Chapter 38

Sitting on a beach, Mercury and Makoto sat hand in hand as the waves lapped their toes.

Naofumi had found a Dragon Hourglass on this island and immediately informed Mercury of it. Along with the experience boost that was currently effecting the island.

"The wave is most definitely gonna spawn here." Mercury broke the silence.

(You think so?) Makoto asked.

"Has to." Mercury doubled down. "This XP boost is here to gather all the heroes. And why else would that be unless somethin' big is coming here."

Makoto understood Mercury's point.

(Makes sense when you put it like that.)

For some of the day, the two enjoyed each other's company. After a while, they were each fighting monsters alongside the other heroes and their crews.

"Merc!" Itsuki rushed over. "How's it been?"

"Fine." Mercury replied as the two heroes parties fought side by side.

"You prepared for the wave tonight?"

"Only choice is to be prepared." Mercury replied. "We'll beat this wave. Just like all the others."

Satella, Mercury, Daenerys, and Makoto each trained and watched each other's backs.

Night was quickly approaching as Makoto and Mercury spent the remaining time they had in each other's arms before the wave.

"Mercury. It's go time." Naofumi rushed up to him.

The two were standing on one of the many boats when the wave began, calling for sea creatures of all kinds to attack. Itsuki's ship was attacked first. Followed by Ren's.

A Megalodon rammed headfirst into the butt of Itsuki's ship, sending many a soldier overboard. A demonic blue whale simultaneously attacked Ren's ship.

Nodding to each other, Mercury rushed to provide backup to Itsuki while Naofumi provided some for Ren.

"FIRE!"

Dozens of cannons were shot at the megalodon, causing the sea to turn various shades of red as the megalodon retreated to deeper depths. Rising quickly, the megalodon hit the underside of the ship, causing it to rock and send Itsuki overboard.

Before Itsuki hit the water, he shot a rope arrow into the air, which was promptly caught by a teleporting Mercury. Pulling Itsuki upwards, the megalodon tried biting him, just as his feet skimmed away from the water before bungeeing skyward.

Flipping in midair, Itsuki pulled his string and let loose a single arrow, which then turned into countless.

Igniting his dagger, Mercury sent a horizontal wave over the target that lasted for several seconds. Allowing each one of Itsuki's arrows to pass through and ignite themselves.

Seeing the megalodon breach the surface, Mercury quickly teleported himself, and a large gunpowder barrel, onto its back.

"ITSUKI!"

Shooting another ignited arrow, it hit the gunpowder just as Mercury teleported away to safety.

"Let's go!" Mercury cheered as he appeared right beside Itsuki. "Nice shot."

"Nice setup." Itsuki shot back as the two shared a fist bump.

An ear piercing explosion filled the air, getting everyone to look up. The demonic whale had also been taken care of, and now a new target has appeared.

A mass fell from the sky, splashing into the water and causing the ships to rock from the wave. Soon after, ginormous tentacles shot out of the ocean.

They immediately went to work on the ships. Masts fell as the tentacles snapped them like they were twigs. Soldiers were tossed overboard and promptly eaten.

"It's a fucking kraken!"

"Merc!" Naofumi shouted for his brother to provide backup.

"On it!"

Throwing his dagger into the air, Mercury teleported to it. Coming down onto one of the sea creatures, the kraken, Mercury drove the dagger deep into its tentacle as he ignited the blade. Ripping it free, he caused a shockwave of fire that severed one of the tentacles holding a group of soldiers.

"Get them-"

"Watch out!" One of the soldiers pushed Mercury out of the way as the severed tentacle pushed him into the water. The Kraken devoured the poor soul before a half dozen more were tossed into its bottomless maw.

Mercury got up and had to quickly jump to avoid another tentacle. Throwing his blade into the mast, Mercury teleported to it and used the momentum to run up the mast, teleporting again once he lost speed. All while dodging attacks from the beast.

Mercury shouted as he spotted the giant maw hidden just under the water's surface.

Seeing a large tentacle wrap around the centre mast, Mercury began to devise a plan. Finding himself holding a rope, Mercury looked at his blade, his pathway slowly coming together.

"It'd be criminal not to. This is your Captain Jack Sparrow moment, fucker. Take it!" Mercury told himself before jumping off the mast while cutting the rope, swinging. "WHOO!" Mercury hollered as he performed a flip, then teleported to the other mast held by the kraken.

Stabbing into the tentacle, Mercury slid down the slimy appendage, twirling around it all while slicing deep into it. Mercury was covered by the Kraken's blood as the tentacle fell limp.

"Mercury!" Filo shouted for his attention from Naofumi's ship.

Naofumi stomped on a wooden plank, sending a gunpowder barrel into the sky. Filo flew over it and quickly kicked it towards the Kraken's mouth while Mercury ignited his blade and threw it precisely as it hit the water with his slow time ability.

The Kraken roared under the water's surface while everyone celebrated another creature down.

As the Kraken sunk, one of the tentacles went to wrap around Makoto. Seeing this, Mercury quickly pushed her out of the way and was instead the one to be violently pulled into the water.

(NOO!)

"MERC!"

Naofumi and Makoto both attempted to dive into the water after Mercury, but the other members of their parties stopped them.

(LET ME GO! LET ME GO!) "N-NN-NNNO!" Makoto yelled out as Stella held her from jumping. "NOOO!" Tears began to fall from her eyes as Satella and Daenerys stared at each other in shock. Makoto was speaking. "NOOOooohoohoo! Noooo!" Makoto began sobbing in Satella's arms as the Kraken sunk further and further into the darkness.

Pulling an arm free, Mercury tried to slash it but lost grip of his dagger.

"Ooh, no, no, no." Eris flung the creature away with a flick of her wrist as she appeared before Mercury. Floating at the depths, Mercury clung to his throat, the need for oxygen growing.

Seeing this, Eris blew a kiss, knocking Mercury directly into the underwater temple.

Coughing as the water around him vanished, Mercury stood up once he finally found his breath.

"Take me back up there!" He demanded. "They need me!"

Eris clicked her tongue mockingly.

"You simply don't have the numbers." She mocked. "It's a loosing battle. As of now, another two of my beautiful creatures have joined. The creatures of the waves are going to slaughter your cute little fleet one. By. One."

"The hell do you mean "your beautiful creatures?" Mercury questioned as he picked up his dagger.

"Stupid boy, you really are clueless." Eris mocked. "It matters little, now, if you hope to save those fools up there, I can help you."

"And if I refuse?"

Eris smirked at Mercury.

"Your friends will perish, boy." Eris informed.

With a reluctant sigh, Mercury asked her how he can save them.

"Your dagger has quite a special property, you know." Eris stated as she shrunk to a size just shorter than Mercury himself. Her hair still floated as if she were underwater as she approached Mercury. "If you were to take this blade-" she gently took his arm into her hands. "and stab it into any of the Dragon Hourglasses, you'd create yourself an un-killable army."

"What are you talking about?" Mercury asked.

Eris strolled over to the hourglass, gesturing to a slit in it just above the jewel.

"Insert the dagger here, and you will have your army." Eris said again. "Enough troops to never worry about the Waves of Calamity again. Or you could let your friends die, one by one while you're stuck making a decision." Eris checked her fingernails. "Your choice."

After a moment's hesitation, Mercury approached the hourglass and sunk the blade into the slit.

"Good." Eris smiled, widely.

Suddenly, a burst of energy erupted from the hourglass, sending a shockwave all throughout the world.

"Troops!" The Queen shouted as she and everyone else braced.

"What did I do?" Mercury asked as he backed away from the opening hourglass.

Eris smiled, eerily.

"WHAT DID I DO?!" He shouted, demanding an answer.

"You did it." Eris chuckled. "You're an even bigger fool than I could have thought."

"Did it? Did what?!" Mercury shouted.

"You brought me." She began laughing. "After so long. Finally. Finally! Hah hah. Ahaahaha. Hahahahahahahaha!" She kept laughing, eventually clawing at her own face. Her nails dug a good three inches into her skin, leaving almost Wolverine like claw marks. "You've brought chaos!"

Another burst of energy surged from the hourglass, sending Mercury onto his back and hitting his head, knocking him out cold.

End of Chapter 38