Kazuki stood in the vast underwater chamber, the pressure from the ocean weighing on his body as he stared at the massive creature before him. BOOM! The kraken’s tentacle slammed into the ground where Kazuki had just been standing, narrowly missing him as he dashed to the side.

“Dammit,” Kazuki muttered under his breath, water swirling around his feet as he steadied his stance. The massive creature loomed above him, its blue gem shimmering in the faint light filtering through the murky waters. That gem. It had drawn in the smaller blue stone from his bag, and now the entire chamber was an aquatic battlefield. A girl, trapped inside the gem, seemed to pulse with the kraken’s movements, her unconscious form glowing faintly.

The beast's tentacles writhed with dangerous speed, cutting through the water like blades. Kazuki clenched his fists, dark magic and crackling lightning surging around them. He prepared for the next attack.

WHOOSH! Another tentacle came crashing down, but Kazuki was already moving. He slipped into the narrow gaps between the tendrils, evading their strikes with a cold precision. His body moved like a shadow, barely leaving any trace of his presence. When one of the tentacles lashed out again, Kazuki saw his opportunity.

He lunged forward. CRACK! His fist slammed into the side of the kraken’s massive head. The dark and lightning magic exploded upon impact, sending a ripple of force through the water. The kraken roared, a deep guttural sound that reverberated through the chamber, but Kazuki felt the cost immediately. His hands burned, the skin tearing from the immense pressure of the strike. Blood seeped into the water, but the pain was fleeting.

His eyes flicked to his hands—already, the flesh was knitting itself back together, his regenerative abilities kicking in. "No matter how strong... I’ll outlast you." His voice was cold, a low whisper in the vast silence of the water.

The kraken reared back, its tentacles flailing in the water, creating waves that nearly knocked Kazuki off balance. But he stood firm, his gaze never leaving the beast.

Kazuki's breath slowed, focusing on the massive gem embedded in the kraken’s forehead. The girl inside—why was she here? What did the kraken want with her? These thoughts, however fleeting, didn’t distract him from the fight. He could worry about answers later.

The kraken struck again, this time with three tentacles aiming to crush him all at once. Kazuki narrowed his eyes, dodging the first two strikes with ease, but the third caught him by surprise. THUD! The tentacle slammed into his chest, sending him spiraling through the water, crashing into the chamber's stone wall.

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For a moment, everything went silent. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of him, and the water seemed to still. His vision blurred, the weight of the ocean pressing on his chest. But Kazuki wasn’t the type to stay down.

He planted his feet against the wall, pushing off with all his might. As he shot through the water toward the kraken, his fists began to glow once more. Dark magic surged from his core, mixing with the lightning to form a deadly combination. His eyes locked onto the kraken’s head, aiming for the weak point—the gem.

The kraken saw him coming, swinging its massive arms to block his path, but Kazuki was too fast. He ducked under one of the tentacles, slipping past its defenses with practiced precision.

BAM! Kazuki’s fist connected with the gem, sending a violent shockwave through the creature’s body. The gem cracked slightly, a faint line appearing on its surface. The girl inside the gem twitched, her eyes fluttering momentarily before she fell back into unconsciousness.

Kazuki gritted his teeth, feeling his knuckles bleed again. “Damn thing… how hard is this gem?” His thoughts raced. There had to be a way to shatter it. He couldn’t afford to drag this fight on much longer.

The kraken roared in fury, its tentacles whipping through the water with renewed force. Kazuki could sense the creature’s anger. It was desperate now, flailing its massive body in an attempt to crush him. But desperation made it sloppy.

Kazuki exhaled slowly, his breath steadying. "One more hit."

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing all the power within him. The dark magic and lightning around his fists intensified, swirling together until they became a brilliant black-and-blue flame. His heart pounded in his chest, and his eyes snapped open, cold and focused.

The kraken lunged again, but this time Kazuki didn’t move. He waited, timing the strike perfectly. When the tentacle came crashing down, he sidestepped at the last second, bringing his fist down with everything he had.

CRACK!

The gem shattered.

In an instant, the water around him began to swirl violently, the kraken’s body spasming uncontrollably as it let out a final, ear-piercing roar. The creature’s massive form collapsed into the water, its tentacles going limp as its life force drained away.

Kazuki floated in the water, breathing heavily. His body ached, and the wounds on his fists were deeper than before, but they were already healing. He glanced at the shattered remains of the gem, the glowing fragments slowly sinking to the ocean floor. The girl was free, her body floating gently in the water.

Kazuki swam toward her, grabbing her unconscious form and pulling her close. He studied her for a moment, his cold gaze lingering on her face. Who was she? And why had the kraken trapped her here?

There were too many questions, but no answers—at least not yet. Kazuki shook his head. This wasn’t the time for that. He needed to get out of the dungeon.

With the girl in tow, he began swimming toward the surface. The weight of the battle was heavy on his shoulders, but his mind was already shifting to the next step. He would figure out what this girl’s connection to the kraken was. And if she was dangerous... he wouldn’t hesitate.

As Kazuki reached the surface, breaking free from the water, he took a deep breath. The fight was over, but something far more complicated was just beginning.