Chapter 24

The descent chamber of Thalassora hums with energy. The walls are alive with streaming coral sigils and arcane conduits. The glowing trench entrance yawns open beneath them, the pressure rippling even within the shielded chamber. Shizuku stands before the others, his arms folded calmly, his spiked ponytail flicking in the liquid current of magical water-air.

SHIZUKU:
I’ll go down alone.

ALTO (eyes narrowing):
Shizu—what?

SHIZUKU:
I can breathe underwater in my full dragon form. And I’ve been to Tranchée d’eau sombre once, years ago, with Emrys. I know how deep it gets.
The longer we all stay down there, the greater the risk. If this thing feeds off our emotions, sending five of us down is handing it a feast.

ASCHE:
You’re not invincible. That Leviathan will twist your mind if you’re not careful.

SHIZUKU:
Let it try.
My will’s tempered in the Abyss. Let it eat that.

BERWICK:
Shizuku, Eaura specifically said unity is key. If we’re not united, we fail. You going solo might violate that.

SHIZUKU:
Not if you trust me to be our unity.
Not if I carry you in spirit.
I’m not suggesting this lightly—I’m saying this because I’m the only one who can dive to the trench’s bottom without magic, without equipment, without time restraints.

And we all know that fragment won’t wait forever.

ERIS (quietly):
…He’s right. If it’s a matter of pressure and breath, none of us could last more than fifteen minutes down there. He could stay for an hour.

ALTO (reluctantly):
Fine. But we’re watching from the margin point. If something goes wrong, I’m going after you myself.

SHIZUKU (smirking):
Deal. But you won’t need to.
This time, let the dragon hunt in his ocean.

He steps into the glowing chamber, his body beginning to shimmer with scales of onyx and shimmering teal. Runes ignite down his spine. His voice is still his own, but layered with something deeper, something ancient.

SHIZUKU (transformed):
I’ll bring back the tide.
Wait for me.

The floor opens beneath him, and with a pulse of pressure, he dives—no fear, no hesitation. The water swallows him whole, and all that’s left is the glowing trail of light from his body as he plunges into the blackness below.