A sea of blue as far as the eyes could see, islands of brown and green to be seen left and right. The waves grew and shrank, filling the air with splashes and painting the sea with bits white as sea foams formed and popped.
Yet even with such a beautiful sight, it was not perfect nor peaceful. Pillars of smoke and clouds of dust rose up to the sky, broken planks and debris drifted on the waves, the waters dyed a muddy color, and ruined homes along the beaches. It was a scene full of devastation.
Not just one or two, but four platinum dragons could be seen at the sight, surrounding a single blue-scaled beast whose left flank was painted a dark red by its own blood. And contrary to such massive creatures, two tiny figures could be seen walking ever so proudly.
GRRRRRRRRRR
Those two figures were none other than Grey and Yuna, their footsteps resounding mildly along with the sound of shifting sands and washing waves. A low growl rang in the air as the Evil Beast glared at them with rage boiling in its eyes.
⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ ［Grey］
A single word echoed in his mind, and a blue, semi-transparent screen appeared before him. Letters, numbers, and symbols were displayed in an orderly manner, his eyes swimming through them at lightning speed.
-----------------------------------
[Demonic Beast]
[Species]Leviathan
[Status]Mildly Injured, Enraged
[Sex]Male
[Age]533
[Mana Capacity]29,230 [Mana Quality]A
[Combat Power]9,634 [Threat Level]S
[Attribute]Water
[Intelligence]93
[Description]
A beast which dwells in the deepest depths of the ocean. It is equipped with a body which can withstand extreme amounts of pressure and jaws which could devour ships whole. A single blast of water from it can blow away whole towns and cities. It is often called "Ruler of the Seas".
-----------------------------------
Reading the screen before him, Grey felt relief in his heart as he heaved a short sigh. Though the Leviathan was at the upper end of S-rank, it was still an S-rank. Victory was now certain, more than ever.
"Master, Mistress, You've arrived." ［Sirius］
"Un. Good work, everyone." ［Yuna］
The familiars greeted them with respect and bright faces as they slid down the sandy slopes, but the same couldn't be said for the Leviathan. The longer it stared at Grey and Yuna, the nastier its glare became.
Even then, even with how enraged it was, it didn't attack. It may be enraged, but the Leviathan was not a fool. Just a single attack from Grey and it could tell that it was no match for the latter. The aching wound it has was the proof of it, blood still trickling down his scales.
SLOSH SLOSH SPLAASSSHHHH
Slowly and surely, the Leviathan moved away, a massive splash resounding in the air as waves formed. In just a single instant, its body had submerged back into the water, only its spikes and fins to be seen.
"Hmm... For a demonic beast, it's quite the smart one. To think it would flee even without a moment's hesitation..." ［Grey］
"Grey, is it really time to be saying that? It's getting away, you know?" ［Yuna］
"Don't worry too much. After all... We did promise to end things today... It can run, but it will never escape!" ［Grey］
A fierce glow glimmered in Grey's eyes and strong bursts of winds howled all over the place. Each and every particle in the air danced faster and faster, collapsing one after another and filling the air with millions of silent shockwaves.
At Grey's behest, the air bellowed in rage and the sea was parted. An invisible and intangible wall was erected without no one noticing. The sea continued to remain calm, yet an ominous feeling was looming above it.
Fast as lightning, the Leviathan continued to swim away, creating strong currents and massive waves on its wake. It pushed forward at breakneck speed, when suddenly, the sea was parted. It was already far too late.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
The Leviathan crashed into the invisible war, clustering explosions echoing in the air. The shockwaves may be small, but it packs the power to rip apart even rocks and iron until not even powders are left.
KHIIEEEEKKKKKKK
A shriek of pain and misery thundered throughout the sea and sky, blood dyeing the sea red with every drop. The Leviathan managed to pull back at the final moments yet it still suffered wounds all over its massive body, otherwise, it would have turned into a pulp of blood and shattered scales.
If it weren't for the fact that it was an S-rank beast, it would have already disintegrated in a matter of seconds, its existence vanishing as if it was a lie. That's how frightening and deadly Grey's "Bellowing Heavens" is.
SPLAAAASSSSHHHHHH
Yet another clear and resounding splash reverberated in the air as the Leviathan was repelled dozens of meters away, stinging pain running throughout its whole body as it was tossed like a helpless ping pong ball.
At such a sight, everyone could only marvel at how helpless the Leviathan was. Even Yuna who knew Grey best didn't know his strength had reached such a height. Even with aura, to be able to repel an S-rank beast without much effort was no simple feat.
"Grey... You've become a lot stronger again..." ［Yuna］
"Did I? I'm just using 'Authority' though? I'm sure you could also do the same if you practice hard enough." ［Grey］
"Authority... Hmm... Looks like I have to go training again..." ［Yuna］
"Well, if that's the case, I'll be more than happy to lend you a hand." ［Grey］
"Umm... No... No thanks..." ［Yuna］
Yuna was grateful for Grey's offer, she really was. But Yuna also knew full well how tough it is to be under Grey's strict and spartan-style tutelage. She did the best she could, shaking her head aggressively, to decline his offer.
Meanwhile, the Leviathan was now slowly healing its wounds. Having suffered great pain from the Grey's "barriers", it then started sending waves to test out how far the invisible wall extended to and it soon came to a realization. It was trapped.
"Well then, let's end its misery, shall we?" ［Grey］
Grey extended his arm towards the sea and howling gales gathered in front of his palm, getting denser and denser with the passing of each second. Multiple spears were born of his commands, sharper than any blade and faster than any arrow.
The winds continued to swirl and the spears grew not only in numbers, but size as well. Soon, hundreds of spears, the size of missiles, each packing enough power to blow away villages with relative ease. Death was looming over the horizon.
⟨⟨Northern Spear: Borー" ［Grey］
"Master, please wait!" ［Sirius］
But such spears were never shot as Sirius' uncharacteristically loud voice rang all throughout the air. Not only Grey and Yuna, but the other familiars as well were a little surprised by her sudden outburst.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Sirius?" ［Grey］
"No... This may be presumptuous of me to say, but... Please allow me to fight the Leviathan on your behalf." ［Sirius］
There was a serious glow in her eyes that neither Grey nor Yuna ever saw in her. A fierce glow started to burn deep within, unwavering despite the raging winds. Just a single glance and they could tell how serious she was.
Be it wanting to prove herself, wanting to be useful, or simply wanting to fight. Neither Grey nor Yuna could tell what was going on in her mind, all they could feel was that a strong sense of determination burned in her heart, burning fiercer and brighter the more they looked at her.
"Haah... It's pretty unusual for you to request something, Sirius..." ［Grey］
"I just felt this is something I have to do. I apologize if I have inconvenienced you, Master, Mistress." ［Sirius］
"No, no, it's alright. If anything... It's actually better this way..." ［Grey］
"Un! We're your masters, after all! No need to shy away from requesting things like this. We'd love it if you relied more on us for the future." ［Yuna］
Click Whooosshhhh
Grey flicked his fingers and the spears disappeared as if they were all but a passing lie. The wind has returned to its calm state, peaceful and refreshing as one can be. A slight and gentle smile formed Grey and Yuna's faces.
"Well then, I guess we'll be leaving the rest to you." ［Grey］
"Good luck, Sirius～!" ［Yuna］
"I'll make sure to live up to your expectations, Master, Mistress." ［Sirius］
Not just Grey and Yuna, the other familiars cheered for Sirius as well, wishing her good luck. They all sat down on the fight, leaving everything else to Sirius. Only Grey's walls remained to prevent the enemy from escaping.
Sirius flapped her wings and the winds burst forth like a sweeping wave, creating gales and whirlwinds as she soared higher and higher. Her radiant majesty climbed the sky like the brilliant sun, shining brighter than the stars.
ROOOAAAARRRRR
Shockwaves echoed as Sirius spread her wings open and a loud roar soon followed. At Sirius' cry, the Leviathan who was ever so busy with testing the walls suddenly halted, looking over her with a fierce and nasty glare.
It was no simple roar. It was a declaration, a challenge so to say, one the Leviathan accepted with yet another roar. The Queen of the sky and the Ruler of the sea, two hegemonic beasts faced one another once more, not backing down a single inch.
There was no time to waste. As soon as their declarations echoed towards the sky, countless silver bolts formed in the sky and a myriad of blue spears were conjured from the sea, darting like bullets soon after.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Hundreds upon hundreds of explosions rang out in the air as the silver bolts and blue spears clashed with one another. It was like watching a firework display from afar, only that each explosion packed power comparable to tons of TNT.
It wasn't just explosions. Lashes and slashes were also fired one after another. The vast and endless blue sea provided the Leviathan endless ammunition. From spears to shields, countless objects manifested themselves before it.
Unfortunately for the Leviathan, its enemy was none other than Sirius. Its spears and whips may be fast, but Sirius was much faster. She easily maneuvered and dodged the attacks, all the while launching counterattacks herself.
Whizz Whizz Whizz Whizz Whizz
One after another, magic circles appeared in front of Sirius, layered atop one another and spinning like metal cogs, and like a whirlpool, mana from the surrounding was sucked dry with the passing of time.
WHOOOOOOOONGGGGGGG
A silver beam, large and bright as one can be, bolted towards the enemy without any mercy. It was even much stronger than Sirius' breath attack, disintegrating every bit of seawater it encountered into mere vapor.
And it wasn't just one. As soon as Sirius finished the first magic array, she bolted towards another location and created another one. The process continued until the Leviathan was surrounded, dozens of death rays pointing towards it.
At such an attack, the Leviathan could only helplessly create the most powerful shields it could. Though it isn't as powerful as Grey's, it could still do great damage to it, especially with dozens heading his way.
Blub Blub Blub Blub
Unfortunately for it, the rays were not merciful. Not only did it disintegrate the water it got in direct contact with, it also heated up the nearby bodies of water, boiling them away as time passed by.
There was no other choice left. The Leviathan could only dive deep into the sea to escape the death rays, retaining its shield as it darted through the waters, all the while launching a barrage of bullets towards Sirius.
BANG BANG BANG BANG
Yet no matter how many shots the Leviathan fired, not a single one reached Sirius. She may be unable to dodge with how numerous the bullets were, she could still defend. The Leviathan was not the only one who could create shields.
It was a never-ending and destructive process. The Leviathan would attack, Sirius would counterattack, they would then defend, dodge, and escape. The only one which received damage was the sea, now ruined beyond recognition.
"Grey, what's Sirius doing?" ［Yuna］
"You've noticed as well, huh..." ［Grey］
Yet no matter how keenly Sirius battled against the Leviathan, the others couldn't help but notice the difference in her fighting style. Not only is she not using illusion magic, she was also not using many of her skills and abilities.
"Well, this is just my guess, but... I think she's testing herself to see how far she can go just by relying on her basic abilities." ［Grey］
"Testing herself, huh... That reminds me of the past. It sure is nostalgic..." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha. If it's that nostalgic, we could always make a redo, you know? I also miss the good old days." ［Grey］
"Grey... Please don't say something so terrifying like that..." ［Yuna］
Far from the light atmosphere looming over Grey and Yuna, the fierce battle between Sirius and the Leviathan continued, thundering explosions continuing to fill the air as their attacks clashed time and time again.
Now, the Leviathan is lurking under the water, using its deep blue scales to hide itself from Sirius' sharp eyes. At the same time, it continued to launch a myriad of attacks towards the latter, seemingly not exhausted by their battle.
WHHOOONNNNGGGGG
Yet another thundering beam flashed from the sky, heading towards the deep blue sea. Boiling waters formed waves as the beam plunged through the depths like a rushing spear, white pillars of smoke rising towards the sky.
Even then, no matter how powerful the beam was, it was useless if Sirius couldn't hit the enemy. Before long, Sirius finally came to a conclusion, halting her shots as she peered towards the blue abyss. A short-lived silence filled the air.
'So it seems... This is how far I could go...' ［Sirius］
Sirius thought to herself, a little tinge of disappointment in her tone. Though she had already expected things would turn in such a way if she limits herself, it was still a little depressing. There was only one thing left to do.
Sharper than ever before, Sirius' eyes glowed an even more intense color, steeling her resolve even stronger. There was no more reason to hold back herself. It was time to show what she could really do.
Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh
Thousands of bullets darted towards her direction, the silence quickly broken. Yet even with such imminent danger before her, Sirius didn't budge a single inch. The bullets simply pierced through her body, red mist dyeing the air as her blood spilledー or so it should have been.
The bullets did pierce through, but it wasn't Sirius that it hit. Rather, it was only a simple illusion, fading like mist as soon as the bullets connected. It was as if Sirius had vanished into thin air.
The Leviathan halted its movements, looking towards the sky as it searched for its enemy. It turned its head left and right, yet no matter how much it did, all it saw was the white clouds drifting ever so slowly.
Of course, it didn't let its guard down. As it slowly swam and looked for Sirius, it made sure to create a number of shields around it. It was like a wary hunter, searching for its prey, keen and alert as one can be,
Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh
A brilliant glimmer shone on the sky and the Leviathan didn't waste any more time. Even before a second passed, blue spears quickly launched towards the glimmer. Unfortunately for it, it was all but a quick distraction.
BOOOOOMMMMM
It was all too sudden. The Leviathan couldn't prepare itself. Though it made countless shields and barriers, all its effort was useless. It shrieked loud and clear as pain ran throughout its whole body, nerves punctured by hundreds of needles. A deadly bolt of lightning had struck its body.
Dragons, the strongest beast there is, though associated with the null attribute, much like people, could use all attributes of magic. By altering null-attribute mana, they could utilize all forms of magic and perform countless combinations. An ability High Dragons such as Sirius also possessed.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
A merciless barrage of lightning struck the sea, electrocuting everything it could touch and causing great pain to the Leviathan. To make it worse, saltwater was even more conductive than freshwater. No matter how deep the Leviathan dives, it would still be affected by the attack.
The Leviathan had no other choice but to resurface. It may not be able to deflect the lightning bolts, by creating a shield detached from the sea, if it would contain all the electricity from one place without hurting itself.
Unfortunately for it, lightning isn't the only thing Sirius could make. With a flap of her wing, she created countless icicles in the sky, packed with the highest penetration power and sent them hurling towards the Leviathan's direction.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
Though the shield could block the lightning bolts, the same couldn't be said for the darting icicles. They easily pierced through them, heading straight towards the Leviathan, connecting one after another. It was already too late.
GRRROOOAAARRRRR
A pained roar echoed in the air as the icicles pierced its tough skin and grazed its blue scales. Countless wounds opened up one after another, blood trickling down from it and dyeing the waters red.
Sirius was still nowhere to be seen, yet the enemy was already riddled with wounds. The difference was like heaven and earth. The moment Sirius used her full power, the tides of the battle have completely turned to her favor.
But the battle was not over with. Sirius may have outsmarted it, but it still hasn't gone down. In response to Sirius' relentless attacks, it created tentacle-like whips and deflected the icicles which approached it.
Shields for the lightning bolts and whips for the icicles. Considering the nature and weaknesses of the attacks, it was a pretty smart counter. Unfortunately for it, Sirius was its opponent.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH
A barrage of icicles came towards the Leviathan once more, and in response, dozens upon dozens of whips were made. The whips lashed towards the icicles, trying to deflect them as they always did, but...
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Instead of deflecting the icicles, loud explosions rang out in the air one after another as the icicles exploded. Well, the truth is, they weren't icicles at all. Sirius had once again used illusion magic to mask her attacks. They were, in fact, the very lightning bolts which seared the Leviathan's body previously.
The Leviathan was paralyzed by the pain, but Sirius' attacks didn't halt. The lightning bolts turned to icicles, and icicles turned to lightning bolts. There were also times they simply stayed the same, confusing the Leviathan even more. It was chaos.
Though the Leviathan could heal itself slowly as long as it's in the water, the rate at which it did was much slower compared to the rate it received damage. More and more wounds appeared on its body with the passing of time.
ROOOAAAARRRRRR
Rage boiling deep in its eyes, the Leviathan poured in its all and blocked the attacks with multiple layers of shields and whips. Though it was a desperate move, it was the perfect counter... It just forgot to consider one thing... The attacks aren't only possible from above....
SPLASH WHOOONNGGG
Before it even noticed, Sirius had appeared from below the sea, a radiant orb of light shining from her mouth. The Leviathan couldn't even react. It was already far too late.
BOOOOMMMM
It was a direct hit. A loud explosion thundered all throughout the sky as the Leviathan received the full brunt of Sirius' attack on its head. A slight crack echoing in the air as not only the scales, but its skull were also damaged greatly.
But no sound of splashes echoed in the air. Despite all the injuries it received and how beaten it was, the Leviathan mustered all its strength and launched its massive maw towards her, desperation gleaming in its eyes.
It was all too sudden, Sirius only able to wear a surprised face as the Leviathan lunged at her. The latter bore its dagger-like teeth on her wings, preventing her from getting away. Blood was spilled all over the placeー or so how the Leviathan thought it would go.
Unfortunately for it, what it bit was simply another one of Sirius' illusions, quickly fading away like thin mist. As for the real Sirius, she has already maneuvered beside the Leviathan's head, another brilliant orb shining in her mouth.
BOOOOMMMM
White light. That was the last thing the Leviathan saw before darkness encroached its sight. As the flames of hatred continued to burn in its eyes, its flames of life started to flicker until it was no more. It was over. Sirius had risen victorious.
As the Leviathan's cold, dead body floated in the blue sea, dark masses of corruption seeped out from it. And like a starving vortex, Sirius fed on it. And as soon as she did, a deep change started to take place in her body.
ROOOAAAAARRRRRRRR
She roared once more, and a golden beam of light thundered from the sky. White mist covered Sirius' body and her silhouette grew bigger and bigger, her eyes shining like a brilliant diamond. A mystical scene unfolded atop the vast blue sea.
"Grey, is it just me, or..." ［Yuna］
"No, you're not wrong... Sirius has broken through." ［Grey］
It was a sight to behold. As golden light continued to shine, the waves tossed and turned as if greeting her, the winds clamored like a cheering crowd, and sunlight accentuated her figure. A sight one could only look at in awe.
It was the crowning of a True Queen!
CHAPTER 237 END