NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 14: Plant Cthulhu
In one of the houses within the Smurf village, a group of Smurfs and Goblins stood before a young girl. Unlike the last time they had gathered, a towering Ogre now stood among them.
Upon closer inspection, the faces of the Goblins and Smurfs bore expressions of discomfort. Their longstanding enmity and the heavy sacrifices made in their conflicts were now awkwardly present, embodied in this unlikely gathering. They now found themselves serving the same master, leaving them at a loss.
As for the Ogre King, there was no trace of embarrassment. Their kind revered strength above all else, and he would have accepted his death at Yverantheia's hands without regret. The only reason he remained king was due to Yverantheia preserving his title.
"You mentioned you had something important to say?" Yverantheia prompted.
"Yes," the Ogre King confirmed.
This assembly had been called because, after their battle, the Ogre King had something crucial to convey to Yverantheia.
"I had a premonition some time ago," he began. "We will soon face a formidable enemy, one so powerful that even if all Ogres combined their strength, we wouldn't stand a chance. This was why I sought to become the Ogre King."
"With all due respect, wasn't that powerful foe Lady Yverantheia?" a Goblin questioned.
"...I initially thought so too," the Ogre King admitted. "But after our fight, I realized Lady Yverantheia was not the enemy I sensed. She did not annihilate the Ogres as my premonition indicated."
"I'll be honest," the Ogre King continued. "My unique skill allows me to foresee certain events, but only those that could lead to my death. These premonitions are vague, but they have helped me avoid death at least ten times."
"Remarkable..." The Smurf Elder and the Goblin Chief, who had just begun to relax after the Ogres’ submission, now looked worried.
"Do you have any other information?" the Smurf Elder asked.
"Hmm... The premonition was too fragmented..."
The Ogre King strained to recall the feeling from his vision.
"...Wait! I sensed a very humid air."
"Humid? Could it be rain? No, perhaps the sea," the Goblin Chief mused.
The mountain range they inhabited bordered the sea. If the air was humid, their foe might be coming from the ocean, or the battle might occur near the shore.
"The sea? Does the Abyss even have a sea?" the Smurf Elder wondered.
"The Abyss?" The Ogre King looked puzzled. "We refer to it as the sea because it’s an endless expanse of water."
Yverantheia frowned. Her memories told her the Abyss was vast, but not this vast.
‘No, even the sky here is strange. From above, it's endless darkness, but below, you can see the sky, and there's sunlight without a sun...’
The Abyss was far more than a simple canyon, even more peculiar than a dungeon.
"Lady Yverantheia?" The Ogre King's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.
"It's nothing. I was just lost in thought. You were talking about the sea?"
"Yes. I believe this unknown enemy comes from the sea."
"Hmm..."
Judging by the Ogre King's demeanor, this foe was likely as powerful as Yverantheia, if not more.
"I'll handle this enemy."
"But we can fight too..."
"Just prepare to ensure your own safety."
Faced with such a foe, Yverantheia was determined to challenge it. With the Goblins, Smurfs, and now Ogres all under her command, she bore the responsibility of protecting them. The power she gained from their allegiance made it imperative she ensure their safety.
"Understood. Please be careful."
"Of course. I haven't achieved my goals yet."
...
Several days passed. The Smurfs, Goblins, and Ogres were busy constructing defensive structures. It was a rare sight—three once-hostile races working together on the same project.
Time was difficult to measure in the Abyss, with no day or night. The most they had were subtle changes in the sunless "sunlight."
Yverantheia sat on a rock halfway up a mountain, gazing at the endless ocean. Gentle waves lapped at the shore, and the "sunlight" sparkled on the water's surface like countless diamonds.
In the human world, this would be a famous scenic spot, attracting nobles, adventurers, and travelers alike. Here, however, it was a place fraught with danger, and Yverantheia was the only one to behold its beauty.
"Lady Yverantheia, the defensive structures are nearly complete."
"I see. Go back and prepare."
"Could it be...?"
"It's coming."
Suddenly, the previously calm sea grew turbulent, and a massive shadow emerged within the light blue waves.
"May the gods bless you in battle!" The Smurf Elder bowed slightly before running back.
Yverantheia focused intently on the enormous creature emerging from the sea, marveling at its size.
"It's truly enormous. Are you a Kraken, or some new Plant-type monster?"
The giant creature, towering dozens of meters above the water, had a light green body with numerous tentacles extending from its chin, and even more tentacles below the water.
It resembled a creature from another world, akin to a being named 'Cthulhu,' though few knew what that actually looked like.
Upon closer inspection, its tentacles resembled thick vines, and it had characteristics unique to Plant-type monsters.
"Your strength... exceeds that of the demon tiger. You must be at least sixth level."
Among the powerful beings Yverantheia had encountered, this "Plant Cthulhu" seemed stronger than the demon tiger. Her own power was hard to gauge, but she estimated it to be around sixth level.
In comparison, before leaving the forest, she had been at low-tier fourth level. After battling the Ogre King, she had reached the peak of the fourth level. Even so, she was no match for this creature, evident by its disregard for her as it advanced towards land.
But strength wasn't solely determined by level. Sometimes, quantity could overcome quality.
In an instant, Yverantheia transitioned from sitting to a combat stance, leaping towards the "Plant Cthulhu" and landing a powerful punch on its forehead.
Caught off guard, the creature was pushed back.
"Let's begin our battle."
