The light screen's perspective had chosen a vantage point upon a nearby reef.
From this position, the sea monster lay to the left, its massive back exposed to the air and constantly shifting through hues of deep blue and silver. The giant stood to the right, radiating eternal brilliance like some divine avatar made manifest.
The sea monster clung to the giant with desperate tenacity.
The vortex and storm in the distance drew ever closer, bringing surges of violent wind and rain that transformed into intense water mist. This deluge crashed upon both monster and giant alike, soaking everything in its cold embrace.
The atmosphere grew chill and chaotic beyond mortal endurance.
"Aaaaang~ Aaaaang~ Aaaaang~"
The sea monster cried out with mounting excitement, its tentacles tightening their grip around the giant's form—seemingly intent on crushing this steel body through sheer, crushing force.
It certainly possessed power enough for such a feat.
Bang! Bang!
Cannon fire continued to flicker from the giant's body, yet this power could only vent itself upon the vast, empty waters.
The sea monster dodged the artillery with cunning intelligence.
Many who watched this divine battle could not help but worry in secret for His Grace the King, though the more astute observers smiled with knowing confidence.
As expected, in the next moment the "skin" upon the giant's body began to flow like living metal, sending tiny holes and gun ports to every edge and corner—each aimed with deadly precision at the sea monster's bulk.
Bang! Bang! Bang...
A continuous stream of shells flew forth from these new positions, attacking the creature at point-blank range.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
This time, all could see clearly—the cannon fire erupted directly upon the sea monster's hide!
"Aaaaang!!"
The creature, wracked with pain, tightened its tentacles with even greater force. Yet the giant's body remained unmoved, without the slightest sign of damage.
The power of the Holy Shield, people understood with awe.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sea monster could endure no more and was forced to release its crushing grip, falling back into the sea to lick its wounds in the salt water.
The giant made no hasty move to pursue.
Instead, he turned to face the slowly approaching storm with the patience of mountains.
Rumble~~
He took one measured step after another.
His legs stirred the entire ocean, stimulating ever more turbulent waves and causing the sea's surface to rise and fall like the breathing of some titanic beast.
Only then did the watchers glimpse what lay beneath the waters.
The giant's legs were formed of stone—the very rock of the seabed itself, drawn up and shaped by powers beyond mortal comprehension.
The warlocks who witnessed this scene hesitated long in their amazement.
Could the arts of sorcery accomplish such feats? Transform countless tons of steel and stone into a hundred-foot giant? A colossus so vivid and lifelike as to seem indistinguishable from a living god?
They studied the giant with newfound reverence.
The steel body had not merely molded their King's features, but contained an incomparably noble spiritual presence—as if His Grace stood there in the very flesh.
Could this truly be mere sorcery?
People watched the giant's every step with different forms of shock and wonder.
Rumble~ Rumble~~
The giant took six great strides and reached the lightning tornado's very edge.
For reasons beyond mortal understanding, the lightning actively gathered around his form like fluttering ribbons—brilliant and sharp, dazzling and fantastical beyond description.
He raised his shield and pressed it forward into the storm's heart.
Ka-ka-ka...
After a burst of intense friction and thunderous impact, the shield finally forced its way into the tornado's center, cutting down vast swaths of wind and rain.
"Aaaaang~~"
The sea monster suddenly erupted from the depths, wrapping around the giant from behind in a desperate gambit!
"Aaaaang~~ Aaaaang~~ Aaaaang..."
It cried without cease. Even through the light screen's protection, people found themselves growing dazed and stunned by the sound.
That strange, hypnotic song had returned!
Faria looked toward the giant. This time, no protective starlight burst from the colossus's form. Were even the divine soldiers falling under the creature's spell?
"Aaaaang..." The sea monster's voice grew ever more insistent, while the giant fell ominously still.
Perhaps the souls aboard the Graceful Light were trapped in that terrible cycle of bewilderment and harsh awakening...
Faria could not help but shudder at the thought.
Compared to the sea monster's seductive temptation, the awakening method employed by the light screen proved far more visceral and unforgettable—forcing living souls to experience the seven layers of hell in vivid, agonizing detail.
Fortunately, the sea monster had employed its song only twice upon the fleet, meaning only two rounds of that hellish awakening. But if such torment continued for several more cycles...
Wooooo————————————
A sharp whistle erupted from the giant's body, instantly rousing many spectators from their daze. All felt fear—none wished to be "kindly" awakened by the light screen's brutal mercy again.
"Aaaaang..."
Though the sea monster's voice was muffled considerably, still it did not cease its terrible song.
The giant gripped his long spear with renewed purpose.
In the next instant, the weapon melted in the storm's rain and merged seamlessly into the giant's body.
Tzzzt!
"AAAAANG!!!"
The sea monster's tentacles thrashed wildly, struggling desperately to break free from the giant's steel embrace.
Dozens of steel needles had pierced its flesh!
These spikes had grown directly from the giant's body and remained integrated with the whole. The sea monster could not break free from their barbed embrace.
The giant raised his shield with both hands, gathering divine strength.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Three consecutive shield strikes caused the sea monster's tentacles to spasm and twitch, spilling mottled blue-green blood into the churning waters.
Only then did the giant retract his steel needles.
The sea monster fell weakly back into the sea, half-floating and half-sinking, swaying limply with the waves like some vast corpse.
"This serves as warning," the giant's voice boomed across the waters.
"Should you dare hinder me again, I shall do more than merely chastise your pet. Think not to hide your true form from my sight!"
The sea monster's golden eyes appeared after long absence, blazing weakly in the storm-light.
"Aaaaang~"
It called out faintly, yet seemed too weak to express even a trace of defiant emotion.
The creature's gaze turned toward the raging storm.
The giant stretched forth one mighty hand toward the tornado's vortex. "In the name of this world—transcendence forbidden!"
Invisible magic rippled outward in waves.
Gradually, the storm began to collapse and dissipate of its own accord. The black clouds retreated like a defeated army, and the sky began to ease and calm itself.
The sea monster's eyes widened in what could only be shock!
Joffrey immediately noticed this telling reaction.
What—it did not perceive my anti-magic runes? There are countless such runes warding the Endless Wall, and Storm's End bears them as well. How could it not know of their existence?
In any case, this revelation suggested matters were far from simple.
Joffrey immediately elevated his investigation of the anti-magic runes to highest priority.
The sea monster floated upon the waters, showing no reaction for a considerable time.
Joffrey's patience reached its limits.
He sent word through their bond: "You have little time remaining, and neither do I. What keeps you in such dull amazement? Our performance is not yet concluded."
This statement held grim truth.
Controlling such a massive giant proved far more taxing than operating a mere "cybernetic body." Though it was not like some legendary hero who could remain active for only three minutes, maintaining this form for even a quarter-hour approached his absolute limits.
"Understood," came the hesitant reply. "Then... let us continue our dance."
"Aaaaang~~"
The sea monster suddenly erupted from its feigned weakness, rolling through the water and spewing forth a vast quantity of viscous, tar-black ink at the giant!
The colossus immediately raised his shield to block this new assault.
Tzzzzz————
The dark substance actually corroded the shield's surface! In mere moments, it had nearly burned through the divine barrier entirely!
The giant quickly reshaped his defense and layered protective magic upon it.
The corrosive ink struck an invisible film and could only splash helplessly from the shield's edges, falling to merge with the deep sea below.
The sea monster pressed its attack with relentless fury.
Though the giant remained unharmed, the dark ink had begun to defile everything within its reach. Seawater, fish, sea life, and even the ancient reefs—the terrifying poison spread rapidly through the currents, dyeing all it touched a gloomy black and devouring every foreign substance.
Those watching through the light screen looked down at their feet in growing horror.
This ancient reef was actually dissolving into the darkened sea!
Yet people could spare little concern for such distant matters.
The sea filled with corruption had enveloped the entire fleet!
Even diluted countless times over, a terrifying "tzzzt" sound still echoed from every ship's hull!
"Quickly! Raise the Holy Shield!"
Fortune smiled upon them—each warship carried sufficient energy reserves and Holy Shield warriors to meet this crisis.
In the end, not a single vessel was lost to the depths.
"Stubborn creature!" The giant's roar resounded in every ear across the waters.
The sea monster had vanished beneath the waves once more.
But the giant raised his long spear high, its point tracking toward a clear target hidden in the depths.
"Strike true!" He hurled the weapon with divine force.
"Aaaaang!" The sea monster's tentacles danced in frantic evasion, yet could not escape from that patch of cursed sea.
The giant strode toward the creature now pinned to the seabed floor.
His shield transformed into a massive sword within his grasp. The colossus raised this blade high above his head.
But then he paused, as if reconsidering.
"For the sake of the Drowned God's ancient honor, surrender this pet as recompense, and we shall call our quarrel settled."
"Aaaaang~"
The gold within the sea monster's eyes began to fade like dying embers.
The giant smiled with satisfaction. "Excellent. It happens the Drowned God has need of such a servant."
After all, he could claim that title as well.