The water rippled as I dove back into the sea, the surface bursting open behind me. The cold hit instantly, not unpleasant—more like a jolt of awareness. My wings folded tight, streamlined against my sides as I plunged into the unknown. This wasn't just water; this was an entire world, one hidden beneath a sky of stone.
I glided through the depths, and the first thing I noticed was the density of life. Fish in the thousands darted through the water like storm clouds, flashes of silver and red and gold reflecting the faint rays of light that broke through from cracks above. Many were small, perfect for feeding young dragons. But some—some were big. Titan-sized prey swam lazily in the deeper currents, their long bodies trailing fins and tendrils that glowed faintly in the murk.
I moved silently, observing, feeling. The balance here was different. The surface had its rules, its hierarchy. But this sea... this sea was ruled by numbers and shadows.
A ripple to my right. A shift in pressure.
The predator approached.
It wasn't like the snake, all rage and coils. No—this one was slow, calculating. A crocodile, at least 50 feet long, its body covered in jagged scars, likely from battles it had long since won. Its yellow eyes glowed faintly in the dark, locked on me. It thought it was the apex here.
But it hadn't met a dragon.
It lunged suddenly, jaws wide enough to crush a boulder. I dodged to the left, spinning, and raked my claws across its side. Blood clouded the water. It thrashed, tail smashing through coral towers. I darted forward, aiming for the eyes, then bit down hard into its throat. It struggled—harder than I thought it would—but I was stronger. I pushed with all four limbs, twisted, and then crack. The croc went limp.
I held the carcass for a moment, watching it sink. Then I gripped its back and dragged it toward the surface.
But I wasn't done.
Not yet.
I dove again, deeper this time. Below the hunting waters.
The sea here was a cathedral of silence—vast, echoing chambers carved from submerged stone, filled with towering weeds and ancient bones. Some of the skeletons I passed were truly massive, likely Titans long dead. Their bones formed mazes in the deep.
I saw eels longer than trees, glowing softly as they coiled through shadowed reefs. Fish the size of wagons fed near glowing cracks in the seabed. There were creatures I couldn't name—smooth-skinned serpents with no eyes, spined turtles with shells like spiked armor. All of them gave me space, sensing I was something more.
I began to feel something familiar in my chest—a slow thrum of hunger, but not for food. For conquest. For dominion. This sea would belong to the Dragon Clan. And I would be the first to claim it.
When I finally broke the surface again, I was dragging the crocodile's corpse in my claws. Water poured from my scales as I took to the sky and flew back to the others.
The five elders waited near a cliff overlooking the valley. They turned as I landed, the carcass hitting the ground behind me.
"I see you've been busy," the First Elder said, half impressed, half amused.
I nodded. "One of many."
The Second Elder stepped forward, eyes sharp. "How many predators?"
"Fewer than expected. One major threat is dead already—the snake. This crocodile was nothing compared to it. But the sea… it's full. Endless fish, some big enough to feed dozens."
The Fourth Elder grinned. "Then we'll feast well."
I paced slowly, looking over the valley. "This place… it's perfect. The lizard kept the land clear of predators, but it couldn't enter the water. That's why the sea is wild—unchecked. If we claim it, we control everything."
The Fifth Elder lowered his head respectfully. "What's the plan?"
"Tomorrow," I said, "we begin culling the remaining predators. Then we'll bring the clan here. This will be our true home."
The First Elder let out a low, approving growl. "And this?" He motioned to the crocodile.
"For us," I said. "Eat. Regain your strength."
The five elders descended on the carcass, tearing into it, sharing the meat. I sat at the edge of the cliff, eyes locked on the shimmering waters below. The fish beneath us didn't know it yet, but their world had changed. A new apex predator had arrived.
The sea, the valley, the Hollow Earth—soon, they would all belong to the Dragon Clan.
And I would lead them to it.