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.

giant like Blue Blue, a quick kill was out of the question. Provoking it would only lead to disaster. After much deliberation, Stella decided to take the

sub and slowly

Cooper stayed inside, while Stella and Jasper took a

Blue surfaced alongside them, revealing the harpoon embedded in its back, about 20 centimeters

wasn't from their sub. Whoever attacked Blue Blue

"Even if some submariners were desperate

single whale could

succeeded in hunting Blue Blue, they wouldn't worry about meat for

to Jasper, and they paddled toward Blue

for a good ten minutes. Only when it sensed no harm did

rush to remove the harpoon. Instead, she gently stroked Blue Blue, hoping to establish trust before attempting to remove the embedded

substance began

with surprise, then

was a mother,

was the

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

the harpoon in Blue Blue's back, Stella

minutes of gentle touching, Blue Blue moved even

Blue Blue flinched in pain

even a slight movement could

trying to help,

and Jasper embraced the harpoon again and gave

Blue Blue let out a pained cry that resonated

Stella could feel her ears ringing,

struggled to keep it from

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

spray reached over ten meters high, and as sunlight hit the dispersing mist, a rainbow

gaped in amazement. "Is

was incredulous.

the water as if to express gratitude, inadvertently sending the dinghy drifting further away