The waves grew restless before the attack came.
It started subtly.
A shift in rhythm.
A slight rise in the tide.
Then the wind changed.
Thalren felt it instantly.
He was already standing near the shore, as he had been every morning since the first battle. The wooden sword rested in his hand, and the crystal necklace lay cold against his chest.
But something was wrong.
The water wasn't moving naturally.
It was pulling.
As if something beneath the surface was drawing it inward.
Behind him, Kael stepped out of the cabin.
He stopped immediately.
"…So it came."
Thalren turned slightly.
"You knew?"
Kael didn't answer.
His eyes were fixed on the horizon.
"Get ready."
That was enough.
Thalren faced the water again.
His grip tightened.
The calm from yesterday faded.
Replaced by something sharper.
Focus.
The surface ahead began to ripple.
Then twist.
Then—
It split open.
A massive shape surged upward.
Much larger than the last Sea Beast.
Its body was thicker, covered in dark armored scales that reflected faint light. Long fins extended from its sides like blades, cutting through the water as it rose.
Its eyes locked onto Thalren immediately.
No hesitation.
No pause.
This one wasn't deciding.
It had already chosen.
To kill.
The beast roared.
The sound echoed across the island as it lunged forward.
Thalren moved instantly.
He stepped into the water instead of away.
The crystal flared.
He swung.
A sharp arc of water shot forward.
It struck the creature's head.
But—
Nothing happened.
The beast didn't even slow down.
Thalren's eyes widened.
"…What?"
It crashed into him.
The impact threw him backward across the sand.
Pain exploded through his body as he rolled and slammed into the ground.
The sword slipped from his hand.
The world spun.
"Get up!" Kael's voice cut through the chaos.
Thalren forced himself up.
The Sea Beast was already turning.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Its jaws opened again.
Thalren grabbed his sword and ran forward.
If he stepped back—
He would die.
He swung again.
The crystal flashed.
A stronger arc formed this time.
It slammed into the creature's side.
A deep mark appeared on its scales.
But still—
It didn't stop.
The beast roared and slammed its tail forward.
Thalren barely raised his sword in time.
The impact sent him flying again.
His body hit the ground hard.
His vision blurred.
His arms trembled.
"…I can't…"
The pressure was overwhelming.
This wasn't like the last one.
This one was on a completely different level.
The beast moved closer.
Slowly.
Confidently.
It knew.
Thalren couldn't defeat it.
Fear crept into his chest.
For a moment—
His body refused to move.
Kael watched from the shore.
But he didn't step in.
Not yet.
Thalren's breathing became uneven.
The crystal began to glow.
Brighter.
Hotter.
The same unstable power from before started rising.
His vision darkened.
The depths called again.
Massive shadows.
Endless pressure.
Golden eyes watching.
The power surged violently.
The water around him began to rise.
But—
Kael's voice cut through everything.
"Stop."
It wasn't loud.
But it was absolute.
"Don't rely on power you can't control."
Thalren's body froze.
The unstable energy stopped growing.
His breathing steadied slightly.
The beast lunged again.
Closer.
Faster.
Thalren moved.
Not with power.
Not with force.
But with instinct.
He stepped to the side at the last moment.
The jaws snapped shut beside him.
He raised the sword.
And struck.
A clean hit.
But shallow.
Not enough.
The beast roared and turned again.
Thalren stumbled back.
His body was reaching its limit.
His strength wasn't enough.
His power wasn't enough.
For the first time—
He understood.
This was something he could not defeat.
The beast charged again.
This time—
There was no escape.
Then—
A figure appeared.
Kael.
He stepped forward.
Calm.
Unshaken.
The Sea Beast lunged at him.
Kael didn't move.
Not until the last second.
Then—
He raised his hand.
And struck.
A single motion.
No weapon.
No visible force.
Just one precise movement.
The impact echoed.
The entire body of the Sea Beast froze.
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Then—
The creature was thrown backward.
Violently.
Its massive body crashed into the water, creating a huge wave that spread across the shore.
The beast didn't move again.
It was over.
Thalren stood there, frozen.
"…What…"
His voice barely came out.
Kael lowered his hand.
"That…"
He looked at the fallen creature.
"…is the difference between you and the real world."
Thalren stared at him.
The gap.
It wasn't small.
It wasn't something he could close quickly.
It was overwhelming.
Kael turned toward him.
"You fought well."
Thalren shook his head.
"I couldn't do anything."
Kael nodded.
"Exactly."
The words weren't harsh.
They were real.
Thalren looked down at his shaking hands.
Then at the massive body floating in the water.
Then back at Kael.
"…I'm not strong enough."
Kael stepped closer.
"No."
Then he placed a hand on Thalren's shoulder.
"But now…"
"…you understand what strength actually means."
The wind moved across the shore.
The waves slowly returned to normal.
But inside Thalren—
Something had changed again.
Not just determination.
Not just desire.
Clarity.
He looked toward the horizon.
Far beyond the island.
"…Then I'll reach that level."
Kael didn't smile.
But he didn't doubt him either.
And deep beneath the dark waters…
Something massive shifted.
As if acknowledging the moment.
Because now—
The boy had taken his first real step.
Not toward victory.
But toward understanding how far he still had to go.