Chapter 12: Into the Deep

Lorigna was unlike any city Samuel had ever seen. Built entirely on the water, its wooden platforms and bridges connected homes and shops that floated above the vast sea. The waves beneath them rocked the city gently, but there was an unease in the air. People walked with hurried steps, glancing at the ocean as if something might rise from its depths at any moment.

Samuel and his party stood near the central dock, where guards kept watch over the damaged ships. Jason, standing beside Samuel, crossed his arms and sighed.

"I know you killed that snake beast," Jason said, looking at Samuel with a serious expression. "That was impressive. But you're still just seventeen. So, leave the rest to me, okay?"

Samuel's eyes narrowed. "I don't need to be protected. I can handle myself."

Jason smirked. "I'm not saying you're weak, but this mission is different. The leviathan isn't like that land beast. This thing lives in the ocean. It's faster, stronger, and it knows the waters better than we do. We need to be smart."

Elaine, who had been quietly listening, stepped between them. "We're a team. No one needs to fight alone."

Sylvia nodded. "Jason, you don't need to take everything on yourself either. We all have skills to bring to the table."

Jason sighed and shook his head. "Fine. But if things get bad, don't hesitate to fall back. I've fought sea beasts before. I know what I'm doing."

Samuel still didn't like Jason's attitude, but he let it go for now. They had bigger things to deal with.

---

Searching for the Leviathan

The first step in their mission was finding a ship that could take them deep enough into the ocean to locate the leviathan. Marianne, who had been asking around, returned with some information.

"There's a ship called Ala. It belongs to a sailor named Captain Roan. He's one of the few left who are still willing to go out to sea."

Elaine looked concerned. "Why would he risk it when everyone else is too afraid?"

"Because he's stubborn," Marianne replied. "And because he lost his son to the leviathan. He wants revenge."

Samuel clenched his fist. "Then we should talk to him."

They made their way through the city, following Marianne's directions. The Ala was docked at the farthest edge of the port. It was a sturdy ship, though the damage on its sides showed that it had already faced the leviathan once before.

Captain Roan stood on the deck, arms crossed. He was a tall man with graying hair, deep scars on his face, and sharp, focused eyes. As the group approached, he watched them carefully.

"You're the ones the King sent?" he asked.

Samuel nodded. "We need a ship to find the leviathan. We heard you're the only one willing to go out there."

Roan scoffed. "Not willing. Just desperate." He stepped down from the deck, facing Samuel directly. "My son went out to sea a month ago. His ship never came back. I know it was the leviathan that took him."

Samuel didn't know what to say. He understood Roan's pain, but revenge wouldn't bring his son back. Still, if Roan was determined, then they would have to work together.

"We'll help you kill it," Samuel said. "But we need to be careful. We don't know how strong it is."

Roan nodded. "I'll take you out to the last place my son's ship was seen. But after that, you're on your own. I'm not dying for this."

Jason smirked. "Fair enough. Just get us close enough, and we'll handle the rest."

With that, they boarded the Ala and prepared to set sail.

---

The Voyage Begins

The next morning, they set out before sunrise. The ocean was calm, but the silence felt unnatural. As the ship moved farther from the city, the sky turned a dull gray, and the air grew colder.

Roan stood at the helm, eyes fixed on the horizon. "This is where the last ship was seen," he said. "If the leviathan's still around, it won't be long before it shows itself."

Samuel and the others stood ready. Jason held his sword, while Elaine and Marianne prepared their magic. Sylvia stayed near the ship's edge, scanning the water.

Hours passed, and nothing happened. The tension grew with every minute. Then, just as the sun began to set, something changed.

The ocean, once still, started to ripple. The waves grew larger, and the ship rocked dangerously.

Then, a low, deep sound echoed through the air.

A roar.

The water beneath them swirled, forming a massive whirlpool. From the depths, a shadow rose—larger than any creature Samuel had ever seen.

The leviathan had arrived.

---

The Battle Begins

The creature's massive body broke through the surface, sending waves crashing against the ship. It had dark, scaled skin, long, twisting tendrils, and glowing red eyes.

Jason cursed. "That thing is huge!"

Roan tried to steady the ship. "If you have a plan, do it now! We won't last long!"

Samuel summoned his dragon spirit. The golden energy flared around him, forming the shape of a massive dragon behind him. He raised his hand, ready to attack.

But the leviathan was faster than expected.

A massive tendril shot out, wrapping around the ship's mast and pulling. The wood creaked, ready to snap.

"Marianne! Cut it off!" Samuel shouted.

Marianne unleashed a blade of wind magic, slicing through the tendril. The creature roared in pain, pulling back.

Jason leaped forward, slashing at another tendril that reached for the ship. "We need to push it back before it destroys us!"

Elaine and Sylvia combined their magic, sending a wave of fire and ice toward the leviathan. The attack struck, but the creature barely flinched.

"It's too strong!" Elaine gasped.

Samuel knew they had to do something drastic. He closed his eyes and reached out—not to tame the leviathan's body, but its soul.

A surge of power rushed through him. He could feel the creature's essence, its rage and pain.

"Samuel, what are you doing?!" Jason shouted.

"I'm taming it," Samuel replied. "But not the way you think."

The moment stretched. The air around them grew heavy. Then, suddenly, the leviathan stopped moving. Its red eyes flickered.

It had been tamed.

The group stood in stunned silence as the massive beast slowly backed away. It let out a low, rumbling sound before disappearing beneath the waves.

Samuel exhaled, feeling drained. He had done something no one had ever done before.

He had tamed a leviathan's soul.

The ocean was quiet again. The massive leviathan Samuel had tamed had disappeared beneath the waves, leaving only the wrecked ship and the stunned faces of his team.

Jason was the first to break the silence. "You… you just controlled it. How is that possible?"

Samuel steadied his breathing. "I didn't tame its body. I tamed its soul. I think that means I can control it now."

Roan, still gripping the ship's wheel, wiped sweat from his brow. "Unbelievable. I've never heard of something like this."

Elaine stepped closer, concern in her voice. "Are you okay? That must have taken a lot of energy."

Samuel nodded. "I'm fine, but we need to—"

Before he could finish, a sudden tremor shook the ship.

The water around them churned violently, and the sky darkened as a massive shape rose from the depths.

A second leviathan.

This one was even larger than the first. Its body gleamed in the dim light, covered in thick, jagged scales. It let out a deafening roar, its glowing red eyes locking onto the ship.

Then, without warning, it struck.

A powerful tendril slammed into the Ala, splitting the deck in half. The ship groaned under the force, and in an instant, the entire vessel shattered.

Wood splintered. Water rushed in.

Samuel and his team were thrown into the sea.

Sinking into Darkness

Samuel hit the water hard, the force knocking the air from his lungs. The salty ocean filled his mouth as he struggled to orient himself. Around him, pieces of the Ala floated aimlessly, the wreckage proof of the leviathan's power.

He saw Elaine and Marianne clinging to a piece of wood, their eyes wide with fear. Jason surfaced nearby, gasping for air. Sylvia coughed, struggling to keep afloat.

And then—beneath them—a shadow moved.

The second leviathan was circling.

Samuel gritted his teeth. They were vulnerable in the water. They had no ship, no ground to stand on. If the creature attacked now, they wouldn't survive.

But then, something else stirred in the deep.

The first leviathan—the one Samuel had tamed—emerged from below. Its massive form surged through the water, coming to a stop beside them. Unlike before, its eyes no longer burned with wild rage. It was waiting.

Samuel understood.

Since he had tamed the soul, he now had control over the body.

"Everyone, get on!" he shouted.

Elaine hesitated. "What?"

"The leviathan—get on its back!"

Jason looked at him like he was crazy, but when the second leviathan roared and surged toward them, there was no time to argue. One by one, they grabbed onto the massive creature, pulling themselves onto its slippery scales.

Samuel climbed up last, gripping one of the ridges on its back.

Then, he focused.

The connection was there. He could feel it—the pulse of the leviathan's soul within him. He had never controlled something this massive before, but he had no choice.

"Go," he commanded.

And it obeyed.

The tamed leviathan lunged forward, charging at its wild counterpart.

---

Clash of Titans

The two leviathans collided with a force that shook the ocean. The impact sent shockwaves through the water, creating massive waves that rocked the floating debris.

The wild leviathan snapped its massive jaws, trying to bite down on them. But Samuel's leviathan twisted, dodging the attack.

Samuel gripped its back tightly, feeling every movement as if it were his own. He wasn't just commanding it—he was connected to it.

"Strike now!" he ordered.

The tamed leviathan responded instantly, slamming its tail into the wild one's side. The enemy beast roared in pain, thrashing violently.

Jason unsheathed his sword. "If we don't take this thing down now, it'll just keep attacking!"

Elaine held onto the leviathan's scales for balance. "How do we even hurt something this big?"

Samuel narrowed his eyes. "We find its weak spot."

The wild leviathan lunged again, its tendrils whipping through the water. Samuel's leviathan dodged, but it was slower than before. The battle was taking its toll.

Then, Samuel felt it—a pulse of energy deep within the beast he controlled. It was something new, something raw.

A hidden power.

He didn't fully understand it, but he had no time to hesitate. He focused, reaching into the connection he had with the leviathan's soul.

And then—power surged through him.

The tamed leviathan's body glowed faintly. Its eyes sharpened, its movements growing faster.

Samuel gasped. "I can enhance it…"

Jason's eyes widened. "You're making it stronger?"

Samuel nodded. "I think I can push it beyond its limits."

He guided the leviathan forward. With a speed that shocked even him, the beast lunged, wrapping its massive tendrils around the wild leviathan's neck.

The enemy roared, thrashing violently. But Samuel's leviathan squeezed tighter, its power surging.

Then—one final strike.

Samuel gave the command. The tamed leviathan opened its massive jaws and bit down, sinking its teeth into the wild leviathan's throat.

A deafening shriek echoed across the ocean.

Blood filled the water.

The wild leviathan spasmed once. Then, its massive body went still.

The battle was over.

Silence.

The ocean, once wild and chaotic, was now eerily calm. The waves carried the broken remains of the Ala, but Samuel and his team remained safe on the back of their leviathan.

Samuel let out a long breath, releasing his grip on the beast's soul. The glow in its body faded, but it remained still, awaiting his next command.

Jason whistled. "That… was insane."

Elaine wiped the water from her face. "I can't believe that just happened."

Marianne laughed weakly. "We just rode a leviathan into battle."

Samuel, exhausted, leaned forward against the creature's back. He had never felt anything like that before. Controlling the leviathan had been overwhelming, but also… natural.

Roan, who had somehow survived the wreck, floated nearby on a piece of wood. He coughed and shook his head. "You kids are something else."

Samuel turned to the others. "We need to get back to Lorigna."

Sylvia pointed at the city, now visible in the distance. "We're not far. We can ride the leviathan back."

Samuel nodded and gave the command. The beast turned, swimming toward the city at an incredible speed.

As they approached, the people of Lorigna gathered at the docks, eyes wide in shock as they saw what they were riding.

They had won.

But Samuel knew this was only the beginning.

He had tamed the soul of a leviathan.

And now, he had to figure out what that meant.