Damn, I recarneted As A Judge in Fantasy World-Chapter 240 Nautilus, the Colorful Cephalopod

The parrotfish was a cephalopod, like an octopus or squid—a mollusc with several legs attached near its head. However, the one that appeared near the One Shot resembled its relatives only in its vibrant colors and hard shell. It was a far cry from a real parrot.

First of all, it was incredibly large and had dozens of suction cups on its legs that wrapped around its belly. At first glance, it might have seemed like a kraken was attacking.

"Anyway, it's certain that something big is going to happen," Abel thought. The helmsman's pale face alone was evidence enough. If a veteran sailor reacted like that, how monstrous must the creature be?

"Sir, Captain! Get out of here! The ship will split in two in an instant!" Before anyone realized it, the helmsman was already turning the pulley of the escape boat.

It seemed as though Nautilus had decided there was no hope in this situation, with the ship closing in so rapidly.

But Abel thought differently.

The One Shot hadn't even been destroyed yet, and the knights had already prepared to fight. Look at them now—weren't they cutting off the tentacles climbing onto the deck with a blue aura?

If time continued to pass like this, Nautilus would likely give up.

"That thing's tentacles are infinitely regenerating. So don't think you're winning!" the helmsman shouted.

"Aha? Really?" Abel replied, noticing the helmsman's unease, which remained despite the tentacles being torn apart.

"How can I defeat him?" Abel asked.

"The only weak point is the head, which is surrounded by a hard shell."

"Then isn't it the same as having no weaknesses?" Abel raised an eyebrow.

"There is a way—get inside through the mouth and tear open the intestines... but no one has ever come out alive after doing that. It dissolves in the digestive juices."

"He really is a nuisance," Abel muttered.

"It's much more difficult than the Kraken. If you're caught, the right answer is to escape!" the helmsman warned.

Even as the conversation continued, the helmsman's hands didn't stop moving. Before anyone realized it, the escape boat was close to the surface. Regardless, Abel climbed onto the side railing.

The boat rocked violently, but it wasn't difficult for Abel to maintain balance. It was thanks to the superhuman physical abilities granted by the heart of a beast.

He stepped forward as though walking a tightrope and looked down at the water, where the tentacles had risen. Something round, with a series of white and red patterns, was slightly raised.

"Is that the head?" Abel wondered.

As the helmsman said, the shell looked very hard. Even the anchor that fell during the fight on deck didn't seem to harm it.

"Should I show off my skills after a long time?" Abel murmured, pulling out Hector Punisher and focusing his mind.

Perhaps there was only one chance. If the creature submerged again, there'd be no way to chase it. Abel decided to give it his all.

『Extreme Choice Activation』

Woohoo!

[Select 'Attack Power']

[It becomes a 'glass body' state.]

First, it was time to maximize attack power and use direct attack skills.

『Activation of Destructive Retribution』

Suhua!

A bright flash of light shot into the air, enveloping Hector Punisher.

Such phenomena often occur when a massive amount of energy is concentrated. This time, however, Abel adjusted the direction intentionally.

"We still need the One Shot intact for sailing, after all," he reasoned.

He handled the catastrophic retribution with utmost delicacy.

'Huh? This works?' Abel thought, surprised.

Up until now, he had focused on shooting skills quickly and hitting targets, much like a fastball pitcher with poor control. While the power was immense, accuracy wasn't always guaranteed.

But wasn't the hit rate now 100%?

Most of Abel's targets had been enormous, so it didn't matter if he missed a little. The skill's attack range was wide enough to compensate.

However, this time, controlling the direction was surprisingly easy.

Perhaps the functionality had improved due to his accumulated positive influence.

'No, please indicate this in detail,' Abel thought, annoyed. Of course, this damned system wasn't very user-friendly. It had been that way from the beginning.

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Regardless, Abel successfully delivered the catastrophic retribution with relative accuracy.

"Go!"

Tohung!

A huge beam of light shot downward in a parabolic arc.

Nautilus's horizontally slit eyes widened in response. The creature seemed to have truly felt the killing intent directed at it.

A bundle of tentacles swept across the deck, moving swiftly toward the ship's side. The intent was to reinforce its defense.

According to the helmsman, its tentacles were infinitely regenerative.

Even if severed or burst, they regenerated quickly.

'But this is going to be a little different, you punk,' Abel thought.

He aimed Hector Punisher squarely at Nautilus and tightened his arms, ensuring his skill wouldn't miss.

The catastrophic retribution pierced through the tentacle bundle and struck its target.

Oh my god!

Kkiiiiiiiiiii!

Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream resonated. It felt as if a massive presence vibrated the air itself.

The knights standing on the deck stumbled simultaneously. The boat barely rocked, but the energy was palpable.

"This, this is—"

"Ugh! That's ridiculous. The embodiment of will should be at least as strong as a Drake!"

"Is that sea monster that strong?"

"I guess he wasn't just a guy who took advantage of the sea," another knight muttered.

Drake was a monster so powerful that it was often called a subspecies of dragon.

Of course, the nickname came from its appearance, as they weren't actually related.

The ranks of dragons and Drakes were vastly different. If one said otherwise in front of a dragon, they might be subjected to magical experiments for millennia.

Nonetheless, even without the advantage of the sea terrain, Nautilus was formidable.

But now, the creature writhed, squirting pink liquid.

'It went in properly,' Abel thought, satisfied.

The catastrophic retribution had completely shattered the Nautilus's skull, despite its shell appearing to be at least a meter thick. Truly, tremendous power.

The knights hanging from the railing couldn't close their gaping mouths.

"If a person had that level of technology…"

"Oh! It's horrible to even imagine."

"They say the northern nomads would wet their pants just hearing His Highness the Duke's name, and it wasn't an exaggeration."

"There was a story going around that they tamed one tribe every day. At minimum."

"Come to think of it, the members of the Imperial Council. Aren't they quite strong-minded? What on earth gave them the nerve to challenge His Highness Carriers?"

"Those who fight only with words and writing know nothing about actual combat."

"That's why the ruling of self-defense comes out so strangely," another knight replied.

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"Yes," a comrade agreed.

The knights' mutterings were relatively clear to Abel. Even with the sound of the waves overlapping, his superior hearing caught every word.

'I see. What on earth made those men believe they could stand against me?' Abel mused.

Did they think the Carriers' Dukedom's forces were so small they could win? Or perhaps they assumed the Emperor's watchful eyes would prevent the use of force.

Thanks to Abel's efforts, the One Shot escaped the crisis.

"Your Highness?"

The helmsman's voice interrupted his thoughts. Before Abel realized it, the escape boat had been pulled back up.

"Why are you doing that?" Abel asked.

"Let's quickly raise the Nautilus's body. If we hang it on the capstan, we'll be able to load it in no time."

A capstan was a tool used to pull anchors or nets, operated by several people.

Abel stared at the Nautilus's massive corpse.

"Is it expensive?"

"The fleshy part isn't tasty and is thrown away, but the skin sells for a very high price. It's a favorite ingredient of wizards," the helmsman explained.

"Aha," Abel replied.

"Besides, such a top-level monster will have a magic stone inside its body."

"Then you should take it. Retrieve it quickly," Abel ordered.

"Yes!"

The helmsman ran onto the deck, shouting orders.

"What are you guys doing! Hang a pole on the pigeon coop!"

But no one responded.

The crew aboard the One Shot had been replaced by knights—large men with sharp gazes and swords stained with the Nautilus's blood.

The atmosphere aboard the Nautilus was so charged that it felt like anyone who spoke carelessly might be slaughtered on the spot.

"Uh, huh?"

The helmsman suddenly realized he had made a grave mistake.

Caught up in his excitement, he had started spouting nonsense out of habit, an error he quickly regretted.

But as the saying goes, even if the sky falls, there's always a hole to escape through.

The helmsman's mind raced furiously, searching for an excuse.

"That… uh… it's His Highness the Duke's order."

The knights immediately turned their piercing gazes toward Abel, seeking confirmation.

Abel met their stares with a broad smile and nodded in agreement, silently urging the helmsman to proceed with his explanation.

The tense atmosphere shifted instantly.

"Aha! If that's the case, you should've said so earlier," one knight exclaimed.

"I almost misunderstood. I was about to slice you up like one of this guy's tentacles. Hahaha!"

"Ha. Haha. Hahaha," the helmsman responded, forcing an awkward laugh.

His hunched back, as he chuckled nervously, seemed pitiful somehow.

With their misunderstanding resolved, the knights abandoned the severed tentacles, tossing them back into the sea.

They turned their attention to the capstan, gripping it with their powerful hands.

As they worked together to rotate the mechanism, the Nautilus' body rose rapidly from the water.

The Nautilus Emerges

The Nautilus groaned under the strain as the capstan rotated, its massive body breaking through the ocean's surface. Water cascaded off the vessel like waterfalls, reflecting the sunlight in dazzling patterns. The sight was nothing short of mesmerizing, but Abel's focus was elsewhere.

As the ship's body came fully into view, it became clear just how massive the creature-turned-vessel truly was. Deep scars lined its metallic surface, each one a testament to countless battles it had endured.

Abel crossed his arms, his gaze sharp as he studied the ship's structure.