Day 11
I wake up and open my cave to the water outside, for the first time I feel the bars, the walls are unnecessary. It is earlier than normal, the sun just peeking over the horizon.
A tiny squid jets over.
>Dad, guess what!< [Squid Jr]
Real fake ninjas...
>No, I'm one of them now a... chunnibyou? No it was a chunin...?< [Squid Jr]
>Where are we going today, who're you going to eat?< [Squid Jr]
I wander around, keeping an eye out for food items...
We spot a long-tailed shark but we had shark yesterday...
The shark overhearing approaches with a glare.
“I prefer grey medical health-care professional.” The male shark remarks.
<...and I prefer my prey irritable and pointlessly anal... and not in a dirty way. So lets try this again... you are a grey nurse shark and I am...> [Squid]
“...someone with mercy and kindness to spare for a healer...” [Shark]
“No, I really am a... nurse.” The shark seemed torn saying the words.
“Yes! Sorry!” [Fleeing Shark]
>You swore, Dad!< [Squid Jr]
>Eat shit and die, you ugly motherf...< [Squid Jr]
>Okay Dad.< [Squid Jr happily replies]
A large fish swims by...
Shudder.
>Whats the matter, Dad?< [Squid Jr]
Whew... gone.
>I thought you weren't scared of anyone!< [Squid Jr]
<...Tuna... they play dirty pool.> [Squid]
>You mean throwing sand and peeing in the water?< [Squid Jr]
>Guilt?< The little squid says, not quite believing me.
#I'm just cranky...# [God of Frozen Aqua] #Oh, by the way... what happened to my religion? I mean I had eight hundred and forty three people worshiping me yesterday and now... kaput.#
#...the God of Ice and Sculpture? Some nobody.# [God of Frozen Aqua]
Due to your actions and nature as a demigod you have been assigned as a temporary god to the Villagers of Hurna Hama, however all duties and actions will affect your future placement within the pantheon. Failure to comply to these requirements will lead to penalties.
#Send the upstart crying back to Momma!#
That'd be hard, she's dead after all due to squid life span... probably.
>He looks strong...< [Squid Jr]
A large fish with a sharp nose makes an impact, as he swims through a school of whiting...
“Hey, you there with the nose... I'm going to eat you. This isn't personal, just my son wants to try swordfish...” [Squid]
“I disagree. My sword says I shall continue on my journey.” [Swordfish]
“Your... 'sword'... said this? Delusional, huh?” [Squid]
“No Sir, I mean that if you would have me for a meal, then you will need to answer with steel.” [Swordfish]
“You don't have steel, only bone...” I point out.
“Ready your weapon, Sir, for we are in a duel.” [Swordfish]
“Oh I get it now... you're a reject from 'The Three Musketeers'.” I create a scimitar out of a stream of pressurized water. “Well you're about to lose your head, like King Louis XVI...” I say, waving the sword with my right arm.
Stupid fish. For all of your talk you only tried to parry. My sword could cut diamond... having become a Hiltfish he was really quite depressed.
I gave the guy a chance at least... so I cut off his head with no regrets.
Besides he was quite tasty.
Following that I decided to look into what was happening on the island, check on the kids and my new religion... yada yada... the usual. (Really just my damn curiosity again...)
Walking around suddenly became quite a lot easier. With an ice helmet over my head and fresh water flowing from the water spirit stone onto my gills I could walk around comfortably. Squid Jr is swimming around in here too.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
>Its nice and cool in here Dad.< [Squid Jr]
I walk in, slowly watching reactions.
Hey, there's a chimp wearing a tie and carrying a drink... weird...
I spot the eldest boy of the trio I saved. Is... he running a gambling parlor?! It looks like they're playing something like dice poker... as the crowd parts, noticing me I snatch a set of bone dice and roll.
>Dad, I'm already here...< [Squid Jr]
I go to gather my winnings... only to realize I never put down money... Dammit.
What do I do... Oh! I know. I create a pile of coins out of permafrost. Squidoons. A few (S)quid.
The question is... what does a permafrost coin cost?
The kid looked scared as if he was about to go broke.
Hehehehe.
Time to break the bank!
I roll and... nothing.
I make more coins, I bet higher.
I roll again and lose.
I place a hundred coins on the table and try a third time...
A pair... okay I broke even... now to win it all back...
I lose. Again and again and again. Each time losing more fake money.
This is very unlikely... um, Goddess is there a reason for this?
Due to the prayers of your follower Richard Hamilton your efforts will fail.
Wait a minute... if they don't want it, it won't work for me?! Can't even strike 'em dead unless they feel guilty. Some god.
That sucks monkey butler balls...
I leave the young Richard Hamilton richer than an astronaut.
I wander around town.
So I really can't do anything against them?
I spot a husband beating his wife with a stick... Oi. That isn't right!
I coil an arm around his, as he raises the bloody stick. As he notices I crush it.
Disarmed.
Heh. I guess I can still act if it disagrees with me... or was it because it clashed with my morals... either way. I can still hurt people, yay!
I climb to the peak of the island and look out at the archipelago... I wonder if they are much different to this island.
I know the seas around us. I own them. But the land is a mystery. Squid curiosity, again? It is a wonder I lived this long, my own sense of adventure is trying to kill me...
Well why the hell not? Lets go exploring!
I slide around on a wave of water, pushing me to the water. The inhabited island is only about ten miles square.
The nearest is smaller and densely covered in palm trees. I find a hut on the center... what the hell? Is this master Roshi? Well... I am greeted with energy attacks...
Of all things, it would be fire.
I move away from the door, singed and hurting. I hate fire! I hate whoever uses it against me!
The ragged looking hermit comes out with another flame spell ready.
>Get 'im Dad!< [Squid Jr]
He sends a jet of fire at me. The heat would have fried me into a delicious treat... if I hadn't defended it with a curtain of water, anticipating the nature of the attack. The water was leeched from the soil and air. It wouldn't last forever... but neither would the attack.
I could sense his mana.
He was using internal reserves of mana rather than atmospheric like I do or Sharky did.
I clasp his ankles with solid permafrost. He looks down, shocked.
I encase his hands in ice. I freeze his teeth together. No more magic.
I raise an arm and the sea roars. All around us it rises, the island surrounded by surging cliffs of water, calmly waiting. They cast a shadow over us.
The mage's eyes bug out of their sockets and he stares terrified of me.
>He hurt you... kill him!< [Squid Jr crying without tears]
I let the water release gently returning the water to normal. I release his feet and hands. Then I let his jaws free.
“Mother of Mercy! An actual God!” The man murmurs.
I shake my head.
“...demigod?” [Hermit]
I nod.
He bows.
“I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I offer my unworthy life in servitude!” [Hermit Mage]
I shrug.
Why not.
I already have too many hangers-on already. What does one more matter?
He pulls out dried squid and offers it...
“Squid for the Squid God!” [Mad Hermit]
Dammit. Should have killed him...
What we learned this chapter:
Why the hermit lived alone... besides his atrocious hygiene.
Squid cannot get a break, even dice hate him.
Permafrost is still expensive...
Squid is a god now... almost.
What we missed:
Casino expanding due to divine patronage and funds.
The villagers following Squid around the island.
Francis the whale being dragged around like a bath toy by a strange wave.
Monkey butler knife fights!
Next chapter: plot!