Bab 72: Crabs
(Katsuo POV)
Two weeks later, we set our sights on the next target: the Brine King's Reef. "Because after dealing with fire, why not tackle water?" I mutter to myself, trudging down the rocky path. The salty sea breeze hits me, a welcome change from the stifling heat of the lava fields.
In these past two weeks, I mostly focused on mastering my domain, Fiery Haven. The good news? I can now fight effectively in close combat while maintaining a five-meter radius. A nerf from the initial ten meters, but what can I say? My Mana Core still lacks the output. Though I'm now a Master Core - I, a major level below Grandmaster Core - V. I guess my technique was the catalyst for these somewhat fast gains of two sub-levels.
And, well, we made a bit of a detour and went to Shavronne's tower. We speedran it. I mean, in just a day, we beat her and the revived Brutus. Quick and efficient, just like ordering takeout.
The first thing I notice at the reef are the seagulls. They're everywhere, squawking and dive-bombing anything that moves. "Great, just what I needed. Feathered fiends," I say, waving my arms to shoo them away. One particularly brave gull decides my head looks like a perfect perch. Dem, feeling a bit jealous, sets the bird's tail on fire and perches on my head instead, as if claiming her rightful place.
"Thanks, Dem," I say, gingerly patting her. She smiled happily, her flames flickering gently. Kai zips around, excited as always, and Jade plods along steadily, clearly not bothered by our avian adversaries.
As we continue, the ground beneath us becomes wetter, the rocks slick with seaweed. I almost lose my footing more than once. "This is just perfect," I grumble, using Earth Manipulation to make solid platforms as we traverse.
Not far along, we encounter our first aquatic adversary: the Reef Vipers. These slimy, snake-like creatures slither out from the rocks, their scales glistening. "Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?" I mutter, slicing one in half.
After a bit of a dance with the vipers, we make our way to the shoreline, where the Brine King's minions are waiting: the Drowned. These zombie-like sailors stagger towards us, their bodies bloated and dripping with seawater. "Just when I thought zombies couldn't get any grosser," I say, dodging a particularly slimy swipe. "These guys look like they lost a fight with a seafood platter."
As I slice and dice my way through the undead sailors, the sea itself seems to rise against us. Giant crustaceans, aptly named Crab Hulks, scuttle out of the surf. They're like walking, snapping nightmares, complete with barnacles. "Well, aren't you a big fella?" I say, zipping away from a crushing claw. "Didn't know the Brine King had a seafood buffet."
Dem flew higher, and like the flamethrower she is, sent fiery waves, causing the crab hulks to hiss and retreat. Kai zips around, zapping the Crab Hulks with bolts of electricity, his nose twitching excitedly. Jade, in his usual stoic manner, plants himself between us and the incoming horde, his new Heart of the Forest pendant glowing faintly.
A few more slippery battles later, we finally see the reef in the distance. It's jagged and foreboding, jutting out of the water like a drowned fortress. "Almost there," I said, though I'm pretty sure I just jinxed us.
And of course, the Brine King has one more trick up his watery sleeve: the Tidal Conquerors. These towering water elementals rise from the waves, their forms constantly shifting. "Alright, I've had it with water," I shout, zipping around them and using Rapid Slash to take out these pesky mobs. "How about you guys dry up?"
The elementals don't respond, of course, but their splashes seem particularly irritated.
Finally, I stand before the Brine King's lair. The entrance is a gaping maw of rock, the water swirling ominously around it. "You guys ready?" I ask my trio as we step into the darkness. Dem chirps and flutters around my head, Kai's nose twitches with excitement, and Jade gives a solid, confident nod. "Hope you're ready for a splashdown, Brine King."
As I make my way deeper into the reef, I can't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "From fiery gods to waterlogged kings. What's next, a god of mud?" I shake my head, steeling myself for the battle ahead.
The interior of the reef is like a giant, damp cave, with water dripping from every surface and the sound of the ocean echoing all around. "Cozy place," I mutter, kicking a stray piece of seaweed out of my path. "Really homey."
As we venture further, I spot movement in the shadows. Great, more welcoming committee members. This time, it's the Brine King's elite guard: the Leviathan Wardens. These giant, eel-like creatures slither out, their scales shimmering. "Lovely. More slippery customers," I say, sighing.
Dem darts forward, her flames flickering dangerously, while Kai zips around, his fur sparking with electricity. Jade, always the steady rock, moved himself in front of us, his stone fists ready to pound any eel that gets too close.
"Alright, let's make this quick," I say, summoning my Summoned Swords to deal with the eel guards. The ethereal blades slice through the water, hitting their targets with satisfying precision. The Leviathan Wardens writhe and hiss before retreating into the depths. "Slippery but not invincible," I quip, feeling a bit more confident.
Finally, we reach the heart of the reef. There, looming over us, is the Brine King. His massive form is a swirling mass of water and coral, eyes glowing like deep-sea lanterns. "Okay, big guy, let's see what you've got," I say, readying Sanchomo for the battle ahead.
The Brine King roars, summoning waves and whirlpools. Cladding myself in Quadra-elemental Properties I joined fge figjt. "Alright, team, let's give him a taste of our power!" I shout, charging forward.
Kai zips ahead, unleashing a barrage of lightning bolts. "Eat volts, fish face!" I imagine him saying, though all I hear is his excited squeaking. The Brine King snarls, sending a wave crashing towards him. Dem flits around, her fiery wings leaving trails of flame in the air. "Bet you didn't expect a fire sprite in your watery domain!" I laugh, even if it's just in my head.
Jade stands firm, his aura of calm providing us all with a steadying influence. "Let's finish this," I say, though he just gives me another solid nod, his focus unwavering.
"Right behind you, Jade!" I shout, summoning a Pyrobolt and hurling it at the Brine King. The bolt strikes him in the chest, causing him to stagger. "How do you like that, you overgrown aquarium decoration?"
The Brine King roars, lashing out with his tentacles. I zip and dodge, slashing at the tentacles with Sanchomo. "Come on, big guy! Is that the best you've got?"
The fight is intense, but finally, with one last, mighty strike, we bring the Brine King down. He collapses into the sea, his body dissolving into foam. "Good job, team," I say, breathing heavily. "Looks like we've made some serious waves."
We stand victorious in the heart of the reef, the storm clouds beginning to dissipate. "Another one bites the dust," I say, wiping sweat from my brow. "Or, in this case, the saltwater."
With a deep breath, I prepare to face whatever comes next, already dreaming of a relaxing bath and a meal that isn't seafood. "Maybe next time, we can fight a god of comfort and snacks," I joke, leading my trio back towards the surface, where the sun is finally breaking through the clouds.
.
.
.
.
Three days later, we settled in a clearing on The Broken Bridge. Naturally, I set up our trusty igloo. And after a bit of downtime, I decided it was time for some serious mana work. Fiery Haven was great and all, but it wasn't really my style. It's too defensive, and I'm more of a "best defense is a good offense" kind of guy.
I settled into a lotus pose outside the igloo, feeling a breakthrough in my Mana Core coming on. "Alright, let's get to work," I muttered, casting Fiery Haven. The familiar shimmering boundary appeared around me in a ten-meter radius.
Then, I decided to spice things up with some Lightning Manipulation. Easy, right? Wrong. Lightning is as unpredictable as a cat on caffeine.
Minutes turned into hours, and sweat dripped from my forehead. I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. My head throbbed like I was trying to pass a kidney stone through my brain. But finally, after what felt like an eternity—or taking a massive dump—I, Katsuo Kotobuki, the ever-badass Cosmic Janitor, did it.
Around me was a compact, three-meter radius domain that combined the ferocious power of fire, lightning, and air. This new domain was designed to be intensely dangerous, filled with lethal energies that could devastate anyone within its range. The environment was a chaotic blend of swirling flames, crackling lightning, and turbulent winds, creating a formidable and destructive space.
My domain was a swirling maelstrom of fire, lightning, and air, with glowing embers, flashing bolts, and gusting winds creating a dynamic and terrifying visual spectacle. Inside, the air was superheated and charged with static electricity, making it difficult to breathe and causing my hair and clothing to stand on end.
The roar of flames, the crackle of lightning, and the howling of winds combined into a deafening cacophony, heightening the sense of chaos and danger.
My head throbbed intensely in pain, but the feeling of accomplishment overshadowed it. "Hell yeah!" I shouted, my voice barely audible over the chaos.
Feeling the swirling energy, my trio woke up and stumbled out of the igloo. Dem looked proud, fluttering around like a tiny, fiery cheerleader. Kai zipped around in excitement, his fur standing on end from the static electricity. Jade stood stoically, though I could swear I saw a hint of worry in his stony eyes.
"Look, guys! I did it!" I yelled, grinning like a maniac. "This is our new domain! It's like a rave from hell!"
Dem fluttered around and gave me a thumbs-up. Kai also zipped around, probably trying to zap something with his newfound electricity. Jade just nodded, but I could tell he was impressed. Or worried. Or both.
"Alright, let's get ready to test this baby out," I said, though my head still felt like it was being used as a drum set by an overenthusiastic toddler. "We've got a lot more adventuring to do, and now we've got some serious firepower. Literally."
We stood there in the chaotic beauty of my new domain, ready to take on whatever came next. And if that meant scaring the pants off any would-be enemies with our new terrifying power, well, that was just a bonus.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
ChrisTian3421
ChrisTian3421 Life's unfair and fair, no? *Sigh*
It's a strange paradox, isn't it? On one hand, life can seem incredibly unfair. Good people face hardships, opportunities seem to favor the lucky, and random events can upend everything in a heartbeat. You work hard, do everything right, and yet things don't always go as planned.
But then, there are moments when life’s fairness shines through. When hard work pays off, when kindness is rewarded, or when a random act of generosity turns your day around. There’s a certain balance in the chaos—sometimes subtle, sometimes glaringly obvious.
It's a mix of the predictable and the unpredictable, the controllable and the uncontrollable. You can plan and prepare, but you also have to adapt and accept the curveballs thrown your way. It’s this blend of fair and unfair that makes life both challenging and interesting.
So, while it can be frustrating and overwhelming at times, finding those moments of fairness amidst the chaos can make all the difference. And sometimes, the unfairness pushes us to grow stronger, more resilient, and more empathetic.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone