Chapter 36

"Sophia Rodriguez," Tyros drawled, his voice a low rumble that seemed to resonate through the sea. "The surface dweller became an Aquarian diplomat. What do we owe this... honor?

Sophia moved forward, disregarding the taunt. "I'm here to protect the relationship between Aquaria and the Shark Clans. We cannot afford to allow our differences divide us.

Tyros leaned back, his sharp eyes gleaming with delight. "Differences? That's putting it lightly. Your realm reeks of weakness. Betrayal, corruption, and now the Leviathan is prowling your boundaries. Why should we bind our fate to yours?

The council members flanking him murmured in agreement, their faces chilly.

Sophia took a big breath. "Because the Leviathan threatens all of us, including Aquaria. You've seen how corruption spreads. It will not stop at our boundaries, but will consume everything in its path. "If we stand divided, we will fall."

Tyros chuckled grimly. "Girl, spare me the speeches. What do you have to give that is worth compromising my clan's survival?"

Sophia met his stare unflinchingly. "Respect. Recognition. The Shark Clans have always been considered outliers, feared rather than understood. That changes today. If you stand with us, you will have a place at the table and a say in Aquaria's decisions.

Tyros' grin vanished, replaced by a calculating expression. "These are bold words. However, words alone do not have weight in my society. "Prove that you are worthy of our loyalty."

Sophia hesitated, detecting a challenge in his words. "What do you want me to do?"

Tyros rose, his huge body throwing a shadow throughout the chamber. "This is a test. You'll enter the Abyssal Pass to retrieve a shard from the Leviathan's trench. Only then will I evaluate your offer."

The council mumbled in astonishment, with some dubious and others fascinated.

Kael moved forward, his voice harsh. "That is lunacy. She's not a warrior, and you know it."

Tyros' grin returned, razor-sharp. "If she's not strong enough to face the abyss, why should we trust her to face the Leviathan?"

Sophia placed a hand on Kael's arm, halting his outcry. "I'll do it."

Kael looked to her, disbelief in his eyes. "Sophia-"

"I said I'd do it," she stated firmly. "This is our greatest opportunity of securing their alliance. I will not let it slip away."

Sophia had never seen anything like the Abyssal Pass before. The water was thick with shadows, and the pressure was intense as they plunged into the trench. Her suit's bioluminescent threads provided the sole light in the stifling blackness.

Kael swam beside her, his protective impulses competing with his admiration for her tenacity. "Stay close," he muttered. "The currents down here are treacherous."

Sophia nodded, her gaze fixed on the task ahead. The trench seemed to throb with an unnerving energy, with faint whispers of the Leviathan's depravity creeping around the borders of her thoughts.

They discovered the shard lodged in a rough crag, its surface glowing with an unearthly light. Sophia grabbed for it gingerly, her fingers brushing over the cool surface.

When she touched it, she felt a sharp and invasive pulse of electricity go through her. She gasped, her vision blurring as the Leviathan's presence flickered on the outside of her awareness.

"Sophia!" Kael's words drew her back, and his firm grip anchored her as she staggered.

"I'm fine," she replied hastily, her shaking hands betraying her.

They emerged shortly later, the shard safely secured. Tyros awaited them, his countenance opaque as Sophia displayed the artifact.

"Well done," he remarked with an unwillingly courteous tone. "You've proven your strength."

Sophia met his gaze and kept her voice calm. "Does this mean we have your support?"

Tyros watched her for a long time before nodding. "The Shark Clans will respect the partnership. But know this: if Aquaria falls, we will not join her.

As word of the revitalized deal filtered throughout the capital, tensions lessened. Sophia sat in the council chamber, tiredness pouring through her bones.

As Kael approached, his typically steely manner softened. "You surprised me today," he confessed.

Sophia smiled slightly. "Is that a compliment?"

"Take it however you want," he said with a tinge of humor. Then, more seriously, he said, "You've earned their respect-and mine." But don't let it get to your head.

Sophia chuckled, and the weight of the day lifted slightly. "Do not worry, Kael. There's plenty to keep me anchored."

As they had a rare moment of understanding, a tiny tremor shook the chamber, with the distant roar of the Leviathan serving as a dismal reminder.

The tenuous alliance had been strengthened, but the war was far from done.

A Test of Loyalty

The training fields were alive with anxiety as Aquaria's soldiers stood in formation, their movements precise yet stiff. Across from them, the Shark Clans gathered, their sleek bodies and piercing eyes exuding predatory confidence. The currents between the two groups appeared electric, with each side brimming with unspoken distrust.

Tharros stood in the center, his golden gaze sweeping across the gathering soldiers. "Today's about more than drills," he declared, his voice dominating. "The Leviathan's shadow falls over us all. If we're going to survive, we need to learn to trust one other."

Sophia stood right behind him, her presence unwavering despite the unsettling crackling in the water. She'd spent hours resolving conflicts, settling tempers, and ensuring that this exercise didn't become derailed before it started. But as she looked at the stiff lines of Aquaria's warriors and the frantic motions of the Shark Clans, she knew this would be far from easy.

Kael approached her with an inscrutable gaze. "Think this will work?"

"It has to," Sophia said, her voice quiet but forceful. "We don't have another option."

The first portion of the drill included simulated warfare scenarios. Aquarian soldiers were matched with Shark Clan warriors, their movements uncomfortable as they attempted to synchronize. The Shark Clans valued speed and unpredictability, but Aquaria's warriors emphasized strategy and precision. It was a collision of styles, and cracks appeared rapidly.

"Keep up, surface crawler!" exclaimed a Shark Clan warrior as his comrade fell behind during a sprint exercise.

"Maybe if you followed the plan instead of charging ahead!" The soldier shot back, his frustration evident.

Sophia moved between them, her voice gentle yet firm. "Enough. This is not about establishing who is superior. Concentrate on the goal."

The two hesitantly returned to line, their wrath barely restrained.

Kael watched from the sidelines, arms crossed. "They're not ready for this."

"They will be," Sophia insisted, refusing to let doubt seep in. "They just need time."

Arin watched the drill from a distance, her keen eyes scanning the participants. She wasn't here to train or mediate; her emphasis was on something considerably more sinister.

The Leviathan's influence has a way of hiding in plain sight-tiny signals and subtle shifts that might easily be overlooked. A moment of pause, an unexpected movement, and a shadow in the eyes. Arin's power buzzed softly around her, a whispering line of energy seeking out the supernatural.

She noticed one soldier moving strangely, his eyes darting rapidly as if he was seeing something no one else could. Arin pushed his lips into a thin line. Another promising lead.

By midday, emotions had reached a boiling point. During a practice combat, an Aquarian officer and a Shark Clan commander got into a heated dispute that quickly escalated.

"You're reckless!" The officer snapped. "Your wild tactics nearly got my men injured!"

"And your rigid rules are a liability!" the Shark leader responded.

Tharros stepped forward, his towering stature drowned out the conversation. "Enough," he exclaimed, his voice as cold as steel. "It is not about egos or grudges. You're here to learn how to work together, not against each other."

Sophia moved to his side, her calm tone easing the severity of his scolding. "We all want the same thing: to survive. The Leviathan does not care about our differences. "If we don't learn to trust one another, we're handing it victory."

The words hung in the water, offering a quiet yet powerful challenge. Slowly, the two leaders nodded, their pride hurt but their tempers under control.

The corrupted creatures attacked, which marked a turning point.

It began with a faraway tremor, a little change in the water that sent shivers down Sophia's spine. Then the first creature appeared: a gigantic eel, warped by the Leviathan's corruption, its formerly elegant form now bloated and hideous.

A second followed, then a third, until the water was alive with activity. The beasts invaded the training fields, their blazing eyes and snapping jaws dispersing soldiers.

"Form up!" Kael screamed, his voice cutting through the confusion.

Aquaria's troops took up defensive positions, their spears and shields up. The Shark Clans joined them, moving fluidly as they prepared to strike. For a little while, the two groups paused, the mistrust still present.

"Together!" Sophia shouted, her voice full of urgency. "We fight together, or we fall!"

Her words energized them. With a common battle cry, the two forces charged.

The combat was violent and chaotic, with corrupted monsters relentlessly attacking. Aquarian soldiers and Shark Clan warriors fought together, their differences forgotten in the face of a common adversary.

Kael moved like a tornado, his spear striking with deadly accuracy. Beside him, a Shark Clan leader leaped at a beast, and their combined efforts killed it in a spray of blackened ichor.

Sophia worked furiously to coordinate the defense, her voice cutting through the clamor as she conveyed instructions. "Hold the line!" "Protect the injured."

Arin remained on the perimeter, her magic sizzling and sending waves of energy to disturb the creatures' movements. But her attention remained fixed on the soldiers, her acute gaze searching for any signs of corruption among them.

A soldier collapsed, and his scream pierced the chaos. Sophia ran to his side, her pulse racing as she struggled to bring him to safety. A Shark Clan warrior appeared beside her, his powerful form sheltering them as he defeated an approaching beast.

"Thanks," Sophia exclaimed.

The warrior grinned, his sharp fangs gleaming. "Don't mention it, surface dweller."

A profound hush descended over the training grounds as the final beast fell. The water was thick with the residue of fighting, leaving the once-pristine landscape scarred and damaged.

Sophia remained in the center, her chest heaving as she peered about. Soldiers and Shark Clan warriors assisted each other to their feet, their common suffering forming a kinship deeper than words could.

Tharros approached, his face bleak but determined. "We have demonstrated that we can fight together. Now we must guarantee that we are prepared for the actual struggle.

Kael nodded, his typical skepticism replaced by a look of admiration. "They've earned it today."

Sophia caught his gaze, her tiredness offset by a tiny smile. "Even the surface dweller?"

Kael snorted, a rare moment of levity emerging. "Even you."

As the soldiers gathered, Arin grabbed Sophia aside and spoke quietly. "There's something you need to see."

She took Sophia to the edge of the training fields, where a soldier stood terrified. His eyes were glazed, and his fists gripped his weapon fiercely.

"It's starting," Arin remarked solemnly.