Darkness in the Deep Sea (Seven)

Corleon saw at once where the frenzied Gulan Fairy's power came from.

A strange, membrane-like layer of energy covered its skin, granting it tremendous strength and astonishing speed.

But that energy did not come from the creature itself.

It seemed to have borrowed the power of some mighty being.

It resembled Divine Power, yet lacked the nature of a law.

By burning its own life force, the creature had gained the strength and speed it possessed.

The terrifying being behind it was powerful enough to make one's hair stand on end.

Corleon could sense that it was a creature so dreadful it made him shudder.

Yet this evil-eyed, eight-tentacled Gulan Fairy had received only the faintest trace of its power, much like a low-ranking Cleric or priest.

As for the salt...

Since establishing his biological laboratory, Corleon had studied millions of species. He stood near the pinnacle of Evolution's Profound Meaning, second only to Antonio of the Grand Royal Science Institute, and possessed extraordinary insight into the habits and weaknesses of evolving creatures.

Since the creature's power came from the thin film coating its skin, much like a scholar's true form, disrupting that film's stability was the first priority.

Most people believed Gulan Fairies had evolved from some kind of octopus. Corleon, however, thought they were more like leeches: a branch on the evolutionary tree that had given rise to the Gulan Fairies of ancient Starveil Land.

And against such creatures...

There was a chemical even more effective than salt: nicotine extracted from tobacco.

Unfortunately, Corleon had none on him.

"Let me," Reilo offered. Alder nodded.

Reilo took the bag of fine table salt, weighing about five kilograms, cast a Bubble Technique before him, and poured all the salt into the bubble.

He took a deep breath.

As he watched