“I see there is no turning back from what you’ve become. Regardless, I am still your BloodBlade and forever will be at your service.”
Alex bowed his head, turned, and departed without saying another word. Asher leaned back in his chair and soon fell into a slumber. Despite Alex’s loyalty, Asher had nothing to say in response to Alex’s words. He had no words to give—not while grappling with the reality that he saw no future sitting idly on that throne and pretending like nothing happened like those other nobles.
But the time for him to return was drawing closer. He had spent months honing his strength, cultivating an elite troop that surpassed any he had trained in the county and forged a strategic alliance with Winter Stronghold—a fortress in need of troops but rich in powerhouses.
Their structure provided a delicate but essential balance to him.
For the first time in months, his thoughts drifted, thinking about the people he had left behind—his officials, Kelvin and finally… her. ‘It’s been months. If I have changed so much, she must have changed too. But isn’t it high time I let go of the fear Lia’s betrayal left behind?’
His thoughts wandered, keeping him teetering on the edge of the realm of slumber. Yet, he couldn’t fully dive in—Sapphira’s face kept appearing in his thoughts. Alex had managed to crack open a small hole through the ice wall guarding Asher’s heart.
Recalling her expression when he was leaving, Asher felt a pang of regret. His eyes opened, greeted by the star-filled sky.
“Ah…” he sighed, his breath barely a whisper.
Memories of battle resurfaces—removing Slade’s head after he had almost killed Sapphira. Was she the reason he was so furious?
After convincing himself that it was because of Nero and Lambert, he was beginning to discover that those reasons barely scratched the surface.
“It can’t be…”
Just as he uttered those words, a violent jolt rocked the ship. Something had slammed the ship causing the side he sat on to lurch upward while the other side almost sank into the sea!
Asher and the crates around him began to slide to the other side and he knew there was a very real chance of falling into the water!
“What did we hit?” he asked, his voice sharp. Ice burst from the wooden boards beneath him and coiled around his foot to anchor him to the deck. Standing on the near-vertical line, his cloak fluttering, Asher faced the dark silhouette several meters away from the ship and frowned.
‘Is that the Kraken?’
“It’s the Kraken!” Eder’s roar came from behind him, cutting through the chaos.
The ship stabilized and the knights donned leather armor, gripping their weapons tightly, their eyes fixed on the monstrous creature that was slowly rising from the water.
Rumble!
As the creature emerged, rain pelted the deck in icy droplets on them as well! To Asher, it felt as though the sky itself wept for their impending demise.
Yet, instead of fear, a strange feeling birthed in his heart and he simply wrapped his fingers tightly around his sword’s hilt.
The sea raged and the fierce winds blew against them. But the knights stood firm, their resolve as strong as steel as they released their force and prepared for battle.
Gazing at the creature, they saw that it had a face with two elk-like horns and short tentacles protruding from its head. A pair of pure milk-coloured eyes sunk into the creature’s skull but it had no lips. Because of its lack of lips, an array of densely packed knife-like teeth gleamed.
From its neck to its waist, the creature was covered in an armor of impenetrable scales. The faint outline of two scaled lumps over its chest hinted at a feminine form.
Below its waist, but hidden under the stormy waters, they could already see a tentacle or two. The others were clearly hidden but all those aboard the ship knew that one of its tentacles had hit their ship earlier.
This towering creature stood about eight feet tall from the crown of its head to its armored waist. If the tentacles were fully accounted for, its size would be unfathomable.
Massive tentacles, each as thick as thick as the thighs of two grown men, rose from either side of the ship. The next instant they came crashing down, but the knights leaped to action, unleashing sword lights that carved shallow cuts into the flesh.
The Kraken screamed, letting out a guttural, bone-chilling sound.
“Yes! These swords can cut through it!” Mushi yelled, brandishing his glinting sword.
Asher gripped his sword tighter as the Kraken swung down its scaly hand. Its claws, long enough to bisect a human, descended like a hand of judgement upon them.
Jed and Jesiah ran forward, unleashing massive crescent-shaped beams of energy—attacks worthy of half-step saint-ranked knights!
Whoosh!
Alex leaped into the air, while the rest of the crew worked tirelessly to distract the beast. Meanwhile, Eder stood at the rear of the ship, charging his lightning spear to deliver a decisive strike that would kill the Kraken.
Seeing he wasn’t included in the strategy, Asher stayed put but his vigilance never wavered.
In the air, Alex darted through the air, dodging the Kraken’s grasping hands and flailing tentacles while unleashing repeated strikes.
Although his slashes didn’t cause any critical injury to the monster, they were beginning to pile up.
Enraged, the Kraken its mouth and let out a bone-rattling shriek that made Asher’s vision blur momentarily.
“Get the ship out–!”
He had barely managed to finish his words when a jet stream of water burst out of the Kraken’s maw, blasting the ship over 400 meters away. The force of the impact swept everything off the deck, save for Asher and Eder.
“Argh!”
Eder yelled, sprinting forward and leaping off the ship before hurtling the lightning-charged spear. The weapon streaked through the air, piercing through the Kraken’s abdomen and delivering a surge of electricity that coursed through its massive frame at the same time.
To Asher’s surprise, Eder formed a quick hand sign and the spear that had moved past the Kraken, surged backwards through its body, piercing through its body before returning to his grasp.
Boom!
The Kraken crashed into the water, sending waves rippling outward as the other knights swarmed toward the ship. Asher wasted no time and helped them to board the ship before turning to Eder, his eyes slightly narrowed.
“Is it dead?” Merari asked, his voice uncertain.
“It is. I saw the spear pierce through it twice,” Jed confirmed before turning to Asher with a frown. “You did nothing.”
“I wasn’t asked to do anything,” Asher replied calmly.
Jed frowned.
Eder’s legs trembled, but David supported him before he fell. “I have exhausted my force. You boys should go and cut off the Kraken’s horns.”
“Wait… Aren’t we going to take Lord Asher across?” Alex rose to his feet.
“We barely survived, thanks to Sir Eder. A single minute against that beast feels like an hour of intense battle! You know this and you still want us to risk our lives for someone who didn’t even offer aid without proper rest!” Discover exclusive tales on empire
Jed snapped, shooting a cold glare that made Alex’s expression harden.
Alex’s jaw tightened. He turned to others, reading the expression on their faces.
“You are about to go back on your word!” He turned to Eder.
David stepped forward, pointing his sword against Alex. “So you would rather sacrifice the man who sheltered us to some lord you once served?!”
“It’s okay, Alex.”
Asher’s calm voice cut through the tension as he placed his hand on Alex’s shoulder.
