The sea stretched in every direction, endless and restless. The ship creaked as it rode the waves, carrying warriors toward the island none of them truly understood.
Shayne leaned on the railing, staring at the water below. His reflection wavered on the dark surface.
"You've been quiet since we boarded," Elira said beside him, her hands folded behind her back.
Shayne's jaw tightened. "I'm thinking of Kael. My brother. He joined this tournament decades ago. No one ever saw him again."
Elira's eyes softened. "And you think you'll find answers here?"
"I have to," Shayne muttered. "If I can't… then at least I'll share his fate."
Before Elira could reply, a loud crash shook the deck. Ronan had just hurled a sparring partner into a pile of barrels.
"Is that all you've got?" Ronan roared, pounding his chest. "You call yourselves fighters? Pathetic!"
The defeated man groaned, clutching his ribs. A few others avoided Ronan's glare, muttering to themselves.
"Does he ever stop?" Elira sighed.
"People like him don't," Shayne replied. "They only grow louder the closer danger comes."
Near the mast, Vey sat on a coil of rope, silent as ever. His golden eyes gleamed with faint amusement, as if he was enjoying the storm brewing between the passengers.
Then the sky darkened.
At first, it seemed like clouds, but the speed was unnatural. Winds whipped across the deck, tearing ropes loose.
"Storm's coming!" the captain shouted.
The crew scrambled to secure the sails, but the sea was already raging. Waves rose higher than the hull, smashing against the ship. Lightning split the sky, illuminating terrified faces.
"This isn't normal," Elira muttered, holding the railing.
Vey finally stood, his voice calm in the chaos. "It is no storm. It is the arena calling to us."
Shayne frowned. "What do you mean—"
Before he could finish, the sea erupted. From the waves rose a colossal serpent made entirely of water, its glowing eyes locked onto the ship.
Gasps of horror spread.
"A sea beast?!" one man cried.
"No," Vey corrected, lips curving into a smirk. "A guardian."
The serpent lunged, its watery body slamming across the deck. Fighters scattered, weapons drawn. Shayne unsheathed his blade, planting his feet.
"Elira, stay close!" he shouted.
"I can fight too!" she retorted, drawing her twin daggers.
Shayne swung his sword, but the blade passed harmlessly through the serpent's liquid form. The monster hissed, striking again, smashing barrels to splinters.
"It's useless!" Shayne growled.
"Look!" Elira pointed. Inside the serpent's chest, a faint glowing orb pulsed like a heart. "That's its core!"
Before Shayne could move, Ronan charged with a roar. His fists blazed with raw energy as he leapt high, slamming his knuckles into the orb. The serpent screeched, thrashing violently.
"Die already!" Ronan bellowed, striking again.
Shayne joined him, slashing through the orb with his sword. Elira darted in, both daggers stabbing the glowing heart.
With a deafening roar, the serpent exploded into a torrent of water that washed harmlessly over the deck. In moments, the storm faded, leaving the sea eerily calm.
For a long moment, silence ruled. The fighters stared at Shayne, Elira, and Ronan, their faces pale with shock—or awe.
Then Vey clapped slowly, his smile razor-sharp. "Impressive. You three may actually survive."
Ronan snorted, wiping blood from his knuckles. "Hmph. Don't flatter yourself. I didn't need their help."
Shayne's eyes narrowed. "You say that, but you didn't finish it alone."
The tension between them sparked hotter than the lightning had moments before. Elira stepped forward quickly, her voice sharp.
"Enough. Save your strength for the tournament. If we tear each other apart here, we won't last a day inside that arena."
Ronan grunted but turned away. Shayne sheathed his sword. Vey only chuckled under his breath, returning to his shadowy perch.
Above them, the night sky cleared. Stars glittered, but an unease hung over the deck. The message was clear: the Forgotten Tournament had already begun testing them.
And only the strong—or the ruthless—would survive.