Lizard eyes stained with malice.
In the dark depths of the ocean, as soon as I faced those six yellow eyes, I could feel it.
The terror I had learned from that creature before.
[Kyaaaahhhh!!]
A chilling cry echoed.
My heart began to race as if it were malfunctioning.
Breathing became difficult, and my body refused to obey.
Instinct, consumed by fear, screamed at me to run away right now.
‘I can’t possibly think I can win against it…’
My body began to distance itself from the monster.
It wasn’t done consciously; my instincts were making me retreat unconsciously.
The slow retreat, torn between reasoning that I must fight and an instinct to flee, gradually picked up pace until it turned into a full sprint away from the creature.
My instinct was that I… had once again chosen to run away.
– You know, this action you’re taking is practically proof that you’re a coward, right?
I know that too.
The act of a warrior escaping the battlefield is something only a coward would do.
– So you want to cowardly run away even knowing that?
I know it’s cowardly.
But…
“How could I possibly defeat something like that…?”
There’s no way I could win against that thing.
No matter how many times I tried, I would lose.
The only thing that awaited me was death.
– That’s uncharacteristic of you, Akada.
While fleeing from the monster, I caught sight of a soul at the grave of my comrades.
A dear friend…
The soul of Slear stood in the graveyard.
– The you I know isn’t like this.
“…What do you mean by the me you know?”
Slear answered with a smile.
– You’re someone who can’t stand injustice. If you see even a slight chance at a challenge that others deem reckless, you take it, and you value your people.
There wasn’t a word of that I could disagree with.
In front of the fear of death, I… endured injustice, tried to flee, and was about to give up on avenging my comrade.
“It seems you’re mistaken.”
– No way. I’ve spent 15 years with you.
Slear approached me, giving my shoulder a light pat.
– Just today, you overcame your fear and stood before the creature for the sake of past and present comrades, right?
“It was only possible because of the Trident of Atlan.”
– That’s not true, Akada. The courage you muster is not from your weapon, but from within yourself.
“From within myself…?”
– Yes. The decision to step forward again is entirely yours.
That was true.
In the end, the choice was mine.
– And you didn’t even use the Trident of Atlan properly.
“Did I not use it properly?”
– Of course not. If that were done properly, it wouldn’t even be worthy of being called a divine weapon.
Slear gripped the Trident of Atlan firmly.
– The true power of the Trident of Atlan is to lord over all life forms of the sea.
“…Is it really just like in the myths?”
– Of course. This is a divine weapon after all.
As he said that, he slammed the Trident of Atlan into the ground.
In an instant, the great resonance of magical power spread throughout the ocean, and monsters began to gather.
From rank 1 to rank 5.
All the sea monsters came rushing to my side.
– Look, this is your army.
“So it is…”
– Even now, do you really think you can’t win?
Now, I could see a possibility.
The monsters would distract its gaze, and in that gap, we could attack.
However…
“I’m scared, Slear. I’m afraid history will repeat itself, and I’m scared I won’t have a clear certainty of victory.”
Fear.
It had been continuously occupying my heart.
– Believe in yourself. The you now possesses the Trident of Atlan and an army of the sea, right?
“I… I can’t trust myself. I’m already a coward who has run away multiple times.”
– Then believe in me, who believes in you.
With his words, hazy echoes began to appear in the graveyard.
They were so faint that it was hard to discern what they were, but I could feel they were the souls of comrades I had fought alongside before.
– And believe in those of us who trust you, your current comrades, and the people of Cordelia.
“Do you really think I can catch that thing?”
– Of course. You are strong. And you’re a brave person who willingly steps up for others. You can catch that monster.
“But everyone died because I ran away!”
– That’s not your fault. It was because that creature was unreasonably strong; we still believe in you. The Apostle of the Sea and our friend.
Slear said he believed in me.
He said even the comrades who died because I fled still believed in me.
Even though they vanished, the people of Cordelia believed I would protect them.
I couldn’t betray that belief…
I didn’t want to betray those who trusted me.
I took back the Trident of Atlan that Slear held.
“…If that’s what you say, then I’ll step up.”
– Yes. I hope you can catch that creature for our peace.
“I will, even if it costs my life.”
I placed one hand on my chest.
The warrior’s vow.
It was an action filled with the determination to keep my promise.
– I will believe in you.
With those words, the echoes of my comrades disappeared.
Slear too vanished as if he were never there.
“May the currents of Undine guide you to a peaceful place.”
I turned my body and walked back to where the creature was.
This time, I wouldn’t run away.
I would repay the faith of those who believed in me.
I had decided to fight it again.
“Let’s go.”
*
All the sea monsters attacked the creature at Akada’s command.
Although most of their attacks were blocked by the creature’s scales, they were sufficient to distract its attention.
“To think all those monsters would attack that thing…”
“I hadn’t thought I could do this either. Somehow, I wound up figuring it out.”
Akada stepped down from the Meropid and stood beside Evan.
“It seems you’ve overcome your trauma well.”
“There are still remnants left. But I’m stepping up for those who believe in me.”
With a determined expression, Akada began to swing the Trident.
Evan smiled as he saw him.
“Alright. So it’s time for a counterattack, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
Akada unleashed his magical power and activated the Power of the Sea.
The magical power resonated with the Trident of Atlan, deepening tenfold compared to before.
“It’s time to tear that thing apart.”
“Now that’s a delightful thing to hear.”
Evan also unleashed the Power of Destruction again and charged toward the monsters alongside Akada.
[Kyaaaaahhh!!]
The creature let out a wail.
Although Akada’s steps faltered for a moment at the sound, he soon moved again.
Courage to leap back into a disadvantageous battlefield after overcoming failure.
That courage drove Akada forward.
“I won’t run away anymore.”
Akada cast the Power of the Sea onto the Trident and plunged it into the creature’s flesh.
The steel-like scales shattered as it pierced through.
[Kieeeeee!!]
With a howl of pain, blood gushed out.
The wound was deeper than I had expected.
Taking advantage of the opening, Evan swung his sword at the wound Akada had made.
Swish!
The wound widened as it was sliced, and the creature staggered.
Sensing something was wrong, the creature immediately tried to defend itself, but the monsters summoned by Akada interrupted its movements.
An unending flurry of attacks.
Realizing it was impossible to defend, the creature opened its mouth.
It was going to unleash its breath.
Kwahhhhhhhh!!
A breath so powerful that if it hit, you would vanish from that spot.
With just that breath, 30% of the monsters he summoned were obliterated without a trace.
“Wow, I have to admit the power of its breath. But if it can’t hit us, it doesn’t mean a thing.”
But since the two who didn’t get hit were still fine, the attacks continued.
Then, the moment the creature opened its mouth once again to release its breath.
Akada leapt into the creature’s mouth and planted the Trident inside.
[Kaheuuuuuu!!]
Thanks to that, the breath vanished as it was being cast.
Seizing the moment, Akada pulled the Trident out and stabbed it into another spot.
The creature thrashed in agony from the pain in its mouth.
At that moment, it could do nothing but writhe.
Evan used that situation to cling to the monster and relentlessly sliced the already-open wound with his sword.
Other monsters also joined in to attack the wound.
[Kieeeeee!!]
Agonized cries echoed.
The creature thrashed as it attempted to escape.
But Akada wouldn’t let that happen.
Still inside its mouth, he pulled out the Trident and aimed it at the roof of its mouth.
“No matter how much of a monster you are, you can’t escape unharmed if your head is pierced.”
Whooooooooom-!
Magical water began to gather around Akada and the Trident.
He was drawing in all the mana in the sea.
Dududukudu-.
The mana accumulated so intensely that the creature’s massive mouth vibrated.
Akada condensed it onto the Trident and the arm that would throw it.
“Go to hell, you damn monster.”
<Power of the Sea - Judgment>
The tidal wave-like magical power swirled as it imbued the Trident of Atlan, and right afterwards.
The Trident flew from his hand and struck the creature’s head.
Kwahhhhhhh!
The Trident pierced through the roof of the creature’s mouth, skewering its head.
Blood and brain matter gushed forth.
The creature, with its head pierced, collapsed right then and there.
