Chapter 598: Grilled Squid
Two days passed in a similar fashion. Pocky grew more comfortable with Zero and his gang. Even Bob was able to crack a few jokes that made everyone laugh. If they weren't hungry, they would sleep or chat or play some games. Beneath them, the ocean remained the same no matter where they travelled, and the sun travelled in a line above them, edging a little more each day forward as Bob tried his best to keep up the speed.
"A whirlpool?" Pocky couldn't help but notice. He squinted his eyes a little more into the distance and frowned. The sunlight reflecting off the water was too glaring, and the shipwright couldn't confirm it, but his gut feeling told him they should approach carefully.
Zero and Truen were also alerted by Lily's report from the mindscape. Something huge was approaching them from beneath, and Bob was on his guard.
"This is our chance!" Zero gushed excitedly. He didn't know what kind of monster it was, but they should try not to damage it if there was a core. It could be used for their ship.
The wind pressure became heavier as they closed in on the whirlpool zone. Bob found it hard to maintain his altitude and told everyone to hold on. He was going to fly higher and accelerated with a burst of strength in his wings.
Pocky might have screamed when they were suddenly launched higher than before, but he couldn't hear himself with the deafening rush of wind in his ears. Zero left Pocky in Truen's care and jumped from Bob's back to face the sea monster. Initially, he thought that they would have to buy a mythical monster core. However, lady luck was shining on him today, and Zero rejoiced when a gigantic suckered tentacle shot from the water surface right at him.
"Mii! What's this creature? Is it mythical?"
The strawcherry fairy appraised it quickly and smirked.
"No, Zero. Even better. It's a low-grade legendary. Meet the Kraken!"
Hearing that the monster in the water was a Kraken, Zero salivated. Seafood was always delicious. He remembered how much he enjoyed the grilled squid before at Lycantopia. All Zero could think of was how much better a Kraken would taste when grilled.
"The mana stone is in the head," Wii explained. "Try to avoid that if you can."
Working up a huge fireball in one hand, Zero licked his lips. "Roger that!"
He was determined to have a barbecue today.
As the tentacle shot towards him, Zero could see a huge shadow from beneath the water, making its way up to the surface. Yet, it wasn't moving fast enough. Zero wondered if he should deploy his famous move, seeing as he had the height advantage.
"No Dragon Slaying Dropkick," Mii warned. "Not if you want that mana stone intact."
Zero sulked for a bit but changed his stance at once, spinning himself at a dizzying pace as he gathered the wind around him. As soon as this oversized squid reached his vortex, it was going to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience of flying through the air.
Inch by inch, the Kraken's tentacle tip came nearer to Zero's spinning vortex created by his modified drunken fists. Pocky held his breath from above the clouds and prayed for the young Chosen One's safety. Truen raised a brow and told Bob to fly a little further away. Knowing Zero, his best friend might not be able to hold back after getting completely drunk on excitement.
Hook, line and sinker! The Kraken's tentacle became caught in Zero's powerful air vortex, and the doctor grabbed it with one hand, imbued with qi.
"Hah!" Zero yelled and fished the Kraken out of the water quite literally.
Tons of seawater splashed, and the massive body of the Kraken finally revealed itself. Its tentacles were fat, but its head was fatter, and Zero threw the giant squid over his head into the sky, creating a huge shadow followed by a rain of seawater.
To keep the stubborn and angered Kraken in position, Zero repositioned himself mid-air for a well-angled kick to the creature.
When the kick connected, the Kraken combusted and moaned in pain.
From above the skies, Pocky didn't know who was the actual monster. Truen was right to ask Bob to fly a little further for their safety. No wonder they didn't allow Zero to fight! The Chosen One was on a completely different level from the archer and the dragon. Even fighting a Kraken looked like child's play. Zero wasn't even trying, and that happy smile on his face confirmed it.
One fire blast wasn't enough to thoroughly cook this huge squid, so Zero kicked it up again and blasted it with a stronger fire spell this time.
The Kraken retaliated to the pain by lashing out and spewing black inky liquid that Zero swore was poisonous. He dodged swiftly and watched as the black inky liquid vaporised some of the seawater that made contact with it.
Thanks to the cheap trick, Zero was distracted, and the Kraken fell back into the water, effectively dousing the fire out. The monster tried to make an escape, but Zero was relentless as a hunter. He would never let the prey he set his sight on get away so easily.
"Come back!" Zero shouted and manipulated the water with gravity magic to trap the Kraken inside.
The Kraken felt fear for the very first time and shrieked. It lashed out desperately, and Zero only increased the pressure in this water coffin. He made sure to avoid the area where the mana stone was and added pressure to everything else. Zero wanted to force the Kraken's organs to explode so that he could grill it nicely.
Pocky prayed for the Kraken when Truen explained that the hunt was over. Zero had the Kraken exactly where he wanted, and the poor monster was no match for the cruel water prison. Bob licked his lips. Kraken for dinner sounded exactly what he needed.
Now, if only they had some beer to go with the grilled squid. Maybe even some spicy dipping sauce. That would make a perfect meal.