The Nightmare Wizard
Chapter 74: The Kraken Sea

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Kraken Sea

As William and the sailors feasted on the roasted Kraken meat, the atmosphere, despite the surrounding destruction, was surprisingly cheerful. The sound of laughter and the crackle of fire filled the air.

Renno, with a steaming piece of tentacle in his hand, chewed enthusiastically before speaking. "I just thank the gods our target was the Kraken. Imagine if we’d tried to hunt the Leviathan!" His tone was a mix of genuine relief and a barely perceptible shiver.

The mention of the Leviathan captured William’s attention. "Aren’t they equally strong?" he asked, curiosity overcoming his hunger. The idea of a creature even more powerful than the Kraken was overwhelming.

Renno let out a laugh that echoed among the sailors. "Equally strong? Not at all, boy! The Leviathan devours Krakens like snacks. Like they’re just mere squid for a giant." He paused, his gaze lost on the horizon. "It’s said that without the Leviathan, this sea would be infested with Krakens, or at least that’s how it was in the past, according to legends. That’s why this sea is known as ’The Kraken’s Nest’. It’s a predator, yes, but it’s also the one that cleanses these oceans, allowing other species to survive. The Leviathan only feeds on powerful beings; Krakens, on the other hand, kill anything that moves, which is why sharks flee as soon as they sense their presence."

Upon hearing this, William was surprised. He’d never imagined how difficult it would be to navigate this sea if it were infested with such monsters. Full of curiosity, he asked: "What’s the legend of the Leviathan?"

Renno took a big swig of beer, wiping the foam from his lips before answering. "It’s normal you don’t know that story. It’s told in the ports of the magical continent; this place is too desolate. But I’ll tell you. The legend says this place was the lair of hundreds, if not thousands, of Krakens. They protected these seas, preventing anyone from reaching the desolate continent. Nobody knows what attracted them or why they were here, but they made their nest."

Renno continued, his voice acquiring a more mystical tone. "One day, out of nowhere, the Leviathan appeared and exterminated them all, becoming the new supreme ruler of these waters. The Leviathan was a Level 4 beast, while the Kraken King was a Level 3 beast and its children Level 2, so it was a massacre."

"But then," Renno lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret, "the Leviathan made an unforgivable mistake. A high-ranking mage was passing through this sea, looking for something. Some say he came to solve the mystery of the desolate continent; others, that he was looking for the heir of a powerful family who had been hiding in the desolate continent. Nobody really knows exactly what he was doing, but the Leviathan dared to stand in his way."

"The mage grew enraged and attacked the Leviathan, tearing off one of its arms. Despite this, the Leviathan didn’t retreat, but attacked with more force. The mage, in his fury, tore out its eyes and the other arm, leaving it only its legs and tail. For the first time, the Leviathan begged for mercy, roaring at the sky and bowing its head. The mage had no interest in it, so he let it go, condemning it to be the guardian of these waters for eternity." Renno finished with a glint in his eyes. "Some even claim the Leviathan gave the Ocean’s Treasure to the mage for its life, and that the mage decided not to take it and ordered it to protect it. They also say that treasure is still hidden at the bottom of the sea, waiting for someone to claim it."

After telling his story, Renno took another big gulp of beer, laughing as if he could see the imposing beast. William, with an astonished expression, said: "A Level 4 beast... I wonder how powerful it is. I’d like to see it." All the sailors, including Thenerev, burst into laughter as if he’d told the funniest joke in the world.

"You don’t know what you’re saying, boy," Thenerev reprimanded him with a good-natured smile. "The Leviathan, despite being so wounded, its body is almost indestructible. Moreover, it controls storm magic; it can summon typhoons at will. And in the water, it can heal at an impossible speed. Only a Calamity Level mage could kill it. Even though its wounds downgraded it to rank 2, its body is still rank 4. No one below a Level 4 mage could inflict enough wounds to kill it."

Thenerev’s words once again showed William how small he was in this world. He had just ascended to Knight Level 2, and all around him were monsters that could kill him with just a fingernail. A sense of urgency awakened within him; he needed to become much stronger.

"Don’t worry about that, you’re still young, and perhaps one day you’ll be strong enough to see the Leviathan, boy," the captain told him, noticing William’s bitter expression and trying to cheer him up.

"Thank you for your goodwill, Captain. By the way, since yesterday I felt the ship moving much faster than before, did something happen?"

Thenerev replied: "The mages gave permission to use the ship’s true speed. Before, we only used the speed of a common academy ship to attract the Kraken, but now we must leave this place quickly, or members of other alliances might find us. The Kraken is a precious asset for any organization. I’m not entirely sure what they want the Life Gem for, but it must be worth a lot for the risks they took. The one hundred thousand from its corpse is just the bonus; they hired us for eight hundred thousand mana stones. Moreover, each mage must have charged an exorbitant sum."

"But if the Alliance controls these waters, wouldn’t it be war if they attacked us?" William asked, frowning.

"You’re too naive," Thenerev let out a rough laugh. "The sea belongs to no one, nor do its resources. Besides, if they killed us all, who would know who the killer was? But don’t worry too much; we’re going straight to your academy, so we’ll arrive in less than a day."

These last words sent a shiver down William’s spine. They weren’t safe yet despite having completed the mission. Moreover, he felt the pressure. Now, instead of having a few months to complete the spell, he only had one day.

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