Aung ~ ~ ~
The sea monster abandoned all pretense of concealment, its entire massive form rising to the surface in a display of pale flesh marked with crimson veins. Tentacles flailed with wild abandon, transforming the creature into the very image of a fallen demon god calling forth from the depths of hell itself.
Aung ~ ~ ~ ~
Yet its voice carried notes of eerie holiness and supernatural power, causing all who heard it to stand transfixed. Rather than disgust or terror, listeners felt only strange admiration and profound satisfaction washing through their souls.
As if they were hearing the most beautiful hymn ever composed.
Aung ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The wind gradually ceased its howling, rain subsided to gentle droplets, thunder fell silent while purple lightning retreated behind the clouds. Even the raging sea restrained its fury, as if bowing before some greater authority.
In mere moments, the night transformed into something peaceful as a half-remembered dream.
Seawater lapped with gentle ripples against hull and shore alike. The assembled fleet drifted and swayed with leisurely grace while pure, inexplicable light illuminated this particular stretch of ocean, reflecting off the enormous creature at its center.
The sea monster's eyes gleamed with curiosity and excitement—like those of a mischievous child discovering wonderful new toys.
Aung ~
It called out with brief, joyful sounds while its large, liquid eyes darted about, examining these strange small vessels that glowed with such fascinating radiance.
Aung ~ ~
One tentacle curled invitingly toward a nearby ship, its call filled with reluctant longing. The gesture suggested a creature wanting desperately to reach out and touch these marvels, yet worried about being misunderstood or causing harm through careless contact.
If one could ignore its fearsome appearance, who would possess the heart to refuse such an apparently innocent being?
Yet aboard the targeted vessel, Joffrey released a cold, humorless chuckle.
What manner of jest is this? Ignore its terrifying, blood-soaked monstrous form? How could such a thing be possible? This was a sea monster that devoured human beings as casually as children consumed sweetmeats!
"All vessels, maintain readiness!" he commanded through the fleet's communication network. "Should the creature dare advance one pace or extend a single tentacle toward any ship, open fire with maximum force immediately!"
Joffrey ensured the sea monster itself received this tactical information.
Aung ~
The leviathan tilted its massive head, appearing utterly bewildered by this sudden influx of foreign concepts.
Yet Joffrey knew such ignorance must be mere performance.
The power of information runes could make ordinary snow bears comprehend human speech—surely they could enable this cunning sea monster to understand communication directed at it?
Indeed, though the creature maintained its blank, innocent expression, its body proved far more honest. Not an inch did it advance from its current position, using only its tentacles to brace against the seabed while the soft fins surrounding its bulk ceased all movement entirely.
The situation remains manageable for now.
Joffrey studied the motionless leviathan while secretly pondering optimal methods for dealing with this unprecedented challenge.
Aboard the Oakenshield, Crow's Eye appeared not merely mentally exhausted but physically diminished—resembling a dying old man whose strength had finally abandoned him. Even his distinctive blood-red eye had degenerated into ordinary blue, indistinguishable from any common sailor's.
Clearly, the sea monster had rejected him utterly and completely.
This enormous creature had not only regained total freedom but somehow transformed its very cries into something more bizarre and compelling—almost resembling the magical songs attributed to legendary sirens, causing listeners to unconsciously lower their guard.
Fortunately, the entire royal fleet possessed divine grace light screens, rendering the sea monster's lures and enchantments largely ineffective against properly equipped personnel.
Yet such abilities retained tremendous potential utility.
Considering those crucial unanswered questions that remained—the creature must be captured alive!
Joffrey studied his tactical display with calculating intensity.
What approach would prove most effective? Activate ship cannons for sustained bombardment? Trigger the depth charges already positioned throughout these waters? Some alternative strategy entirely?
Ship-mounted artillery could be eliminated from consideration immediately.
The weapons possessed too much destructive power while offering insufficient accuracy for precision work.
Too many volleys would likely kill the sea monster outright—an unacceptable outcome.
Insufficient firepower, however, would fail to disable the creature's mobility. Should it retreat to the deepest trenches and refuse to resurface, capture would become exponentially more difficult.
Cannons serve best as defensive measures in this instance.
What of the depth charges then?
The tactical map displayed dense concentrations of orange-red indicators throughout the surrounding waters, yet the dark sea monster icon remained perfectly stationary at their center, obviously planning no immediate action.
Continue this standoff until the creature's patience finally expires?
Joffrey lifted one hand to touch his face, noting how the tactile sensation proved extremely real and delicate—almost identical to his original physical form.
Yet this remained merely an avatar, however sophisticated.
He lowered his arm and reached a decision: first, attempt serious communication with this sea monster. Should that approach fail to achieve the desired outcome, dispatch the fleet according to established plans for continued siege operations, or...
He straightened his collar and returned to his cabin to prepare for what might prove the most unusual diplomatic encounter in recorded history.
Every warship received identical orders: withdraw to one league's distance from the target and maintain circular defensive formation while awaiting further commands.
Falia Flowers exercised her duties as "liaison officer" with obvious pride, communicating and urging implementation of royal decrees throughout her vessel.
The Oakenshield's designated position lay relatively close to their current location, allowing swift arrival at the prescribed coordinates.
They did not wait long for developments.
Woo — — — — — — — — — — — —
A prolonged, almost endless whistle echoed and raced across the waters, carrying clearly to the nearby islands where anxious inhabitants peered toward the deep sea through their already troubled night.
Battle at sea. The people of the Shield Islands awakened from fitful dreams in horror.
Recent memories surfaced with crystalline clarity.
Just before nightfall, Euron "Sea Monster" Greyjoy had led his Ironborn longships in assault upon Greyshield, with beacon fires spreading warning throughout all four islands.
Though terrified, the inhabitants had understood what was occurring and how they should respond to such traditional threats.
Yet what followed defied all precedent.
Countless warships had sailed from the west beneath the setting sun, their golden hulls destroying the Ironborn fleet with thunderous noise and spectacular geysers of displaced water.
The display had already surprised everyone beyond measure.
But the battle had not concluded with that victory. The fleet remained active, apparently engaged with some target related to the notorious "Sea Monster" himself.
Soon, however, observers realized their error in judgment.
The fleet's opponent was not merely Euron "Sea Monster" Greyjoy, but an actual sea monster of legend!
Sacred light emanated from the royal vessels, yet that same illumination revealed horrors better left hidden in darkness.
Terrifying tentacles waving with wild abandon became clearly visible even from distant shores—squid-like appendages larger than ships and deeper than the sea itself!
The creature's cries—"Woo ~ ~ ~" and "Woo ~ ~ ~"—resembled weeping and lamentation, demonic laughter and hellish elegies that caused hearts to skip beats while birthing nightmares in sleeping minds. Listeners felt instinctively that countless evil, man-eating monsters lurked within the darkness.
People could no longer bear to observe the maritime hunting ground, sensing deeply that the world's end had finally arrived. After ravaging the king's fleet, would this sea monster spare the Shield Islands themselves?
Prayer represented their only recourse—desperate pleas for divine protection against forces beyond mortal comprehension.
Yet the final sounds they heard resembled thunder—identical to the roar that had destroyed the Ironborn fleet.
When people dared look seaward once more, the sea monster had vanished! The enormous fleet floated intact upon calm waters! Sacred light continued burning brightly!
Humanity had achieved victory in the oceanic battle!
Island inhabitants immediately released their held breath, believing everything had finally returned to normal. They dragged their wild, overstimulated children back to bed, hoping to resume interrupted rest.
Though this day had proven extraordinary beyond all precedent, tomorrow would still require eating and working as always.
People needed to forget legendary stories and return to peaceful existence.
Night demanded proper rest.
However, an even more magnificent and mesmerizing song awakened everyone once again.
Aung ~ ~ ~
What melodious, moving music—like violins played by archangels themselves, clear and holy chants offered by the Maiden herself.
Aung ~ ~ ~ ~
People could not help but rise from their beds, walk from their rooms, and sway with the melody's rhythm. They gathered at their islands' edges, striving desperately to locate the song's source despite the storm's residual fury.
Closer, closer, closer...
Aung ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What divine music! Even the storm had ceased out of reverence!
Crowds danced with wild abandon, completely entranced.
Until—
Woo — — — — — — — — — — — —