Facing the beast, Aegaeon felt both fear and excitement. He had grown much since his last fight with a shark and Aegaeon wanted to see his growth in action. Pulling the water around the massive shark Aegaeon tried to lift it up, where it would be easier for him to fight due to his vision. The shark resisted the tug and angled down to stay at its depth. Aegaeon tried again unsuccessfully before pulling Neptune’s Wrath out of his inventory.

The satisfying sound of metal being pulled from leather rang out as Neptune’s Wrath settled into Aegaeon’s grip. The blade felt natural to him, an extension of his arm, of himself. Looking at the dagger before him, Aegaeon had a moment of wonder as he looked at the stylized blade, the serpentine design looking natural in the water. The jewel at the hilt gave off a brilliant blue light as if reflecting waves themselves.

The presence of the knife held the opposite response for the shark. It’s countenance darkened as it prepared for attack, Aegaeon could sense its bloodlust and prepared himself for a defensive position. Aegaeon held the blade running outwards along his forearm, he favored this cloak and dagger approach as it provided the potential of quick and deadly strikes.

The beast lurched forward and broke into the brighter waters where Aegaeon stood silently awaiting the sharks attack. It’s body was a mass of muscle contracting and relaxing to move through the water. With speed Aegaeon could barely register the shark barreled toward him. Aegaeon moves to the side just as the beast lashed out with its teeth, the jaws slammed shut with power that lifted Aegaeon’s hair on end. If he was but by those teeth, there wouldn’t be anything left.

He only had a moment to contemplate this as the right fin of the shark clipped him, Aegaeon spun around in the water and eventually repositioned himself as the shark was turning around for another strike. Aegaeon was able to determine his opponents name at this point.

Amemasu Shark Lvl 25

It was an impressive title and Aegaeon felt worry return to him as he crouched in the water. If he stayed on the defensive this battle would be short to say the least. Aegaeon pulled on the energy reserve that water was to him to draw power for manipulating the water around the shark. Aegaeon tried the same trick he had earlier with the barracudas gills. If the shark couldn’t breathe it couldn’t fight right?

Manipulating the water to vibrate was the easy part, but Aegaeon couldn’t vibrate the water with enough power to effect the Amemasu Shark’s gills. They were simply much larger and tougher than the barracudas. The action only seemed to irritate the Amemasu Shark and it charged at his open mouthed; its rows of teeth shining through the low light.

As with the last charge, Aegaeon waited until it was close, but instead of dodging to one side he dropped beneath it and slashed at the belly of the beast with Neptune’s Wrath. The blade glanced off its tough hide and seemed to be incapable of slashing it. At the last moment before the shark passed over him he jagged upwards and stabbed through its hide.

He only managed to puncture its tail and draw a little blood, which seemed again as more of an irritant than anything else. Aegaeon started to panic. This beast was too strong, and it seemed that if Aegaeon had any chance, it was slim. He thought again of the water, and tried another approach that he’d used with the barracudas. Drawing in his energy and pulling from the water itself, Aegaeon imagined all the force from the water above and below the shark meeting together forcefully.

Aegaeon could feel the power of the water pushing together, there was a slight current coming outward from the meeting point. As Aegaeon felt his energy draining from him, the shark started to budge against its restraint. The force wasn’t great enough to kill the shark, but it was enough to immobilize it.

Concentrating on upholding the force took almost all of Aegaeon’s thought, he could do little but watch and focus. Trying to amplify the power of the water Aegaeon poured more energy into it. He was getting tired and if he didn’t get a result soon, he’d surely lose out. The Amemasu Shark kept wriggling trying to force its way out of the oppressive water.

The shark began to move with desperation, worry apparent in its features, at the very least, Aegaeon was able to scare the giant shark. Aegaeon advanced forward, pushing against the water that shot outwards. He split his focus which caused an immense headache to come upon him. With his head pounding he slowly advanced closer to the Amemasu Shark.

Coming within striking distance Aegaeon channeled his Assassin’s Intuition. He had no idea where to strike the beast in these last moments of holding it. Aegaeon’s energy was a limited resource that was soon to run out, even with the water statically rejuvenating him. Feeling a draw towards its head, Aegaeon looked for a weak spot. He worried that it’s skull would be too strong for Neptune’s Wrath to puncture, but then he noticed something.

The Amemasu Shark watched with dread as Aegaeon advanced towards it. It was the moving eyes of the shark that caught Aegaeon attention; this was the weak spot. Pulling Neptune’s Wrath up above his head, Aegaeon aimed for the eye nearest him and drove the dagger down. It punctured the eye but not deep enough to kill it, the tough leathery skin surrounding the eye prevented deeper penetration.

With a shriek of pain the Amemasu Shark broke free from its restraint, shattering Aegaeon’s focus. It tore past him descending into the water desperately attempting to avoid its near death. Using the last of his strength, Aegaeon charged after it. It’s speed was impressive but it wasn’t as slim as Aegaeon giving him an advantage.

He managed to stab Neptune’s Wrath into the end of the shark’s tail. Using it as a hand hold, Aegaeon dragged himself further up the sharks body. Each time he reached his blade, he stab it in further up the sharks body. It’s only mechanism to respond was to flee. The physique of the shark prevented it from doing anything besides evasive maneuvers.

Aegaeon wasn’t prepared for the Amemasu Shark to barrel roll and almost lost his grip. He was already well past the point in the water that he could still see and Aegaeon was left with only touch as a guide. Dragging himself ever forward up the sharks body. At this point Aegaeon was approaching the base of its head. The shark barreled ever onward hoping to go deep enough that it’s opponent couldn’t see or handle the pressure.

If it weren’t for the water reenergizing Aegaeon, he’d have died multiple times over. With some of the last of Aegaeon’s energy, he stabbed Neptune’s Wrath into the flesh at the back of its skull and pulled himself up in preparation for his final blow. Using his left hand to hold to the sharks eye socket, Aegaeon gripped Neptune’s Wrath. The shark was frantic in its movements hoping to thrust Aegaeon off, but he was determined.

Using the dregs of his energy, Aegaeon thought of the water, not around the shark but rather around himself and his blade. He imagined the water pushing itself around Neptune’s Wrath and creating an extended edge of water. He sharpened his idea of the water edge by imaging the water grinding itself to a infinitesimally small edge around the blade. He also pictured the water around his arm.

His thrusts weren’t yet powerful enough, he simply didn’t have the strength. But using the force of water to push against him attack and aid his stab, he figured he could cause more permanent damage to the Amemasu Shark and finally defeat it. The exhaustion was started to wear down on Aegaeon and felt himself start to tire out. If he didn’t end it now, he’d pass out and be at the mercy of the beast.

Forcing his arm forward and focusing on the sharp edge of the watery blade, Aegaeon stabbed into the undisturbed eye. Neptune’s Wrath dug into the eye but still wasn’t far enough; even with its empowered burst. Aegaeon’s arms were screaming in protest, he had worn his body out and his mind was also fraying from the mass amounts of concentration. As a last thought, Aegaeon twisted Neptune’s Wrath and ground it in deeper, there was a resistance and bit of hesitation, but eventually there was give.

With a hint of finality, Aegaeon drove the blade in to the hilt, killing the Amemasu Shark. Neptune’s Wrath glowed a dark blue from its gem, illuminating the area around him. The Amemasu Shark had succeeded in being Aegaeon to the deepest part of the lake. Aegaeon’s last sight was of lake floor as Neptune’s Wrath dimmed and darkness overcame him, both from a lack of light and also from exertion.