Goblin Dependency

Ignoring the wooden ship that was rising and falling on the stormy sea, the tentacles were madly swung towards the few individuals.

Among the four professionals, Lorin had the highest Professional Level, and her physical attributes were also the most outstanding as a result.

Although a large portion of her fire-related Battle Skills couldn’t be cast in the water environment, she was able to repeatedly dodge the attacks from the Demon thanks to her physique.

Barbarian Akken, despite appearing clumsy and slow due to his robust and burly body, moved even more nimbly in the water than Lorin, utilizing the totem tattoos on his skin, maneuvering with the bizarrely shaped Anchor Axe without sustaining any injuries.

In contrast, the twin warriors Rein and Gordon seemed significantly more awkward.

Both were Professional Level 3, which was not high, and their professions as the most common "warriors" meant their mastered Battle Skills had no particularly outstanding advanced talents.

Their overall strength, among adventurers of the same level, was at most average.

In the extremely unfavorable underwater environment, even after taking an Underwater Breathing Potion to avoid having to surface for air in the short term, facing the relentless storm-like attacks from the octopus, the two seemed on the brink of danger.

Their armor dented, with blood streaming from their nostrils and corners of their mouths, their expressions were focused yet pained, as if they could be struck by a tentacle at any moment.

Just as the situation was about to tilt entirely in favor of the Demons, the familiar wolf howl from the side made everyone, including Lorin, breathe a sudden sigh of relief.

With the water surging, a spiral vacuum trail, like a comet’s tail, the Black Wolf Beast cut in from the side with a speed only slightly slower than on land.

Xia Nan did not hurry to help the twin warriors out of their predicament or assist Lorin and Akken in escaping to the surface to strategize.

He was clearly aware that the best defense is a good offense, and as long as he could pose enough of a threat to the Windkind Octopus and draw its focus to himself, the pressure on his companions would be significantly reduced.

Whom——

The reddish glow rapidly gathered on the blade of the Ash Fall straight sword, transforming into the sharp Wolf Teeth of a fierce wolf beast.

As if sensing the threat contained within the wolf howl, the Windkind Octopus’s enormous body, previously in a berserk state, suddenly halted and then quickly recoiled.

Two thick tentacles swung violently from both sides in the direction of the wolf howl.

For Xia Nan, even though the underwater environment caused his movement speed to significantly decrease and his Stamina consumption to increase due to the water’s drag.

Simultaneously, and to some extent similar to space combat, the underwater battle allowed the Fallen Blade Hunting professional trait to be exerted to a higher potential.

Aong——

The wolf howl momentarily paused, then resounded once again.

Xia Nan exerted force a second time, and at an exaggerated angle impossible on land, he squeezed out from the narrow gap formed by the two tentacles from above diagonally.

Without any hesitation, with a bit of probing intent to test the Windkind Octopus’s physical strength.

The straight sword, wrapped in reddish Energy Glow, slashed down at the intersection of the two tentacles.

"Boom!"

Like a firework exploding underwater, Force Field Energy burst and spread rapidly from the edge of the blade.

One could see the slime and membrane on the tentacle’s surface offering no Defense Ability, instantly being crushed and twisted, revealing the writhing muscle tissue within amidst a spurt of blood.

Under deliberate control, the Gravity Etching damage range, elevated to Level 5, was by no means small.

The reddish Force Field Energy first expanded, then suddenly contracted.

When the blade was retracted, and the glow vanished.

A massive wound gnawed by the Black Wolf had appeared at the intersection of the two tentacles.

Whimper——

The intense pain radiating from the tentacles incited the already enraged Windkind Octopus into a further frenzy.

Several tentacles swung indiscriminately towards the source of the wolf howl.

But evidently, Xia Nan, under the effect of Teeth Hunting, was faster.

By the time the tentacles swung, his figure had already vanished from the original spot.

Simultaneously, this fierce assault freed Lorin and others, who had been under immense pressure, granting them a momentary respite.

Xia Nan’s gaze swept over the blood-oozing wound atop the Windkind Octopus’ head that the barbarian had struck earlier.

He had made up his mind.

Noticing everyone’s gaze simultaneously directed towards him, he seized the opportunity to gesture to Lorin and the others.

The message was simple.

"Lure the Windkind Octopus to the surface," "distract it for a few seconds for me."

Though unaware of Xia Nan’s intention, numerous previous battles had already built trust among the others in this young inland adventurer.

Explanation was unnecessary.

Including the injured Rein and Gordon, the four followed Xia Nan’s lead upwards.

Lorin took the lead, using the Fire Blade in her hand to attract the octopus’s attention, while Barbarian Akken poised to raise his giant axe, reigniting the fury within the already once-struck Demon, retracting its tentacles, and rapidly ascending from the depths.

Xia Nan himself, having motioned to his companions, had already faded from the scene.

...

Meanwhile, on the deck of the Vengeance Blade Blade.

Druid Hai Yin gasped for breath, her clothes soaked with sweat, her hand holding the magic wand trembled violently.

The high-intensity casting in a short period had drained her spiritual power, causing her brain to spin and her vision to turn black.

Fortunately, perhaps due to the underwater battle being effective, the number of fish-men jumping onto the deck was gradually decreasing, and the pressure wasn’t as intense as at the beginning.

She thought to take a moment to catch her breath.

"Boom!"

Water splashed.

A mysterious black-haired youth in peculiar armor, holding a black-grey longsword, leaped high from the water, landing wetly in front of her.

"Still got stamina? I need your help."

...

...

Repeatedly injured, the enraged Windkind Octopus had almost lost its ability to think.

Facing those human adventurers trying to flee, it didn’t think much and floated directly to the surface.

Waves surged, tides rolled.

Orange fan-shaped flames spewed out, drying the slime on a tentacle, charring and smoking.

Lorin was propelled backward by the recoil of her [Flame Breath Reverse Tide], conveniently dodging a tentacle slap from the side above.

Sweat mixed with seawater on her sharply defined face, her expression focused and solemn.

If the battle was on land, she confidently believed that with the power of their Vengeance Blade Blade Ship Group, they should be able to slay this demon in front of them.

But placed in the opponent’s domain, they, the professional level adventurers, could only barely manage to fend and counter.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, painful groans and the sound of flesh colliding reached her ears.

Looking over, she saw that Rein, the brother among the twin warriors, had been struck by a tentacle, spurting blood and falling into the sea, swallowed by the waves.

Seeing this, his brother Gordon also had to let go of the tentacle in front of him, turning to seek his severely injured brother.

Seeing the situation about to collapse, Lorin gritted her teeth, a flash of determination in her eyes, and powered her feet, pushing hard underwater, eyeing the Windkind Octopus ahead.

An unexpected sight caught the corner of her eye.

Instinctively looked up.

Above, the sky was mirrored with lead-grey clouds and flickering lightning.

A highly familiar Albatross flapped its wings, wobbling and flying overhead.

Hanging from one of its talons was also a familiar figure.

As if sensing Lorin’s gaze.

Those mysterious black eyes met hers in a stare.

It seemed to nod slightly.

Then, the right hand gripping the bird’s talon suddenly let go.

Free fall.

"Awoo!"

With the barrier of water gone, a low, prolonged wolf howl and the thunderous roar above sounded almost simultaneously.

Mysterious dark energy swirled around, transforming into a ferocious wolf beast descending from the sky.

The sea rapidly enlarged, visible were the octopus’s serpent-like long, sturdy limbs creating splashes amidst the waves, along with those eyes filled with ferocious bestial rage.

Reddish-brown light gathered around the sword blade, layer upon layer, leaving a trail akin to a black and red comet as it descended rapidly.

Windkind Octopus seemed to sense the intense threat coming from above, instinctively raising its body, gazing upwards.

But it was too late.

There was no time to react.

The comet had already crashed into its body.

The impact directly hit a critical spot.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three successive energy explosions boomed from within the Windkind Octopus.

Half-transparent glyphs flashed across the void before her eyes.