18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 430

A Cry for Help?

Well, that made sense.

barnacles.

Every creature's got a spirit, and whales are some of the gentlest giants of the ocean. We've heard plenty of stories about them seeking human help when they're in a tight spot-like getting caught in fishing nets or ropes, or when their bodies are riddled with painful Blue Blue circled our submarine, letting out plaintive cries.

Had our casual scratching actually formed some sort of bond?

Stella found herself in quite the dilemma. Blue Blue was massive, and with its mutation, getting close was no small feat. Pulling out that harpoon? That could easily result in us becoming a quick snack.

Blue Blue's relentless and increasingly forceful battering made it clear-it needed help, or things could get ugly.

Stella quickly did the math. The sub's top speed was 30 knots, while a normal blue whale cruised at around 20 kilometers per hour, with sprints reaching up to 50 km/h. The speeds were close, but the mutation threw a wrench in the works.

No one was keen on risking their lives, so Stella and Jasper made a unanimous decision: run for it.

They cranked the power to the max and bolted.

The three of them, plus their dog, crossed their fingers that maybe, just maybe, Blue Blue wouldn't follow.

But reality had other plans.

Not only did Blue Blue catch up, but it was even faster than they'd feared.

When 2688 veered left, Blue Blue followed suit. When 2688 turned right, the whale mirrored its movements. An hour into the chase, Blue Blue showed no signs of letting up.

Stella was at her wits' end. "What do we do now?"

Jasper frowned. "Maybe we should help it get that thing out?"

If they kept this up, the injury would worsen, possibly provoking the whale into a violent rage, and tearing the sub to pieces.

just spears and harpoons. But against a giant like Blue Blue, a quick kill was

halted the sub

and Cooper stayed inside, while Stella and Jasper

harpoon embedded in its back, about 20 centimeters wide. How deep it

harpoon wasn't from their sub. Whoever attacked Blue Blue wasn't

were desperate for food, wouldn't they go after

single whale could

the apocalypse, a standard sub crew numbered around 40. If they succeeded in hunting Blue Blue, they wouldn't worry about meat for years. But how

to Jasper, and

Only when it

gently stroked Blue Blue, hoping to establish trust before attempting to

she did, a milky substance began to seep into

reacted with surprise,

Blue was a mother,

where was

mother whale's protection, a calf wouldn't typically fall prey to other

the harpoon in Blue Blue's back, Stella guessed it had likely been

several minutes of gentle touching, Blue Blue

Jasper gripped the harpoon firmly. Blue Blue flinched in pain at the touch and began to

movement could cause countless waves, nearly flipping

trying to help, as

Jasper embraced the harpoon

Blue Blue let out a pained cry that resonated powerfully through the

in place, Stella could feel her ears ringing,

to keep it from falling into the

down into the depths, only to surface again, shooting a column of water high into the

and as sunlight hit the

amazement.

was incredulous. "Seems

Blue Blue playfully rolled in the water as if to express gratitude, inadvertently sending the