Black Killer Whale Baby [EN]: Chapter 216

Chapter 216

The shark faction, harboring a deep hatred for Orcas, constructed their own fortresses and adopted guerrilla tactics. They also devised a secret, desperate measure.

This involved planting self-destruct devices in all their fortresses.

Their plan was that if an Orca legion invaded a fortress, they would detonate it without hesitation, regardless of any allied forces present, choosing to die together.

This was their tradition, a fact kept secret from all other species, especially Orcas.

…Because it was a matter sworn to secrecy by everyone.

Moreover, its existence remained unknown because no fortress had ever actually used a self-destruct device.

“What? Why the surprised look?”

“H-how did you know that…?”

“Ah. I have my ways.”

Calypso gestured, and Atlan lifted Gamora by the collar.

“Lead the way.”

Faced with Atlan’s murderous aura, Gamora trembled and submitted once more, taking a hesitant step to one side.

Toward a space where he might die the moment he led them.

‘What should I do? What should I do?’

If I go that way… I will surely die.

A bright red warning light flashed in his mind. I mustn’t die. I can’t die.

The desire to survive was natural for any living being, but this felt different. It was a strange feeling.

It was as if this survival instinct didn’t feel like his own.

No, no. Right now, there was something more important than this strange feeling.

‘I need an escape route.’

Gamora bit his lip. He noted how quietly they were moving.

Taking advantage of the night, they were secretly advancing, easily taking down the guards.

Even that dolphin, who didn’t seem to have much strength!

Finally, as Gamora approached the self-destruct device.

Gamora squeezed his eyes shut and pointed to a random spot.

“T-that’s the place…!”

“Is that so?”

Gamora pointed in the direction where there was no self-destruct device, at the last fork in the road.

Calypso seemed to believe him without a doubt, and he breathed a sigh of relief internally.

At that moment.

Thud!

“Thanks for your hard work.”

Gamora groaned in pain and opened his eyes to find himself lying on the floor.

He saw clear and cold eyes looking down at him.

“Just by belonging here, you must have killed countless other Suin [animal-human hybrids], right?”

A merciless gaze.

“Th-that’s… Ugh!”

“Now, now, don’t make any noise. Why bother asking?”

It was true. Among those belonging to this fortress, the only ones who hadn’t killed an innocent person were the prisoners and that guy who had been caught underground.

“Go down with this city.”

Calypso hummed softly and dragged him towards the self-destruct device.

As if he already knew it was there.

…Then why did he make him guide them?

Calypso looked at the strangely shaped self-destruct device without any sign of surprise and instructed Levi next to him.

Even the method he described was eerily accurate.

“Okay, it’s showtime.”

Bang!

At the same time as the self-destruct device was activated, the huge fortress began to shake.

It would take only 15 minutes for the fortress to collapse. They had to escape from here.

“You all know the plan, right?”

Everyone looked at each other and nodded.

I turned to the Dragon Duke.

“You too, endure it for a while.”

I couldn’t take the Dragon Duke with me on this operation, so I was going to leave him with Atlan for a while.

After moving to a safe place, Atlan would also spread his wings and fly away.

The man had a gloomy expression for some reason, but he didn’t refuse.

I felt a pang of sympathy and flinched, then took the man’s hand.

“I’ll definitely get your memories back. Don’t worry. See you again.”

“…If we meet again, can I call your name then?”

“Well… yeah.”

We promised each other the next meeting point and scattered.

‘Well, most of them will fall without being able to escape.’

It was a maze-like place, deliberately designed to prevent both enemies and allies from easily escaping when the self-destruct device was activated.

But I passed through this place without any difficulty.

‘I have to find the leader. I have to find the Linearus [a powerful artifact] that he has.’

I stopped moving.

Levi, who had followed me for some reason, also stopped, breathing slightly heavily.

“What, a large number of people are coming out of the basement?”

It was strange.

‘The basement was usually where prisoners were kept, right?’

“Levi, let’s go there first.”

“Yes? Not to the top?”

“I have a strange feeling.”

Why, I felt like I had to go there. I was going to stop by anyway because I had to release the prisoners.

“According to the investigation, those guys don’t have any prisoners they’ve captured separately, though?”

“Still. I think I have to go.”

I had a feeling that I would regret it if I didn’t go. It was important not to miss this feeling usually.

The basement was empty because all the humans had left.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

‘I have to finish things here within 5 minutes.’

I calmly calculated and looked around the basement, then stopped.

“Master?”

Levi, who I told to stay behind but stubbornly followed, also stopped with me.

Inside the closed prison, the flickering flames felt like waves.

I swallowed.

There was only one prisoner inside.

In the silence of the moment, it was Levi who opened his mouth.

“Humpback… whale?”

How did he recognize him as a humpback whale from that bloodied appearance?

There was no time to ask.

Because I felt the same way.

It’s a humpback whale Suin.

And… No matter how much time has passed, how could I not recognize you even if you’ve changed so miserably like this.

I would have recognized him even if Levi, or another cherished subordinate, had been in that place.

“…Hauser.”

And I would have been just as angry.

‘Calm down. Let’s calm down.’

The humpback whale Suin who helped the weak Suin while roaming the wastelands.

That was indeed Hauser.

But why?

Why is he captured by sharks and here?

The bloodied appearance was ominous. No, it was a relief that he was even breathing.

‘He’s alive. That’s all that matters.’

If he’s just breathing, then Whale can definitely save him.

We don’t have to die helplessly anymore. So…

The scene in front of me was momentarily unclear whether it was the present or the middle of the 3rd regression war. But it was okay.

Because there’s something more important in front of me.

I clearly confirmed that his shoulder was moving slightly, and then I bent the bars with force.

“Master! The pillar is collapsing!”

“I know!”

“I’ll support the door with this.”

“Hold on a little longer! I’ll take him with me.”

Levi didn’t ask why I was suddenly taking that humpback whale.

I made a hole that I could pass through between the bars and casually cut the wire with a knife hand.

‘If Ekion was here, he could have used the power of water.’

It was a temporary measure with a time limit, but it was a shame. It became difficult after losing my memories.

‘As expected, Hauser… It’s you.’

I slung Hauser, who was in shackles, over my shoulder like a sack of rice.

Sorry, but bear with it, you subordinate.

‘You better be prepared to get your ass kicked when you open your eyes.’

I didn’t even look for you to live a normal life, and you’re dying like this?

I gnashed my teeth and climbed the stairs.

“Master, this way!”

I looked at the ceiling for a moment.

The leader of this fortress must be coming down from the top…

This fortress was built so that no one could jump down, so after the self-destruction, anyone would have to use the stairs.

I bit the inside of my mouth.

I gave up quickly.

‘I give up on Linearus.’

Nothing is worth as much as a person’s life.

Especially the lives of my subordinates.

“Get out to the exit!”

“…Yes. This way!”

Levi seemed to have realized my choice, and he had an expression that looked more complicated than mine.

What can I do. It’s a waste of the power of water, but. I’ll rummage through the trash after the fortress collapses!

We barely escaped the fortress because we unintentionally rescued Hauser and encountered sharks running at us in the middle.

Quite far, to a place where the aftermath of the collapse didn’t reach.

“Haa, haa. Don’t, make me run, ugh, again…”

“Stop it. I ran with two people on my back?”

“You shouldn’t have made a weak dolphin do this!”

“Are you kidding me? Who followed me when I told you to wait in front of the basement!”

“Huk, if I hadn’t been there, you would have been trapped in the basement and become mummies!”

Levi was breathing heavily, but he kept talking back.

I was mentally exhausted for the first time in a while, so I sat down and stared blankly ahead.

The fortress, which was clearly huge, was collapsing at once.

‘Heo [an exclamation of surprise].’

That’s going to be a huge pile of garbage. Can I find Linearus there?

“The second one must have done well, right?”

“What is there to say? He even has the power of water.”

“I guess.”

I sighed and looked at the sky. Then I quickly turned my head away.

“If you’ve rested, get up. We’re going back right away.”

“Yes?”

“I have to save him.”

I looked down at Hauser, who was breathing weakly, with a complicated expression.

‘Subordinate, I hope you don’t have an ending where you become a villain.’

At that moment, Hauser’s eyelids trembled slightly. Then, his eyes slowly opened.