Chapter 51

Time passed slowly. Whether it was always this slow or if it just felt particularly sluggish now, Haon couldn’t tell. He swallowed dryly. The Kraken seemed oblivious to the slight increase in water temperature.

[Roar!]

Suddenly, the Kraken roared and thrashed its two tentacles. If it were to strike the surface with those massive tentacles again, the water-made sphere would shatter. Cha Yugeon, aware of this fact, used his telekinesis to hold the Kraken’s two tentacles. It seemed challenging to control the entire Kraken with telekinesis, but managing a few tentacles seemed possible.

But even that wouldn’t last long. With Cha Yugeon already using his esper power extensively for the flame attack, it was to be expected. Haon hoped this fight wouldn’t drag on.

As the water temperature gradually rose, the Kraken’s nerves would gradually become paralyzed. Even if it tried to resist due to the heat, it would eventually become immobilized.

Victory would be theirs if they could hold out until then.

[Roar! Roar!]

However, the Kraken wasn’t idle. Despite having two tentacles held by telekinesis, it had six remaining tentacles. As it swung its six massive tentacles simultaneously, Cha Yugeon seemed unable to hold it. It happened in an instant. The Kraken broke free from the sphere.

As the Kraken escaped, the vast amount of water that formed the sphere poured out. The pouring water turned into a torrent, which turned into a whirlpool. The telekinesis holding the four of them weakened for a moment. As a result, they were swept away without a chance to evade.

“Park Haon!”

Cha Yugeon desperately called Haon, but Haon, already swept away somewhere in the sea, couldn’t hear his voice. Cha Yugeon swiftly moved towards the surface where Haon had been swept away. However, the sea was still swirling, making it difficult to find Haon within.

[Roar!]

Meanwhile, they still had to deal with the Kraken. Because of its size, the Kraken’s movements changed the currents. If this continued, Haon might be swept away to the open sea.

“Darn it, please!”

In desperation, Yugeon cursed. He noticed figures being swept away. He couldn’t be sure if one of them was Haon, but he urgently lifted them with telekinesis.

“Gasp, gasp, ugh, ugh!”

It was Park Inhyung and Baek Chan-kyung. Yugeon lifted Park Inhyung high into the sky with telekinesis to keep her safe from the Kraken’s attack.

“Find Park Haon. Do whatever it takes. Otherwise, you’ll die in my hands.”

Yugeon threatened Baek Chan-kyung as he gritted his teeth. It was a mistake to momentarily neglect Haon while focusing on the Kraken. Moreover, with S-rank esper Baek Chan-kyung between them, he had been too complacent, thinking Baek Chan-kyung could handle the Kraken’s attack. He was afraid he might lose Haon forever from this one mistake.

But he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. Haon’s life was at stake; he couldn’t afford to do that.

Yugeon took a deep breath. First, they had to deal with the Kraken. Since the Kraken’s thrasing were changing the currents, calming the sea was crucial. That way, Haon could swim to safety.

“Calm down. It’s Park Haon. Because it’s Park Haon… he’ll be okay.”

Yugeon murmured to soothe his anxious heart. Didn’t they discuss this before? Park Haon had been on countless missions. So, he must have overcome situations like this countless times before. He would endure it now, too. Yugeon had to believe in him. He had to do what he could to help.

In a situation where the vast ocean was endless, flame attacks had their limits. And he also couldn’t break the Kraken’s tentacles as it didn’t have joints. He needed a completely different approach to the battle now.

Yugeon didn’t use telekinesis on the Kraken but wrapped it around his own body. He exerted more force than merely floating in the water. With tremendous force, Yugeon flew towards the Kraken and kicked. Although his foot didn’t actually hit the Kraken, the added acceleration from the gust of wind dealt damage to the Kraken.

[Roar! Roar!]

The Kraken screamed in agony. Seeing the thrashing Kraken, Yugeon paused. The stronger the Kraken’s thrashed, the stronger the currents became.

Although he had mastered a new attack using telekinesis, this couldn’t continue. If they couldn’t defeat the Kraken all at once, it would continue to rampage.

“Darn it, how can… what should I do…”

Yugeon muttered anxiously. After all, it was an octopus. If only they could cut the huge creature into pieces, it would be great. But it was highly unlikely there was a sword capable of cutting such a massive creature. Even if there were, how could they wield such a sword?

“Park Haon, Park Haon. Please! We don’t have time for this!”

Yugeon blamed himself as he called Haon’s name. That’s right. There was no time to debate what he could or couldn’t do. If he were to rescue Park Haon, he had to do the impossible, no matter what.

Determined, Yugeon closed his eyes. And in his mind, he imagined a giant sword. The kind of massive sword Yugeon needed. As Yugeon imagined, the air around him distorted for a moment.

Yugeon opened his eyes. His bloodshot eyes were glowing crimson more vividly than ever before. An invisible sword was held in Yugeon’s hand. Since it wasn’t a physical sword, he could adjust the size of the blade as needed. Moreover, being a sword made by telekinesis, he could handle it freely no matter how large the blade became.

The telekinetic blade aimed at the Kraken.

In one strike, Yugeon intended to vanquish the Kraken.

He slashed the sword vertically towards the Kraken’s forehead.

Slashh!

The Kraken helplessly sank into the water. It didn’t even have a chance to scream; it was instantly killed with its head sliced from top to bottom.

It seemed almost anticlimactic.

If only he had known this method earlier, Haon wouldn’t have been in danger. Yugeon hurriedly moved, blaming himself for being overwhelmed by guilt. He needed to find Haon quickly.

“Park Haon!”

Yugeon shouted Haon’s name into the now calm sea. But the sea remained eerily quiet.

“Mr. Park Haon!”

Baek Chan-kyung also called Haon’s name, searching for him. As their calls gradually turned desperate, Baek Chan-kyung’s gaze changed. He reached out towards something, and water gushed upwards.

“Puhaa!”

There was a person inside.

It was none other than Haon, holding onto Kim Jeongwon’s neck. Kim Jeongwon coughed incessantly, vomiting seawater.

“Cough, cough. Were you a beer bottle?! Can’t you swim?! What’s with this every time?”

“Cough, I thought I was going to die. Thanks, you saved my life again.”

Haon looked at Kim Jeongwon with resentment for not being able to swim.

While being swept away by the currents, he had no choice but to save Kim Jeongwon, who was helplessly sinking. He thought he was going to die when he managed to pull Kim Jeongwon along with him. By the time they almost reached the surface, his consciousness had become hazy. He thought he was really going to die, but Baek Chan-kyung saved him just in time.

“Kim Jeongwon… learn how to swim.”

Haon glared resentfully at Kim Jeongwon, then struggled to get up, but someone grabbed Haon’s hand. When he looked up, Cha Yugeon was standing there, his face almost tearful.

“Park Haon, you’re really…”

“Are you relieved?”

“Stop driving people crazy.”

Cha Yugeon hugged Haon tightly as he spoke with a hoarse voice. Haon blinked in surprise in Cha Yugeon’s embrace. His heart was pounding. The thumping pulse seemed to tell him how surprised he was. His nose tingled with emotion.

“Director Han… please send another helicopter… I think I’m going to die…”

Kim Jeongwon managed to leave a message on the radio, groaning. Hearing his voice made Haon realize he was alive. It was so out of place that he almost burst into laughter.

“Are you laughing?”

Cha Yugeon said with a stern voice, but his voice was unusually gentle. Haon felt relieved that he was alive. He leaned his trembling body against Cha Yugeon.

“Sorry. I’m just glad to be alive.”

“You don’t say…”

Somehow he found comfort in the sound of that voice… was he going crazy? Or was it just the result of almost dying? Haon pondered the emerging question for a moment before dismissing it with a shrug. What difference did it make to dwell on such matters? Just thinking about being alive was enough.

“Euhh… I’m dying… No I’m alive…”

It was the end of a long battle. They could hear the roar of a helicopter approaching from afar. Haon closed his eyes and buried his face in Yugeon’s sturdy and broad chest.