Chapter 117

Ariel’s sword swung and effortlessly sliced the existence in half.

A massive mouth split open on both sides, and dark blood poured out.

The existence, now split into two, began to sink silently.

The tentacles that had been wrapped around Teodoras loosened and disappeared into the darkness.

Teodoras stared blankly at it when suddenly, a soft touch was felt on their hand.

“Let’s go.”

Ariel had approached and taken their hand.

Teodoras nodded, and the two swam out of the river, hand in hand.

Swoosh!

Outside the river, the heavy rain was still pouring.

Ariel climbed back onto Teodoras’s shell, and Roo flapped her wet wings, quickly approaching.

“Big sis!”

Roo landed on Ariel’s shoulder and spoke.

“I think I know what that thing was.”

“What was it?”

“Yes. It was a Kraken. It’s in the adventure magazine.”

At Roo’s words, Ariel pulled out the adventure magazine from her inventory and shielded it from the rain with a shield above her head.

Roo quickly flipped through the pages and showed Ariel the page on “The Encyclopedia of Legendary Ancient Creatures.”

—

**Ruler of the Abyss, Kraken.**

The Kraken is a monster said to have existed in ancient times, dwelling in the deepest and longest rivers.

Its form is a combination of a giant serpent and an octopus, reaching hundreds of meters in length, with powerful tentacles.

Its body is gray, covered in thick skin that glows darkly.

The Kraken’s head houses a massive eye, which seems to hold the abyss itself, empty and terrifying, capable of instilling fear with just a glance.

The Kraken’s tentacles are strong enough to crush rocks, and once they grab hold of something, they never let go.

The surface of the tentacles has sharp, hook-like protrusions that grip tightly.

The Kraken’s body has a large mouth filled with spike-like teeth.

The Kraken spends most of its time in deep slumber but awakens under specific conditions like eclipses or great floods.

The Kraken stirs the river, creating massive whirlpools that suck in everything around it, becoming its food.

The Kraken’s roar shakes the river and instills fear in those who hear it.

Killing the Kraken is not easy.

The Kraken is nearly immortal, as its body regenerates quickly even if cut apart.

The only way to kill it is to annihilate it in one go.

—

“How about it, big sis? That thing was definitely a Kraken, right?”

Roo asked excitedly, and Ariel nodded.

According to the book, the existence Ariel had sliced in half with her sword was indeed a Kraken.

“Wow, encountering a legendary ancient creature in real life is amazing!”

Roo exclaimed joyfully.

“Hmm, but it’s a bit disappointing. It was too deep in the water to see it properly… Big sis?”

Roo stopped speaking and looked at Ariel.

Ariel had drawn the sword from her back.

“Why the sword…?”

In an instant, Ariel’s sword flashed.

Dozens of silver trajectories spread out in all directions.

Then, something fell with a thud.

It was the severed tentacles.

“?”

Roo looked up.

Tentacles had already emerged from the river.

Simultaneously, the river began to swirl, forming another whirlpool.

“Big, big sis, it seems that thing isn’t dead yet!”

Roo shouted in fear, and Teodoras quickly moved to escape.

“We need to annihilate it in one go.”

Ariel said quietly.

As written in the book, the Kraken would regenerate quickly no matter how much it was cut.

The only way to kill it was to annihilate it in one go.

“Kuooh!”

With a massive roar, the Kraken emerged from the river.

Water splashed everywhere as the Kraken’s enormous body slowly rose from the darkness.

Countless tentacles writhed and stretched toward the sky, and the Kraken’s red eyes glowed ominously.

The massive ancient creature stood imposingly on the river, exuding an overwhelming presence.

The tentacles stirred the river, making the whirlpool even fiercer, shaking everything around with their powerful force.

“Kuooh!!”

The roar from the Kraken’s mouth shook the earth.

The sound, as if echoing from the abyss, delivered intense fear.

“E, elf girl!”

“Big sis!”

Teodoras and Roo were in a panic, but Ariel calmly cast her telekinesis.

Slowly, the Kraken’s massive body began to rise.

It was a sight that seemed to defy the laws of gravity.

The Kraken’s tentacles writhed in the air, resisting Ariel’s power, but her telekinesis was absolute.

A vast amount of mana erupted from Ariel’s body like a waterfall, and the Kraken’s body rose higher and higher.

Soon, a massive shadow covered the sky.

“W, what is this…?”

Teodoras looked up at the Kraken in the sky with astonished eyes.

The Kraken’s appearance was the embodiment of terror.

A mountain-like body. Countless snake-like tentacles writhing.

Especially the Kraken’s large eyes, deep and ominous, as if staring into the abyss.

How could such a terrifying creature exist?

‘No, more than that…’

What surprised Teodoras wasn’t the Kraken’s appearance.

What was truly astonishing was that such an overwhelmingly large creature was floating in the air.

And it was all due to a single girl’s magic.

“Ugh, it’s really horrifying…”

Roo muttered.

Already accustomed to Ariel’s magic, Roo wasn’t as shocked as Teodoras.

She just frowned and quietly observed the Kraken.

“I’m scared it might appear in my dreams. Big sis, can I sleep in your arms tonight?”

“Sure.”

Ariel nodded and gathered her mana.

She had already thought of a spell to annihilate the Kraken in one go.

The surrounding air began to vibrate violently.

The mana in the air condensed to the point of being visible, surrounding Ariel like a blue mist.

Teodoras and Roo gasped for breath under the sudden pressure.

It felt like gravity had increased several times, making it hard to breathe.

Then, Ariel stretched out her hand and chanted the spell.

“Magic Missile.”

A blue beam shot from Ariel’s hand.

The beam tore through the sky, emitting a intense light as it headed toward the Kraken.

The atmosphere trembled, and the river shook.

Teodoras desperately tried to maintain balance, and Roo instinctively hid inside Ariel’s hat.

Ariel’s blue beam completely enveloped the Kraken, gradually growing brighter.

As it did, the Kraken’s body began to disintegrate within the light.

“Kuaaak!”

The Kraken’s agonized scream echoed.

A moment later.

Ariel slowly lowered her hand.

The blue beam disappeared, and the Kraken was gone without a trace.

Even the dark clouds in the sky were wiped away by Ariel’s magic.

Warm sunlight shone down from the now clear sky.

And so, the river returned to its original calmness.

*

After defeating the Kraken, they began to cross the river again.

Ariel took out a macaron from her inventory and fed it to Teodoras, who was surprised and exhausted.

“You did well, Teodoras.”

Teodoras swallowed the macaron in one bite and trembled slightly.

Their amber eyes sparkled with joy.

Ariel also handed Roo some fruit wine.

“Roo, you did well too.”

“Wow!”

Roo cheered, kissed Ariel’s cheek, and gulped down the fruit wine.

“Ah, nothing beats a drink after a battle.”

Even though Roo hadn’t done much in the battle against the Kraken, Ariel didn’t mind and started munching on a cream bread while sitting on Teodoras’s head.

Soon, Teodoras asked Ariel.

“Do you want to play a riddle game?”

“……”

Ariel hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Only once. You ask the question.”

“Alright.”

Teodoras quietly opened their mouth as they continued to push through the river.

“Which race has the biggest feet in the world?”

“Giant race.”

Ariel answered immediately.

Of course, she didn’t expect it to be the correct answer.

After all, Teodoras would never accept any answer she gave.

Depending on the situation, they might say ‘an ogre born with very big feet’ or even claim the Kraken they just saw was the answer.

But Teodoras’s reaction was unexpected.

“That’s correct.”

Ariel was slightly surprised, and Roo also tilted her head.

“Such a wise child.”

At Teodoras’s words, Ariel smiled slightly.

Roo, sitting beside them, spoke up.

“This kid finally admits the answer. It would’ve been nice if they did that from the start. From now on, admit the results obediently.”

“……”

Teodoras just remained silent, lost in their own thoughts.

“Hmm, speaking of the Giant race, what a strange coincidence. Big sis and I are actually looking for the Giant race.”

But at Roo’s words, Teodoras’s eyes widened.

“Y, you’re looking for the Giant race?”

“Yes.”

“C, can you take me with you?”

Teodoras asked urgently.

Roo frowned.

“You? But you don’t seem like you’d be much help.”

“I might be helpful. I… I…”

Teodoras desperately searched for something to say.

Then, Ariel spoke.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

“Huh, big sis? You’re taking this guy with us?”

Roo looked at Ariel.

“Why?”

“Because.”

Ariel gently patted Teodoras’s head.

“They’re cute.”

“!”

“!!”

At those words, Roo and Teodoras both looked surprised.

Soon, Roo’s expression hardened, and a bright smile spread across Teodoras’s face.

“You’re very cute too, elf girl.”

Teodoras stretched out their short arm and gently stroked Ariel with their fingertips.

Ariel closed her eyes and smiled at the warm touch.

Then, Roo frowned and pushed away Teodoras’s sturdy arm.

“D, don’t touch our big sis so casually, you turtle!”

Roo’s voice clearly showed her protective instincts and jealousy.

But Teodoras didn’t mind and gently stroked Roo too.

“You’re cute too, fairy.”

“……”

For a moment, Roo tightly closed her mouth.

Soon, an awkward smile appeared on Roo’s face, and her ears gradually turned red.

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