As we approached the towering wall, our carriage came to a halt, and Eveline and I disembarked swiftly. With a determined focus, Eveline took command, swiftly organizing her troops into battle formation from the back of the carriage.
"Form ranks! Prepare to charge!"
Her voice carried the weight of command as she lifted her sword high above her head, a beacon of hope for her soldiers. Their unified response was a resounding war cry that echoed through the air, a defiant chorus against the encroaching darkness.
With a unified surge, the soldiers advanced, clashing against the horde of monsters that had laid siege to the innocent populace. In the midst of the chaos, Eveline and I pressed forward, our destination clear in our minds — the colossal squid that loomed over the castle, a terrifying specter of destruction.
"Hurry up!" Eveline cast a brief glance over her shoulder, her eyes locking with mine as I struggled to keep pace. Determination etched into her features, she urged me to hasten.
"I'm trying, okay!" My voice held a mix of desperation and self-deprecation as I pushed myself harder. "I'm still working on my stamina..."
Eveline's expression softened, and she slowed her pace until she matched mine. With a faint apologetic smile, she leaned closer, her voice tinged with playfulness. "Well, I suppose I can make an exception just this once."
"Wa-wait??"
In an unexpected move, she scooped me up from behind, depositing me unceremoniously onto her shoulder. The soldiers behind us noticed what was happening as they bit their lips to prevent themselves from laughing.
Ugh, my pride had been hurt...
My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but I had little time to protest as we - I mean, she charged forward with me.
As we pushed through the chaos, the castle walls drew closer. The cacophony of battle surrounded us, the clash of steel, the roars of monsters, and the shouts of soldiers forming a chaotic symphony.
Eveline and I finally reached the castle gates, where the colossal squid loomed, its writhing tentacles battering against the stone walls. Its malevolent eye fixed upon us, a chilling reminder of the danger that had befallen the kingdom.
"I feel like eating grilled squid later. Want some?" She asked, turning her head at my direction with a teasing grin.
"Though I'm not a fan of seafood, I was raised to eat every food that went to my plate. So, it'll be a yes."
As soon as our quick conversation was done, we drew our weapons and engaged the monstrous foe.
"Haaaa!"
Eveline's sword danced through the air, each strike executed with precision and grace, while I unleashed a flurry of blows with my own weapon, determined to contribute to the fight despite my relative inexperience.
Squid.... I wonder what it taste like.
The squid's tentacles lashed out, seeking to ensnare us, but we dodged and parried with practiced skill. Eveline's blade glinted as it cleaved through the writhing appendages, while I focused on striking the exposed flesh between the armored sections.
"I remembered from one of the books back from one of the city I've visited that this squid's weakness is right on it's mantle cavity - it has two hearts that should be placed somewhere around there, but the most important part we should hit is called the 'systemic heart'." I avoided one of the tentacles and hopped towards her.
"Mantle, what?" She showed a genuine confused expression as she focused on redirecting the tentacles away from us as we talk.
"Just stabbed the middle part of this dick-like creature's mantle. You should be able to kill it if you get lucky."
"That's your PLAN!!?""
Amidst the chaos of battle, our movements synchronized seamlessly. A swipe of Eveline's sword created an opening, and I followed up with a well-timed thrust, the combination proving effective as we whittled away at the creature's defenses.
But this creature was no mere opponent; its massive bulk and relentless assault posed a formidable challenge. As we fought, its eye glowed with an otherworldly intensity, and I could feel its malevolent aura seeping into my mind, attempting to sow doubt and fear.
"Stay focu-!"
A sudden tremor shook the ground beneath our feet cut her short.
Before we could react, the squid's massive tentacles twitched and convulsed, a surge of energy coursing through its limbs. One of the tentacles shot out, moving with surprising speed and precision. It lashed out towards Eveline, its powerful grip wrapping around her midsection.
"Eveline!" I shouted, slashing the incoming tentacles that was aimed towards me.
She struggled against the encroaching appendage, her sword clattering to the ground as she desperately tried to free herself. The sheer strength of the tentacle was overwhelming, its grip unyielding as it lifted her off the ground, her body suspended in the air.
"Eveline, hold on!" I cried out, sprinting towards her even as my legs felt like lead.
With a surge of adrenaline, I closed the distance, my sword raised high. I swung with all my might, the blade slicing through the tentacle with a satisfying thud as it fell on the ground.
"These thing are anno-!!"
Out of the sudden, my sword slipped from my grasp, soaring through the air as if it had a mind of its own. "Shit!" I exclaimed, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.
To my surprise, the blade found its mark with uncanny precision – right into the creature's massive eye. The monster let out a deafening roar of agony, its tentacles flailing wildly as it released its grip on Eveline. The once formidable foe was now writhing in pain, its vision obscured by the unexpected sword-sized intruder.
Eveline's voice cut through the cacophony of battle. "Nice throw," she deadpanned, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.
I smirked, my heart racing with a mix of relief and triumph. "I definitely did that on purpose," I replied, my tone nonchalant as if blind-sword-throwing was a completely intentional move.
In reality, it was a split-second stroke of luck that had saved us, a fortunate accident that turned the tide of battle in our favor. But hey, who needed to know that? Confidence was key, after all.... So, let just say I did that on purpose.
She raised a brow upon hearing my response and let out an audible laugh.
As the wounded squid monster thrashed and roared, I turned my attention back to the fight, my grip firm on my replacement weapon that was laying earlier on the ground. After a quick exchanging gaze, Eveline and I resumed our assault, exploiting the creature's momentary weakness.
We pressed on, redoubling our efforts. Our strikes grew more coordinated, exploiting the squid's openings with calculated precision. We danced on the precipice of danger, narrowly evading the creature's attacks while delivering our own punishing blows.
Time seemed to blur as we fought, the clash of weapons and the surge of adrenaline drowning out all other distractions. Our breaths came in ragged gasps, our bodies pushed to their limits, but we held fast, united in our shared goal to protect the kingdom.
As the battle raged on, a resolute fire burned within us. Despite the odds, we remained unyielding, our teamwork and determination a testament to the strength that could be found in unity. With each strike, we drew closer to victory, inch by hard-fought inch, until finally, the monstrous squid let out a final, agonized roar, its thrashing weakening.
"Go! Stab it now while I gather it's attention."
"Huh??"
With a final, coordinated assault, Eveline and I delivered a decisive blow.
While I get the creature's attention, she leaped forward and stabbed it directly on it's heart. The squid's struggles grew feeble, its monstrous form collapsing to the ground.
"Look out, traveller!"
By the time I heard her warning, the creature's body was only a few meters away from falling towards me. Because of this, I couldn't help but click my tongue out of frustration.
"I was not really planning to use this, but..."
"Traveller!"
The squid fell directly on top of me as I heard Eveline scream desperately.
As the dust settled and the battle subsided, she immediately stood amidst the aftermath, chests heaving and weapon on the ground as she tries to lift the squid desperately.
"Traveller!" She called out, pushing herself hard, trying to pull the corpse of the squid up.
"Traveller, if you die, I'll kill you!"
Upon hearing her ridiculous shout, I couldn't help but tease her while she was acting like this.
"Maybe he's dead."
She gritted her teeth and ignored my word.
"There's no way that he'll die just because of this!"
"Really? Why are you sure?" Crossing my legs, I covered my mouth with my hands to prevent myself from laughing.
"That's because...."
By the time she realize that I'm safe, Eveline raised her head to look at the top of the squid. She saw me, her expression showing a face of annoyance. Because of this, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh, you can see ghost? Moo~"
"It should be 'boo'.... Anyway, how the hell did you got out?" Her annoyed expression was immediately replaced with curiosity.
To dismiss this, I stuck out my tongue and said.
"Made a hole on it's body. That's all."