"Welcome to your First Dive, congratulations for being chosen by the Song!"
Aqua felt the world unleash itself before him. The sea started to appear before his
eyes, this time, not the one he was used to. He was on a new beach a desolate and
lonely beach, where it seemed no one had been in centuries. The waves fought against
the shore as if they wanted to leave the sea. Hoping to get out of that dreadful big blue.
Everyone, at least the ones that remained, knew that along with the First Dive, you got your first ability that would define how your powers would grow. In Aqua's case, this was shapeshifting.
Aqua's Ability: [Seaform Shifting, allows him to temporarily shapeshift into different sea creatures after killing them. He retains his human form but gains traits of the killed creature along with its powers]
Ability Activation: [After Aqua kills a sea creature, he can absorb a part of its essence, granting him the ability to shift into that creature for a limited time.]
Ability Limitations: [Aqua can only shift into creatures he has successfully killed.
The time he can remain shifted depends on the strength and complexity of the creature and his own comprehension of the creature. He can only have one creature's ability at a time.]
Physical Traits: [While in a shapeshifted form, Aqua's physical appearance changes to match that of the creature. For instance, he might develop gills, scales, or even extra limbs.]
Emotional Connection: [Shapeshifting allows Aqua to briefly experience the world from the perspective of sea creatures. This connection helps him understand and empathize with the sea's inhabitants.]
Aqua's satisfaction with his new powers was palpable, evident in the wide grin stretching across his face. However, the satisfaction was short-lived since it quickly morphed into surprise and alarm as a Minor Guardian crab emerged from the sand under his bare feet, its pincers poised to cut off his path. His grin vanished, replaced by a mixture of desperation and concern.
"You foul creature! How dare you lay a claw on my dearest subordinate" His voice crackled with a mix of anger and protectiveness. "Consider yourself fortunate this time." Agile and swift, he narrowly evaded the crab's assault and swiftly turned to sprint away from the threat.
He looked at the zone of his crotch, which was dangerously grazed by the crabs' claw and a tear ran down his cheek.
Glancing back at the formidable creature trailing behind, Aqua's resolve solidified. His internal thought echoed resolutely: 'This is far from over.'
The crab, an imposing figure, loomed large on the sandy shore. Its carapace, adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of ancient symbols, glistened in the sunlight.
Towering over Aqua like a menacing sentinel, it sported colossal pincers that could easily crush boulders. Each step it made was like a small earthquake that emphasized its power and authority.
The creature's eyes, gleaming with an otherworldly luminescence, locked onto Aqua with an unsettling intensity. Its movements, while deliberate, lacked the swiftness to match its size, an apparent contrast that Aqua now hoped to exploit. Despite the threat it posed, Aqua couldn't help but marvel at the sheer magnificence of this guardian crab, a living relic of the sea's mystic realm.
The First Dive was the first step towards descension, here aspirants made their first contact with the Ocean realm, where they had to find their way towards a landmark. Normally the aspirants that entered the same rift were sent towards the same region of the Ocean realm, so Aqua and Shio could hypothetically find each other and continue their journey together towards the landmark.
While Aqua was running for his life, Shio found himself in another perilous situation.
Shio's Ability: Beastmaster's bond, lets him establish a deep soul-bond with creatures of the animal type, allowing him to communicate and share their abilities.
Ability Activation: [Shio can establish a bond with an animal by spending time with it, sharing experiences, and demonstrating his trust. Once the bond is formed, he can communicate with the animal mentally.]
Ability Features:
[Communication: Shio can understand the thoughts and emotions of the bonded animal, allowing them to communicate silently.]
Shared Abilities: [Shio gains a portion of the animal's physical and sensory abilities while maintaining his human form.]
Empathy: [Shio can feel the emotions and sensations of the bonded animal, creating a strong emotional connection between them.]
Limitations: [Shio can only establish a limited number of bonds at a time due to the emotional and mental strain of maintaining the connections.
Bonded animals must be willing participants; Shio cannot force a bond.]
His gaze fell upon a creature that initially emanated an irresistible charm, an unsuspecting threat beneath those beautiful blue eyes.
A small form of ethereal beauty, the sea tiger cub was a tapestry of vibrant hues, that reflected the soul of the sea and mirrored the ever-shifting ocean. Its coat exhibited a breathtaking array of sapphire blues and emerald greens, rippling like the waves that caressed the shore. Playful stray arrays of sun danced upon its skin and caressed the little, but mighty creature.
With wide and innocent eyes, the creature looked at the world with the curiosity of a baby that had yet to know the horrors of the ocean. Those eyes were mysterious and intelligent, betraying the feline instincts of the cub. Its paws, adorned with shining webbing, hinted at its affinity for aquatic life, and as it moved, they shined like gems in the crown of a king.
The ethereal beauty of the beast captivated Shio, he felt mysteriously pulled towards the playful and magnetic sight. His heart melted with each mark that the creature left in the sand, as if the world needed to tell that the creature had been there sometime.
Shio approached the cub with gentle and innocent gestures. His intentions were pure, his instincts attuned to the harmonious connection he often shared with creatures of the wild.
Yet, as his fingers hovered above the cub, its demeanor changed, its eyes showed the primal instincts engraved in every creature. Eyes that narrowed and showed a hint of feral caution. The cubs playfulness now gone, replaced by an almost primal readiness to defend itself.
Shio's fingers trembled, inches away from the animal, his heart raced against his own chest and seemed to be winning the race, his body fully coated in cold sweat.
A low growl emerged from the cub's throat; a sound no little cub should be able to produce. The air around them grew charged with an aura of danger, a stark reminder that even in the realm of enchantment, instincts ran deep.
At that moment, Shio understood that appearances could be deceptive, and the allure of the sea's wonders often concealed a wildness that defied understanding. Not everything that shines is gold. That was something that would be engraved in Shio for as long as he lived. A lesson etched into his memory, a testament to the untamed heart that beat within the most captivating creatures.