Chapter 1247 The Second Trial
-----
The dream distorted in front of us, as we found ourselves within the deep sea once more. However, not the barren sea, but inside a gigantic building, made of a massive shell that perhaps once belonged to some sort of titanic-sized clam. It was beautifully decorated with all sorts of paintings in the walls and many statues resembling titans and dragons, and also many other sea animals.
However, the most surprising thing in here was a gigantic dragon. It was much bigger than even my mother, Nifl, and even my grandmother. It was so massive it easily filled over half of the space inside of this utterly titanic shell. Her body resembled a majestic whale with shark and sea snake features mixed, it was enormous, and held two mystical-looking golden eyes, alongside shiny silver and blue scales covering her body.
Without a doubt, this powerful presence and enormous size gave it away, she was nobody else than the Primordial Dragon of the Seas and the Mother of all Sea Dragons, Ran.
In front of her there was the young Aquarius, looking all covered on wounds, and with a face filled with regret.
"I'm sorry, mother… I… my siblings…" He cried. 𝑏𝘦𝘥𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘦𝑙．𝑜𝑟𝘨
"I hear you, my child." Sighed her mother. "I've seen already what has happened. You are not to blame but the forces of darkness. The Chaos left behind in this world, which had taken the lives of many of my sisters and her children."
"The monster… once we defeated it, a large lump of darkness escaped from his body and he suddenly turned very tame with me, even when… several of my siblings died I couldn't… take the creature's life." Aquarius sighed. "I am sorry for being weakhearted, mother. I know I should know better but I….!"
"That heart you possess is what makes you who you are, Aquarius. It is not a weakness, it is your virtue." Said her mother. "I am sorry, as your mother, I was unable… to do anything. Since the war that my powers have weakened tremendously, if I ever move once more to fight, it'll surely be the last time I do."
"Mother… Is there a way to restore your strength?" Aquarius wondered.
"There might be a way, but it is not something worth concerning you." Her mother said. "We Sea Dragons were the few of the Ancient Dragons that survived in large groups due to hiding in the seas when the war against the Chaos Invaders and the First Demon King raged. I used all my strength to protect you all, I do not regret this."
"But…" Aquarius cried.
"For now, you must rest and strengthen yourself." Her mother said. "Your siblings might be dead, but they are not gone. My children, your siblings, live within the Draconic Records. Connect with them and learn their strengths and abilities, learn their philosophies, and listen to their stories. It will help you grow much stronger."
"Thank you mother." Aquarius nodded.
"You may go now, youngling." Her mother said. "I… am very tired. Maintaining this barrier drains my energy… I need to rest, but I can talk with you through the Draconic Records."
"I see, then I'll see you there with everybody else, mother." Aquarius nodded.
[The First Trial has begun.]
[After the battle against the Tyrannical Shark of the Dead Seas, Aquarius learned one of the truths about the recent attacks from the Sea Kings, who often simply lived peacefully within their territories.]
[An ancient evil, a wicked darkness that stayed in this world from the Old War still remained, lurking in the shadows and aiming to attack the Sea Dragon's territory, as if by trying to enact an old grudge.]
[After the Tyrannical Shark of the Dead Seas was defeated and tamed by the young Aquarius, the two of them went through a journey to grow stronger. Aquarius learned many magic spells and abilities from his siblings, both dead and alive…]
[Meanwhile, his bond with his Familiar grew more, while he discovered his innate ability to tame Sea Monsters, which he used to slowly, yet steadily build an army of sea creatures.]
[Although many years passed as he grew stronger and matured as a Sea Dragon, these peaceful times would only last for a few more years before Calamity arrived once more to his life.]
The dream showed us Aquarius traveling with his Familiar, the Tyrannical Shark of the Dead Seas, who he had called "Tyrant". His body had grown a lot through this time skip, he was now a fully fledged adult juvenile, almost at the same size as the size he had when he died against the Deep One.
The two of them were traveling into the Dangerous Deep Sea Trenches, a dark area of the Seas which was filled with Miasma and Monsters and many Dungeons, it was a place they had been spending their time fighting and hunting monsters to devour their flesh and absorb their magic cores.
"Phew, I've finally hit Rank 8 Upper Stage, Tyrant! We're slowly getting there, buddy." Aquarius said with a more serious and adult-like voice.
"RAAAARR!" Tyrant waved his long tail happily as he snacked on a giant eel.
"But we should get going for now, right? We need to go check out how mom's doing, and also my siblings with her." Said Aquarius. "I heard that she had laid another egg once more, a new younger sibling is soon to bless us!"
"RAAAR!" Tyrant seemed happy to go with his master, as the two started swimming across the seas.
However, as they moved further, a dark presence slowly began emerging from the shadows. Slowly lurking behind them until…
CRAAAAASH!
"GRUOOOHHHH!"
A gigantic sharp-toothed fish appeared, biting the tail off Tyrant and devouring it! Suddenly, dozens if not hundreds of these same fishes began emerging everywhere. All of them were overflowing with dark auras, but this big one in specific seemed like the boss.
"Tyrant! Are you alright?! Your tail… You damn monster!" Aquarius roared, quickly beginning to control the seas around him to protect himself and his familiar.
"SHAAAAHHAHAHAH…! The child! The one…" The giant fish began speaking with a rather familiar voice, a malicious, malefic voice that reverberated around everywhere. "You shall not leave here alive, Fate's Pawn!"
Ding!
[Assist Aquarius on surviving against the Sharp Toothed Abyssal Piranhas School while protecting Tyrant, and defeat the Boss Monster, the [Sharp Toothed Abyssal Piranha Queen (Rank 9: Upper Stage)]!]
[If either Tyrant or Aquarius die, you will all automatically lose the trial.]
[Time Limit: 30 Minutes.]
It was finally beginning, and this one fish really looked a lot like the Stigma of the young Rose…
-----