A scream of terror pierced out from the edge of the ferry. It was followed by another splash as a survivor was dragged into the water by the unknown monster.

"Su! I need to find my granddaughter!"

Mister Kim rushed off in search of Su as Ronan let out a string of curses about useless blanks. Noah quickly grabbed a nearby discarded swimwear bag.

Disregarding what was already inside, he made a show of stuffing his hand holding his soulless crystals as he placed them inside his [Zero-space dimension ring] before slinging the cord of the swimwear bag across his shoulder.

"We need to help…" Noah began to speak.

What Noah was about to say was cut short by his [Battle Instinct] ability triggering, activating the chest piece's [Spirit Armour] ability as a large tentacle crashed through the wall of the ferry. Slamming into his transparent flickering blue spirit armour, sending him catapulting across the room. Breaking through arrayed passenger seats before coming to a stop at the far wall.

He was momentarily disoriented as he pushed himself unsteadily to his feet. Noah quickly recovered from his stunned state to draw his sword from its sheath at his waist before touching his hand to his temple to discover that he was completely unscathed, only slightly dizzy.

Ronan walked towards Noah while looking with barely disguised greed at his system items. He had managed to get his jeans on. Sophie had disappeared from the room.

"Are you alright, mate? You just took quite the beating," Ronan asked.

"I'm fine," Noah replied while warily gripping his sword tighter.

"Well then, let's go clean up the mess those blanks made."

Ronan took a final deep drag on his cigarette before flicking away the smouldering butt towards the tentacle retreating out of the newly formed hole in the side of the ferry with a spray of ash.

Noah and Ronan approached the ferry's destroyed wall to watch as the tentacle slipped over the edge to silently slide back into the dark water.

"What do you think it is?" Noah asked.

"Does it matter?" Ronan replied.

"It could be one of those giant squids that eat whales from out in the ocean," Noah suggested.

"It looks like sushi to me," Ronan said as he started to flex his shoulders.

"Mhm"

Noah decided to keep his mouth shut at Ronan's display of bravado. He stood beside Ronan at the edge of the destroyed wall, looking down at the churning surface of the black water.

After becoming grade two, Noah was now of similar height and build to Ronan, who was a large man half a head taller than him before his enhancement. The difference between them was in their appearance. Ronan had rough and fierce features while Noah's appearance had become heroic and handsome, with faint purple light passing under the surface of his skin that could be seen by the naked eye whenever he exerted his muscles. Ronan appraised Noah out of the corner of his eye as he compared their physiques, reevaluating his previous assessment of him.

Noah could still see the colourful motes of light floating through the air outside the ferry with the rainbow aurora allowing him to see in the pitch-black night. He saw that Ronan was straining to peer into the darkness to see the turbulent water below, whereas Noah could see it clearly.

"Look out!" Noah shoved Ronan to the side as a tentacle burst from the water towards them.

Noah dived in the opposite direction as his battle instinct reignited again as another tentacle ruptured towards him, tearing through the crumbling wall beside him as if it wasn't even there.

Ronan let out a grunt of thanks before getting to his feet then dusting himself off. A third tentacle came in through the opening to slam into Ronan, who had only just regained his feet, sending him sliding across the deck while leaving a whip mark across his chest.

Noah instinctively rolled to the side before quickly bracing his hand against the wall to stand up, as the first tentacle crashed down onto where he had been previously sitting.

He watched as debris from the ceiling dangled in the wreckage before falling to the floor. He turned towards a sharp inhale as Ronan regained consciousness before letting out a string of curses while cradling his head.

"Alright, I underestimated that squid," Ronan muttered.

"I can only see three tentacles. Be careful. The others could come from anywhere," Noah replied.

He turned back to face the three tentacles swaying rhythmically outside the opening. Noah could see a faint yellow glow pulsing under the surface of the creature's slimy skin. Another arm struck out like lightning towards another direction on the boat, quickly followed by a scream and then a splash as the mysterious monster dragged another helpless victim into the maw waiting in the water's shadowy depths. Two tentacles seemed to be alerted by his voice, both slashing towards him at the same time.

Noah finally unleashed the [Wind Blade] ability towards the nearest tentacle, completely severing it while leaping aside from the second tentacle. His [Battle Instinct] ability alerted him to a third threat, but he could not dodge this unexpected ambush.

As his spirit armour was slammed against by the monster's tentacle, Noah lost his grip on his sword. The [Grade 1 Wind Blade Sword] disappeared over the broken edge of the ferry with a clang. He heard Ronan let out a curse as the sword splashed into the water, never to be seen again. He didn't panic as the tentacles outside began to flail wildly, the pain of its severed arm causing the submerged monster to whip into a frenzy.

『AHHHHHHH!』

A scream of rage and pain echoed inside everyone on the boat's mind. Many survivors dropped down to their knees. They began clutching their ears as the cry was too much for them to handle. His [Spirit Armour] ability flared slightly to indicate that it had protected him against some unseen threat.

The severed tentacle writhed about on the deck, unpredictably slamming against Noah, which sent him falling into the churning water. The ice-cold water sent a shock through his tensed body, making him more alert as the ocean briefly submerged him. The sea had become dyed red from the blood pumping from the wound Noah had caused the mysterious creature.

An intense yellow light began to emit beneath the red waves as Noah resurfaced. Noah unhesitantly activated his [Six Spirit Arms] ability to start to swim back towards the ferry before the creature noticed him in the water with it.

『Mere food dares injure me!』 An unrecognizable voice boomed inside Noah's head.

An unknown symbol formed in the air above the waves as the yellow light grew in intensity under the turbulent waves.

"What is that symbol? It can't be good."

Noah muttered to himself as he turned to look back at the water after he pulled himself out of the frigid water onto the side of the ferry.