The tremors resonating deep under the violent waves shook the boat harder by the second.

The once-blue sky had turned dark with the occasional streaks of lightning, leaving luminescent gashes in the heavens.

The pressure emitting from the dyed water had peaked over time, paralysing some of the men onboard.

Samael had to enable his astral veil to combat the adverse effects of the pressure the Leviathan cub has been firing.

Ajax, on the other hand, stood unfazed even under the monstrous waves sent by the beast. However, he remained idle as he intently watched the disturbed waters.

There were many questions on his mind. What saint rank was the Leviathan? How will he fight, seeing how he's restricted by the terrain? What was the effect of the Abominations subzone?

By now, he's already certain that the ominous clouds brewing above their heads are caused by the subzone of the leviathan cub.

This was a battle they couldn't win. At least not in their current conditions.

If they wish to prevail, the only way to do so is to get on shore, where he and Samael can fight the beast.

But how?

The abomination was blocking their path, forbidding them an exit they could use.

The abomination will soon come out, and in its wake, it will destroy everything. Harpoons won't even leave a dent on the skin of the beast.

What can they do?

"Samael, hurry and make for shore," Ajax said.

Samael shifted his gaze at Ajax, and for the first time in a very long time, he saw uncertainty in the man's eyes.

This was a battle they could not win.

"MAKE FOR SHORE!" Samael roared as he sent his astral pressure forward, warding off the Leviathan cub's influence.

The men violently gasped for air, their chests raging up and down as they sprawled on the floor. Their nails digging deep in the deck.

They were pale white, drenched in sweat, and wounded. Their conditions were worsening by the second. But they didn't have a choice.

Samael clenched his jaw.

"Move! We don't have much time!" Samael bellowed as he helped the men up.

Jerking his head back, Samael's gaze landed on the helm, where the old man steering the boat had collapsed.

"Shit," Samael muttered under his breath as he propelled himself forward, gently landing beside the unconscious man.

A resounding sigh escaped Samael's lips as he heard the faint beat of the man's heart along with the weak movement in his chest.

Samael took a sharp breath as he placed his two fingers on the man's forehead.

This is going to hurt. Hold tight, Samael thought as he gathered his astral pressure towards the tips of his fingers.

If astral pressure can knock people out, it can also shock them back up. It will be painful, but they don't have time.

A small pulse travelled through the unconscious man, rudely awakening him from his slumber.

The old man jolted upwards, his hand tightly grasping Samael's shoulders. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes were darting back and forth in panic, a smudge of pain hiding behind his pupils.

"W-what the fuc—" The old man's words were cut short as Samael shook him, luring his attention.

"Can you move?" Samael asked in haste.

The man fixed his gaze on Samael, his brows furrowed tight. "I-I d-don't understand."

"CAN YOU MOVE?" Samael repeated his question.

The man recoiled in surprise as he nodded rapidly.

"Good, take the helm and wait for further orders," Samael said before taking off towards the deck.

"Ajax, how much time do we have? Do you have a plan?" Samael asked in rapid succession.

Ajax remained focused on the water as he replied. "Make for shore as fast as we can."

Samael fell silent. There was no plan. Not against this enemy.

"I will try to hold it back; that's the best I can do," Ajax said.

Samael gave a stiff nod. They have a chance. A single measly chance of escape.

With a forceful kick to the ground, Samael's figure turned to a blur, only appearing behind the ship as he stood on the railings.

Slowly, his hand morphed black as dark smoke gushed out of his palms.

This has to work, Samael thought, as a surge of Void matter jetted off his hands and into the water, knocking it back as it pushed the ship ahead.

The boat rocked forward, nearly knocking the men onboard. They held tight to their posts, their grunts leaving trails of echo in the air as they paddled with all their might.

Beads of cold sweat trickled down Samael's forehead, some drenching his back. Sustaining a continuous flow of void matter at this intensity was no meagre task.

He also had to control the way the Void matter shot out to maximise the speed of the ship.

Keep going... Samael thought, his hair fluttering back as the wind took pace slowly but surely.

That's it! Keep going! Samael cheered.

Samael's eyes shifted towards the horizon, far towards the shore. It wasn't far off.

Samael's face lit up. We're going to make it—

SKRAAAAAAA!!!!!

An ear-shattering roar bellowed from deep within the depths of the river, sending cold shivers down their spines.

Samael's hair stood on ends, his blood turning cold. His Void compass rang in alarm, warning him of danger far beyond what he could combat.

The ship came to a sudden halt, sending all the men sprawling forward. It didn't take long for the boat to shake rapidly.

The torrent of Void matter jetting off Samael's hand came to a stop. Slowly, his gaze travelled forward.

Samael's breath hitched as he watched the water rise high in the heavens. Akin to a tsunami capable of wiping cities in a mere flick.

From the rising tide, a pressure so heavy struck the ship, nearly sinking the vessel and knocking half the men cold.

Samael's jaw clenched, his grunt reverberating as he struggled to hold back the astral pressure of the beast.

Eventually, the water halted its advance.

Then came the beast.

Samael winced as the pillar of water erupted into an explosion of insane proportion. It travelled high in the air and fell down in the form of rain.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

It created rain. Samael thought in disbelief.

How can such beings exist? To hold enough power to influence weather... They're just playing God now.

From the mist, a titanic silhouette came into view. The beast was so large that it nearly blocked the sun.

Samael's eyes quivered, and his jaw hanged open as he laid eyes upon the Abomination blocking their path.

So this was a leviathan cub?

[https://i.ibb.co/94kC0H2/abomination-leviathan-baby-red-claws-ominous-within-a-river-883806509.png]

The creature stood towering in height, dwarfing their ship and the entire crew in its radiance.

Its body appeared similar to a worm with a maw filled with sharp fangs. It's crimson eyes lit the surroundings red as it flailed its arms around.

It was a creature of horror. One born from the depths.

Ajax's grip tightened, his visor tilting upwards as he faced the beast eye-to-eye. With one step forward, a blast of astral pressure shot forward, pushing back the astral pressure of the Leviathan cub.

The Abomination released a bloodcurdling screech as it tilted its massive body towards their location.

They have its attention now.

"I'll buy you time; move," Ajax said as he marched ahead, braving the full might of the saint Abomination alone.

Samael gave a nod. Yet questions still raged in his mind.

How will they even escape?

Samael's eyes shifted towards the enormous beast, a sense of dread taking root in his heart.

Streaks of lightning thundered in the air, striking the water surrounding them at random.

The men couldn't do anything but slump down in desperation. What else can they do? They could only pray for a swift death.

However, even that seems far-fetched.

An ear-shattering bang whipped one after the other, along with shockwaves of unparalleled strength.

Their strikes alone cause this much effect, how will we escape? Samael couldn't help but ask himself.

Samael had to brace himself, as he would've been knocked away by the lashes of wind assaulting their vessel.

Up ahead, Ajax used his shadow tendrils to latch and swing around the air, completely distracting the beast.

The leviathan cub swung its arm, but to no avail; Ajax was simply too fast.

Ajax would swing under the beast's attack, swiftly and precisely landing hits on the abomination.

One would think he was winning except for the fact that the Leviathan cub was regenerating the damage dealt by Ajax.

Samael stood frozen in place, his mind running in full gear as he watched how Ajax swung around, cleverly using the momentum generated by the beast to maneuver mid air.

Wait... Samael's gaze lowered, his brows furrowed tight.

That... That might just work! Samael speared a glance ahead, an idea brewing behind his pupils.

He fixed his gaze on the movement of the Abomination, intently analysing each and every move it made.

The beast wasn't smart by any means. Had it had even a smudge of intelligence, it would've struck them down first. Yet, Ajax's simple antics have completely captured its attention.

Because no matter how high its rank is, it's still a cub.

The beast attacks mindlessly, uncaring for how much damage it takes.

It's dumber than I thought... Samael thought.

Then, if that's the case... This might just work, indeed, Samael thought.

"Prepare the Harpoons!" Samael instructed.

The men shared a glance, a smudge of confusion lingering in their pupils.

"But why...? This beast cannot be harmed by mere harpoons, so why...?" The men asked.

Samael stepped up the railings, Crimson Raven at hand.

"We're not harming the beast; we're riding it," Samael said, his figure leaping upwards at a speed no mundane man can see.

Erubin's men gazed absentmindedly, as though what Samael said made absolutely no sense.

They couldn't even harm the leviathan cub and now he's proposing they ride it? Was he insane?

However, Erubin's eyes shone bright as he understood what Samael meant.

"MEN! GET YOUR SHIT OFF THE GUTTER! MAN THE HARPOONS AND WAIT FOR SAMAEL'S COMMANDS!" Erubin roared as he ran towards the steel spears.

The men stared at Erubin with their jaws fried wide. Now even their captain is going mad.

Noticing the soldiers reluctance, Erubin halted his steps, his back facing the desperate soldiers.

"So that's how it will be...? You'll just sit there praying for a swift death against an enemy you know you can't defeat...?" Erubin muttered.

Erubin's soldiers lowered their glances, shame gripping their hearts to pieces.

They know they can't defeat the beast, they know they're weak and that they're tired. But what else can they do except wait for their demise? It was a saint for goodness sake!

"Did Samael grovel before this Saint?" Erubin asked, breaking the men from their desperate stupor.

The soldiers eye's trembled, their hands balling to a fist.

"Are you all just going to give up when faced against a wall so high it seems nigh implausible to climb?" Erubin asked.

The men remained silent. They couldn't face Erubin.

"BRAVE YOUR FEAR! WE'RE SOLDIERS! WE WERE BORN FOR THIS!" Erubin roared, his fist clenched tight.

The soldiers jerked their head up, their eyes quivering as they watched Erubin walk towards the harpoons, his trembling hands grasping the cold surface of the weapons.

Erubin himself was afraid.

But he chose to move forward.

"DID WE MAKE IT HERE WITHOUT SACRIFICES?! DID OUR COMRADES DIE FOR NOTHING?!" He asked, bright flames burning behind his pupils.

The men shared one last look before gritting their teeth.

"STAND YOUR GROUND! MARCH AHEAD EVEN IF DEATH AWAITS US, THAT, THAT IS OUR BURDEN!" Erubin bellowed.

The soldiers slowly rose to their feet, their knees trembling yet their eyes burned as bright as the morning sun.

This was a battle they couldn't run away from. Were they so blinded by fear they forgot who they were?

"WHO ARE WE MEN?!" Erubin asked.

The soldiers marched forward, their spirits unyielding as they dragged the weapons up front. Together they roared...

"WE. ARE. WATCHERS!"

Meanwhile, Ajax threw one attack after the other, but the Leviathan cub had regeneration far beyond what normal abominations possess.

The beast lunged at Ajax, closing its maw in an attempt to devour the Shadow Saint. However, Ajax nimbly avoided the attack by manoeuvring mid-air through the use of his shadow tendrils.

Seizing the opportunity, Ajax shot a skill forward.

"Saw whip."

An elongated shadow whip struck the beast in the back. However, the edge of the whip was jagged, violently tearing chunks of flesh from the abomination's pale skin.

The beast released a cry of pain, its body swinging back and forth, but Ajax held tight.

Unfortunately, not for long.

The damage caused by the whip rapidly regenerated before Ajax's eyes; the flesh of the Leviathan cub sewed itself shut, not leaving a single scar.

The beast jerked its head back towards the saint, rage and anger emanating from its gaze as it swung its claw towards Ajax.

"Shadow ju—" Ajax's words were cut short when a silhouette appeared inches from the abomination's face, holding an axe he was highly familiar with.

"Null thrust."

The Abomination flinched as it jerked its head sideways.

But it was too late.

Large, concentrated Void matter gushed out of Samael's fist, swarming his entire hand in a flash.

Samael knows he can't damage a saint on his own, but that doesn't count for vital, unprotected parts of their body.

Without hesitation, Samael embedded his fist into Leviathan's left eye, completely crushing it.

The abomination roared in agony as it weaved around frantically.

Unforgiving shockwaves assaulted Samael's body, nearly catapulting him away.

Now's the chance! Samael thought.

Samael jerked his head back, purple glowing lines etched deep in his throat.

"The Harpoons! NOW!" Samael bellowed, his voice reaching far and wide.

Erubin and his men gave a nod as they fired the steel spears towards the abomination. Some of the harpoons harmlessly bounced off the skin of the creature, but others wrapped around its limbs and body.

It's time, Samael thought.

"OVER HERE, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Samael roared, luring the attention of the beast towards him.

Passive "lure" has taken effect. Enemies will now show aggression towards you.

Jackpot Samael thought, a wide grin etched in his visage.

The abomination shifted its gaze towards Samael, onyx-dark smoke jetting off its left eye.

Due to the unique properties of Samael's element, the beast will surely be unable to regenerate the damage done to its body.

Now, with his passive "lure," Samael has successfully seized the beast's rage along with its attention.

The stage was set.

"Void latch," Samael muttered.

Dark, elongated tendrils of Void matter shot forward, tightly wrapping themselves around the Abomination's skin.

The leviathan cub roared in rage. It's maw fried open as it lunges towards Samael.

It's over, Samael thought.

Utilising his Void latch, Samael swung ahead, nimbly dodging the attack of the creature.

Witnessing the abomination attack, Erubin's eyes widened.

"BRACE!" he roared.

The steel cables attached to the harpoons spun uncontrollably, producing luminescent sparks as they came to an absolute halt.

Samael's grin widened further.

Fly Samael thought.

"Shi—" Erubin's words were cut off as the ship was dragged off the water, soaring high in the sky by the power of the abomination.

The men held tight in the railings, the unforgiving wind lashing unto their faces as they descended rapidly.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK!" Erubin muttered to himself.

BOOM!!!

The ship landed in a reckoning boom, stirring the dust and forming a small crater in its descent.

Some of the men were thrown off board, landing safely on the brown earth.

Yes, earth.

They've made land.

It worked! Samael thought.

The leviathan cub released another cry, its limbs grasping Samael's Void latch as it lunged forward in an attempt to devour him.

"Too slow," Ajax's voice echoed.

Ajax breezed past Samael, swiftly severing the latch in one fell swoop. Not wasting another second, the saint grabbed Samael using his shadow tendrils, dragging him away from death's door.

Gently, Ajax and Samael landed on the shore, unharmed and in mint condition.

Erubin's men fell silent for a moment... Then their roars reverberated in the air.

They survived a saint. They get to live another day.

Ajax and Samael rose to their feet, their blades in tow, as Ajax muttered.

"Shadow spawn: Igram."

"Shadow spawn: Merlin."

Specks of Shadow matter swiveled in the ground, rising higher as the second ticked by eventually taking the form of two humanoid shadow. One adorned in armor wielding a familiar greatsword, the other appeared basic in comparison.

It almost looked as though it wore nothing. Just a man composed of shadows but Samael could feel the power emanating from the shadow spawn.

However, Ajax wasn't done yet.

"Shadow weave: Battle Saint."

Like flames, bundles of shadow matter ignited off of Ajax's body, clinging tight to his body as it formed a set of arm.

Ajax took a step forward as he cracked his neck.

"Let's end this."