Kai stared intensely and warily at the monster.
The sea imugi.
The commander of the sea serpents. It was the monster who was said to have the highest authority after the queen of the sea serpents, the sea dragon.
The only monster that had the ability to unleash a ball of chaos energy from its mouth. It had such thick muscles and tough scales, that not even the aura of the swordmasters could easily penetrate.
But that same beast was flailing and crying out because of pain. When the chaos energy and pure white mana collided, the attack was deflected back to the sea imugi.
The force of its own attack and the force of the pieces of the ice wall made of dense mana crashed into it.
Many shattered icy shards stabbed into the thick flesh of its elongated body.
"Kreeeeeeech !"
The sea imugi screeched in pain.
"Whoa !"
Surprised exclamations rang out among the knights and the mages. People on the ship stared in awe at this sight.
"He's a 7th class mage ?"
"He injured the monster."
"We are safe now."
Relieved at the sight of the monster's injuries, they started celebrating before the monster was slain.
Kai flicked his fingers to manipulate water and speeded up the ship. Even that didn't go unnoticed by others.
'What is up with these people ? I thought they were supposed to be the elites.'
Kai looked at these people incomprehensibly.
He couldn't help but look at the prince where he stood together with Ruwel and Enzo.
Surprisingly their gazes collided and Michael had a sheepish smile on his face as if he was embarrassed about his combatants' behavior.
Even though the mages and the knights had never fought against a monster, the way they were behaving made it seem like they never participated in missions.
Celebrating even before the enemy was defeated and paying no mind to the actions of the monster. What kind of nonsense was this ?
Even after he crossed eyes with the prince, they didn't move at all to issue orders.
'So that's how you are going to play this.'
A sneer crossed his face in the blink of an eye unseen by others.
A variable who wounded a creature that not one of the renown power houses could severely injure.
But now wasn't the time to consider whether Kai was a threat or a friend. If this is how they were going to play, he'll simply indulge them.
With his thin red lips curved into a gentle arc, his vivid starry eyes turned into half crescents, he parted his mouth as he slightly turned his head towards the knights and the mages.
He looked gentle and steady. With such a tender expression on his face, they were reminded of the first time they met him and thought he was going to reassure them.
"You guys, do you think it's safe now ?"
Kai asked with a carefree tone.
Hearing those words, their hearts couldn't help but melt.
'How kind-hearted of this person for him to worry about them.'
But the next words that left his lips stunned them to their core.
"If you think so, why don't you all go and check ? Considering that everyone seems to be celebrating you must have spent a lot of efforts. So, please go ahead and check."
A voice laden with gentleness, but words that were bitingly cold scalded their ears. A surge of embarrassment and dissatisfaction filled their minds.
It was embarrassing that they lost their minds in a battle and dissatisfying because someone else pointed it out. It felt like Kai was slapping them in the face with the truth.
Faces contorted with unpleasantness greeted him, as he eyed their faces one by one. Faced with their distorted faces, Kai sneered arrogantly.
When he parted his lips, the knights and the mages got ready to endure a harsh tongue-lashing.
"If you are dissatisfied, pull yourselves together and get ready for battle. We have people waiting for us at home."
With those words, Kai looked forward and didn't see how their expressions changed.
'We have people waiting for us at home.'
Isn't that tantamount to saying that we will win this battle and go home ?
Their moods grew complicated as the negative emotions settled. They were invigorated and determination flooded their bodies.
The uneasy atmosphere of the ship was settled with just a few words. In the blink of an eye, a smirk crossed Kai's face. It was barely there and vanished like a ghost in the wind.
First you give a slap, then you soothe it with something and reward the other person.
This way the previous dissatisfaction was removed. In the past Kai had used this method more than once.
"That's right. We'll fight."
Such exclamations parted from the lips of them and they readied for battle with a firm mindset.
They were just in time too. Because the sea imugi roared with its maws wide open. Unlike the other times, it expressed its rage and pain. This sound was different from the previous ones.
Aoungawuuuh.
The seemingly strange sound echoed and crossed the ocean waters. When it reached their ears, it enticed them to explore the unknown.
But it only served to unnerve some of the sensitive people.
An unnatural stillness permeated the ocean.
Kai clenched his sword hilt, the tips of his fingers tight with tension. He had a suspicion about what is about to unravel.
Bubp. Bubbupp. Bupp.
At first the calm still water was disturbed by slowly emerging bubbles. Then it suddenly changed as a surge of bubbles disturbed ocean surface.
An ominous feeling descended on Kai and the next second his suspicions were confirmed.
Oooooong. Aaaaooong.
The sound of something massive moving underwater was heard.
"Prepare for battle."
The first prince Michael commanded loudly.
Swoosh. Splash.
Dozens of sea serpents emerged from under the water. Even though they were not as massive as the sea imugi, one sea serpent was at least sixty meters tall.
Once a sea serpent lunged for the ship first, the battle began in earnest. This time there was no time to rest for anyone neither was there time for anyone to sit back and watch.
Michael and Ruwel took lead decisively as they moved to the forefront of the battle. The knights followed behind them.
Enzo was again supporting them because his previous attack yielded no results.
"Blake, Ash. Put all of your efforts into reaching land. The remaining mages assist the knights in battle."
He gave precise and clear instructions.
"Yes, tower master."
As the mages hurried to follow the orders, the battle became smoother.
After checking to see whether his instructions are being followed, Enzo looked at Kai uncertainly. Seeing this, Kai smiled, then joined forces with the two mages to get them to land.
After the battle raged on for awhile, an eminent problem rose. No matter how fiercely they attacked, other than the swordmasters no knight or mage could pierce the tough skin of the monsters.
Only superficial wounds were imposed on them.
As the fight escalated into a long-term battle, the combatants grew exhausted. The knights started to grow sore and weary while mages spent their mana and started to grow tired.
Kai understood the situation and the crisis they were about to face after surveying the battle with a careful glance.
Since obtaining his assistance, the ship was able to gain some distance and close in on the rock bedding. So Kai decided to enter the battle with the monsters.
But just because he joined the fight, the situation wouldn't turn that easily. Therefore, Kai carefully considered what he should do.
In spite of having enormous bodies, the sea serpents were fast and agile. They attacked with their huge teeth as if they were devils that intruded on this world to devour human flesh.
Also they had the huge advantage of using the ocean as their shield to dance away from the relentless attacks implemented on them.
An idea struck his mind as he watched a sea serpent avoid an attack from a knight and hide underwater.
So what if they have water, why can't he use the same method to restrict their movements ?
He flicked his arms swiftly and a tingling sensation spread throughout his entire body as he moved the mana in his body.
But he still made sure to conceal his true strength just in case.
Thuwuck...
A gush of blood splattered on his cheek as he pulled out the blade from a dead body of a sea serpent.
Ruwel hurriedly moved to fend of an attack from another sea serpent. The sea serpent lunged at Ruwel baring its teeth.
His horizontally held blade got stuck between the tightly clenched jaws the sea serpent. It seemed like this monster wouldn't let go no matter how much pain was inflicted on it.
Ruwel had disposed of many of its nestmates. The more he disposed of, the more hostile they became towards him.
So this wasn't the first time a sea serpent attacked him impulsively in a fit of an anger. He was in the process of releasing his condensed aura into the insides of the monster when he was felt the movement of a massive wave of mana.
This mana reminded him of the sun. Warm to those favorable to it and scalding to those unfavorable to it.
An afterimage of a beautiful woman came to his mind. Distracted, he only noticed the sea serpent who had sneaked behind him too late.
When it reared its head to attack, Ruwel braced himself for pain. But it was in vain.
Kuaghh...
It choked as its airway was strangled by a white thread. No – it was a chain.
He followed the length of the chain to ice pillar. Handful of frozen pillars appeared in the middle of the ocean among the sea serpents.
A wave of chains surged from them and restricted the sea serpents.
Around their necks, across their bodies, as if a fish caught thoroughly in a fishnet with no escape in hindsight. It was like an ocean of chains were unleashed onto the world.
At the center of that sea stood, a youth unyielding and steadfast.