Darkness engulfed the coast as the shadow rose from the churning sea like a monster birthed from nightmares. Waves rolled and crashed, spraying salt and foam into the night.

"Get back!" one of the knights yelled, his voice swallowed by the roaring surf. The moment his words left his lips, a massive column of water shot upward like a spear.

Arthur moved instantly. His hand sliced through the air, and a barrier of violet light shimmered into existence around the two carriages. The wave slammed into it with a deafening crash, rebounding and scattering like shattered glass. The impact rattled the ground, shaking the carriage violently.

Inside, Luther fell off the couch and landed face-first onto the carpet with a muffled groan. He sat up, rubbing his head.

"What in the name of burned toast was that?"

The sword, hanging lazily by the window, gave an exaggerated sigh.

"The ocean says hello."

"Oh, lovely," Luther muttered, trying to find his footing as the carriage swayed. "If that's how it greets people, I don't want to know how it says goodbye."

"Probably with a funeral," the sword quipped. "Yours, most likely."

Luther glared. "You're very supportive, you know that?"

Back outside, Liliana landed gracefully behind the barrier, her soaked cloak flaring with the movement. The water's retreat exposed what had emerged from it—a monstrous shape, black and glistening, rising higher and higher until it blotted out the sky.

The creature's enormous tentacles stretched outward like bridges of muscle and slime. The ocean trembled beneath it.

"The Kraken," Aithur said quietly, his violet eyes narrowing.

"Well, I was hoping for a fish dinner," Liliana muttered, unsheathing her silver sword. "Didn't expect the fish to come for me."

"You always attract the dramatic ones," Aithur smirked, lightning flickering around his hand. "Try not to flirt with this one."

"I'd rather flirt with death."

"Good. You might meet him soon."

The Kraken roared, the sound echoing across the waves. Tentacles slammed into the ground, sending sand and debris flying. Arthur's barrier cracked under the pressure, glowing violently before he renewed it with a gesture.

"Jio, stay with the carriage and guard the rations!" Arthur barked.

"Yes, sir!"

The six knights formed up, swords drawn, some shielding the carriage while others charged forward to strike the massive limbs. But every swing that hit the slick flesh only made the creature angrier. One knight was flung backward like a rag doll, crashing into the sand with a groan.

"Nice try!" the sword commented dryly from inside the carriage. "Didn't even scratch the appetizer."

Luther peeked out the window, yawning despite the chaos. "Oh, come on. That guy didn't even aim for the soft spot. It's like watching toddlers wrestle an elephant."

The sword snorted. "And you're an expert on wrestling sea monsters?"

"I'm an expert on complaining. Close enough."

Outside, Aithur leapt into the air, lightning gathering at his fingertips. "Liliana, left flank!"

"On it!" she shouted, dashing forward as a tentacle crashed where she had just been. Her sword shimmered, runes glowing along the blade's edge. She sliced through the air, cutting deep into the tentacle's side. Black blood sprayed, hissing as it hit the sand.

The Kraken roared in pain, and three more limbs shot toward her. Liliana twisted midair, her cloak spinning like wings, and landed on one tentacle, running along its length as if it were solid ground.

"Show-off!" Arthur called.

"Says the man who can't fight without sparkling!"

Aithur smirked and snapped his fingers. A bolt of purple lightning shot from the sky, striking the Kraken's back. The beast convulsed, releasing a sound that shook the carriages. But instead of retreating, it grew angrier—tentacles writhing and slamming into the ground.

The knights guarding Luther's carriage barely managed to hold their ground. One tentacle came crashing toward them, massive and fast.

"Raise the shield!" shouted one of the knights.

Luther leaned out the window, munching on a biscuit he had found on the carriage table. "Uh, I don't think that's going to help—"

The impact made the carriage tilt dangerously. Sand and debris flew everywhere. Luther stumbled backward, nearly spilling his tea.

"Oh come on!" he groaned. "I just fixed that tea set!"

The sword floated beside him, glowing faintly. "You're oddly calm for a man about to be squashed."

Luther sighed. "It's not calmness; it's resignation."

The sword chuckled. "So you've accepted your doom?"

"No," Luther said flatly, "I'm just too tired to care."

Meanwhile, Liliana landed beside Aithur again, panting slightly. "You hit harder than usual."

"Pent-up stress," Aithur replied, eyes glinting. "I like to take it out on giant seafood."

"Remind me to never annoy you during missions."

Another tentacle rose high, its tip dripping with dark fluid. It came crashing down—Aithur raised his hand, summoning another lightning barrier, while Liliana slashed diagonally. The combined force split the limb open, causing the Kraken to recoil.

Luther, still watching, whistled. "Okay, I give that one an eight out of ten."

The sword hummed. "Only eight?"

"They lost one point for style. No dramatic poses."

Liliana could faintly hear him from the chaos and yelled over her shoulder, "Luther! Stop commentating and stay inside!"

Luther waved lazily. "You're welcome for the moral support!"

Arthur rolled his eyes. "He's enjoying this way too much."

The Kraken bellowed and lifted half its body from the sea, revealing its massive eyes—glowing with deep blue light, full of intelligence and rage. Water swirled beneath it, forming whirlpools that began to drag the knights closer.

"Hold formation!" Liliana shouted.

Aithur raised both hands, lightning dancing wildly. He drew the power inward, forming a glowing orb before hurling it straight at the creature's chest. The explosion lit the entire coastline, followed by a shockwave that sent sand and foam flying.

Luther clapped from the carriage. "Beautiful! Now that's a solid nine!"

The sword floated beside him like a smug critic. "Yes, but the pacing was predictable."

"You're hopeless."

Outside, the Kraken's wounds began to close, tendrils regenerating rapidly. Arthur frowned. "It's healing too fast."

Liliana growled, "Then we cut faster."

But before they could strike again, the Kraken slammed its limbs into the sand, creating a massive wave that swept through the battlefield. The knights were thrown backward; Liliana's sword plunged into the ground to anchor her. Arthur conjured a new barrier, but it cracked under the force.

The carriages groaned. The horses panicked. Luther barely managed to steady his teacup before it spilled.

"I swear," he muttered, "if one more monster ruins my drink—"

Before he could finish, one of the Kraken's tentacles whipped toward him. The knights screamed, "Protect the carriage!"

Six of them ran to intercept, slashing and shouting, but the limb moved too fast. It crashed against the sand, missing by inches but shaking the entire area.

Luther peeked out again, eyes narrowing. "Hey! Watch the paint, you overgrown calamari!"

The Kraken paused for a moment—then, to everyone's horror, turned its head slightly toward the carriage.

"Oh no," the sword said. "You just got its attention."

"Well, good!" Luther yelled back. "At least someone's listening to me!"

"Do you want to die?"

"Not particularly."

Liliana saw it move and shouted, "Luther, get out of there!"

But before Luther could respond, a massive tentacle wrapped around the carriage, crushing the ground beneath. The knights screamed as they were thrown aside, while Aithur and Liliana both attacked the limb, trying to sever it.

The carriage lifted into the air, wood creaking under the pressure. Inside, Luther grabbed onto the seat, his hair a mess. "I hate my life!"

The sword was bouncing around in the air, glowing bright red from agitation. "You're going to get us both killed!"

"Oh, shut up and do something useful!"

"Like what?! I'm a sword, not a miracle worker!"

"Then stab it!"

"I'd love to, but my wielder is too busy screaming!"

Outside, Aithur hurled another bolt of lightning at the Kraken's side. It screeched, dropping one of the destroyed carriages, but it kept Luther's firmly in its grip. Liliana was slashing at the base of the limb, sparks flying from her blade.

"Let him go, you overgrown sushi platter!" she shouted.

"Now who's flirting?" Aithur teased.

"Shut up and strike!"

They both lunged, their combined powers exploding against the tentacle. But just as it began to loosen, the Kraken used another limb to slap the ground, creating a shockwave that sent both of them sprawling.

The Kraken raised Luther's carriage higher, bringing it close to one of its enormous eyes. The blue glow reflected off the window, illuminating Luther's face.

He stared back blankly. "...Great. Eye contact. Just what I needed."

The sword floated beside him, whispering nervously. "Uh, Luther, it's smiling."

The Kraken's giant mouth twisted upward, its voice echoing deep and resonant across the sea.

"It's been centuries since I had this much fun."

Luther blinked. "Wait. You can talk?"

The Kraken's laughter rolled like thunder. "Oh, I can do far more than that, little saint."

The sword's glow flickered uneasily. "Oh no."

"Oh yes," the Kraken purred. "Shall we play a little longer?"

Luther raised an eyebrow, utterly bewildered. "I... I have no idea what's happening anymore."

And then—crack!

The carriage jerked violently, wood splintering as the Kraken tightened its grip.

Outside, Aithur screamed, "LUTHER!"

But inside, Luther only sighed, dragging his hand down his face.

"Why can't I have one normal day?"

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