The ocean seemed quieter here—too quiet.
Haruka gripped her rod tighter as the elevator pod descended into a chasm of jagged coral. Glowing anemones pulsed faintly on the walls, their light swallowed quickly by the darkness beyond.
"This dungeon feels… different," Haruka whispered.
"That's because it is," Mirelle said curtly. Her eyes scanned the black water, every muscle taut. "Kraken's Hollow isn't like the Kelp Maze. It's Tier II. Stronger currents. Smarter fish. And the boss?" She shook her head. "Let's just say you don't want to see it angry."
"Sounds fun," Soren muttered with a wry grin. But Haruka noticed his hand resting near the hilt of his rune-dagger. He wasn't relaxed either.
The pod shuddered as it touched down on a narrow platform of living coral. Faint ripples swirled in the water around them, carrying a sound like distant, rhythmic breathing.
ZONE: Kraken's Hollow (Tier II)
WARNING: Active Tentacle Hazards Detected
Haruka's pulse spiked.
The party advanced cautiously, their lantern beams slicing through the darkness.
"Haruka, stay behind me," Soren murmured. "If you see something move in the coral, don't touch it. Could be a trap."
"Or bait," Mirelle added grimly.
Haruka nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat.
Her HUD pinged faintly:
Hostile Detected: Lurking Coral Piranha (Lv. 5)
A school of tiny, razor-toothed fish darted between the coral stalks. Haruka raised her rod instinctively, ready to cast.
"Hold," Mirelle ordered sharply. "Too many at once. One snap of their teeth and they'll shred your line."
Soren drew a glowing stone from his satchel and tossed it past the school. The piranhas surged after it, their snapping jaws audible even through the water.
"Let's move," Soren said.
They swam deeper into the Hollow.
The corridor opened into a massive cavern. Lanterns flickered against crimson coral that twisted like ribs. At the center of the chamber, a massive shape loomed, partially hidden in the shadows.
"Is that… the Kraken?" Haruka whispered.
"Not yet," Soren murmured. "That's just its lair. The beast's probably hunting."
Suddenly, the water shifted. A faint suction tugged at Haruka's boots.
"Back—BACK!" Mirelle barked.
A tentacle as thick as a tree trunk shot from the darkness, slamming into the coral platform. The impact sent a shockwave through the water, tossing Haruka into Soren.
DUNGEON BOSS DETECTED: CORAL KRAKEN (Lv.8)
HP: ████████████████████
Special Attacks: Tentacle Slam, Whirlpool Pull, Coral Shard Volley
The Kraken's massive eye opened, glowing with an otherworldly light.
Haruka froze.
"This is insane," she whispered. "It's… beautiful."
"It's deadly," Mirelle snapped, yanking her back as another tentacle lashed out.
"Haruka, bait it!" Soren shouted. "We need it to commit to an attack so we can counter!"
Her fingers trembled as she prepared her rod.
Skill Activated: Marine Gust
A blast of water surged toward the Kraken's face. It roared and lunged, its beak snapping shut on empty water.
"Now, hit it with Tidal Bind!" Soren yelled.
Haruka cast. Ropes of enchanted water spiraled around one of the tentacles, slowing its movements.
"Good!" Mirelle cried. "Soren, go for the eye!"
Soren darted in, slashing with his rune-dagger. The Kraken shrieked, recoiling.
Critical Hit: +100 XP
But the reprieve was brief. The water began swirling violently.
WHIRLPOOL PULL ACTIVATED
"Grab onto something!" Mirelle shouted.
Haruka flailed, her hands catching on a jagged coral outcrop. The whirlpool's current tore at her body, pulling her closer to the Kraken's gaping maw.
"Haruka!" Soren lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. "I've got you—hold on!"
Her fingers slipped. The current yanked her toward the abyss.
WARNING: Line Break Imminent
"No!" she screamed.
At the last second, Soren planted his feet and heaved her backward.
"Don't you dare let go!" he shouted, eyes blazing.
Haruka's heart pounded as she clung to him.
Reinforced Reel Activated: Line Tension Stabilized
The Kraken roared in frustration. Its massive body twisted, sending a cascade of coral shards flying. One shard grazed Haruka's shoulder, sending a burst of pain through her HUD.
-10 HP
"Haruka, listen!" Soren shouted over the chaos. "The Kraken's stunned—we have one shot! Use the Mauler Fang!"
"The what?!"
"Combine it with your rod—now!"
Haruka's hands moved instinctively, fumbling through her satchel.
Quick Craft: Abyssal Spearhead (Lv.3)
• Grants +15 STR for one cast.
She raised the rod, feeling power surge through her arms.
Skill Activated: Abyssal Spearhead
"Here goes nothing," she whispered.
The Kraken lunged. Haruka cast, and a spear of glowing water shot forward, piercing the beast's eye.
The Kraken screeched, thrashing wildly.
DUNGEON BOSS DEFEATED
Loot Acquired: Abyssal Tentacle (x1), Kraken Ink Core (x1), Coral Key Fragment (x3)
XP Gained: +500 XP
Haruka: LEVEL UP! Lv.3 → Lv.5
The cavern fell silent. Bubbles drifted upward in lazy spirals.
Haruka's hands shook as she lowered her rod.
"We… we actually did it," she whispered.
"You did it," Soren corrected with a grin. "Nice shot, Aqua-Arcanist."
Mirelle let out a slow breath. "Not bad, newbie. You didn't freeze up this time."
Haruka allowed herself a small smile, though her body still trembled.
As they turned to leave, a faint whisper echoed through the cavern:
"The ocean remembers its hunters."
Haruka froze.
"Soren… did you hear that?" she asked.
"Hear what?" he replied, frowning.
But the voice lingered in her mind, cold and deep as the sea.
"And it will hunt them in turn."