The Ocean's Wrath

The first rays of morning light filtered through the inn's small window, casting soft beams onto the wooden floor. 

The room was quiet, save for the gentle clink of utensils and the occasional murmur of conversation. 

Yuto, already dressed in his usual black suit and trench coat, sat at the table with a cup of steaming coffee. 

He looked over at the group, all of them silently finishing their breakfast. 

They sat at the table with him, their eyes tired but focused. 

The weight of the mission ahead was starting to settle in, yet there was a strange sense of calm among them, one that would disappear as soon as they set foot in Aqualis.

Morgan, who had remained silent so far, stood by the window, looking out at the ocean beyond. 

The pale light of the morning seemed to soften her features, but Yuto could tell that she had something on her mind.

Her usual serene composure had an edge of worry. 

As the last of the food was cleared away, Morgan finally turned toward the group, her expression resolute. 

"This quest won't be easy" she began, her voice steady.

"So before we start, I must do it before we proceed. It's something crucial to ensuring our success"

The group's eyes turned toward her, curiosity piqued.

Yuto was the first to respond. 

"What do you mean? We've already prepared ourselves for what's to come"

Morgan nodded, her gaze shifting to the others. 

"The path ahead is dangerous, and the underwater kingdom of Aqualis is far more treacherous than you might think"

"You will need to be able to breathe underwater, so before we start I like to solve that problem"

Luna frowned slightly, raising an eyebrow. 

"What do you have in mind?"

Morgan's eyes softened, and she stepped forward, placing her hands together in a serene gesture. 

"I will give each of you the blessing of the ocean. It will allow you to breathe underwater, making the journey into Aqualis much safer"

Yuto tilted his head slightly, intrigued. 

"A blessing? Will it last long enough to get us through the entire mission?"

Morgan nodded. 

"It will last as long as we need it to. But there's more to it than just breathing—it's about being attuned to the ocean's power"

"The blessing will connect you to the water, allowing you to move more freely in it. It will make us all stronger in the face of what's coming"

The air in the room seemed to thicken as everyone absorbed her words. 

It was no small gift she was offering. 

It was a part of herself, a power she was bestowing upon them, and it came with the weight of responsibility.

After a moment of silence, Yuto gave her a nod. 

"We trust you. If it helps us succeed, we'll take it"

Morgan gave a small smile, her eyes meeting his with a flicker of gratitude. 

"Thank you, Yuto. This is for the mermaids—and Aqualis"

With a deep breath, she extended her arms, palms facing the group. 

The temperature in the room seemed to drop ever so slightly, a ripple of energy filling the space as the light seemed to pulse with an otherworldly glow. 

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore, which had been so distant, now felt incredibly close. 

One by one, Morgan placed her hands over each of their heads, whispering words in a language none of them could understand. 

As she did, a faint, ethereal glow surrounded them, the warmth of the ocean washing over them like a wave.

Freya gasped softly, her hand instinctively reaching toward her chest. 

"I can... feel it. It's like... I'm one with the water"

"Just remember," Morgan said, her voice still calm but tinged with something deeper. 

"This is not just a gift; it's a bond. The ocean will be with you, and you must respect it"

Yuto placed his hand over his heart, feeling the rush of energy surging through him. 

It was as if the water itself had been woven into his very being, ready to respond to his call. 

The connection was subtle, but it was undeniable.

<-System->

[ Connection to the Water Goddess is now established ]

["Connection to the water goddess? The hell does that mean?"]

<-System->

[ It means if you ever find yourself in the heavenly realm again, you will have a high chance of meeting the goddess ]

"..."

["She won't be useless… right?"]

<-System->

[ Just focus on the conversation in front of you, and try not to die ]

Yuto looked up and saw how Catherine had a wide smile, her eyes filled with awe.

"This is incredible... I feel like I could swim for hours without tiring"

"Now that you've all received the blessing," Morgan continued, "We can begin the next part of our mission"

"The secret pathway into Aqualis is open. The journey will be perilous, but it's the only way in"

The room fell into an uneasy silence. 

This was it. 

The moment of truth had come.

Yuto pushed his chair back and stood, brushing his fingers through his hair. 

"Let's do it," he said quietly. 

"There's no turning back"

As the group made their way outside, the salty sea air hit them with full force. 

The bright sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the sand as the waves rolled in rhythmically.

Morgan led them toward the water, the glow of her blessing still lingering in the air like an invisible shield. 

They followed her closely, the faint hum of the ocean accompanying their footsteps.

"This path won't be easy to navigate," Morgan warned as she stopped at the water's edge. 

"The hidden entrance is buried beneath the rocks at the base of the cliffs. We'll need to dive deep to find it"

"The current is strong, and the water is cold. But stay close to me, and we'll reach it"

Yuto adjusted the collar of his trench coat and looked around, his eyes scanning the coastline. 

The wind carried with it the faint sounds of Aqualis, an underwater kingdom that had once been full of life and prosperity. 

Now, it was a shadow of its former self, shrouded in darkness and despair.

["Wanless, when you will die today"]

"We move quickly," he ordered. 

"Once we're in the water, we'll need to act fast"

Morgan nodded and stepped into the water, her body effortlessly slicing through the waves. 

The rest of the group followed her closely, their movements smoother now, the blessing of the ocean enhancing their ability to swim as if they were born to it.

As they dove beneath the surface, the world above faded into a distant blur, and the cold, weightless expanse of the ocean enveloped them.

The path to Aqualis had begun.

—

After what felt like an eternity, the dark outlines of Aqualis began to emerge before them, a kingdom of coral towers and ancient stone, shrouded in the deep shadows of the ocean floor. 

But something was wrong. 

The once-thriving kingdom that Morgan had described now seemed quiet, too quiet. 

The water around them felt thick with tension, and Yuto's eyes narrowed as he saw the faint flicker of movement in the distance.

Morgan led them forward, but her eyes were filled with something darker now. 

She stopped suddenly, her gaze fixed ahead. 

"Something's not right," she whispered, her voice tinged with a quiet dread.

Before Yuto could respond, a flash of light sparked from above them. 

The momentary blinding light made him squint, his body instinctively tensing.

"Get ready," he muttered under his breath.

Morgan raised her hand, water swirling around her fingertips as she prepared for any potential attack. 

Kana's muscles tensed, and she stood at the ready, her gaze scanning the surrounding area for any sign of danger.

Catherine and Luna held hands as they gave a prayer that buffed the whole team.

+50 Attack

+50 Agility 

They floated for a bit, looking around, trying to adjust their eyes.

"Huh... Nothing–"

SWISH

A giant harpoon was shot at Yuto, sending him falling deeper into the ocean.

The others watched, stunned, as he disappeared from their line of sight.

"Yuto!" Mizuki screamed out.

Freya's eyes widened in horror. 

"Who shot it?"

"We have to help him!" Freya exclaimed, her voice trembling.

Morgan's expression hardened, her eyes scanning the area for the source of the harpoon.

She spotted two women in control of it from the entrance of Aqualis.

Gritting her teeth, she led the charge, "Yuto is strong. Right now, we need to focus on them!"

The girls nodded, and Kana clenched her fists. 

"Time to even the odds"

Lilith summoned her spear, eyes narrowed. 

"Agreed. We'll take them down"

Mizuki felt Yuto's call.

FSH

In a flash, she was summoned right next to him. 

He grabbed the hilt of his sword just in time as he cut off the next harpoon flying at him.

'YUTO!'

["Did I worry you?"]

Mizuki sighed as she came out in her spiritual form.

'You just never listen, do you?'

Yuto gave her a cheeky grin even though his arm was bleeding.

"The others can bring down their defenses, right now, we need to take care of something bigger"

Mizuki tried to stop him, 'You're wounded. We need to tend to your injury first'

Yuto shook his head, stubbornly dismissing the concern.

"It's fine, a wound of this level doesn't even hurt"

Just as he spoke, a large group of guards of different ranks began to move towards them.

Mizuki knew that Yuto was determined to press forward, injuries be damned.

'So stubborn. Why do I put up with you?'

Yuto chuckled as he swung his blade, stopping their attack, not killing them as he knew Morgan's people were under some kind of mind control. 

"Because I'm like a god in bed"

Mizuki's cheeks colored at his bold remark, but she tried to maintain a composed expression.

'Focus, Yuto. Now's not the time to be making jokes, and besides, you're still bleeding'

"..."

Healing Tier 5

The blood flow finally stopped, Yuto moved his arm with ease as he took down 3 more.

"Is that better?"

Mizuki gave a reluctant nod.

'Fine, I suppose that's better. But please try not to recklessly get yourself injured again'

A sudden shiver went down Yuto's back, he felt something off about the whole situation, he felt something from the deepest part of the ocean.

"Wait"

He held his hand up, urging for her to return inside the sword, his hands somehow managing to sweat underwater.

'What is it?'

Yuto looked and saw more guards coming, emerging from the deepest and darkest parts.

"They're protecting... no, they're stopping us from going deeper"

Mizuki's expression darkened as she too felt a formidable presence.

"But why? What's down there that they're so desperate to protect?"

Air Cutter x Water Blast Tier 7

Yuto sighed as he knocked out the remaining guards, he looked back down, the uneasiness growing.

"That's what we intend to find out"

Yuto's grip tightened around his sword as the deep, chilling presence beneath the water grew stronger. 

More guards had all been dispatched, but their reluctance to allow them deeper into the ocean only raised more questions.

'Yuto, something is seriously wrong. Whatever that presence is, it's not something you should face alone'

"I'm not alone," he muttered under his breath, glancing at her, "But if you think we need more support"

<- System Artifacts ->

[ Ring of Ernaline in use ]

His black suit of armor formed around him, and his long red scarf that symbolized his victory appeared once more.

"Is that better?"

She nodded slowly, despite feeling the weight of the armor around him, it was better to be prepared for anything.

…

The deeper they went, the darker the waters became. 

The ocean floor dropped into an abyss, it felt as if darkness was all they could see. 

Yuto's heart raced, but he kept himself steady as he dove deeper. 

Mizuki's warning echoed in his mind, but it didn't matter now.

Suddenly, a distant rumble reverberated through the water, shaking the very foundations of the kingdom. 

Yuto's eyes narrowed, his senses sharpening.

"That wasn't normal," he muttered.

Then, the shadows in the abyss shifted, and something enormous began to emerge, its massive shape blotting out the faint light that filtered down from above. 

A low, guttural roar vibrated through the water, making the very sea around them tremble.

"What in the world—"

Before he could finish, the dark form fully emerged. 

It was like a nightmare come to life.

A towering creature with tentacles writhing from its grotesque form.

Its eyes glowed with an eerie, red light, staring directly at Yuto. 

He could feel it.

Its power.

The very presence it was giving off felt so suffocating.

He knew.

That it was an ancient that could rival even the Demon King.

And it was far more powerful than anything he had ever encountered.

Mizuki's voice was louder now, with urgency in every word. 

'Yuto, that… that's Cthulhu! A being of pure chaos and destruction! You can't face it alone!'

Yuto swallowed, a grim determination settling over him. 

He was already too deep, too close to this abomination to turn back now.

"I didn't come this far to retreat," Yuto said, his voice steady despite the terrifying sight before him.

He raised his sword, his sword aura now covering it.

She sighed but quickly poured all the power she could into him.

'Alright, let's do this'

Its massive tentacles shot toward him with lightning speed.

Yuto leaped out of the way, the tentacles narrowly missing him, but the sheer force of the attack created an undercurrent that sent him tumbling through the water.

'Focus, Yuto!' Mizuki urged. 

'Stay calm. You can't afford to make reckless moves against something like this!'

Yuto righted himself midair, spinning with the momentum to slash at one of the tentacles. 

His blade met the dark, slimy appendage, but instead of cutting through it, his sword was met with a crushing force, as though the creature itself was resisting his move.

The tentacle recoiled, but Yuto's eyes widened as he saw it lunging forward again.

Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth.

"Shit!" 

Yuto muttered, his body moving instinctively.

Mizuki's panic was evident as she saw Cthulhu's next attack coming.

She felt the difference in power as it merely shrugged off Yuto's attack. 

'Yuto, you need to retreat! We've tried, but our attack is useless against it'

But Yuto's eyes never left its sight.

"If I don't try, who will?"

She let out a frustrated sigh, realizing that Yuto's stubbornness was stronger than her words.

'Please, Yuto. Don't be so reckless'

But the battle continued, Yuto dodging and weaving through the sea of tentacles. 

He slashed and cut at the appendages (or what he thought were appendages), but it only enraged it further.

Cthulhu's roar echoed through the deep sea, a chilling sound that made the waters tremble.

The sound itself was enough to make Yuto's heart pound with dread.

But he fought on, desperately seeking a weakness.

Each strike that Yuto landed seemed nothing more than a minor inconvenience to it.

—

Yuto's movements were becoming increasingly sluggish as the fight dragged on. 

His muscles burned with exhaustion, his breath ragged as he weaved and dodged, narrowly avoiding Cthulhu's massive, slithering tentacles. 

The water around them was thick with the scent of saltwater and blood, his blood mixing with the ocean's murky depths.

He slashed through another tentacle, the blade cutting deep, but it didn't even flinch. 

It shrugged it off, its writhing appendages only more furious in their attacks. 

'Yuto, please! This is madness!' Mizuki's voice rang in his head, louder than ever. 

'We're not making a dent. We need to—'

"Retreat?" Yuto's voice was steely, unwavering.

Although he sounded tired.

 "And let it win? No. I'm not backing down"

His sword felt heavy in his hand as he swung it again, another attempt to break through its flesh. 

But every strike was absorbed by the monster's writhing mass. 

He could feel his resolve crack, but he wouldn't give up. 

Not while the stakes were so high. 

Another roar split the water, reverberating deep into his bones, and Yuto felt a wave of terror wash over him. 

The sound was like the voice of the abyss itself.

As if the ocean was screaming in agony. 

His heart hammered painfully in his chest, but he forced his feet to remain firm. 

He couldn't… wouldn't retreat now.

But before he could react, one of Cthulhu's massive appendages came crashing down from above, faster than anything Yuto had ever seen. 

CRACK!

The sound of impact echoed through the water, and Yuto was flung upward like a rag doll, his body crashing into the water's surface before being sent flying into the air. 

The shock of the blow rattled his vision, and he barely managed to twist mid-air to land with a sickening splash, his chest heaving as he gasped for breath. 

Blood trickled down from a deep gash in his side, and his arm hung limply by his side, numb from the force of the hit. 

"H-he b-broke… hah… my armor?"

His vision swam, the world spinning around him as he sank back down into the depths, blood blooming in the water.

'Yuto!'

Mizuki screamed in his mind, her voice a frantic call, 'Get up! You can't—'

But he was already moving, gritting his teeth against the pain. 

His muscles screamed in protest, but he ignored them. 

"Not yet," Yuto muttered under his breath. 

The waters around him swirled violently as its massive form broke the surface, its full, horrific size revealed in all its grotesque, unfathomable glory. 

Tentacles as thick as trees lashed out, and its eyes… huge and filled with pure killing intent fixed on Yuto with an otherworldly gleam. 

[ Cthulhu is watching you ]

[ Mentality is Higher ]

[ You have resisted Fear Effect ]

[ You cannot understand what you are witnessing ]

- 50 Attack

The very sight of it seemed to tear at his sanity, a cold, suffocating terror creeping into his mind. 

Its maw opened, revealing rows of jagged teeth. 

A black, oily liquid dripped from its mouth.

Yuto's breath came in ragged gasps.

He flew back and landed on the surface.

He attempted to stand but felt his legs shaking.

He gripped his sword with both hands. 

Blood continued to pour from his wounds, mixing with the sand beneath him. 

"Mizuki…"

"I'm not... backing down…"

But Mizuki's voice was barely a whisper in his mind, drowned out by the overwhelming presence of the eldritch terror before him. 

"HERYRFHNJRNSIRSNRU"

Yuto grasped his head, trying to ignore the pain that shook his head violently.

Before he could react, one of Cthulhu's colossal tentacles shot forward, its speed like that of a striking serpent. 

"SHIT!"

He brought his sword up in a desperate, panicked defense, but the tentacle slammed into him with such force that it shattered his defense. 

The impact sent him sprawling, the air was knocked out of his lungs as his body was slammed against the ocean floor.

His sword went flying from his grasp, and the world around him tilted and blurred, everything spinning.

"M-mizuki!"

Yuto's vision swam, his limbs shaking from the pain. 

His body was broken, blood pooling around him, but his spirit, his will… it refused to break.

He forced his body to fly upwards, grabbing Mizuki and transforming her usual form into a great sword.

'Yuto'

"Y-yeah?"

'I can see a red orb on the very top of its head… It's a gamble at this point, but we have no other choice but to destroy it'

He chuckled.

He used whatever mana and aura he had left, repairing his armor and sharing his energy with Mizuki.

[ Passive: Grace Healing ]

All of Yuto's broken bones, missing blood, and back are healed, and his body stands straight.

His long red scarf glowed brightly once more.

"We have another shot at this. You ready?"

Mizuki chuckled, 'I'm with you, Yuto. Let's give it everything'

He took a deep breath, his hand holding his sword, gripping it till his hand turned red. 

With a leap, he launched himself at Cthulhu, his speed and power increasing. 

Noticing Yuto approaching, it roared in response, its tentacles lashing out. 

But Yuto dodged, making his way toward its massive head.

The massive tentacles whipped around him; he darted and weaved, narrowly avoiding their blows, the wind from their strikes brushing against his skin.

The ocean around him churned, waves crashing as each attack missed.

But Yuto's focus remained solely on the red orb.

"Almost there…" he muttered through gritted teeth.

'Yuto, don't lose focus. We're almost at the top'

Yuto nodded, tightening his grip on the hilt of Mizuki, her form pulsing with energy in his hands. 

With one final surge, Yuto launched himself higher.

The tentacles swiped at him one last time, but he flipped mid-air, dodging each strike.

He reached the top of its head, just below the glowing orb. 

Time seemed to slow as he brought his great sword high above his head, crackling with demonic energy. 

"This is it!" he yelled.

With all the strength he could muster, he brought his blade down, and the impact that he created made a shockwave that threw him off.

"Shit… did I fail?"

But then, the orb cracked.

It shattered into a thousand shards of red light, each piece disintegrating into nothingness. 

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, Cthulhu's eyes, instead of the bright red that he saw throughout the fight, turned green.

Its body seems to relax as Yuto falls to the ground.

Mizuki took a moment to take in the sudden change. 

'Did you… did you just… pacify Cthulhu?'

Yuto chuckled as he sat up.

"We sure did"

It looked at him one last time before heading back down.

["Like hell, I could kill that"]

"Come now, we have to help the others deal with Wanless"

Mizuki sighed as she looked him up and down.

'But your injuries... Can you still fight?'

Yuto nodded as he transformed her into a spear.

"Yes, now let's go!"

—

"How much longer!?"

Morgan gritted her teeth as she blocked several harpoons thrown by the Aqualis guards.

Lilith growled as she sliced through guard after guard. 

"This is ridiculous..."

"Don't kill them!" Morgan screamed out.

Freya sighed as she destroyed their weapons. "These guys keep on coming..."

Catherine was panting heavily as she held hands with Luna.

A bright light coming from the combined power healed anyone who was seriously injured. 

"Yuto and Mizuki seem to be done with their part, I don't hear that giant monster anymore…"

Morgan nodded, her expression weary but determined. 

"Yes, but we still have to deal with these guards"

Lilith grumbled as she blocked another harpoon, her eyes scanning the area.

"There's got to be a way to stop them.."

Kana sighed as she quasi transformed; she moved at such a speed that their eyes could barely keep up.

"Done. Now to help your people"

The others blinked in surprise at the sudden change.

"Whoa, what did you just do?" Morgan asked, her eyebrows raised.

Freya chuckled, her eyes wide with awe. 

"That was cool!"

Kana shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Just a little something I picked up from my father"

"Without fully transforming, I can enhance my speed and strength"

"Very useful," Lilith commented, "especially in situations like these"

"Yeah, I guess-"

Kana was hit so hard that she was sent flying.

A blur was all they could see.

But they felt it.

A presence like Yuto's.

Strong yet thick with a feeling of dread.

"What's this? Fantasy creatures that work together?"

Morgan grit her teeth as she moves her spear up.

"You!"

The girls tensed up, their eyes widening at the hero.

"WANLESS!" Morgan demanded, her voice hard.

He chuckled, his voice filled with amusement.

"Well, look who it is"

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving her.

"You're still causing trouble even after I let you live. I'm disappointed in you, Morgan"

Morgan's grip tightened on her spear, her eyes never leaving his.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said defiantly.

Wanless smirked, "You should be"

Morgan glared at Wanless.

"Wrong, it is you who should be afraid"

Wanless chuckled, his amusement evident.

"Do you think any of you have the power to stop me?"

"Only one way to find out," Morgan replied, shifting her stance.

They surrounded him, weapons in hand, buffs cast, and Kana returned with a more pissed-off look than before. 

Wanless didn't look bothered as he shrugged.

He poured all of his magical power into his blade.

Raw red energy was coming from him.

"Let's end this"