Splashhh!
Mortimer slowly rose from the water, the waves swirling around him as if he commanded them—like a king of the ocean.
The water obeyed his presence, pushing and lifting him higher!
Aether, observing with a mix of curiosity and amusement, raised an eyebrow. “You sure know how to make an entrance…” he said with a playful smirk, nodding approvingly at Mortimer’s display.
But Mortimer wasn’t amused. He clenched his stomach, feeling the ache, the dull throb of pain still pulsing through him. His lips twitched violently as he struggled to control the burning rage bubbling inside him.
He couldn’t believe it. He, Mortimer, the great hero, the respected figure—had been kicked by a slave….
A mere slave!!
That humiliating… slave dared to lay a hand on him. He, who had always seen Aether as nothing more than dirt under his boot.
Now, he was the one who had been kicked like a dog.
That humiliati–
“You feeling it… didn’t you?” Aether interrupted Mortimer’s thoughts, his voice dripping with wicked satisfaction. His grin was wide, almost cruel. “That’s how your son and grandson felt… That humiliation,” he continued, his tone taking on a mocking edge.
Aether’s expression suddenly darkened, turning dejected for a brief moment, before he sneered again, “But unlike you, they never really know who I am… All they think they beated by Emperor unlike you… who was kicked by S.L.A.V.E…” Aether’s voice dropped into a taunting, almost sing-song tone. “How does it feel, Morty~?”
“YOU DAMN ROTTEN SLAVE!!!” Mortimer’s voice cracked with fury as he charged at Aether, a murderous intent burning in his eyes.
His mind snapped completely, his vision clouded with rage. Aether had crossed the line when he punched him earlier, and now this humiliation? Mortimer would make sure to show this slave exactly who he was!!
Aether’s hand turned cold as water wrapped around his limbs like tendrils, droplets forming and solidifying as the ice began to take shape. Just as Mortimer arrived with an ice axe in hand, Aether moved with fluid precision.
Step…
Everything slowed. Aether crouched down, turning his back to Mortimer just as the attack came. With a swift kick, he sent Mortimer stumbling backward, barely keeping his footing. Mortimer nearly fell into the water, but he caught himself just in time.
“YOU!!” Mortimer roared, charging once again, but this time, something had changed. Water rippled along his back, flowing like a living thing. In an instant, Mortimer appeared in front of Aether again, his two hands raising high, ready to cut Aether down with his ice axes.
However, the water on his back suddenly split, transforming into dozens of liquid hands, each one gripping an ice axe ready to strike Aether all together!
Aether raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk forming on his lips. He wasn’t surprised, but the move was impressive nonetheless.
Step….
The world around him seemed to slow…. or rather it was really Aether who had moved faster.
He dodged the first ice axe with ease, spinning around and landing a solid punch to Mortimer’s face. The second strike came, but Aether dodged again, delivering a blow to Mortimer’s shoulder blade.
Sh!
Thud!
Sh!
Thud!
Sh!
Thud!
With every dodge, Aether landed another hit, his strikes seeming to slow down in Mortimer’s vision, each punch landing with devastating precision… his wrinkled face trembled in slow motion!!
It was almost like time itself was stretching out for Aether’s amusement, the pain showing clearly in Mortimer’s face with each hit.
Until—
One of the axes found its mark, cutting across Aether’s shoulder. He clicked his tongue, irritation flickering across his face before steping back,
“ARRRRHHHHHH!!” Mortimer screamed, the pain of the blows finally acting on his body, cracking his rubber-like form inside!
Aether yanked the ice axe from his shoulder and looked at it, momentarily impressed, ‘It’s sturdy…’ he thought, before turning his gaze back to Mortimer, who was groaning in pain, his face distorted by the beating.
“Come on, Morty…” Aether’s voice was calm, almost casual. “You know I could finish you anytime. Just bring your so-called ‘experience’ before me, a newbie….. because, You’ll regret underestimating me after you punctured my shoulder.”
With a flick of his wrist, Aether tossed the ice axe back at Mortimer, but just before it hit him, the weapon transformed back into water, splashing harmlessly to the ocean.
“Hah… ha… ha…” Mortimer panted heavily. The curse within him had taken its toll, restricting his movement.
Even using his powers left his body wracked with pain as the curse from the Arcane continued to eat away at him. Still, he glared at Aether, who stared back with a blank, indifferent expression.
“You’re pathetic…” Mortimer spat, straightening his pained body. “I… I will give you one last chance, brat. If you surrender now, I’ll—”
Step…..
Chucckkk!!!
Mortimer’s eyes widened as his left wrist was cleanly severed in one fluid motion.
“Hehe…” Aether let out a wicked chuckle, holding Mortimer’s severed wrist and waving it in front of his face mockingly.
Snap!
Something inside Mortimer finally broke. His eyes turned cold as ice, and he exhaled deeply, a puff of smoke rising from his nostrils. “So, you want to play, brat?” he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “Then let’s play.”
His hand shot out toward the water, and suddenly, the waves around them trembled. It was as if the very ocean responded to his call.
“Gladium Maris…”
His body slowly shallowed by the water.
“Aquaam Tenebris…
The wave suddenly stopped and water turned silent, there was no motion at all.
“Kraken Surge Ad Evocatus!!”
“….”
Aether frowned….. Nothing was happening!
He stood, eyes scanning the water, until a sudden realization hit him. “That fucking old man ran aw—”
Before he could finish, a hoarse, deep voice echoed through the air, vibrating with power, as if it was coming from every direction.
“Who are you calling a coward, Slave?”
Aether stiffened, startled by the voice, but before he could react, a shadow loomed over him from behind. Slowly, he turned his head and saw…
The tide didn’t just ebb or flow—it rose, defying gravity itself. Water twisted upward in a spiraling column, droplets glistening like liquid diamonds before they merged into a pulsating, rippling form.
The water churned and expanded violently, and limbs began to unfurl from the liquid mass. Jagged, clawed edges formed as the tentacles emerged, one by one, slamming into the ocean with a force that sent massive waves crashing outward.
The very center of the creature darkened, as if a void had taken root inside its core, pulsating with ominous, menacing energy. [Image in cmt]
And then, the creature’s glowing eyes appeared last—glaring at Aether as if he killed it entire family!
“Well…” Aether blinked in surprise, “Maybe I should’ve killed him instead of acting like a idiotic Protagonist!!” He had second thoughts about his inital plans!
Thunderrrr!!
The storm erupted as the Kraken’s shadow engulfed Aether,.
Sssrrccchhh!
Water spiraled upward, the sound of rushing tides sharp and relentless. The Kraken let out a guttural, bone-shaking roar, its primal cry reverberating through the sky and rolling thunder.
OOOHHHHHHHH,
Its cry rippled through the storm clouds, as the tentacles crashed down onto the ocean with earth-shattering force.
WHOOOMMMM.
The waves exploded outward, erupting like geysers from the ocean’s surface!!
Aether, with practiced precision, leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the next tentacle as it slashed through the air.
WHOOOSHHHH
The monstrous limb split the air with a deafening roar.
Aether’s eyes widened as he quickly assessed the threat. “Oh? Fuck that!” he hissed, using his remaining phantom steps to vanish, putting distance between himself and the massive creature.
Lightning cracked overhead, illuminating the fluid, monstrous form of the Kraken, revealing its terrifying size.
KRA-KA-BOOM!
The sky lit up as thunder shook the ground beneath him. The rain poured down in sheets, hammering the earth with an almost painful intensity, merging with the frothing sea below.
The Kraken’s monstrous form shrieked, furious as it realized Aether had disappeared from its line of sight. Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire
KKKKKAAARRGGHHHHHHHH!!!
Tentacles slammed down again and again, causing the ocean to tremble with each impact.
BAAAMMM! WHAAAAMMM!
The very ocean churned and cracked as the massive limbs carved craters into the water’s surface.
Aether’s eyes narrowed, his expression one of disbelief. “What the fuck? Did he turn into his final form, like in Power Rangers or something?” Aether shook his head, genuinely stunned. He never thought he’d see someone transform into a monster like this—even after everything he’d seen in this strange, fantasy world.
Despite the shocking sight, a grin spread across his face, his ice-blue eyes flickering with purple sparks. His fingers crackled with energy as his face turned serious, his body tensing for the battle ahead. “Still…,” he muttered to himself, “Let’s see what the so-called Hero really has.”
Snap
THHUUUNNNNDDDDEEEEEERRRRRRRR!!!!!!
KKKKKAAARRGGHHHHHHHH!!!