chapter 36
The moment shattered.
A sharp flash—
A movement too fast to follow—
Steel cut through the air.
John appeared in front of Isabel in an instant, his blade already in motion. The tiny creature perched on her head barely had time to react—
Slash.
Its small, glowing body was knocked away mid-air, split cleanly in two.
For a fraction of a second—
everything went still.
Then—
BOOM.
A violent explosion tore through the air just a few feet away. The shockwave rippled across the deck, flames flickering wildly before being swallowed by the sudden downpour.
Isabel stumbled back, eyes wide, heart racing.
Isabel: "W-what was that?!"
John lowered his sword slowly as rain began pouring over his face, his expression sharp.
John: "Blue Fily…"
Lightning cracked across the sky.
The ocean answered.
Waves surged violently, crashing against the ship as if awakened by the blast. The calm sea from moments ago twisted into chaos—dark, raging, alive.
Chris stepped forward, voice firm.
Chris: "It's a Blue Fily. An ocean monster. It looks harmless… even cute."
John's grip tightened slightly.
John: "…but it's extremely dangerous."
Chris's gaze swept across the waters as thunder roared above them.
Chris: "And when it touches any living creature—it explodes."
Another wave slammed into the ship, harder this time. The deck tilted dangerously beneath their feet.
Chris (louder): "If that thing had gone off on her head—"
He didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
---
Rain began pouring in sheets.
The wind howled.
The storm had arrived.
Then—
From the dark waters below…
Glowing blue lights appeared.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Dozens.
Countless.
The ocean's surface rippled unnaturally as small shapes began rising—tiny, round forms with faint glowing cores.
More Blue Filies.
The Princess stepped forward, her voice sharp with controlled anger.
Princess (cold): "Why weren't we informed about this earlier?"
Chris stiffened.
Chris: "For the past ten years… they haven't appeared. I thought maybe—"
Guinevere: "Tch. Useless."
Chris's expression faltered. He looked down briefly, guilt flashing across his face.
Chris: "…I'm sorry. But I promise—I'll protect all of you. Even if it costs my life."
Guinevere drew her sword in one smooth motion.
Guinevere: "Enough."
Her gaze sharpened, cutting through the storm.
Guinevere: "No one needs to die. We face this—even without warning."
A faint smirk touched her lips.
Guinevere: "…Besides, this is more fun."
Chris blinked, caught off guard.
Chris: "Huh?"
The ocean surged again.
Countless Blue Filies rushed forward.
And they were fast.
---
Marco stepped ahead, cracking his neck, a grin spreading across his face.
Marco: "Oh… now it's getting interesting."
Guinevere's expression hardened instantly.
Guinevere: "Positions. Now."
Marco raised his hand, voice cutting through thunder and wind.
Marco: "Form teams! Don't let them gather—cut them down before they reach the deck!"
The crew moved instantly.
Steel drawn.
Footing adjusted.
Instincts sharpened.
The battlefield had shifted—
from land… to sea.
Chris and Guinevere took the right side, guarding the mast.
Marco moved left, stepping into the storm like he owned it.
And at the center—
John and the Princess.
For a brief moment—
their eyes met.
Rain fell between them.
Wind howled.
Everything else disappeared.
Then—
Another wave surged.
And the fight began.
---
The storm roared.
Rain slashed across the deck as the first wave of Blue Filies reached them.
Tiny. Glowing. Deadly.
They didn't hesitate.
They hunted.
One darted forward—straight for a soldier.
Slash—!
Guinevere moved first.
Her blade cut cleanly through the air, striking the creature before it could make contact.
Chris reacted instantly.
Chris: "Back!"
He kicked it mid-air—
BOOM!
The explosion erupted just far enough away, water and fire bursting outward.
Chris didn't flinch.
Chris: "Don't let them touch you. Not even once."
Guinevere (grinning slightly): "Yeah… I figured that out."
---
The next wave came faster.
Three Filies shot toward them at once.
Chris stepped forward.
Slash—step—turn.
One cut. Pivot. Another strike mid-air.
BOOM. BOOM.
Guinevere followed seamlessly.
No wasted movement.
Her blade carved through the storm, intercepting anything that slipped past him.
They didn't need words.
They understood.
---
A Fily skimmed low across the deck—straight for Guinevere.
Too fast.
Too close.
Even she—
couldn't fully react.
Chris's eyes widened.
Chris: "Guinevere—!"
He moved without thinking.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back—
Their bodies collided—
His blade swung past her shoulder—
Slash—BOOM!
The explosion burst inches away.
Water sprayed across their faces.
His grip stayed tight on her wrist.
For a moment—
everything slowed.
Their eyes met.
Too close.
Closer than before.
Rain mixed with the heat of the blast.
Chris's breath was uneven.
Chris (low, half-smiling): "…Careful, Commander."
Guinevere didn't pull away immediately.
Then—
Guinevere (calm, teasing): "You're slower than I expected."
Chris blinked—then laughed softly.
Chris: "Wow. I save you, and that's what I get?"
Guinevere: "Don't get used to it."
She slipped free—but just slightly—
her lips curved.
Chris noticed.
And grinned wider.
---
"Less talking," she said.
"Right behind you."
This time—
they moved together.
Perfect sync.
---
Across the deck—
Marco cut down another Fily before it reached Isabel.
Marco: "Stay behind me!"
Isabel: "I—I'm trying…!"
Another lunged—
Slash—kick—BOOM!
Marco shielded her from the blast.
Marco (frustrated): "What the hell is this weather?!"
A massive wave crashed over the ship.
The deck turned slick. Unstable.
Soldiers struggled.
Explosions echoed.
Chaos spread.
---
At the center—
John and the Princess moved as one.
Slash—BOOM—turn—cut—BOOM!
Flawless.
Precise.
Relentless.
---
Then—
A Fily dropped from above.
Silent.
Aimed at the Princess.
She didn't see it.
John did.
John: "Princess—watch out!"
He lunged—pulled her back—
Slash—
BOOM!
The explosion burst above them.
His grip tightened.
John (sharp): "I told you—stay safe!"
She froze.
Not from danger—
But from him.
Her gaze lifted.
Princess (quiet): "…Why do you care so much?"
That—
hit deeper than any blade.
---
The storm roared.
John turned, cutting another Fily.
BOOM.
John (low): "We're in the middle of a fight. Focus."
Princess: "No."
She grabbed his arm.
Stopping him.
Princess (unsteady): "I want to know… why are you ignoring me?"
Explosions echoed.
Neither moved.
Rain poured harder.
Princess (soft, serious): "What's really going on?"
John's jaw tightened.
John: "I'm not ignoring you."
Princess: "Yes, you are."
A beat.
Then—
John (controlled): "I'm just doing what you wanted."
She froze.
Princess: "I never said that."
John: "You didn't have to."
His voice sharpened.
John: "You don't even know what you want… so what's the point?"
That landed.
Hard.
Princess (hurt): "That's not true."
A strike—
BOOM.
Princess (softer): "…I do know what I want."
A pause.
Princess: "It's just… hard to explain."
---
John finally turned fully toward her.
Rain ran down both their faces.
John (intense): "I already told you what I want."
Silence—
heavy—
dangerous.
John: "You're the one who doesn't know what you want."
Her eyes widened.
Then narrowed.
Princess: "I just… don't want to rush."
Clash—cut—BOOM!
Princess (breathing uneven): "I need time."
That was the truth.
Not rejection.
Not denial.
Just fear.
Just confusion.
Just… her.
---
John froze.
Just for a second.
The storm didn't.
John (quiet): "…So you really…"
He couldn't finish.
Another Fily lunged—
Both moved—
Slash—
BOOM!
Their swords crossed.
Too close.
Faces inches apart.
Eyes locked—
And this time—
it wasn't distance.
It wasn't confusion.
It was something else.
Something unfinished.
Something real.
Something growing—
even in the middle of chaos.
---
The storm raged.
The battle didn't stop.
And neither did their hearts.
...CHAPTER 36ENDS...