Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! - P.M.U Chapter 135: Storms And Tsunami (1) (Part 2)

The objective was even more nonsensical.

Not a mission to deal with someone or protect something, but simply to summon the airship.

I had seen and experienced many quests, but this level was rare.

The reward was also strange.

‘Hidden stage.’

Pick Me Up! was known as a luck-based game for a reason.

While a bonus stage might provide hints for the next floor, I had no idea what the hidden stage would entail.

One thing was for sure, the difficulty of the mission could significantly rise.

“Sub-quest? Like the one we did in the desert?”

Jenna, looking at the air, said.

“Summon the airship… The content is simple.”

“Suspicious, though.”

Velkist responded.

Priasis approached.

“What are you discussing? Include me as well.”

“Just wait. This is our business.”

“Is that so…”

Priasis made a disappointed face and then stepped back.

[Would you like to ask for the heroes’ intentions?]

[Yes(Selected) / No]

[The heroes’ intentions are as follows:]

[Han – Slightly negative]

[Jenna – Neutral]

[Velkist – Slightly negative]

[Neryssa – Neutral]

[Katiio – Neutral]

Anytng’s operation window stopped.

He seemed to be pondering.

‘I could make a suggestion, but.’

There’s no guarantee it’s the right answer.

“Pria.”

“What is it?”

“How long has it been since we left land?”

“Over a month.”

A month.

It seems we’ve moved quite far from the land.

As I remained silent, Anytng’s patience seemed to reach its limit.

[Little wizard!]

A familiar voice resounded in my head.

It was Iselle’s.

It was clear that everyone could hear it, as the 1st party looked around.

They were looking for Iselle, but she was nowhere to be found.

Only the voice continued.

[Master has ordered the summoning of the airship.]

“Here?”

[Yes, refuse and you know what happens.]

Katiio looked at me.

What should we do?

I shook my head.

[‘1st Party’s leader, ‘Han(★★★),’ suggests rejecting the sub-quest.]

We can’t leave the strategy to chance.

If it’s a sub-quest, there will be plenty of opportunities.

Rushing into a decision could lead to disaster.

My opposition seemed unexpected to Anytng, and he paused the operations.

[Do you accept the suggestion?]

[Yes(Selected) / No]

It seemed to relent this time.

The suspicious sub-quest ends here.

“Isn’t the airship maintenance complete? Do we not need to use it?”

“Just bear with it a little longer. It’s obviously suspicious.”

“That’s true.”

The early incident on the 33rd floor was temporarily resolved.

We each found our spots on the ship.

Though it was a mission, there wasn’t much to do.

Small species like merfolk or sharks couldn’t damage a large warship.

It was almost like a time of rest.

‘Exploration.’

I was able to get information about the destination from Priasis.

At the end of the ocean, referred to as the Infinite Sea, lies an ancient dragon temple. It seems she saw a scene in a dream where a key was shining there.

‘That’s convenient.’

I pulled a net chair onto the deck and sat on it.

“It’s nicer than I thought. It would have been good if sister was here too.”

Jenna lay down next to me.

“What are you thinking about so deeply, Oppa?”

“About the mission.”

“All day long, mission, mission. You’re not a machine, why not take a break? It’s a sub-stage. It’s nothing big.”

I chuckled and said.

“There are many who laugh it off and end up dead.”

“But… we’ve done it about 27 times so far, and there weren’t any major crises.”

“Just because there weren’t any crises so far doesn’t mean there won’t be any in the future.”

After all, it’s a game of luck.

There’s no guarantee that a difficulty harder than a boss stage won’t appear.

Though the chances are less than one in a thousand.

I’m not betting high either.

Just thinking about the 35th floor.

[‘1st Party’ has entered a special field, ‘Divine Domain’.]

‘What?’

I got up from the chair.

Looking around, it wasn’t night yet, but the surroundings had darkened.

Black clouds hung heavily in the sky.

“Huh?”

Jenna also widened her eyes and turned her gaze.

‘Special field.’

The feeling wasn’t good.

I got up from the chair and went inside the ship.

Priasis’s room was the first on the 1st-floor corridor.

I knocked and entered.

“Pria, sorry, but we have to turn the ship around. The information…”

“You wish to turn back after trampling our sacred sea with your dirty feet?”

Pria’s eyes were wide open.

A harsh, grating voice came from her mouth.

‘Is this… mind control?’

“Listen, false hero.”

Priasis’s mouth moved on its own.

“We will not be hunted like other guardians. We will become the hunters. You will pay the price for violating the laws.”

“…Who are you?”

“The hunt begins.”

Thud.

Priasis collapsed after finishing her words.

I quickly approached and supported her.

“Damn…”

[Warning!]

A warning message flashed before my eyes.

I laid Priasis on the bed and immediately went out to the deck.

Boom!

Suddenly, the deck shook violently.

“Ugh!”

“Oh, Oppa!”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know! Suddenly…!”

Boom!

With the sound of an explosion, a giant pillar-like object shot up in a straight line.

[Kraken Lv.38]

Tentacles that seemed to be several meters long writhed while standing.

Bang!

Then the second tentacle rose.

The third, fourth, fifth…

The tentacles wrapped around the ship from all sides.

Hundreds of suction cups on each tentacle had blades attached to them.

‘This is insane.’

The ship swayed under the weight.

If this continues, we’ll be dragged into the water.

“Attack the tentacles! Start by cutting off the ones attached to the ship!”

I shouted to the members rushing out of the ship.

Swoosh!

I immediately drew my sword.

The Kraken’s tentacles were wrapped around the center of the ship.

As I gathered all my strength to slash down.

Grrroooooooo.

A pitiful scream echoed, and the tentacles wrapped around the ship receded into the water.

“Senior, what’s going on!”

“I don’t know!”

I looked down beneath the railing.

A huge black shadow was thrashing below the water’s surface.

The sky was filled with black clouds.

The wind grew stronger.

Soon, rain began to pour.

‘It’s a complete mess.’

Boom! Bang!

Intense waves surged from the surface of the water.

Each wave lightly lifted the ship.

“This is sudden…!”

Priasis, having regained her senses, came out to the deck.

I pointed to the helm and shouted.

“Pria, take the wheel. Turn the ship around!”

“Han, this is…”

“There’s no time to explain.”

“Ah, got it!”

Priasis rushed to the helm on the deck.

She turned it round and round to the right. Creak. The ship slowly began to rotate.

<Hahahahahahaha!>

A scraping voice echoed in my head.

On the side of the ship, a water column several meters high shot up, and a black figure emerged.

It was none other than the Kraken’s body.

However, its tentacles were completely torn apart.

Bang!

Once again, a water column erupted.

And then.

<The hunt begins!>

The creature in the air swallowed the Kraken in one bite.

[Danger!]

[Divine Dragon Ktaart Lv.64]