The Grace of Violence

With an explosive surge of aura- Alex, Jaz, and Sol burst through the barrier, launching themselves towards the writhing mass of thick, grotesque tentacles surging at them. 

The air was thick with the stench of brine and blood, the sea churning violently beneath them as the monstrous appendages lashed out with devastating force.

They knew the destructive power behind each strike—having already witnessed the monstrous strength firsthand—but none of them hesitated. Without a shred of fear, they rushed headlong into battle.

Alex took the lead, soaring through the air, his sword still sheathed. He moved like a phantom, twisting mid-air as each incoming tentacle was met with the smooth, controlled push of his scabbard. The force of his deflections, redirected them toward Jaz and Sol.

However, neither flinched.

Jaz's eyes locked onto the pulsating, veined masses of flesh closing in on her. The sickening stench of rotting seawater clung to them. Just as they reached striking range, she unsheathed her long, curved katana, its obsidian blade gleaming ominously in the dim light. 

A twist of her body—a fluid, beautiful zero-shaped circle—was unleashed mid-air.

"Cut Zero" Her whisper carried the weight of certainty.

With a grace, she traced a perfect zero with her blade, spinning through the air. The instant the shape was completed, an invisible slash cleaved through the tentacles around her. 

A chorus of sickening wet slashes filled the air as the severed appendages spasmed and curled, blackened blood gushing from the ragged wounds before they plummeted into the depths below. With the momentum of her motion, she plunged towards the water, seamlessly transitioning into her next move.

Sol, trailing behind, tightened his grip around his sword's hilt. His breath was steady, his eyes wide with focus. The moment the first grotesque limb lunged at him, he reacted.

A swift draw. A gleam of blue. A single slash.

The tentacle was cleanly severed, its massive body writhing before dropping like dead weight. But before Sol could relish the clean execution, another attack came from his blind spot.

His body screamed for movement, and instinct took over.

A second cut, executed flawlessly. The grotesque limb split apart mid-strike, its insides spilling forth like glistening entrails. His heart pounded wildly, the thrill of combat rushing through his veins.

"Hahaha…"

Laughter bubbled from his lips, the sheer rush of battle. But there was no time to revel in it. More came. Many more.

He knew he couldn't cut them all with a single slash—he wasn't at that level yet—but something in him itched to test his limits. To push beyond.

A flicker of curiosity. A spark of challenge.

The excitement mingled with a sharp edge of fear. Failure meant death. And yet, the calmness never left him.

His sword pulsed with energy, radiating a violent yet controlled blue aura. The energy surged through his body, wrapping him in its fierce glow.

"The Grace of Violence"

The words were barely audible, but their impact was devastating.

A whirlwind of violent blue arcs erupted from his blade, the razor-sharp slashes carving through the air like a chaotic storm. The tentacles were caught in the maelstrom—flesh ripping apart, blood spraying in every direction, the scent of iron thick in the air. The grotesque limbs were shredded, their remains plummeting like dismembered corpses into the sea below.

Then—

"Urkkk!!"

Pain. Raw and brutal. It tore through Sol's body like fire, the aftermath of unleashing a technique his body wasn't ready to handle. He clenched his teeth, muscles screaming in agony, yet he refused to falter.

-THWAACKK

A sudden impact. A powerful strike from the depths.

A tentacle slammed into him with bone-crushing force, hurling him upwards. His breath left him in a violent gasp, the world a blur as he twisted through the air.

Another strike came, a relentless follow-up. His instincts screamed, and he barely managed to block the next hit with his sword. The sheer force behind it sent him careening backward.

He fought to regain balance, mid-air, but the same relentless limb still pursued him.

Gritting his teeth, Sol forced his body to react. He twisted in the air, gripping his sword tightly. As the monstrous appendage lunged for him, he met it head-on, driving his blade deep into its thick flesh.

But he wasn't done.

A mischievous grin played on his lips. A reckless idea.

The sword hummed, his aura surging through the sword. Just like during today's training—when he had shattered a wooden sword into pieces using nothing but his aura—he focused everything into this strike. 

In a mere instant—

-BAAAMM!!!

A violent explosion erupted from within the tentacle, sending chunks of muscle and tendons flying. Sol was caught in the blast, his body thrown through the air, his vision flashing white from the deafening impact. He felt the thick, warm splatter of the creature's blood drenching him, the stench of burnt flesh filling his nostrils.

-SCREEEECHHHHH!!!

The ocean bellowed a monstrous scream—raw with agony and fury. Its wail tore through the air, sending shockwaves surging in every direction. Then, the sea convulsed, twisting in a sudden upheaval.

Jaz and Alex were launched from the water, propelled by an unseen force. As they hurtled through the air, their faces bore an expression rarely seen—fear. Pure, unfiltered fear.

Something was down there. Something far worse than the tentacled horror attacking them.

Jaz's heart pounded. Her breath caught in her throat. What the hell was that?

But Alex, still mid-air, was eerily calm. As if he knew.

Before either of them could act, another monstrous limb burst from the ocean, hurtling towards Sol—who was still plummeting, defenseless.

Damn it! Jaz's eyes sharpened,

Helpless, she watched as the massive appendage raced toward him. Sol, still disoriented from the explosion, had no chance to react.

Then—

A golden slash tore through the air, severing the tentacle in an instant.

Yet the monstrosity was relentless. Even as its limb was cut apart, it writhed, regenerating and continuing its pursuit of Sol.

"How persistent" A voice—low, exasperated.

With an effortless flick of his sword, golden slashes erupted, carving the regenerating appendage into countless pieces. The sheer force of the cuts left nothing to regrow.

Dominus stood above them, his blade still humming with the latent power. His golden aura flickered like a smoldering fire.

His eyes locked onto the ocean's depths. 

This fight wasn't over. Not even close.