Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 343: Land Maybe

While heading back to the mainland, a sudden splash to their left caught Dahlia and Yuki's attention when the boat rocked side to side. The water boiled, bubbles rising as a long, pale shape broke the surface, gliding just beneath them. Its body was too smooth, too fast, like a shadow made real.

Dahlia cast an Aether Blast into the monster, hitting only water, but its presence vibrated through the craft after escaping. ''We need to reach the next island,'' she stated. ''If we can make it before nightfall.''

The older woman didn't finish; words were useless against the monster lingering in the shadows, prompting her to cast more magic into it whenever the thing popped up, trying to attack the vessel. Seconds later, Yuki's tail flicked, big blue eyes fixed on something. ''There,'' she pointed out an island on the horizon.

An ominous dark outline jutted from the mist that settled over the ocean, the silhouette of a rocky shore streaked with black cliffs, looking like it came straight from a nightmare, but it was the only safety out there on the water. ''Land. Shelter, maybe. Or worse, but we have to get there.''

Following that, the boat shuddered as something brushed against it, then pulled away, letting out a low, dragging sound. Dahlia swallowed hard and paddled with all her strength, muscles burning, sweat stinging her eyes as she was already exhausted thanks to the crash and, the constant fighting and sleeping in the jungle back on the island.

Yuki braced herself, ready to strike, daggers scraping the wood. Moments later, a sudden wave hit from behind, sending them toward the shoreline. The brunette gripped the oar with white-knuckled hands, salt crusting her lashes. Beside her, the cat woman crouched low, pink hair plastered to her cheeks, one hand braced against the side as the craft shook.

The beach was close enough now that she could see shells, could smell the wet sand and crushed seaweed. Ten feet or less, and they'd be clear of the dangers coming from the ocean. Then everything stilled just before something punched up from beneath, lifting them clear of the water.

For a heartbeat, they hung suspended mid-air. Dahlia's stomach lurched; Yuki readied for an attack before the hull slammed back down. Wood cracked like a gunshot, causing the oar to jerk in her grip, nearly pulling her shoulder from its socket. The Deepsea Shark rose, each movement a promise of violence.

Following that, they saw the dorsal fin first, it was midnight black, taller than a man, and sliced the surface. Then the head: a blunt battering ram covered in obsidian skin. Barnacles the size of dinner plates clung to its snout. Its massive dark eyes were fixed on the boat, as if monster had find it's next meal.

Dahlia's gaze widened at the sight. Shock rooted her boots to the deck; horror coiled in her gut. Panic tasted like blood on her tongue. She had hunted Tier Nine Leviathans in the past; she had felt their Aether signatures like distant thunder. This thing was far stronger then Tier Ten.

'Where did this horror come from!' she thought.

Its aura pressed against her mind the way a glacier presses against stone, equal to her own power, maybe greater. Before anything could happen, Yuki's voice broke through the chaos, bringing her back to reality. ''Dahlia, move!''

She turned around, only to see the shark's mouth opens; it was a vortex of death, rings of serrated teeth spiraling inward, each row longer than her forearm. It exhaled, and the ocean obeyed. A whirlpool formed instantly on the boat's right, dragging them backward. The shoreline got further away, sand and safety slipping away.

Dahlia thrust both hands forward, fingers splayed into claws. Aether condensed between her palms, compressing into a sphere of searing violet-white. ''Yuki, hold on!'' she roared.

The Aether Blast detonated, a lance of Aether punched through the night and carved a smoking trench across the water's surface. It missed as the shark rolled, its massive bulk defying physics. The blast struck empty ocean, flash-boiling a plume of steam that hissed against the creature's hide.

When Dahlia saw this, she fired again, two blasts in rapid succession, then a third, each spell fired where she assumed the beast would go. Desperation fueled her casting; sweat stung her eyes. The spells arced wide, as if the shark were reading the intent behind her fingertips before the Aether even left her skin.

''It's learning!'' Yuki shoutedafter realizing their situation. ''Change the spell!''

The whirlpool got even worse as it sped up. The boat groaned, wood splintering as the suction tore at the hull. A wave slapped over the side, soaking them both. The shark's dorsal fin sliced the surface inches from her boots. Moments later, it spun around, heading in the women's direction. It's jaw widened, revealing a second row of teeth that hadn't been there a heartbeat ago.

Dahlia tasted blood where she'd bitten her tongue. The spells weren't missing because she was slow. They were missing because the shark was predicting her attack before it left her fingertips. It wasn't just stronger. It was smarter. And it was hungry. The shoreline was a cruel promise now, close enough to see the foam on the waves, too far to reach.

''Use your magic to throw us toward the beace,'' Yuki shouted.

The empress nodded as Aether crackled across her eyes as the beast suddenly vanished. For one heartbeat the sea went still. Then the world detonated as they were attacked. Their craft erupted in a geyser of splintered wood and water. Dahlia's ears rang; salt stung the raw scrape on her cheek.

She twisted mid-air and grabbedd Yuki's wrist as Aether surged from her palms, hot, violent, alive. It wrapped them both in a ribbon of violet fire, wrenching them sideways through the air. The shoreline rushed up: black sand, jagged shells, the stink of rot and iodine. They hit hard.

Sand exploded around them; Dahlia's shoulder took the impact, pain lancing white-hot down her arm. She rolled, dragging Yuki behind her, coughing. Not far away, the Deepsea Shark breached the water, jaws already yawning wide enough to swallow moonlight but she hit it with several blasts.

Explosions forced the monster back into the water, allowing the womentolet out breaths of relief. Dahlia collapsed, chest heaving as she used a lot of energy getting away from the Deepsea Shark. The cat woman sat up and commented with a giggle. ''That was close, maybe this place is pleasent, we don't want another jungle run.''

The older woman laughed as she sat up, shaking her head. ''Let's find a place to rest, I need to recover.''

***

While Yuki and Dahlia looked for sancutary, Raegar, alongside the two women were traveling deeper into the Old Ones world but he sensed something famalir, causing his Aether to react as he muttered. ''Is there another Fusion Knight here?''

''Huh?'' Drusilla turned around as he spoke.

He laughed at the blonde's reaction, revealing. ''I think we've found the third knight, but theres a off feeling.''

When the women heard this they smiled as Nivara commented. ''Isn't one on the Western Isle?''

''Yes,'' he answered. ''We'll head there after exploring the south.''

''I'm sure there's more of your soldiers in my lands,'' the Dark Elf tried to convince herself.

Following that, Raegar and the two continued traveling just as Arthur appeared beside him, surprising the trio,kneeling in front of him while speaking. ''My lord.This is Galahad, the twin blade. One of our brothers, we need to save him.''

''That's the plan, Art,'' he replied, amused. ''He belongs to me and the Old Ones have captured him.''

Just then, Shadow appeared beside the Blue Knight. ''My King, let us clear the way to the chamber so you can fight him.''

''Do it,'' Raegar responded.

After that, a portal opened and thousands of Fusion Soldiers rushed out, crashing into a horde of monsters. The two sides fought, sending blood everywhere as glowing red warriors carved through the humanoids. At the front two powerful knights cleared the way, shocking Nivara.

She turned to him, red eyes wide and full of amazement. ''This army is something else. How can you use such a force?''

Raegar closed the distance between them, his body casting a shadow over the Dark Elf as he leaned in, his breath warm against the curve of her ear. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, the scent of ancient forests and smoldering embers clinging to his skin.

''Because I'm your Ael'varyn,'' he whispered, his voice a low, resonant rumble that seemed to vibrate through her very bones. ''And the Fusion King.''

His lips brushed the sensitive tip of her ear before he gently nibbled, teeth grazing the soft, ashen-grey flesh with just enough pressure to ignite a spark. Nivara's breath hitched, a shiver racing down her spine like liquid fire. She shook her head and stepped back, beaming. ''Thank you, Rae.''