A few hours later.
"How should we deal with them, Master?" Freya asked, her gaze sharp as she observed the navy ships the size of tiny dots in the horizon, steadily approaching the merchant fleet. Her narrowed eyes betrayed a readiness for violence.
"We won't sink them," Ray replied immediately, his tone calm yet decisive. He was nestled comfortably in Jack's arms as she idly fiddled with his paws and nails, her childlike fascination contrasting sharply with the tension in the air.
"I should, in fact, thank them for delivering extra ships to me," he added with a sly grin. Freya's eyes widened as realization dawned, the pieces of his plan falling into place in her mind.
Jack, as a former Assassin-Class Servant, was unparalleled in the art of assassination. Meanwhile, Ray's mastery of Shadow Manipulation, his innate ability to traverse through shadows like a personal portal gave him unparalleled mobility. The combination was a deadly advantage.
With her own keen understanding of war and tactics, Freya quickly deduced the plan. Ray intended to take Jack with him to infiltrate the enemy fleet, assassinate the commanding officers, and use her unique Charm ability to subjugate the remaining sailors, bending them to their will.
The logic was clear. The journey to Liyue was fraught with danger, plagued by an infestation of sea monsters stirred by the ongoing war between the Gods of Liyue and the Gods of the Seas. Every additional ship, every ounce of firepower, was crucial for survival.
Initially, Ray's plan was grim: he had intended to sacrifice the merchant fleet as decoys, using them to push as far toward Liyue as possible before abandoning ship and covering the remaining distance using his abilities. But now, with the prospect of capturing the well-armed warships, the odds shifted significantly. These vessels, equipped with magical cannons and ballistas designed to pierce the hide of even the most fearsome sea monsters, presented a real chance for the entire fleet to reach Liyue intact.
"The Gods may not bother with mortals," Ray mused, recalling the merchants' words, "But sea monsters don't care who you are when they are hungry." He glanced at Freya, her expression now steeled with determination.
"Get ready," he commanded. "We're taking those ships."
Freya and Jack nodded, their resolve aligning with his. The battle ahead was not just a matter of survival but a step closer to securing their journey's success.
———
Once the enemy fleets within range of his Shadow Travel, Ray along with Jack and Freya vanished from the deck of the ship and reappeared inside the captain's quarter of the enemy flagship.
"Huh? Who ar— *gurgle*"
The enemy commander words cut short as Jack lunged forward like a flash and ended his life with a single stab to his jugular with surgical precision to sever his throat before he could scream to alert the presence of intruders.
Jack's typically emotionless face broke into a rare
expression of joy and
excitement as she turned to
Ray, eager to show her
success.
"I did it, daddy! I killed him. Did I do a good job?" Jack squatted down, her eyes wide with anticipation as she waited for his approval.
"Mhm. You did well, Jack," Ray replied, rubbing her head fondly. Jack cheered with a delighted grin, her happiness evident, but Ray's attention remained fixed on the lifeless captain before him.
"Hmn. That was almost too easy," Ray muttered to himself. "I expected more from him. I thought he would send someone stronger, not just these ordinary mortals. Did he not realize Freya and I are
gods?"
Ray felt a mix of frustration and disbelief at the incompetence of his enemy. He had scanned the entire fleet multiple times, but
found no sign of skilled fighters or hidden traps designed to ambush him.
At least Makoto had the decency to withhold too
much information about him.
His thoughts shifted to the battle with Fujin. When he first appeared in his human form, most of the Subordinate Gods had fled by the time he transformed into his feline form. The few that remained were swiftly eliminated, leaving no
survivors. The only witnesses were the soldiers on Makoto's side, who were almost certainly under strict orders to remain silent, given the sensitive nature of Ray's identity. It occurred to him that Makoto still held onto the hope of an alliance to confront the Heavenly Principles, deciding not to burn bridges just yet.
If he knew this was the case, he wouldn't try to kill the captain since a skilled man like him is useful. But what's done is done, no use crying over spilled milk.
Once Freya bring everyone under her Charm, the captured fleet catch up with the Merchant fleets with their superior speed thanks to the wind generating device installed on their masts which intrigued Ray that they have such level of Magic Technology but didn't think of creature turbine that modern ships on Earth uses to eliminate the need of sails entirely and could move much faster.
Once the captured naval fleet catched up to the merchant fleet, both fleets combined into a formation before resuming the week-long journey to Liyue, or the Land of Geo as it's called at the present era since Liyue as a nation would only exist far in the future.
———
According to the merchants, the distance from Inazuma to Liyue spanned over 800 miles. The slowest ship in the fleet could travel roughly 6 miles per hour under normal conditions, increasing to 10 miles per hour if aided by favorable winds. In cases of unfavorable winds, a wind-generating device could provide assistance, but its usage was limited due to its reliance on Anemo Element crystals, which required careful conservation.
After four days of travel, the fleet had only reached the halfway point. During this time, they had faced two pirate groups and fended off five sea monster attacks. Fortunately, the sheer size of the fleet and the presence of escorting warships deterred the pirates, who quickly retreated upon realizing they were outgunned. The sea monsters, though persistent, were dispatched with relative ease by the fleet's coordinated defense.
However, it seemed their streak of good fortune had come to an end.
A group of colossal octopus-like monsters emerged without warning, their massive tentacles lashing out to attack the fleet. The air grew tense as sailors scrambled to respond, realizing they were now facing a far more formidable and unpredictable enemy.
The first warning came when the water around the fleet began to churn violently. Massive waves rocked the ships, throwing sailors off balance as cries of alarm echoed through the air. From the depths, the monstrous forms of the giant octopi rose, their enormous tentacles breaching the surface like harbingers of doom and wrapped around the ships.
"Brace for impact!" Each ship captain roared, their voice barely carrying over the cacophony of chaos as the crews screamed in terror.
The first strike was devastating. A cargo ship was caught as a tentacle smashed down onto its deck, splintering wood and sending barrels of supplies tumbling into the sea. Sailors scrambled to retaliate, armed with harpoons and sabres, but their efforts barely scratched the beast's thick rubbery hide.
"Deploy the ballistas! Aim for their soft flesh underneath!" The fleet commander shouted from the flagship.
The warships quickly responded, their crews loading up the ballistas. A volley of sharp harpoons shot into the air, arcing towards the attacking monsters. The harpoons struck true, piercing the creatures' soft flesh before the tips of the harpoons glowed and erupted with thunderous explosions that caused them to recoil with unearthly screeches.
Ray observed the scene from the deck of the flagship, his feline form perched on the railing as his sharp eyes assessed the situation. Even though the harpoons with explosive tips seemed to be working and scared the octopi away, it only temporarily scared them and did not cause any significant damage.
"Freya," he called, his voice calm despite the chaos, "Take the lead. Jack, guard the sailors on this ship. We can't afford to lose the flagship."
Freya nodded, a determined glint in her eyes as she leaped into action. Her movements were a blur as she bounded across the decks, her spear cutting through the air with deadly precision. Each strike landed with the force of a hurricane, severing the tentacles that threatened to drag the ships beneath the waves.
Jack's lithe figure darted between the panicked sailors as she effortlessly intercepted any stray tentacle that came too close. Her daggers flashed in the sunlight, slicing through the air with surgical precision and cutting apart any tentacles in her path.
Despite their combined efforts, the battle was far from over. The octopi were relentless, their numbers increases as more emerged from the depths. One of the smaller warships was ensnared, an octopus coiling around it and squeezing with crushing force. The hull groaned ominously, and the crew's desperate cries filled the air before the hull was finally crushed.
Ray's golden eyes narrowed. He was indecisive if he should take action. But when he saw another ship way devoured by the monsters, he stepped forward, his shadows become alive and writhing with unholy screech
With a flick of his paw, tendrils of pure darkness shot forth from his body, weaving through the chaos to target the beasts. The shadows turn into maws that tore onto the creatures, ripping their tentacles apart from the ships. The octopi writhed in agony as the darkness constricted, crushing and devouring their bodies with bottomless appetite.
Freya glanced back at Ray, a look of admiration and awe forming on her face. "It was amazing, Master!."
Ray ignored her cheering in the background, his focus remaining on the battle. "Finish them off," he ordered, his voice cold and commanding.
Freya and the crews unleashed a coordinated assault, their combined might overwhelming the remaining monsters. One by one, the octopi fell or escaped, their massive bodies vanishing into the ocean depth.
As the last of the beasts vanished beneath the waves, a heavy silence fell over the fleet. The sailors erupted into cheers, their relief palpable as they celebrated their survival.
Ray, however, remained on high alert, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. His vigilance was soon justified when the fleet commander approached him with a grave expression. Without hesitation, the man knelt before Ray, his voice trembling as he spoke.
"My lord, there is no doubt. One of the Sea Emperors is targeting us. The Giant Octopi we fought were merely its subordinates. The true threat is the Emperor of the Deep—the Kraken. A colossal creature, easily a dozen times the size of the monsters we just defeated."
Ray's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable as he processed the information. "And the reason?" he asked calmly.
"Most likely, my lord, we unknowingly trespassed into its territory," the commander replied, his tone heavy with dread.
Ray sighed inwardly. He had been relieved by the lack of sea monster attacks the day before, thinking the fleet had been fortunate for once. Who could have guessed their respite was simply a prelude to crossing paths with such a formidable foe?
"What's done is done," Ray finally said, his voice steady but cold. "There's no point in regretting it now. Focus all efforts on leaving the Kraken's territory intact. Prepare the fleet for anything."
The commander nodded quickly, rising to relay the orders to his crew. Meanwhile, Ray turned his attention to the waters ahead, his mind already calculating their chances.
"Freya," he called.
Freya appeared by his side, her spear, still dripping with monster's blood, resting on her shoulder.
"Yes, Master?"
"I don't know our chances against the Kraken. So, be ready to escape if situation gets dire."
Freya smirked, her confidence unwavering. "Don't worry, Master. With you by my side, I can take on the world for you. If it shows itself, I'll carve it up and turn it into Takoyaki."
Ray chuckled but didn't share her optimism but refrained from voicing his doubts. His gaze shifted to the horizon, the sea look and felt calm. But a faint rumble of the sea growing louder, as if something massive stirred beneath the waves.
The sailors, once jubilant, now worked with grim determination, their cheers replaced by hurried commands and preparations. The air grew tense and palpable, a chilling reminder that their battle was far from over.
—————
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