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Kraken

  There are five levels to an ocean known to man: the sunlight zone, the twilight zone, the midnight zone, the evernight zone, and the trenches.

  However, sea explorers know more than the information released to the public. There are a few zones below the trenches that little is known about. Collectively, these zones are called the abyssal depths.

  These abyssal depths host deep sea entities of unknown origin and ability, creatures never seen before.

  Krakens are a species of sea entities commonly found floating in the deeper parts of the trenches. Hence, they are not very common to encounter, but not rare either.

  It is easy to identify Krakens. They possess enormous eyes gleaming like orbs of burning ember, massive tentacles as thick as a ship's mast, and many times longer than a ship itself. Forces of nature that command respect and fear from all who dare sail through their domain.

  Basically, overgrown squids with the ability to create terrifying storms and whirlpools, camoufge with their surroundings, hypnotize their prey, and regenerate no matter how many times they are cut.

  That is a Kraken. A sea entity belonging to the trenches of the ocean. A fearsome presence of the waters, one that can pull ships into hurricanes and kill men with a sneeze.

  Captain Buckwick slowly walked out of his cabin, and the moment he did, an aura of calmness permeated from within him.

  All the panicking sailors settled down. They gnced at the captain with admiration in their hearts and relief, for he was finally here. You see, it is a rule on the Ats, simir to many pirate ships, that the Captain's Cabin may only open outward and never inward unless one knocks.

  They cheered with stars in their eyes as soon as Captain Buckwick was fully in view.

  "Captain! You're here!"

  "Captain Buckwick!"

  "Captain! What should we do?"

  Captain Buckwick had a calm gaze as he observed each of his sailors. The newer ones were a little green, but the ones who had been with him for a while had a rough, knowing expression on their faces.

  He turned to the sailor who had approached him and nodded. It was the polka dot scarved man dressed in a trashed navy uniform with a rugged coat. This was the first mate of the Doomskull Pirates.

  "Finnegan. Take the gunners, gunslingers, and swordsmen. Apply Formation 53. Today, we hunt a Kraken for breakfast."

  "AHOYYYYYYY!"

  The sailors cheered at the captain's words. The older ones smiled. Having been part of the Doomskull Pirates, they had tasted Kraken fried tentacles before, and they all had to admit it was one of the tastiest food items in the world.

  A delicacy.

  Right at that moment, the Kraken's roar sounded. It was low pitched and oscilted through the ocean, sounding like the blow of a gigantic trumpet.

  It seemed the Kraken had heard their talk and was angry.

  A few tentacles raised in the sky, from each side of the ship, and attacked downward instantly.

  However, the sailors were ready for it. The captain had purposely provoked the sea entity. The gunners took hold of the cannons and pointed them toward the ocean below in hopes of being able to strike the main body.

  Meanwhile, the gunslingers shot their bullets at the tentacles, leaving holes within them and causing the beast to rage even more.

  The moment the hurling tentacles lowered to attack the sailors holding the ropes or the ones throwing water from the ship, the swordsmen cut the thick tentacles clean with their magical swords, while the gunslingers left holes in the wriggling pieces of flesh.

  While the sailors were battling, the captain made his way to the helm with an air of nonchance around him. Puffing his cigar under the rain, he took hold of the ship’s wheel.

  Instantly, he felt it.

  A cold surge crawling through his veins, as if the ocean itself had reached out to shake hands with his soul. The Miasma, the vile invisible force that polluted the very heart of the world, wrapped around him like a cloak.

  It was not something one summoned but something that recognized you.

  The aura around Captain Buckwick deepened. His visible eye rolled back, revealing only the white sclera while his breath fogged despite the warm sea air.

  In that moment, his perception twisted. He saw the Ats not from his eyes but as though his consciousness had risen into the air, watching the ship and the storm from above.

  The Kraken had taken complete hold of the ship, but its grip was constantly loosening due to the experience and power of the Doomskull Pirates.

  Nodding to himself, he observed as the main gunslinger of his crew chanted something to his gun, activating a magic spell, and aimed toward the Kraken that had by now completely revealed itself in a moment of fury.

  *BOOOOOOOOM!!!!*

  The sound of the gunshot reverberated in the air as the gunslinger pulled the trigger. A bullet whizzed toward the Kraken’s face that had appeared above the water.

  Before one could comprehend, the murky waters of the Pasafique were covered by a deep dirty shade of green blood.

  The Kraken, however, was not done and began to regenerate, but right at that moment, the fish net that had been secretly cast into the water pulled with the force of every member of the Ats.

  A gigantic creature came into view. Though the beast could not be pulled onto the ship due to its size, this was the best opportunity for everyone to hunt the Kraken down completely.

  Everyone gathered on the railings of the ship and threw harpoons at the creature. Satisfied by the performance of his sailors, Captain Buckwick continued steering the Ats through and above the waves successfully.

  Leaving the helm temporarily, he jumped off the quarterdeck and walked toward the gun port where everyone was gathered to hunt the Kraken.

  "It's the Captain!"

  "AHOYYYYY CAPTAIN!"

  "YUMMY YUMMY KRAKEN TENTACLES!"

  Buckwick smiled lightly. He gnced at the Gun Master of his crew who had delivered the fatal shot to the Kraken. He was severely exhausted and panting a little, having spent all his mana on the spell.

  "Good work, Pimbo."

  Pimbo smiled toothily. He was a rat mutate, a humanoid rodent species known for living in filth and reproducing at a dizzying rate, with no particurly good or bad traits. Though their high intelligence and greed were rather commendable features.

  "Thank you, captain. Please allow the competition of valour."

  Captain Buckwick grinned and exhaled a puff of cigar smoke and nodded. Opening his palm, bck wisps of aura escaped, and the space around him distorted as he removed a sleek and long harpoon from his shadow.

  Amidst the heavy storm, dangerous whirlpools, and massive waves, a comical scene was taking pce on the wooden pnks of the pirate ship Ats.

  Captain Buckwick was distributing a deck of cards between the sailors at an unnatural speed. In approximately fifteen seconds, the captain had already distributed the cards among them.

  When he was done, he looked upward and spoke quietly, his voice crisp and clear to the sailors despite the sound of the tempest.

  "Ace of Spades."

  The captain announced.

  "Here! I have it!"

  A young man’s voice sounded. It was a blonde-haired human. He wore a brown vest and a white sailor’s shirt with brown boots that matched the brown watch around his wrist.

  He raised his hand to show the Ace of Spades card that he possessed, his voice filled with excitement.

  Captain Buckwick smiled as he casually tossed the harpoon into the hand of the winner. He spoke aloud, while taking a puff of his cigar.

  "Congratutions, Thomas. The Kraken is all yours."

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