Seed Pocket

Chapter 42: The Immeasurable Fury of General Ika

"We need to do something, fast!" I shouted over Mari's agonized screams.

"What can we do though? We risk hitting Mari if we use ranged attacks and it's nearly impossible to get close enough to use close range attacks," Yuri replied, distressed.

"Touwa, do you have any ideas?"

"Yuri is right. There isn't much we can do. I guess you could try climbing Yoko's vines to get up to Mari, like you did with Kumo. The rest of us can distract the general while you do it. Are you willing to do it? You'll be at risk of death," my bespectacled friend replied.

"I'll do it. I have to," I said, determined to save Mari from the crazy squid. "Are you ready, Yoko?"

The green haired girl nodded so we ran closer to the squid. Yoko immediately made a vine grow from the ground. I waited for the squid to be distracted before climbing.

"AAAH! I'LL KILL YOU ALL!" the squid screamed once the girls started attacking her.

I started climbing as quickly as I could. The girls couldn't keep her distracted forever. Mari didn't have forever either. Pretty quickly, I was face to face with Mari.

"Ha... na... You... came... I'm... so.... happy."

"Don't speak. I'll get you out of there," I said as I raised my sword.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. One wrong move and Mari would be split in two. I closed my eyes and let the sounds of battle drift away.

You... are... just... like... Sa...

I opened my eyes, bewildered. What was that voice? The sounds of battle flooded my ears. I don't have time to wonder about that right now. Refocusing, I swung my sword down, cutting the tentacles that were squeezing Mari.

"AAAAH! HOW DARE YOU CUT ME! DIE!"

Slinging Mari over my shoulder, I slid down the vine, barely missing a tentacle. When I hit the ground, I ran to a safe distance and set Mari down.

"Stay here. I'll be right back," I said, turning away.

"I want to help you," Mari replied weakly as she crawled toward me.

"You're in no condition to fight! You almost got the life squeezed out of you!"

"Fine! Go then! See if I care!"

Sighing, I made my way back to the others. Unfortunately for us, it looked like the squid could block our attacks with her tentacles and attack us at the same time. Surprisingly, not even Shitai's knife could cut through the thick tentacles. I guess it was up to Kojomaru to cut through the squid's defenses.

"Hana, do you think Kojomaru can cut through the general's tentacles?" Touwa asked when I made it over to them.

"I think so. It's been able to cut through everything I've tried so far."

"Give it your best shot. You're the only chance we have."

Nodding, I charged toward the wall of tentacles. Thankfully, the others kept the attacking tentacles away as I advanced towards the wall. When I got to the wall of tentacles, I raised my sword and took a deep breath.

Here goes nothing.

As I brought my sword down upon the tentacles, I met little resistance. Even though these tentacles were extremely tough, Kojomaru was able to cut through them with relative ease.

"Good job, Hana!" the girls congratulated me as they rushed forward for the final push.

"AAAH! HOW DARE YOU CUT MY BEAUTIFUL TENTACLES AGAIN! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT, ***** (female dog)!" the squid screamed.