Thud!
As I reached the top of the stairs, I collided with Lenna, sending her books tumbling to the floor.
"Ouch... sorry, Lenna! Are you okay?" I quickly helped her gather her scattered belongings, my mind still racing with the imminent confrontation.
"Um... yeah," she replied, a look of confusion on her face. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"It's an emergency!" I exclaimed, then turned and sprinted up the remaining steps, IM following close behind. I could hear Lenna's confused calls echoing behind me, but I didn't stop to explain.
I burst through the rooftop door, the wind whipping at my clothes as I scanned the sky for the black-robed whale.
"Alright, Xian," IM said, clapping his hands together, "let's see what you can do. Use your power to create something!"
"Huh? But can't you do that too?" I asked, confused.
"Hmm, let me think," IM replied, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "My power seems to have shifted towards enhanced physical abilities—strength, agility, and the like. But as for magic, that's all you, Xian."
I nodded, then turned my attention to the black-robed whale hovering in the distance.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a swarm of small, glowing fish emerged from the water, darting towards the whale with menacing intent.
"I'll handle those," IM declared, stepping forward and flexing his fingers.
I nodded again, my mind racing as I tried to decide what to do. I glanced at the gun in my hand, then back at the whale.
Let me see.... A bullet that can travel a great distance... I closed my eyes and focused my imagination
I squeezed the trigger.
Bang!
Whoosh!
The bullet soared through the air, a streak of light piercing the twilight sky. I watched intently as it closed in on the black-robed whale, my heart pounding with anticipation.
But nothing happened. The bullet seemed to pass harmlessly through the whale's ethereal form, disappearing into the distance.
"Was it not powerful enough?" I muttered to myself, examining the gun in my hand. I raised it again, this time aiming at one of the smaller flying fish that had begun to circle us menacingly.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three shots rang out, and the fish disintegrated into dust.
"IM!" I shouted, turning to my Harbinger. "How can I kill that massive creature?"
IM, who was busy deflecting the other flying fish with his bare hands, looked at me with a determined expression. "Imagine something greater," he instructed. "Something with enough power to pierce through its defenses."
Something greater... I repeated the words in my mind, my imagination working overtime.
The air thrummed with tension as my mind raced, searching for a weapon powerful enough to vanquish the monstrous creature before us. I closed my eyes, delving deep into the well of my imagination.
I envisioned a weapon of immense power, a force capable of obliterating even the most resilient of demons. The image that formed in my mind was both terrifying and exhilarating—a massive railgun, its barrel glowing with an otherworldly energy.
I opened my eyes, my hand outstretched towards the sky. With a surge of willpower, I focused my energy, channeling my Blue Blood into the manifestation of my creation.
A blinding light erupted from my hand, the air crackling with energy as the pistol in my hand transformed into a massive, intricately detailed railgun. Its metallic surface gleamed in the moonlight, its barrel pulsing with a radiant energy that seemed to distort the very air around it.
"What is that?" IM whispered, his voice barely audible over the thrum of power emanating from the weapon.
"It's a railgun," I explained, my voice shaking slightly with the exertion of controlling such a powerful device. "A weapon that uses electromagnetic force to launch projectiles at incredible speeds."
I aimed the railgun at the black-robed whale, my finger hovering over the trigger. I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. This was it. The moment of truth.
With a final surge of willpower, I pulled the trigger.
A blinding flash of light erupted from the barrel of the railgun, followed by a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the warehouse. A massive bolt of energy shot forth, piercing the night sky and slamming into the whale's body.
The creature let out a deafening shriek as the energy coursed through it, its form contorting and writhing in agony. The black robes that had shrouded it disintegrated, revealing a grotesque, pulsating mass of flesh and tentacles.
"Is that a whale, or a kraken...?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper as I stared at the writhing mass of tentacles.
Thud!
With one final blow, IM vanquished the last of the flying fish, his eyes turning towards the monstrous creature. "Both," he replied, his voice grave. "It's not a normal whale."
I nodded, a chill running down my spine. I raised the railgun once more, aiming for the creature's exposed flesh.
A wave of doubt washed over me as I hesitated, my finger hovering over the trigger. Could I really kill this creature, even if it was a demon? It seemed so wrong, so against my nature.
Do it, Xian Ying, It's a threat to our world. It must be stopped. IM's voice echoed in my mind, firm and unwavering.
I took a deep breath, steeling my resolve. I had made a promise to Nyi Roro Kidul, and I would not break it.
I squeezed the trigger.
Crack!
A blinding flash of light erupted from the railgun, the recoil nearly knocking me off my feet. A bolt of pure energy surged through the air, striking the creature with a thunderous roar.
Roarrr!
The creature shrieked in pain, its massive body convulsing as the energy coursed through it. But it didn't fall. It merely staggered, its eyes blazing with fury.
< Chapter 085 > Fin.