He pointed behind the raft teetering on the wave’s crest, and a gentle wind immediately pushed them forward smoothly, until…
The sea monster’s tentacle accurately struck down toward the raft.
Melissa shouted and stood to meet the attack with her best technique.
Sensing the killing intent, the monster quickly altered its trajectory, temporarily halting the strike.
Her swift movement destabilized the raft. Carl, hunched over, lost his balance and was about to fall overboard. Nelly reached out to grasp his arm, her other hand gripping the raft’s edge, rough wooden splinters piercing her palm, but she felt no pain.
Carl bit back a gasp, one hand grabbing the wet wooden crevice, disregarding the blood from his torn fingertips, coughing as he climbed back beside Nelly. He opened his mouth to reveal a pool of crimson. Nelly offered a healing potion, which he drank in one gulp, turning to her: “Help me maintain balance.”
Before she could react, the boy’s cold, wet hand covered hers, their fingers intertwining. He didn’t look at her, maintaining a proud posture while casting magic, two light spheres quickly striking the sea monster.
But one light arrow was faster than Carl’s, swiftly and elegantly hitting the monster. The sea monster let out a long screech, temporarily stopping its attack as it slapped the water.
Looking back, Gerard was struggling to cling to a wooden board, his amber eyes focusing intently through the fog.
Carl’s grip on Nelly’s fingers seemed to tighten as he suppressed a cough and waved his quill pen again, three light spheres simultaneously flying out.
Melissa seized the moment, striking down hard on a floating tentacle.
The sea monster became enraged, disregarding its wounds and attacking the raft with full force, trapping Melissa and the others at the whirlpool’s edge. A great force pulled the hard-won raft back.
Time was critical. Light arrows and spheres danced, illuminating the black fog; sword sounds rang out, and the sea monster roared sharply.
Nelly turned back, crying out, “The whirlpool is forming!”
Before her words finished, the water’s massive force destabilized the raft, pulling it toward the rapidly turning center.
Carl urgently chanted a spell, a red light enveloping the three on the raft, surrounding scenery gradually distorting. Nelly’s eyes widened, seeing Gerard swimming toward them with all his might, yet always just short…
