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Two meters wide, eighteen long!

Now that's a big one. Chase 'em down!

Full speed ahead! Harpoons ready!

Hard to port! Full speed!

Harpoons up! Hey, ho!♪

In the waves the big one rolls!♪

Stomp the planks! Hoist the sails!♪

Drown the high wind's wail!♪

Hey, ho! Up we go!♪

Before the sun sinks low!♪

Wha'cha watching from a corner for, chaval?

Oh, nothing...

Ugh!

Watch yourself. But the shaking is a good thing. Means we're getting close.

Where'd the boss put you? Reeling in the net from here, or joining the hunt in the salts?

Señora Juana won't let me leave the ship.

I don't get it. With your swordhand, you'd be way more useful in the hunt.

She didn't give me any particular job either. Just told me to do whatever I can.

Weird. She's usually so detailed.

Maybe the standards are laxer for the new guy?

I see it!

Finshit... that's a BIG one...

Lower the boat! Don't let it get away!

Wait, it's turning!

Full rudder! It's running into us!

Not in the best mood, big guy? Well, <i>my</i> mood couldn't be better.

Change of plans, Perlita. Javier stays aboard. I'll lead the hunt myself.

But señora, you haven't led a hunt in ages.

Do as I say!

Javier! Come back! Take the helm!

It's too dangerous, señora!

This one's too much for you, Javi. Stay on the ship. I need you to work with me.

Then what should I do?

See that salt reef in the shape of a tongue? Herd it there with salt rounds. I'll handle the rest.

Aye aye.

Full rudder! Hang tight!

The salt ship makes a hard turn to starboard, but not quite quickly enough to avoid brushing against the side of the charging saltfin.

Cold sweat rolls down everyone's backs at the grating sound. Hanging onto a fence for dear life, Isidro looks towards where the sound came from.

He sees a massive saltfin swim past the ship, sending stinging salt grains flying across the deck.

How could a saltfin grow this big?

I thought that last one was the biggest I'd ever see...

No, chaval... Even I've never seen one this big.

What?

We never hunt ones this big, not by choice.

This is loco! We're in way over our heads!

Load! Aim! Fire!

Port broadside! Fire!

Aim for the eyes and nostril! Hitting the shell won't do a damn thing!

Is Señora Juana in position?

Boss! Boss!

She just went down!

You gotta stop the hunt! We're in way over our heads!

And how would we eat tomorrow if we don't hunt today?

What's the matter, Rus?

It's twice as big as any other saltfin. Only the leader of a school could grow this big.

So you'd expect it to have a whole school behind it, but I sure don't see one.

Get to the point, <i>professor</i>.

Either it lost its school, or it was abandoned. Either way, it's mad. Real mad.

Does Señora Juana know about this?

It was <i>her</i> plan.

She's toying with our lives again. If that thing decides to bring us down with it, we're all—

Mm...

Teach...

Señora and the hunting team have already left. It's too late to back down.

Don't let the rest of the crew know. We can't afford a panic.

Keep firing, Javier.

I'd rather die on a hunt today than of starvation in a month.

Boss... Can we really take on this big guy?

Of course. And we'll win.

Wait for it to turn and aim for gaps in its shell! If you can hit the nostril, all the better!

It's coming straight for us!

Row! Hard forward!

Aye aye!

Harpoons ready! ...Now!

Argh!

Good! Keep it up!

It's too strong! I can't hold this rope much longer!

I'm with you!

All hands! Again!

Argh!

Good! Someone hit the nostril!

Hold that rope like your life depends on it!

Hah!

Thirty meters left!

Keep holding on!

Twenty meters!

Ten meters!

We're out of rope!

Just a little more!

It's coming out of the salt layer!

Now! Reel it in!

Juana rides her boat towards the saltfin as the rope is reeled in. Its thick hide has been pierced by dozens of harpoons, blood seeping out from the wounds.

Listening to its heavy, rapid breathing, Juana knows that its life is coming to an end.

She cannot help but place her hand on the massive figure, feeling its life flow out of it little by little, until the saltfin closes its eyes, still raging against the dying of the light with its last breath.

Phew... finally.

We did it!

...Hail the salt ship. Have them come for us.

Aye aye!

Wait!

Look out, señora!