Kael propels himself forward, spear glinting in the dim light of the abyss. The massive beast, coiled and ready, lunges at him, jaws wide. But Kael is faster. His spear strikes true, piercing through the thick, jagged armor of the creature's chest. The beast lets out a deafening roar, the force of it sending ripples through the water.
Kael feels the resistance as the spear sinks deep into the creature's flesh. Dark blood billows from the wound, staining the water around them. But he doesn't stop. Fueled by years of frustration and rage, he pulls the spear back and drives it into the beast again and again. Each thrust is precise, relentless.
The creature thrashes wildly, its tail whipping through the water in pain and fury. It tries to shake Kael off, but he holds firm, teeth gritted in concentration. His muscles scream with effort, but he keeps going. He's waited too long for this moment.
"You're not stopping me," Kael growls, his voice a low rumble.
But the beast, in its desperate fury, lashes out with its tail. Kael doesn't see it coming in time. The massive tail slams into him, sending him flying backward through the water. His body crashes into a jagged outcropping of rock, the impact knocking the wind out of him. Pain flares in his ribs, but Kael forces himself to focus, his vision blurring for a moment.
Kael considers chasing it for a moment, but then his thoughts snap back to the village. Time is running out. The Darkbound are rising, and every second he spends here is a second wasted.
"Not worth it," Kael mutters to himself, shaking off the pain as he steadies himself. His muscles still thrum with energy, but the urgency gnaws at him. He doesn't have time to waste.
With a deep breath, Kael turns his back on the retreating creature. He needs to reach the village, and fast. Every instinct tells him that they won't survive without him.
He swims upward with renewed speed, cutting through the water like a spear. No more beasts try to stop him. Nothing will now.
"They'll be okay," Kael whispers, remembering the faces of his family, as if reassuring himself.
Back at the village, the scene is one of chaos. The last line of defense has been drawn, and the hunters—both seasoned veterans and those recently retired—stand in a tight formation, weapons in hand, their eyes darting between the oncoming swarm of Darkbound creatures. The twisted forms of the abyss beasts crash into the village's outer barricades, shaking the coral walls and scattering sand and debris in all directions. The air hums with tension, the water thick with the scent of blood and fear.
An older hunter with battle scars tracing his arms, shouts over the roar of the fight. "Hold the line! Don't let them through! The village depends on us!" His voice is hoarse, but steady—strong enough to cut through the panic.
By his side is Korin, eyes wide but determined. He grips his spear tightly, knuckles white, glancing over at the place where the Abbyssian live. Even though he can't see it, he can hear it—the distant rumble of two titans locked in a life-and-death struggle.
"We shouldn't rely on that damned Abbyssian," one of the hunters growls as he thrusts his harpoon into the chest of a charging beast. "But gods help us, if it loses..."
Another hunter, an older woman with gray streaks in her hair, spits through clenched teeth as she swings her weapon. "If that thing falls, we all die. The abyss is bad enough without something worse coming from it."
Korin doesn't speak, his thoughts swirling. He hates the Abbyssian just like the others—after all, it's a monster that terrorized them for years—but today, for the first time, they're praying for it to win. They're praying for the enemy they know, because if the other creature wins… they won't stand a chance.
A distant roar echoes through the water, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. It's a deep, guttural sound that makes every head turn toward the Abbyssian. For a brief moment, even the beasts hesitate, their assault faltering. The clash of the two apex predators sends ripples across the ocean floor, shaking the sand and coral structures as if the very sea were splitting apart.
The village holds its breath as the roar echoes, louder and more terrifying than anything they've ever heard. The ground beneath them trembles, sending a shiver through every villager. The once-constant noise of battle falls into an eerie silence, and for a moment, it feels as though time itself has stopped.
Korin's heart pounds in his chest, his eyes locked on the horizon. "What was that…?" he whispers, voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.
Before anyone can respond, the answer crashes down upon them. With a thunderous thud, the severed head of the Abbyssian lands just outside the village, sending a shockwave through the ground that nearly knocks everyone off their feet. The massive, armored head, now lifeless and battered, stares at them with cold, unseeing eyes. Dark blood clouds the water around it, billowing out like a thick ink, staining the water with finality.
For a moment, no one moves. No one breathes.
One of the hunters stumbles back, dropping his spear as his eyes widen in horror. "No… no… It's dead… It's really dead!"
Panic sweeps through the crowd. Some scream, others fall to their knees, staring in disbelief. The Abbyssian—the creature that they feared, the one they hoped would hold off the nightmare—has been defeated.
"This is the end..." the older woman with gray-streaked hair whispers, her voice hollow. "There's nothing left to stop it."
Korin feels his stomach drop, a cold wave of dread washing over him. He watches as his fellow hunters look to the sky, their expressions twisted in despair. It's over. The one thing they feared most has come to pass.