Jun cleaved through every magic-based attack that crossed his path.
Bursts of distortion, cursed water spears, even waves of foreign energy carrying whispers of madness—all of them were split before they could even approach. The black blade connected to his arm moved without pause, each swing leaving lines of emptiness in the air, as if space itself were being cut apart and forced to submit.
The Superior Kraken roared loudly.
The roar was not merely a sound—it carried mental pressure. Several Viking warriors in the distance collapsed, blood flowing from their ears. Even the Einherjar felt a strange tremor inside their souls.
But Jun… did not stop.
Even though during all that time he was being struck by attacks, he already bore many wounds from attacking and defending.
Because its magic attacks failed, the sea monster returned to the most brutal method.
The massive tentacles struck simultaneously.
The sea split apart, the air tore open, and the path toward the Kraken's body turned into a death zone—a crossing trajectory of magic attacks and physical blows that sealed every gap. There was no safe space. No blind spot.
Jun instead entered it.
His body clad in Black Calamity God Armor – Chi You moved forward, piercing through that storm of destruction. Every step was precise, every motion minimal—no wasted effort, no panic.
This was not merely strength.
This was technique.
Jun regulated his breathing.
The Qi in his body flowed along a specific pattern—sharp, cold, lethal.
—
Heavenly Demon Sword Technique
— Seven Demon Sword
—
His movements changed.
The black blade on his arm split into seven sword shadows intertwined with one another, each moving with a different rhythm. Jun stepped forward, and within a single breath—
The world around him seemed to slow down.
The first tentacle came from the left.
Jun rotated half a step—the first slash.
The tentacle was severed, but before the severed piece could even fall, the second and third slashes crossed, destroying the magic circle that had just formed in the air.
The fourth and fifth strikes swept forward, splitting the cursed tidal wave into two collapsing walls of water.
And on the sixth slash—
Jun broke through.
He shot between two massive tentacles closing in on each other, the Chi You armor leaving trails of dark light like a demon's shadow sprinting through the air.
The Superior Kraken roared again, this time mixed with genuine pain.
The seventh slash was not aimed at the tentacles.
It was aimed at the core of its will.
A black line cleaved through the air, striking directly at the Kraken's main body, creating a long wound that did not immediately regenerate. The Demonic Qi lingering inside pulsed, rejecting recovery.
In the distance, Ingrid was stunned.
"That…" she murmured. "That isn't the technique of gods… it's pure art of slaughter."
Ragnar gripped his axe tighter, veins tensing along his arms. His breath caught without him realizing it.
"That sword…" he whispered, eyes unblinking. "It doesn't hesitate at all."
In the air, Jun stopped floating.
His body wrapped in Black Calamity God Armor – Chi You, motionless, as if time itself slowed around him. Below, the Superior Kraken writhed, its remaining tentacles rampaging wildly, striking the sea and air in desperation.
The sea roared.
The sky trembled.
Yet Jun merely raised his sword slowly.
The Qi inside his body surged violently.
Demonic Qi flowed without restraint, pouring like a burst dam, filling every crevice of the Chi You armor, merging with the blade connected directly to his arm. Dark crimson light radiated outward, so dense that the air nearby seemed distorted, as if reality itself refused to remain too close.
The aura pressed outward in all directions.
Several remaining Deep Ones stopped moving instantly—their bodies burst apart, unable to endure the pure pressure of Jun's will.
He lowered his stance in mid-air.
The sword was drawn to one side.
Then to the opposite direction.
Two lines of energy crossed before his body.
—
Heavenly Demon Sword Technique
Cross Demonic Impact
—
With a single swing, a cross-shaped slash was unleashed.
Two colossal blades of energy in the shape of a cross descended, striking the head of the Superior Kraken with no space left to evade.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then the world exploded.
A tremendous blast shook both air and land. Shockwaves tore across the sea, forming mountain-high walls of water that soon collapsed back into the ocean. The air vibrated violently, the sky seeming to split under the blinding dark-red light.
The ground on the island cracked.
Massive stones were lifted, then shattered into dust.
The Vikings and Einherjar were forced to drive their weapons into the ground to avoid being blown away by the raging pressure. Some were even pushed back dozens of meters.
The Superior Kraken's roar was cut off mid-cry.
Its head—covered in eyes and cursed symbols—was split in two.
Flesh and black-green fluid burst forth, yet this time regeneration did not occur. The wound was filled with pulsing Demonic Qi, devouring the flesh like fire eating oil.
The colossal body staggered.
The rampaging tentacles dropped one by one into the sea, losing control. The waters that once obeyed its will turned chaotic, returning to their natural current.
Jun remained floating in the air, his sword still glowing faintly.
The Superior Kraken let out one last sound—not a roar, but a low hum, filled with hatred and fear. Its body began to collapse, slowly sinking into the sea, leaving behind a massive vortex that soon closed on its own.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"WAAAAAAAH!!"
Cheers erupted at once.
The sound shook the air, louder than any monster's roar before it. The Vikings raised their axes and swords to the sky, hammering them against their shields, creating a wild rhythm brimming with the passion of battle.
"LOOK AT THAT!!"
"HE CUT DOWN THE KRAKEN!!"
"WITH ONE STRIKE!!"
Laughter, shouts, and curses blended into one. For the Vikings, such a sight was not merely victory—it was a legend being born before their very eyes.
Several Einherjar even burst into loud laughter, their voices deep and heavy, filled with satisfaction.
"HA! Now that is true warfare!"
"Valhalla will surely record this day!"
Ragnar stood amidst the roaring cheers, axe still in hand, his chest rising and falling. For several seconds, he could only stare at the figure in the sky—Jun—with an expression difficult to describe.
Not envy.
But the pure admiration of a warrior.
"…Hahaha," Ragnar chuckled softly, then louder. "I've seen many heroes. But that one—"
Ragnar slammed his axe into the ground, its metallic echo ringing in the air still thick with the scent of sea and blood.
Then he turned, looking toward Ingrid.
The Valkyrie's expression was hard to read—not fear, nor joy. Her eyes reflected something deeper, a mixture of caution, astonishment, and a reluctant acknowledgment.
"Miss Ingrid?" Ragnar called.
"Amazing…" Ingrid murmured, barely audible.
"Hahahaha!" Ragnar laughed loudly, his chest trembling. "Truly incredible!"
…
After that brutal battle, the flow of war completely reversed. The remaining Deep Ones retreated into the deep sea, their roars fading with the waves. There was no pursuit—only the certainty that they were gone.
The corpse of the giant Kraken was left floating in the distance, its body slowly sinking, as if the sea itself wished to bury the disgrace of its failure.
Jun stood at the edge of Stone Island.
The Chi You armor began to fade, breaking into fragments of black light before being reabsorbed into his body. The helm was the last to disappear, revealing Jun's pale face, his breathing still heavy even though his eyes remained calm.
Around him, the Einherjar and the warriors of Valhalla stood in a loose circle. No weapons were pointed at him—only gazes of respect, even admiration.
Jun stepped toward Ingrid.
"Sorry," he said briefly. "I didn't expect it to turn out like this."
Ingrid frowned, then shook her head. "No. What do you mean?"
"I ended up forcing you to call for help from Asgard," Jun continued honestly. "That must have… cost a lot."
Ingrid let out a small snort, then gave a weary smile. "Hah… compared to letting something like that descend into Midgard? The choice is obvious."
She exhaled softly. "Though I'll definitely be scolded by my god."
Ragnar laughed again. "In that case, make sure you blame him," he said, pointing at Jun. "He's the cause of it."
Jun only sighed quietly.
Ingrid had indeed not yet reported anything formally. The situation had been too urgent. She mobilized the Einherjar through emergency channels—trusted allies, even using the Bifröst without a complete ritual. A decision that, technically, violated more than one divine protocol.
But there was no regret on her face.
"By the way," Ragnar turned toward the island, "what about that monument?"
All eyes shifted to the large stone at the island's center—the ancient monument covered in strange carvings. Its surface was cracked, emitting faint pulses that made the surrounding air feel heavy.
Ragnar approached, examining the runic carvings he did not fully recognize. "Hmm… looks like I can't read this."
Several Einherjar shook their heads. They were warriors, not keepers of ancient knowledge.
Even Ingrid looked uncertain. "These aren't Asgardian runes. Nor the language of the Vanir."
Jun stepped forward, staring at the monument for a long moment.
"If they destroy this," he said softly but firmly, "then the evil god from beyond will be able to manifest fully in the mortal realm."
Ragnar furrowed his brow. "I see… so that's their goal."
Ingrid narrowed her eyes. "The god worshipped by the Deep Ones…"
"Cthulhu," Jun said.
In an instant—
time stopped.
The wind froze. The waves halted in midair. The colors of the world faded into dull gray, as if someone had drained all life from the canvas of reality.
Everyone was frozen.
Except one.
Jun.
His eyes quickly scanned his surroundings. His instincts screamed, the Demonic Qi in his body trembling, ready to erupt at any moment.
A voice sounded—casual, almost cheerful.
"Ah… so the name gets spoken after all."
Jun turned around.
The space in front of him distorted, like fabric twisted by force. From the rift, someone stepped out.
A young man—at least, that was how he appeared. Long black hair covered part of his face, his clothing dark and strange in style, almost like an emo from the modern world. A faint smile curved on his lips, a smile that never reached his eyes.
His eyes… empty. Deep. Like an abyss staring back.
"Hey," the figure greeted casually, giving a slight wave. "You must be Jun."