Chapter 26: Kael Is Back
The massive beast hovers above the village, casting a shadow that darkens the already dim waters. Its maw opens, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth. It moves with terrifying purpose, coiling its massive body as if preparing for a final, devastating strike. Every villager knows what's coming. The beast is going to dive, destroy everything in one go, and they are powerless to stop it.
Korin stands frozen, his grip on his spear slack. Around him, the hunters who moments ago fought with desperate hope now stand paralyzed by the sheer hopelessness of it all. Some drop to their knees, others murmur prayers to gods that have long since abandoned them.
"Run! Hide!" one of the hunters screams, but no one moves. There's nowhere to go.
The beast roars, a thunderous sound that seems to tear through the water itself. Then, it dives, its massive body cutting through the ocean with lethal grace. The water churns in its wake, and the force of its descent sends a shockwave through the village. Coral structures crack, sand clouds rise, and debris scatters.
Korin closes his eyes, bracing for the end.
But before the beast can reach the village, a voice rings out, cutting through the chaos like a blade. "You monstrous bastard, stop it now!"
Korin's eyes snap open, searching for the source of the voice. For a moment, all he sees is the beast—huge, unstoppable—barreling toward them. But then, like a bolt of lightning, a small object streaks through the water, fast, almost too fast to track. It hurtles toward the beast, a blur of motion and fury. The next second, there's a deafening boom.
The impact is immediate and violent. The beast lets out a howl of pain, its massive body jerking to the side as something collides with it—a force so powerful that the water ripples and the village shakes. The villagers stare in stunned silence as the creature thrashes in agony, roaring and writhing as if trying to shake off the pain.
Korin's heart races, and he squints through the swirling debris. "What… what just happened?"
Then, through the haze of sand and debris, he sees him. Kael. His brother, the one they had all thought lost, swims through the chaos, his spear gleaming in his hand. His body, though battered, moves with precision, his eyes burning with the intensity of someone who's fought battles far worse than this.
Kael looks up at the beast, his expression hard and unyielding. "Not on my watch," he growls, his voice carrying a weight of authority that makes even the most battle-hardened hunters take notice.
The massive beast rears back, its glowing eyes narrowing as it locks onto Kael. For a moment, the creature seems stunned by the sudden attack, but it quickly shakes off the shock, a guttural growl rumbling from deep within its chest. Blood still clouds the water from Kael's earlier strike, but the beast doesn't seem weakened. Instead, it thrashes with renewed fury, clearly enraged by Kael's challenge.
Kael grips his spear tighter, his muscles coiled with tension, ready for the next assault. The beast lunges at him, its jaws wide, teeth gleaming, but Kael is faster. With a sharp, practiced movement, he twists his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's deadly bite. The water churns with the beast's momentum, and the force of its attack sends waves of turbulence rippling through the village below.
As Kael moves to counter, a sharp gasp echoes from the edge of the village. Mira, her face streaked with tears, watches from the coral wall, her hands pressed tightly against her mouth.
"Kael… he's really back," Mira whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. She looks at Eamon, her voice thick with emotion. "He came back to us."
Eamon, Kael's father, stands beside Mira, his shoulders trembling as he watches the impossible unfold before him. His hand grips her arm for support, but his eyes are fixed on the sight of his son, fighting the monstrous sea beast with unmatched ferocity.
"He's alive…" Eamon's voice cracks, and for a moment, the hardened exterior of a lifetime spent defending the village crumbles. "Our boy's alive."
The beast roars again, its massive tail sweeping through the water, aiming to crush Kael beneath its weight. But Kael, ever alert, dives below the strike, darting upward and slashing at the creature's exposed flank. The spear grazes the thick armor, sending sparks and streams of dark blood into the water, but it's not enough to slow the creature. It snarls in fury, turning its massive head toward Kael, eyes glowing with rage.
The villagers stand frozen, watching the battle unfold with wide eyes. No one has ever fought a beast of this size and lived to tell the tale, and yet here is Kael—dodging, striking, moving with a grace and determination that leaves them speechless.
One of the hunters, still gripping his harpoon, mutters in awe, "He's fighting it…"
Kael's movements are fluid, calculated. Each thrust of his spear is deliberate, each dodge perfectly timed. The beast snaps its jaws at him, its teeth gleaming in the murky water, but Kael is relentless. He drives his spear into the beast's side, finally finding a weak spot between the thick scales. The creature roars in pain, thrashing wildly, but Kael holds his ground, teeth gritted in concentration.
From the safety of the coral wall, Mira sobs softly, her hand clutching Eamon's hand. "He's doing it," she says, her voice trembling with disbelief and overwhelming relief. "He's really doing it."