The serpent emerged from the ruins of the shattered mountain in a fury.
Entire cliffs still tumbled from the damaged peak as the creature tore free of the debris cloud, its enormous body twisting violently through the water while black soul energy poured from between its scales. The earlier attack had clearly injured it, but not nearly enough to end the battle. If anything, the strike had only driven the beast into a frenzy.
The ocean itself seemed to recoil from its rage.
The surrounding mountains trembled as the serpent released another roar that rolled through the sea like distant thunder.
This time, however, my father didn't move.
While the beast focused its attention on the battlefield ahead, he remained exactly where he was, floating in the water with his sword lowered at his side. At first glance he appeared almost detached from the fight, but the longer I watched, the more obvious it became that something far more dangerous was taking place.
