I Refused To Be Reincarnated
Chapter 504: The Kraken’s Curse

Chapter 504: The Kraken’s Curse

He watched the silent confrontation between the two powerhouses in a muted stupor, too small to interject. Even breathing aloud seemed like a luxury he possess any more in the face of the old titans.

He bit his lips, feeling each second drag for an eternity in an endless mental torture that tested the limits of his resilience.

Yet, he controlled himself despite the fear, anguish, and panic.

Through his trembling pupils, he observed the Kraken’s tentacles tense around the city’s barrier, and its colossal eyes release a sea of mana.

Then, his soul almost crumbled when the mythical magus-level creature turned to them.

Its beak opened, rage making the movement deliberate and adding to the terror they felt before the water trembled as its abyssal voice echoed.

"Pesky ants who dared encroach on my territory, I’ll give you a way out. Go inside and kill this fool calling itself the Tide Caller, or destroy the Gate. Anything you can dream of, I’ll reward it to you!"

As the colossal tentacles cleaved the water and entangled him, his mind blanked, and a chaotic torrent of conflicting thoughts rocked it.

’Kill the oldest archmage? Rewards? I’ll die in the blink of an eye! We’ll survive the Kraken if he lets us enter the city, but at what cost? The Tide Caller is already eying us warily...’

A tremor jolted his frame as the tentacle dragged him before the Kraken’s eyes.

"I’ll give you a new ship if you complete my task. After a few repairs, you’ll rule the surface."

The Kraken’s voice thundered in his ears as Flintwaters eyes enlarged at the mention of a ship powerful enough to rule the seas.

"The Typhoon! An antic, mythical warship of the eighth tier with armaments powerful enough to destroy a continent! That’s my promise to you. If you fail..."

Its words linger as a tentacle’s tip squirmed to touch his torso.

"ARGH!"

A searing pain assaulted his soul. His fists clenched, and his head jerked back and forth as he roared in agony, one he never wanted to feel again.

Uncaring about his distorted face and rolling eyes as it etched a detection mark on the boy’s soul, the Kraken spoke again.

"No matter where you hide, I’ll send droves of sea beasts to claim your life."

"Hahaha!"

As it moved its tentacles to shove Adam and the unconscious crew into the barrier, the Tide Caller’s laughter reverberated through the dark depth.

"Do you believe he has a chance? He’ll hide in the barrier and negotiate to leave through the Gate! This city is mine, Kraky, and it’ll always be."

The Kraken’s tentacles twitched in amusement when the words registered.

"So what? He’ll die the moment he approaches any ocean, river or deep pound. I’m not losing anything, even if he fails. On the other hand, you’re the one underestimating human greed, and I’m curious to see what expression you’ll harbor if they destroy your prized Gate. You’ll become a prisoner, unable to fulfil your duties and eventually die at that monstrosity’s hands."

It noticed the Tide Caller’s silhouette shake in horror, shoved the barely conscious Adam into the barrier and swam away, leaving one last threat.

"I’m curious to see how that traitorous brat will torture your soul for millennia if I’m right. It’ll be a fitting ending for a nameless archmage. HAHAHA!"

Face somber and cursing the Kraken, the Tide Caller channelled mana.

Waters swirled around its figure, taking defined shapes until a muscular blue stallion appeared beneath its legs.

The noise of hooves colliding with the city’s immaculate slabs reverberated as a bright blue blur beamed through the streets towards the barrier’s edges.

"Even if they can do nothing. I’ll kill them and rid myself of any risks."

It cursed the Kraken under its breath, knowing this old fossil created this situation with a single goal: to be annoying.

The worst part? It worked!

Meanwhile, Adam groaned in pain as he pushed himself off the ground.

His arm slipped on the freshwater covering the sparkling white slabs as he collapsed on his back. Sprawled without any strength, gasping in exhaustion, and with his soul damaged, he turned his head to Flintwaters and the unconscious crew.

’At least they all survived.’

He sighed in relief, the burden of their potential death because of his expedition lessening on his shoulders.

Yet, dark clouds rumbled in his mind as the mark left by the Kraken worried him.

’I’ll find a method to remove it. It can’t be worse than the cleaver, anyway.’

He rolled his eyes, not believing his own cheerful thoughts as the noise of hooves registered.

With difficulty, he sat up, noticing dust rising behind a stallion’s charge and the silhouette riding it.

Instantly, his already pale face turned livid. Still, he had to salvage the situation, get his hand on the mythical tendons and return to the College.

His eyes narrowed into determined slits as a frustrated yell left his lips.

"I’m Shepard’s disciple! I won’t comply with the Kraken’s demand, so don’t attack!"

Sighing in relief, he noticed the figure slow down before a feminine voice reached his ears.

"The one The Beast Emperor spoke about in our last meeting?"

"That’s me! I didn’t know the Kraken was still alive and guarding this place. So, please, let us speak and find a peaceful solution."

He shouted back, his eyes narrowing at the veiled figure and his voice confidant.

But inside? Worry shredded his soul into pieces. A single word from the archmage would signify his doom right after his unexpected survival.

Fortunately, The Beast Emperor’s name held incredible weight, and he hoped he could leverage it to alter the Tide Caller’s decision.

As his thoughts brightened a little, the stallion halted a few meters from him.

The dancing water hiding the archmage’s features evaporated, revealing her ocean-blue eyes, flowing hair of the same color, exquisitely engraved clothing, and the snort distorting her face.

"Humph! I hate that dog! But I’ll show him some face and ask for a few goodies in return."

With a snap of her fingers, water handcuffs condensed from the air’s moisture and bound their hands and feet.

He trembled in dread as he understood their real purpose.

’It’s draining my mana!’

Eyes wide in shock, he moved his hands, feeling no resistance so long as he didn’t apply too much strength.