Then—
BOOM!
The distant sound of a cannon firing echoed across the endless sea.
A cannonball tore through the air at terrifying speed, rushing straight toward Zachary and Gryphon.
But Zachary didn't notice.
His eyes remained fixed on the colossal battle in the distance, watching the crab and kraken rip each other apart beneath the storming ocean sky.
Then—
THUD!
The cannonball slammed directly into Gryphon's flesh.
CCRRAAWW!!
The undead creature screeched in pain, its body jerking violently from the impact.
"Wha—?!"
Zachary was completely caught off guard.
His footing slipped instantly.
"Gnt—! Ahh!"
He fell from Gryphon's back, his body rapidly descending toward the ocean below as powerful winds rushed past him.
Gryphon reacted immediately.
Its wings folded inward as it dove sharply beneath him, desperately trying to catch up before he hit the water.
The ocean below rapidly grew closer.
Closer.
Closer—
Then—
Gryphon surged underneath him just in time.
Zachary landed hard onto its back—
But before he could recover—
BOOM!
Another cannon fired.
A second cannonball ripped through the air toward them.
This time—
Zachary saw it.
He jumped off Gryphon at the last second, the cannonball barely missing him as it flew past.
Then another came.
And another.
More cannonballs launched from somewhere below, tearing through the air one after another.
But Zachary adapted quickly.
His movements became sharper.
Faster.
Some cannonballs missed him entirely—
While others became stepping stones midair.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Zachary used the incoming projectiles themselves to propel his body forward, rapidly closing the distance toward the ship beneath him.
"…Come forth, Barnacle!"
A black circle appeared midair.
Barnacle materialized beside him instantly.
Without exchanging a single word, both of them continued moving through the storm of cannon fire, leaping from projectile to projectile until—
THUD!
Their feet landed onto wooden planks.
A ship.
Zachary looked around quickly.
Cannons lined the sides.
Ropes swung violently in the wind.
People stood frozen in place, weapons drawn toward him and Barnacle.
"…Humans?" Zachary muttered in disbelief.
Then—
BANG!
A door behind them slammed open.
Heavy footsteps followed.
"Crew! Stop what ya doing now!"
A large man stepped out from the cabin.
His muscular frame alone towered over most of the people onboard, his loud voice immediately silencing everyone present.
The crew lowered their weapons almost instantly, standing straighter from the sheer pressure he gave off.
Zachary blinked in surprise.
"You can speak English!?" he blurted out, confusion written all over his face.
The man crossed his arms confidently.
"My name is Vascal De Võin," he declared proudly.
"And I come from a place far beyond this endless ocean!"