บท 12: Uhh... help?!!!

'I can manipulate water, and we are about to confront an aquatic beast? Cool!' Excitedly, Tristan considered the situation before realizing he possessed the knowledge required to combat it. 'Well then, I could make it work!' as he reflected on the knowledge he had gained about his ability, he exclaimed to himself.

Tristan concentrated his water manipulation skills and produced an all-water glowing whip. With the energy added, the whip was so precise and cutting that, if he so wished, it could easily cut through stone or metal. With a quick flick of his wrist, the whip slashed through the air and cracked.

Lily and Lyla were transfixed as they witnessed the water whip slicing through the air. Although they had always known Tristan to be strong and had never seen him employ this ability before, they were impressed by it.

"Wow," Lily whispered in awe. "That's amazing."

In response to her remarks, Tristan grinned.

"What will we do in response to the approaching beast?" With her gaze fixated on the water whip, Lyla questioned.

"We're going to kill it," Tristan deadpanned.

"How?" Lyla questioned, sounding doubtful.

Tristan replied, "with our abilities, undoubtedly. You're going to take advantage of your ability to manipulate the earth to surround the monster with a barrier, Lily. Lyla, you're going to manipulate the wind to make a vacuum around the barrier that might suffocate it. I'll also use mine to strike the creature from within. I can advance to the kill once I've sufficiently weakened it."

After exchanging glances, Lily and Lyla nodded. "Let's do it," said Lyla.

A sizable body of water was soon reached after they had gone down the path. They were unable to see the bottom because it was so deep, and waves were crashing on the surface. The ground started to shake again as they got closer to the ocean, and a roar resounded through the air.

The monster appeared out of the ocean in an instant. It was large, at least thirty feet long, and covered in thick, armor-like scales in various colors of blue and green. Its mouth and claws were lined with razor-sharp fangs. Its roar sounded like a thunderstorm, and it had brilliant red eyes that appeared to pierce the ocean.

Tristan, Lyla, and Lily stumbled back as the beast let out an ear-splitting roar that shook the ground. The sound was so powerful that it seemed to reverberate throughout the realm. As soon as it roared again to promote itself to everyone, it submerged underwater and accelerated at them at an alarming pace.

[Glitch Identified: Krillax]

[Krillax is a massive ocean serpent with jaws so strong they can swallow individuals measuring twelve feet in height! The armor plates covering its body render even direct strikes from major attacks useless. You might have barely half your original health if you are fortunate enough to survive.]

Tristan experienced a wave of uncertainty, but he ignored it. He had to concentrate on the current task. Once more flicking his wrist, the water whip lengthened and thickened, crackling as it did so. The pieces dropped to the floor with a splat, the moment he realised this form of manipulation wouldn't work for the Krillax.

Tristan, Lyla, and Lily quickly regrouped and prepared for the Krillax's attack.

To give Tristan and Lily time to attack, Lyla used her ability to produce a blast of wind that forced the beast back. The beast roared in discomfort as a result of Lily's attack, which involved creating sharp rocks from the earth and throwing them at it.

After exchanging glances, Lily and Lyla both raised their hands. Lily leaned forward, her eyes closed, her attention concentrated on the ground beneath her. Lyla inhaled deeply and concentrated on the atmosphere around them.

Tristan inhaled deeply before diving into the depths of the ocean.

[Breathing underwater is possible.]

'Right!' As Tristan swam toward the Krillax, the creature's enormous shape could be seen flailing about inside Lyla's vacuum barrier. Tristan mentally responded to his discovery. As a result of the lighting, the plates on its body glistened and appeared metallic.

Tristan was aware that he had to move quickly to prevent the Krillax from escaping Lyla's grip. He swiftly moved through the water to approach the creature from behind. As he got closer, he could feel the pressure of the Krillax's energy accumulating, like a coiled spring about to strike.

Tristan sped toward the Krillax and drove his water claw into the side of the creature's armored body. While writhing around in the water and attempting to shake Tristan off, the creature let forth a thunderous roar. But he managed to hang on and keep hold of the water claw.

He realized he needed to take action right soon as he felt the Krillax's jaws closing just a few inches from him. He pushed his water claw out of the monster's side with all of his might, then swam toward its most exposed area—its eyes.

Slash!

The Krillax roared in agony and thrashed even more violently as a result of Tristan's water claws slashing at its eyes. Tristan was unfazed, though, and he grinned madly as he slashed until all that was left for him to see was a cloud of blood in front of him. He didn't stop until he had gouged them both out.

The Krillax gave one last, terrifying roar before going silent and descending to the ocean floor, leaving a trail of blood-red fluids in its wake.

While Tristan's clothes and hair were wet as he came out of the water, his beaming grin was unwavering.

"Well, that was fun," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

With expressions that mixed amazement and skepticism, Lily and Lyla swam over to him. Lily praised Tristan, saying, "that was amazing."

Lyla chimed up, "yeah, I've never seen somebody take down a monster that huge in that way."

He was met with a blush from Lyla and a smile from Lily, who added, "we make a good team."

The minute he discovered what it felt like to have someone assist in a kill, his eyes opened in disbelief for the first time in his life.

'A team? They lived, and I don't feel any desire to murder them. That's new.'

Tristan immediately dismissed the idea and shrugged. "Honestly, it wasn't much. It's just another beach day."

The twins laughed as they ran ahead and said, "catch us if you can!" as they neared the shore in the strangely quiet ocean.

Tristan grinned at how silly they were being, but his body tensed the minute he heard a faint song that got louder with each stroke he made.

Previously, he had never been terrified of the ocean, but suddenly he began to get a cold sweat on his forehead. He was aware that if he didn't act quickly, he would be caught in something much bigger than what he had anticipated.

Tristan needed to come up with a quick solution as the twins sprinted towards the closest boulder to gather their breath while still unaware of the danger he was in.

"Ladies, I believe there is–"

Tristan felt a powerful tug on his leg just as he was about to reach the shore.

'What in the hell?' Tristan exclaimed when he noticed a hazy form beneath him. The melody kept playing in his head, making him feel weak and drawn toward the bottom while he tried to break free.

"What are you waiting for, Tristan?" Lily shouted, gesturing with her hands in an effort to get his attention.

'Uhh… Help?!' Tristan tried to say something, but for some reason, his lips couldn't create the sounds.

He realized he had been bitten when he suddenly felt severe pain in his leg.

'What the fucking hell was that?' As arms encircled his waist and drew him further away from the shore, Tristan screamed in anguish, furious that he was helpless to save himself.

'BUG IDENTIFIED' is written in big letters, and the repeated sentence, 'Himedere identified', catches his eye as he looks up in dismay. His eyes quickly catch the warning, 'WARNING HIMEDERE DETECTED.'

'Singing… voices… oh hell no!!! It's a fucking SIREN?!!!' He yelled to himself while attempting to make a sound or movement that would alert the twins away from him.

Lyla was the first to notice that Tristan seemed to be slipping away strangely, and she pulled Lily to take a closer look. Their once-smirking features had now become worried and perplexed. They jumped into the water without a second's hesitation and swam as quickly as they could toward him.

Boom!

The twins were sent tumbling through the water like leaves as a result of the explosion's backward thrust. Their vision was clouded by the shockwave as they attempted to regain their bearings.

"Tristan!" When Lily finally surfaced for air, she yelled and dove under the water once more to check out the bottom, but no one responded.

Lyla and Lily frantically searched the ocean for Tristan, but they couldn't find him. They became alarmed when they understood he had been abducted.

*****

A/N

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