The journey to the southern reefs took longer than Hugo expected. He and Nerelle left the Isle of Brine just after dawn, when the water was calm and the currents favorable. Nerelle swam ahead, her blue tail cutting through the water with effortless grace, while Hugo followed behind, using the techniques she'd taught him to conserve his energy.
The ocean was different this far from the island. The water grew darker, colder, and the coral formations below shifted from bright pinks and purples to deep reds and blacks.
Hugo's Aqua Vision skill let him see through the murky depths, revealing shadows that moved with unsettling purpose. Predators, most likely, though none approached them. Perhaps they sensed something about Hugo, or maybe Nerelle's presence kept them at bay.
After what felt like hours, Nerelle slowed and gestured for Hugo to surface. They broke through the waves together, and Hugo took a deep breath of air, grateful for the chance to rest. Ahead of them, a jagged outcrop of rocks rose from the water, forming a natural barrier around what looked like the entrance to an underwater cave system.
"That's it," Nerelle said quietly, her voice tense. "Kragnar's lair is just beyond those rocks."
"The entrance is about twenty feet down, and the cavern stretches deep into the reef. He'll be inside, probably sleeping. Coral serpents are nocturnal hunters, so we have a slight advantage during the day."
Hugo nodded, studying the area. The rocks were sharp and uneven, covered in barnacles and slick with algae.
The water around them churned with stronger currents, making it harder to maintain a steady position. It was the perfect defensive position for a creature that called this place home.
"We need to draw him out," Hugo said. "Fighting him in that cave would be suicide. Too many places for him to hide, and too many angles he could attack from."
Nerelle agreed. "But how do we lure him out? He's not going to leave his territory unless he has a reason."
Hugo glanced at his fishing rod, which he'd strapped to his back with a length of kelp. An idea began to form, risky but possible. "You said he hoards things that glow."
"What if we made something that glows brighter than anything he's ever seen? Something he can't resist."
Nerelle's eyes widened in understanding. "I can do that. There's a spell my people use to create light orbs for navigation."
"If I make it strong enough, it'll shine like a beacon. He won't be able to ignore it."
"Good," Hugo said. "But we need to position it carefully."
"Somewhere open, where he can't use the rocks for cover. Can you hold the orb steady once you create it?"
Nerelle shook her head. "The spell requires concentration. I'd need to stay close to it, which means I'd be exposed."
Hugo frowned, thinking it through. "Then I'll be the bait."
"You create the orb, anchor it somewhere safe, and I'll stay near it. When Kragnar comes for it, I'll engage him. You stay back and watch for openings. If he gets the upper hand, you pull me out."
Nerelle looked like she wanted to argue, but she saw the determination in Hugo's eyes and nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But promise me you'll be careful."
"If it looks like you're losing, we retreat. The Pearl isn't worth your life."
Hugo gave her a reassuring smile. "I didn't survive forty-three years as a fisherman by being reckless. I know when to fight and when to run."
They descended together, Hugo following Nerelle as she swam toward a flat stretch of sand about fifty feet from the cave entrance. It was clear and open, with no rocks or coral nearby. Perfect for what they needed.
Nerelle stopped and began weaving her hands through the water, her lips moving in a silent chant. The water around her fingers began to glow, soft at first, then brighter, until a sphere of pure light materialized before her.
The orb pulsed with a radiance that lit up the entire area, casting long shadows across the sand. It was mesmerizing, beautiful in a way that Hugo couldn't quite describe. If he were a creature that hoarded shiny things, he'd want it too.
Nerelle anchored the orb to the seafloor with a thread of magic, then swam back to where Hugo was waiting. "It's done. Now we wait."
Hugo drew his fishing rod, the Rod of the Forgotten Tide glowing faintly in the dim water. It felt strange to hold it like a weapon, but it was all he had. The system chimed softly in his mind.
[Entering combat zone. Boss Entity may appear at any moment.]
[Tip: Use your environment to your advantage. Water currents can be both ally and enemy.]
Hugo steadied his breathing, watching the cave entrance. Minutes passed in tense silence, the only sound the distant rush of the ocean and the faint hum of Nerelle's light orb. Then, something moved in the darkness of the cave.
A low rumble echoed through the water, vibrating through Hugo's chest. The entrance to the lair seemed to darken further, as if something massive was blocking the light. Then, slowly, a shape emerged.
Kragnar was even more terrifying than Hugo had imagined. The serpent's body was thick and muscular, easily thirty feet long, covered in jagged coral growths that jutted out like armor.
His scales were a sickly greenish-black, and his eyes glowed with a malevolent yellow light. His mouth opened slightly, revealing rows of teeth that looked sharp enough to tear through steel.
The system flashed a warning in Hugo's vision.
[Warning: Boss Entity Detected!]
[Kragnar, the Coral Serpent | Level 12 | Threat Level: High]
[Recommendation: Extreme caution advised.]
Kragnar's gaze locked onto the glowing orb, and a hiss escaped his throat, deep and hungry. He moved forward, slowly at first, then faster, his massive body undulating through the water with unsettling speed. Hugo tightened his grip on the fishing rod, waiting for the right moment.
When Kragnar was about twenty feet from the orb, Hugo moved. He swam forward, positioning himself between the serpent and the light. Kragnar's eyes shifted to him, and the hiss turned into a growl. The serpent's body coiled, preparing to strike.
Hugo didn't wait. He swung the fishing rod like a whip, the line cutting through the water and wrapping around one of the coral protrusions on Kragnar's back. The serpent roared, thrashing violently, but Hugo held firm, using the line to pull himself closer.
Kragnar lunged, jaws snapping shut where Hugo had been a second before. Hugo kicked off the seafloor, using the current to propel himself upward and out of reach.
The serpent followed, faster than something that size had any right to be. Hugo could feel the water displacement as Kragnar's body surged past him, teeth grazing his leg.
Pain flared, but Hugo ignored it. He needed to stay focused. The serpent circled back, eyes locked on him now, the orb forgotten. Good. That was exactly what Hugo wanted.
Kragnar struck again, and this time Hugo was ready. He dove to the side, letting the serpent's momentum carry it past him, then looped the fishing line around its neck. The line tightened, glowing brighter as the Rod of the Forgotten Tide reacted to the struggle. Kragnar thrashed, trying to shake him off, but Hugo held on, his muscles screaming with the effort.
The serpent twisted, slamming Hugo against a nearby rock. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, and he felt the line slipping from his grip. Kragnar sensed the weakness and lunged again, jaws wide open.
In that moment, something inside Hugo clicked. A surge of power flowed through him, cold and vast like the ocean itself. Without thinking, he reached out with that power, and the water around them responded.
The current shifted violently, pulling upward with a force that caught Kragnar mid-strike. The serpent's body was yanked toward the surface, thrashing wildly as it fought against the unnatural pull.
Hugo felt the strain of controlling the water, but he didn't let go. The system chimed in his mind.
[Emergency Skill Unlocked: Tidal Pull — Temporarily control the current of water to pull enemies upward.]
[Duration: 10 seconds | Cooldown: 5 minutes]
Hugo poured everything he had into the skill, dragging Kragnar higher and higher until they broke through the surface. The serpent roared, disoriented and vulnerable out of its element. Hugo released the current and swam up after it, the fishing rod still clutched in his hand.
With a final surge of strength, Hugo swung the rod like a spear, driving the hook deep into the soft flesh beneath Kragnar's jaw. The serpent convulsed, its body thrashing one last time before going still. The yellow light in its eyes flickered and died, and the massive creature began to sink back into the water.
Hugo floated there, gasping for breath, his body trembling from exhaustion. The system chimed again, this time with a triumphant tone.
[Boss Defeated: Kragnar, the Coral Serpent.]
[Achievement Unlocked: First Ocean Boss Defeated.]
[Reward: 500 EXP, Rank Up: Fisher Level 5, Title: Serpent Slayer.]
[New Skill Unlocked: Tidal Pull (Permanent).]
Nerelle swam up beside him, her eyes wide with awe. "You did it. I can't believe you actually did it."
Hugo managed a tired smile. "We did it. I couldn't have done this without you."
...
...
They descended back to the cave entrance, where Kragnar's body had come to rest. Inside the lair, Hugo's Aqua Vision revealed a massive hoard of glowing objects, treasures stolen over years of hunting. And there, in the center of it all, resting on a bed of luminescent coral, was the Pearl of Tides.
It was beautiful, about the size of Hugo's fist, glowing with a soft blue light that pulsed like a heartbeat. He reached out and took it carefully, feeling the warmth radiating from its surface.
[Quest Complete: Retrieve the Lost Pearl of Tides.]
[Reward: Tidebreaker's Charm, Affinity Boost with Oceanborn Species.]
Hugo turned to Nerelle, holding the Pearl out to her. She stared at it, tears streaming down her face, and took it with trembling hands.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Thank you so much, Hugo!"