Beneath the Surface

The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Nereus awoke, the soft orange light spilling through the window. His body still ached from the events of the previous night, the weight of the ocean's power leaving him drained.

For a moment, he allowed himself to savor the peaceful quiet, Victor's steady breathing beside him grounding him in the present.But the silence was short-lived.Victor stirred awake, his hand immediately reaching for Nereus, as though making sure he was still there.

His dark eyes opened slowly, and for a brief second, they were softer—unburdened by the constant tension of his dangerous life. But it didn't last long."Morning," Victor murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. "You okay?"Nereus nodded, though his heart was still heavy.

"I'm fine. Just… exhausted."

Victor sat up, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You should rest more. Luca's got everything covered for now."Nereus shook his head. "We can't afford to sit back, Victor. The ocean may be calm, but I can feel it—something is coming."Victor frowned, his expression hardening.

"Trident?"

"Maybe. But I'm not sure it's just them." Nereus's eyes flicked toward the window, the ocean visible in the distance.

"The sea is restless. There's more at play here."Victor stood, pacing the room as his mind worked through the situation. His calm, calculating demeanor had returned, the mafia lord now in full command of his thoughts.

"Then we need to make the first move before they can escalate this. If the sea is reacting, it's because of what Trident's doing. They've pushed too far, and now they're paying for it."Nereus nodded but felt a deep unease settle over him.

It wasn't just Trident. The ancient forces of the ocean, the guardians like the one he had encountered the night before, were starting to stir.

The balance between the land and sea had been disrupted, and it wouldn't be restored easily.Before Nereus could respond, there was a knock at the door. Luca entered, his usual calm mask in place, but there was an edge to his voice.

"Victor, we've intercepted a communication. Trident's making a move—something big."Victor's eyes narrowed. "What are they planning?""They're heading to the docks. Looks like they're bringing in reinforcements. It's more than just a show of force—they're going all in."

Nereus's heart skipped a beat. The docks—so close to the ocean. If Trident was going to escalate the conflict, the sea would react. And this time, it might not hold back.Victor glanced at Nereus, reading the concern on his face.

"We're not letting them get any closer. We stop them at the docks."Luca nodded. "The men are ready. Just say the word."Victor turned to Nereus, his voice softer now.

"You stay here. Let us handle this."Nereus shook his head, his resolve hardening.

"No. If they're going to the docks, the ocean will get involved. I need to be there. I can't let this turn into something we can't control."

Victor's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue. He knew Nereus's connection to the sea was their best chance of preventing further destruction.

"Fine. But stay close to me."

They moved quickly after that. Victor, Nereus, and Luca led a small group of trusted men toward the docks, the tension growing thicker with every step.

As they neared the water, Nereus could feel the pull of the ocean growing stronger, the waves crashing harder against the shore. Something was building—something ancient and powerful.

The docks were a sprawling maze of warehouses and shipping containers, the early morning mist curling around the edges of the harbor. It was quiet—too quiet.

Nereus's senses prickled, the unease in his chest growing with every step.Victor signaled for his men to spread out, their weapons drawn and eyes sharp. Luca moved silently beside him, scanning the area for signs of Trident's forces.

"Where are they?" Victor muttered, his hand resting on the gun holstered at his side.Before anyone could answer, a sharp sound cut through the mist—the unmistakable crack of gunfire.

The ambush had begun.Nereus barely had time to react as bullets whizzed past, the sound of gunfire erupting all around them.

Victor's men sprang into action, returning fire as they took cover behind crates and containers. Nereus's heart raced as he ducked behind a stack of barrels, his pulse pounding in his ears.Victor pulled him close, shielding him with his body.

"Stay down!"

"I can't!" Nereus shouted over the noise. "The ocean—it's reacting!"Victor's eyes flashed with concern, but he didn't have time to argue.

"Do what you have to do. But be careful."Nereus nodded, his heart thundering in his chest as he rose to his feet.

He could feel the ocean's power surging inside him, the waves crashing harder against the docks as if mirroring the violence erupting around them. The pull of the sea was overwhelming, beckoning him to intervene, to stop the madness before it could spread any further.

Closing his eyes, Nereus reached out with his mind, feeling the ocean's currents moving in tandem with his breath. The water responded immediately, rising and falling in rhythm with his will.

He could feel the ocean's anger, its desire to protect itself from the threat that Trident posed.But this time, it wasn't just a guardian from the deep. The entire ocean seemed to be stirring, a force far greater than any one creature.As Nereus focused, the mist began to shift, swirling around him like a living thing.

The sound of gunfire faded into the background as the ocean's power surged, the waves rising higher, crashing against the shore with an almost sentient fury.

Victor, Luca, and the others continued to fight, unaware of the storm building just beyond their line of sight.Suddenly, out of the mist, figures emerged—Trident's reinforcements, heavily armed and ready for war.

But they hadn't counted on the ocean itself becoming their enemy.With a roar, the sea responded to Nereus's call, waves crashing against the docks with such force that the ground shook beneath their feet.

Water surged up from the harbor, pulling Trident's men into its depths, the ocean's wrath unrelenting.Victor's eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold, his grip tightening on his gun.

"Nereus… what are you doing?"

"I'm stopping them," Nereus replied, his voice steady even as the ocean's power coursed through him.

"I won't let them destroy everything."

But the ocean's fury was overwhelming, even for Nereus. The power he had unleashed was beyond his control, the waves threatening to consume not just Trident's forces, but everyone at the docks—including Victor and his men.

"Nereus!" Victor shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"You have to stop!"Nereus's heart raced as he realized the danger.

The ocean was no longer responding to him—it was acting on its own, a force of nature too powerful to be controlled. Desperation surged through him as he fought to regain control, but the ocean was too far gone.

Victor's men were being pulled back, retreating from the docks as the waves continued to rise. The water crashed over everything, sweeping away containers, crates, and the remnants of Trident's forces.

Nereus fell to his knees, his body shaking with the effort to stop the storm he had unleashed.

The ocean roared in his ears, its fury threatening to consume him entirely.And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the waves receded, the storm quieting. The docks were left in ruins, the water slowly retreating back into the sea.

Nereus collapsed, gasping for breath, his body trembling from the exertion. Victor was at his side in an instant, pulling him into his arms.

"You did it," Victor whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "You stopped them."

But as Nereus looked out at the wreckage, the bodies scattered across the docks, he couldn't shake the feeling that something far worse was still coming.

The ocean's power had only just begun to surface—and if he couldn't control it, it would destroy everything he held dear.

Including Victor.