The Awakening Of The Last Knight.

Chapter 11, The Sea Ghoul.

Ali arrived at the gym, ready for training, when the system screen appeared before him:

[Side Quest: Defeat a Sea Ghoul and gain experience points + a new skill.]

Confused, Ali stared at the message, unsure of what to do, until more details flashed across the screen:

[Follow this map to locate the Sea Ghoul.]

[Time limit: 5 hours.]

Hesitation crept in. Was he ready to take this on alone? Maybe he should ask another Knight for backup. He decided to find Malik or Laith and so he hurried through the headquarters' halls, searching for them.

As he wandered, he stepped into a vast, empty room. There, in the center, sat Marwan, his eyes were closed, he was silent. Ali approached him, he wanted to ask if he'd seen the others.

In a flash, Marwan leapt up, sword swinging, sending Ali crashing into the wall.

"What was that for?!" Ali yelled out, he was dazed from how strong the blow had been.

Marwan smirked, looking down at him with a glint of suspicion. "I smell something on you" he said. "You're hiding some kind of dark power."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Ali shot back.

"Don't play dumb,"Marwan sneered. "I saw you take down that shapeshifter alone. I was there. So tell me, how did you disappear?"

Ali clenched his fists. "Stealth mode is one of my skills. That's all."

Marwan's eyes narrowed. "You're pretending to be weak, but you're up to something. Hazim assigned me to watch you, not that he actually cares. The Association forced his hand. He only asked me to do it to shut them up. But I've seen enough to know you're hiding more."

Ali's anger flared. He pushed himself up, meeting Marwan's gaze. "I'm not hiding anything, but you know what? Fine. If you're so determined to watch me, then come along. I was about to fight a Sea Ghoul, see for yourself if I'm hiding anything."

Marwan's smirk widened. "Deal. But when I prove my suspicions right, don't expect mercy."

A chill ran down Ali's spine, but he steeled himself. "Then let's go."

Ali led Marwan toward the shore, where they rented a small motor boat. The water was eerily calm as they rowed farther out, the distant skyscrapers of the city shrinking behind them. After nearly an hour, Ali's holographic map flickered in his vision, marking their proximity to the Ghoul's lair.

Marwan leaned against the boat's edge, his sharp eyes locked onto Ali. "How do you even know where this thing is?" he demanded, his voice dripping with skepticism.

Ali kept his gaze on the water. "A fisherman who is a friend of mine was out here this morning. He heard... something. Ran back terrified. I figured I'd check it out."

Marwan scoffed. "How Convenient. And yet" He gestured at their bareboat. " no nets, no sonar, no diving gear. Just you, trusting a hunch?"

Ali clenched his jaw. "Have a little patience."

In a flash, Marwan seized Ali by the collar, yanking him close. "Stop lying," he snarled. "Tell me how you found out about this thing, or I'll feed you to the Ghoul myself."

Before Ali could respond a massive tentacle erupted from the water, slamming into the boat. Marwan reacted instantly, his sword flashing as he severed the limb with a clean strike. His armor had been activated since the moment they left the headquarters, it hummed with energy as he pivoted, deflecting another attack.

Ali barely dodged a second strike, rolling across the deck "White Armor Activate!" he shouted. A surge of light enveloped him as his battle armor materialized, its pale plates locking into place.

The sea churned. The Ghoul's monstrous form emerged, its remaining tentacles thrashing. Marwan shot Ali a glare. "You knew it was here. Now prove you're not just dead weight!"

Ali gripped his weapon, heart pounding. "Fine. Watch closely, then tell me I'm hiding something." The Ghoul lunged.

Ali slashed through the Ghoul's writhing tentacles, his blade a blur of motion. Yet no matter how many he severed, new ones sprouted in their place, slick with dark ichor. His breaths came heavy, his muscles burning with exhaustion. This isn't working, he thought. He needed a different approach.

Activating his stealth mode, Ali vanished from sight, his form shimmering briefly before disappearing entirely. He turned to Marwan, his voice low but urgent. "I'm going for its head. If I can reach the brain, I might finish this."

Marwan snorted, shaking his head. "And how exactly are you planning to get up there? Stealth mode doesn't let you walk on air, genius."

Ali gritted his teeth. "You got a better idea?"

A smirk curled Marwan's lips."Yeah. Follow my lead."

Before Ali could argue, Marwan activated a new skill. His sword shimmered, elongating and reshaping into a long, flexible chain. With a powerful swing, he lashed it around one of the Ghoul's massive tentacles, using it to scale the monstrous appendage with surprising agility.

Ali watched as Marwan reached the top, his sword reforming into its original shape mid-air. He raised it high, poised to strike the Ghoul's skull

Then, in an instant, the creature's form twisted, its body warping unnaturally before vanishing entirely. Marwan's blade met empty air, and with a curse, he plummeted toward the dark water below.

"Marwan!" Ali lunged, grabbing his arm just in time and hauling him back onto the remnants of their boat. Both men stood panting, scanning the churning waves for the Ghoul's return.

"Where the hell did that thing go?"

The screen flashed before Ali, revealing the Ghoul’s exact location. He and Marwan stood on the boat, swords in hand, the dark waters lapping against the wooden hull. The creature lurked beneath them, unseen but felt, a presence that sent a chill down their spines.

Marwan tightened his grip on his sword, his knuckles whitening. “We can’t just stab it and hope for the best,” he muttered. “There has to be a better way.”

Ali’s eyes narrowed as a memory surfaced, a game from his childhood, a battle against a monstrous kraken. The solution had been simple then.

"A crossbow," Ali said suddenly.

Marwan frowned. "What?"

"We need a giant crossbow," Ali explained, turning to him. "You can change your sword, right? Turn it into one."

Marwan hesitated, then nodded. With a swift motion, his blade shimmered, elongating and reforming into a massive crossbow. He tested the weight, adjusting his stance. “Alright, now what?”

Ali pulled out his light sword, its glow casting sharp reflections on the water. " This sword of mine is the answer. It doesn’t just cut, it blinds the target on impact." He met Marwan’s gaze. "When the Ghoul surfaces, you distract it. Keep its attention until it lets its guard down. Then, I’ll fire this sword like a bolt straight into it."

Marwan’s jaw tightened. "That’s too risky. If we miss, or if it attacks before we’re ready..."

"We don’t have a choice," Ali interrupted. "It’s now or never."

A heavy silence settled between them. Then, the water stirred, a slow, ominous ripple.

Marwan exhaled sharply. "Fine. But if this gets us killed, I’m blaming you."

Ali smirked. "Noted."

The Ghoul’s massive form began to rise from the depths, its jagged teeth glinting in the moonlight. Marwan raised the crossbow, his fingers steady.

The real fight had just begun.