The sun hung like a molten orb in the cloudless sky, its heat beating down on the Sea Serpent’s deck. Qing stood at the stern, his eyes fixed on the horizon where the ships that had shadowed them for days were now fading into the distance. The king’s vessel, flanked by two others, set course for Zylphadia. Two more ships peeled away, heading east—one bound for Torildheim, the other for Moorekeesh via Thulenore. Their mission: to sound the alarm of the impending demonic invasion.
Ghida’s voice broke through Qing’s contemplation. “This was as good as we could get,” she said.
Qing turned to her, forcing a smile as he placed his hand over hers. “I know. You did well in the negotiations. I’m glad you are here.”
A wry smile played on Ghida’s lips. “I would not be much of a princess if I could not negotiate a peace treaty or two with old fat kings, would I? At least not with the ultimate battlemage at my back, threatening to decapitate him if he did not agree to my wishes.”
Qing’s hand went to the back of his head, scratching nervously. “Was it too much?”
“No, Qing. It was perfect. You did well. You even had me fooled, thinking you were moments from blasting him apart to install his teenage son on the throne.”
A nervous chuckle escaped Qing’s lips, but before he could respond, Ghida’s eyes narrowed. “It was a bluff, was it not?” she asked, uncertainty creeping into her voice.
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Cedric and Captain Thundershield, their footsteps heavy on the wooden deck.
“Ready to set sail?” Cedric asked, his ancient eyes at odds with the smooth skin around them.
Qing shook his head. “Soon. Before we go, I want to take a look at the Kraken.”
Ghida’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“I’d like to see if it dropped any loot.”
“How would you find it?” Ghida asked. “You have no idea where it is. We have sailed too far.”
Captain Thundershield interjected, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Can’t your boyfriend control the sea now? He can just inquire from the fish where the corpse is.”
Qing’s eyes narrowed. “I didn’t say I could talk to fish, did I? But I can turn you into fish food.”
Thundershield’s crossed his arms across his chest. “Why so angry? You’re dating a princess. You have my daughter traipsing around at your heel. You have more magic than any one man should have.”
Qing felt his anger rising, a hot tide threatening to overwhelm him. He stepped forward, jabbing a finger into Thundershield’s chest, sending the captain stumbling back, one hand flying to his ridiculous hat.
“There’s a young girl waiting for us to rescue her,” Qing growled, his voice low and menacing. “And every second of time you waste makes my heart beat faster. It makes my skin crawl with the urge to tear your soul from the bag of flesh you call home.”
Thundershield held up his hands, a flicker of fear crossing his face. “If you say so. Not protesting. Merely an observation. Tell me the direction in which you want to go, and I will set our sails and make it so.”
Qing turned away, his mind racing. How were they supposed to find the corpse? Maybe he could spot it from the mast. Without warning, he called down energy and Blinked, materializing at the crow’s nest atop the main sail.
The lookout’s shriek pierced the air and he toppled over the side, caught off guard by Qing’s sudden appearance. Qing’s hand shot out, grabbing the man by his tunic and hauling him back to safety.
“The Kraken corpse. Have you seen it?” Qing asked, his eyes scanning the horizon.
The man shook his head, fear still etched on his face.
“In which direction is it?”
Another shake of the head, accompanied by a helpless shrug.
What point is a mute lookout?
He grabbed hold of the mast and hopped up, spinning in a slow circle, one hand shading his eyes from the relentless sun. The vast expanse of ocean stretched out in all directions, unbroken and unhelpful.
As Qing looked down at the water far below, a memory flashed through his mind—the harpies dropping him from the sky, his bones shattering on impact with the sand dunes. An involuntary shiver ran through him as he recalled the excruciating pain of his body knitting itself back together.
But things were different now. He had more spells, more power. The Blink spell, though, was still largely untested. Would inertia travel with him? Or would his speed reset to zero with every Blink? There was only one way to find out.
Qing took a deep breath, calling on his energy. He looked up, focusing on a point high in the sky, just to the side of the boat. If this went wrong, he didn’t want to end up as a messy stain on the deck.
In an instant, he vanished from the crow’s nest and appeared high above the ship. For a split second, there was nothing—no movement, no sound. Then gravity reasserted itself, and he fell.
His stomach lurched into his chest as he plummeted, the wind whipping past his face. But Qing forced himself to focus, his eyes scanning the horizon. There had to be something, some sign of the massive creature they’d slain.
And then he saw it. Birds! That had to be it.
Qing fell faster, the ocean rushing up to meet him. He looked down, gathering his energy once more, and cast Blink. In an instant, he appeared just above the water’s surface, plunging in with a tremendous splash.
The impact drove the air from his lungs, but Qing’s mind was racing. The spell hadn’t reset his momentum, but it hadn’t added to it either. Useful information for future encounters.
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Before he could sink too deep, Qing Blinked onto the deck of the Sea Serpent. He was soaking wet but exhilarated, a grin spreading across his face as he took in the stunned expressions of the crew.
“I found it,” he announced, pointing northeast. “Set sail. We’ve got a Kraken to loot.”
As the Sea Serpent changed course, cutting through the waves towards the Kraken’s remains, the air grew thick with anticipation and a foul stench. Qing stood at the bow, his eyes fixed on the horizon where he’d spotted the carcass.
“God, that stinks,” Morgana said, her nose wrinkling in disgust as they drew closer. “Worse than a dead whore’s cat.”
No one disagreed. The Kraken’s corpse loomed before them, a grotesque island of decaying flesh. Its tentacles, once powerful enough to crush ships, now lay limp and undulating on the sea’s surface. The main body had inflated, bloated with decomposition gases, bobbing in the water.
Dozens of sharks circled the carcass, their dorsal fins slicing through the water as they tore chunks from the Kraken’s flesh. Above, a cacophony of seabirds wheeled and dove, fighting over the unexpected feast.
“I hope they don’t all turn into zombified animals,” Rowan said, eyeing the feeding frenzy with unease. “Seagull shit is annoying enough as is, without the fear of flesh-eating infections.”
“Please, Rowan, keep your mouth shut,” Ghida snapped, her face pale as she fought back nausea.
“Sorry, Your Highness,” he replied, though the glint in his eye suggested he wasn’t particularly remorseful.
Ghida turned to Qing, concern etched on her face. “If you go down into that, you will stink for a week.”
“Not necessarily,” Qing said, a hint of mischief in his voice. “Remember, I have my little tricks.”
Ghida’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You cannot un-equip and re-equip your hair, can you?”
“No, but I’m just telling it as it is.”
“If you come back stinking like that, you better keep your distance for a while,” Ghida insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Captain Thundershield, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. “You hear that, boy? Choose between the lady’s wants and looking for treasure in a pile of shit.”
“Quiet,” Qing said and closed his eyes. Then he took a deep breath to center himself.
Come on, don’t make this for nothing.
Before he could second-guess himself, Qing hopped onto the railing. The ship’s deck fell away beneath him as he jumped, blinking twice in rapid succession to land atop the Kraken’s remains.
His feet hit the carcass with a sickening squelch, immediately slipping on the slime-covered surface. Qing fell hard, his ass hitting the rubbery flesh with a wet smack. The overpowering stench of decay nearly made him gag.
“It’s okay,” he muttered to himself, fighting to keep his composure. “Where would I find loot? What would it drop?”
They had already claimed the chest from their initial encounter, but it didn’t feel right to defeat such a formidable foe and receive nothing more. An angry chorus of bird cries rose around him as he interrupted their feast, stalking his way along the body towards where he knew the brain and eyes to be.
The massive wound he had blown in the Kraken’s head during their battle was now filled with seawater, and he’d already searched there. Undeterred, Qing pressed on, making his way up the main body of the creature.
It felt surreal, like walking on some nightmarish, fleshy balloon. With each step, the bloated corpse shifted and rolled beneath him. Qing equipped his glaive, took a deep breath, and plunged the weapon into the Kraken’s flesh.
A loud, flatulent sound erupted as gas escaped from the cut, accompanied by a new wave of putrid stench. Laughter echoed from the ship, carried on the sea breeze.
“Children,” Qing muttered, shaking his head. He widened the cut, peering into the dark interior of the carcass. Despite the bright sunlight, the Kraken’s insides remained shadowy.
“Screw this,” Qing said, his patience wearing thin. “If there’s loot, it should be sturdy enough to survive this.”
He drew in arcane energy, feeling it build within him until it threatened to burst free. With a shout, he released the Arcane Explosion spell. The effect was immediate and dramatic. A massive burst of energy and gas erupted from the Kraken’s body, picking Qing up and hurling him backward.
He tumbled along the giant’s surface, struggling to regain his footing on the slippery flesh. As he finally managed to stand, he heard an ominous bubbling sound. The spell had done its job—perhaps too well. The Kraken began sinking.
Without hesitation, Qing leapt into the gaping hole he’d created. Water rushed in around him, threatening to sweep him away. But there, protruding from the inner wall of the carcass, was a handle, covered in leather the colour of the kraken. He grabbed for it, straining against the incoming water, but it wouldn’t budge.
An idea flashed through his mind. Focusing his will, he attempted to unequip the mysterious object. To his surprise and delight, it worked. The handle vanished from the wall, and a notification popped into his vision.
Item: [Tidecaller, Level 22, Unique]
A sleek, single-bladed axe forged from a Kraken’s tooth and imbued with the essence of stormy seas. The blade gleams with an iridescent sheen, and the handle is wrapped in treated Kraken leather.
+450 Attack Power
+15 to Strength
+10 to Agility
Tempest Strike: 10% chance of unleash a burst of pressurized water upon hit, dealing additional area damage and with a chance to knock back enemies.
Soul Siphon: On killing blow, absorbs a portion of the target’s essence, healing the wielder for 5% of their max health.
(Axe, One-handed)
A grin spread across Qing’s face. “That’s more like it.”
But the kraken wasn’t done yet. As he hopped up to grab the edge of the wound, intent on pulling himself out, something caught his eye. A glimmer in the darkness, sinking fast as water continued to flood in. Despite the danger, Qing’s curiosity got the better of him. He pushed his way towards the mysterious object.
As he drew closer, he realised it looked like a giant, grotesque blackhead pimple on the inside of the squid.
Ew. This is disgusting.
His face contorted in revulsion. But something told him there was more to this than met the eye. Steeling himself, he reached out and squeezed. Immediately, a mixture of orange blood and black liquid erupted, splashing across his hand and arm. But amidst the revolting fluids, something solid came free.
Qing’s eyes widened as he examined his prize.
Item: [Darkened Sigil of Nightmares, Level 20, Legendary]
A pearl so black it reflects no light, set within a golden mesh depicting a kraken wrapped around a sleeping mind.
+5 Intelligence
Active: Once per day, plunge an area into magical darkness for one minute. You can feel the movement and location of anyone and anything within the darkness.
It was a sigil, crafted from gold mesh, shaped like the Kraken. At its centre rested a pearl, its surface blacker than the monster’s ink.
Realising the Kraken’s remains were sinking faster now, Qing knew it was time to leave. He swam out of the carcass, emerging into open water surrounded by curious sharks. The great whites circled him, their dark eyes fixed on this strange intruder on their feeding grounds.
Qing took the opportunity to wash the gore from his hair and body, the cold seawater a welcome relief after the fetid interior of the Kraken. When one of the massive predators swam too close for comfort, Qing channeled his energy and unleashed a Chain Lightning spell. The water lit up with crackling energy, and the sharks dispersed rapidly, leaving Qing alone in the open ocean.
With a last look at the Kraken’s remains sinking into the ocean’s depths, Qing gathered his energy and blinked, reappearing on the deck of the Sea Serpent in a spray of seawater. His companions stepped back, their faces a mixture of relief, curiosity, and lingering disgust at the ordeal they’d witnessed.
Grinning broadly, Qing held out his hands, displaying the axe and the sigil. “Look what I found,” he said, his voice filled with excitement. “I think our little detour just paid off. And guess who’s getting a new axe!”