Chapter 67: Elemental Resistance Complete!
Gray found another krakenling near a collapsed coral arch. Smaller this time, barely two feet across.
He hovered above, studying the rhythm of his prey’s movements.
’This one’s smaller than the last. But that doesn’t mean it’s weak. If I hit it from the front, those tentacles will strike back.’
"What’s your plan?"
’Watch and learn.’
Gray circled wide, positioning himself behind a coral pillar.
’Once it’s in open water, I’ll have more angles to work with.’
The krakenling floated out, its tentacles trailing lazily behind it. Its golden eyes swept the reef, still alert, but it hadn’t noticed him.
Gray opened with Cavitation Pulse to provoke. The superheated jet of water and crystal shrapnel shot from his left, slamming into a coral formation just behind the krakenling. The small explosion sent fragments of stone scattering through the water.
The krakenling jolted, its chromatophores erupting in wild, rippling bands of red and silver as it twisted toward the noise. Its tentacles snapped outward, coiling defensively as it searched for the source of the attack.
The krakenling darted left, exactly as Gray had predicted. It instinctively moved away from the destruction and straight toward the narrow channel between two coral spires where Gray had positioned himself.
He deployed Neurotoxic Drift. The venom cloud spread through the channel, invisible and silent. The krakenling swam directly into it.
[NEUROTOXIC DRIFT — 19 DAMAGE]
[NEUROTOXIC DRIFT — 18 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 323 / 360]
The creature convulsed, its body cycling through panicked colors. Its tentacles lashed wildly, but the venom was already in its system, slowing its movements.
Only then did Gray strike.
He activated Abyssal Lance from above, his body compressing into a spear of crystalline barbs. The krakenling sensed him at the last moment, its golden eyes snapped upward but it was already too slow. The barbs punched through its mantle from behind.
[ABYSSAL LANCE — 104 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 219 / 360]
[50% DEF PENETRATION — APPLIED]
The krakenling shrieked. Its tentacles thrashed, wrapping around Gray’s bell, trying to crush him. But Venomous Riposte activated automatically, the spines along his margin injecting concentrated neurotoxin into the limbs.
[VENOMOUS RIPOSTE — ACTIVATED]
[TOXIN VULNERABILITY — APPLIED]
’Hell yeah.’
Gray didn’t bother with Grip Jaw. The krakenling was already dying. He activated Overcharge at point-blank range, the electricity surging through his tentacles and into the creature’s body.
[OVERCHARGE — 88 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 131 / 360]
[STUN — 5 SECONDS]
The krakenling seized, every tentacle locking rigid. Its golden eyes went glassy, the vivid colors of its skin fading to a dull grey. Gray held it there, watching the last of its HP drain as Neurotoxic Drift continued its work.
[NEUROTOXIC DRIFT — 20 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 111 / 360]
"You’ve done this before," Cindy murmured. "It’s like watching a predator at work."
’I am a predator.’
He released the creature and let it drift, already dead though the system hadn’t registered it yet. One final Cavitation Pulse ended it cleanly.
[CAVITATION PULSE — 54 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING DEFEATED — 380 EXP]
[TRAIT FRAGMENT ACQUIRED: "Elemental Resistance" (4/5)]
He absorbed the corpse slowly, savoring the complex flavor. As he ate, a thought surfaced — one that had been turning in the back of his mind since their conversation earlier.
’Cindy,’ he said, his mental voice calm but direct. ’Back then, you wanted to possess me. Now you don’t even want a fish body. Why? Did you change your mind?’
"Don’t bring up sensitive things, Gray..."
Gray paused his feeding, his tentacles curling slightly.
’I’m just asking. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.’
A pause stretched between them. Then Cindy spoke quietly.
"I was desperate. I didn’t want to be left alone. I was afraid you’d leave me behind once we escaped." Her voice wavered. "I thought if I took your body... I’d never have to be alone again. I wouldn’t have to depend on anyone."
Gray absorbed the last of the krakenling’s remains, letting her words settle.
’And now?’
"Now... I’m still afraid. But I also know I can’t force it. And if I had a choice, I’d rather be human again."
Gray finished his meal and flexed his tentacles, feeling the fresh energy from the biomass spreading through his body.
’Alright. Whatever suits you. As long as you keep helping me, I won’t leave you.’
Cindy let out a soft sound that might have been a sigh of relief. "...Thank you, Gray."
He pulsed forward, leaving the coral arch behind. The reef stretched ahead, dark and full of movement. He passed a school of tiny shrimp that scattered at his approach, their translucent bodies flickering like sparks in the current.
"Where are you going now?" Cindy asked. "Are you hunting those squids again?"
’Yeah. I’m after them for a reason.’
Cindy made a skeptical sound. "Is their meat really that delicious? They look disgusting, and you eat them raw."
Gray felt a flicker of amusement.
’In this world, has no one tried eating squid?’ he thought. ’Their appearance must put people off. But back on Earth...’
He pushed the thought aside.
’Their meat is good,’ he said simply. ’According to my taste, anyway.’
Cindy let out a small, disgusted noise. "You’re serious? I can’t imagine putting something like that in my mouth."
’Out here, taste is a luxury. You eat what you can kill.’ Gray replied.
Then Gray found the third krakenling near a small ravine, where black coral rose like towers from the seafloor.
He circled wide, keeping the current between them. The krakenling’s arms twisted and curled, each one tasting the water. Its mantle shifted colors as it drifted through the coral maze.
Gray waited until it passed beneath a natural arch of black coral. Then he made his move and activated EMP Shroud.
The silent electromagnetic pulse radiated outward. The krakenling’s arms spasmed, its color flickering wildly as its senses went dark.
’Gotcha!’
He darted forward, positioning himself directly behind the creature’s mantle. His crystalline barbs aligned silently, each one catching the faint glow of the coral. He pressed two tentacles against the krakenling’s mantle, feeling the texture of its skin, the rhythm of its pulse.
Then he deployed Neurotoxic Drift at point-blank range.
The venom cloud erupted directly against the creature’s flesh, seeping through the gaps between its arms, into its gills, into the soft tissue beneath its mantle. The krakenling convulsed violently, its colors exploding into panicked reds and oranges.
[NEUROTOXIC DRIFT — 20 DAMAGE]
[NEUROTOXIC DRIFT — 19 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 321 / 380]
[PARALYZE — PROC!]
The krakenling locked rigid. Four seconds of paralysis and four seconds of complete helplessness.
Gray wrapped four tentacles around its body, Grip Jaw locking tight. The muscular appendages squeezed, crystalline barbs digging deep into the gaps between its arms.
[GRIP JAW — 30 DAMAGE]
[GRIP JAW — 28 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 263 / 380]
The paralysis broke. The krakenling thrashed, its arms lashing outward in every direction. One caught Gray across the bell, the impact sending a jolt through his armor.
[-18 HP]
[GRAY ASHFORD — HP: 672 / 690]
[VENOMOUS RIPOSTE — ACTIVATED]
[TOXIN VULNERABILITY — APPLIED]
The venom-tipped spines along his margin lashed out automatically, injecting concentrated neurotoxin into the creature’s arm. The krakenling shrieked, its colors flaring white-hot with pain.
’Now the real attack.’
He released Grip Jaw and pulsed backward, putting three meters between them. The krakenling, still reeling from venom and riposte, turned to flee. Its arms pushed through the water in desperate, uncoordinated strokes.
Gray activated Abyssal Lance.
His body compressed. Crystalline barbs aligned along his frame like the segments of a spear. The water howled as he launched at the base of its arms, where the limbs met the body. The barbs punched through the junction, severing two arms in a single strike.
[ABYSSAL LANCE — 112 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 151 / 380]
[CRITICAL — LIMB SEVERED]
The krakenling’s shriek turned ragged. Its remaining arms flailed, but the loss of two limbs had destroyed its coordination. It spun in circles, bleeding pale fluid into the water.
’Finish it.’
Overcharge detonated at point-blank range. The electricity surged through the open wound, through the severed limb stumps, into the creature’s core.
[OVERCHARGE — 90 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 61 / 380]
[STUN — 5 SECONDS]
The krakenling seized as its remaining arms fell limp and its golden eyes glazed over.
Cavitation Pulse followed. The superheated jet of water and crystal shrapnel struck the stunned creature’s exposed mantle, tearing through the already-weakened flesh.
[CAVITATION PULSE — 58 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING — HP: 3 / 380]
Gray drifted close, wrapped one tentacle around the creature’s head, and squeezed.
[GRIP JAW — 32 DAMAGE]
[CHROMATIC KRAKENLING DEFEATED — 480 EXP]
[TRAIT FRAGMENT ACQUIRED: "Elemental Resistance" (5/5)]
[Trait Complete! Elemental Resistance will be available as an evolution option at Level 30.]
Gray released the corpse and let it drift to the seafloor. The water was thick with the taste of ink and copper.
Cindy’s voice came after a long silence.
"...You cut off its arms."
’It was the fastest way to disable it. Fewer arms means fewer attacks.’
"That’s... brutal."
’It’s survival.’ Gray moved toward the corpse, his feeding surface already reaching out to absorb it. ’The abyss doesn’t give second chances.’