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Turning Chapter 968
🕑 Added 2024-03-07 05:34:08 +0000 UTCChapter 968
“Soon, a wave carrying monsters will hit this place. But this will be the last of them. Is everyone ready?"
No matter how dire or urgent the situation, Kishiar La Orr's voice always maintained an eerie calmness and composure. Listening to him, one could feel as though no challenge was too great to overcome.
The members, who had suffered immensely in their previous confrontations with monsters and waves, drew strength not from the dread of another impending challenge, but from the assurance that this would be the final ordeal.
The greatest difficulty for them had been enduring the uncertainty of when it would all end. The ambiguity of when the next battle would begin prevented them from using their remaining strength fully, and even during rest, they could not fully relax. Yet, they couldn't afford to be complacent in the face of dangerous battles, making it a grueling ordeal even for those who had triumphed over countless strenuous trainings.
However, Kishiar had now declared this to be the genuine final confrontation. Their Commander had never been deceitful about such matters.
With this proclamation, they could now expend all their remaining strength. There was no longer any need to conserve energy or endure in agony. Despite their overwhelming fatigue, the members cheered fervently, their eyes shining with determination.
"Of course!"
"We are always ready!"
In a situation where they faced their greatest challenge, the atmosphere erupted with an unbelievably bright and cheerful spirit. Yuder quietly observed the face of the man who bore everyone's expectations amidst this buoyant cheering.
The moment he heard those words, he was struck with the realization that the time of relying solely on clasped hands in the quiet, heavy darkness had come to an end.
Even drenched and disheveled, Kishiar shone more vividly than ever. Despite the lives of countless individuals and the fate of the entire southern region resting on his decisions, his shoulders appeared unburdened by the weight.
This wasn't because Kishiar was a man unacquainted with failure. Rather, it was because he understood better than anyone the need for such a leader at this moment.
Whether the upcoming final wave would move as anticipated was uncertain, even to Yuder. Kishiar was aware of this as well. But they both knew that if there was something reliable to lean on, people wouldn't easily crumble, even if unforeseen difficulties arose.
The tallest tree sees the sun first in the forest. To become a leader like a large tree that provides shade for others, Kishiar stepped forward to be the first to see the bright light. Even while clearly seeing the darkness behind him, he never showed the pain and worry those sights brought him.
The situation was reminiscent of the day of hail, but something had changed. What could this be called? Yuder pondered the word 'change', then replaced it with 'growth', feeling a bit unfamiliar with the term.
Kishiar turned to look at Yuder. He raised his hand and gently brushed Yuder's cheek. Red blood smeared on his wet thumb, making a mark. It wasn't painful, but it made Yuder acutely aware that his own body was covered in thin cuts, just like Kishiar's. Yuder quietly opened his mouth, looking at the man whose eyebrows had slightly relaxed, something hard to notice for others.
"I will remain here. Commander, take the injured aboard the ship and the priest, and hasten back to the shore."
Their time of joining forces had come to an end. To confront the imminent final wave, they needed to disperse once again.
"Is that truly the best course of action?"
"Yes."
Kishiar, scanning the faces of the members still floating in the water and those aboard the small boat, inquired, "Will those remaining here be sufficient?"
"It may not be enough, but... we can manage to divide and weaken the force to a certain extent."
Until now, Yuder had been unable to precisely control which direction the monster-laden waves they had created would flow. While most had been directed towards the region near Charloin where Kishiar was, sometimes they drifted into other areas. The Imperial Army, positioned in vulnerable terrains, and the dispersed Cavalry members had played their roles well, enabling them to hold on until now. But the last wave approaching was not a result of the currents they had created.
What they were about to face was the unpredictable force of 'water' itself. Those who wielded the power of water were strongest while in it. Yuder, among the most adept at harnessing the power of water, intended to lead and protect them, striving to tackle the wave and monsters in advance. This seemed to be the best collaborative strategy under the circumstances.
Yuder, his eyes filled with concern, responded firmly while gazing directly at the Commander.
"I'll send the final wave to you, Commander. You must receive it as well as you have before."
Kishiar's eyes widened slightly before he exhaled and smiled.
"...I'm looking forward to it."
Soon after, he departed with Mick Shuden and a few injured members lying on the ship, along with a priest overwhelmed with emotion at the thought of finally leaving this place. The boat, significantly slower than the members running on water, seemed to speed up at Kishiar's gesture, creating bubbles as it moved towards the shore.
Yuder watched them until they were out of sight, then turned away.
Now, only a few remained here. The Cavalry members, capable of wielding the powers of water and wind, surrounded Yuder.
"Yuder, what should we do now?"
"It's similar to what we've been doing."
However, they would need to focus more on suppressing and dividing the monster-laden wave rather than sending it to the surface.
Hearing Yuder's anticipated explanation, the members' faces paled, but they nodded without objection.
"Understood!"
Yuder turned his gaze towards Steiber, who was among them. Steiber, who had hurt his back during the ascent and had been groaning in pain, quickly approached Yuder in a manner not to arouse suspicion from the other members.
"Why? Do you have something more for me to do?"
Yuder looked at his face and spoke.
Steiber was at his limit and injured, and Yuder wondered if it was right to ask this of him. However, in the current situation, Steiber was the only one who could fully understand and assist with Yuder's intention.
"As you know, we are not only facing the wave. I can handle the wave somehow. But the monsters that will come with it..."
Yuder's power alone might not be enough to completely suppress them. Due to Yuder's power being potentially weaker than the other members’ power when directly faced with monsters, there was a risk that monsters might particularly flock to his location, creating a problematic situation.
"Ah! That. Uh, I understand. Well, all I need to do is stick close to this side and pay more attention to the monsters, right?"
Before Yuder could finish explaining, Steiber grinned, indicating he understood exactly what was being asked of him, and clapped him on the shoulder. His response matched precisely what Yuder had hoped for.
"...Yes. That's right. I know it will be hard, but I'm asking for your help."
"Don't worry. It's going to be tough either way, might as well earn more trust from our Cavalry's pride, right?"
"What?"
"Oh look, something seems to be rising over there."
Steiber's playful banter was interrupted by his sudden redirection of attention, pointing towards the distant sea. As he had indicated, the waves started to churn and swell in an unusual manner, signifying an impending change.
The vibrations, utterly different from those felt underwater, sent shivers through their bodies. It was a sinister scream of water and wind.
Yuder used his power to emerge from the water and stood firm.
"Everyone, spread out at a safe distance! Be ready!"
The members quickly dispersed around Yuder. Simultaneously, the sea churned violently, sinking downwards momentarily before erupting upwards like a fountain, then plunging back down again.
Sprays of water, like rain, were hurled around them.
"Ugh!"
"Argh!"
As the turbulent waters momentarily disrupted the balance of a few members, Yuder, standing unwaveringly, exerted his power to rescue them while observing the anomaly.
The size of the waves, surging and then collapsing, grew rapidly. Every nerve and sense was on high alert, signaling the imminent arrival of something significant.
'…Soon.'
"Now!"
With Yuder's raised hand, a colossal rumbling, like a giant wail, emanated from the depths of the sunken sea.
Whooosh...!
"Ah...!"
The members quickly looked up, stunned by the massive shadow cast over them. Like a giant beast rising from its crouch, an enormous wave suddenly loomed above their heads, gaping open like a monstrous maw.
Comments
Lele_Dod
For a moment I hoped Yuder would surf on the big wave trying to control it 🏄😂
SchaheraZade
The eye oggling. They must have amazing poker faces. ✨️👀
