The kraken

“Who are these you’re with Troy?” The woman said.

“These are…”

We introduced ourselves. “I’m Fen, and this is Elle.”

“My name is Kali.” She turned to Troy. “Are these adventurers too. Are they going to help me?”

“Well, yes they are. They are silver rank, so they must be experienced.” Troy told her.

“Has he told you the details of my contract?”

“Just that it’s a kraken.” I said to Kali.

“A kraken has flowed itself in the river not far from here. The waters are wide and deep enough to accommodate a monster like that. The issue is that crossing the bridge has become dangerous, as the kraken attacks all that attempt to make the pass.” She studied us intently. “Are you up for this?”

“Sounds good, I haven’t killed a kraken yet.”

“We’d be happy to help.” Elle said. “Troy said something about a reward?”

“Whatever he’s promised you has nothing to do with me.”

“I’ll make sure you’re rewarded.” Troy promised.

“Let’s make haste, I trust in your ranks that you’ll be capable.” We finished our ale made way to the Hinder bridge, where the kraken was supposed to reside near. Kali had a wagon that she said she bought from a merchant, we travelled by wagon, then it was to be used in the plan of attack.

On the way there, Troy whispered to me.

“I need to confess something to you.” I looked at him questioningly. “You see, I became an adventurer for the exciting life. Killing monsters, becoming renowned, and having sex with beautiful women.” I stared at him, wondering what his point was. “Uh…Kali is one of those beautiful women I want to have sex with. But she respects might and prowess. She told me, well maybe hinted at the possibility of sleeping with her. But only if I could bring her strong warriors, and if I survive a kraken, then it shows my prowess to her….then I get to have her.”

We carried on. I saw the bridge in the distance. It looked like it spanned half a mile. The river was just as long and wide as Hinder bridge. The plan was to draw the monster out of the waters by posing as bait on the bridge. When it became distracted, we would collectively attack it.

We found out Kali came from lands down south, where people of her skin colour were more common. She belonged in a tribe that was under constant threat of monsters on all sides, even from other realms that would try to steal their resources. In her lands, her people either became strong to survive, or are weak and die. Her people were known as ash warriors, due to fables of their tribes being burnt to ash. The survivors raised out of the wreckage to adapt and thrive from their suffering.

We arrived at the beginning of the bridge. Troy would drive the wagon slowly along the bridge to lure the kraken out. We would lie close by in wait, ready to surprise it. Troy whipped the horse and began his crossing.

“I’m not going to fuck him, you know.” Kali said to us, keeping her focus on the river. I looked at her, Elle looked confused.

“He thinks if he does this contract with me, I’ll fuck him. I’m not, he’s not a true warrior. The likelihood of his survival is slim to none. He can’t fight a band of goblins, what makes him think he can take on a kraken.”

“Then why let him join your contract?” Elle asked her.

“He’s bait. All he’s good for.” She told us bluntly.

We watched as Troy made it almost halfway to the other side when the waters stirred. Large tentacles crashed out of the river and headed towards the wagon. We acted quickly.

Elle shot arrows at the appendages, Kali and I closed the distance. Kali had her two swords drawn as she ran toward the wagon. The kraken wrapped its limbs around the wagon, Troy’s shouts could be heard. The wagon snapped and splintered in the crushing grasp of the monster. No sign of Troy could be seen. I ran past Kali as I hacked at one of the tentacles, in quick and powerful strikes, I dismembered the limb. Kali was slashing at another appendage, she had cut it off halfway before it smacked back at her. She ducked away from its strike and slashed at the open wound she had created.

The kraken had lifted its body out of the river, to face its attackers. Elle had joined us to help fight the monster. The kraken began to climb itself onto the bridge, I could feel it shake slightly because of the extra weight. Kali had managed to hack the remainder of the limb off. The creature opened its mouth in pain. Elle loosed an arrow and it made contact with the fleshy exposed mouth. The kraken shook in distress. Another of its tentacles came at me, its suckers primed to attach onto me. With a might swing of my great-axe, I lopped off the limb before it could cause any harm. Kali slashed at its body, making minor damage. The kraken roared at us as it tried to wrap its tentacles around us, it had managed to grab ahold of both Elle and Kali. I needed to act quickly. Their shouts rang out as I swiftly ran to the monster. I still had a bomb in my satchel. I took one more swing towards what must have been its eyes, it opened its mouth wide in pain and loosened its grip on the women.

I hinted the bomb and came close to its mouth, I threw the bomb deep in its throat, and stepped back a large distance. After a few seconds the bomb exploded inside the kraken, killing it. Rubbery flesh flew in all directions, its blood and viscera soaking the bridge. The girls were released from the tentacles and fell onto the bridge. The corpse of the kraken fell into the river it came from.