Chapter 1039

Chapter 1039

‘I have crossed paths with Krakens on several occasions, yet…’

Raon released a heavy, steady breath as his gaze remained fixed on the immense beast concealed beneath the seabed’s brownish silt.

‘None have ever compared to this monstrosity.’

His prior encounters with such creatures—once aboard Alice’s vessel during the hunt for Kaivar, and again during the mission in Montiro to eradicate the Black Tower—had pitted him against beasts colossal enough to splinter tall sailing ships with ease. Yet those specimens had still fallen within the bounds of ordinary monstrous beasts.

‘This entity exists in an entirely separate realm.’

The behemoth lying before him was so staggering in scope that a whole metropolis could comfortably sit across its back.

‘Moreover, a dense bloody energy radiates from within it.’

It was not merely its sheer physical might or the terrifying velocity such a titan could muster; the creature harbored a profoundly sinister, suffocating bloody energy. Even with his capabilities, battling this leviathan in the depths of the ocean would be an agonizing trial.

-On top of that, it is actively masking its presence.

Wrath’s brow pinched into an irritated scowl, acknowledging that even an expert possessing the sensory reach of a Grandmaster would struggle mightily to locate the camouflaged beast.

‘That is not a sorcerous cloak; it is the innate biological trait of a cephalopod.’

Raon gave an imperceptible shake of his head while keeping his eyes trained on the sea floor.

-What? An octopus’s natural craft?

‘They control specialized pigment cells and fibrous tissue, shifting both the hue and texture of their hide to duplicate their surroundings.’

The way this Kraken merged seamlessly into the tone of the surrounding ocean floor was not the result of spellcraft, but rather an amplified instinct born into its species.

-Even so, spotting this fiend is far harder than tracking an ordinary sea creature.

Wrath was right; the fact that penetrating its veil required the Azure Clear Eye indicated that the beast was actively weaving marine mana and mystic power to erase the faintest disturbances in its environment.

[Is that monstrous thing… truly a Kraken?]

Roenn gulped down dryly, visibly rattled by the beast’s staggering dimensions.

[Could a creature really grow to such scale? I have traversed many waters, but nothing has ever rivaled this.]

Evelyn, despite her broad experience with ocean terrors, blinked in sheer disbelief, admitting she had never laid eyes on a specimen of such magnitude.

[Whether spawned naturally through the eons or cultivated via forbidden sorcery, we must abandon the idea that this is a regular beast.]

This presence was detached from common aquatic monsters, bearing far closer resemblance to the primeval cataclysms etched into ancient myth.

[Yet it makes total sense.]

The puzzle pieces snapped together—the eerie absence of any sea predators or schools of fish beyond the point where the turtle-shaped rock vanished, and the illogical placement of the White Blood Religion headquarters within this sunken trench. All of it stemmed from the dominion of this supreme horror.

[Breaching this barrier will be an ordeal.]

Roenn bit the inside of his lip as he tracked the minute billows of sand disturbed by the entity’s respiration.

[I harbor no confidence in dodging those massive appendages down here.]

A stifled groan escaped him; relying on explosive aura bursts to evade its grasping limbs would instantly signal their coordinates to the sentries of the White Blood Religion.

[The sentiment is shared.]

Evelyn gave a hushed sigh, her fingers clenching into the material of her subaquatic garment.

[Piercing that boundary layer through incantations without setting off alarms is virtually impossible.]

Her brow furrowed deeply, pointing out that the defensive arrays were intricately woven into a labyrinth of defensive spells beyond quick dismantling. Nearby, the Sea Spirit whimpered softly, its entire body trembling under a wave of dread. Yet observing its fearful glance, the creature seemed far more terrified of the dread master dwelling within the sanctuary—the Leader of the White Blood Religion—than of the submerged colossus itself.

[We withdraw for the moment.]

Raon rotated his head and gently stroked the shivering creature’s pelt.

[Already?]

Evelyn looked back, wide-eyed. Her reluctance was clear; she desired further time to map out the interwoven wards.

[With guards this vigilant, that fish we displaced earlier might already have aroused suspicion. We have secured vital intelligence, so stepping back is the wisest course.]

Tempting though it was to pry further into the perimeter, tactical prudence dictated a clean retreat to monitor the enemy’s subsequent maneuvers.

[A sound judgment.]

Roenn lifted a palm in full concurrence.

[Allow me to pave the way back.]

Pivoting smoothly, he slipped into the current along their previous path, urging an immediate departure.

[Keep pace.]

Raon offered a guiding hand to Evelyn as they trailed Roenn up the steep underwater precipice.

[Would it be so terrible if we came down here every day?]

Evelyn’s luminous violet gaze drifted toward him through the depths.

[Your closeness provides such a comforting warmth.]

Her breath hitched with subtle excitement as she expressed how much she relished lingering beside him.

[Do not get accustomed to it; this is an exception.]

Raon nudged her gently aside, making it clear he would not serve as her anchor indefinitely. Once they had fully cleared the perilous abyss, the Sea Spirit’s quivering finally subsided, and it let out a relieved puff of air while resting its paws upon his shoulder.

[You did splendidly.]

A faint, warm smile touched Raon’s lips as he patted the little beast’s crown. Having firmly committed to pulling back, the trio discarded any lingering curiosity regarding the enemy base and swam swiftly toward the shore near the harbor.

“Phew.”

Surfacing onto dry land, Raon brushed back his sodden strands of hair while peeling off the tight diving gear.

“Has the morning sun arrived already?”

The immense tension sparked by facing both the White Blood Religion’s domain and that abyssal predator had caused hours to slip by unnoticed.

“Uuuugh…”

Evelyn collapsed onto the cool sandbank, shutting her eyelids tightly in exhaustion.

“To think their stronghold was buried beneath such immense pressure. Breaching that fortress seems like a nightmare.”

Her nose twitched in annoyance as she reflected on the formidable defenses.

“Indeed. A frontal charge guarantees immediate alarm.”

Roenn nodded soberly while wringing the moisture from his gear.

“Without an operative planted inside, a quiet assassination remains entirely out of reach.”

He ran a hand across his forehead, conceding that detection would occur long before crossing the threshold of their sanctum.

“We rest our blades for the day.”

Clicking his tongue softly, Raon lifted the small Sea Spirit off his shoulder and placed it gently upon the sand.

-Hmph…

Wrath caressed his chin, releasing a theatrical, contemplative rumble.

‘What could possibly be troubling you now…?’

-That overgrown sea pest appears remarkably succulent. It would taste divine either seared over open flames or steeped in a rich broth.

The entity was practically drooling at the prospect of carving up the ancient Kraken for a feast.

“Good grief…”

Raon sighed under his breath and knelt before the little creature.

“You endured immense fright down there. I am grateful for your guidance.”

He stroked its small head, voicing his sincere appreciation.

“Kyaang!”

The spirit brushed its tongue against his skin as if insisting it was no trouble, feeling like a splash of brisk ocean spray against his fingers.

“Hold on!”

Evelyn abruptly hoisted a hand, her eyes locked on Raon.

“What do you call this little companion?”

She reached down, scooping up the damp, shivering creature.

“Its name? I possess no idea.”

He had simply referred to it as the Sea Spirit, never bothering to give it a proper designation.

“Excuse me?”

Evelyn’s mouth dropped open in pure astonishment.

“You drag it through such perils without even honoring it with a name?”

“Dragging it? When did I ever mistreat it…?”

“This is utter negligence! The tiny creature nearly shook itself apart guiding us into a lion’s den, and you haven’t even granted it a basic title…”

She narrowed her eyes, shooting him a reproachful glare.

“I simply had other priorities, and besides, we share no formal pact as contractor and familiar…”

“A pact? Is affection so strictly transactional to you? You are truly heartless!”

Evelyn drew the startled beast closer to her chest, openly lamenting Raon’s lack of warmth.

“Listen, that isn’t—”

-Surprisingly, the insolent woman speaks the truth for once.

Wrath interjected with utter disdain.

-On this rare occasion, I align with that unstable sorceress.

He grumbled that Raon’s cold disregard for proper etiquette reflected poorly on everyone.

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Roenn’s hearty chuckles broke out as he folded his aquatic gear.

“Virtually the entire realm dances within young master Raon’s grasp, yet Lady Evelyn constantly maneuvers beyond your control.”

The old steward beamed, thoroughly amused by their dynamic.

“Precisely! Our bond is entirely unique!”

Evelyn’s radiant smile flashed instantly, thoroughly enjoying the endorsement.

“It is nothing of the sort.”

Raon dismissed the notion flatly, focusing his gaze back on the creature cradled in her arms.

“Do you carry an identity of your own?”

“Kyarung?”

The creature tilted its tiny skull, indicating it had never held a name.

“In that case…”

Observing how its ruffled fur subtly mimicked the tides, Raon offered a suggestion.

“What do you think of Haerang? It signifies ‘the wolf of the tide.'”

“Kyaooooo!”

The small beast threw its head back and let out a triumphant, miniature howl toward the dawn sky, utterly thrilled with the moniker. It barked three successive times in pure joy, and suddenly, a radiant azure brilliance enveloped its form. Its downy white coat lengthened, softening until it resembled an impossibly fluffy puppy rather than a fierce predator.

While its physical frame altered only modestly, the ocean essence pulsing from within Haerang surged drastically. The modest aura it previously carried had swelled into the profound depth of an oceanic trench.

“What just happened?”

Raon let out a startled gasp as he observed Haerang yipping with delight.

‘A mere naming triggered this extent of metamorphosis?’

It was astonishing that an uncontracted spirit could undergo such a drastic qualitative leap purely from being given a name.

“It appears our guide was extraordinary from the start.”

Evelyn stroked the newly refined, velvet-like coat, her gaze sharpening with analytical wonder.

“After all, an individual of the Leader of the White Blood Religion’s standing would hardly associate with an ordinary sea critter.”

She noted that merely withstanding the corrosive bloody energy of their sovereign proved its exceptional lineage.

“Haerang. We shall return beneath the tides tonight, so gather your strength.”

Raon guided the newly christened creature back toward the shallows so it could rest.

“Kaooo!”

Haerang narrowed its bright eyes and nodded eagerly, still basking in the pride of its identity.

“You intend to venture down again so soon?”

Roenn’s eyebrows lifted in surprise at the rapid schedule.

“Indeed. We must dissect their defenses thoroughly. Even the slimmest advantage against the White Blood Religion could decide our survival.”

Raon spread his palms as if stating the undeniable.

“A valid point.”

Roenn held the same strategic aim, yet could only offer an understanding smile, holding back any hasty remarks.

“I too possess numerous spell matrices to unravel down there. Even so…”

Evelyn moistened her lips, her mind racing over the defensive incantations guarding the stronghold.

“Could we postpone the dive by two days instead of tonight?”

“Two days? I am not opposed, but what prompts the delay?”

Raon tilted his head, seeking clarification.

“This gear…”

Evelyn pointed down toward the special aquatic suits resting on the sand.

“It requires some fundamental alterations.”

—

Rap, rap.

As the 10th Apostle remained engrossed in logistical ledgers, sharp knocks echoed from his threshold.

“Enter.”

Upon receiving permission, a fair-haired woman cloaked in pristine white vestments stepped across the doorway.

“What brings you here?”

The 10th Apostle inquired flatly, his attention never wavering from the parchment in his grasp.

“A tremor was registered across the Kraken’s perimeter just a short while ago.”

Lowering her head with deference, she reported the anomaly.

“…An infiltration?”

The 10th Apostle’s gaze snapped upward, his fingers tightening until the parchment crinkled.

“Negative. Sentries verified it was merely a dead fish drifting through the deeper currents.”

She shook her head, clarifying that no hostile threat had breached the line.

“Under normal circumstances, such trivialities would not be brought to your desk, yet given the heightened security protocols…”

She inclined herself deeper, begging pardon for disturbing his concentration with mundane occurrences.

“Do stray fish frequently wander into that trench?”

Smoothing out the crumpled edges of the document, the 10th Apostle scrutinized her words.

“The tidal currents sweep them down on rare occasions, but it is an exceedingly uncommon sight.”

Her voice lowered, admitting the anomaly was indeed rare.

“…”

His eyes narrowed into calculating slits as he weighed her explanation.

“I was preparing to reinforce the outer watch, but—”

“Stand down.”

Cutting her off mid-sentence, the 10th Apostle rose to his feet.

“I shall oversee the perimeter surveillance in person over the coming days.”

Moving toward the doorway, he resolved to station himself at the vanguard to witness any further disturbances.

“Pardon? Such direct intervention seems excessive for—”

Her eyes widened in mild shock.

“It is the only prudent response.”

He dismissed her hesitation with an unyielding gesture.

“With the fall of the 9th Apostle and the ruin of the Blood Spirit Ship, the hounds of Zieghart or the Five Kings could easily be tracking our scent.”

Stepping into the corridor, he emphasized that personal vigilance was paramount.

‘With the supreme objective of the Throne drawing nearer to fruition…’

Looking upward at the subterranean sky choked with thick, crimson vapor, the 10th Apostle hardened his resolve.

‘Not even a solitary vermin shall scurry past our guard.’

Tightening his jaw, he marched directly toward the forward garrison post overseeing the oceanic trench.

—

“Take these!”

Before they plunged back into the depths, Evelyn presented updated diving suits shimmering with a much richer, deep-sea azure luster.

“What improvements did you make?”

Raon blinked, inspecting the refined gear she held out.

“I successfully fused concealment magic into the outer fabric.”

“Truly?”

He voiced genuine surprise while examining the fine weave of the enchantments.

“Did you not previously state that such magic was too cumbersome to weave into deep-diving garments?”

“I refined the formula.”

“In a mere forty-eight hours?”

“The Kraken served as my muse.”

Evelyn flashed a proud grin, explaining that she mimicked the biological camouflage observed in the great cephalopod.

“It does not grant absolute invisibility, but amid the shadowy currents, piercing this veil will be exceptionally difficult.”

She tapped her finger playfully, asserting that barring a direct, focused sweep from a Transcendent master, their outlines would remain entirely undetectable.

“An impressive feat.”

“Naturally! Magic is essentially the discipline of forging reality out of nothingness.”

Standing tall with her chin lifted high, she bathed in his validation.

“You have my gratitude.”

“Formalities are unnecessary between the two of us!”

She waved off his thanks with a breezy flick of her wrist.

“Shall we proceed?”

“Ha-ha, by all means.”

Roenn smoothed the fabric over his shoulders, visibly pleased with the upgrade, and slipped silently beneath the tide. As Raon and Evelyn dove into the waters, Haerang surged forward like a swift marlin, as though having waited eagerly for their return. The creature possessed far greater vigor following its naming and evolution.

With a rhythmic sweep of its tail, Haerang signaled them onward, cutting a clean path through the dark brine.

“Lead on.”

A quiet smile formed on Raon’s face as they descended once more toward the abyssal trench where the White Blood Religion lay hidden.

‘This sunken hollow never fails to send a shiver down one’s spine.’

The sinister bloody energy permeating the surrounding brine was faint enough to slip past an ordinary Grandmaster, yet its touch against the skin was utterly foul.

‘At least the perimeter appears undisturbed.’

Both the ancient Kraken and the sprawling stronghold rested in profound quiet, seemingly oblivious to the scouting party from two nights prior.

‘Today we push inward to map… Wait.’

Just as he prepared to advance at a measured pace, his instincts flared, and he raised a clenched fist to halt Roenn and Evelyn instantly.

‘A presence is sweeping the perimeter.’

Though the focus was not locked onto them, a razor-sharp consciousness belonging to an elite combatant was methodically combing the surrounding expanse.

‘Wrath. You sense that as well?’

-Obviously.

Wrath huffed, treating the inquiry as an insult to his awareness.

-It is not that monstrous cephalopod today…

He pointed a translucent finger toward the heart of the sunken fortress.

-A formidable individual from within is scouring this sector.

Wrath’s expression soured, thoroughly convinced of his assessment.

‘That vigilant gaze was entirely absent during our first dive. Which implies…’

Raon’s eyes narrowed toward the dark fortifications.

‘They did not dismiss the dead fish hitting their wards as a mere coincidence.’

The enemy had actively tightened their cordon following that single minute disruption.

‘A fortunate turn of events.’

For an awareness to extend this far into the crushing pressure of the sea, the sentry had to be exceptionally capable. Had Evelyn not woven protective camouflage into their suits, their presence would have been exposed instantly.

‘Their discipline is formidable. Whoever orchestrates their defense is cold, calculated, and thorough.’

Despite commanding ancient wards, defensive barriers, and a mythical beast like the Kraken, they still refused to let down their guard—a clear hallmark of a meticulous apostle overseeing operations.

[What has occurred?]

[A hostile gaze is sweeping the waters ahead.]

Raon communicated the danger to Roenn and Evelyn, indicating they had to maintain a far greater distance than during their previous excursion.

[The Five Demons maintain their fearsome reputation for good reason.]

Roenn exhaled silently into his apparatus, acknowledging the enemy’s rigorous standards.

[We are safe so long as they fail to pinpoint us directly.]

Evelyn signaled casually, indicating she could still analyze the complex magical matrices from their current vantage.

‘Fortunately…’

Raon affirmed her words as he observed the faint, malevolent glow of the stronghold.

‘Our tracks remain hidden.’

Had their identities been exposed, the Leader of the White Blood Religion or an elite apostle would have stormed the depths immediately. The heightened vigil confirmed the enemy was merely operating on vague suspicion.

‘Then my objective remains unchanged…’

To glean whatever tactical insight he could. Skirting the extreme edge of the perimeter, Raon contemplated methods to shatter the defensive ring encasing the bastion.

[…]

Beside him, Roenn and Evelyn monitored the fortress and the camouflaged colossus beneath it with grim focus, each calculating potential avenues of approach.

[The sun approaches. We withdraw.]

Noticing the shift in the upper waters, Raon signaled for an orderly retreat.

[Acknowledged!]

[Let us depart.]

Both nodded, having concluded their visual survey, and trailed him back toward the surface.

“Haaa…”

Stepping out onto the shoreline, Raon pulled off the modified diving mask and let out a prolonged sigh.

“We gathered vital layout details, yet formulating an assault plan remains an enigma.”

Carrying these findings back to Zieghart was simple enough, but concocting a viable strategy to storm the White Blood Religion headquarters seemed nearly impossible. Even if not placed at the absolute floor of the world, fighting in deep waters against an ancient stronghold guarded by barriers and a colossal Kraken bordered on madness.

“My thoughts mirror your own…”

Roenn’s forehead creased into deep lines.

“No matter the angle I contemplate, every path looks like a dead end.”

The veteran shook his head, admitting that simply infiltrating the perimeter, let alone executing an assassination, seemed unfeasible. As Raon observed Roenn’s uncharacteristic dismay, Evelyn and Haerang finally strode out of the surf.

“You have my gratitude, Evelyn. Without your magical craft, we would have walked straight into their trap.”

He reached out, commending her quick adaptation of the diving suits that kept them shielded from detection.

“…”

Yet contrary to her customary clingy demeanor, she remained motionless, staring out toward the rolling waves in a trance.

“I believe it can be done.”

Evelyn murmured, her gaze turning steady.

“What did you say?”

Raon stepped forward, his eyes widening in surprise.

“A strategy to breach the White Blood Religion headquarters…”

A bright, triumphant grin curved her lips as she raised a slender finger.

“I think an opening exists.”

“Truly? By what means?”

His focus sharpened on an outcome he had previously deemed impossible.

“As I stated earlier…”

Evelyn beamed with radiant confidence, tapping the magically altered suit she had woven.

“Magic is fundamentally the art of forging reality out of nothingness.”