We press on with determination in search of the original whale. Five knights arrive at the location and receive orders to care for and transport the wounded to the camp.
Once this aspect is secured, we head quickly toward the artillery area.
"If she has used her clones, she is likely trying to recover. We cannot allow her time to do so," I assert, raising my gaze to look for signs of her presence.
The fog hampers visibility, but the large tree is a constant source of mana. She's likely hidden among its leaves, absorbing the energy necessary for her recovery.
At that moment, I sense a vibration in the atmosphere, prompting me to turn along with Crusch.
An intense light begins to radiate from above, piercing through the fog and filling the surroundings with brightness. I even feel the heat emanating from this radiation.
I decide to turn with Crusch to avoid exposing ourselves too much to the blinding light.
"We have thirty minutes left," I inform, while we wait for our eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness after being in darkness for so long.
Gradually, the environment becomes more visible and defined. We continue to advance cautiously, vigilant of any potential threats. The artillery is ready, and Emilia is on high alert to react to any attacks.
We know that the whale's clones will soon attack us, but we must be strategic. The cannons should not be wasted on the clones, so I've arranged for the remaining knight squad to keep them at bay and occupied.
"I can't see her up there," Crusch comments, assessing the situation carefully.
It's true; the fog and brightness make it difficult to locate her among the leaves of the large tree. She must be hidden among the branches or in its canopy.
We continue advancing, each step bringing us closer to the final confrontation with the original whale. Our hearts beat with determination as we prepare for the challenge that awaits us.
Amidst the tension, I consider that using miasma might be our only option. I plan to fly towards the whale and, while drawing it in with the miasma, redirect it to a specific point.
This would allow us to focus our attacks and ultimately defeat it. However, I am concerned about whether I can control gravity magic effectively using miasma.
Compatibility with miasma is an issue for me. Although I can use it to propel myself or achieve moments of flight, each time I resort to miasma, its effects on my body intensify.
My nature seems to be ill-suited to this type of magic. Unlike the archbishops, who can handle miasma without apparent difficulty, I face considerable challenges due to my unique nature from another world.
Looking to the sky for a solution, I carefully evaluate my options. Falling from a great height would be lethal, even if someone tried to cushion the impact or reduce the force of the fall. Gravity magic seems to be my only salvation in this situation.
Despite the risks, we've come this far thanks to my magical abilities. If I lose access to my magic, I'll become vulnerable, which is not an option if we want to successfully confront the whale.
We continue advancing, searching for any sign of its presence. Crusch follows behind me, riding a dragon borrowed from one of the knights.
These dragons are notoriously jealous and only accept their owners or those whom the owner has authorized. The situation must not be easy for Crusch as she tries to gain the trust of a dragon not her own.
At that moment, Grímnir growls and directs his gaze to the left. The threat approaches at great speed. A giant horn emerges, surrounded by fog that completely conceals it.
The whale has managed to camouflage itself within the fog, keeping its presence hidden until the last moment.
In the blink of an eye, the whale unveils itself before me, its immense body occupying my entire field of vision as it lunges in a desperate attempt to ram me. Crusch responds by slashing in its direction, but the whale seems to ignore her attack and continues advancing with determination.
Its eyes shine in intense crimson, filled with fury and a desire for destruction.
"Marco!" Crusch shouts urgently.
In that same instant, I employ murak in the area, giving Grímnir a powerful boost that propels me out of the path of the charge.
With a leap, I manage to get airborne, but the whale doesn't stop. In an impressive move, it rises from the ground and heads upward, straight toward me.
My suspicions are confirmed: the whale is determined to annihilate me at all costs. Although the miasma doesn't flow from me in a way to cause this, it seems to have acquired some kind of connection with my presence.
It moves at great speed, with the sole objective of impaling me.
Using murak with an additional charge of mana, I lighten my weight enough to be pushed by the wind pressure generated by its advance, narrowly dodging its charge.
"Head towards the artillery!" I shout, clinging to the whale's horn with all my might. The whale ascends into the skies, frantically struggling to break free from my grip.
I turn my head to examine its body and see a massive hole in its skull, the result of the devastating attack we managed to inflict earlier. A lethal blow that has left a wound over five meters in diameter, surrounded by scorched and torn skin due to the explosion.
Upon closer inspection, I notice that its recent attacks have been more calculated and coordinated, as if it's following a strategy. Its level of intelligence is surprising and uncommon for a beast of its size.
All of this feels strange, out of the ordinary.
While the whale continues to ascend, the wind stirs in a desperate attempt to rid itself of me. Using vita, I maintain my firm grip on its horn.
Finally, we emerge from the fog and rise even higher, reaching above the large tree that previously obstructed our view.
From this height, I can observe the panorama in its entirety: the capital, parts of Gusteko, and much more, confirming that this world is flat, as they say.
Those visible wounds on the whale's body have a clear meaning: this is the real whale, and that means our plan must proceed.
I have no time to waste. The whale continues to move erratically, generating a dense fog around it as it tries to get rid of me. Quickly, I reach into my pocket and activate the metía.
Thanks to vita, the wind tries to fight against my presence, but my preparations are completed in a matter of seconds. Alsten, in his artillery unit, receives the signal and observes the situation with surprise.
"Prepare the cannons to the west!" I shout, quickly stowing the metía in my pocket. A mix of determination and exasperation takes hold of me as I gaze at this monstrosity, the source of so many problems.
I'm already considering the idea of hanging its horn as a trophy somewhere in Irlam.
"Rot in hell!" I exclaim, using murak to free myself from its grip. The force of the wind propels me in another direction as it turns to attack me.
It projects several fog bullets in my direction, but I skillfully dodge them, striving to get closer. Given its large size, the turns slow it down, making it relatively easy to evade its attacks.
I reflect on my recklessness. I was imprudent to underestimate the situation.
Taking advantage of its movement, I propel myself towards its eye. With agility, I unfold my kukri and infuse it with fire magic, heating the blade as I approach with determination.
Despite its attempts to move, I drive the blade of my kukri forcefully into its eye, causing it to sink upon impact. Vapor begins to escape from the injured eye, mingling with the smell of burnt flesh.
Using the kukri, I create an opening wide enough to inflict significant damage.
Acting quickly, I retrieve a grenade from my pocket and place it in its injured eye. Using wind magic, I propel myself out of the blast radius.
Boom!
The explosion elicits a scream of agony from the whale, which violently shakes in the air. Crimson and black smoke drifts from its left eye, and flames briefly engulf the wound.
My determination strengthens as I try to focus to the fullest. I need to master my gate; controlling the miasma is the key to unlocking my true potential.
"You know..." I close my eyes, straining to concentrate, and smile, pulling my finger out at him with a smirk. I direct my gaze toward that monstrosity and, in a calm, steady voice, I murmur, "I can come back from the..."
Suddenly, time seems to freeze. The sun continues to illuminate the sky, but everything around me is in a state of pause. Although I don't feel anything physically, a strange sensation envelops me.
I try to turn my head, but I can't move. I sense that the miasma has completely disappeared.
Cold arms wrap around my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Tension seizes me. I make an effort to move my eyes, but the paralysis persists.
Before me, the whale remains motionless. A frigid embrace, laden with emotions I can't comprehend, envelops me for a moment. Then, my mind begins to process what has happened.
I sense a feminine figure behind me, and uncertainty and desperation increase as I try to figure out who this person is.
It can't be Satella, at least that's what I want to believe. I desire to speak, but the words won't come out of my mouth.
"I found you..." an unfamiliar voice, mature and slightly deep, akin to Emilia's but with a different depth.
The embrace lingers for a while, unable to understand what's happening, I let myself be carried away. Without miasma, without anything, helplessness overwhelms me as I try to comprehend the situation.
"ROOOOAAAAR!" the whale roars fiercely in front of me.
Suddenly, I snap back to reality as if everything had been a dream. I fix my gaze on it, feeling how my mana starts to violently stir within me. The beast growls furiously, its bloodlust increases, and its jaws open wide, ready to devour me.
"Don't think of anything else."
"Focus, Marco!"
Its anger is palpable, charging towards me at a startling speed. Ignoring even its wound, the whale lunges with ruthless determination. Protrusions emerge from its body, openings filled with sharp teeth that shoot fog bullets.
I descend rapidly, evading its attacks with agile movements, but I can't stay in the air for long with the miasma at its peak.
I dodge from side to side, moving with skill, but every time I use wind magic, a sharp pain courses through my heart, and my limbs gradually numb.
Mana is compressing my muscles; the lack of control in my body is evident. I enter the fog using vita, falling at great speed to avoid being hit by a surprise attack.
Anti-mana crystals generate a dazzling light that invades my eyes, indicating the location of the artillery.
I pass through the dense layer of fog, observing everyone as small figures on the ground. However, I'm still at a dangerous height. To execute the plan correctly, I need to descend even further.
"Fu Vita!" I increase the power of the spell, accelerating my descent. The whale pursues me with insatiable ferocity; its desire to devour me seems boundless.
The wind lashes my body, chilling my skin to the point of pain. However, I'm not cold; an intense sensation of heat spreads through my insides, making my entire being burned. I clench my teeth tightly as a metallic taste emerges from my throat.
Time is pressing, and if the plan doesn't work, I know I'll face death. When I can clearly distinguish the terrain, I deactivate the spell and use Fura to create an upward wind wave that reduces my falling speed.
If I rotate at this speed, inertia will propel me in any direction.
When I'm close enough to the ground, I use Fu murak again and a wind wave to head towards the artillery. For this plan to succeed, I need the whale to closely pursue me.
I fly at maximum speed, ignoring the pain in my body and the dryness in my eyes.
In the blink of an eye, I pass through the artillery line. My eyes, dry and cloudy, can barely capture a blurry vision of the people. I hope they are prepared for what is about to come.
Gathering mana in my throat, unable to see the looks of those present, I trust that they have noticed the situation.
"Prepare the cannons to the west!" I shout again, flying over them while the whale follows closely.
The moment of truth has arrived. I descend to the ground a few meters away, advancing until I reach a safe distance. The whale follows me closely, eager to devour me.
I need to create a gap, a sufficient interval to execute the next step of the plan. If I manage to cross quickly to the right, I'll have the space needed to propel myself.
"Fu murak!" My shout fills with intensity, and as I utter it, a small amount of blood escapes from my mouth. In that instant, a small thrust emerges, sending me to the left.
The whale changes direction to follow me, but I only perceive fleeting flashes as my mind swirls. My body shakes, and blood flows from my nose and mouth.
I continue to be carried by the wind.
The next step is to propel myself towards the artillery, advancing enough during the spin to allow the artillery to shoot and put an end to this monstrosity.
"Fu murak!" I shout again, struggling to maintain determination. My vision is tinted with intense red, and the heat intensifies in every fiber of my being. I try to concentrate on the mana once more, but my efforts crumble.
I can't afford to fail at this critical moment.
"Buarh!" I spit a noticeable amount of blood, feeling my body contract as if my heart were being crushed.
The pressure becomes overwhelming, and I feel like I'm floating in some kind of void. My heart beats with unrestrained intensity, and my vision starts to spin.
"ROOAAR!" a thunderous roar echoes in my ears. A sudden impact brings me back to reality. Instinctively, I raise my arms and legs to protect my head and chest, while my legs cover the rest of the torso.
I roll on the ground at a dizzying speed.
One, two, three, four... Each collision with the ground shakes every inch of my body. I reinforce my body with magic to withstand the punishment.
Each hit feels like it's breaking my arms, and a sharp pain envelops me completely.
My mind darkens with each impact and returns with the next. My vision is no longer clear; everything is a confusing haze. I only feel the burning pain in my bones with each relentless blow.
My bones are broken, and any defense has become futile. I can't even feel my legs.
My arms hang anomalously in the air. The situation is bewildering and distressing; heat invades me and seems to numb me as I roll on the ground amidst confusion.
Finally, I stop rolling, and I am dragged across the ground, unable to clearly perceive my surroundings.
My ability to move has faded, and my arms hang uncontrollably in unusual directions. Amidst the disorientation, an electric sensation pierces my head. I try to scream, but my strength wanes, and the heat enveloping me mixes with the sensation of blood loss.
My body begins to expel blood, feeling the cold start to invade as it bathes the ground.
My consciousness gradually fades as I struggle to move any part of my body. My legs don't respond properly; I can only feel slight control over my thighs.
Unable to emit any sound, I try to force my cheeks to stretch, a silent expression of anguish.
"ROOAAR!"
The beast's roar approaches, echoing in my ears like a haunting echo. I try to breathe, but I feel an oppressive pressure on my chest, as if my lungs are filled with fluid. My teeth clench tightly in the midst of pain, and I struggle for any movement my body can make.
However, I only experience small, uncontrolled convulsions. The moment arrives when everything seems to end.
"What a beautiful sight!" a voice unknown breaks the silence, laden with arrogance and malice, reminding me of a child's voice. "Who would have thought I would lead you to this point? Just as I promised, I found you. Delicious food, yes, food, eat, eat... Satisfy my hunger!"
The voice approaches and blends with the growing growl of the beast. The pain intensifies, and my thoughts fade away amid increasingly small convulsions.
If the whale doesn't kill me, the internal wounds will, and darkness begins to envelop me completely.
My ability to scream, to make extreme decisions, even to end my own life, is paralyzed. From the depths of my being, a thick liquid rises with an uncontrollable force, and I violently vomit it into the air.
"Bluargh!" A torrent of blood erupts from me in a gut-wrenching arc, staining the air with crimson droplets that return toward me, almost as if trying to return to their origin.
The vision blurs, and the droplets make me feel like I'm drowning.
I desperately seek air, but my ability to breathe has vanished. My head weighs on me as if it were an unbearable burden, and the perception of my own body begins to fade.
The fractured ribs have punctured my lungs, and everything indicates that there is no turning back.
"HAHAHA," the childlike laughter echoes, full of malicious delight. The figure seems the size of a child, long hair framing their face. My eyes barely capture details as they struggle to stay open.
My world narrows, and I no longer perceive the whale anywhere.
"Go and create a spectacle," that childlike voice dictates. "Leave the strongest ones for me, kekeke!"
A roar from the whale hums in my ears, but this time, it moves away from me. My limbs don't respond; my will seems non-existent. Pain is no longer a real experience but a distant shadow. A strange peace envelops me, accompanied by a comforting coldness.
The mind gradually quiets.
"Do you have trouble?" The child approaches, and I finally grasp who it is. With great effort, I try to force my voice. With the little air left in my lungs, I manage to utter a single word. I spit more blood, barely able to say:
"Cul...prit."
Despite my weakness, I try to move, but my shoulders refuse, and my thighs only tremble in response. The damage inflicted on me is irreversible, I know.
Pain no longer exists; I only experience a comforting cold that embraces me. I plunge into the darkness that takes over my vision. The figure leans in, smiles maliciously, sharp teeth visible. Holding a dagger, it tears my jacket, exposing my chest.
The vision fades, and my mind is the only thing that persists.
"That's right! Archbishop of Sin, representative of gluttony... Ley Batenkaitos!"