Chapter 85: Kraken

Stumbling back from shock, falling to the floor with a loud bang. Feeling fear running rampant through my body, limbs stiff and unresponsive. “You know, I thought I was made of better metal than this.” Feeling like weak copper in front of that creepy lightning-wielding monstrosity.

Closing my hands into fists as I stand up, a slight shake passes through me like a wave. Flashes of red pass my vision, bloody dripping; focusing on the monster rather than the illusions.

It’s still a distance away, it would be wise of me to equip my wyvern gear. Pulling the armor onto my body in record time. Only missing the helmet twice in the slight panic running through me.

This reminds me of why ocean fishing is unwise. I’m getting déjà vu here; I wonder why? Taking flight in the most heroic stance my unsteady body can muster. Murmuring quietly to myself, “Just a big fish, just a big fish; you can do it.”

It's now only a couple dozen meters away; the fishy smell assaulting my nostrils like mustard gas. Looking over the foe, a shiver runs down my spine as I see its slimy grey skin with scale-like protrusions running over it. Even if winning Is possible, I’m not sure it's worth it – damned creepy.

Suddenly I watch as the arcing electricity straitens like a snapping armband. Immediately lancing towards me at terrifying speed, unable to react at the speed of light… it struck me. Armor useless as I feel paralysis set into my bones, freezing my body in place. Struggling to move but my body refuses to head my mind.

Feeling impending dread as it slowly floats closer towards me, the arcing electricity around it notably smaller as it licks my armor like static electricity. Lifting one of its grey tentacles before striking it towards me like a spear.

I desperately fight the lightning freezing my movements. Pushing against the invisible walls within my body with all my will. The tentacle strikes me like a wrecking ball, sending me flying with obscene g-forces wracking my body. Streaking across the earth into a large crater, “Well that hurt.” The restrictions lessoning, I stand up… stretching my stiff limbs. “I best avoid that lightning it bypasses my armor. Thankfully your spear-like appendages do not.”

Rising into the air and flying towards the lumbering beast, sword in my hand. As I rapidly close in on it the limbs suddenly become extremely active, rising into the air like vipers ready to strike. The moment I enter the range they begin to lash out at me like venomous snakes. Dodging what I could, parrying the remaining, and tanking the odd blow I slowly get closer. My progress a crawl compared to my normal speed. Armor protecting me from the worst of the damage.

Finally, in range, I plunge my sword into the greasy flesh. Sword running down the length of the body rapidly while an ear-piercing squeal lets loose from the creature. It writhes strongly before flinging me from its body, a large gash marring its grey flesh. Green ichor leaking from the wound hiding it from my view.

Stabilizing my flight from the momentum, an easy task given its hasty strike. It turns towards me, leaning forward with palpable hate radiating from the Kraken. “Shouldn’t have bit my bate then hu?” Adrenaline and confidence coursing through my veins; I rush the beast as best my flight allows. As I close in on the creature the lightning around its body begins to speed up, increasing in size, speed, and intensity. The light almost blinding as it begins to spin around the Kraken. Flying backward while shielding my eyes as a large pulse is released from its body.

Suddenly finding my wyvern armor unresponsive and sluggish. “It released a damned EMP!” The one weakness of tech-based armor; electromagnetic pulses, scary stuff. Using the semblance of control, I have to fall in a general backward direction. Finding my visual display glitchy, filled with warning signs in red. Didn’t know the wyvern armor had that function, that’s cool.

Shaking the distraction from my mind, the armor rebooting piece by piece. Slowly it becomes more responsive but the Kraken is closing in. Lashing out with a lightning-fast strike to my head. Armor too sluggish to dodge it knocks me black and blue, dizziness and nausea assaulting me from the strike.

Keeling over and almost vomiting inside my suit, steeling my resolve and putting up with some saliva dripping onto my helmet display. “That was close,” I say while grasping my head and leaning forward in discomfort.

Armor fully rebooted; I fly away as fast as possible. Receiving a few light strikes in the process of retreating. Not feeling too hurt, just dizzy from the sudden g-forces and head strikes. Can’t be good to take many more of those, being sick inside my helmet sounds awful.

Again its lightning is dim as a candle after using its ability – good. Rushing forward with a sword in my right and an ax in my left. I need to do some serious damage before its energy recharges. It immediately strikes at me with a front tentacle. Gliding to the side of the swift strike, I bite down on the outstretched limb with my ax. Severing it mostly, leaving a hairs width by which it hangs from.

It recoils with a banshee scream; high pitched with an alien tone to my ears. “You are not even supposed to have vocal cords, stop screaming you overblown squid.” Rushing in while I have the initiative.

Coming towards its body, dodging the flying tentacles with relative ease before striking down at another front limb at the root. Flaying the sturdy limb as its roots, doing some serious damage. It begins to retreat but I cling onto its slippery fresh, using half strikes to continue chipping away at the heavily damaged limb.

It starts to descend into the water, with a final strike I sever the limb before being submerged. Panicking for a moment, a suffocating feeling filling my lungs before I realize I can breathe underwater.

Feeling my limbs sluggish under the water as we rapidly descend into the depths of the ocean. Climbing up its body I narrowly dodge a whip-like strike to my side before plunging my sword into its exposed eye. Being hit with several limbs at the same time in response to the grieve injury. Looking over the extremely weak creature, bleeding dark black blood from its many wounds.

Its strikes rapidly losing power, but its leaking blood is also stemming. It's trying to escape to heal. Rushing forward as fast as possible within the water as we continue to descend into the darkness. The black suffocating and difficult to see through even with my night vision. The Kraken a beacon of light in a backdrop of the void like black.

Slowly closing in I see the lightning begin to power up; realizing escape is useless I plunge forward in a dive. Sword in hand, using my body as the spear I strike into its side with speed and power. Its flesh ripples at the momentum before I lash out, striking at its side with as much power I can muster.

Its weak limbs wrapping around me in an attempt to constrict me while its lightning begins to arc towards my armor. Taking my ax, I quickly begin to maim and damage the limbs, severing 1 with a lucky strike. Suddenly I feel vibrations in the water before seeing white. Hearing a loud ‘boom’ split seconds later. Rocketed away with immense force, feeling a burning sensation over my body.

Writhing in pain as the salty water corrodes my burnt body. Eventually, the wave of pain weakness allowing me to get my bearings. Looking around all I see is the black abyss of the ocean, it escaped.

Slowly rising in the hopes of minimizing the grating burns sending waves of agony through me. Must have overwhelmed my armor, that thing was a beast that’s for sure. If I recall it’s a nasty bugger from crazy craft, something you absolutely avoid. Although it drops one of the key items to make big bertha, one of the best swords in existence. 500 damage, the sword is a beast compared to most other swords.

Finally breaking the water like a membrane and seeing sunlight. Being basket in the rays of light had a soothing feeling, water dripping from my armor. Flying back to my island, noting the massive distance I traveled during the fight. It was one hell of a fight, that’s for sure. I recall the spawn egg was called “uh no don’t,” a joke about the nightmare it is to kill them.

I should enchant my wyvern armor, it has 5 slots after all. Having forgotten to do it previously, the fight was a wake-up call. Heading through the shield that protects my island before quickly traveling to my enchanter. While idly farming XP berries I begin to ponder on what enchants I should add.

Unbreaking is rather redundant for energy-run armors. Protection for sure, maybe magic protection too.

It's settled, on all armor protection 5, magic protection 5, and saturation. Hopefully adding some mighty fine protection and endurance. With the final 2 slots, I enchant each armor differently. The helmet with sonar and night vision in the hopes of improving my current night vision and allowing me to see sounds to an extent.

The chest plate, strength boost, and thorns. The leggings, haste, and jump boost. And finally, the boots, climb, and thorns. With that my durability went up a tier or 2. I’ll switch the enchants over when I finally get draconium armor.

Having enchanted the armor, it's time for a shower. The salt on my skin is killing me. Rubbing my skin with care in an attempt to avoid the tender lobster red flesh. Enjoying the soothing cold water while slowly washing my armor. Salt is corrosive you know… well it was corrosive back home, here? I don’t know but let's not risk it for my lifeline; my armor.

Eventually, I had to leave the soothing waters, a healing potion removed the worst of the burn but my flesh was still left with tender markings. Putting clothes on was like rubbing sandpaper along my skin; shivering at the brief wave of pain before scratchy discomfort takes its place.

Why do healing potions not heal everything? It's like once the meaningful damage is fixed it doesn’t give a crap. Wish I could see my health points, it would make the science behind it easier. And since I’m no masochist who would skin himself, I’ll have to put up with it.

Sleeping is going to be a nightmare tonight irrespective of if I get an actual nightmare. I am due one, after all, haven’t had one in what? 2 days? Damn that bloody lab messed with my head. Hasn't traumatized me too much but ruined my capacity to sleep, left a few shallow scars I suppose.

Settling into a comfortable seat to chill and relax… exactly what I was trying to do with fishing. This damned world with its unpredictability, “can't you let me have some peace.” Ocean fishermen don’t find Krakens why do I? It seems every time I go fishing, I’ll pull a boss out of the water.

Next up is a sea dragon I suppose; at least that boss is a little easier. And the scales could be useful… of course I’m daydreaming about having a big bertha. It's not going to happen any time soon; the recipe is insane.

Settling down and enjoying a short read, something that won't spring a boss on me… I hope; “Please tell me I didn’t jinx it.” There are no book bosses, right? Lightly pushes the book away, waiting a moment. Slowly pulls book back, good.

I must be going crazy, genuinely thinking the book was about to attack me, this place got me jumpy. “Come on Chic, time for bed.” The spider snoozing in the corner perks up before grumbling about being woken up. “What, I could use the company this evening, just get on the bed.” The spider complies before spinning and resting like a dog.

An interesting day today, I wouldn’t necessarily call it good or bad; just interesting.