Forged Destiny [Book 8: Ch. 14]

Six tentacles were wrapped around the ship currently, spread evenly across its hull with one coiled in the air. Adam's crew were hacking desperately at them and the blades were biting deep, tearing out chunks of flesh and blood. One of the tentacles, the one in the air, lashed down onto the deck, cracking it and thrashing about, groping for crewmembers to pick up and throw into the ocean. One plucky pirate fell on his stomach beneath it and shook as the slimy, muscular tentacle grasped about above him.

It couldn't see us. With the head below the ship, it was relying on touch along to locate its prey – easy enough for the ship itself, but much more difficult for individual sailors. "They've got the right idea," I said, tossing Yang a discarded sword left on the deck. "Cut through these things. Sever them if we can. We're the ones with the highest Strength…"

"Got it." Yang didn't wait for me and ran ahead, wielding her sword in both hands and slashing at the tentacle as it looked for prey. Black blood spurted out and it recoiled, the tip of it hanging loosely, a quarter of its mass cut away.

There was no point passing on my suggestion – everyone was hacking at them anyway. Instead, I charged in, gripping my new and weaker Crocea Mors as Yang did her own weapon and swinging at the same tendril she had. I couldn't get the same spot since it had dragged that up into the air, but I cut lower, off the side of the hull where it had come up.

There was less resistance than I expected. The scales were tough but once those parted, my sword cut through it with surprising ease, revealing thick white flesh inside that reminded me of cod or haddock. It spilled out in wriggling chunks that looked like maggots, all of which were thankfully washed off the deck by the high waves reaching up to dash the ship. The wound was grievous enough to make the thing fall back on itself. It remained stuck to the side of the ship but peeled away with the sound of splintering timber, taking with it several boards. It hadn't been severed entirely, but it was spilling its maggot-like guts out into the ocean.

"RELEASE!" a voice from below boomed. A mighty boom sounded, followed by the rattling of chains as a ballistae bolt slammed into and through the retreating tentacle. A crank was turned below deck, the `click-click` echoing above as the chain was retracted and the tentacle was dragged back into the ship.

Gripping Crocea Mors with both hands, I held it high and waited, eyes focused on the gaping injury I'd already caused which was coming closer and closer. The thing flailed and fought the chain as best it could but all for naught. It slammed back against the deck, the wound in front of me, just above the railing. I swung down.

"HAH!"

Already weakened, the tentacle was severed in two as the sword tore through it. The horrible thing continued to thrash and twitch, even separated from its main body, but it fell into the water and flailed there, doing no damage to the ship or crew.

—Forged Destiny [Book 8: Ch. 14]