Dawn broke over the volcanic region as the alliance prepared to depart.
Draven stood on the obsidian plateau with Fire Anchor secured to his back using Warden's Mantle's adaptive straps. The Genesis Codex floated beside him, golden-green light steady.
Around him, the bonded beasts gathered—Malvorn's massive behemoth form, Feyra's snow-white radiance, Velnar's thorned exoskeleton, Sylvara's elegant druid shape. Only Zor remained airborne, midnight-black feathers crackling with violet lightning as he circled overhead.
Naelvorn and Frostina had shifted to human forms—the Tideripper now lean man with blue-toned skin, the Glacial Queen elegant woman with pale features and ice-blue eyes.
"Four weeks to the Eastern Ocean," Draven said. "We should travel efficiently."
"Malvorn, Feyra, Velnar, Sylvara—rest in the sanctuary," Draven said. "Raziel's already there. Four weeks is too long to fly in beast forms. Conserve energy."
The bonded beasts understood. One by one, they folded through the bond—entering Genesis Codex's dinsional pocket where Raziel waited. The sanctuary could hold all bonded creatures comfortably while providing rest and protection during long journeys.
Within monts, only Zor remained physically present.
The Thunder Raven descended while landing beside Draven. His wingspan was enormous—large enough to carry three human-sized passengers easily.
"Zor's our transport," Draven explained to Naelvorn and Frostina. "He can fly for days without tiring. We'll ride together."
Naelvorn grinned. "Flying taxi service, bro. I like it."
They mounted Zor carefully—Draven settling between the Thunder Raven's powerful shoulders, Naelvorn behind him, Frostina taking position at the rear. The massive raven's feathers crackled with storm energy as weight distributed evenly.
"Ready?" Draven asked.
Zor's predatory purple eyes glead. His wings spread wide—shadow falling across obsidian plateau.
Then lifted into sky.
The volcanic region fell away beneath them—seven peaks smoking, lava rivers glowing, ash clouds drifting. The place where Raziel had ascended to Epic tier, where the Fire Anchor had been claid.
Draven looked back once.
Then forward.
Toward the Eastern Ocean.
Toward ho—for Naelvorn at least.
---
The journey took weeks.
Zor flew steadily eastward as volcanic wasteland gave way to plains—vast grasslands stretching to horizons, golden in afternoon light. Rivers cut through the landscape like silver ribbons. Forests appeared occasionally, dense canopies of green.
They stopped each evening—Zor landing in clearings or on hilltops. Draven would release the bonded beasts from sanctuary briefly, allowing them to stretch and interact. Raziel remained inside, his Epic-tier presence too unstable for casual manifestation, but his warmth was felt through the bond always.
Nights were peaceful. Naelvorn told stories of ocean depths in his casual, humorous way. Frostina listened with quiet patience, occasionally correcting his more dramatic exaggerations. The alliance bonded through shared journey—miles and conversation both.
Days blurred together pleasantly.
And slowly, the landscape changed again.
During flight, Draven practiced with Raziel through their bond.
"Try channeling your elent through ," Draven suggested ntally. "Can you manifest fire from the sanctuary?"
Inside Genesis Codex, Raziel's Epic-tier presence focused. Power flowed through the bond—concentrated, controlled, purposeful.
Flas erupted around Draven's hands.
Not ordinary fire—volcanic heat, magma-intensity, superheated beyond natural limits. The flas danced across his fingers without burning him, responding to Raziel's will channeled through their connection.
Naelvorn leaned back slightly. "Uh, bro? You're on fire."
"Raziel's fire," Draven explained as flas dissipated. "He can manifest his elent through the bond even from the sanctuary."
Frostina's ice-blue eyes studied the phenonon analytically. "Epic-tier power channeling through Fragnt-bearer connection. Impressive. The bond is strong."
"I can do more," Raziel rumbled through the bond, satisfaction evident. "Heat manipulation, thermal currents, limited lava control. Whatever you need—I'm with you."
Draven smiled.
Raziel wasn't absent. Just... different.
Two weeks into the journey, the air changed.
Humidity increased—moisture clinging to skin, salt scent carried on wind. The plains gave way to coastal vegetation—palm-like trees, salt-resistant grasses, sandy soil replacing fertile earth.
Naelvorn's excitent beca palpable. His blue-toned skin seed to brighten, eyes reflecting light differently. "Sll that, bro? Ocean's close. Maybe three, four days out."
Frostina's pale features remained composed, but even she seed more alert—water was her elent's cousin, ice born from frozen seas.
Through the bond, Raziel's presence pulsed with interest. I've never seen ocean. Show when we arrive.
Draven would.
Zor flew faster—sensing destination approaching, storm-nature responding to oceanic winds.
The Eastern Ocean waited ahead.
And beneath its depths, the Water Anchor.
Naelvorn's ho.
---
The ocean appeared on the horizon like a line of deepest blue.
Draven saw it first—vast expanse of water stretching endlessly, eting sky at distant edge. Sunlight sparkled across the surface, creating diamond-field of reflected light.
"There," Draven pointed.
Naelvorn's reaction was imdiate. His blue-toned face broke into widest grin. "HO! That's my territory, bro! The Eastern Ocean—deepest waters on Theia, coldest currents, most dangerous creatures!" He laughed, pure joy evident. "And I know every trench, every ridge, every hunting ground!"
Frostina smiled slightly—rare expression of warmth. "You've missed it."
"Every single day," Naelvorn admitted without sha.
Zor descended toward the coastline as violet lightning crackled with anticipation.
The ocean grew larger with every wingbeat.
Endless. Beautiful. Powerful.
Naelvorn's domain.
Zor landed on white sandy beach where ocean t land.
The mont Draven dismounted, scale beca apparent.
The Eastern Ocean was vast beyond comprehension. Waves rolled endlessly, each one larger than houses, crashing against shore with rhythmic thunder. The water stretched to horizon without break—no islands visible, no distant shores, just infinite blue.
The air tasted of salt and ancient depth. Seabirds circled overhead, cries mixing with wave-sound. Wind carried moisture that clung to everything.
Through Genesis Codex, the bonded beasts erged briefly—Malvorn, Feyra, Velnar, Sylvara stepping onto sand. Raziel's presence pulsed through the bond, experiencing ocean through Draven's senses.
Magnificent, Raziel breathed. So different from volcanic fire. This is water's domain.
Naelvorn stood at water's edge, waves lapping at his feet.
Coming ho.
Luminestra's presence stirred through Genesis Codex. The Water Anchor is here. Deep beneath these waters—perhaps ten kiloters down, in the abyssal trenches. It stabilizes oceanic currents, prevents catastrophic tsunamis, maintains planetary water cycles.
"Ten kiloters," Draven repeated quietly. "That's... extre depth."
"For you, bro? Absolutely." Naelvorn turned, grinning. "For ? Ho territory. I've been deeper. The pressure, the cold, the creatures—I know them all."
Adhivar's voice rumbled. Naelvorn's domain. He will guide you safely.
Frostina nodded. "With proper protection, we'll manage."
Malvorn's single eye pulsed. "Tomorrow. We rest tonight, descend at dawn."
The alliance agreed.
Before them, the Eastern Ocean stretched endlessly—surface concealing depths where the Water Anchor waited.
💖 Enjoying the story?
👉 Support on Patreon: /sa2quasar
Reviews
All reviews (0)