The sea serpent roared again, and the chamber immediately responded.
RUMBLE
RUMBLE
RUMBLE
The ground beneath them trembled as jagged rocks erupted from the floor, aimed directly at the trio.
The plants that had once adorned the serpent's scales with an almost peaceful beauty now twisted and writhed, their vines lashing out like living whips, sharp thorns and spikes glinting dangerously in the faint light.
'Damn it I need to bring this serpent under control somehow, or atleast quell its rage somehow,' Nereus's mind raced, the urgency of the situation pressing down on him, 'but the Spatial Pearl was right there—just one decisive move, and it could be mine again.'
But as another rock, larger than the last, shattered against Triton's barrier, he knew what had to be done.
He tore his gaze from the pearl and focused on the serpent.
His past self would have found a way to bend this creature to his will, and now he had to do the same in this new life.
Drawing upon his deepest reserves of sea essence, Nereus began to channel his energy outward, projecting it toward the serpent.
"Argh" he groaned in effort
The essence pulsed with his intent, he tried wrapping his intent around the beast's very spirit like a soothing current however at the last moment the connection started breaking.
'Damn it, I should be able to connect with it no problem … something has to be causing interference...'
"Listen to me," Nereus tried again, his voice firm yet gentle, carried unsteadily on the waves of sea essence. "We are not your enemies. This is not a battle you need to fight."
The serpent hesitated, its massive head lowering slightly as if hearing him. The rocks that had been flying toward them slowed in their trajectory, the vines retracting, though still tense and ready to strike.
Nereus could feel the beast's anger, a deep, primal force that had been stoked by the intrusion into its lair.
But he could also sense something else—fear, confusion, a desire to protect itself.
The sea serpent lunged again, but this time Nereus stood his ground. He reached out with his senses, trying to connect with the creature.
After some time a wave of memories began to wash over him, ancient and powerful in their entirety.
As Nereus had mentioned before, the Leviathans had created the sea serpents millennia ago, breeding them as subordinates to guard them and their realms.
The sea serpents were also intelligent, and fiercely independent and powerful beings, but they were also made to be fiercely loyal to their Leviathan progenitors.
"Stop!" Nereus commanded, his voice imbued with the authority of his lineage.
The sea serpent paused, its massive head swaying as it regarded him with curious eyes.
Jonny and Triton watched in astonishment as Nereus swam closer to the creature. He reached out a hand, his mind open, projecting calm and reassurance.
"We are not your enemy." Nereus whispered, his voice barely audible as he concentrated.
The serpent's eyes, glowing with a fierce light, bore into Nereus's, and for a moment, he wasn't sure if his words had reached it.
Then, slowly at first, the tension in the chamber began to ease.
The rocks settled back into the earth, the plants withdrew their thorns, and the water calmed.
The serpent's massive form, still imposing, seemed to relax, its anger quelled—though not completely extinguished.
It moved closer, its massive body coiling around them protectively. At that moment Nereus decided to test his luck and placed his hand on its snout, feeling the ancient connection between them slowly strengthening.
"Who are you?" Nereus asked, his voice gentle.
The serpent's eyes gleamed with intelligence. "I am Eve," it replied, its voice echoing in their minds. "I was sealed within this maze long ago by the Mer. Why have you come here?"
Nereus allowed himself a moment of relief. He had managed to establish a fragile peace, and now he could—
"Hold it right there!"
The sudden shout shattered the calm like a broken mirror.
Nereus spun around, his heart sinking as he saw the last thing he wanted at that moment.
Devran, Ruth, and Rave had entered the chamber, their expressions a mixture of determination and barely concealed excitement.
Each of them was ready for a fight, and the sight of the essence crystals had undoubtedly fueled their ambition.
The sea serpent, sensing the new threat, began to stir once more, its eyes narrowing with renewed anger. Nereus felt the delicate thread of control slipping from his grasp, as the serpent's rage began bubbling back up to the surface.
"Damn it," he cursed under his breath, knowing that the fragile peace he had fought to create was about to be shattered. And this time, he might not be able to stop what was coming.
The chamber, once again, bristled with tension as the air thickened with the impending clash.
Unfortunately in the next moment his fears were proven correct as in seemingly the blink of an eye the chamber erupted into chaos as the sea serpent, roused by the sudden intrusion of Devran, Ruth, and Rave, roared with renewed fury.
Its massive form coiled and twisted through the water, sending shockwaves that rattled the walls and dislodged loose rocks.
BOOM
RUMBLE
Triton and Jonny exchanged a quick glance, both realizing the precarious situation they were in.
"We need to keep it distracted!" Triton shouted, diving toward the serpent's side.
He summoned a torrent of water, spinning it into a vortex that lashed at the serpent's scales.
Though the attack landed perfectly and even succeeded in knocking some scales off the area where it landed, to everyone's surprise the area glowed a light green before immediately healing.
Swallowing his shock at the sight Triton was grateful that the attack though ineffective at least served its purpose—drawing the creature's attention away from Nereus, even if only for a moment.
Jonny, on the other hand, darted around the chamber, his movements quick and erratic, hoping to confuse the beast.
He sicced his shark constructs on the serpent, aiming for its eyes and sensitive areas, anything to keep it off balance.
"Come on, you big brute! Over here!" he taunted, though his voice betrayed the underlying fear.
SNAP
The serpent snapped its head toward Jonny, its massive jaws snapping shut inches from where he had been moments before.
"Fuck that was too close!" he breathed out shakily.
He barely dodged the attack, but with his heart still furiously pounding in his chest he continued to bait the creature, leading it away from where Nereus was focused.