Chapter 56 - Beneath the Endless Waves
The sea rose like a living wall.
Towering waves surrounded every ship in the fleet.
Sailors dropped to their knees.
Some prayed.
Others simply stared at the colossal Leviathan.
Its sapphire eyes never left Kai.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts shimmered.
Guardian Analysis
Name: Thalassor
Title: Guardian Leviathan
Emotion: Fear
Hostility: Low
Instinct: Protect
---
Kai lowered his spear.
Selene looked at him in disbelief.
"Kai..."
"It could destroy us with a single wave."
Kai nodded.
"I know."
"But it hasn't."
"If it wanted us dead..."
"...we already would be."
---
The Crimson Flame Fox sniffed the salty air.
"Something smells wrong."
Ignis narrowed his golden eyes.
"It isn't the sea."
"It's beneath the sea."
---
Suddenly...
Thalassor released another earth-shaking roar.
Instead of attacking...
The Divine Beast turned its massive head toward the east.
It roared three times.
ROOOOOAR!
ROOOOOAR!
ROOOOOAR!
Then it looked back at Kai.
Almost...
As if it were trying to communicate.
Kai activated Voice of the Sovereign.
"Thalassor."
"We're not your enemies."
The Leviathan's enormous eyes softened.
A deep voice echoed inside Kai's mind.
"The sea... is dying..."
Kai froze.
"You can speak?"
"Only... to the Sovereign..."
"Listen... carefully..."
---
Suddenly, Kai was pulled into a spiritual vision.
He stood beneath a crystal-clear ocean.
Ancient coral forests stretched endlessly.
Schools of glowing fish swam peacefully.
Then...
The vision changed.
Black cracks spread through the seabed.
Corruption poured into the ocean like ink.
Entire reefs withered.
Sea beasts fled in terror.
At the centre of the darkness stood a gigantic stone gate engraved with seven stars.
One of the stars glowed faintly blue.
The Third Star Fragment.
But wrapped around the gate...
Were enormous black chains.
---
Thalassor's voice echoed once more.
"The prison... weakens..."
"Something beneath it... is awakening..."
"I cannot leave..."
"If I move..."
"The chains... will break..."
---
The vision ended.
Kai returned to the deck.
His expression had become serious.
Selene immediately noticed.
"What did it show you?"
Kai looked toward the endless ocean.
"The Third Star Fragment isn't hidden."
"It's being used as a lock."
---
Before anyone could respond—
A sailor shouted from the crow's nest.
"Ships!"
On the distant horizon...
An entire fleet appeared.
Black sails.
Silver emblems shaped like broken stars.
More than fifty warships cut through the waves.
At their centre sailed an enormous flagship.
Its hull was carved from black crystal.
The Book reacted immediately.
---
Enemy Fleet Detected
The Abyss Legion
Commander: Unknown
Ships: 53
Estimated Threat:
Extreme
Mission:
Capture the Third Star Fragment.
---
Rowan gripped the railing.
"That's not the Divine Temple."
"No."
Ignis's expression darkened.
"They're older."
"Much older."
---
The flagship slowed.
A lone figure stepped onto its bow.
He wore dark blue armour decorated with silver stars.
A long cloak fluttered behind him.
Unlike the Apostles...
He carried no beast beside him.
Instead...
The ocean itself seemed to obey his movements.
The Book attempted to identify him.
---
Analysis...
Processing...
Processing...
...
Identity Confirmed
Admiral Nereus
Title: Tidebreaker
Affiliation: Abyss Legion
Former Position:
Guardian of the Third Star Fragment
Status:
Missing for 4,700 Years.
---
Kai's eyes widened.
"Another Guardian?"
Nereus smiled across the sea.
His voice carried effortlessly over the waves.
"So..."
"The Ninth Beast Sovereign has arrived."
"I was beginning to think you'd miss the appointment."
The sea beneath his flagship began to swirl.
Thousands of glowing runes spread across the water's surface.
Even Thalassor growled uneasily.
Nereus looked directly at Kai.
"I have no interest in killing you."
"I only need one thing."
He pointed towards the Book of Infinite Beasts.
"Give me the First and Second Star Fragments..."
"...and I will spare this kingdom."
Kai's companions immediately stepped beside him.
Selene drew her sword.
The Crimson Flame Fox's nine tails ignited with crimson fire.
Ignis spread his wings, golden flames dancing across his scales.
Kai calmly lifted his spear.
"I'm afraid..."
"...those fragments aren't mine to surrender."
A smile slowly spread across Nereus's face.
"Excellent."
"I was hoping you'd say that."
He raised one hand.
The sea exploded upward.
From beneath the waves emerged hundreds of corrupted sea beasts, surrounding both fleets in every direction.
The battle for the Leviathan Sea had begun.