"What—"
From behind the helm, Oliver freezes. He sees Hiro running off the ship—climbing the massive tentacle toward the monster's body.
Lightning briefly reveals the creature's form. Everything else—pitch darkness.
Yet I run as if I can see everything clearly, beyond what should be visible.
One tentacle swings toward me.
Rose is the first to notice. She immediately raises her bow.
Oliver moves as well. "SANTIAGO, SHOOT ANYTHING IN HIS WAY!" "EVERYONE, CLEAR A PATH FOR HIM!"
—BOOM. —BOOM. Two shots explode.
—SWASH. Rose's arrows fly, striking the tentacle above me.
I glance for a fraction of a second. Enough—the threat is diverted.
I refocus.
Only a few dozen steps remain.
But—
—CKHAHM.
A violent impact shakes my footing. My balance breaks.
My body is thrown sideways—falling toward the sea.
Instinct takes over. I drive the axe into the tentacle's flesh.
I hang there.
"Damn—"
—CKLASH.
An arrow strikes near me.
I turn—Rose.
"Climb," her voice reaches me, small yet firm.
The arrow is just out of reach.
I release one hand from the axe and reach for it.
"Come on…" I mutter, beginning to swing, building momentum.
Closer.
"Come on."
Just a little more.
"Got it."
I grab the arrow.
—CKLASH.
Another arrow lands farther ahead.
I cannot look back. One hand grips the axe, the other holds the arrow.
I only need a small swing.
Behind the helm, Oliver keeps watching.
The others are overwhelmed by attacking tentacles. They cut down what comes near—but suddenly, the creature pulls some of them back.
Everyone pauses for a moment.
"What—" Bartra stammers.
—CPKHAAAAAHM.
A massive tentacle slams toward the mainmast.
Their faces turn pale.
"DON'T LET IT HIT THE MAST!" Santiago shouts. "EVERYONE, PROTECT THE MAST!" Oliver follows.
They move. Rose fires again. Santiago climbs down. Everyone holds the line again and again.
SKASH—I pull my axe free.
One hand grips the arrow, the other the axe. I swing again, building momentum.
Almost there.
"Got—"
"No—!"
My hand slips—but still catches the next arrow.
The axe… slips free.
"Damn."
It slides along the surface of the tentacle.
With the last of my reflex—SPASH—my left hand catches it again.
I am now right beside the creature's eye.
My hand presses against its slick surface by accident.
"Damn…"
—SWASH.
Another arrow lands… farther away.
I need one big swing.
"Right. A big swing."
Both my feet must land on that arrow. Then I rise… and strike its eye.
"…If I have come this far, I will regret it for the rest of my life if I fail."
My right hand grips the arrow. My left grows heavy—blood runs down my arm.
I do not care. I swing.
Wider. Stronger.
"Come on… come on…"
Only a few swings remain.
Bartra stares at Hiro, frozen.
"BARTRA, DON'T DROP YOUR GUARD!" Oliver shouts.
Too late.
—PKHAHM.
A tentacle slams into him. His body is crushed against the deck.
"GRIZZ AND GRUZZ, DON'T STOP! PROTECT THE MAST!"
The ship breaks apart further.
I take the final swing.
A large one.
My legs launch forward—
"Hpf—"
Almost.
But—
I slip.
My grip loosens—
—I fall.
"HIROOO!" Rose screams.
Everything collapses.
Grizz and Gruzz are struck. Santiago is thrown. The rest of the crew is swept away.
I—
fall.
—BAAM.
My body crashes into the sea.
Cold water swallows everything.
---
Oliver grits his teeth. "DAMN YOU… KRAKEN!"
He releases the wheel.
SWANG—his sword is drawn.
He charges.
SPLAAAAAAAAHSH—
For the first time, a tentacle is severed completely.
WRAAAAAAAAAAATH—
The creature's roar shakes the ocean.
Rose lowers her bow. She has only a few arrows left.
"Hiro," she murmurs, her face filled with worry.
CKHAM—Oliver drives his sword into the deck to keep himself from being thrown.
The ship begins to overturn.
Everyone slips, slamming into the railing.
Hope collapses… instantly.
But unbeknownst to them—
—BLASH.
I burst out of the sea, water spraying in every direction. My hand immediately grabs a thrashing tentacle. The axe remains firmly in my right hand.
Without thinking, I begin running up its slick surface.
The slope is impossible. The angle grows steeper. Yet my feet hold, my grip feels… unreal.
"Huh… hah… huh." My breath comes fast.
I keep running.
Without Hiro realizing it, his eyes are closed.
Hiro moves with his eyes shut. His darkened vision guides him—giving direction, footing, and decisions. Even he does not know whether this comes from beyond his sight… or not.
I continue climbing.
"Huh… hah… huh." My breath remains ragged.
My pace quickens. Faster. Even faster.
I reach the top of the tentacle without stopping, then sprint toward the creature's head.
"The eye… the eye…" I mutter, my breathing uneven.
Only a few dozen steps remain.
One leap—
"HUAAGH!"
I jump.
My body soars above the giant octopus.
My eyes open.
"DIE, YOU BASTARD!"
—SWKWHAAAAAAHM.
My axe drives deep into its eye.
WRHAAAAAAAAAAHM—
A roar of agony shakes the sea and sky.
SHAAAAAHM—
The ship, which had been tilting, begins to steady. The tentacles loosen.
I did it.
But—
only one eye.
---
I turn toward the ship.
Rose.
She is already on her feet. Her bow rises. The string pulls tight—
—SPLAAAAAAAAHSH.
Her arrow pierces the second eye.
WRHAAAAAAAAAAHM—
The roar erupts again—wilder, deeper.
The creature convulses violently—then releases the ship completely.
---
Bartra is freed. So are Grizz and Gruzz. The remaining crew move again. The captain regains control of the helm.
Oliver stands still—staring at me, speechless.
I cannot return.
All I can do is cling to this creature as it begins to lose balance.
It will fall.
And I will fall… with it.
---
I close my eyes.
Darkness.
My strength is gone.
But—
the darkness shifts again.
My vision stretches. Bends. Showing—
the future.
When this creature falls—I will float for a moment.
Then I will swing my axe—
—and split it apart.
SPLAAAAAAAAHM—
Its head splits… within that vision.
I open my eyes.
And at that exact moment—
I draw a deep breath.
One hand grips the axe.
I let my body fall—toward the creature's head.
I swing—
—its flesh tears open.
Light bursts from within—
—SPLAAAAAAAAHM.
Its head is cleaved in two.
My body twists in the air.
I watch the result—
before the sea rises to meet me again.
"So… what I saw… was the future?" I whisper.
Before my chest, the crystal floats, still hanging from my neck—glowing from within.
I understand.
"Because of this crystal… right."
—BAAAHM.
I hit the sea.
I sink.
The light fades.
My vision disappears.
Darkness takes everything.