The ruins of Aqualis trembled as Neroth slithered forward, his massive body coiling around the broken pillars of the ancient city. Dark currents swirled behind him like a storm trapped beneath the sea.
Liora felt her chest tighten. The water around her seemed colder, heavier, as if the ocean itself feared this creature.
Kael raised his trident, its coral blade glowing faintly. "Stay close," he said firmly. "This isn't going to be easy."
Selene cracked her knuckles with a nervous grin. "Easy is boring anyway."
Before anyone could say another word, Neroth lunged.
A wave of black water exploded toward them like a tidal blast.
Kael slammed his trident downward. Instantly, a wall of rushing water rose up, crashing against the dark surge. The collision shook the ruins and sent schools of glowing fish scattering into the darkness.
"Now!" Kael shouted.
Selene darted to the side, spinning her hands through the water. Small whirlpools formed around Neroth's tail, twisting tighter and tighter.
"Let's see how you like being tangled!" she laughed.
But Neroth only hissed.
With one powerful strike of his tail, the whirlpools shattered like glass. The force sent Selene spinning backward through the water.
"Selene!" Liora cried.
Without thinking, Liora lifted her hands. The faint glow of moonlight began to shimmer around her, even deep beneath the ocean. Silver currents wrapped around her arms, spreading gently through the water.
The ocean responded.
The waves around her began to glow.
Riven watched carefully, his voice calm but urgent. "Liora… focus on the moon. Let it guide the tide."
Liora closed her eyes.
Above the ocean, far beyond the surface, the moon shone quietly in the night sky. Its light traveled through the water like a silver thread, connecting with her.
Suddenly the sea answered.
A bright spiral of glowing water burst from Liora's hands and wrapped around Neroth's body like chains made of moonlight.
The creature roared, thrashing against the shining currents.
"What is this power?!" Neroth growled.
Kael saw his chance.
With a fierce shout, he charged forward and drove his trident into the swirling water. The weapon blazed with energy, sending a powerful tidal surge crashing into Neroth.
The impact blasted the shadow creature across the ruins, smashing him into the broken palace wall.
For a moment, the ocean was silent.
Then Neroth slowly rose from the cloud of drifting sand. His eyes burned with anger, but there was something else now too.
Respect.
"You are stronger than I expected," he growled. "But this war is only beginning."
With a sudden swirl of darkness, Neroth vanished into the deep sea, leaving only fading shadows behind.
The water calmed.
Selene swam back toward the group, brushing sand from her hair. "Okay… that was terrifying."
Kael lowered his trident, breathing heavily. "And that was just the first battle."
Liora looked around at the ruined city of Aqualis. The glowing moon currents slowly faded from her hands.
"He said war," she whispered.
Riven nodded, his eyes scanning the dark ocean beyond the city.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"The ocean is waking… and not everything beneath the tides wants the Moon and Sea to rise again."
Above them, the moon's reflection shimmered softly on the distant surface.
The children of Moon and Sea had won their first fight.
But the deeper darkness of the ocean was still waiting.