Im the Southern region of the Celetis Empire, the rain pounded down relentlessly. Rowan stood on a hill overlooking what remained of the village of Southridge. Houses lay in ruins, trees uprooted, and debris scattered across muddy ground. The downpour had continued for nine straight days, turning the nearby river into raging rapids.
But Rowan could feel this wasn't natural weather.
"How many survivors?" he asked the captain of his platoon.
"Seventeen, Lord Ambrose," the captain replied, water streaming down his face despite the hood of his cloak. "Most fled to higher ground when the flooding began. The rest..."
He didn't need to finish. The bodies they'd found told the story clearly enough. Some drowned, while others had their limbs tore, dried blood around the corpses. Some type of creature had been hunting in these waters.
Marcus approached, his robes somehow remaining dry despite the weather. A small heat aura surrounded him, evaporating the rain before it could touch him.
"The villagers' stories match," Marcus said. "They all speak of a creature in the water. Something that moves faster than any fish, with scales that radiate like polished silver."
Rowan nodded. "And the rain?"
"Unnatural. The mana signature isn't normal." Marcus gestured at the dark clouds above. "Something is releasing massive amounts of water mana into the atmosphere."
Rowan closed his eyes. He felt the rain, each droplet charged with more mana than it should naturally contain.
"There," Rowan said, opening his eyes and pointing. "Do you feel it?"
Marcus concentrated for a moment. "Barely. Your affinity gives you an advantage in sensing water mana."
"It's not just water mana," Rowan said grimly. "It's an enormous creature."
He turned to the captain. "Prepare the men. We move in twenty minutes."
The captain saluted and rushed off to organize the soldiers. Forty imperial guards made up the fourth platoon.
"What are you thinking?" Marcus asked once they were alone.
"I'm thinking this is worse than the Empress feared," Rowan replied. "This isn't a weather anomaly or even a rogue cultivator. This level of power... we may be dealing with a beast king."
Marcus's expression darkened. "A beast king?"
Beast kings were rare creatures that had cultivated to the point that they gained human-like intelligence and power far beyond any normal beast. The empire had not dealt with one in years.
Twenty minutes later, the platoon was ready. They moved south through the flooded forest, following Rowan's senses toward the source of the disturbance.
The concentration of water mana grew stronger as they went deeper. Even the soldiers could feel it now. There was a heaviness in the air that made breathing difficult.
"We're close," Rowan whispered. He could feel the concentrated water mana all around him now.
They emerged from the treeline to find themselves at the edge of what had once been a small lake. It was a sprawling body of water that had doubled in size, flooding the surrounding land. The rain fell even harder here. The droplets felt like pellets
In the center of the lake, something moved beneath the surface. Something large.
"Marcus, be ready."
The soldiers formed a half-circle at the lake's edge, shields raised, and spears pointed forward. Marcus stepped up beside Rowan, his hands already glowing with the beginnings of fire magic.
The water in the center of the lake began to churn.
"Here it comes," Rowan said, drawing his sword.
The surface of the lake exploded upward as a massive creature burst forth. It was like no dragon Rowan had ever seen. It was a half serpent, half fish, with scales that shimmered between blue and silver. It had no horns, but its head was massive, with a wide mouth filled with teeth like daggers. Its fish-like tail sent waves crashing toward the shore as it thrashed.
"By the gods," Marcus whispered. "A Qilong."
The beast rose higher, water swirling around it. Its large eyes focused on the humans at the shore. It opened its mouth and released a roar that shook the trees and sent birds scattering from the treeline.
Then, a voice entered their minds.
[WHO DARES DISTURB THE SON OF THE DRAGON KING?]
The soldiers flinched, many grabbing their heads at the intrusion of the powerful telepathic message.
"I am Lord Rowan van Ambrose, emissary of Her Imperial Majesty," Rowan called out, stepping forward. "We have come to investigate the unnatural rains that have destroyed a village and killed its people."
The Qilong's massive head swayed from side to side, studying Rowan.
[YOUR PEOPLE ENCROACH UPON MY TERRITORY. I CLAIMED THESE WATERS BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST.]
"These lands belong to the Celetis Empire," Marcus responded. "Your claim means nothing here."
The Qilong's eyes narrowed, focusing on the Archmage.
[FIRE MAGE. YOU DARE CHALLENGE ME IN MY DOMAIN?]
Without warning, a massive wave rose from the lake, surging toward the shore. Rowan stepped forward. His blade began growing bright blue. He whispered "Celestial Mist Cleave." He swung his sword overhead, and mist came from his blade as he swung. A large wave of mana came from the mist and cut clean through the wave. It separated the wave, causing it to crash on the shore with no casualties.
The Qilong's surprise was evident even on its inhuman face.
The creature dove beneath the surface. For a moment, all was quiet except for the pounding rain.
"Where did it—" a soldier began, but he never finished his sentence.
The ground beneath their feet erupted as the Qilong burst up from below, somehow tunneling through the earth. Three soldiers were caught in its massive jaws, their screams cut short as the beast crushed them and dove back into the churning lake.
"Spread out!" Rowan commanded. "Stay away from the shoreline!"
It was too late. The Qilong's tail whipped out of the water, catching a group of soldiers and hurling them into the lake. The water churned red as they disappeared beneath the surface.
Marcus stepped forward, his entire body now wreathed in flames despite the rain.
"Enough!" he shouted, thrusting both hands toward the lake.
A massive fireball, larger than a wagon, formed in front of him and shot toward the Qilong. The dragon fish twisted in the water, narrowly avoiding the direct hit. Steam exploded upward as the fireball struck the lake, evaporating a section of water instantly.
The Qilong roared in pain and fury. The rain intensified, now coming down so hard it was difficult to see more than a few feet ahead.
"It's drawing more water, mana!" Rowan shouted. "We need to end this quickly!"
The dragon fish circled in the lake, moving with incredible speed for something so large. Suddenly, it charged toward the shore, its massive body rising like a living wave.
Rowan channeled his mana, drawing moisture from the air itself. "Ethereal Mist!" he called out.
A thick fog exploded outward from his sword, enveloping the battlefield in seconds. The Qilong slowed, its head swinging back and forth as it lost sight of its targets.
[YOUR PARLOR TRICKS CAN NOT HIDE YOU FROM ME!]
The creature began thrashing in the water, sending waves in all directions. One caught a soldier who had strayed too close, dragging him into the lake.
In the mist, Rowan moved. "Drifting Mist Step," he whispered, channeling water mana into his legs.
He shot forward faster than he had shown Grim. Leaving small puddles in his wake. The Qilong sensed movement and snapped its jaws, but Rowan was already in a different location, circling the creature.
"Now, Marcus!" Rowan called.
The Archmage's voice rang out from the mist. "Fire Wave!" He slammed the palm of his hands into the ground.
A wall of flame burst through the fog, cutting across the lake and catching the Qilong's tail. The creature howled in pain as steam rose from its scales.
The dragon fish thrashed in rage, its telepathic voice booming in their minds.
[YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT, HUMAN!]
It dove beneath the surface, then erupted upward with such force that water sprayed in all directions, temporarily clearing the mist. The Qilong's massive jaws opened wide as it lunged toward Marcus.
The Archmage snapped his fingers, and suddenly dozens of small, glowing orbs appeared all around the battlefield. Fire bombs. Marcus's signature spell. They hovered like deadly fireflies.
The Qilong's charge brought it directly into a cluster of the bombs. They detonated on contact, each explosion as powerful as the large fireball he started the battle with. The beast roared in pain and fury as its momentum was halted.
"Fire bombs are less effective in this rain," Marcus shouted to Rowan. "I can't maintain their power in these conditions!"
Rowan knew they needed to end this quickly. Seven soldiers were already dead, and the Qilong showed no signs of retreating.
"Captain!" he called. "Coordinated spear attack on my mark!"
The remaining soldiers formed up, their spears gleaming in the rain. The Qilong recovered from the explosions, its scales scorched, but its rage undiminished. It circled in the water, preparing for another attack.
The Qilong charged once more, water surging around it like a living weapon.
"Now!" Rowan shouted.
Marcus detonated the outer ring of fire bombs, creating a circle of explosions that forced the Qilong to change direction—directly toward the waiting soldiers. Their spears wouldn't do much damage against its scales, but they would distract it for the crucial moment Rowan needed.
As the creature neared the shore, Rowan gathered his mana for a crucial attack.
"Celestial Mist Seven Sword Strike," he whispered.
The world seemed to slow around him. His sword, now glowing bright blue with concentrated water mana. Seven distinct strikes, all delivered in half a second. Each strike found a gap between the Qilong's scales.
The creature froze mid-charge, its massive body suddenly rigid with shock. Seven glowing lines appeared across its body, each marking a point where Rowan's blade had struck.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, blood began to pour from the wounds.
The Qilong made no sound. It simply stared at Rowan with eyes full of surprise and, strangely, recognition.
[AMBROSE...] Its mental voice was pained now.
The creature's body began to sink back into the lake, blood spreading in dark clouds around it.
Then it was gone, disappearing into the depths of the lake. A moment later, the rain began to slacken, the dark clouds overhead starting to break apart.
Rowan stood at the shore. Watching as the water receded.
Marcus approached, his fire aura dimmed from exhaustion.
"We need to report this to the Empress immediately. This isn't just about flooding or a rogue beast. There's something else happening."