The explosion sent a wave of heat crashing over the mansion's grounds. The once serene coastline was now a battlefield, the echo of gunfire and the distant roar of the ocean mixing in a cacophony of violence.
Nereus's pulse quickened as he stood frozen on the steps of the mansion, watching Victor's men rush to their posts, weapons drawn and eyes sharp.
Victor, with his usual calm intensity, had already leapt into action, issuing orders with a precision that bordered on ruthless. "Luca, secure the back. Make sure no one gets through. We can't afford to be flanked."Luca nodded and disappeared into the shadows, his gun glinting in the dim light.
The guards moved swiftly into formation, each one knowing their role in this well-practiced dance of war. Nereus felt out of place, an observer in a world he didn't fully understand. But something deeper stirred within him—a force older than any battle, older than the conflict between humans.
The ocean churned angrily in the distance, the waves growing taller and more violent by the minute. Nereus could feel it in his bones: the sea was reacting to something far beyond the Trident's attack.
It was ancient, primal, and it was coming closer.Victor stood beside him, his face a mask of concentration. His hand found Nereus's arm, squeezing lightly. "Stay close. We'll get through this."Nereus nodded, but the fear inside him had begun to morph into something else.
The ocean's call was growing louder, more insistent. He could feel its power deep within him, a storm raging not just in the waters, but inside his own heart.
The first wave of Trident's men came charging up the beach, guns blazing. Victor's guards responded in kind, and the once peaceful mansion grounds erupted into chaos. Nereus felt his body tense, instincts kicking in as he watched the battle unfold.
He wanted to help, to fight alongside Victor, but he wasn't sure how.Another explosion shook the ground, this one closer. Nereus stumbled, but Victor's hand was there, steadying him.
"Go inside!" Victor ordered, his voice rough with authority. "You're not safe here!"But Nereus shook his head. "I can't leave you."Victor's gaze softened for a brief moment, despite the chaos around them.
"I'll be fine. Please, Nereus, go inside!"Before Nereus could respond, the ocean roared behind them, louder than before. It was as if the sea itself had been unleashed. Nereus's breath caught in his throat as the waves began to surge higher, crashing against the shore with unnatural force.
And then, through the darkness, something emerged from the water—something massive, something ancient.It was a creature unlike anything Nereus had ever seen.
Towering above the waves, it looked like it had been forged from the very depths of the ocean, its body a swirling mass of water and shadows.
Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and as it stepped onto the shore, the earth trembled beneath its weight.Victor cursed under his breath, pulling out his gun and pointing it at the creature. "What the hell is that?"Nereus didn't have an answer. His heart raced as he took a step back, fear and awe warring inside him.
The creature's gaze locked onto him, and for a brief moment, Nereus felt something ancient stir within his soul—a connection to this being, to the ocean's wrath."It's here for me," Nereus whispered, the realization dawning on him. "It's not just Trident. This… this is something else."Victor's grip on his gun tightened, his face hardening.
"Then we fight it.""No," Nereus said quickly, stepping in front of Victor. "You can't fight this. This is beyond us."The creature roared, its voice like the crash of a thousand waves, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Victor glanced between Nereus and the beast, his jaw clenched in frustration. "I'm not letting it take you."Nereus's chest tightened at Victor's words, the depth of his resolve hitting him hard. But this wasn't a battle Victor could win with guns and strategy.
The power of the ocean was older, more dangerous, and if Nereus didn't stop it, they would all be consumed.Nereus stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. The creature watched him, its glowing eyes narrowing as he approached. He could feel the ocean's pull growing stronger, like a tidal wave threatening to sweep him away.
"I have to stop it," Nereus said, more to himself than to Victor.
"I have to… calm it."Victor grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "You're not doing this alone."
"I don't have a choice," Nereus replied, his voice trembling with fear and determination. "This is my world, Victor. I have to face it."Victor's hand lingered on his arm, his dark eyes searching Nereus's. "I'm not losing you."Nereus felt a lump form in his throat.
Despite the chaos, the gunfire, the monstrous being looming in the distance, all he could think about was Victor—about the connection they had built, the unspoken bond between them. He didn't want to leave him. But if he didn't face this creature, it would destroy everything.
"You won't," Nereus whispered, his hand brushing against Victor's.
"But I need to do this."Before Victor could stop him, Nereus stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest.
The creature watched him closely, its massive body looming over the beach like a dark storm cloud. Nereus closed his eyes, reaching deep inside himself, feeling for the power he had long denied.The ocean responded instantly.
He could feel the water moving with him, its currents surging and retreating in time with his breath. The creature hesitated, its glowing eyes flickering as it sensed the change in Nereus.
"I don't know who you are," Nereus said, his voice steady now. "But I know you're part of the ocean. And I am, too."The creature roared again, but this time it wasn't a sound of aggression—it was something deeper, a sound of recognition.
Nereus felt the connection between them grow stronger, like a current pulling him deeper into the ocean's depths.He raised his hands, and the waves followed his command, swirling around him and the creature in a powerful vortex.
The creature paused, its eyes flickering between Nereus and the ocean, as if trying to understand what was happening.
"You don't have to fight," Nereus said softly, his voice carrying over the wind.
"I understand. I'll help you."For a moment, everything was still. The creature stood motionless, the ocean's rage calming with every word Nereus spoke.
Then, slowly, the creature lowered its massive form, the swirling water around it receding back into the sea.Nereus let out a shaky breath, his heart pounding as he felt the tension release.
The creature bowed its head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment, before turning and disappearing back into the ocean's depths.
The beach fell silent, the only sound now the gentle lap of the waves against the shore. Nereus swayed, the effort of controlling the ocean leaving him exhausted. But before he could fall, Victor was there, catching him, pulling him close.
"You did it," Victor whispered, his voice rough with emotion.
"You stopped it."Nereus leaned into him, his breath shallow.
"I don't think it's over yet. This was only the beginning."