Chapter 226: Leviathan, Prabur'kbal (4)

Then, to Jake's disbelief, a thin line of crimson blood appeared beneath the golden blade and slowly trickled down the Leviathan's enormous head.

Jake's eyes widened.

'She actually hurt it…'

But then, everyone froze at what they saw next.

[...Krr...]

A strange sound came from beneath the golden blade.

At first, Jake thought it was the sound of the Leviathan's scales cracking under the pressure.

But then he noticed something else.

A thin crimson line had appeared beneath the beast's scales.

It was faint at first, almost like a tiny vein of light buried deep beneath its black scales.

But then it began to spread.

Crack...!

Crack...!

Crack...!

One crimson line became two.

Then dozens.

Within seconds, countless thin lines of red light were spreading across the Leviathan's enormous body, weaving between its scales like molten lava flowing beneath its skin.

Jake's expression slowly changed.

"…What is that?"

The Leviathan's body suddenly began trembling.

Its enormous muscles tightened as its scales began glowing with a faint crimson light.

The black scales that had covered its body gradually turned darker red, then brighter, until the entire beast had taken on a deep crimson hue.

FSSSSSSSSSS…

Heat began pouring from the Leviathan.

The surrounding air distorted from the sheer temperature.

Even the seawater beneath it began bubbling violently.

The golden sword that had been pressing against its head suddenly began melting at the edges.

Seeing this, Jake's pupils shrank.

Then the Leviathan slowly raised its head.

Its eyes turned golden as it stared at Mita.

Then its mouth slowly opened.

HSSSSSSSSSS…

Thick, glowing crimson saliva began dripping from between its enormous teeth.

The moment the viscous liquid touched the ocean, the water instantly erupted into steam.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

The surrounding waves began boiling.

The Leviathan's enormous jaws opened wider and wider, revealing rows upon rows of jagged teeth coated in the same fiery substance.

Then, without any warning, its massive body suddenly moved.

WHOOSH!

Despite its enormous size, the Leviathan's movement was surprisingly swift and flexible.

Its colossal neck twisted around the gigantic golden sword with frightening ease, its body bending through the air like an enormous serpent.

Before Mita could react, the Leviathan's head emerged on the other side of the golden blade.

Its jaws opened wide.

Mita's expression stiffened.

"…Eh?"

The Leviathan suddenly lunged forward.

SHOOOOOOOM!!!

Its enormous jaws snapped toward Mita with terrifying speed, completely swallowing the space around her before she could react.

To Jake's horror, the Leviathan's massive jaws closed around Mita's tiny figure.

Crunch!

"…?!"

Jake's pupils shrank.

For a moment, the entire battlefield seemed to fall silent.

Mita's tiny body had completely disappeared between the Leviathan's enormous teeth.

Just as Jake stared in shock, another calm, lazy voice drifted across the boiling sea.

"Ara~ You shouldn't be reckless, little Mita~"

The voice came from the very ship Mita had leapt from.

Jake immediately turned his head.

Then he saw a beautiful woman who seemed to be in her late twenties stood casually at the railing, watching the battlefield as though the raging storm and boiling ocean were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Long black hair spilled over her shoulders in loose waves, partially shadowed by the enormous brim of a dark crimson witch's hat.

Her amber eyes were half-lidded, carrying a lazy amusement that seemed completely out of place amid the chaos surrounding them.

She wore an elaborate black outfit beneath a dark fur stole, with crimson and gold accents that matched the strange elegance of her appearance.

A sun-shaped pendant rested against her chest, while several charms dangled from the belt around her waist and swayed gently in the wind.

Jake blinked.

'Who is that? A witch?'

The woman slowly raised one hand and pointed to the empty space beside her.

Then a faint ripple spread through the air.

The space itself seemed to distort like the surface of water, and a moment later, Mita suddenly appeared beside her.

"…Huh?"

Mita blinked several times, looking around in confusion.

She was completely unharmed.

The woman glanced at her and smiled lazily.

"Oh, little Mita~ If I weren't here, you would be dead."

She lightly tapped Mita's forehead with one finger.

"I know you're excited to finally take action since your family has founded the Alliance, but right now you're acting like your appearance suggests~"

Mita's face immediately turned red.

"B-Big Sis! I was only that daring because I knew you were here!"

She puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms.

"But you could've done that sooner! I thought I was going to become minced meat for a second there!"

The mature woman covered her mouth and giggled.

"Ara~ But you survived, didn't you?"

"Yes, but it came with a traumatic experience!"

Mita angrily rubbed her forehead where she had been tapped, while the woman continued smiling.

Then, suddenly, her expression changed.

She sensed something and casually flicked her wrist.

A black grimoire appeared beside her, floating in the air as its pages began turning on their own.

Her half-lidded amber eyes narrowed, and the lazy smile disappeared from her face.

"Spatial Rift."

The moment she murmured the spell—

WHOOSH!

CRUNCH!

The Leviathan's crimson body slammed forward, its enormous jaws snapping shut on the ship.

But there was nothing there.

The entire ship had vanished.

In the next instant, the ship reappeared several hundred meters away, completely unharmed, while the Leviathan's jaws closed on empty air.

Mita's face immediately turned slightly pale.

"B-Big sis Ana… I can't handle these sudden shifts of yours… I'm going to—"

Her cheeks puffed out as she covered her mouth.

"Uhhhh…"

She hurriedly leaned over the railing and began vomiting.

Ana didn't seem to care in the slightest.

She simply kept her gaze locked on the Leviathan as it swiftly opened its enormous jaws and powerful crimson light gathered.

The wind howled as the oppressive pressure rose.

Yet Ana remained completely still.

Her half-lidded amber eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the Leviathan prepare its attack.

"…That would be troublesome to block."

The moment she finished speaking, the Leviathan's mouth erupted with crimson light.

BOOOOOOM!!!

A massive crimson beam tore through the sea, heading straight toward the ship.

Ana calmly flicked her finger.

"Spatial Rift."

The space around the ship rippled once again, and the entire vessel disappeared just before the beam reached it.

However—

The Leviathan's enormous head suddenly turned.

Its golden eyes locked onto an empty section of the ocean several hundred meters away.

Ana's expression changed slightly.

'...It noticed?'

The next instant, the ship suddenly reappeared in that exact location.

And the Leviathan was already waiting.

Its jaws opened wide as a terrifying crimson glow gathered inside its mouth.

"…!"

Ana's eyes widened slightly.

"...Too fast!"

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The crimson breath erupted at point-blank range.

The entire ship shook violently as the beam engulfed them.

Ana immediately raised one hand.

A massive magic circle appeared in front of the ship, layered with countless intricate runes.

BAAAAAAAM!!!

The crimson beam slammed into the barrier.

The entire magic circle trembled violently under the force, and cracks of crimson energy began spreading across its surface.

Ana's expression finally became serious.

"...This thing can even sense [Space]?"

Her amber eyes narrowed as she stared at the enormous Leviathan through the raging crimson beam.

"As expected of a descendant of the Old."