Before I begin, I try to steady myself. I close my eyes; my vision turns dark. Then—my sight shifts again, the same strange magic as at the river, guiding my vision precisely to where I need to go. I never expect this to happen. Again.
At first, my vision stretches and bends. With the axe in my hand, I am still some distance from the octopus, yet my vision drives my body forward, sprinting toward it, stabilizing me in a single heartbeat. Several of its tentacles clutch the deck, crushing the ship's walls. I run up one of them, with a single purpose—its weak point, the eye.
I open my eyes.
The axe is still in my hand as I run toward it. Several tentacles grip the deck, shattering the walls. I run up one of them. Now I am on its tentacle, halfway to its head and eye, axe in hand, running as fast as I can. I smile at whatever is giving me this path—I only need to follow it.
"What is he doing?" Oliver freezes when he sees Hiro running off the ship and climbing the massive tentacle toward the giant Octopus.
Their view is unclear—only flashes of lightning briefly reveal the monster's form. Yet Hiro runs as if he can see every inch of what he is stepping on.
One tentacle swings toward Hiro. Rose notices first and raises her bow.
Oliver realizes it as well.
"SANTIAGO, SHOOT ANYTHING IN HIS WAY!" he shouts.
"EVERYONE, CLEAR A PATH FOR HIM!" Oliver charges toward the nearest tentacle with his sword. The others move with him.
—BOOM. —BOOM.
Two shots from Santiago.
—SPLASH.
Rose's arrows fly; all three strike the tentacle above Hiro.
I glance upward—the tentacle aiming for me jerks away, diverted by their attacks. I look only for a fraction of a second, then keep running toward its eye. Only a few dozen steps remain.
But—
—CRASH.
Another tentacle slams down and knocks me off balance. I begin to fall from the tentacle.
Losing my balance drags me toward the sea below. The axe still in my grip, I drive it into the tentacle's flesh, slowing my fall, stopping at the edge, hanging.
"Damn—"
I need to move, or I will fall.
—SWASH.
An arrow lands near me. I glance toward the ship—Rose.
"Climb," her small voice reaches me. The arrow is just out of reach.
Both my hands are locked on the axe. I release one and reach for the arrow.
"Come on," I mutter.
Closer. "Come on."
"Got it."
—SWASH.
Another arrow lands farther ahead. I cannot look back. One hand holds the axe, the other grips the arrow.
I only need a small swing to reach the next arrow.
Oliver watches Hiro. The others are overwhelmed by the attacking tentacles. Oliver cuts down the ones reaching for him. Then the Octopus begins pulling its tentacles back. Everyone freezes for a moment.
"What—" Bartra stammers.
—THUD.
A massive tentacle crashes toward the mainmast. Everyone's face goes pale.
"DON'T LET IT HIT THE MAST! STOP IT!" the captain roars.
"EVERYONE, PROTECT THE MAST!" Oliver yells as he runs. He cuts through the nearest tentacle. Santiago climbs down from the mast. Bartra, Grizz, Gruzz, and the rest of the crew rush in. Rose releases another volley—toward the tentacle near Hiro and the one near the ship.
I yank my axe free. One hand grips the arrow tightly, the other holds the axe.
I swing my body slowly, aiming for the next arrow. Swing by swing, I build momentum and—
"Got—"
"No—!" My left hand misses, and my right hand snatches the arrow instead.
I reach it. But my grip on the axe slips. "Damn." The axe falls.
It drops beside me, sliding along the slick surface of the tentacle. My left hand reaches for it while I cling near its eye.
"Come on—" The axe drifts closer. I stretch my hand—
"Ukh." I grab it—but my hand clamps down on its eye as well.
"Damn—"
—SWASH.
Another arrow lands farther ahead. I see it. I know what I must do. A big swing. I need a big swing to climb back up and get on top of the tentacle.
"Right. A big swing." Both feet must land on that arrow. Then I rise—and strike its eye.
"Come on. If I fail, I will regret this for the rest of my life."
One hand grips the arrow tightly. My left hand cannot move—blood runs down my arm.
"Come on, kid. You can do it," Oliver mutters under his breath.
Rose waits, bow drawn. Santiago glances at Hiro. Bartra, Grizz, Gruzz, the entire crew—they are all watching.
I look toward them. They… believe in me.
"Damn it… they are depending on me. Another burden I must carry."
I swing my body again, this time needing a wide arc so both feet can land on the arrow.
"Come on, come on. I will regret this forever if I fail."
Swing after swing, the decision draws closer.
Only a few more arcs remain. I must throw my legs forward and land on it.
Bartra stares at Hiro, frozen by what he sees. He stops attacking the tentacle in front of him.
"BARTRA, DON'T DROP YOUR GUARD!" Oliver shouts.
A massive tentacle slams down toward Bartra.
"NO!"
—BRUAK.
Bartra is struck hard, pinned beneath the tentacle. He collapses instantly.
"GRIZZ AND GRUZZ, DON'T LET UP! PROTECT THE MAST!" the captain shouts, losing control of the helm.
The ship thrashes even harder. Hiro's success is the only hope left—either he ends this, or the ship sinks.
Tentacles tighten around the hull, and the giant Octopus is halfway to pulling the ship completely under.
"COME ON, HIRO! END THIS!"
Swing after swing, I must decide. My legs—my legs must land on that arrow. If I miss, everything is over.
One final massive swing. My legs must launch forward—one swing, ONE MORE—
"Hpft—" I succeed—no, I do not—my foot slips. My grip loosens. I fall.
"HIRROOO!" Rose screams from the ship.
Everyone watches Hiro fall.
Grizz and Gruzz drop their guard; both are struck by a massive tentacle and collapse.
Santiago has no bullets left. He clings to the ship's rail as a tentacle knocks him off his feet.
More crew members are thrown overboard, crushed, or swept away.
Everything is over. Hiro falls and—
—BAAM.
Hiro hits the ocean.
Oliver grits his teeth.
"DAMN YOU… YOU BASTARD, KRAKEN!"
He charges, slashing wildly, and for the first time cleaves a tentacle completely through.
Rose lowers her bow, only a few arrows remaining.
The captain can no longer control the helm; he lets it go. The ship tilts, wrapped in more and more tentacles.
Oliver drives his sword into the deck to anchor himself as the ship begins to overturn. Rose, the crew, the captain—all slide and slam into the railing as the ship lists.
Hope dies instantly.
But unbeknownst to them—