Nathaniel struggled to regain his composure after the violent strike from the giant fish. Water cascaded around him in turbulent waves, each movement of the currents threatening to push him off balance. His chest heaved, his muscles quivering under the strain, yet his mind was alive, alert, calculating. The sheer scale of the creature that had attacked him was staggering—its mass distorted the water like a moving mountain. He realized, with a growing sense of awe, that this river was not a simple body of water—it was a gateway, a portal to another realm entirely, a dimension where the rules he knew were warped, and where terrestrial dominance was a fragile illusion.
Every aspect of his being—strength, speed, endurance, and even the natural flow of his energy—had been diminished. His magical output, usually a torrent of raw power, now felt reduced to a mere whisper of its potential, roughly one-tenth of what he could normally muster. The currents pressed against him like living fingers, slowing his movements and testing his resolve. Nathaniel's mind raced, adjusting to the new reality. To survive here, he would need to think, not just fight; to strategize, not just strike.
Cornered, he focused on his right fist, channeling his magic into a single concentrated blow while keeping his left hand ready to defend against any sudden strikes. The whirlpool he created erupted around him, sucking in the turbulent water and generating a vortex that twisted violently, drawing his assailant closer. Black Xenos energy flared briefly around his strike, an echo of the unshaped, latent power that Eddy had once spoken about. The whirlpool twisted with dark energy, devouring anything within reach—ghost fish, the remnants of long-dead creatures, or even immortal entities lurking in the depths. The vortex became a small maelstrom of destructive force, a warning to any who dared challenge him.
Yet even as the whirlpool raged, Nathaniel could sense its weakness. The water itself suppressed him, limiting his full potential, acting almost as a sentient barrier against his power. He understood that in this place, he could not rely solely on raw strength. Every movement, every strike, had to be deliberate, precise, and perfectly timed.
Then, a shadow moved in the depths. A massive white shark emerged, its presence commanding and undeniable. This was no ordinary creature; it radiated authority and dominance, the true monarch of this underwater world. Its eyes glimmered with intelligence, and its voice—deep, resonant, almost musical—vibrated through the water and into Nathaniel's chest, as if speaking directly to his soul.
"Why did you do this to my people?" the shark demanded. The sound was simultaneous terror and awe, a presence both ancient and immediate.
Nathaniel blinked, taken aback. A talking fish, and one of unimaginable size, was confronting him. Still, he did not falter. "Why did I do this to your people? They should not have lingered in my path. Humans are, and always will be, the ultimate predators of all species—not the other way around," he replied, voice steady and unwavering, even as the suppressed Xenos energy trembled beneath the surface of his aura.
The Shark's massive form trembled with rage, darkening the water around it. Nathaniel recognized the signature immediately: this creature had an affinity for Xenos energy. He had been taught that Xenos was primarily associated with demons, yet here it was, a living paradox—a being wielding dark destructive energy without being a demon. His mind raced to understand the anomaly. This dimension, he realized, had rules and beings entirely different from the human and demon realms he knew.
"Child, what are you doing here? Who are you?" the Shark asked, its tone now laced with suspicion and authority.
Nathaniel smiled faintly, a hint of mischief brightening his eyes. "I came to fish, and I ended up in your world. The fish here are enormous, so I'd like to take one or two home. And… perhaps even you?" His words, lighthearted yet audacious, hung in the water like bubbles rising to the surface.
The Shark's expression hardened, muscles and scales rippling as it considered the boy. "This dimension was offered to us by a benefactor. Our old world was destroyed, and we were lost. He provided this refuge for us. I beg you—return to your world and do not disturb us further," it said, its voice carrying centuries of wisdom and experience, a calm power that could unnerve the bravest warrior.
Nathaniel tilted his head, impressed by the creature's intelligence. There was a nobility to the Shark, a dignity and awareness that demanded respect. He was about to comply, to retreat and respect the rules of this new world, when the Shark's eyes darkened, its tone sharpened, and deadly intent dripped from every syllable: "You will not bother us again… because you will die here!"
In an instant, the water around them warped as the Shark unleashed a massive attack. Dense black Xenos energy condensed into a spiraling, destructive mass, annihilating matter as it advanced. Water molecules vanished in its path, leaving a temporary vacuum, a void of pressure and chaos. Nathaniel acted instinctively, performing acrobatic flips and dives, leveraging the currents to gain speed and evade the onslaught. He felt the black energy brush past him, each strike like being hit by a colossal fist, yet he managed to shield himself, barely, with both hands. The force hurled him kilometers away, and he tasted the tang of brine and magical residue on his tongue.
"Die! Die! Die!" the Shark roared, launching multiple black masses simultaneously. The vortex of Xenos energy illuminated the water, painting jagged shadows on the underwater terrain. Nathaniel's focus sharpened. He projected a protective sphere, a ten-meter zone around himself, a shimmering bubble where attacks were nullified, purified, and erased. The struggle between his magic and the Shark's Xenos energy became a silent conversation, each testing the limits of the other.
"Only demons can manipulate Xenos," Nathaniel whispered to himself, analyzing the Shark's nature. "You must be a demon possessing this form." His mind raced, recalling Eddy's lessons on energy types, auras, and how intent could alter the manifestation of power.
The Shark's demeanor shifted. Its voice deepened, pupils now pitch-black, movements jerky yet imbued with supernatural strength. Laughter echoed through the water, resonant and dissonant. "And so what? I dwell deep within the layers of souls! You will never reach me!"
With blinding speed, the Shark lunged at Nathaniel, moving with a velocity that bent the eye and distorted perception, an almost light-like strike intended for close combat. Nathaniel braced, meeting the attack head-on. The impact of their fists created an explosion of water, bubbles, and energy, a shockwave that rippled for dozens of kilometers, pushing debris and smaller aquatic creatures in all directions. Each strike tested Nathaniel's reflexes, his control of magic, and his understanding of Xenos energy—even in suppressed form.
The confined underwater space magnified every sound and movement. The rhythmic thrum of Nathaniel's heartbeat matched the pulse of the currents. The water vibrated with energy, carrying echoes of past attacks and shaping his strategy. He danced with the Shark in three dimensions, dodging, weaving, striking, and countering, learning the flow of this strange realm. Every strike was a lesson in precision, every defensive movement a test of his growing power.
Finally, he drew his sword, the familiar weight grounding him amidst the chaos. His eyes narrowed, determination hardening every feature. This fight had to end, and Nathaniel knew instinctively that hesitation would mean defeat. He focused all his remaining energy, synchronizing the suppressed magic and Xenos within him. Every fiber of his being, every pulse of power, was directed at one goal: overcoming the Great Water King.
The Shark circled, calculating, probing, waiting for an opening. Its intelligence, honed over centuries, was formidable. Nathaniel observed carefully, timing his movements to anticipate its attacks. He noticed subtle patterns in the water, tiny fluctuations that betrayed the creature's intent. Every strike, every feint, became a dance of prediction and reaction. The boy's mind, sharpened by training and instinct, moved faster than the eye could follow, matching the Shark in both strategy and courage.
As he advanced, the currents themselves seemed to respond to him, bending around his strikes, carrying his aura and energy with greater efficiency. Nathaniel's pulse quickened, his connection to magic growing clearer, more refined. He realized that this realm was testing not just his strength but his adaptability, his ability to manipulate energy under constraints, to turn limitations into advantage.
The Great Water King lunged once more, immense jaws open, black Xenos aura coiling around its form. Nathaniel met the assault with a calculated sidestep, slicing his sword through the water with precise motion, creating a temporary vacuum to disrupt the Shark's momentum. Bubbles and waves collided in a tumultuous symphony, a dance of destruction and defiance.
For a moment, the boy and the Shark paused, locked in mutual assessment. Both understood the stakes—the boy's ingenuity and raw magical potential versus the creature's experience, raw Xenos power, and dominance over this dimension. Every pulse of water, every shimmer of energy, every flicker of the sword became a testament to skill, courage, and survival.
Nathaniel inhaled, focusing deeply, drawing on both fear and exhilaration. This was more than a fight—it was a trial of mastery, a challenge that demanded every ounce of his intellect, strength, and magical understanding. He adjusted his grip, angled his stance, and prepared for the next strike, knowing that the outcome of this battle would define his understanding of the world outside the bunker, of magic, Xenos, and the true scope of his own potential.
The river, the currents, the creatures, and the Great Water King itself were all part of a single lesson—a test crafted by the universe to shape him into the warrior he was destined to become. And Nathaniel, for the first time, felt the exhilarating certainty that he was not merely surviving this world. He was beginning to master it.