The Levi whale slapped the water's surface hard with its colossal tail, its scarred body attempting to dive. It seemed to want to attack from below, but it was too late.
The cannons thundered again. This time, the barrage was relentless, continuing until the gun barrels glowed red-hot before Lily finally ceased her fire.
The whale's immense body lay on the water like a floating island. Its flesh was torn and bloody, and the suffocating stench of blood spread across the sea.
The crew stared in shock at the whale in the distance, unable to fathom how the Captain had defeated such a colossal beast so easily.
Charles had acted so decisively because he recalled Krona mentioning that his father used to hunt Levi whales. This meant the creatures were just ordinary sea animals—nothing to be feared.
Charles piloted the Narwhal slowly toward the side of the whale.
But just as they approached, the whale's massive eye—as large as a small house—snapped open. It wasn't dead yet.
