Chapter 71

"The trench is too deep for you," Kael argued. "Your transformation isn't complete."

"I've modified my diving gear," she countered. "It will hold until we reach the portal."

Arin touched Sophia's cheek gently. "You're as stubborn as a sea turtle."

"I learned from the best," Sophia smiled.

Around them, the carrier bustled with final preparations. News helicopters circled overhead, broadcasting the mission to an anxious world. Social media had dubbed it "Operation Blue Light"-a name that had caught on faster than any government designation.

Dr. Chen approached, carrying a small device. "A final addition," he said, handing it to Sophia. "It's calibrated to your unique energy signature. If things go wrong at the trench..."

"A backup plan," Sophia nodded, securing it to her belt. "Thank you."

As the sun climbed higher, the time for departure grew near. Sophia gazed at her three partners-the dragon king who had captured her heart, the warrior who had taught her strength, and the sea witch who had shown her magic's true nature.

"Whatever happens," she said softly, "I'm grateful for finding you all."

Tharros leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. "This isn't an ending, Sophia. It's a beginning."

The aircraft carrier's horn blasted, signaling the start of the mission. Around the world, teams moved into position, carrying hope in the form of glowing blue devices.

Sophia took a deep breath as she zipped up her specialized diving suit. Her transformation wasn't complete, but she could feel it continuing-scales forming beneath her skin, lungs adapting to process water as well as air.

"Operation Blue Light commences in T-minus sixty minutes," announced a voice over the loudspeakers.

The four of them stood at the edge of the carrier, looking down at the dark water below. Somewhere in those depths, a portal spewed corruption into their world. Somewhere in those depths, the fate of two realms would be decided.

"Ready?" Sophia asked, her voice steady despite her racing heart.

Without waiting for an answer, she jumped first, diving into the cold embrace of the ocean. The splash she made was small-almost delicate-but the ripples would soon grow into waves that would change everything.

Her partners followed, their human forms melting away as they entered their true element. Tharros's massive dragon shape cut through the water, Kael's powerful mer-form propelled him downward with incredible speed, and Arin's witch-lights illuminated their descent.

As Sophia kicked deeper, adjusting her breathing apparatus, a single thought filled her mind:

The deepest darkness is where light shines brightest.

But whether their light would be enough to close the portal, only time would tell.

Worlds Collide

The deeper they dove, the darker the ocean became. Sophia's specialized diving suit glowed with soft blue light, helping her see through the murky water. Even with her partial transformation, the pressure squeezed her chest, making each breath a struggle.

Ahead, Tharros's massive dragon form cut through the water, his scales shimmering like living metal. Kael swam in graceful arcs, his powerful mer-tail propelling him forward. Arin's hands wove patterns in the water, creating a protective bubble that helped shield them from the worst of the pressure.

"How much further?" Sophia asked through their communication system.

"We're approaching the edge of the trench," Tharros replied, his voice rumbling even through the water. "But something's wrong."

The water ahead had turned an unnatural purple, swirling with dark energy. Tendrils of corruption reached up from the depths like grasping fingers.

"They know we're coming," Kael said grimly.

Sophia checked her watch. "Twenty minutes until global activation. We need to place our nodes at the source."

Arin pointed downward. "There. I can sense the portal's energy signature."

Far below, a pulsing purple light marked the spot where the Voidcallers had torn through the fabric between realms. Even from this distance, Sophia could feel its wrongness-like a splinter in reality itself.

"I'll go first," Tharros decided, diving deeper.

The corruption thickened as they descended. Purple tendrils brushed against them, testing, probing. One wrapped around Sophia's ankle, sending icy pain shooting up her leg. She cried out, struggling to free herself.

Kael was at her side in an instant, slicing through the tendril with his blade. "Stay close," he warned.

At the bottom of the trench, the portal pulsed like a sick heart. It wasn't large-perhaps the size of a car-but its edges constantly shifted and stretched, trying to grow wider.

"The nodes," Sophia reminded them, fighting through the pain in her leg. "We need to position them in a triangle around the portal."

Each of them carried one of the special purification nodes. Designed to work in harmony, the devices would create a stabilizing field that would allow natural magic to flow while keeping the corruption contained.

Tharros placed his node first, wedging it firmly into the ocean floor. It activated immediately, glowing with bright blue light that pushed back the purple darkness.

"Hurry," he urged. "The corruption is fighting back."

Kael swam to the opposite side, placing the second node. Its blue light joined with the first, creating a shimmering arc across the portal.

As Arin moved to position the third node, a massive tendril burst from the portal itself, wrapping around her waist and yanking her toward the opening.

"Arin!" Sophia screamed, pushing off the ocean floor toward her friend.

Arin struggled against the tendril's grip, her face contorted with pain. The node slipped from her hands, tumbling toward the abyss.

Without thinking, Sophia dove after it. The pain in her leg forgotten, she pushed herself faster than she'd ever moved in water before. Her fingers closed around the device just as another tendril whipped toward her face.

She twisted away, but not quickly enough. The tendril slashed across her diving mask, cracking it. Water began to seep in.

"Sophia!" Tharros roared, swimming toward her.

But Sophia wasn't listening. Her focus narrowed to one task-placing the final node. With water filling her mask, she kicked toward the third position in their triangle.

Five minutes until global activation.

Above them, Kael had managed to free Arin from the tendril's grip. They fought side by side, keeping the corruption at bay while Sophia completed their mission.

Sophia's lungs burned. Her diving system was failing, and she wasn't transformed enough to breathe water naturally. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision as she forced herself forward.

Three minutes.

With the last of her strength, she slammed the third node into position. It activated instantly, completing the triangle. Blue light surged from all three devices, connecting in a perfect triangle around the portal.

Two minutes.

Sophia felt herself drifting, consciousness slipping away as water filled her lungs. Then strong arms wrapped around her waist. Through blurry eyes, she saw Tharros's face, human again, his expression fierce with determination.

One minute.

Across the world, teams moved into position. On beaches and ships, in submarines and diving bells, humans and Aquarians worked together to activate the remaining purification nodes. In the White House situation room, the President watched anxiously as dots of blue light appeared on their global map.

Thirty seconds.

In the trench, Tharros tore Sophia's damaged mask away. She gasped, water rushing into her mouth. But instead of drowning, something miraculous happened. The partial transformation inside her body accelerated, driven by desperation and the magic surrounding them. Gills opened along her neck, drawing oxygen from the water.

Ten seconds.

"Breathe, Sophia," Tharros urged. "Just breathe."

She did, and for the first time, water flowed through her newly formed gills, bringing blessed oxygen to her starving lungs.

Three... two... one...

Across the globe, all purification nodes activated simultaneously. A wave of blue energy spread outward from each device, creating a network of light that encircled the planet. Where the energy waves met, they strengthened each other, forming a stable barrier that allowed natural magic to flow while repelling corruption.

In the trench, the effect was immediate and dramatic. The portal shuddered, its edges contracting as the blue energy forced it closed. Purple tendrils withered and dissolved. The water cleared, returning to its natural dark blue.