Gate of disaster (26)

The stone giant lumbered toward me, its massive form breaking through the shallows with a deliberate pace that exuded menace. Each step sent tremors through the riverbank, and I felt the vibrations crawling up my legs. Its glowing red eye locked onto me, burning with a malevolence that made it clear this thing wasn't just some mindless brute.

No, it was hunting me. And I wasn't about to give it the satisfaction of an easy kill.

I kept moving, my feet splashing lightly in the shallow water as I backed deeper into the river. My mind raced, dissecting its every move. Its steps were heavy but purposeful, not clumsy. That thing wasn't slow—it was just conserving energy, like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike. A part of me almost admired its cunning.

Almost.

My plan was simple: drown it. Or at least stall it long enough to slip away. I doubted it needed oxygen—something made of stone probably didn't care about breathing—but water pressure was another story. If I could lure it deeper into the river, the crushing force might slow it down, maybe even damage it. And if not, at least I'd have the advantage in my element.

But first, I had to survive long enough to get it there.

The giant moved faster than I expected, its massive stone fist swinging toward me in a wide arc. I dove sideways, barely avoiding the strike as the shockwave of its impact sent water and debris exploding into the air. The riverbed cracked beneath its blow, jagged fissures spiderwebbing out from the point of impact.

"Shockwave," I muttered under my breath, already piecing together its abilities. That wasn't just brute strength—it was a skill. One that could disrupt the flow of water around us. A problem, but not an insurmountable one.

I rose to my feet, extending my hand toward the river. The water stirred in response, rising up in swirling tendrils around me. It wasn't like before when I was simply a Child of Water, asking the element to assist me. No, this was different. Now, as its Master, the water bent to my will. It wasn't a request—it was a command.

The first wave struck the giant with the force of a battering ram, slamming into its chest and pushing it back a step. A second wave followed, crashing against its legs and throwing it off balance. The river became a weapon, a swirling maelstrom that answered my every thought.

But the giant wasn't idle. Its massive foot stomped down, and the ground beneath us rumbled. The water around it rippled violently as another shockwave erupted, breaking apart my attack and forcing me to retreat a few paces. I gritted my teeth, pouring more mana into the river. The currents surged again, this time with greater force, wrapping around the giant's limbs like liquid chains.

For a moment, I thought I had the upper hand. And then it used its second skill.

The riverbed erupted around us as jagged stone spires shot upward, slicing through the water and tearing apart my bindings. One nearly grazed me as I dodged, its sharp edge slicing a thin line across my cheek. The giant advanced, its massive fists smashing through the spires and sending shards of stone flying in every direction.

I narrowed my eyes, adjusting my strategy. The landscape skill gave it control of the terrain, but it was also a double-edged sword. The more it reshaped the riverbed, the less stable the ground beneath it became. I could use that.

Keeping my movements light, I darted to the side, guiding the water to create an illusion of vulnerability. The currents swirled around me, forming defensive barriers that I allowed the giant to shatter with each attack. It thought it was gaining ground, but in reality, I was drawing it deeper into the river with every step.

I glanced toward the surface, noting how the light grew dimmer as we descended. The deeper we went, the greater the water pressure became. I could feel it building around us, a silent force that pressed against my skin. For me, it was nothing—a natural extension of my mastery over water. But for the giant, it was a weight it couldn't ignore.

It roared in frustration, its red eye glowing brighter as it activated its third skill. Eye of Corruption.

The water around me shifted unnaturally, solidifying into something thick and heavy. Cement. I tried to move, but the viscous substance clung to me, dragging me down. My arms and legs felt like they were encased in lead, every movement a struggle.

The giant advanced, its glowing eye fixed on me. It raised a massive fist, ready to crush me where I stood.

"Clever," I muttered, forcing a smirk despite the pressure constricting my chest. "But not clever enough."

I focused, channeling my mana into the river. The water around me responded, surging against the corruption and breaking apart the cement-like substance. It wasn't easy—the giant's skill was powerful—but I could feel the tide turning. With each passing moment, the water grew more attuned to my will, flowing as if it were an extension of my body.

The giant hesitated, its glowing eye flickering as it registered the shift. It raised its fist again, but this time, I was ready. The water surged upward, forming a barrier that caught the blow and redirected the force. The giant stumbled, its balance faltering as the pressure of the river began to take its toll.

I didn't wait for it to recover. Pouring everything I had into the river, I unleashed a torrent of water that struck the giant with enough force to push it back several paces. The currents wrapped around its limbs, dragging it deeper into the river's depths.

It fought back, of course. Shockwaves and jagged spires of stone erupted around us, each one more desperate than the last. But the deeper we went, the more sluggish its movements became. The water pressed against it from all sides, a relentless force that even its stone body couldn't withstand.

I could see the strain in its movements, the cracks forming along its rocky exterior. Its glowing eye flickered again, dimming slightly as the pressure continued to mount. For the first time since the fight began, I felt a flicker of hope.

But hope was a dangerous thing.

I couldn't let my guard down—not yet. Not until I was sure it couldn't follow me.

The river grew darker as we descended, the light from the surface barely reaching us now. The giant's movements slowed further, each step a laborious effort that sent ripples through the water. It wasn't defeated, but it was struggling. And that was enough.

For now.

I let the currents carry me farther down, my golden eyes fixed on the giant as it continued to sink. Its glowing red eye met mine, a flicker of defiance still burning in its depths.

There was something behind that gaze—something sinister and unyielding. A part of me wondered if it was truly alive, or if it was simply a vessel for something far darker.

I didn't have the luxury of finding out. Not yet.

As the pressure of the river continued to crush down on the giant, I allowed myself a single thought: Survive.

And then I turned, letting the currents carry me away into the river's depths.