CHAPTER 15: BATTLE AGAINST THE SEA DRAGON 🌊🐉⚔️
That morning, the sky above the Aetherion Sea was shrouded in dark clouds, though faint rays of sunlight slowly pierced through the gaps. 🌤️
As usual, Erik, Arden, and Rocky inspected their ship, making sure the animal-hide sail, ropes, and food supplies were secured for the journey ahead. But the calm did not last long… ⛈️
For the third time in a row, a massive storm struck their vessel. Towering waves slammed into the hull, violently shaking the ship. 🌊
Erik gripped the Sword of Soul, his stance firm, while Arden held both his Trident and his grandfather's magic staff, prepared for whatever threat might emerge. Rocky planted his massive stone body against the deck, using his immense strength to resist the wind and crashing waves. 💪
Suddenly, from the dark depths of the sea, a colossal creature emerged.
A sea dragon.
Its body was long like a serpent, its scales shimmering like black obsidian, and its eyes burned crimson with rage. 🐉✨
The beast lashed out, smashing the deck with its tail and releasing violent waves of oceanic energy toward the ship.
Arden closed his eyes and reached out with telepathy, sending his thoughts toward the creature. ⚡🌀
What he sensed shocked him.
Inside the dragon was a trapped soul, once a living being, cursed by dark power and transformed into a monster of the deep. Yet the corruption had fully seized control, driving the dragon into relentless aggression.
There was no choice but to fight.
Erik fired several shots from his Gewehr-43, while Arden's Trident glowed bright blue as it cut through the raging waves. 🗡️🌊
The dragon dove beneath the surface, creating a massive whirlpool that unleashed crushing surges of water against the ship. Erik and Arden were thrown back by the impact but managed to hold on, while Rocky shielded the vessel with his towering stone body. 💥
At a critical moment, the dragon unleashed another devastating wave.
This time… it missed.
The attack rebounded, striking the dragon itself.
Arden's eyes widened.
"Now!"
Channeling all his strength, he hurled the Trident straight toward the dragon's head. ⚡🐉
The impact shattered the creature into streams of blue and crimson energy. Some of it flowed into Erik's Sword of Soul, some returned to Arden's Trident, while the dark residue was absorbed into Rocky's core, reinforcing his stone body even further.
Silence followed.
The sea slowly calmed. 🌊
Erik clenched his left hand, wincing from the pain left by the dragon's tail, yet a tired smile formed on his face. Arden and Rocky could both feel it too—new power coursing through their bodies.
With this newfound strength, crossing the Aetherion Sea would no longer be as perilous as before. 🚤✨
"We survived… though we nearly died out here," Erik muttered, gazing at the now-peaceful waves.
Arden nodded, staring at his glowing Trident.
"This is only the beginning. The sea is filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered." 🌌
Rocky let out a low, satisfied growl, fixing his gaze on the vast horizon ahead—ready to carry them toward their next great adventure. 🌊💪