Chapter 24
Dance of the Sky and Myth (Part 1)
The icy winds howled across the frozen expanse, whipping Thermes' white shirt and navy trousers as he faced the behemoth rising from the ocean.
The Winter Whale's body gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, its white skin reflecting the pale gray light of the overcast sky.
Crimson eyes, cold and ancient, locked onto the lone figure standing defiantly before it.
On the shoreline, Nameless, Dynil, and the others stood in tense silence. Even the normally confident Nameless felt a chill that had little to do with the weather.
They watched as Thermes sprinted across the middle of the winter ocean with either just strength, air or ice below his shoes. It was incomprehensible how a heavy tank like the old man looked like he was just floating.
Blocks of ice that he stepped on barely dipped back to the ocean before calming down at his every step.
Even the cold, they didn't understand how someone who looked like they were only wearing one layer of clothing did not back down and shiver at the cold air, the children were bundled up after all. Even Dynil wore at least two layers.
However those were the concerns of everyone else.
Only few could actually follow Thermes' attacks.
"He's insane," Dynil muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Utterly insane."
"Maybe," Nameless said, her eyes never leaving the scene. "But look at him. He's in his element."
Eliron's jaw tightened as he crossed his arms. "This isn't just a fight. It's like a ritual. The Winter Whale's not just some beast after all. It's testing him."
Royce clutched his coat sleeve nervously. "But what happens if he loses?"
No one answered, their gazes fixed on Thermes as if trying to memorize every detail.
The old man's steps were deliberate, each one leaving a faint glow of warmth on the ice beneath him, a sign of the magic subtly coiling within him.
The Winter Whale surged forward, its immense tail striking the ocean with such force that waves erupted in all directions, sending chunks of ice spiraling through the air.
Thermes stood his ground, arms raised.
The instant the waves neared him, he yelled: "[Flood]".
From the depths of the ocean, a response surged upward.
The water beneath him trembled, an unseen force pulling it away from the shoreline and toward Thermes' command.
A colossal wall of water erupted from the sea, towering over the battlefield like a liquid monolith.
It shimmered with a bluish hue, light refracting off its surface in radiant streaks and showcasing his indomitable blue mana. The wall rushed toward Thermes, but instead of crashing into him, it parted at the last moment, enveloping him in a protective veil.
The powerful wave coursed past him, rippling with energy, as though acknowledging its master.
Thermes extended one hand forward, guiding the torrent with precision. The massive surge turned, hurtling toward the oncoming tide created by the Winter Whale's thrashing tail.
BOGGGGSHHH—!
The two forces collided, the sound was deafening.
Water exploded upward in a chaotic spray, creating a temporary veil of mist that shimmered in the pale light.
The sheer power of the clash sent tremors through the ice, but Thermes remained unshaken, standing firm at the center of the maelstrom.
The redirected wave surged onward, pushing the Winter Whale off balance.
Its gargantuan body swayed, the tide working against its natural momentum.
For a brief moment, the creature faltered, its dominance over the ocean challenged by the sheer will of the man who stood before it.
WHIEONGGG—!
The whale roared, the sound deep and guttural, like the groan of the earth itself.
Its crimson eyes glowed brighter as it unleashed another attack: a spiraling blast of water magic that shot toward Thermes like colossal spears.
FWOP—! FWOP—! FWOP—!
It was as fast as lightning but as heavy as a boulder and yet, Thermes easily got out of its way.
He dodged, activating [Speed Enhancement] and vanishing in a blur just before the attack struck. The water spear hit the ice behind him, shattering it into jagged fragments that scattered in every direction.
Thermes reappeared on a jagged iceberg, his sand-wrapped arms shimmering as the faint glow of water magic coursed over them.
His breath misted in the frigid air, but his focus was unwavering, his eyes locked onto the massive beast before him.
The Winter Whale let out a thunderous roar, its crimson eyes narrowing as it prepared its next attack.
With a sudden, violent shift, its colossal tail surged upward, slicing through the icy mist.
A crescent-shaped arc of condensed water magic trailed behind the strike, shimmering like liquid glass and radiating a force so palpable the air itself seemed to vibrate.
The arc hurtled toward Thermes, cutting through the distance with terrifying speed.
"Damn it!" Thermes growled, his instincts flaring to life. At the last possible second, he leaped skyward, invoking his magic with a sharp command:
"[Levitation]!"
The spell took hold instantly, suspending him midair just as the water magic smashed into the iceberg he had stood on. The impact was catastrophic.
The iceberg shattered beneath the force, exploding into a hailstorm of jagged ice shards. Each fragment, some as large as a boulder, was sent flying in every direction.
The sheer pressure of the collision created a shockwave that rippled outward, throwing smaller chunks of ice into the frothing sea.
Hovering just above the chaos, Thermes twisted his body with practiced precision, using the momentum to propel himself closer to the Winter Whale.
As he soared through the icy mist, he extended his arms, focusing his energy.
"[Air Bullet]!"
A rapid volley of invisible force erupted from his palms, tearing through the air like piercing screams.
Each projectile slammed into the Winter Whale's head, striking its thick, snow-white hide.
The beast reeled, its enormous body lurching backward.
For a moment, it seemed like the attack had disoriented it. But then, with a guttural bellow, the creature shook off the blows. The minimal damage Thermes inflicted was enough to enrage it but not enough to subdue its immense power.
The Winter Whale retaliated with a deafening roar, its maw opening to reveal an abyss of glistening fangs.
From deep within its throat, a spiraling vortex of water began to form. Thermes' sharp eyes caught the buildup of magic, a concentrated blast of water that could pulverize anything in its path.
"Oh no, you don't," Thermes muttered, his body tensing.
He hovered midair, calculating his next move as the sea beneath him churned violently, the whale's attack charging to devastating levels.
The battlefield was a storm of destruction— shattered ice, turbulent waves, and the oppressive presence of the Winter Whale.
Thermes' heartbeat thundered in his ears, but his grin only widened.
The Winter Whale's crimson eyes glinted with what seemed like recognition— an acknowledgment of the threat before it.
With a powerful surge, the colossal beast launched itself closer, the ocean heaving violently in its wake. Its guttural roar reverberated through the battlefield, and from deep within its massive form, a new and ominous magic stirred.
Though it was gargantuan, it easily flipped over as if playing around.
Its tail hitting Thermes and almost crashing him to the ocean.
Without warning, the air around the beast came to a freezing point and hit their instinctual magic towards the twilight depths of the ocean.
Then, with a force that shook the air itself, an eruption of enormous ice spikes burst forth from the sea. Each spike, forged from the darkest waters, was as wide as Thermes himself, their razor-sharp tips glistening like obsidian in the muted light.
"Damn!" Thermes hissed, the sheer speed and unpredictability of the attack catching him off guard.
The barrage came swiftly, the spikes shooting upward in a chaotic, deadly pattern.
Thermes twisted his body midair, narrowly avoiding the first surge. A second spike grazed his left arm, the ice carving a shallow but stinging gash into his skin.
Blood welled from the wound, the sting biting against the frigid air, but Thermes didn't falter.
Instead, he kicked off an ice shard floating nearby, using his enhanced speed to dart out of the strike zone.
"Still testing me, huh?" Thermes muttered, a grin tugging at his lips.
The whale roared again, this time summoning a vortex of water beneath Thermes' position. The vortex erupted upward in a spiraling column, aiming to engulf him.
Thermes reacted quickly, enhancing his legs with [Physical Amplification] and leaping out of the vortex's path. As he landed on another ice platform, the vortex collapsed, sending a deluge of water cascading across the battlefield.
"Woah!"
The children watching from the island gasped in unison, clutching each other for balance as tremors shook the ground beneath them.
Dynil's face was pale, his usual calm demeanor eroded by visible worry. He paced in tight circles, muttering under his breath. "This is insane. Absolutely reckless. Who does he think he is, fighting a Winter Whale alone at his age?"
Nameless raised an eyebrow at him. "You've seen him fight before, haven't you? Why so rattled now?"
Dynil stopped, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Because this isn't just sparring or taking down bandits. I think this is more dangerous than participating in the war... he wasn't alone then. And this is a mythical beast. One wrong move, and he's done for!"
His gaze flickered toward the battle, where Thermes stood firm against the might of the ocean itself. "I'm going to report this to the Young Commander," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Dynil was already a green gem from his pocket as if it was a precious object.
Nameless blinked, intrigued. "Young Commander? Who's that? And what's that?"
He hesitated before sighing. "His son."
Nameless tilted her head, "Wait his son's a commander?"
Dynil nodded out of focus, his lips were pale and trembling. "Oh no, the Young Commander will be furious... He's usually kind but merciless regarding his father..."
She crossed her arms, probing while he was out of it. "Is his son Marches? The Hero you've mentioned before?"
Before Dynil could respond, a sudden shout from the children startled them both.
"LOOK OUT!"
Their eyes snapped back to the battlefield, and for a moment, time seemed to slow.
From the inky depths of the ocean, a thin black tentacle slithered upward, its movements disturbingly smooth and unnatural. Before Thermes could react, it coiled tightly around his legs, holding him in place.
"What the—!"
Dynil's words caught in his throat as the Winter Whale was starting to attack, unaware of its human opponent's predicament.
With a mighty swing, the creature's enormous tail whipped through the air, crashing into Thermes with devastating force.
The impact sent the old warrior hurtling across the battlefield. His body struck the ocean's surface with a deafening splash, disappearing beneath the churning waves.
"Master!" Dynil shouted, his voice filled with panic.
Nameless stiffened, her sharp eyes scanning the water for any sign of movement. "Is he...?"
A tense silence fell over the group, broken only by the distant roar of the Winter Whale and the children's terrified cries.
The sea remained ominously still where Thermes had fallen, the frothing waves gradually calming as if mocking their helplessness.