?


    "ROOOAARRRR!!"


    The cabin burst apart as the massive monster emerged, sending splintered shards of wood and dust flying in all directions.


    As the dust began to settle, the towering creature revealed itself in all its glory.


    It had a long, slender body tapered to a point at the end, giving it an almost serpentine appearance.


    Its skin was a dark, mottled gray, with patches of iridescent scales that shimmered in the sunlight.


    The monster had two long arms that jutted out from its sides, each ending in a set of razor-sharp ws.


    They were covered in thick, leathery skin that looked almost like armor.


    The monster''s name was Bellueel, an amphibian; its rank was between B- to B+.


    As the monster moved, its arms flexed and contracted, the ws clicking together with a sound like knives being sharpened.


    Its eyes wererge, red, and unblinking, locked on the people scattered on the deck


    The creature''s mouth was a gaping maw filled with rows of jagged teeth, and a long, forked tongue flicked out periodically.


    "Grr…"


    It let out a low growl and its hot and putrid breath filled the air.


    "Rrooaaarr!!"


    With a deafening roar, the monster swung its tail.


    Wasting no more time, they immediately sprang into action to avoid it, however—


    —Bang!


    A loud bang resounded through the surrounding area, causing people to scream in surprise.


    "Huuaa!!"


    "Aaahhhh!!"


    They turned to the sound and saw the monster''s tail abruptly stop in mid-air, colliding with a translucent shield that materialized in front of them.


    Annoyed, the monster roared once again.


    "Rooarr!!"


    It brandished its razor-sharp ws relentlessly, striking the shield.


    —Bang! —Bang! —Bang!


    Ignoring it, Adrian leaped over the deck railing and approached his brother.


    "Nate."


    Upon hearing a familiar voice, Nathaniel quickly turned and asked.


    "What''s the n?"


    Adrian nced over his shoulder and noticed a woman with dark blue hair and piercing eyes, surrounded by a group of knights.


    Returning his sight to his brother, Adrian suggested.


    "I think we need to move the princess to a safer location before we begin the fight."


    "I concur."


    Nathaniel darted towards the monster, which was vigorously hitting the shield, and quickly conveyed his n.


    "Then I''ll lure the Bellueel''s attention while you lead the Kearny Princess to our ship."


    "Alright."


    Because it would doubtlessly be a headache if the monster jumped into the water and chased their ship.


    Since the Imperial patrol ship would undoubtedly be destroyed in the process of fighting the monster, leaving their vessel as the only means of escape.


    The tension on the ship was palpable as Nathaniel and Adrian discussed their n.


    The monstrous Bellueel was still roaring in the distance, and the sound of its ws striking the shield echoed through the air.


    "Then I''ll talk to my crew."


    Nathaniel spoke and Adrian nodded.


    "Then I''ll talk to the Princess."


    With that, they split up to carry out their tasks.


    Nathaniel gathered his mercenaries and the Knights, while Adrian made his way towards the Kearny Princess.


    Arriving in front of them, the woman''s expression turned feral, and her eyes zed with fury.


    Dispensing with pleasantries, she spat her mind with a venomous spit.


    "What''s the meaning of all of this?! What''s—"


    "If you have time to talk, I suggest you start moving because this ship is about to turn into a battlefield."


    Adrian cut in with a sarcastic remark, causing the woman next to her to exim in outrage.


    "How dare—"


    Charlotte lifted her hand, beckoning Lei to stop speaking.


    With a deep sigh she began again.


    "Then we''ll discuss this matterter."


    "Whatever."


    Adrian shrugged nonchntly and turned around.


    Upon meeting Nathaniel''s golden gaze in the distance, he nodded, signaling that his preparation hadpleted and Adrian followed suit.


    Soon, Adrian created a huge magic circle in front of his shield and a powerful gust of wind burst forth from the circle, causing the monster to be flung backward.


    —Boom!


    With a thunderous thud, the monstrous creaturended on the back of the ship.


    The wooden cabin shattered into countless splinters, sending a dense cloud of debris and dirt soaring high into the air.


    The moment Adrian dismissed his shield, Nathaniel let out a fierce cry.


    "Charge!"


    Without hesitation, they rushed towards the monster.


    Meanwhile, Adrian led the Princess, the injured, and those who couldn''t fight towards their vessel.


    He created a wide bridge of earth so they could move faster.


    "Roooarrr!!"


    ncing to the side, Adrian saw the creature let out a deafening roar as Nathaniel''s sword sliced through its flesh, sending a spray of green blood spurting into the air.


    The monster swayed from side to side, struggling to maintain its bnce.


    Suddenly, it opened its jaws wide and lunged forward, causing the people on the deck to jump out of the way.


    —Boom!


    The wooden nks splintered into pieces, sending a cloud of debris and dirt billowing into the air.


    Returning his attention to the Kearnian, Adrian tried to remain focused.


    Once they boarded the ship, Adrian dismissed the earth bridge and used Water Maniption to drive the vessel away.


    After putting enough distance between themselves and the patrol ship, Adrian quickly turned around and summoned two magic circles.


    With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a barrage of wind bullets towards the Bellueel.


    With a whizzing sound, they rushed towards the monster before striking it with incredible force.


    —Boom! —Boom! —Boom!


    The monster let out a deafening roar as it lurched to the side.


    "Roooarrr!!"


    Unexpectedly, the monster swung its massive tail, but Adrian quickly cast a shield.


    —Bang!


    While they were trapped inside the shield, Bellueel took the opportunity to jump into the sea.


    —Ssh!


    The sea water sshed as the gigantic creature leaped in.


    As the sea suddenly turned calm, the people heightened their senses and patiently waited for Bellueel''s next attack.


    Only.


    "Rooaarr!!"


    The monster let out a deafening roar and struck the ship with its massive tail.


    The ship lurched to the left, causing people to stumble and struggle to keep their bnce.


    "Huuaa!!"


    "Arrghh!!"


    They cried out in panic as they tried to hold on to something to keep themselves from falling.


    Nevertheless, the attack did not stop there.


    The monster now hit the other hull of the ship, causing people to fall and hit each other.


    "Aaahh!!"


    "Ughh!"


    They groaned in pain as they struggled to get back up.


    "Tsk."


    Adrian clicked his tongue in annoyance and summoned a massive magic circle above the ship.


    He raised his hands to the sky, and lightning crackled around him.


    With a deep breath, he brought down lightning to rain the water next to their ship.


    "Rooaarrr!"


    The moment the monster temporarily paralyzed, Adrian created an earth spear and hurtled it toward the monster.


    But unexpectedly, the monster regained consciousness and dived into the water.


    Not long after, the monster jumped out of the water andnded on the ship with a loud thud, causing the ship to shake violently.


    As chaos reigned on the ship, the ck-haired boy rushed towards the monster and Adrian immediately dismissed the shield.


    Nathaniel leaped into the air and Adrian instinctively summoned an earth te beneath him.


    He used it to propel himself higher beforending on another te.


    Standing on his two feet, Nathaniel sent a barrage of crescent lights towards the monster.


    They hurtled at an incredible speed, but the monster abruptly tilted its head to the side, causing their attack to miss and hit empty air.


    Seizing the opportunity, the monster opened its jaw and lunged forward, ready to devour Nathaniel.


    Reacting quickly, Nathaniel hopped to the side while Adrian summoned another earth te for his brother tond on.


    Right after hended, Nathanielunched another volley of arch lights.


    —Boom! —Boom! —Boom!


    The attacks struck the monster with incredible force, causing it to wail in agony.


    "Rooaarrr!!"


    Sensing something flying towards him, Nathaniel quickly jumped down.


    He could feel a whizzing sound pass by him at a hair''s breadth.


    —Boom! —Boom! —Boom!


    "Rooaarr!!"


    The monster let out a deafening wail the moment the volley of wind bullets mercilessly struck it.


    Green blood oozed out of the monster''s wounds, dripping down onto the deck of the ship.


    Right after Nathanielnded on the deck, he bellowed to his brother.


    "Hey, be careful with your attack! You almost hit me in the head!"


    However, the white-haired man just let out a mocking smirk and chuckled.


    "Hehe."


    The ck-haired boy''s lips quivered in annoyance.


    ''You little brat!''