I stayed below the water line and approached one of these floating wooden structures, before raising myself up to look inside the object. Everyone on the floating wooden structure stopped moving, what silly humans, I can see you even if you don't move.
“Hello.” I said smiling.
The humans stood still to my greeting. I tilted my head, I am sure the humans spoke the same I did. I understood them earlier. Did they not hear me? I got curious, so I crept closer to the ship.
“Hello? Can you understand me?” I asked.
“Sea monster!” The captain of the ship yelled out.
I was a bit taken aback by the reaction. I was a little bit stunned. I am not a monster, I am a dragon. These humans have no respect for dragons. Maybe these humans have yet to try any chocolate. They seem like it might help them feel better about what is scaring them.
“Can I help you with anything?” I asked them.
The people on this object seemed to gather themselves and started moving about the ship pulling ropes, and moving things I don't understand. I watched them a bit more. After the big soft fabric thing dropped down the object started moving forward.
I gasped, I have not seen such a thing before. I trailed along next to the ship, watching these fascinating humans work this object into moving for them. It wasn't capturing or using mana to move nor did this thing have legs to swim, yet it managed to move, the cloth they draped down in the air, seemed to have the wind push it forward, without affecting the mana’s flow. I watched in amazement. These humans found a way to harness the wind without using the mana.
My mind wondered if there were ways, us dragons, could use such things, as the elements themselves, without using the mana. I don't think I have ever even tried thinking of such things. As a dragon, I felt so close to the elements that I have not thought about harnessing their natural powers.
I pulled myself from my thoughts to focus on my surroundings again. In the water I felt disturbances. Not by these vessels but something else, lurking down in its depths. It seems to acknowledge me, and I can feel it. Seems we might be at a stalemate. They are not interested in attacking me, and I rather let things be. Getting into a fight here would be bothersome.
I looked around at the other object made of wood floating in the water. I pondered how they would react if they caught fire. Not that I planned on it but I did wonder though. If they can't stop the fire, how do they plan on dealing with it. I ignored the ship which was trying to get away, and decided to take a look around some more.
I dove back under the water swimming closer to the shore, I could see some buildings which the water had swallowed. Much newer than the ones I found with cataegis in for sure. I propelled myself forward to allow my adventuring through the ruins. I was careful around them, but they seemed so cool that I ended up swimming inside of them looking around enjoying the sights.
Soon I found myself in a large underground, and underwater still, part of the city, underneath it which is mostly empty. I can see the walls they made, but this place was open and big. Swimming around I saw that there were some entrances and exits. I noticed how concentrated the water mana is here. It was so dense. Much more than even at my ice home.
I dove deeper into the depths of this mysterious place. I wondered what stories these walls contain, if they could speak I wonder what they would have to tell me. What was gathering such immense amounts of water mana. Its like its being drawn here and collected and held within. Getting closer to the bottom, I can see a bright blue glow emitting from down below me. Lighting up the walls with a deep rich blue.
The closer I get, the more power I feel radiating from this huge blue stone. This stone is massive. Like a giant boulder, bigger than any human house I have yet to see. Taller than the tallest trees. It is almost on par with my size. The most shocking part of this stone was that it was calling all the water mana here to it. Its the reason all this water mana is here. It’s gathering the mana, and the density of which is nothing I have seen before. It's like looking at my mom or any of the much greater dragons. It made me feel small, as it washed me in its brilliant blue light.
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I was baffled by such brilliance I had not noticed, that I had been followed. In the last moment, I finally noticed the attack coming in my direction and propelled myself out of the way, just as a large mass shot past where I was just a moment before. Looking at it, I saw a large water serpent. The size of which was huge. It could swallow those things the humans were on in a single bite. If I am not careful, it could really hurt me. I am not sure what I can do to damage it. I can see the scales on its sides are daily tough.
I had nowhere to run. I felt like this massive structure is just a huge tube, which is this serpent's home. There is no running. I watched for it to lunge again, and at the last moment I barely dodged the strike, when I noticed maybe a weak spot. I noticed its eyes. What I did not notice was its large tail swipe which struck my back, slamming me against the wall.
Reeling from the sudden impact, feeling dazed, I glanced around trying to find where the head of the serpent had gone. It's so dark, and only the periodic glows emitted from the stone allowed some visibility. I was fighting in the dark. I can feel the mana, but I can't see it as well as others do. Looking around desperately, while trying to think of how to take action. I felt in danger and threw myself to the stone. I felt an impact reverberate off the wall from where I had just been.
‘This thing is a monster’ I thought to myself.
Getting closer to the stone, I had started to notice something. I noticed, even though I couldn't see the mana, I felt where it was. What I discovered might be my biggest tool in this fight. I can feel where the water mana is not as well. Everywhere there is no water mana, it is filled with the sea serpent. Which means if I track where the water mana is disappearing I can track the serpents movements, completely blind. I have a weakness, and I have a way of tracking this monster. Now I just need to use my tools to make it out alive.
I called on the water mana, it was very hard to wrestle even some away from the stone, but I managed. I was not going to let an enlarged snake be what kills me after all I have been through. I surged the water into a precise spot where I was trying to guess where the serpent's head was going to be. It hit, I felt the change in the water mana, as it painted the impression of the snake against the wall. I rushed forward at its head. I estimated where its eye was, and slashed my claws with all my power. I felt the soft fleshiness of the eye being ripped apart under the power of my claws.
The deafening roar which was emanated from the serpent filled the cavernous space reverberating off the walls stunning me. I couldn't withstand the pressure of the cry of pain and anger. I let go of the serpent and held my head as I tried to stop it from hurting so bad. The serpent flailing wildly managed to swat me away from it, slamming into the stone enough to make me lose what breath I had as I gasped and saw the air bubbled leave my mouth as my mouth filled with water.
I shut my mouth not wanting to swallow anymore water. I felt the time I had for this fight shortened greatly. I am not aware of the serpent's abilities, or if it can use water mana, but I needed to win this. I calmed my mind for a second and remembered I needed to open my soul space to all this water around me. I calmed myself internally, slowing myself down and opening myself to this vast amount of water mana around me.
Soon my soul space was flooded with such dense water mana a rush of power surged through me. I felt renewed. Stronger and much more capable now. I looked around to see where the serpent was now. I can smell its blood mixing into the water as its gouged eye kept bleeding. I could feel the void in the dense water mana where the serpent was. It wasn't moving much. In fact it was holding still, maybe to see my next move.
This worked in my favor. I gathered up the mana inside of me, mixing the ice and water. I then turned my sights on the serpent. I had one way of finishing this I could think of. My claws, teeth, and tail were not going to be enough. I needed to use everything I have. Using the mana around me I put some spikes on my tail made of the denses ice I could form. I then coated my claws with much larger coating in ice making them bigger and longer. I can now reach further than before.
Using the mana I shot myself forward at the serpent and testing my new ice claws I swiped at the scales. The claws shattered, but it broke the scales on the serpent, leaving a vulnerable spot on its side. It may take more than one hit, but I have more opportunities than I did before. Time to finish this fight.