Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 4, Ch. 5]

She whispered her thanks, but her attention was soon taken by the huge, black tentacle that thrust from the water. It slammed down onto the deck, cracking into it.

Nora screamed a warning. "JUMP!"

With Weiss still in my arms, I threw the two of us into the air – not a moment too soon as the tentacle suddenly swept across the deck, cracking the wood and tearing the railing off the side. Luckily, it took none of us with it, though it looked like we had our answer to the crew now.

—Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 4]



There was no time to think as it came in, or even to wonder what kind of bizarre Grimm it was. Its conical-shaped head darted in towards us and it was all I could do to throw myself to the side, armour striking the wooden deck as I scrambled for safety.

[...]

One of the tentacles had risen into the air, building momentum for a blow. My legs bent, waiting for it to come down – but it did so far to my left, aiming for Ruby and Yang instead. The two were more than fast enough to avoid it, though Yang wasn't able to react in time to attack it before it began its sweep across the deck once more. The others managed with varying levels of success, mostly dependent on what weapons they had, but I narrowed my eyes and focused as it came towards me.

Jump first, I told myself, bending low. Survival was more important than damage in this case, and it would only take a bad blow to knock me off the ship. As the limb came hurtling across, I pushed up and off the deck, swinging down at the same time. My feet cleared it, though I still felt the air whistle underneath. I'd turned my body less like a Knight and more like a Lumberjack, swinging Crocea Mors down between my legs like I was trying to strike a log.

The blade hit the limb coming the other way, and the force behind it caused the cut to be far deeper than through my strength alone. Blood sprang into the air, but I was nearly torn from the ship entirely as the sword bit down and was dragged away. As it was, I managed to hold on and was rewarded when it shook loose, but any longer and I'd have been dragged away.

[...]

Whatever counted for a brain inside the monster before us clearly realised its attempt to kill us with a single tentacle had failed. Instead of repeating that again, it raised both into the air instead and brought them down with a mighty crash.

This time, one of them came in my direction. I hesitated for half-a-second, a moment which stretched on as I tried to figure out whether I could hold up my sword and make it sever its own limb, before common sense won out and reminded me that this thing could split a wooden deck in two with a single blow. It might be injured, but my arms would be torn from my sockets instantly. I threw myself to the right, instead, pressing my body against one of the remaining masts.

[...]

The Grimm roared and flailed wildly – throwing aside its caution as it lashed out at the ship we were tethered to. I ducked under one blow and sliced upwards with both hands, cutting a small slice of meat from it, before I was knocked back as it swept across.

—Forged Destiny [Book 4: Ch. 5]