Deeohos, a mage who manipulates seawater, blocked our way.
No matter how much we shot at him with guns or bows from this ship, our attacks wouldn’t reach him. Even if they did, we’d only reduce his numbers by one or two. In the meantime, we’d all sink into the sea.
“Captain, please make this ship go against the waves with all its might.”
“I’m trying! But this thing is saying it’s at its limit too.”
I knew that. Even if I couldn’t understand the spirits’ words, I could hear the whale’s pained cries.
“Piyo, charge into the enemy lines with Elana’s flames. Veronica, follow behind her. Whatever happens, make that conductor stop waving his hands.”
“Okay, I got it. Let’s go, Veronica.”
Piyo appeared from the cabin. I felt bad for her, but there was nothing we could do while these waves were active.
“Alright, but I’ll go first. You follow behind.”
“But Veronica…”
Veronica took off without waiting for Piyo’s reply. Meanwhile, the whale we were riding began to slowly turn.
“Everyone hold your breath, we’re going to dive.”
Was this a plan to disappear from the enemy’s sight by diving? I held onto the mast tightly. The whale’s body sank into the sea. Just then, the Sea Tiger, which had gone to attack the enemy ship, returned.
“I’ve attached a rope to the enemy ship!”
A rope stretched from a giant crossbow mounted on the Orca’s body. It seemed they had driven a wedge into the enemy ship. At that moment, the sinking hull swayed sideways. As if being lifted from below.
“This is bad! We’re capsizing! Pull from the other side! Hand the rope to the Sea Tiger.”
I tied the dropped rope to the mast and handed the other end to the Sea Tiger. *Gishishi*, the old wood creaked. Come to think of it, what happened to those two? Looking up, I saw the enemy ship’s sails were burning. Deeohos was glaring at us with a furious expression.
This was our only chance. I grabbed a grappling hook rope that was nearby.
“Is it still connected to the enemy ship? Take us there.”
“Then what about this ship?!”
The whale was on the verge of capsizing. But if this plan worked, we might be able to escape this vortex.
“Take me there! Just do it.”
“Brother, take me too.”
For some reason, Karubene had come along. I’d be damned if I helped him if he fell off, really.
I grabbed the chain wrapped around the Orca. Was this also a part of a spirit? I cut the rope pulling the whale. I ignored Kashalo, who was shouting something behind me, and had the Orca swim.
The Sea Tiger gradually moved forward through the rough waves.
“Keep approaching, I’ll climb up there.”
“Roger that, geez. Huh, what’s that?”
“Brother, a wave is chasing us from behind.”
I looked back and saw seawater in the shape of a wolf approaching us. I had seen this magic before, it was the one used when the dam collapsed. Water had taken the form of an animal and was attacking us. So, this was the culprit.
“Can’t you go any faster?!”
“There’s a wave coming at us, it’s impossible.”
“Then dive. They won’t be able to see underwater.”
I took a deep breath. The Sea Tiger submerged the Orca. The deep blue sea was like a night forest. I dove deeper and deeper to escape the enemy’s sight. Soon, the water pressure made my lungs ache.
Faster, faster, approach the enemy ship. Before my breath runs out. I happened to glance next to me, and Karubene was gone.
*Gabo-gabo.*
I covered the bubbles that escaped my mouth. I could see Karubene drifting away. I reached out, but couldn’t reach him. I released my grip on the chain.
Damn it, I can’t reach him! In the darkness, I saw the wolf’s red eyes. No matter how desperately I moved my legs, I wasn’t getting anywhere. The air remaining in my lungs was escaping.
“Karubene!!”
My voice dissolved into the water and was carried away. In this vast sea, my swimming was as useless as a minnow. Due to lack of oxygen, my consciousness began to waver. My body, sensing danger, tried to push me towards the surface. I desperately rotated my body with all my might.
Then I suddenly moved forward. Karubene, who had been far away, was right in front of me! I immediately grabbed his clothes and resurfaced.
*Gah!!* *Haa-haa-haa.* “Are you okay?”
“Ugh, *cough*, hah, I managed. But Brother, we should move soon.”
I remembered I had the grappling hook rope. I threw it towards the Sea Tiger waiting ahead. A pack of wolves was approaching from behind.
“Hurry, hurry, they’ll bite us!”
Holding Karubene, I gripped the rope firmly with my other hand. High waves attacked us from all directions.
“Hold on tight!”
“But, *cough*, the wolves are chasing us. Brother, don’t let go of me, okay?”
I signaled to them to pull hard on the rope. Somehow, we narrowly escaped the wolves’ fangs.
“I’ll hold them off here. Hurry and climb up.”
“Thanks, I owe you one.”
I retrieved the grappling hook rope from the Orca. The Sea Tiger circled and then leaped into the approaching pack of wolves.
“Come on, you dogs, the Sea Tiger is here!”
