Damn that overgrown lizard! If it wasn't for that monster the ship wouldn't have had to change course towards the deep ocean. Our party is mostly B ranked adventures, just how are we supposed to deal with a monster like a Kraken that even A ranks have trouble with. I'm really starting to regret accepting this quest.
"Hey, Theo quit staring off into space and do something useful, you sorry excuse for a leader! I don't care if you throw goddamn rocks at it, just do something!"
Under the berating words of Maria, one of my party members, I begin to cast Blazing Spear. But I really don't expect it to make much of a difference. And just as I thought, even with my attack hitting the base of the tentacle that is grasping one of the ships, it still holds on without letting it go before eventually destroying one of the three ships.
*Sigh*
"I knew it wouldn't matter if I was doing anything or not. We're just not strong enough to take on a monster like a Kraken... all the parties guarding the ships are B ranked or C ranked. There is no way we can take on a Kraken, we weren't even supposed to come through here. "
"Why do you always have to be such a downer in situations like this! Seriously why in the world are you the party leader! Can't you act more like a um... real party leader."
"Calm down Maria, you voted on him for being the leader as well. He is pretty good at handling the paperwork after all and is good to have around in situations that aren't as miserable as this. Although, while I do think Theo is right, he honestly does have a problem with voicing out those negative thoughts."
"Can it, Ranthor, you stupid old man. I know he isn't the worst but, he really needs to fix his attitude. Wait, you're not doing anything either!"
"Jeez, I'm only in my early thirties, I'm not that old. Besides what do you want me to do? I'm a swordsman, I'll off my own head before jumping into those waters just to slash at the Kraken. It hasn't even arrived at our ship yet, maybe if we're lucky we can get away if it goes after the ship we were assigned to last."
"Why does running away have to be our best case scenario, can't you two even entertain the thought of winning?"
"Think about it rationally, a Kraken is a monster that even A rank parties have difficulty dealing with, what can we three-- I guess two now... wait the Kraken just destroyed the second ship... so it just us. What can our party do? Of the five of us, two are out cold, leaving just the three of us and whatever amount of merchants that are capable of fighting left to deal with this monster."
"Hey guys... it's coming this way... *sigh* it's been a good run guys, better luck next life."
"Will you both shut up with your negative attitude! It's causing me to misfire my arrows! And Theo quit slacking more spell slinging!
Despite the futility, I still listen to Maria and keep casting my spells... not that they'll do much. Oh well, if I'm to die here I might as well go out with a bang.
"Come Kraken! You are a worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary! Elements of fire, heed my call, take form and pierce my foe, Blazing Spear!"
Aiming my Blazing Spear at the tentacles as it descends onto the ship, the two collide and it forces the Kraken back...
""Eh?""
Simultaneously, Maria, Ranthor, and I express our confusion as to why the Kracken begins to retreat. Looking at the Kraken I see traces of... frost? But I don't know any ice elemental spells and I don't think anyone that's left knows them either. As I head to the side to look overboard, a torrent of water comes rising from beneath as a large serpentine figure reveals itself as it jumps through the air, diving back into the water heading straight towards the Kraken. I try to use Investigate to find out what this monster is, but it takes several tries before I finally succeed. A Sea Dragon, a type of Spirit Dragon that was thought to have been extinct for ages. It's even an Elite Monster! I've never seen one of those before, I've heard the experience for killing them is really high, but I don't think I want to mess with a monster that will casually attack a Kraken.
As the Dragon crashes back into the water, the waves from the impact send our ship away as I see the clear water become a bubbly purple. Some fish begin to surface dead, with their bodies practically melting. Pillars of ice form and pierce through to the surface of the water, their white form coved in crimson blood.
With the waves created from the battle between the Kraken and the Sea Dragon, the merchants take the opportunity to use them as a propellant and escape from the battlefield. With the giant sea monsters finally gone, everyone, both me and my party as well as the merchants and the hired sailors relax. The previous high tension atmosphere is gone, glad to simply be alive after that horrifying situation. Unsure of who it was, but someone begins to cheer in excitement and soon enough we all start cheering as we celebrate our continued survival. Praising the timely rescue of the Sea Dragon.
With the Kraken incident behind us, the remaining journey was relatively peaceful and after a few more days of seafaring, we finally arrive back at port. Approaching the merchants for our proof of completion, they grumble about their loss of profits and complain that the Dragon should have come sooner and that we did our job poorly... just what can I expect from greedy merchants like this, being more upset at the profit loss over the death of their co-workers. Eventually, after listening to their complaints for a few minutes they hand over the proof of completion. Maria and I decided to head over to the Guild to report our success, while Ranthor and the others decide to head towards the inn.
As we arrive and turn in our quest, some familiar faces come over and check up on us.
"Hey Theo, you guys are back later than I thought you'd be. Did anything happen?"
"Yeah, I'll tell ya, it was a crazy and wild ride. The merchant fleet we were supposed to guard got caught up in the chaos of Azi Dahaka's awakening and we ended up off course in the deep ocean. It was there our fleet came across a Kraken. A Kraken, the same one that has caused trouble for even those A rank parties. The beast destroyed two of the ships and ours was the last one remaining. But I never gave up hope, I fought on in the face of near certain death. It--"
Before I have a chance to continue the story, Maria interrupts me.
"He's lying. Theo gave up the moment we found out that a Kraken started to attack us. I had to constantly yell at him to use his spells before he did anything."
"Hahaha, that certainly sounds like Theo. But really a Kraken, just how did you guys make it out of there alive? No offence, your party is pretty strong as far a B ranked parties go, but you still shouldn't stand much of a chance against a Kraken."
"Let's start here, how much do you know about Dragons?"