1 The Birth Of A Monster

Somewhere Beneath the ocean

1685.

Buried beneath the depths of the ocean lies a hidden universe of mysterious life forms that thrive beneath the waves. The once pitch-black waters were illuminated by an array of phosphorescent creatures glowing in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Schools of bioluminescent jellyfish pulse and shine in unison, providing a stunning visual display.

Despite the enchanting beauty that made up this world, not a single soul could fathom that something was amiss.

The serenity of this tranquil world was disrupted by a faltering moan that came from a creature with glowing red eyes.

The creature, with tears streaming down his face, swam through the ruins of his once glorious kingdom. His heart ached with an immeasurable pain that no words could describe. The kingdom, where memories of his ancestors and loved ones lived, was nothing but a mere shadow of its past.

The once magnificent castle and the grand structures had now crumbled to the ground. The water was murky, and the air had the stench of death.

The memories came rushing back to him, and he could feel fresh pain searing through his heart. The laughter of his loved ones, the playfulness of his kin, the sound of music, and the magical atmosphere that filled the entire kingdom- all of it was lost forever.

It was an invasion, a rampage by the humans who came in their giant ships- with fiery swords and lethal weapons, they brought destruction to his home. They killed without a second thought, their desire for wealth and power overruling their conscience.

The merman and his people were harmless creatures, and they were slaughtered mercilessly.

They lived in the harmony of their own world, caring for their kind. They had no business with the rest of the world. For they once enjoyed the majestic bliss of heaven. Not until they were cast out of heaven before the creation of man. Their own story was long forgotten of how they had a hand in plotting the rebellion in heaven.

These hidden secrets and deep knowledge were never known to mankind. Humanity never knew that all their existence was a lie. Some truths are better not known and should be kept hidden.

His tail twitched in agony as he saw the remnants of his people, who lay lifeless on the ground. Their once-bright tails, now pale and bloodied, and the hollow blank look in their eyes would never leave him.

He knew that his entire existence had been obliterated by the greed of humans, and it shattered his spirit into a million pieces.

He swam aimlessly, resisting the urge to scream or cry out loud. But the grief was too much to handle. The merman collapsed onto the ground, his head held in his hands as he wept. He cried for his lost home.

There was no place he could call home anymore. His entire world had come crashing down on him, and he was left with nothing but a void in his heart.

A precarious sob escaped his lips as the event played like reels in his head. His forlorn figure curled into a ball on the tattered floor bathed in blood.

Oblivious of what was happening around him, he was taken by surprise when a silver chain bound tightly around his neck. He struggled against it with every ounce of strength he possessed. But each time he touched the silver chain, his skin burned with great effect.

He swirled back to know who his sudden captor was, but his vision was blurred by the malevolent wave that knocked him backward.

His long tail shimmered in the icy darkness of the water, as he was forcefully dragged down into the bottomless depth of the ocean by an unknown force. The fins on his hands elongated into a developed sharp edge, while his claws sharpened and grew extremely long and thin. His once blue eyes turned pitch black.

The more he descended into the depth of the ocean, the more nearby sea creatures, both big and small fled for their lives from the dangerous predator that left death and destruction in its trail. Within a twist of metamorphosis, he transformed into the deadliest form of its kind.

He was already consumed by anger and grief. And the effect it brought was his deadly transformation.

A hot torrent of tears escaped his already dark eyes, and a stony smile etched upon his lips as he disappeared from existence far beneath the ocean floor.

The reason for his disappearance was a huge mystery, and his kind believed it was the cause of the humans.

They never knew that on that day, in the year sixteen eighty-five, a monster was born deep beneath the ocean floor.

**********

East Ventaris, 1899.

The ominous flag of the 'Red pearl maiden' slashed gently in the breeze across the high sea of ventaris. A sea that was kept out of bond from sailors for unknown reasons. But the stubborn captain was a type that never heeds instructions. He was set to sail on the sea, to prove he remained the greatest captain of his time.

Captain Abraxas sat alone at the helm of the ship, his weathered hands gripping the steering wheel with a steely resolve. His crew had long since retired to their bunks below deck, worn out from days of taxing work and the relentless waves of the sea.

Ahead of him, the sky was dark and menacing, filled with thick, rolling clouds that promised a storm of epic proportions.

Abraxas knew the danger they were in, but he was a man who had spent decades on the open water, weathering countless tempests and coming out the other side stronger and more determined. He was fearless in the face of danger, and his crew had come to rely on him as a leader who would always have their backs, no matter what.

But this storm was different. Even as the first drops of rain began to fall, Abraxas knew that this was a force of nature that he could not conquer. The winds were growing stronger by the minute, whipping up the sea into a frenzy of foam and spray.

The ship was tossed back and forth like a child's toy, the timbers creaking and groaning in protest.

As the storm raged on, Abraxas battled to keep the ship on course, his eyes narrowing against the gusts of wind that threatened to take him overboard. His heart pounded with adrenaline, his mind racing to keep ahead of the waves that were growing ever higher.

But even as he fought, he knew that his efforts were in vain. The ship was no match for the fury of the storm, and as lightning crackled across the sky, Abraxas knew that their fate was sealed.

The first wave hit the ship like a hammer, slamming into the side with a deafening roar. Abraxas was thrown from the helm, his grip on the wheel slipping, as the ship was tossed violently on its side. The wind roared in his ears, drowning out his screams as he tumbled across the deck.

When he finally came to rest, he was battered and bruised, but still alive. He struggled to his feet, swaying in the howling wind, and looked out into the darkness. The ship was in terrible shape, its masts snapped like twigs, and its rigging was tangled and torn.

But it was not the state of the ship that filled Abraxas with dread. It was the silence that greeted him. The crew, he realized with a pang of horror, were gone.

He stumbled across the deck, his heart pounding with fear as he called out their names. But the only response was the sound of the storm, howling in his ears like a thousand demons.

The rain was coming down in sheets now, driving him to his knees as he searched in vain for any sign of his crew.

And then he saw it. The lifeboat, torn from its mooring and floating listlessly in the waves. Abraxas scrambled towards it, his hands fumbling with the oars as he tried to guide it towards the wreckage of the ship.

He searched for hours, calling out for his crew even as the storm continued to rage around him. But there was no answer, no sign of life. He was alone, adrift in the middle of the ocean, with nothing but his shattered dreams for company.

Abraxas managed to cling to a piece of driftwood and found himself adrift in the open sea.

As he struggled to stay afloat, he noticed strange movements in the water below him. Suddenly, a creature emerged from the deep, swimming deep beneath him. Abraxas was taken aback by the sight of the creature, unsure of what to do.

But before he could react, the creature lunged at him, its razor-sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight as it sank its teeth into the captain's soft skin. A scream escaped his lips as he tried to swim away, but the creature was too quick. It grabbed him by the leg and pulled him under the water.

Abraxas kicked and struggled, but it was no use. The creature was too strong. It dragged him down to the depths of the ocean, where he could barely see through the murky water.

With his last breath, Abraxas fought against his attacker, but the creature was too powerful. With its powerful claws, the creature delivered a fatal blow to his chest.

The creature plunged its hand deeper into his ribcage and yanked his fresh, beating heart out of his body. It devoured the slab of meat, painting the water red.

As Abraxas' body floated to the surface, the creature vanished into the depths of the ocean. The once magnificent ship was now a mere piece of wrecked wood, lost in the vastness of the sea forever.

Thus, they became the first victim in the hands of these creatures. The first captives of the cruel sea.

For it was a bloody prize humanity had to pay for a sin they never committed in the first place. And from that day forward, every of their land was plagued with storms or flooding, sweeping out their settlement bit by bit.

And there was nothing left but a hush, quiet sea kissed by a tender wind.

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Welcoming every reader to my WSA 2023 entry. I'm new to writing on this platform. I know that this journey won't be easy, but with your love and support, I know that together we can achieve some unimaginably great. Please join me in this journey as this story gradually unfold

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