Ascension of the Ocean’s Goddess

The eerie quiet of the trench pressed down on Merilla and Renar as they rested after the battle with the shadow eel. Although the predator was gone, the chill it left behind lingered, crawling through the water like a ghost.

"Do you think it's coming back?" Renar asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His trident hung loosely in his grip, but the tension in his body betrayed his unease.

Merilla shook her head, her gaze fixed on the spot where the eel had vanished. "No. It's gone. But that doesn't mean we're safe."

She turned back to the Coral Codex, its faint glow steady now, as though it had returned to a calm state. The cryptic warning from her vision still echoed in her mind: Power draws attention, and not all currents are kind.

Renar floated beside her, his tail flicking nervously. "You've been quiet since… whatever that was with the Codex. Are you going to tell me what you saw?"

Merilla hesitated, then nodded. "It was… strange. I wasn't here anymore. I was somewhere else, surrounded by water, but it felt alive—more alive than any part of the ocean I've ever known. There were these figures, shadows moving in the currents, and a voice. It told me that the Codex is a key and that we've drawn attention."

Renar frowned. "Attention from what?"

"I don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration. "But whatever it is, it's already starting. That eel wasn't just hunting—it was drawn here."

Renar's grip on his trident tightened. "Great. So now we're not just training to master a martial art but also fending off whatever monsters this is summoning?"

Merilla glanced at him, her lips curving into a faint smile. "You could always leave, you know."

Renar snorted. "And miss all the fun? Not a chance."

Despite his humor, Merilla could see the worry in his eyes, and she couldn't blame him. She felt it too—a weight pressing on her, the knowledge that their journey was becoming more dangerous each day.

Still, she couldn't stop now. The Codex had chosen her, and she was responsible for seeing this through.

"Let's keep training," she said, her tone firm. "Whatever's coming, we need to be ready."

The following week passed in a blur of relentless practice. Merilla pushed herself harder than ever, refining her movements and exploring the depths of the Flowing Current Technique. The Codex continued to reveal new patterns and forms, each more complex than the last.

Renar struggled to keep up, but his determination never wavered. While Merilla's connection to the Codex gave her an almost instinctive understanding of the art, Renar had to rely on sheer effort and repetition. Even so, his progress was undeniable.

"You're getting better," Merilla said one day as they rested on the trench floor.

Renar groaned, rubbing his sore shoulders. "I'll take your word for it. Right now, it just feels like I'm flailing around."

She chuckled. "That's because you're overthinking it. The ocean isn't something you can control—you have to become a part of it. Stop fighting the current and let it guide you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Easy for you to say. You've got a magical Codex feeding you all the answers."

Merilla smiled but didn't reply. She knew he was right, but she also knew that the Codex's power came with its own burdens.

Later that evening, as they prepared to leave the trench, a strange sound stopped them. It was faint at first, a low, rhythmic hum that seemed to vibrate through the water.

Renar froze. "What is that?"

Merilla's heart skipped a beat. She scanned the trench, her eyes narrowing as she searched for the noise source.

The hum grew louder, accompanied by a strange shimmering in the water. The light was bending, creating ripples that distorted the space around them.

"Get behind me," Merilla said, her voice low and steady.

Renar didn't argue. He moved to her side, his trident at the ready.

The shimmering intensified, and a figure emerged out of the darkness.

At first glance, it appeared to be another merfolk, but something about it was… off. Its skin was an unnatural shade of gray, and its eyes glowed with an eerie, pale light. As it swam toward them, its movements were jerky, almost mechanical.

"Who are you?" Merilla called out, her voice firm.

The figure didn't reply. It stopped a short distance away, its glowing eyes fixed on the Coral Codex.

Merilla's grip on her staff tightened. "I said, who are you?"

This time, the figure responded, but not with words. Instead, it raised its hand, and the water around it began to churn violently.

"Look out!" Renar shouted.

Merilla barely had time to react as a powerful wave surged toward them. She spun through the water, narrowly avoiding the attack. Renar wasn't so lucky—he was caught in the wave and thrown against the trench wall with a grunt of pain.

"Renar!" Merilla cried, her heart pounding.

"I'm fine!" he said, though his voice was strained.

The figure lunged toward her, its movements impossibly fast. Merilla raised her staff just in time to block its strike, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the water.

It wasn't just strong—it was skilled. Every move it made was calculated and precise, as though it had studied her technique and adapted it to its own.

Merilla gritted her teeth, focusing on the teachings of the Codex. She moved with the current, her body flowing around the figure's attacks like water around a stone.

But it wasn't enough. The figure was relentless, its attacks growing faster and more aggressive with each passing moment.

Renar struggled to his feet, his trident at the ready. "Merilla, watch out!"

She turned just in time to see the figure unleash another powerful wave, this one aimed directly at her. She braced herself, channeling the energy of the ocean into her movements.

She surged forward with a burst of speed, dodging the wave and striking the figure with her staff. The impact sent it reeling, but it quickly recovered, its glowing eyes narrowing in anger.

Renar joined the fight, his trident slicing through the water as he attacked from the side. Together, they managed to push the figure back, their movements perfectly synchronized.

But the battle was far from over.

The figure raised both hands, and the water around it began to shimmer again. The light coalesced into an energy sphere this time, crackling with power.

Merilla's eyes widened. She didn't know what it was about to do, but she knew it couldn't be good.

"Renar, get down!" she shouted.

He dove to the side just as the figure released the sphere. It exploded outward in a burst of energy, the shockwave shaking the trench and sending debris flying.

Merilla shielded herself, her body pressed against the trench floor as the energy passed over her. When the chaos subsided, she saw the figure retreating into the shadows.

"It's leaving," Renar said, his voice filled with relief and confusion. "Why?"

Merilla didn't answer. She stared after the figure, her mind racing.

The Codex pulsed faintly beside her, its glow almost apologetic.

Renar swam up to her, his expression grim. "What was that thing?"

"I don't know," she said quietly. "But it's not over. Whatever it was, it was connected to the Codex. And I don't think it'll be the last."

Renar sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more complicated."

Merilla placed a hand on the Codex, its warmth steadying her. She didn't have all the answers, but she knew one thing for sure—this was only the beginning of their journey.

As the trench settled back into silence, the echoes of their battle faded into the depths. But far above, in the vast expanse of the ocean, unseen forces stirred, drawn by the whispers of power emanating from the Coral Codex.

And in the shadows, eyes watched, waiting for the right moment to strike.