Kaibara, Asgarthan Leviathan

Teija has been sitting cross-legged for several minutes, whereas I'm champing at the bit. Down on the beach, the plan is quickly falling to pieces. Ordis soldiers are being carried away by tumultuous waves, and the Kraken, with its tentacles and geysers of black ink, is having a field day. I pace back and forth, trying to restrain myself. But knowing that Gul is down there, suffering in agony… No, I can't think about that. The Muna asked me to trust her. She said she'd find a way to infiltrate the Mana network to call on an ally that could rescue us. So when will they get here, dammit? But just as I'm about to ask her again how it's going, Tei opens her eyes and frowns. Then a slight smile lights up her face.

I look up suddenly, gasping. A shadow hovers above us, so big that it causes the clouds to swell and dissipate as it passes. Then the colossal shape pierces through the cloudy ceiling. Kaibara. The Leviathan swoops down on us, its cry filling the world like a lament. Teija shouts something at me I can barely hear, but I understand. Instinctively, I begin running, with Booda hot on my heels. I sprint, dodging the boulders littering the path. When the whale gets near and pulls up alongside me, my blood starts boiling—and I leap towards it, throwing myself into the void. My hands grip a branch on one of the trees that grows on the surface of its skin. I hold tight, even as I'm buffeted by the wind whipping my face. I can barely keep my eyes open, but from what I can see, Kaibara is pouncing on the Kraken. Like the rest of us, he's got a score to settle…