novelzi Book 2: Intermission 6
Book 2: Intermission 6
Within the Abyss
Kaelthas Azuranth, Patriarch of the Kraken Bloodline, grimaces as he and the other Kraken and Abyssal Orca Bloodliners gradually make their way deeper and deeper into the Abyss. Because the further they get, the less safe they feel.
Not only are the monster and abyssal servants’ levels growing to the point that not even they can safely handle all of them, but the sight of bound Ancient Monsters showing up one after another sends chills down their spines.
It’s only been weeks since they came down to the Abyss during this trip, and they’ve already found the Glacial Fenrir, the Thunderbird, and even the Nryog-el Variol. All bound by chains of water and tentacles. And all being drained like batteries.
But what terrifies Kaelthas even more is the fact that the Abyssal Kraken isn’t doing anything to them. The only things attacking them are the monsters, and the abyssal servants that were hunting the monsters.
Whereas the abyssal servants they run into that weren’t hunting monsters that drag them into the battle completely ignore them.
And none of them know why.
What’s worse is that this didn’t happen the last time they came down here.
The last time they came down here, all of the abyssal servants were hunting them. Regardless of whether monsters dragged them into their hunt or not.
Kaelthas grits his teeth as he thinks of his son.They know he’s still alive, along with his wife, but the sight of the Ancient Monsters being chained up and drained like batteries doesn’t make him feel any better. In fact, it makes him worry more.
Makes him wonder if that’s the same fate his son and daughter-in-law are facing.
And have been facing for decades.
He tries hard to relax his jaw before bringing out the jacket zipper Aqua sent him before this trip. Something he asked for as a sort of prayer.
To have something of hers, just like he has of his son.
A bit of a tradition for the Azuranths.
And she didn’t care since she didn’t need a random zipper on a jacket she never used anymore anyway.
It was the original jacket she brought with her to Oceana in the first place. When she was sent there by the Pioneer System.
He brings it to his forehead before letting out a breath as they continue swimming carefully down into the Abyss. But then something strange happens, forcing him to focus on a powerful source of energy nearby.
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The energy source isn’t anything new. They’ve seen a few of them already.
It’s coming from the chains and tentacles binding the Ancient Monsters.
He shares a glance with the others before nodding. Then they all begin heading in the direction of the energy.
Because it’s a good idea to collect new data on the Ancient Monsters they find down here. And since this energy source has a weaker signal than the previous ones, the only thing that comes to mind to Kaelthas is that the Ancient Monster bound here must be smaller.
Which is also why they can’t see it yet.
But it doesn’t take long for that assumption to be shattered when they finally get within sight of the chains.
And what they find is nothing like what they were expecting.
Kaelthas’ eyes widen in shock before tears begin to flow. And he’s not the only one as the other Bloodliners begin showing similar reactions.
“It’s really... them...” Kaelthas mutters as he takes in the sight before him.
The sight of a woman with features very strongly resembling Aqua with the same dark blue hair and white highlight that all Abyssal Orcas Bloodliners have floating while chained up amidst numerous tentacles and chains in the water. She’s wearing a high tech set of aquatic armor and is floating right next to a man with short, deep blue hair wearing a similar set of armor.
Meanwhile there are a few other people chained up near them, all of whom are clearly Bloodliners as well.
All of the missing Abyssal Orca and Kraken Bloodliners in one place.
And none of them conscious.
Kaelthas’ gaze turns to focus on the chains, which are draining energy from them and no doubt keeping them unconscious. So, for the first time since seeing these chains on any of the creatures bound by them, he moves closer to them.
He isn’t the only one to do that either, as the Patriarch of the Abyssal Orcas does the same. And so do every other Bloodliner with them.
Because, while they are all at odds with each other’s families, they all care for those bound here.
But when they get too close to the chain, close enough for a bit of the energy to touch Orvyn, the water around them begins to tremble. Then a single enormous tentacle quickly rushes towards them from the direction the chains and other tentacles are stretching towards.
Kaelthas feels genuine terror as he tries to identify the massive tentacle.
All of the previous tentacles didn’t give any result when identifying them. But he feels this one will be different.
Because this tentacle is larger than a planet and is rapidly wrapping in circles around them to block off any escape before the tip of the tentacle – which is larger than they all are combined along with the chains and other tentacles here – slowly approaches them.
None of that matters though when Kaelthas sees the identify result of the tentacles glitching out and displaying unknown characters. Only for the System’s message to begin cracking before it completely shatters.
Disappearing without a trace.
The System... can’t even identify it? Even the other Ancient Monsters can be identified. So just what is the Abyssal Kraken...?
The tentacle continues to slowly approach them before suddenly freezing stiff. Then Kaelthas suddenly feels an energy emanating from the zipper he had put back into his pocket, making him bring it out. And the moment the tentacle seems to sense the zipper, it moves right up to Kaelthas before touching the zipper.
Sending a chill of pure terror down Kaelthas’ spine the moment it does.
Only for the tentacle to back away for a second as if regarding him before unwrapping itself around them all and slowly retreating back into the depths of the Abyss.
But before Kaelthas or the others can say even a single word, they’re shocked by one more thing that happens.
All of the chains and tentacles wrapped around the Bloodliners begin to unwrap themselves before retreating. Freeing Kaelthas’ son and daughter-in-law, along with the other Bloodliners.
A few seconds pass in silence before he and Orvyn both shout at the same time.
“Grab them and retreat!” “Bring them back to the surface!”
Then all of the Bloodliners hurriedly retreat in the direction of the surface.
Hoping against hope that they won’t be attacked on the way.
That they’ll be able to return safely.
And with their long-lost family.