The axe in my hand, I'm far from the octopus, and I sprint toward it, steadying my body in a heartbeat. Several of its tentacles cling to the deck, crushing the walls. I run up one of them, my only goal its weak point—its eye. My vision shifts again, the same strange magic as at the river, guiding my sight straight to where I need to go.
I'm on its tentacle now, halfway to its head and eye, axe in hand, running as fast as I can.
"What is he doing?" Oliver freezes as he sees Hiro running off the ship and up the massive tentacle toward the giant Octopus.
Their vision is unclear—only the flashes of lightning reveal the monster for moments at a time. Yet Hiro runs as if he sees every inch of what he's stepping on.
One tentacle swings toward Hiro. Rose notices first and raises her bow.
Oliver realizes too.
"SANTIAGO, SHOOT ANYTHING IN HIS WAY!" he shouts.
"EVERYONE, CLEAR A PATH FOR HIM!" Oliver charges toward the nearest tentacle with his sword. The others move with him.
—BOOM. —BOOM.
Two shots from Santiago.
—SPLASH.
Rose's arrow flies, all three strikes hitting the tentacle above Hiro.
I glance up—the tentacle aiming for me jerks away, misled by their attacks. I look for only a second, but I keep running toward its eye. Just a few dozen steps left.
But—
—CRASH.
Another tentacle slams down and knocks me off balance. I begin to fall from the tentacle.
Losing balance drags me toward the sea below. My axe still in my grip, I slam it into the skin of the tentacle, slowing myself, stopping at the edge, dangling.
"Damn—"
I need to move, or I'll fall.
—SWASH.
An arrow lands near me. I glance toward the ship—Rose.
"Climb," her tiny voice reaches me. The arrow is just out of reach.
Both hands are locked on the axe. I release one and stretch for the arrow.
"Come on," I mutter.
Closer. "Come on."
"Got it."
—SWASH.
Another arrow lands ahead of me. I can't look back. One hand holds the axe, the other an arrow.
All I need is a small swing to reach the next arrow.
Oliver watches Hiro. The others are overwhelmed by the attacking tentacles. Oliver slashes through the ones reaching for him. But then the Octopus begins pulling its tentacles back. Everyone freezes for a moment.
"What the—" Bartra stammers.
—THUD.
A massive tentacle crashes toward the mainmast. Everyone's face goes pale.
"DON'T LET IT HIT THE MAST! STOP IT!" the Captain roars.
"EVERYONE, PROTECT THE MAST!" Oliver yells, sprinting. He cuts through the nearest tentacle. Santiago climbs down from the mast. Bartra, Grizz, Gruzz, and the rest of the crew rush in. Rose fires another volley—toward the tentacle near Hiro and the one near the ship.
I yank my axe free. One hand grips the arrow tightly, the other holds the axe.
I swing my body slowly, aiming for the next arrow. Swing by swing, I build momentum and—
"Got—"
"No—!" My left hand misses, and my right hand snatches the arrow instead.
I reach it. But my grip on the axe slips. "Damn." The axe drops.
It falls beside me, bobbing on the slick tentacle. My left hand reaches for it, even as I cling by its eye.
"Come on—" The axe drifts closer. I stretch my hand—
"Ukh." I grab it—but my hand clamps down on its eye as well.
"Shit—"
—SWASH.
Another arrow lands farther ahead. I see it. I know what I have to do. A big swing. I need a big swing to climb back up and get on top of the tentacle.
"Right. A big swing." Both feet need to land on that arrow. Then I rise—and strike its eye.
"Come on. If I fail this, I'll regret it forever."
One hand grips the arrow tightly. My left hand can't move—blood is running down my arm.
"Come on, kid. You can do it," Oliver mutters under his breath.
Rose waits, bow drawn. Santiago glances at Hiro. Bartra, Grizz, Gruzz, the whole crew—they're all watching.
I look toward them. They… believe in me.