentioned they have programs for kids?"

Lucas went on to explain everything he could remember about Zoria. This time, though, he noticed that Yacob was actually paying close attention, listening with genuine interest as he went on about John and the other kind people he had met while touring the city on his last day.

"I have to admit, this Zoria place sounds a lot better than the city I came from. It's crazy the impact one person can have on people's lives," the old man said, referencing John. "Still, living in such a packed place, with so many 'NPCs' as you called them, there's bound to be some conflict."

Lucas had nothing to say to that. He was sure Zoria had its fair share of problems, it was only natural, but whatever trouble brewed there, he was rarely affected by it. Being near the top of the food chain had its perks.

"Anyway, I think it's a good option in case my hippie camp plan doesn't work. Could you point me to the place on a map?"

"Sure thing," Lucas replied, showing the old man the location.

Once they finished talking, the three went their separate ways. Ingrid, full of energy, kept tugging at her grandfather's arm, pulling him toward the other side of the ship where dolphin-like creatures had appeared. Yacob gave Lucas a nod before being dragged away, leaving him alone once again.

Being left alone, Lucas couldn't help but feel a little proud of his new skill: Lightning Strike. He had just acquired it, and despite being only Common rarity, it had already proved itself useful.

Still, he couldn't ignore the circumstances. The Kraken had been submerged when he struck, and the water had undoubtedly amplified the effect. Would it be as strong on dry land? Against creatures without a natural conduit for electricity? He would need to test it further, but the potential was there. If used correctly, it could become one of his strongest moves.

Eventually, his thoughts drifted to what awaited him at his destination: the tomb, and the orb that had been behaving strangely ever since absorbing his prize from the Tower Challenge. What was hidden inside that orb? Whatever it was, he could only hope they were worth the trouble, because that tomb was bound to present its fair share of challenges.

The next few hours were uneventful. Once the sailors finished patching up the ship, the rest of the journey went smoothly. A few sea creatures popped up here and there, but they were nothing compared to the Kraken, and the sailors had no trouble handling them.

Eventually, they reached a small pier. It looked abandoned, the wooden planks weathered and cracked from years of exposure. Beyond it, an open, empty stretch of land extended in all directions, void of any immediate signs of civilization.

One by one, the passengers disembarked, stepping onto the worn dock. Some lingered for a moment, adjusting to solid ground, while others set off quickly, eager to reach their destinations.

Before leaving, Yacob approached Lucas one last time.

"Well, this is where we part ways," the old man said with a chuckle. "Take care of yourself, kid. And if I ever make it to Zoria, I expect a proper tour."

Lucas smirked. "I'll make sure to show you around."

"Good," Yacob nodded. Then, with a small wave, he turned and walked off with Ingrid, the little girl still excitedly chattering about all the things they'd seen in their voyage.

Lucas watched as the last of the passengers left, waiting until they had all disappeared into the distance before turning back to the ship. He still had something to take care of.

Finding the captain wasn't hard. The man was near the helm, overseeing the final preparations before setting sail again. But as Lucas approached, the captain turned to him as if already expecting him.

He reached into his coat and pulled out a pouch, tossing it to Lucas. "Your fare, as promised."

Lucas caught it easily, but before he could pocket it, another pouch followed. He barely had to move to snatch it from the air.

"That one's extra," the captain added. "For keeping us all in one piece."

Lucas weighed both pouches in his hands, pleased with the unexpected bonus. "Well, I won't say no to that." He pocketed the money shamelessly.

With business settled, he shifted topics. "That thing we fought back there… that Kraken. Is that the kind of monster people usually run into in the ocean?"

At that, the captain's expression changed. His eyes widened slightly, and he let out a scoff. "The ocean? Kid, that thing's never been anywhere near the real ocean."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The captain leaned against the railing, arms crossed. "I've never been out there myself, but I've got a friend—his grandfather was a sailor back in the day. From what he told me, the monsters in the ocean make that Kraken look like a fish in a pond."

Lucas frowned. "That bad?"

"Worse." The captain's tone was grim. "And it ain't just the monsters. There are storms that can sink entire fleets, whirlpools that swallow ships whole, and islands that… well, let's just say people who land on them don't always come back."

Lucas let that information settle. If even a Kraken was considered a minor threat compared to what lurked in the ocean, then he had no idea when—if ever—he would set foot on a deep-sea voyage.

"Thank you for the info," Lucas said after sighing.

With that conversation wrapped up, Lucas gave the man a nod before stepping off the ship and onto the pier. He pulled out his map, double-checked his route, and, without wasting any more time, set off toward his next destination.