"Vic! Are... are you okay?!"
Enid's voice, choked with tears and overflowing with worry, snapped him back to reality.
He looked down to see Enid looking up at him. Her large blue eyes were swimming with unshed tears, the rims red, and her small hands were clenched so tightly into fists that her knuckles were turning white.
Next to her, Wednesday remained silent, but her pitch-black eyes were locked onto him, unblinking.
Inside those dark pools swirled a level of tension and anxiety he had never seen before. Her pale lips were pressed into a tight line, betraying the storm raging beneath her stoic exterior.
Vic's heart warmed, and the violent, predatory aura caused by his demonic transformation dissipated significantly.
He tried to force his stiff facial muscles to move, grinning to reveal a mouth full of jagged teeth. To others, it might have looked terrifying; to him, it felt incredibly dashing.
"Well? Do I look dashing or what?"
He flicked his new, powerful tail, kicking up a spray of water.
"Don't worry, my dears. I'll be right back! Can you two take care of yourselves?"
Enid vigorously wiped her tears and sniffled. Instantly, her expression shifted to one of fierce determination, the wild nature of the wolf flashing in her eyes.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Before her sentence even finished, she slashed her claws through the air!
Swish! Swish!
Several massive boulders, hurled toward them by the Kraken's thrashing tentacles, met the invisible resistance of her claws. Like hot knives through butter, her strike sliced the rocks into neat, harmless chunks that crumbled to the ground.
Before that howl left her, it had bequeathed a parting gift—
Her lycanthropy seemed to have undergone a deep, hidden awakening. Her strength and control had leveled up significantly.
Wednesday was even more direct. She didn't even look at the falling debris. She simply raised a hand, her expression blank. Dark, obscure energy swirled around her fingertips as she tapped the air lightly.
Ripples of an invisible force field expanded outward. The trajectory of the boulders shifted unnaturally, curving around them to splash harmlessly into the water, sending up massive geysers.
She hadn't been studying that Book of Shadows for nothing.
"Whoa!" Vic's eyes lit up, his admiration genuine. "That's my girls! Absolute queens!"
With them safe, he could go handle the big guy without looking back.
He twisted his massive fish tail, turning his colossal demon body toward the mountain-sized Kraken that was currently wrecking the neighborhood!
Deep in the ocean, a clash between a Demon and a Titan was about to erupt!
"Wait!"
Vic slammed on the brakes. His giant tail plowed two deep trenches into the seabed, forcefully halting his charge.
He scratched his head—now covered in blue scales and slick tentacles—looking utterly confused. His glowing red eyes were filled with philosophical contemplation.
"Hold on... why am I charging in screaming like a brainless action hero?"
He looked down at his terrifying demonic form.
Then he tuned into the mental channel where a certain Water Demon was still screaming unholy profanities—BEEP—at high volume. He realized the vibe was all wrong.
I look like a Final Boss. Since when does the Final Boss charge the front lines like a grunt?
"Pfft!" He spat on the ground, expressing his disdain.
"Stupid demon energy. Trying to pollute my high-level intellect and turn me into a brute? Not happening!"
Inside his head, the screaming voice got louder, the vocabulary becoming so colorful it would have caused psychic damage to anyone with normal hearing.
Vic immediately toggled on "Selective Deafness Mode," muting the noise source.
With a swing of his massive tail, he turned back to Wednesday and Enid, extending a hand that now looked more like a claw.
Resting quietly in his palm were the Monkey Talisman and the Rat Talisman.
"Heh, I've been bored lately, so I came up with a few... interesting combos."
Vic flashed his signature grin—manic and smug. Even though it looked slightly horrific on his demon face, the cunning glint in his eyes was unmistakably him.
He activated the Monkey Talisman!
VMMM—!
The monkey engraving on the talisman glowed. Beams of strange light shot out, accurately hitting over a dozen massive boulders scattered around the ruins!
An amazing scene unfolded!
Under the light, the hard rock seemed to turn into clay, molded by invisible hands. In the blink of an eye, the boulders transformed into over a dozen lifelike, massive sculptures of ferocious beasts!
Some looked like dragons, others like tigers, and some like giant apes or gargoyles. Each one was frozen in a pose of aggression, radiating power and intimidation.
"And now, for the finishing touch!"
Vic looked at his "masterpieces" with satisfaction. Then, using one of his sharp talons, he flicked the second talisman into the air.
The Rat Talisman spun as it flew over the row of beast sculptures!
VMMM!
The rat engraving shone brilliantly. Dozens of beams filled with the power of "Life" shot down like precision-guided missiles, striking the "heart" of every sculpture!
The next second, the scene became even more shocking!
The texture of rock was rapidly replaced by tough flesh and fur. Cold stone eyes ignited with the fierce light of the wild. Thick limbs flexed and stretched. Low, threatening growls began to rumble from their throats!
Over a dozen real, living, giant beasts had descended upon Atlantis!
They shook their heads, adjusting to their new bodies, and then collectively locked their hostile gazes onto the Kraken destroying the city in the distance!
"Now that's what I'm talking about!"
Vic clapped his hands, looking smug.
"Why 1v1 when you can jump him? Fighting is about strategy and efficiency!"
Next, Vic pulled out the Rabbit Talisman and handed it to Wednesday.
"Here. I'm counting on you two for this one."
Enid saw this and immediately panicked. Tears welled up in her eyes again as she shouted:
"We aren't leaving! We fight together!"
Vic blinked his scarlet demon eyes, looking innocent.
"Babe, are you misunderstanding something?"
"Eh?" Enid tilted her head, confused.
"Obviously—"
Wednesday took the Rabbit Talisman calmly. Her fingertips brushed the strange energy representing "Speed" as she delivered her usual sharp analysis.
"This imbecile implies that if he messes up and finds himself in danger, we are to use this to 'fish' him out. Consider it... an insurance policy."
"Bingo! Wednesday gets me!"
Vic snapped his fingers, his claws sparking against each other.
"After all, this is my first time trying a 'Summoner Build.' If I lose control, or if the big calamari goes berserk, I need an exit strategy!"
He grinned, revealing sharp teeth, and then spun around violently. His massive tail slapped the ground!
He pointed a finger at the distant Kraken and shouted a command filled with manic battle lust to his newly created army of beasts:
"Alright, boys! Get him! Show that big guy the true meaning of—A Righteous Gang Beating!"
"ROAAAAR—!!!"
The dozen giant beasts let out earth-shaking roars. Like wild horses off the leash—or rather, ignited war machines—they turned into a violent flood of muscle and fury, charging straight for the Kraken!