You are Here

Dominus' golden eyes remained fixed on the ocean's depths, their gleam unwavering like a predator. However, the stillness in his gaze faltered as the water convulsed, a surge of turmoil disturbing the once-calm sea.

"It's here." The words left his lips in a whisper, yet they carried across the air like a cold decree.

And then—

The ocean erupted.

A massive pillar of water burst into the sky, reaching towering heights. The force behind it sent fierce gales tearing through the battlefield, rustling cloaks and rippling through the air. But no one flinched.

All eyes locked onto the monstrous entity rising from the abyss.

"This...?" Jaz's voice trembled as she stared, eyes wide with shock.

From the depths, a monstrous figure emerged. Its grotesque form rose above the surface—an abomination of writhing tentacles, each thick and pulsing with unnatural life. Its skin, a sickly shade of light purple, oozed with putrid slime, filling the air with an unbearable stench. Blood-red eyes, slit with elongated black pupils, gleamed with raw pain and fury. The weight of its presence thickened the atmosphere, tension creeping into the bones of those who bore witness.

.

.

.

Above the waves, Sol barely regained control of his mind, gasped for breath as his mind spinning.

"What happe—"

His thoughts shattered as gravity yanked him downward, the ocean rushing up to swallow him whole.

"Shit!"

Then—

A sudden crack.

A thick layer of ice materialized beneath him, solidifying just as he was about to plunge into the sea. He landed, stumbling slightly before steadying himself on the ice platform.

What—?

Before he could process what had happened—

A shadow loomed over him. Instinctively, he tilted his head up in confusion but the realization struck like lightning.

A massive tentacle - Descending.

—BAAAMMM!

A monstrous appendage crashed into the water where he had stood just moments ago, sending a colossal wave roaring through the battlefield. But Sol was no longer there.

His eyes snapped open—he was moving.

No—he was surfing!

Beneath his feet, the ice surged forward, slicing through the waves with precision. His breath caught as he found himself riding across the surface of the ocean, gliding with unnatural speed.

The ocean roared around him, its waves rising and falling in a rhythmic dance. Cold air brushed against his skin, the salty tang of the sea invading his senses. The world felt surreal—the azure waves reflecting the sky above, the rhythmic undulation of water beneath him.

For a fleeting moment, he was mesmerized.

Then he saw it.

A few feet away, Alex stood on another ice formation, his hand glowing with a pale, ethereal energy. The block of ice beneath Sol smoothly carved its way through the water, guided by Alex's power.

Then the movement stopped. The ice platform slid to a halt beside two figures—Alex and Jaz. As Sol's shock faded, excitement bubbled in his chest.

"That was amaz—"

"Keep your eyes on the battle." Jaz's voice cut through his words, sharp and unwavering.

His excitement died instantly.

Something in her tone made his stomach clench. Following her gaze, his eyes traced the battlefield—and his stomach dropped.

The full, monstrous form of the creature loomed before them, its grotesque appendages slithering through the air, preparing to strike. A cold sweat trickled down Sol's spine.

Fear gripped him, a raw and primal terror crawling up his spine. This was nothing like the battles he had trained for—nothing like the duels or sparring matches he'd endured.

This was something else. It was the first time he had ever faced something so utterly terrifying. His throat felt dry.

"V-Vice Captain...This monster... We have to kill it?"

His voice wavered, fear laced in his words. But even as he spoke, something within him shifted. The fear in his chest no longer felt suffocating. It didn't vanish—it transformed. His grip on his sword tightened.

"....." Alex didn't respond.

His emerald eyes, narrowed with calculation, remained fixed on the monster. But his mind was elsewhere—still replaying the vision he had seen beneath the waves.

Something was wrong. Something was missing. His instincts screamed at him. He moved his gaze toward where Dominus had stood just moments ago. However - 

Nothing - No Dominus. No ship.

His breath caught. His heart pounded as the realization took hold.

Alex's hands clenched into fists. The pieces didn't fit together, but his instincts whispered an unsettling truth.

This isn't just a coincidence.

The monster's sudden appearance.

Its unnatural ability to disappear.

The mysterious figure below.

"Vic..."

Dominus' abrupt absence.

Something larger was at play.

"...ptain"

The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. But even amidst the chaos—his heart remained calm.

"Vice Captain!"

Sol's voice yanked Alex from his thoughts.

His eyes flicked to his students—Jaz, standing firm with unwavering resolve, and Sol, his body tense but his grip steady. As The monster's attack was upon them.

The tentacles lunged toward them with terrifying speed, muscles rippling as they prepared to strike. Sol had already drawn his sword, his grip tight with newfound resolve. And Jaz - she stood firm.

For a moment, Alex simply observed them. And that was when Alex realized.

Then, in a quiet voice that cut through the tension—

"That's not like you."

Jaz blinked, startled by the sudden remark.

"Huh?"

Alex pointed at the incoming attack.

"If you wanted to, you could've already taken care of this monster. And now the attack is coming— you're not doing anything....why haven't you moved?"

"Because you're here." Jaz's response was immediate.

The simple, unwavering answer left Alex momentarily speechless.

His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Before he could respond—

The attack hit. Or at least—it should have.

Instead—

-Splush! -Splush! -Splush!

The monstrous tentacles—so thick and powerful—were severed mid-air.

Purple blood exploded across the battlefield, gushing into the sea. The once-blue waters turned dark, tainted by the creature's lifeblood. Severed muscle and flesh rained down, sinking into the depths below.

Sol's breath hitched.

What just—?

He had barely blinked. And yet—before his eyes—the appendages had been cut apart with terrifying precision and speed.

The sheer brutality of the strike sent chills racing through him.

And yet—something within him stirred.

Awe. A deep, burning awe.

A power like this… it was beyond anything he had ever imagined.

The creature let out a bloodcurdling scream.

-SCREEEEEEEEECHHHH!!

Its agonized wail echoed across the battlefield, reverberating through the air, shaking the very waters beneath them.

But Alex—He stepped forward.

Beneath his feet, the ocean froze once more, forming a solid path of ice as he walked toward the howling monster. His expression remained unreadable, but his green eyes glowed with quiet intensity.

His voice barely a whisper.

"Yes... I'll be waiting."

And as he stepped closer—a distant memory surfaced.