23. Into the Depths

The cold, dark ocean swallowed Elliot whole as the massive tentacle flung him into the depths below.

What happened?

His vision blurred, his mind spinning, and his body felt weightless in the crushing water.

His head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing beneath his skull as the sea consumed him.

Swim! I need to return...

Disoriented, his limbs fought against the ocean's current, but he continued sinking into a void—a place where time itself slowed, where memories and dreams intertwined.

Fragments of memories—flashes of events that were not his own—broke through the fog of his mind.

Rhaegos' final moments. Drowning in cold waters, feeling the ship splinter around him, the roar of the ocean deafening as the world collapsed.

I failed… I failed my people...

The thoughts were not his own, but they felt like they were.

Rhaegos' regret was sharp, like a blade, and Elliot could feel the weight of it press down on him.

I was supposed to protect them... But I was weak. My people died... I failed them....

...I failed the world

The cold water flooded his lungs, and his eyes grew heavy. The memory was so real.

The feeling of helplessness.

The fear that gripped his chest.

The guilt.

I wasn't strong enough…

Rhaegos' voice echoed in his mind, the words hollow and mournful.

The world needed a king, not a broken prince.

Suddenly, a strange presence.

A crack opened in the space before him, distorting the water, pulling him deeper into the abyss.

From the crack poured in dark shadows, cold and oppressive, swirling like a storm.

But then, through the shadows, a light began to shine—a soft, brilliant glow that approached him slowly.

He reached toward it, his hand trembling, his body barely moving.

The coldness in his chest intensified.

The light was beautiful—warm and radiant—but it felt so far.

And then… everything faded.

.

.

.

"Remember your mission!"

A voice, deep and commanding, broke through the fog of memories.

The voice jolted Elliot awake, pulling him out of the death-like stupor.

What… what was that?

Then, beneath the waves, he heard something else.

A hymn—a haunting, beautiful melody, calling him from the deep.

The sound felt familiar yet foreign, almost like a distant memory.

It wasn't Rhaegos' voice.

It was something ancient.

Something powerful.

The pull toward the ocean floor was irresistible, the glow from below now clearer than ever.

I have to go… I have to understand.

In that instant, Elliot felt something stirring within him—an urge he could not ignore.

His limbs moved, his body propelled toward the source of the glow, his mind barely able to process the pull of the deep.

__________

Back on the ship, the chaos continued.

The monsters had been relentless, and the crew scrambled to fight back.

The ship rocked violently, the wood groaning under the weight of their struggles.

Amara, still in shock from seeing Elliot fall, was frozen in place.

She couldn't move, couldn't think.

Her breath came in short gasps, her hands trembling as she stood on the deck, staring blankly at the sea.

"Amara!" Roshan shouted, trying to shake her out of it. "We need to focus! There's still a fight to win!"

Amara didn't respond, her eyes unfocused, lost.

Elder Vaqal's sharp voice cut through the panic.

"Pull yourselves together, child!" Her gaze was cold and commanding. "Protect the ship. We cannot afford to lose any more ground."

Roshan turned to Vaqal, frustration mounting in her chest.

"We need to dive in, we must find Elliot—now!" she urged. "He's still out there!"

Wuxian stepped forward, his calm demeanor cutting through the tension.

"If we jump in blind, we risk losing more lives. We need to secure the ship first, only then, can we think about rescuing him."

Amiyan, who had been surveying the damage to the ship, clenched his fists. The ship had taken too many hits, and the monsters continued to claw at its sides.

"We have to protect this ship first," he muttered. His voice was heavy with uncertainty, but his resolve was clear.

The ship lurched again, and a monstrous shriek echoed from below.

Amiyan took command, his face hardening as he grabbed his dagger.

"We fight. We survive. Then we look for Elliot."

The monsters came in waves, claws slashing at the ship's sides, teeth gnashing.

Elliot's absence weighed heavily on them, but there was no time for doubt. The battle was far from over.

Roshan, quick on her feet, darted through the chaos, weaving between the hulking beasts with graceful precision.

Her movements were fluid, her every strike a blur of power. She didn't allow herself to stop. Not until Elliot was safe.

Wuxian was already in the thick of it, his sword dancing in the air, each slash sending fiery waves of energy through the enemies.

He moved with precision, each strike perfectly timed. "Stay focused!" he called to the others, his voice steady.

Altan, wielded his immense strength with surprising grace. His fists landed heavy blows on the monsters, sending them reeling with each hit.

But his eyes were wide with panic. "Where is Elliot?" he grunted, trying to balance between defending the ship and watching for any sign of his fallen comrade.

Amara snapped out of her stupor, rushing forward to join the fight, though her movements were erratic, hesitant.

She had trained as a cleric, not a warrior, but she couldn't stand by idly. She cast healing spells where she could, her eyes constantly scanning the ship, hoping for a glimpse of Elliot.

The battle intensified.

The ship groaned as it was struck by another monstrous blow, boring a large hole on it's flank.

The crew fought valiantly, but the ship was sinking.

Wood splintered, and the sails shredded as the beasts continued their relentless assault.

"We need to get out of here!" Roshan shouted, slashing at another monster that came too close.

"We're losing the ship!" Amiyan shouted back, his voice strained. He fought back-to-back with Wuxian, their movements synchronized, each covering the other's blind spots.

But the ship was tilting now, dangerously. The sea was rising, crashing against the deck.

Amara screamed as a tentacle lashed toward her, but Amiyan acted fast, tackling her out of the way.

"Stay focused, Amara!" he shouted, his grip tightening around her arm as he pulled her away from the danger.

The ship shifted dangerously as another blow struck, and the crew scrambled to keep their footing.

Altan, in a panic, clung to the small arms of the Elder, revealing his fear of the water.

"I can't swim!" he shouted, eyes wide with terror. Vaqal, with surprising gentleness, held him steady.

"I've got you, child," she said, her tone soft but firm as she pulled the towering young man. "Stay calm. We'll get through this."

The ship began to sink rapidly, the water rising faster, threatening to swallow them whole.

They braced for impact as the ship plunged into the sea.

Just as it seemed all was lost, explosions rocked the sea.

The monsters, suddenly torn apart by massive blasts, were sent flying into the water.

A fleet of ships emerged, their cannons firing with deadly precision, obliterating the monsters one by one.

The Pygmaian navy had arrived.

The crew, battered and exhausted, could only watch in awe and relief as the cannons fired, cutting down the remaining monsters with relentless force.

The sound of cannon fire reverberated across the sea, a steady rhythm of victory.

Life boats were quickly deployed, rescuing the survivors from the sinking wreckage.

The Pygmaian sailors moved swiftly, pulling the crew aboard their ships and into safety.

"Everyone, get to the lifeboats!" Vaqal shouted, her small voice cutting through the noise as she carried Altan, pulling him to safety.

Roshan, still frantic, scanned the waters, her heart sinking. "Where's Elliot?" she asked desperately, her voice shaking.

"He's not here," Amiyan replied, his voice grim. "But we'll find him. We have to."

Wuxian, still maintaining his composure, nodded. "We need to be patient. We can't rush into the sea without knowing what we're up against."

The tension between the group was palpable. They had survived the battle, but Elliot was still out there.

Is he still alive? Where is he?

Roshan's doubts gnawed at her, but she could barely bring herself to voice them.

"Do we have a plan?" Altan asked, his voice tight.

"We wait," Vaqal said. "But we'll do so cautiously. The waters are still dangerous, those creatures may still be lurking in the deep."

Roshan's frustration boiled over. "We don't have time to wait!"

Amara, sensing the tension, spoke up gently. "I can use divination. It's not guaranteed, but it might help."

Vaqal nodded. "I'll help you."

Amara knelt beside Vaqal, placing her hands over the water. She closed her eyes, murmuring ancient words that reverberated through the air. A golden light began to glow faintly beneath her hands.

The group watched, their collective breath held.

Vaqal's eyes narrowed. "There's something… ancient down there." She shook her head, as though trying to clear her thoughts. "It's not just Elliot… There's a presence. Something dark… and old." Her voice faltered, unease creeping into her tone.

Roshan felt her heart sink. "What is it? What's down there?"

Vaqal did not answer immediately. Her eyes met the group's, filled with an unspoken dread. "Something that shouldn't be."

The crew fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in.

Elliot's fate remained uncertain, but one thing was clear: something far darker than monsters was stirring beneath the waves.of reach.