Unleashing the Tide

Nereus's heart raced as he approached the main hall, his pulse pounding in his ears. Victor stood still, his gun trained on the leader of the Trident, but Nereus could see the tension in his stance.

This was no ordinary standoff.The leader of the Trident exuded a cold, terrifying aura, his eyes gleaming with the cruel confidence of a man who knew he was in control. He was tall and menacing, with broad shoulders and a scar that ran down his cheek.

The room was filled with his armed men, fanning out to cover every exit, their eyes trained on Victor and Nereus."Victor Cassini," the leader said in a voice that was calm and deadly. "You've been a thorn in my side for too long. Hand over the merman, and I'll make this quick for you."Victor didn't flinch. His face was a mask of icy resolve.

"You think you can walk into my home and give orders? You have no idea what you're dealing with."The leader's smile twisted cruelly. "On the contrary, I know exactly what I'm dealing with. That boy—" He pointed toward Nereus, his gaze flickering over him like a predator eyeing its prey.

"—is the key to controlling the most ancient and powerful force on this planet. You've been protecting him, but for what?

You can't keep him hidden forever."Nereus felt the weight of the leader's gaze, the pressure of his words sinking in. He took a step forward, his body humming with the energy he had tapped into earlier, the ocean's power flowing through him.

"I'm not hiding," Nereus said, his voice steady, surprising even himself.

"And I'm not some tool for you to use."The leader chuckled, a dark, hollow sound. "You're young and naïve. The sea doesn't belong to you. It's older than any of us, and with its power in my hands, I will reshape the world."

Victor's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "You'll never get that chance."Before anyone could move, a deafening crack echoed through the hall. Victor fired a shot, hitting one of the armed men square in the chest. Chaos erupted.

Gunfire filled the room as Victor's guards poured in from the sides, clashing with the Trident's forces.Nereus's heart pounded in his chest as he ducked for cover, the sounds of violence all around him. He wasn't built for this—his world had been one of peaceful exploration, not war. But here, now, he knew he couldn't hide.

Victor moved with lethal precision, taking down enemies with a cold efficiency that was both terrifying and mesmerizing. Nereus caught glimpses of him between the chaos, his face hard with determination, every move deliberate. Victor was a man trained for this life, one who had long since accepted its dangers.

But Nereus couldn't stand by and let him fight alone.Gritting his teeth, Nereus reached for the connection he had felt earlier—the energy of the ocean that flowed deep within him. Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he summoned it, the power surging up from the depths of his soul.

When he opened his eyes, he could feel the moisture in the air, the water in the pipes beneath the mansion, the distant pull of the sea miles away. It called to him, and this time, he answered.Raising his hand, Nereus focused on the water all around them, his fingers curling as if he were gripping the currents themselves.

The room seemed to shift as a sudden burst of water shot from the walls, flooding the floor and knocking several of the Trident's men off their feet.The leader of the Trident stumbled, his expression twisting into one of shock. "Impossible…"Nereus took a deep breath, steadying himself.

He wasn't sure how long he could maintain control over the power, but he had to try. His gaze locked onto Victor, who had noticed the shift, his eyes flickering with something Nereus hadn't seen before—pride.

But the leader wasn't done. With a growl, he raised a strange, glowing weapon—a trident of his own, but not made of ordinary metal. It pulsed with energy, ancient and dangerous."I underestimated you," the leader snarled, pointing the weapon at Nereus. "But this ends now."He thrust the trident forward, and a violent surge of power erupted from its tip.

The blast of energy hurtled toward Nereus with terrifying speed, and he barely had time to react.Summoning every ounce of strength, Nereus raised both hands, channeling the ocean's power to form a barrier of water in front of him. The blast collided with the barrier, sending shockwaves through the room.

Nereus felt the strain of it—his knees buckled, and his arms shook with the effort to hold the barrier steady.But he wasn't alone.Suddenly, Victor was beside him, his body pressed close as he fired shot after shot toward the leader, forcing him to retreat.

"I've got you," Victor murmured, his voice low and reassuring. "We'll end this. Together."With Victor's presence grounding him, Nereus found the strength to push back.

He let out a cry as he poured all his energy into the water, sending a wave crashing toward the leader, sweeping him off his feet and slamming him into the far wall.

The room fell into silence.

The Trident's forces, disoriented and overwhelmed, began to retreat. Victor's men pressed forward, securing the mansion as the intruders fled into the night.Nereus collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath, his body trembling from the strain.

Victor knelt beside him, his expression softening as he gently placed a hand on Nereus's shoulder."You did it," Victor said quietly. "You fought back."Nereus nodded weakly, his heart still racing.

"I… I couldn't have done it without you."

Victor smiled, a rare and fleeting thing. "You're stronger than you know."As the last of the Trident's men disappeared into the darkness, Nereus leaned into Victor's presence, exhausted but alive.

The fight wasn't over, but for now, they had won.And they were together.