A week into their voyage, just as the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of deep orange and violet, the ocean suddenly became eerily quiet. The wind ceased, the waves stilled, and an unsettling silence blanketed the ship.
Then, without warning, the water beneath them surged violently.
A massive shadow loomed under the surface, spanning the length of their ship. Before anyone could react, an enormous creature erupted from the depths, launching itself high into the air. The sheer force of its ascent sent waves crashing against the ship, nearly knocking Celestia off her feet.
As they all looked up in shock, the creature's full form was revealed.
The beast was a colossal, serpent-like creature with a body covered in shimmering sapphire scales that reflected the fading sunlight. Its underbelly glowed faintly, pulsating with bioluminescent runes, hinting at some deep, arcane power. Along its back were twisting, fin-like spines that moved fluidly, resembling ocean waves given life. Two massive, translucent fins extended from its sides, aiding in its movement through both air and water.
Its head was adorned with a crown of spiraling horns, and its eyes—deep, abyssal blue—seemed to pierce into the very souls of those who gazed upon them. When it opened its maw, rows of jagged, crystal-like teeth gleamed, and an eerie, resonant hum echoed across the sea—a sound that sent shivers down their spines.
As the creature arced over the ship, its gargantuan tail swung downward, smashing into the water with such force that a towering wave rose behind it, threatening to engulf the ship.
"Shit! Get ready to brace!" Zoan yelled as he grabbed hold of the ship's wheel, trying to steady them.
Celestia's eyes gleamed with intrigue rather than fear. "Now that's something you don't see every day," she muttered before unsheathing her rapier.
Bril, gripping the railing, stared at her. "You're not seriously thinking of fighting a Tide Leviathan, are you?!"
Celestia smirked. "Depends… Is it just passing through, or does it want to play?"
The Tide Leviathan crashed back into the sea, its impact sending tremors through the ship as it released a bone-rattling soundwave. The ocean obeyed its call, twisting into a raging storm as towering waves surged toward the vessel, forming a mini-tsunami that threatened to swallow them whole.
Bril exhaled sharply, unfazed. With a flick of his wrist, white ice spread outward like veins of frost, instantly freezing the incoming waves mid-collapse. Cracks spiderwebbed across the frozen mass before it shattered, cascading harmless shards of water back into the sea.
Zoan smirked, rolling his shoulders as he unsheathed his cutlass. "Tch. This'll be the third time I've run into one of these bastards." He cracked his neck and, without hesitation, dived headfirst into the dark waters below.
Celestia arched a brow. "Is he insane?"
Bril chuckled, stepping onto the ship's railing. "My brother? Oh, he's definitely insane… but there's a reason we're still alive." With that, he jumped in after Zoan, disappearing beneath the surface.
Below the waves, Zoan extended a hand, weaving wind and water magic together to form oxygen bubbles around himself and Bril.
"Here we go," Zoan muttered, tightening his grip on his cutlass as the beast charged.
Celestia leaned over the railing, watching as the two brothers disappeared beneath the raging waves. A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Interesting. These two might be more useful than I thought."
The Tide Leviathan coiled in the depths, its massive, armored body shimmering with bioluminescent runes. Its jagged fins sliced through the water like blades, its maw lined with serrated fangs capable of crushing warships.
With a sweep of Bril's arm, white ice erupted from his fingertips, spreading like vines through the water. The ice attempted to latch onto the Leviathan's body, but the beast's runes flashed, and with a single thrash of its tail, the ice shattered into shards.
A surge of water blasted toward them as the Leviathan whipped its tail, sending a violent underwater shockwave that nearly knocked Zoan off balance. He twisted his body, using wind magic to adjust his momentum, propelling himself sideways just in time to evade a follow-up attack—a razor-sharp fin slicing through the water like a scythe.
Bril's voice was calm but firm. "We need to target the runes."
Zoan nodded, already moving. The Leviathan opened its maw, charging an orb of condensed water, spinning like a whirlpool of pure destruction.
"Not happening." Zoan kicked off a current, forcing his body forward despite the resistance of the sea. His cutlass gleamed, infused with wind magic, allowing him to move faster than any ordinary human underwater. He twisted his wrist, slashing upward toward the glowing rune on the Leviathan's jaw.
The blade struck but barely scratched the beast's scales. The impact sent Zoan tumbling backward, his arm numbed from the force.
The Leviathan roared, releasing a pulse of shockwaves that sent the ocean spiraling into a violent current, tossing both brothers around like ragdolls. Bril gritted his teeth, fighting against the pull of the vortex. He stabbed his hands downwards, and in an instant, a freezing blizzard exploded outward, halting the currents for a split second.
"Zoan, now!"
Zoan spun his cutlass in a reverse grip, then lunged forward. This time, he channeled both wind and water magic, coating his blade in a spiraling current of air pressure. He drove his cutlass straight into the rune.
A deafening screech vibrated through the abyss. The Leviathan thrashed violently, its body twisting in pain. A crack formed in the glowing rune, dimming its light.
Bril rushed in next. He extended both arms, releasing a devastating surge of frost, coating the Leviathan's underbelly in a thick layer of ice. The beast roared again, trying to shatter it, but Bril clenched his fists—reinforcing the ice, locking the creature's movements.
Zoan pushed off the ice, spinning through the water with a sharp exhale. With his cutlass raised, he delivered another strike, plunging the blade straight through the weakened rune.
The Tide Leviathan let out a thunderous wail, the water around it trembling in response. Its massive body twisted violently, swirling torrents of ocean currents into itself before unleashing a devastating surge in all directions. The force shattered the ice instantly, sending shards sinking into the abyss.
Zoan cursed under his breath as he raised a palm, condensing a fierce blast of wind before launching it at the retreating beast. The attack barely made it a few meters before the crushing weight of the ocean swallowed it whole. The Leviathan dove deep, disappearing into the freezing darkness below.
Realizing the chase was futile, Zoan and Bril swam back to the surface, breaking through the waves before climbing back aboard the ship, seawater dripping from their clothes.
"Damn it! It got away." Zoan exhaled sharply, irritation clear in his voice. Yet, neither he nor Bril bore a single wound.
From a distance, Celestia observed them, her sharp emerald gaze studying their every move. "These two… they're strong. I could use them." She thought to herself slowly. A slow, calculated smile formed on her lips.
Bril caught the expression and narrowed his eyes. "What's with that look?"
Her smile vanished in an instant. "I was just pondering for a moment... You two are incredible. Taking on a creature like that and forcing it to flee? I've never even heard of those things before." She chuckled lightly, feigning admiration. "I couldn't see much, but even then, it was… amazing."
Before either of them could question her further, she turned on her heel and walked toward the wheelhouse. Once inside, she settled into a quiet corner, crossing her legs as she activated [Blossom's Breath]. A calming flow of energy coursed through her body as she meditated in silence.
Outside, Zoan and Bril exchanged knowing glances.
Zoan ran a hand through his damp hair, scoffing. "She's hiding something."
"100%." Bril replied calmly.
A few minutes later, the wind picked up, filling the sails as Zoan took the helm. With the sea back in their favor, the ship pressed forward, cutting through the waves as they resumed their course.
Zoan leaned back against the wooden railing near the helm, resting his cutlass against his shoulder as the salty sea breeze washed over him. Bril sat nearby, arms crossed, his sharp eyes watching the waves roll beneath them. For a while, neither of them spoke, the only sounds being the creak of the ship and the occasional call of a distant seabird.
Then, Bril broke the silence. "Alright, out with it."
Zoan glanced at him, raising a brow. "Out with what?"
Bril exhaled through his nose. "You don't trust her." He nodded toward the wheelhouse where Celestia had gone. "You've had that look ever since she asked to board. So tell me—why do you think she really wants to go to Nyxterra?"
Zoan let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll be honest... I'm not sure what to make of her. She claims not to be a noble, but there's something off about her. The way she carries herself, the way she speaks—it's like she's trying too hard to hide it. She doesn't seem that strong either, but she's got something else… a sort of coldness. And that smile when we boarded? That wasn't admiration or awe. No, that was a smile of someone who was sizing us up, calculating something in her mind." He paused, his sharp exhale cutting through the salty air. He looked up, squinting against the sun overhead. "We've been on these seas since we were five, Bril. I know a predator when I see one."
Bril, leaning back casually against the ship's rail, raised an eyebrow. "So what, we throw her overboard, turn the ship around, and head off to wherever we want? It's a free boat after all."
Zoan chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "That's tempting, I'll admit. But we don't even know her name, where she's from... nothing. And here's the thing, Bril—if something happens, if she's not who she says she is, if we piss off the wrong person... We could end up marked as criminals across the entire world. Most of the lands across Cresbel have some ties to Blossom's Bloom. If she's important, we're fucked to say the bare minimal." He paused again, his gaze shifting to the distant rocky cliffs of an island they were passing. His eyes narrowed for a moment, before he turned away, shaking off the feeling.
"So no," he continued, his voice quieter now, "throwing her overboard isn't the answer. Not yet, anyway."
Bril let out a soft grunt, clearly not happy with the answer but understanding. "Guess that means we keep watching her then."
Zoan's lips twisted into a wry smile. "Exactly. Watch, wait, and be ready. We don't know what she's playing at, but we'll figure it out. And when we do... that's when we make our move." He leaned back against the helm, his gaze lingering on the clouds above.