A dark red tentacle snapped the giant golden arm, and the impact sent walls of water rippling across the sea.
Concrete blocks along the breakwater came loose one after another. Several shipping containers slid sideways under the force of the waves, their metal sides scraping against the ground with an ear-piercing screech.
Golden particles fell into the seawater but did not sink.
They rolled with the surf, climbed the breakwater like a layer of moving gold dust, and burrowed through the cracks toward shore.
Bai Zhu steadied himself against a shipping container. He had barely found his footing when the water reached his shoes.
He glanced down, and his expression changed on the spot.
"Go, go, go."
Bai Zhu reached for Piyu.
"Why are we sticking around while those two fight? Waiting to get flattened like cans?"
Piyu did not move. She caught his arm and yanked him back.
Bai Zhu nearly fell and swore through gritted teeth.
"Easy! I'm seriously injured and disabled right now. You couldn't afford to pay for the damage."
Piyu raised a hand and pointed out to sea.
"Look up there."
"What's up there? Money falling from the sky?"
Bai Zhu followed her finger.
The Gatekeeper Giant Squid's round head had risen above the surface, water streaming down the grooves in its skin. A round figure stood straight atop its head.
His back was to the harbor, his coat whipping in the sea wind. Several Mechanical Dragonflies hovered by his feet, red lights blinking at their tails as they broadcast signals in every direction.
Bai Zhu stared for two seconds.
"Milluki?"
The round figure did not turn around.
He stood on the sea monster's head with a terminal in his arms, short legs spread wide, putting everything he had into the pose.
The longer Bai