NOVPUBThen the world screamed.
Not just a sound, but a vibration deep in the bones. A resonance that made the air itself tremble.
Everything stopped.
The wind died. The waves stilled. And the sea split.
Far on the horizon, the ocean tore open like a wound.
A rift gaped in the distance, wide and deep, swallowing the sea into itself. Water poured down into darkness, vanishing into a void that should not exist.
From within the gap, darkness rose like smoke, curling and stretching toward the sky.
"The Hungering Deep." Ren whispered.
His voice barely carried, but it was enough. Every Tidecaller knew what he was talking about.
Their gazes locked on the impossibility before them, showing them the very evil they've been trying to ignore.
Then, the tide began to pull.
Water beneath the ship shifted, and ever so slowly, the entire ocean began to recede toward the monstrous maw. 𝔫𝖔𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝔬𝔪
"We need to move!" Lilith said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Ren turned towards Captain Hook. "To the helm! Now!"
Hook didn't need to be told twice. She raced to the wheel, shouting orders at her crew.
They raced to the sides of the ship, hands outstretched, trying to control the water and keep them from sinking into the Deep.
And then, the sea roared.
The sound came from the dark abyss that was the Hungering Deep and split the air.
And from that abyss rose a nightmare.
It came in a surge of brine and darkness, the water vomiting it upward like bile.
A massive creature tore through the surface, scales black as oil, eyes like molten gold.
Its body coiled like a serpent, longer than a fortress wall, wings like the fins of a monstrous fish flaring outwards with each motion. Gills flared open along its throat, and with each breath, steam hissed from its jaws.
Its roar was a rumble of storms, its presence was like an ancient hand, constricting one's heart, as if it had slumbered beneath the sea for centuries, dreaming of death.
It was a sea dragon.
"By the Tree." One of the Tidecallers next to Ren whispered in awe and fear.
They were all frozen in place. Some had dropped their weapons. Others had screamed. One staggered back, muttering prayers under his breath.
Ren stared, his breath caught in his throat. The dragon was both beautiful and terrifying.
But it was also a new piece of information. The Deep has grown enough to create and send monsters.
The dragon let out a roar that shattered the wind.
The ship rocked violently, splinters flying from the railings. Waves crashed over the deck, tossing crates and barrels across the wood like toys.
The beast dove forward.
Lilith stepped ahead of them, her hair whipping in the rising wind, her eyes glowing a bright red. Her boots scraped against the wet deck as she steadied herself.
"Stay behind me." She said simply, voice calm.
Ren gave a single nod. "Have fun."
Lilith was already moving.
Her hand rose, and the full force of her Soul Dominion finally slammed outward, scattering seawater and knocking back the nearest Tidecallers.
The agonized souls trapped within her burst free, swirling around her like a cloak of fire and mist.
"I see you." Lilith whispered, her voice overlapping with a dozen echoes, each filled with wrath.
The sea dragon lunged. Lilith met it with fury.
The two collided just beyond the ship, water exploding upward in a geyser of steam. They were both sent flying back, but Lilith was back an instant later.
She launched herself forward on wings of burning soul energy. Her hands burned blue with condensed energy, and she slammed them into the beast's snout.
It reeled back, shrieking in pain. Its tail lashed out, clipping the side of the ship. Wood cracked, beams snapped.
Screams rose from the Tidecallers as the impact tore through the starboard hull.
"Hold the line!" Ren roared, gripping the mast to stay upright. "We have to keep the ship from capsizing!"
Below, Elias rallied the remaining crew, barking commands. "Get that water out! Now! Patch what you can!"
Hook was preoccupied with trying to steer the ship out of the Deep's area of influence.
Thorn scrambled to tie down loose equipment, even as seawater poured over the deck. He shoved crates against broken planks, using his own weight to hold them steady.
And around them, Lilith and the sea dragon battled.
Lilith danced across the water, every step a pulse of soul energy that sent ripples outward.
She summoned spears of soul energy and hurled them into the beast's hide. Each attack that landed tore scales free, leaving steaming wounds behind.
The creature shrieked, its rage turning the sea white with foam.
The dragon responded with fury. It dove beneath the waves, then rose like a god, jaws wide open. A column of boiling water erupted upward, aimed straight at Lilith.
She met it with a wall of souls, the wailing spirits forming a barrier of shrieking energy. The impact shook the sea and sent waves crashing outward, splattering the deck and nearly knocking Ren from his feet.
"We can't take another hit like that!" Elias shouted, clinging to the broken railing.
"We won't have to!" Ren yelled back, not taking his eyes off the fight. "She's ending it!"
Lilith summoned all the soul energy around her, forming it into a massive blade.
The weapon shimmered, the wails of the dead echoing with every move she made. The blade curved like a crescent moon, burning with shades of violet at the sharp edge.
She raised it high.
The sea dragon lunged, its golden eyes glowing with hatred.
She brought the blade down.
And a flash of light swallowed the sea.
The wave that followed threw the ship sideways. Water crashed over the deck, tearing ropes loose and sweeping debris overboard.
Ren grabbed Lilith as she was hurled back, catching her just before she hit the mast. Her body was hot with the power she'd expended, her breath ragged against his neck.
The sea dragon convulsed, a howl of agony rising from its throat.
Its body began to smoke from within, fractures appearing along its scales. Soul energy burned from its mouth and wounds, eating away at it from the inside.
Then, it fell.
Its massive body slammed into the water, sending a final wave across the surface.
The sea burned where it landed, the remaining soul energy hissing atop the water like blue fire, refusing to die.
Silence followed.
Lilith slumped against Ren, panting. Her eyes still glowed faintly, and her hands trembled.
"Why?" Ren asked. She'd fought with her full power, but had actively fought her Soul Dominion, not allowing it to steal as much of her emotions as it wanted.
And this had resulted in her being… tired.
She exhaled against him, saying nothing.
"Is it dead?" Thorn asked, emerging from the stairwell soaked and winded.
"Very." Lilith finally spoke, her voice hoarse.
The crew slowly rose to their feet, stunned. The ship groaned beneath them. The deck was soaked, ropes tangled, part of the starboard side torn open.
Planks floated in the water nearby, and several Tidecallers lay unconscious or wounded.
"Damage report," Elias barked, slipping back into his role. "Check the hull, see if we're taking water. Thorn, help secure the wounded."
Thorn nodded, limping toward a fallen crewman. "We still alive?" He muttered.
"Barely." Ren said, turning Lilith gently to face him. "Are you okay?"
She gave him a tired smile. "I'm always okay, if you're here."
Ren brushed her hair back, his touch soft.
He looked out at the horizon. The rift still yawned in the distance, wider than before. The water around it had gone still, unnaturally so, and the darkness inside it shimmered ominously.
The Deep had noticed them.
And it had more to send.
Ren's jaw tightened.
They needed to move.
Now.
