The creature sank back into the depths, vanishing beneath the blackness before reappearing in the same corner where they had first spotted it. Its movements were deliberate, almost taunting.
Dante narrowed his eyes, analyzing every detail. He took a deep breath, steadying himself before speaking.
"…This thing is using the water to its advantage. It's not just fast—it has complete control of the terrain. On top of that, it commands sea creatures at will, and we still don't know the abilities of that trident. The shark bites had a toxic effect, which means we should assume every aquatic creature here carries some kind of affliction. And then there's the matter of its biology—it has gills, meaning it needs the water at times, but it can also breathe in this space just like we can."
His voice was measured, but the tension in his tone was undeniable. His mind raced through possible strategies, breaking down everything they had observed so far.
"There's something else… it doesn't seem to attack unless provoked. Both times it struck, either I initiated an attack, or Kieran was preparing to do so. That could mean it follows some kind of reactionary instinct, or it's simply waiting for the right moment to strike."
Kieran wiped the sweat from his brow, his grip on his staff tightening. "So how the hell do we kill it?"
Dante exhaled, eyes locked onto the creature, which remained motionless, watching.
"Our best shot? Electrify the water the next time it submerges. If we time it right, we could take it out in one strike."
SteelArm flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. "Want me to force its hand? If I act first, we can see if it immediately retreats into the water."
Dante shook his head disagreeing. "Kieran, prepare to strike. Fire a bolt at it. If it dives, use the spot where it tried to attack us last time—flood that section with enough voltage to fry anything inside. We might not get a second chance at this."
Kieran's eyes narrowed, his focus sharp as arcs of electricity crackled around him. He unleashed a powerful bolt toward the creature, but to their shock, the creature raised its trident high, and the weapon seemed to absorb the electrical energy. A faint, ominous glow radiated from the trident as it absorbed the magic like a sponge.
"Do… do you think the trident can absorb magic?" Elara's voice trembled as she took a step back, her eyes wide with fear.
Dante exchanged glances with SteelArm and Kieran, the implications weighing heavily on them. "Shit... If that trident can absorb our magic," Dante said, his voice low and intense, "then we're playing a dangerous game of just avoiding death."
Kieran clenched his jaw, frustration mounting. "Then what do we do? It's got a massive advantage now."
SteelArm stepped forward, his voice steady. "We need to force it to attack us, to see what else it can do. If it's waiting for us to strike, we have to change the dynamic. Kieran, can you keep your magic close to your body instead of firing it off? Use it to enhance your attacks without letting it escape into the trident."
Kieran nodded, determination in his eyes. "Yeah, I can channel it around myself and even empower others. But if it gets close enough, we have to consider that trident could potentially siphon my electricity, given its magical properties."
SteelArm's expression darkened as he frowned, the weight of their situation pressing on him. He sighed deeply. "Well... let's give it a shot. It's all we can do at this point."
The group nodded in agreement, their determination unwavering. Elara raised her staff, casting a protective buff on everyone. Dante summoned his spear once again, gripping it tightly in his good hand as he locked his gaze on the creature.
Electricity crackled and surged from Kieran's body, enveloping each member of the group. SteelArm's hands hummed with energy, and Dante's spear became a conduit of crackling lightning, sparks cascading down to the water below, instantly frying a fish that happened to swim too close.
The creature, sensing the charged atmosphere, focused on them and hurled its trident with deadly precision. The group instinctively scattered to avoid the incoming projectile. As the creature closed the distance to Kieran, he saw the threat and reacted in time. He created a small bolt of electricity in his hand before throwing the bolt towards it. The creature abruptly jumped back, halting its attack with a deft wave of its hand, summoning the trident back to its grasp.
Dante, fueled by the speed buff from Elara's spell, and the increase from the electricity pumping his heart quicker, darted behind the creature in an instant. "NOW!" he shouted, launching himself forward. His hands gripped the creature tightly, and he plunged his spear deep into its side.
Kieran seized the moment, channeling his magic into a torrent of lightning bolts that arced towards the creature, illuminating the dark waters. SteelArm charged in, his eyes locked on the trident. With a swift motion, he grasped the weapon, wrenching it from the creature's grasp and sending it spiraling into the cracks of the water below.
SteelArm and Dante leaped back as the bolts of electricity struck the creature, illuminating the dark space around them.
"W-was that it?" Dante stammered, eyes wide as he peered at the beast, which lay sprawled on the glass beneath them.
In a sudden, jarring movement, the trident shot back from the water, slipping into the creature's grasp as a swirling vortex of water encircled it. The beast's chest heaved with labored breaths, and it pushed itself upright, fury radiating from its every pore. With a primal roar, it unleashed a shockwave that shattered sections of the glass, creating gaping holes in the barrier.
Seventeen sharks burst through the openings, their predatory instincts honed in on the intruders. Three of them lunged at SteelArm, jaws snapping.
Without hesitation, SteelArm activated [Last Light of The Earth's Pride], his body radiating a brilliant glow as he fortified his defenses. The sharks' teeth clashed against his skin, but they shattered harmlessly, falling away into the depths. With a determined glare, he raised his foot above the struggling sharks, then brought it crashing down, slamming his weight onto them with unrelenting force.
The impact resonated through the glass, sending ripples across the surface as the remaining sharks recoiled, temporarily disoriented. SteelArm stood firm, his protective aura shimmering brightly, enveloping everyone nearby in a shield of absolute defense.
As if caught in a moment of collective clarity, the sharks in the vicinity slumped to the ground, unable to sink their teeth into the intruders.
With their bodies aglow in a radiant white aura, the group turned their attention to the creature, which was recovering from its earlier assault.
"Are we all thinking the same thing?" Dante asked, glancing down in surprise to find that his hand had miraculously returned, fully functional.
Kieran cracked his knuckles, ripping the sleeves from his shirt as arcs of electricity crackled around him, charging the atmosphere. "We pressure this son of a bitch until it dies, pummeling it with our fists?"
"Sounds delightful," SteelArm replied, his voice laced with cold determination. In an instant, they surged forward, united in purpose. Elara swiftly cast a spell to enhance their damage, layering them with multiple speed and resistance buffs, her magic weaving through the air like threads of light.
With their powers amplified, the trio charged toward the creature, ready to unleash their fury.
The creature's dark, predatory eyes widened as it caught sight of the blinding light radiating from the group, a stark contrast against the murky depths. Realizing it was outmatched, it instinctively recoiled, but it was too late.
Dante, Kieran, and SteelArm pressed their advantage, charging forward with fierce determination. With a swift motion, Dante thrust his spear forward, piercing the creature's side as the others joined the fray, unleashing a flurry of powerful blows.
Kieran unleashed a barrage of lightning, arcs crackling through the water, electrifying the creature from all sides. SteelArm, emboldened by the shimmering aura surrounding them, slammed his fists into the creature's body with bone-crushing force, each impact reverberating through the glass and sending shockwaves through the water.
As the creature roared in agony, thrashing in a desperate attempt to break free, it began to falter. The vibrant colors of its scales dulled, and its predatory eyes dimmed. With a final surge of energy, it lunged at SteelArm, but the powerful warrior met it head-on, his aura enveloping them both.
In a climactic moment, SteelArm delivered a decisive blow, his fist connecting with the creature's jaw, sending it crashing into the glass with a thunderous impact. The barrier trembled, but held strong as the creature's form slumped to the ground, lifeless.
"Did we really just kill it like that?" Dante gasped, his heart racing as the electricity surged through his veins.
Kieran's grin widened, fueled by a rush of pride and excitement. "Hell yeah, we did! We took that son of a bitch down by pummeling it!"
SteelArm, ever vigilant but allowing himself a moment of triumph, nodded in agreement. "We fought as a team and came out on top. That's what counts."
As they stood basking in their victory, a shimmering gate materialized before them. Without hesitation, they stepped through, and in an instant, the familiar landscape of Elko, Nevada greeted them once more.