The morning air was thick with salt as I emerged from the depths, my body still glowing faintly with the energy of my recent evolution. The settlement stood on the cliffs above, its crude towers and stone walls now a welcome sight after the battle in the abyss. Yet, as I stepped onto the rocky shore, I noticed the silence—an oppressive stillness that carried an undercurrent of unease.
The hunters, normally bustling with activity this early, had gathered near the watchtower. Dren stood at the forefront, his usual stoic expression replaced by one of restrained disbelief. He had always been the first to speak, to take charge, but now his silence told me everything I needed to know.
I had changed.
When I reached them, the crowd parted, their eyes wide as they took in the faint glow emanating from my body. My claws, now longer and shimmering with a permanent trace of ethereal energy, were impossible to hide. Whispers rippled through the gathering.
"What is he?"
"Is this still Azrytharion?"
"He's one of them now... isn't he?"
Dren stepped forward, his spear still in hand. "What happened down there?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with an edge of caution. "We saw the light. Felt it. The ocean itself trembled."
I met his gaze, unsure of how to explain the transformation that had taken place. "I fought the Depth Beast," I began, my voice low but firm. "And I survived. But something… changed. The system—it forced me to evolve to match the beast's power."
His eyes narrowed. "You're Ethereal now?"
The weight of the question pressed down on me. I nodded. "Yes."
The response was immediate. Some hunters took a step back, their fear palpable. Others exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of awe and uncertainty. I couldn't blame them. Ethereal beings were the stuff of legend, creatures that walked the line between mortal and divine. To them, I was no longer one of their own.
Dren, however, did not waver. "If what you say is true, then you've become something none of us can even comprehend. But what does that mean for us? For the settlement?"
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "It means I'm stronger—strong enough to protect this place. Strong enough to push back the Depth Tides." My voice grew firmer as I spoke. "Whatever path I'm on, it's tied to this settlement. To all of you. I won't abandon it."
Dren studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Then prove it. Show us that this power doesn't make you a threat. That it makes you our ally."
Over the next days, I threw myself into the life of the settlement. I joined the hunts, using my newfound speed and strength to bring down beasts that once would have taken an entire team to subdue. I rebuilt barricades, reinforced watchtowers, and trained with the younger hunters, teaching them techniques I had honed in the depths.
But no matter how much I contributed, the tension remained. Whispers followed me wherever I went, and I could see the doubt in their eyes. They didn't know what to make of me—an Ethereal in their midst, neither fully one of them nor fully other.
It wasn't until the next Depth Tide that I earned their trust.
The tide came in the dead of night, its ferocity unmatched. Waves of beasts crashed against the settlement, their glowing eyes piercing through the darkness like stars in a violent sea. The hunters rallied, but it was clear they were overwhelmed.
I didn't hesitate.
Leaping from the watchtower, I dove into the fray, claws blazing with ethereal energy. The beasts fell before me in droves, their howls echoing through the night as I tore through their ranks. Where the hunters faltered, I stood firm, a living wall against the tide.
The battle raged for hours, but by the time the first rays of dawn broke over the horizon, the tide had been repelled. The beasts lay scattered across the shore, their lifeless forms a testament to the settlement's resilience.
And to mine.
As the hunters regrouped, their exhaustion gave way to a cautious respect. Dren approached me, his armor battered but his expression resolute.
"You've proven yourself," he said simply. "Whatever you've become, it's clear that you're on our side."
The others murmured their agreement, their fear tempered by gratitude. For the first time since my transformation, I felt a glimmer of acceptance.
But I knew this was only the beginning. The Depth Tides were growing stronger, and the gods were still watching. My evolution had given me power, but it had also painted a target on my back.
As I stood on the shore, staring out at the endless sea, I couldn't shake the feeling that something even greater was on the horizon.
And this time, I would be ready.