READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 27: Mythigram Live
My desk was unusually lively today—or more accurately, flooded with stacks of angry letters, complaints, and some pretty creative insults.
Seriously, the creativity in these letters was impressive. "Kraken's a menace!" one said. "Destroyer of sandcastles!" read another. And my personal favorite— "A walking disaster with tentacles, and no sense of boundaries."
I tried to focus on the Mythigram feed projected on a large crystal screen in front of me, but the barrage of red notification dots blinking across the screen made my eye twitch. The trolls had really come out of the woodwork since OK's "apology" video went live.
"Let's see," I muttered, scrolling through the latest comments. "'Wave-wash'? Really? And—oh, wonderful. Somebody's selling anti-Kraken bumper stickers now. They say, 'Save Beaches, Not Breakers.'"
I glanced over my shoulder to see OK on a video call with me, his tentacle scratching his massive head. His wide eyes took in the pile of papers stacked up in my office, each one carrying complaints and demands for restitution.
The backlash had been brutal. It wasn't like I didn't understand their frustration, but it was getting... personal.
"Wait, they really hate my umbrellas that much?" OK sounded hurt, looking at the little Kraken-proof umbrella prototype on my desk. "I thought the Kraken-proofing was genius! It's supposed to block out splash and everything!"
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "OK, it wasn't just the umbrellas, but… you gotta admit, the apology didn't land well. We might need something with a bit more heart and a lot less… Kraken-proof merchandise."
OK's tentacles drooped, his usual gleam of enthusiasm fading. "Heart, huh? How do I… show people my heart? You know I just wanted to dance, right? I didn't know I'd be… sending waves halfway to Olympus."
I could see where this was going: he genuinely didn't get how his 50-foot waves had ruined people's beach days. OK was just a Kraken who loved to groove. And yet, he was also Mythica's accidental natural disaster.
"We need to make a real impact," I said, straightening up. "Something that shows you're not just… you know, a walking tsunami. We need Mythica to see the real you, OK."
"The real me?" He blinked down at me, clearly puzzled. "I just thought the real me was… a Kraken who likes a good beat."
It was time for a new plan.
---
Later that evening, in my apartment, I prepared for what might be one of the most bizarre and high-stakes PR events I'd ever been a part of.
Mythica's most famous influencer—and its sharpest gossiper—was readying himself for the show. Perez the Dragon.
He wasn't just known for his commentary— he was legendary for the drama he brought to Mythica's social media scene.
With Fiona's connections, I managed to get in touch with him to help stage a livestream for OK. Perez immediately remembered me as "the rookie with the flying buggy"—the one who nearly broke Mythica's internet. Thanks to him, my overnight fame wasn't exactly the good kind.
Today, he was in his humanoid form, wearing a striking suit of deep violet that shimmered like dragon scales in the studio lights.
His dragon traits, however, were unmistakable. Black, gleaming horns spiraled back from his forehead, and his eyes retained a sharp, reptilian gleam that promised no mercy for anyone caught in his fiery spotlight.
His nails, more claw-like than human, tapped rhythmically on his chair as he adjusted his posture with an air of grand theatrics.
"And we're live, darling Mythica!" Perez trilled, flashing a smile that showed a hint of fang.
"Tonight, we have a very special guest joining us—well, as close as he can get from his current… grounded status. Please welcome the one, the only—OK, the Kraken with a knack for making waves. Let's hope tonight's waves are purely metaphorical!"
The screen split, and there was OK, appearing from his underwater palace in full view. The Kraken looked unusually subdued, clearly out of his element in the regal underwater chamber, where he was flanked by two curt, stern-looking titan servants.
They stood at either side with crossed arms, making sure their charge remained as grounded as his new situation required.
They must be checking if OK would spontaneously break into some impromptu dance moves or something, I mused to myself at the thought. Wouldn't put it past him.
Perez tilted his head, adjusting his horned profile for maximum effect as he looked toward OK's side of the screen. "OK, darling, look at you! Grounded and live from what might be Mythica's swankiest underwater palace. How are we feeling tonight, Kraken?"
OK's tentacle gave a little wave, and he mumbled, "Uh, hi, everyone. It's… been an experience." He cast a quick, cautious glance at the servants, who merely nodded stiffly in return.
"An experience," Perez echoed, arching a brow beneath his horned crown. "Well, aren't you modest? Mythica, our Kraken here has been through some… well, let's call them 'crashing waves of self-reflection.' So, tell us, OK. Do you have any regrets about your, shall we say, impact on the coast?"
OK looked as if he was choosing his words with care. "Yeah, I… I do regret it," he admitted, giving the servants an apologetic look. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. I was just trying to… dance, you know?"
Perez tapped his chin thoughtfully, his claw-like nails glinting under the lights. "Oh, honey, we all want to dance. It's just that some of us don't quite make it a national hazard." He winked at the audience, who responded with a flood of laughing emojis.
"Now, viewers!" Perez declared, turning to the screen with a devilish grin, his horns catching the light. "Keep those comments coming! Mythica wants the real, the raw, and the unfiltered truth tonight. Let's see what you've got for our tentacled guest."
Within seconds, questions flooded in from viewers.
"Is this apology just for the cameras?"
"What's his next move?"
"Can he even control those 'moves'?"
Perez glanced at the feed, his dragon eyes gleaming as he turned back to OK. "The people want to know— Is this for real, darling? Or are you just saying what the merfolk council wants you to say?"
OK shifted nervously, his gaze flitting between Perez and his attendants. "No, it's real. I get it now, the, um… 'impact' I've had. I want to do better, and I've started, uh, classes to help me be more… responsible."
One of the servants on OK's right nodded approvingly, a rigid smile on his face, while Perez gave the camera a knowing smirk.
"Well, well, looks like the Kraken's on his best behavior," Perez murmured. "But tell me, OK, what does 'responsible' mean to someone who, let's be honest, takes up half the ocean?"
OK looked down, his voice barely above a whisper. "It means learning how to be part of Mythica… without causing a disaster."
Perez softened his gaze, just a little. "Aww, sweetie, the real question is whether Mythica believes in second chances. Everyone in the comments, tell us—do we buy it?"
Hearts and thumbs-up icons burst onto the screen, mixed with skeptical faces and a few question marks. Perez chuckled, his horns gleaming as he skimmed through the comments.
"We've got our first caller!" Perez announced, clapping his clawed hands together as a new face popped onto the screen.
A grumpy-looking pixie with a frown as big as her wings glared at OK. "Rosey from the Pixie Dust Company! Rosey, honey, hit us with your take."
Rosey pointed accusingly at OK, her wings flapping with agitation. "Listen, Kraken, I've heard it all before. Apologies are nice, but what about all the beach damage? You can't just Kraken-proof every beach in Mythica!"
OK's tentacles curled in embarrassment, and he gave an apologetic shrug. "Um, I'm working on some new solutions… like Kraken-friendly areas and, uh, those umbrellas I've been making."
He held up one of his inventions—a gaudy, green umbrella that looked like it could withstand a minor hurricane.
Perez's mouth fell open in mock horror, his horns arching dramatically. "Oh, sweetie, I don't think she meant umbrellas! But it's the thought that counts… maybe."
The comments exploded in laughter emojis, and OK chuckled, his massive shoulders visibly relaxing a little.
Perez tapped his chin, his gaze turning serious as he tilted his head to study OK. "Now, Kraken, let's dig a bit deeper, shall we? We've heard the apologies, but what would you say to all those Mythicans who still see you as a menace?"
OK's expression softened, his tentacles lowering. "I know it's hard for people to see me as anything but, well, dangerous. But I just… I love to dance, and sometimes, it's the only way I know to feel like I'm part of something bigger than me. I'm just trying to find my place here in Mythica, like everyone else."
A hush fell over the comment feed as Perez's usually skeptical expression shifted to one of almost sympathetic understanding.
"Well, there you have it, folks. The Kraken has a heart. Who knew?" He winked at the camera, giving a sly smile. "The real question, Mythica, is whether you believe him. Let us know—poll's up now!"
As the feed flooded with replies, and the audience debated whether or not they could forgive a giant dancing Kraken, I leaned back in my chair, feeling a bit of weight lift from my shoulders. OK was on his way, and maybe, just maybe, Mythica was ready to forgive him.