Chapter 21

The final check was unlike any before it. Sophia stood in the center, arms resting on the blazing middle. Kael, Arin, and Tharros formed a protective circle around her, feeding their combined energies into the system.

"Cognizance," Sophia said, her voice steady despite the maelstrom screaming within her. "sense the connection."

The room was bursting with enthusiasm. Magic streamed through the grid, combining with nanotech in a symphony of light and strength. The air crackled with intensity as the machine stabilized, shining brighter than ever before.

Sophia sensed the Leviathan's presence rise within her, a cold, invasive pressure that threatened to crush her. She clinched her enamel, directing the lightning and bending it to her will.

The center pulsed once or twice, and then-

It held.

Cheers erupted, but Sophia did not heed. She staggered lower back, her imagination and foresight swirling. Kael caught her before she fell, his hands steadying her shaking body.

"Sophia," he said urgently. "Are you-"

Her eyes flickered open, but they were unfocused and faraway. "It's coming," she said softly, her voice barely audible.

Tharros moved closer, his expression gloomy. "What's coming?"

Sophia fixed her focus on him, and for the first time, her eyes were filled with worry. "The leviathan. "It knows."

As the core's brightness faded, a chill descended over the chamber. The air became heavy and stuffy. Then, from somewhere deep within the city, they heard a low, guttural sound that sent shivers down their spine.

"What turned into that?" Arin inquired, her tone just above a whisper.

Tharros' jaws constricted. "The Leviathan's caution."

Kael strengthened his grip on Sophia, who went limp and breathed shallowly. The gathering lapsed into a tense stillness, the significance of their win obscured by the impending peril.

Outside, the seas of Aquaria darkened, and the town's bioluminescent glow faded into shade. The Leviathan moved in the depths, unseen but sensed.

A Beast Awakes

The sit-back in the water was unlike anything Aquaria had experienced previously. Sophia awoke to the low, rumbling sound that had pervaded the lab. It was not a dream. It became real, and it was growing closer.

Kael hovered near by, his trident in hand, and the acute discomfort in his shoulders revealed his unease. "You aren't sleeping," he said, softening his voice. However, his gaze kept darting closer to the opening, as if expecting something to break through at any moment.

Sophia forced herself up, her muscles throbbing. Her mind was still fuzzy, with echoes of the Leviathan's presence clawing at the edges of her awareness. "What's happening?"

Kael didn't respond right immediately. Instead, he offered a hand to comfort her. "We have to move. Now."

She should listen to it in actuality now-the sound of something massive, unrelenting, shifting through the depths. The bioluminescent glow outside the lab began to flicker, generating weird shadows that moved like living things.

Tharros strode into the room, his dragon charisma bursting with restrained power. "It's begun," he announced, his voice harsh and forceful. "The defenses are protecting for now, however we've were given incoming."

Sophia's stomach sunk. "what number of?"

His jaw stiffened. "Too many."

The streets of Aquaria have been a battleground. Corrupted marine monsters infested the metropolis, and their bureaucracy was ugly and inhuman. The formerly beautiful animals, now warped by the Leviathan's influence, surged toward the protecting grid, their bodies throbbing with black energy.

The grid remained active for a minute longer, throbbing with the combined power of magic and technology. However, as the bombardment intensified, fractures began to form. The critters had been learning, adapting, and fighting vulnerable conditions with an alarming intelligence.

Sophia and the others arrived at the relevant command hub, where Arin was already in charge of the protection forces. The ocean witch appeared more enraged than concerned, her hands flashing with magic as she issued instructions to the squaddies surrounding her.

"Finally," Arin exclaimed when she noticed them. "I concept I'd need to do this alone."

Tharros overlooked her tone. "reputation?"

"Awful," Arin replied simply. "Outer defenses are collapsing. The creatures are doing more than just assaulting; they are also inquiring. They are focusing on the weakest hyperlinks.

Sophia's heart was racing. This was not a random attack. It was organized. deliberate. The Leviathan wasn't trying them out; rather, it was staring at them.

The primary breach occurred shortly before Sophia arrived at the management station. A large creature, its body resembling a terrifying hybrid of shark and eel, slammed into the grid with enough force to send shockwaves ripping through the water. The grid flickered and finally died, leaving a gaping hole in the town's defenses.

Soldiers hurried to stop the breach, their weapons gleaming with magical power. However, the beast became merciless, tearing through them with terrifying efficiency.

Sophia gazed in dread as another wave of corrupted beings rushed through the breach. Panic spread like wildfire throughout the city, and the once-orderly security system collapsed into anarchy.

"We can't keep them like this," Kael replied, his tone harsh. "They're too sturdy."

Sophia's thoughts raced. The prototype protective device had worked during their tests, but it was not built for an attack like this. They needed more power and control.

"Arin," Sophia called, her voice cutting through the confusion. "We have to stabilize the grid. Can you amp up the magic?"

Arin's eyes shone with purpose. "I am able to try. However, if something goes wrong...

"It won't," Sophia remarked, referring to herself rather than anyone else.

Tharros has already begun to move. He charged into the fray, his body transforming into a dragon in midair. The transition evolved into something seamless and terrifyingly gorgeous. His golden scales shimmered in the faint light as he sliced through the enemy ranks with terrible precision.

The scene became both awe-inspiring and extremely disturbing. Sophia couldn't help but notice how the corrupted animals seemed to be aware of him and their actions were almost... helpful.

"They're attracted to him," Kael said, keeping her eyes. "They know he's the largest threat."

Sophia swallowed hard. If the Leviathan's servants were so well-coordinated, what does this imply about the entity in charge?

Arin's magic rushed through the grid, sending pulses of power outward. It labored for a moment. The creatures paused, their movements shaky as the enhanced energy severed their link to the Leviathan.

However, the win was fleeting. The largest of the creatures-a monstrous, massive beast with glittering purple eyes-let forth a bone-chilling roar. The sound echoed through the water, upsetting the precise balance they had just achieved.

The beast surged at the grid, its massive body connecting with the power barrier. Sparks flew as the grid strained from the effect, and the light dimmed as the device failed.

Sophia's heart raced as she rushed to adjust the dials. "We want extra electricity!"

"We don't have extra strength," Arin said, her voice tight with frustration.

Sophia's thoughts raced. They longed for a quick, dramatic response. After that, it hit her.

"What if we overload the grid?" she asked, an idea emerging as she spoke. "Redirect all the power to at least one point, create a feedback loop-"

"That could break the entire machine," Kael interrupted. "It's too unstable."

"It's already failing," Sophia said again. "If we don't try, we lose the entirety."

Tharros' voice boomed through the communications, his dragon shape making his words louder and more forceful. "Do it."

The strategy became hazardous, irresponsible, and possibly suicidal. Nonetheless, it was their most effective threat.

Sophia worked furiously on the controls, her palms shaking as she reconfigured the device. Arin stood beside her, her power shining brighter than ever as she directed electricity into the grid.

"Now!" Sophia exclaimed, pushing the final instruction into the machine.

The grid erupted in light, a brilliant burst of power that cascaded outward in a massive wave. The corrupted animals froze and convulsed as the energy shattered their link to the Leviathan.

For a time, it looked like they had won. The animals began to retreat, their documents disappearing into the shadows.

But suddenly, from the depths, came a legitimate that chilled Sophia's blood.

A roar. Deep, guttural, and filled with fury.

The Leviathan's shadow stretched over the city, its presence evident even from afar. The remaining animals gathered, their movements more orderly and functional. They weren't backing out. They've been getting ready.

Sophia glanced at the horizon, her heart sinking as the realization struck her. This was not the end. It was most useful at the beginning.

Kael's words interrupted her thoughts. "Sophia, what can we do?"

She did not have a solution. Not true, however. But as the Leviathan's roar boomed over the village again, she knew one thing for certain.

The battle for Aquaria had only just begun.

Tides of Unity

The council room reverberated with anxiety. Elders from all around Aquaria filled the chamber, their shimmering clothes reflecting their affiliations-Shark Clans, Dolphin Pod Seers, Coral Wardens, and more. Their bioluminescent patterns flickered with agitation, and the harsh murmur of whispered discussions resonated like the buzzing of angry bees.

Sophia stood in the center, her palms sticky with sweat. The weight of dozens of gazes fell on her, each pair of eyes assessing her as both rescuer and outsider. Tharros, a towering authority figure, and Arin, whose presence exuded chilly intensity, had stood at her sides. Kael lingered behind them, his silence unusual and his gaze distant.

"We have gathered here to discuss Aquaria's survival," Tharros began, his voice steady but tinged with inflammation. "And yet, you bicker like youngsters."

An elder of the Shark Clans snapped to attention. "Smooth to mention, King. You sit appropriately behind the palace partitions as the Leviathan unleashes its horrors on our waters!"

The room erupted in pandemonium, with voices clashing and factions hurling accusations. Sophia tightened her hands, her patience fraying.

"Enough!" she exclaimed, the force of her voice cutting through the din. The chamber grew silent, with all eyes drawn to her. "The Leviathan isn't interested in your rivalries or grudges. It wants to demolish everyone, and if we don't stand together, it will triumph.