Cain sat at his desk, eating breakfast alone while reviewing what he knew about territories.
'Territories have cores; those without cores turn into corrupted zones. Corrupted zones lack energy, but how could I still use my powers while in them? The wasteland did have a core, but it was restricted mostly to the valley. But even that old man had powers...'
Cain decided to examine his body; he could sense the energy within him, though not as abundantly as around him.
'Maybe... Perhaps the energy in our bodies enables us to use these powers. But when it depletes, we're at our weakest. Technically, my body can expand well beyond the norm, so maybe I can store more energy? It would make sense if that's why powers can still be used in corrupt zones. No wonder people avoid traveling through them and label them danger zones.'
Cain felt confident in his hypothesis, yet he was frustrated that he hadn't fully understood this energy.
'The orb absorbed it to create a finer energy, which the pearl then absorbed... Wait!' He stood up, gazing at his notes.
The idea was on the tip of Cain's mind. His excitement grew as the concept solidified.
"Eureka!"
'Cores absorb this energy and convert it for their use, just like the white orb! It's a mini core! Those who tap into this power become stronger than those who can't. Each territory seems to possess its own energy, a sort of signature! Only those with access can use it, and to gain access, you must wield the territory's innate power. Haha, I've done it!'
Sweat perspired down his face from excitement, so he opened the window for a breeze. He settled back into his chair, content.
'Ah, this feels good. But why does this energy exist? Why do cores exist? What's the system? Why, why, why... What is this place?'
Cain's mood darkened. He had discovered the nature of the energy, yet he remained ignorant about its purpose and the larger context. Answering one question only gave birth to countless others.
'Well, let's take things slowly and-'
"Deep Ones! Deep Ones of the sea stack!"
Shouting reached Cain through the window. Upon hearing about the Deep Ones, he wasted no time closing the window and rushing above deck.
...
Thomas was the first to notice.
"Hey, something's moving on that pillar of rocks! See it?"
The others dismissed it as drunken rambling.
"Sure, and we also saw the horizon turn upside-down with pixies floating around. Just like when your face was in that wine jug."
But soon, they'd realize Thomas wasn't fabricating his claims.
"Deep Ones! It's Deep Ones! They're attacking the ship ahead. Prepare for battle!"
No one anticipated the intensity of these creatures; they underestimated the threat. Only when they witnessed the neighboring ship being torn apart did they grasp the seriousness of the situation.
The adjacent frigate vanished from sight. Thousands of scales caught the light, reflecting it as the ship became concealed beneath a swarm of abyssal fish-like monsters.
In an unending wave, they climbed aboard, tearing apart anyone in their path. Men were thrown overboard, and the creatures leaped from water to ship to feast upon the fallen.
It was a massacre, one that spared neither human nor monster. These grotesque fish even turned on each other in their insatiable hunger.
"Get ready! Some are coming this way!"
As Cain emerged from below, all he saw was a battlefield driven by instinct. One side fought for survival, while the other pursued prey and sustenance.
The sky darkened with clouds, and raindrops hinted at an impending storm. They had ventured deep into the core oceans, only now fully understanding their error.
Hendrick, the one who found the white orb, was torn apart before Cain's eyes. Limbs separated from his torso, discarded and devoured. The air filled with the sound of crunching as the life left his body, the beast who caught him seeped their teeth deep into his neck as blood gushed.
'It seems we're fated to lose more than half our men. I might not be able to stop all of them.'
The air filled with the guttural shrieks of the Deep Ones mixed with the screams of dying men. The deck grew slick with blood and gore as the creatures tore into their victims. The coppery stench of blood became overwhelming as it flowed across the wooden planks
Cain understood his role wasn't to engage each Deep One individually, but to face them all at once. His body blurred as only his torso and face remained visible. Pushing the limits of his body.
Like the limitless beasts of the deep, Cain too was vast and imposing. Droplets of water collected on his vast presence, forming a bloody rain that covered the ship.
It caused excitement in the fish-like beings.
They slammed into the deck, extending their long tongues to lap up the blood. This created an opportunity for Connie's crew to retaliate without suffering too much losses.
However, this method wasn't effective or intentional. The mist grew hotter, simmering until it produced steam. Now, the rain battled the red clouds, and the clouds emerged victorious. The mist exploded upon contact, drowning everything with its pop.
The exploding mist transformed into something smaller as they imploded, forming back up to follow Cain's command.
The haze expanded, enveloping the entire fleet—or what remained of it. Only three ships, including the Red Titan, survived.
There was little left to salvage, even the remaining men could only operate two ships.
'There just beasts, keep it together. They are lost in their instincts, they cannot have hopes and dreams, they are thoughtless animals'
Oh how far he had fallen. Cain had to psych himself up for the battle against the Deep Ones.
Despite their human-like appearance, they were not human. Yet, it shouldn't matter; what he was about to do bordered on genocide.
Perhaps these creatures possessed large numbers, even this massacre being nothing to them.
In the end, death was death, and killing remained killing. The question was whether if he could kill all of them
Cain made his decision; killing these creatures would ensure survival for him and his comrades. It was the optimal choice. Like a hunter in search of food, Cain embraced his role for survival.
Succumbing to his control, the bog of death descended upon the battlefield.
All eyes turned to the converging mist as it swept through the conflict. The cries of suffering animals filled the air—a sound akin to nails on a chalkboard. Many covered their ears to block out the noise.
The mist moved swiftly, targeting creature after creature, leaving only bones and scales behind.
Initially, the beasts continued to pour onto the ship, but witnessing the inevitable doom of their kin, they then retreated to the water.
Those who kept to the surface of the sea met a similar fate, though this time, only their upper halves were consumed. The smarter ones dove into the water before the majority of their flesh was ripped away.
Even so, as they dove underwater they became sustenance for their fellow brothers and sisters.
Watching his power in action, the crew gazed in awe as the fog withdrew, leaving Cain whole once more. Amazement and gratitude radiated toward him, and he responded with a smile.
Marko supported the injured Thomas on his shoulder, celebrating. Connie's victorious cry echoed with her four-armed triumph over the lifeless creatures. Even Dolion, reached in his jacket to grab his notebook, taking no pause to begin scribbling.
Connie announced their victory, her voice triumphant.
"HAHAHA, WE'VE WON! WE SURVIVED! LET'S CELEBRATE!"
Even Marko, fatigued, lived as though these could be his last moments.
"We'll count the losses later. For now, let's celebrate as if there's no tomorrow!"
The rapid change in mood was astonishing. Planks connected the damaged ships, and everyone indulged in drinks and made games with the dead fish folk.
Party games sprang up, from tossing the creatures overboard to arranging their bones. As the storm subsided and the deck bathed in light, the crew reveled in the moment.
Raising their mugs, the men cheered boisterously, a welcome release after the chaos of battle. Cain managed a faint smile amidst the revelry, though his exhaustion and churning guilt tempered his mood. Connie laughed heartily, already recounting embellished tales of her martial feats during the battle. Marko winced as he adjusted the bandage on his wounded leg, but soon joined in the impromptu dances.
For now, the terror of the Deep Ones receded into memory, while living in the moment took precedence.
Cain stood apart, holding a drink. He was distant, feeling accountable for most of the deaths.
'If only I had acted sooner... I should have been ready instead of brainstorming in my room...'
He spoke to no one as he kept to himself, not wanting to bear his thoughts in the event they ruin the mood. But even his mood was lifted as Lancey called him over.
Lancey had lost most of his arm, yet the potent drink numbed his pain. He wanted to study the Deep Ones' remains with Cain as they continued to their destination.
In this moment, he lived as though each second could be his last, he wanted to study the world until the end.