72. Underwater Exploration

72. Underwater Exploration

-Whoosh!

“Aack!!”

“Kkae-aeng!”

Before we could even brace ourselves, something large and long swept past us. While Seol-gu’s narrow evasion allowed us to dodge the mechanical worm’s charge, we couldn’t escape the aftermath.

The seawater was violently shaken, and our bodies were swept away.

“A-Uncle!!”

“Seol-ah!”

Even as my body flipped upside down several times, I gritted my teeth and held onto Seol-gu’s tail. The moment I let go, I, who couldn’t swim, would be swallowed by the mechanical worm’s mouth.

I don’t know what the worm’s internal structure is like, but I was certain that my body wouldn’t be in good shape if I collided with that immense mass.

I’d probably go from being a strong and powerful wolf to being a strong and powerful wolf (that used to be).

That’s… uh… a bit gruesome. I shook my head vigorously to clear the gruesome thoughts. There was no reason to be scared by mere speculation.

Meanwhile, the worm that had charged at us disappeared into the distance in an instant, hiding itself in the deep blue seawater.

However, judging by the mechanical whirring sounds echoing throughout the sea, this attack wouldn’t be the end.

“The worms I know weren’t that fast…!”

“Kkang kkang!”

“M-magic. Got it!”

The mechanical worms I remembered on land were much slower compared to that. I never thought that worm would be this fast underwater; it’s comparable to a wolf running on land.

But who am I? I’m Rang Seol-ah, the strong and powerful magic wolf!

… Actually, even the aftershock of it brushing past me made me feel like my fighting spirit was being drained. Still, if I try my best, I’m sure I can defeat that worm.

“Alright… Come on, you stupid piece of iron!”

I picked up the stone and provoked the worm.

My plan was this: the moment the worm took the bait and charged at me, I would freeze it with magic, and with Uncle’s help, I would smash the worm to pieces.

Or, even if I couldn’t freeze or break it all at once, I planned to buy time by dodging its charge.

Yes, just like bullfighting!

From what I could see, the worm’s charge accuracy wasn’t very good. If Seol-gu just moved his legs diligently, dodging shouldn’t be a problem.

By dodging the attacks like this and continuously freezing the worm, it would be over.

Easy!

-Kiiiiiing!

“Uh….”

At that moment, a powerful red light began to shine from where the worm had disappeared in the distance. It was a sight that was clearly far from safe.

“Run away!!”

“Kkae-aeng!”

-Fwoosh!

A red laser beam instantly pierced the spot where we had been moments ago. The seawater that touched its trajectory began to bubble and boil.

“This is cheating!”

Of course, I expected it to just charge, but it ran away to an unseen location and shot a laser beam! It’s lamentable, where has the honor of a one-on-one duel gone?

… Come to think of it, it wasn’t exactly one-on-one, but still.

“That tin can has no pride, Seol-gu!”

“Kkang!!”

“Ugh!! It’s coming again!!”

Following that, laser beams flew multiple times. Although weaker than the first laser, likely due to insufficient charging, it still emitted high heat that shouldn’t be touched.

“Uncle!! Save me!!”

“What can I do from here?!”

“Hieek! Kkang!!”

-Fwoosh! Fwoong!

Seol-gu swam diligently to dodge the lasers, but perhaps due to too much rapid movement, his stamina seemed severely depleted.

If this continues, Seol-gu will collapse from exhaustion. And then, we’ll be hit by lasers, burst into flames, and become fried fox-wolves.

Our fluffy tail hairs will all burn away, and we’ll become delicious prey!

Not my tail!!

“I, I’m not tasty because I’m a wolf! Seol-gu is delicious…!”

“Kkang?!”

“S-sorry! Kkang kkang kkang kkang!”

I frantically recharged the stone. After narrowly escaping one crisis, Seol-gu looked at me with a sulky expression, seemingly disappointed that I had tried to sell him out.

“O-of course, it was a joke, Seol-gu! You believe me, right?”

“Kkang.”

“Of course! Seol-gu isn’t tasty! You’re the most unappetizing fox in the world! Uh… but that sounds weird too.”

Isn’t being tasty better than being unappetizing?

To protect Seol-gu’s pride as prey, I decided to just keep my mouth shut. Lately, it seems like everything I say turns out strange.

“Seol-ah! Can’t you block that with magic?”

“Ah…! I’ll try!”

Meanwhile, Uncle, who was diligently dodging the beams, shouted towards me.

I wasn’t sure if magic could block that high-heat laser beam, but with the worm only keeping us at bay and not advancing, we didn’t have many options.

“Stone… protect us!”

“Kkang!”

“Whoa!”

Crack, crackle-

The seawater froze. A hollow spherical ice shield formed, as if to embrace us. While I hesitated in surprise, a red laser flew towards us from the distance.

-Kang!

“Kkae-aeng?! I-it held!”

The laser beam, unable to break the ice shield, bounced off. Several more lasers flew afterwards, but none could penetrate this spherical ice shield.

I smirked and chuckled.

“Hee hee, it’s a stupid worm that can’t even break ice… Huk!! Seol-gu! Run away!”

“Kkang!!”

-Kwaaang!

Then, as if angered, the mechanical worm stopped firing and charged at us. The ice shield, which had easily blocked the lasers, shattered into pieces as the massive metal body collided with it.

“Huk….”

A giant shadow loomed over us.

Six glowing red eyes met Seol-gu and me.

We should have quickly deactivated the shield and fled, but we were too late because we didn’t expect it to charge.

Even with Seol-gu’s swift swimming, he’s still just a fox. There was no way to escape from this distance in an instant.

If it continues like this… we’ll be crushed by that immense mass.

As I squeezed my eyes shut in fear, a loud roar echoed.

-Kkang!!

“Seol-ah!”

“Huk… Ah, Uncle!”

I was momentarily startled by the clear and crisp “Kkang” sound, but I quickly grasped the situation.

It was Uncle Polar Bear punching the worm’s head with his fist!

The worm, with its U-shaped dented head, shook its head back and forth and then fled into the distant sea. Soon, lasers began to fly indiscriminately again.

While dodging the barrage with Seol-gu’s help, I looked back and explained the plan.

“Seol-gu! I’ll put up a shield! Then the worm will charge like before! At that moment, I’ll remove the shield, so move to the side, okay?”

“Kkang!”

“Uncle, after that, I’ll stop the worm! Hit the worm hard then!”

“Alright!”

I received everyone’s agreement. Without hesitation, I raised the stone and created a shield, and soon a solid ice barrier enveloped us.

The laser barrage stopped, and instead, a rumbling vibration echoed.

Using my wolf instincts to gauge the distance, I signaled Seol-gu at the right moment.

“It’s coming…! One, two, now!”

“Kkang!”

“Good!”

Whoosh, the mechanical worm swept past menacingly. But it didn’t hit us. The moment the worm missed its mark, I asked the stone for magic again.

“Stop the worm!”

-Flash!

As if responding to my request, a dazzling light shot out from the stone. I felt a chill that seemed to penetrate beyond the underwater breathing magic.

When I opened my eyes, the worm was frozen solid from tail to head. The worm sank to the ground.

However, the mechanical sounds and the slow cracking of the ice suggested it wouldn’t last long. Perhaps the power was insufficient.

Still, this is enough. I shouted to Uncle Polar Bear.

“Uncle! Now!”

“Hooop!”

-Kaang!

A clearer piercing sound than before echoed. With a thud, the ground collapsed, sand scattered, and the visibility instantly became so murky that I couldn’t see a thing.

Uncle said.

“Did you finish it?”

“Uncle!!! You shouldn’t say that!!”

“Kkae-aeng!!”

Seol-gu pulled me. His voice was very urgent.

I turned my head following Seol-gu, and in the swirling sand where the worm should have sunk… I saw a strong red light emanating.

-Kiiiiiiing…!

“Huk.”

I knew it instinctively. I can’t dodge this.

The worm is gathering all its strength to prepare a laser beam. Based on this wolf-like intuition, I predict it will be a very thick, massive, and powerful laser beam.

If I get hit by that at point-blank range….

“Stone!! Protect us!!”

I quickly created a shield to protect us. The seawater froze as if to embrace the three of us, and soon the entire world was dyed red.

-Kwaaahahahaang!!

“Hieek!”

Sizzle, sizzle.

The giant laser continuously scorched and burned this area. The seawater evaporated and disappeared without a trace, and I could hear the sound of the ice shield melting as it couldn’t withstand the heat.

The stone’s power was insufficient to withstand this powerful laser beam. The shield would likely melt before the firing stopped.

And the moment the shield finally disappeared, it was obvious what would happen to us.

“Ah, Uncle… Seol-gu…!”

“Kkang…!”

How should we overcome this crisis?

I pondered and pondered. In the fleeting moment the ice shield melted, several Rang Seol-ahs held a meeting in my mind.

‘Kkang kkang.’

‘Kkang kkang kkang?’

‘Kkang!!!’

‘Kkang kkang, kkae-aeng.’

It’s not helpful. They all resemble Seol-gu, and their speech patterns are like Seol-gu’s.

I don’t know why my inner self resembles Seol-gu, but anyway, the final moment was approaching.

I made a decision.

“Uncle, Seol-gu! Everyone hold your breath!!”

“What?”

“Kkang?”

“Hooop!”

I released the underwater breathing magic that was enveloping us. Instantly, water so cold it felt like it would freeze my bones washed over us, and my fluffy tail instantly became wet, lost its volume, and began to droop.

I can’t breathe. It’s too cold. Various painful sensations crossed my mind.

But I gritted my teeth and raised the stone to use magic.

“— –!”

Even I couldn’t hear what I was saying underwater. However, the stone seemed to respond to my thoughts, and soon it emitted a powerful light, shooting out a blue laser beam.

-Kugugugugugu!

Two different lasers met. They fought for power. Red and blue clashed.

Pushing and pulling, being pushed and pushing back.

“Eeeeek…!”

Because I accidentally let out a groan, I was short of breath. I felt like I was suffocating.

Despite that, I didn’t take my eyes off the worm’s location and kept shooting the laser.

The red laser was slowly being pushed back. The stone was winning. But my vision was also gradually darkening.

Cough, I involuntarily inhaled seawater, and my consciousness began to fade. Even as I struggled, I continued to shoot the laser.

More, stronger…!

“—!”

“-!”

More…!

Finally, the entire world turned black.