If there was one thing I learned from Percy it was this. That my information network was laughable if not unreliable.
It was the beginning of understanding my limited position. I wasn't even a full fledged god. But a minor god. A fledgling pretending at greatness.
Looking at Percy I thanked her kindly before giving her a courteous nod and our meeting came to an end. The white room vanished as my eyes opened to the dull wooden room that made up our lodgings aboard the ship. The lantern that lit the room swayed with each passing wave.
Only the sound of peaceful waves and the occasional clack of chess pieces moving filled our cabin. And like this I was left lost in my own thoughts.
So one might ask what I will do? I am faced with a crisis on both hands. Nox and her dark followers on the one. And a demonic god on the other. Laughable chances of survival with my last opponent. So what can I do? There's only one way that I will accept. Get stronger.
I refuse to try and live the rest of my days in fear of an entity coming for my head. That's not life. That's not living. That's just being a shell of a life. So I'm gonna fight. Not clean either. I will find every power. Every element, skill Passive or not. And I will make my little arsenal into something worthy of destroying stars and planets.
And when I'm done. I will hunt my enemy.
I clenched my fist as a fire filled my heart.
"I'll be going out for a bit." I said as I left the cabin. Kyle and Val both nodded almost dismissing what I said. Their game obviously sucking in all their focus.
I walked up to the deck and before I could leave I saw the captain entering the lower deck through a grate in the upper deck. (Must be going to deal with Ivan) I thought as I approached the edge of the deck.
I tapped a passing sailor hauling a bunch of rope on the shoulder.
"Mind telling your captain I'll be gone for a bit?" I asked and he shrugged.
"Sure Mate." He said as he carried on his way.
I nodded as my body shifted slightly till my tail showed more of a fish tail shape. My gills frilled out more with little spikes flairing periodically. My horns curved forward to point in front of me. These changes made my body shift to be more sleek and elegant. Not to mention that I would be more aerodynamic in the water. And with that I dove into the soothing waves below.
Bubbles exploded around me as I dove downward. My gills filled with water and I felt my mind clear more. My vision sharpened to focus on what was around me. I had not been beneath the waves for some time. So seeing this held a type of alien beauty for me still.
I swished my tail and dove downward. My body shifted and I felt the waterways shifting about my sleek body. Schools of fish swam about here and there. All seemingly heading somewhere but noone actually knowing.
As I drove myself downwards I felt a few larger presences. Large beasts were still common here. Especially feral water dragons. And that's what I came here for. To hunt.
I cut one of my hands letting the blood drift about drawing in many large creatures. A few dared to strike at me. But I ate them faster than the eye could see. My tongue shooting out and pulling them in. I had to cut my hand many times till the water was pinkish in color. And then it came.
But it was disappointing. About the size of a St Bernard and having many tentacles it approached. Till I really got a good look at it.
The scales were a near luminous pink and its tendrils black as ink. The tips ending with sharp points. The mouth was small but was still obviously filled with teeth. It's eyes were an ocean green but still held intelligence. The energy it gave off was very familiar. Something that I had felt before.
"Why are you here Uncle?" A little girls voice suddenly echoed in my head.
I visibly flinched in shock. The voice of my little niece. Scylla was supposed to be back in the underwater city with her mother. But I hadn't seen or heard from either in over a year so things may have changed.
"Scylla! When did you learn to transform? Where is your mother?" I asked obviously concerned.
"Mother said I should try hunting." She said pulling a bag from behind her long neck. Tied to her body by a braided rope of seaweed.
"I found so many pretty shells. I even found a pearl! I can't wait to see the look on mother's face when I show her!" She said lightly dancing in the water.
I couldn't help but smile as she swam there happily. (I wish she could stay this innocent forever.) I let out a bubbly breath.
"By the way my little fish[1]. How did you realize it was me? I shape shifted to swim better and my body doesn't look like it normally does." I asked as the question dawned on me. (It's useless to transform if others can easily discern my true nature.)
Scylla looked at me as though the answer was obvious.
"Your smell hasn't changed at all Uncle Iggi. You smell just like always." She said cocking her head to the side slightly confused.
I let out a sigh. "I guess that makes sense. Smell doesn't change in water or air. It just gets watered down." I said before quickly changing the subject.
"How is your mother? I have not seen her in a while." I asked floating about.
Scylla looked at me with a slightly pout.
"She is currently in her egg den. She told me to expect a younger sister soon. But I don't want another one! I already have enough brothers and sisters!" She cried out in frustration.
I admit that I laughed somewhat at that. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Megan having another child so soon.
At that thought I couldn't help but shake my head and carry on.
"Do you know your way home from here Scylla?" I asked concerned if she was lost. (If she's lost then I will guide her home. If not I'll let her have her fun.) I thought.
She nodded energetically."I do Uncle Iggi. But what are you doing here Uncle?" She said cocking her head even more so.
I swam in close and whispered. "I'm here to hunt to. But I go after big mean things." I said and she got an 'aha' look on her face.
"Okay. Scylla can help with that. There's a big mean thing over there. When I tried being nice he only answered by growling. Boys are so weird." She said pointing with a tentacle before she started swimming away. "I have to go home now! By Uncle Iggi!" She said waving as she quickly swam into the distance.
"She is really strange. Hard to think she used to cling to me when she was littler." I muttered as I started swimming. She did however know her directions. In the direction she pointed was a large crab with a dragons head. He seemed to be sleeping but when I got closer the head lifted up and turned to face me.
The body was red and curved just like a crabs. Large pincers made up its frontal arms. But the back and side legs were lizard like with webbed toes and shard claws. The Dragon head was coated in chitin plating instead of scales. But it didn't take away from its draconic appearance.
A snarl escaped it's peeled back lips as I drew closer.
"I heard you were rude to my niece." I said as I cracked my knuckles. "Time to teach you why manners are important." And the battle began.
He took a sucking breath in. Drawing water in a great vaccume towards his mouth. When the vaccume stopped His chitin plated neck swelled before launching an enormous amount of bubbly froth at me. The bubbles were soon surrounding me from all sides in a foggy fashion. "I can't see a damn thing." I thought. And then the bubbles began to pop.
Not a tiny pop either. It was explosive. Shockwaves rolled out in near defending volume and vibration.
The Draco-Crab looked on with a seeming smug on its face as the frothy bubbles cascaded a horrifying explosive chorus through the water. The rocks, sand, and coral broke apart from the shock waves sending dust, sand, and debris into the water.
The Draco-crab drew closer obviously eager to pick apart the thing that had annoyed it. Eating was its primary survival habit after all.
To its surprise it found a large ice sphere instead of a body. Scratches and cracks lined its surface in great amounts. But the thing floated like a great fortress before it.
"I think you've figured this out by now. But you're f*ck*d." I said as the ice shattered with an explosion of water and force.
The Draco-crab raised its front legs to defend from one of the ice chunks. When the ice chunk was seemingly stopped by it the thing broke to pieces as I shot through it.
I slammed into the Draco-crab. The chitin cracking under my force as I began to pummel it into oblivion. Blood spewed from its draconic maw as a eerie wail filled the waters. It cried out in pain seemingly calling for help in its desperation.
It sank back into the water on its back as I stood on its exposed crabbish belly.
"I wonder if you have any intelligence to speak of. But I gave you a chance already. So I doubt you'll speak now." I said raising a fist.
"Wait great one! I apologize! I'm sorry! Please stop!" A feminine shout exploded through the water.
The Dragon was seemingly weeping but it was hard to tell in the water. I held back my hand in slight shock.
I was beating a female. This was now really awkward. Scylla had told me it was a male. Shows you can't trust children to know genders.
I slowly stepped off the shell and floated back a bit. Even if she was female she initiated the attack and could have spoken up from the beggining. "Now you speak. Why is it that you didn't speak before? This could have all been avoided if you had been willing to talk before now." I stated crossing my arms.
Slowly the Draco-crab flipped over. The cracked shell seeming to barely hold themselves in place for the time being.
"I was in a foul mood sir. I apologize. I had no knowledge someone of your strength lived within these waters. If I have offended you I sincerely offer my humble apologies." She said bowing low to the ocean floor obviously distressed.
( Why is it the day my mate refuses to help bear children is the same day I get beat up?!) She wailed in her mind.
I suddenly felt a kind of tenuous energy from the female Crab Dragon. A kind I had felt myself a few times during Sam's pregnancy.
"You. Have a mate don't you? Where is he?" I asked as something seemed to be resonating with me from this creature.
She raised her head in shame. "My mate has left to find a more beautiful female. He claimed I was not beautiful enough to bear children with. So I am here alone on breeding day."
I felt my face redden a bit in slight embarrassment and frustration at her previous mate. If he hadn't done what he did then this female would be in a better mood and I would've avoided this mess.
"Is there another way to get a mate around here for yourself?" I asked trying to help her out a bit.
They looked at me slightly confused. "Why would you help me? I am your enemy and just tried to kill you to vent my own anger."
I held my chin for a moment in thought before replying.
"I have a mate of my own. And our children are my greatest pride. I would hate to see someone who wishes for children to be turned down by such a shallow piece of garbage. It makes more sense to beat him at his own game by helping you." I said. (And get back at him for getting me in this predicament.) I thought as a slightly evil intention crossed my mind.