Chapter 584

Fwoooosh—

Yog kept building speed. The faster it went, the more Ian was crushed by the pressure. He eventually had to drop to one knee on Yog’s back, gripping the handle of the hook in his left hand and the Light Sword in his right.

Ruthless, really.

Ian clenched his teeth until they nearly cracked. The pressure was like fighting his way up a raging torrent. The force felt so intense, not just because of the current, but because the red divinity blazing around him was flickering and fading.

Here in the cold, dark depths, Karha’s gaze could not reach properly. Yet Ian refused to bow his head or close his eyes.

Growl—

Beyond the shimmering darkness, Bukikia’s ascending form was growing clearer. It was also thanks to his Willful Grasp, which was neutralizing some of the pressure on his shoulders.

Ian’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the creature.

It’s definitely not in perfect condition.

Crimson particles were spewing from the rising creature like embers carried on the wind. It almost looked as if its own crimson flames were consuming it.

—So it wasn’t just revealing its presence; it couldn’t hide it completely in the first place.

It was just as Yog whispered. As he had glimpsed before, chunks of flesh were torn or blasted away from Bukikia’s tentacles and torso. And it seemed the creature could not heal those wounds.

He didn't know the exact reason, but the most likely possibility was that the fleet’s attacks had been infused with chaos. For the corrupted and demons, a different color of chaos had an effect similar to divinity. It meant that, though it would take a long time, the creature would eventually die if left alone.

Is the injury the reason it hasn’t sensed us yet?

In any case, it wasn't bad news. With calmer eyes, Ian observed the archdemon of the deep as it grew to fill his vision. Unlike anything he’d known, its outstretched tentacle-legs sprouted sharp, beak-like teeth instead of suckers.

Irregularly sprouted spikes and thin tendrils covered its torso, which resembled an alien skull or a malignant tumor. Its appearance was closer to that of a creature from the void. It wasn't strange that he couldn't see the eyes he had faced below the surface. Yog was currently charging from outside its line of sight.

Crash—

Just then, Bukikia, which had been ascending with its outstretched tentacles, thrashed in a convulsive frenzy. There was no need to wonder why. It had finally sensed the approach of Yog and Ian. Yog let out a laugh of disappointment, but Ian wasn't particularly let down.

Just making it this close unnoticed is more than enough.

He was, after all, shrouded in Karha’s divinity and gripped the Platinum Claws. It was more surprising that he had approached this close with no issue. Besides, they had already achieved their goal of keeping it from breaching and raising another tidal wave.

—

A bit late to turn back, I think, Friend.

As Yog’s whisper spread, a quest window popped up in front of Ian.

[Bukikia of Endless Craving.]

At the same time, his bead of chaos essence resonated, vibrating through him. Yog was calling for his chaos. Closing the quest window, Ian unleashed his chaos without hesitation. As a massive crimson vortex swirled ahead of them, Yog, sensing the chaos flowing through the hook, let out a laugh.

—Brace yourself. And don’t let go, no matter what.

In an instant, the violet haze wreathing Yog deepened. The pressure crushing Ian rapidly decreased. Yog’s chaos was now protecting him. Of course, the sensation of his flesh burning away still crawled across him, but Ian was long accustomed to such pain. If anything, his mind grew sharper as he fixed his gaze on Bukikia.

Crash—

The creature’s tentacles whirled at a blistering speed, slashing downward toward them. The tentacles, with their sharp teeth, would surely shred them before Yog could reach its torso. If they were caught in that, even the chaos-shrouded Yog would be turned into pulp, to say nothing of Ian on its back.

Screech—

A piercing scream erupted from between the tentacles, which then spun in a more violent spiral. The tentacles seemed to rotate faster and more fiercely than the body.

—Good thing I took the time to get used to this form.

With that whisper, Yog bent low, then straightened and kicked off the water, shooting upward. Its charge slowed sharply, only to rocket skyward again. Yog’s intention was obvious. It was trying to evade the tentacle vortex head-on. It was a reckless challenge, but Ian offered no objection. In this situation, there was no safe escape route. Besides, he felt like he understood Yog’s other intention.

—This might get a little dizzy.

Yog kicked its tail and changed its trajectory, spinning in a wide arc. It was a movement akin to an aerobatic maneuver, something that would have been impossible on land. At the same time, a thick, long tentacle brushed past them.

The crimson arcs shooting out with the current had no effect on the chaos-spewing Yog. The same was true for Ian, who was protected within its aura.

Ian watched the sharp teeth pass by. It looked like the massive, gaping mouth of a mollusk. He could tell they were incredibly sharp without even touching them.

And yet, that wasn’t even the true maw. Ian tilted his head upward just as they passed between the limbs.

It won’t try to suck us in, will it?

In the center of the swirling tentacles, a giant maw, lined with rows of sharp teeth, was visible. Lit by a sickly crimson glow from within, it was nothing less than the gaping entrance to hell itself. Ian’s gaze lingered on the opening for only a fraction of a second.

Fwoooosh—

The swirling tentacles were closing in again. Yog, still ascending, was twisting its trajectory as if to pass through a gap between them. Its silence meant it was concentrating too hard to even quip. It was then that Ian raised the glowing sword he had been holding just clear of Yog's back.

If I’m going to die if I’m caught, I should leave behind a memorable gift.

At almost the same moment, Yog tilted, spun, and kicked its tail fin. It passed between the arcing tentacles, and Ian thrust his Light Sword toward a tentacle that was passing overhead. The bright yellow arc shot out, cutting into the appendage.

Crack—

A jarring resistance that made his wrist ache traveled up the blade. It would surely further lower the already dwindling durability of his Truesilver Steel Sword, but he didn’t care.

Following Yog’s ascent, the Light Sword passed through the tentacle and emerged on the other side. He couldn't see the result, but he knew immediately that it had been effective.

As the wave of sea beasts passed far below them, a shockwave and a scream mixed with rage and pain erupted from behind. Yog, sent flying upward by the blast, let out a chuckling laugh.

—Not bad, friend. Landing a hit in the middle of that.

At the same time, the creature curled its massive body. A moment later, thick, violet-tinged blood washed past Ian’s side.

Only then did Ian realize Yog hadn’t come through unscathed. If one of those tentacles had clipped its leg, it would never have been able to surge upward like this. It must have been one of those jagged teeth scraping past.

Fwoosh—

However, Yog, as if feeling no pain, kicked its tail upward and stretched its body. It changed direction as if doing a handstand, then flicked its tail fin repeatedly.

—Looks like we have an even better opportunity. What should we do?

Even as his head spun, Ian answered by pouring his chaos power into the hook in his left hand. Bukikia, screaming, was still spinning, unable to stop the diagonal descent of its tentacles. Its long, massive torso was now completely defenseless. This was an opportunity that might never come again, especially with Yog significantly injured now.

—This is why I can’t help but like you.

With that laughter-tinged whisper, Yog kicked off the water again and shot into the depths. Even as he struggled to maintain his balance, Ian could finally see the result of his attack. One of the tentacles, severed diagonally from the middle, was dangling uselessly. As it continued to spin, crimson light spewed from the stump like blood.

—Just don’t die on me. I’ll get you back to the surface somehow.

Yog whispered, plummeting like a violet meteor. Ian didn’t reply, merely tightening his grip on the hilt of his Light Sword.

His eyes locked on Bukikia’s vast torso. The feeling that the tentacles were spinning faster was no illusion; the torso itself was now rotating much more slowly. Uneven spikes and tendrils jutted out, gill-like fins flared, and patches of hide sank inward like burst flesh, vomiting violet sparks like embers. It was into that grotesque mass that Ian and Yog would soon crash headlong.

Fwoosh—

There was no time to brace, no sense in trying. Better to accept the blow and strike back in turn.

Swoosh...

Before the thought was even complete, a halo of light erupted from the blade of his Light Sword. Ian unleashed the last of the relic ring’s sanctity, resolving to burn it all. The red divinity, smothered by Yog’s chaos until now, blazed hot once more.

Did the Blessing of Light make it easier for him to see?

One corner of Ian’s mouth twisted.

Karha would savor a moment like this.

Crash—

That was when Bukikia’s torso revealed its hidden eye. A massive orb, its jagged pupil like a saw blade, violet ripples radiating from it like shockwaves.

Only one?

He couldn't tell if it was by design or if it had lost the other one in the battle with the fleet. Judging by its state, the latter was a distinct possibility. Just then, the creature’s gaze turned toward Ian and Yog.

With a scream, the rough-edged pupil dilated, and the swirling tentacles rotated in the opposite direction. That alone was enough to stop its rotation in an instant.

The next moment, the tentacles unfurled all at once like a blooming flower. It was clearly trying to protect itself by wrapping its long tentacles around it. The crimson light in its eye also flared, as if boiling.

Yog’s laugh followed.

—

Too late, I’m afraid.

Way too late,

Ian retorted inwardly, raising his upper body. Bukikia’s massive torso was right in front of them, and its eye was right above it.

Thwump—

Ian kicked off with all his might. As Yog slammed headlong into Bukikia’s flesh, Ian swung. His Light Sword, grip reversed into a downward cut, arced overhead with every ounce of his strength.

Boom!

The impact rippled out in concentric waves across the beast’s hide. Yog’s skull drove deep into the archdemon.

Crash—

But Ian, gripping the hilt of the Light Sword with both hands, didn't even glance that way. His gaze was fixed on the massive crimson eye that was diagonally approaching.

Fwoosh!

He bent at the waist and slammed both hands down. The bright yellow blade, imbued with the Blessing of Light, cut through the center of the massive, crimson-glowing eye as if it were tofu. Of course, he couldn't stop even after the blade was fully embedded.

Crunch—

With his grip tightening, Ian forced his body forward, driving straight through the eye. A viscous chill clung to him, slick and suffocating, as violet radiance swallowed him whole.