Darkness swallowed the cavern as the Deep Maw surged closer. Its body coiled like an endless serpent, pale skin shimmering faintly under the dim blue light.
Then the water moved. Not like a wave — but like a hand.
A current slammed into Lin, hurling him off the ledge into the lake. He tumbled, bubbles roaring past his ears.
Crystal's voice buzzed in his head: "Warning. Boss-class entity. Elemental control: water."
Lin flailed. "Oh great — it's a water-bender now!?"
---
The Deep Maw Attacks
The creature's massive jaws opened. The entire cavern seemed to breathe in, pulling the water — and Lin — toward its mouth.
Elara dove in after him, kicking furiously. "Swim! Don't let it drag you!"
Nyra raised her staff above the water, chanting. A column of wind burst downward, creating a bubble of air around them for a split second.
But the Deep Maw flicked its tail, and the currents reversed. The air bubble collapsed. Nyra was yanked under, staff spinning away.
Lin's chest burned. He clawed at the water, panic rising. "Crystal! I can't swim like this!"
"You can now."
A glowing prompt flashed before his eyes:
> [Skill Unlocked: Current Rider]
You can manipulate small water currents to boost movement and evade water-based attacks.
Lin's eyes widened. "Ohhh yes."
---
Lin Fights Back
He kicked, focusing on the skill. Threads of blue light swirled around his arms. The water seemed to grab him, then push him forward like a living river.
He shot past the Deep Maw's gaping jaws, narrowly dodging rows of teeth as it snapped shut behind him.
HP -5.
"Better than nothing!" Lin thought.
Elara fired a water-tipped arrow. It streaked through the water, striking the Maw's side and glowing briefly — then dissolved, absorbed into its body.
Nyra resurfaced, coughing. "Magic won't stick to it. It drinks water spells!"
---
The Monster's Power
The Deep Maw coiled again, its massive body blotting out the cavern ceiling. Its eyes glowed, and the entire lake churned like a whirlpool.
Water spiraled downward, dragging debris, fish, and the party toward the center. The glowing vines dimmed, ripped from the walls.
Lin gritted his teeth. "It's literally owning the whole biome."
Crystal purred: "Then use the biome against it."
"What?"
"The glowing vines. They're not plants. They're alive."
Lin's eyes snapped to the glowing strands still hanging from the ceiling, swaying in the currents.
---
The Plan
He swam toward one, wrapping it around his arm. "These are like electric eels, aren't they?"
"Stronger," Crystal replied. "And they hate being disturbed."
Lin grinned. "Perfect."
He yanked hard, tearing a clump free. The water around him flickered blue, and the vine sparked violently.
"Elara! Nyra! Push it toward the Maw's mouth!"
They stared at him. "What!?"
"Just do it!"
---
Cliffhanger
The Deep Maw opened its jaws again, currents sucking them in. Lin shoved the sparking vine into the flow, aiming for its throat.
The water lit up like lightning as the vine's charge spread. The Maw roared, the sound vibrating through their bones.
Lin's HP dropped, but the current around him reversed violently, hurling him back toward the ledge.
He surfaced, gasping. Behind him, the Deep Maw thrashed, the glowing veins along its body flickering erratically.
Crystal's voice was almost impressed. "Congratulations. You just gave a giant water monster an electric shock."
Lin coughed. "Yeah… but I think we just made it mad."
The cavern walls began to crack, water surging higher. The Maw's eyes blazed like cold stars.
To be continued…