Xhen felt his strength waning. The pressure of the abyss, the relentless attacks of the corrupted shark, and the suffocating darkness were slowly sapping his will. He dodged a lunging snap of the shark's jaws, the near miss sending a jolt of adrenaline through him. He wouldn't give up – not yet. Not when Maria and the future of the two worlds were at stake.
He glanced at the monolith, the source of the Corrupter's power. It pulsed with a malevolent light, mocking his struggle. But then, an image flashed in his mind – a forgotten memory from his childhood training. Queen Anya, her face etched with concern, demonstrating a maneuver with the Aquamarine Crystal.
Focusing on the last of his energy, Xhen visualized the memory. He channeled the crystal's power, not in a defensive blast, but in a concentrated beam aimed directly at the monolith. The water around him crackled with energy, and a blinding light erupted from the crystal.
The shark screeched in pain, momentarily stunned by the sudden burst. The beam of light struck the monolith, momentarily breaking through its dark aura. Xhen saw a glimpse of the artifact within – a pulsating, obsidian sphere pulsing with malevolent energy.
But before he could react further, the darkness surged back. With a renewed ferocity, the corrupted shark lunged. This time, Xhen couldn't dodge. He braced himself for impact, a cry escaping his lips.
Suddenly, a wave of bioluminescence engulfed him. Bioluminescent creatures, a vast school of deep-sea fish, materialized around him, flashing their iridescent bodies in a mesmerizing display. They swarmed the corrupted shark, their light momentarily blinding it and hindering its attack.
Confused and disoriented, the shark thrashed about, trying to shake off the luminous swarm. It was a brief window of opportunity, but it was enough.
Xhen focused again, drawing on the last dregs of his energy. He summoned the crystal's power one last time, channeling it into a powerful telepathic wave aimed at the shark.
"Enough!" he roared in his mind, projecting a vision of peace between humans and merfolk, a world free from the Corrupter's influence.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the red glow in the shark's eyes dimmed. It stopped thrashing, its body trembling as it looked at Xhen with a flicker of… confusion?
The school of bioluminescent fish dispersed, vanishing back into the darkness. The shark turned slowly, its massive form weaving through the abyssal water. It let out a low, mournful growl before disappearing into the distance.
Xhen slumped, his body depleted but his spirit soaring. He had done it. He'd driven back the corrupted shark, at least for now. But the victory felt incomplete. The obsidian sphere throbbed within the monolith, a silent threat.
As his vision blurred, a faint voice echoed in his mind. "Xhen…"
The voice, filled with concern and relief, was unmistakable – Queen Anya.
With a final surge of determination, Xhen focused. Using the last vestiges of his strength, he projected a message towards the surface, towards his mother.
"Mother," he rasped in his mind, "I found the source. But… I need help. The darkness…"
His mental call faded into silence, his consciousness slipping into the abyss just as darkness consumed his vision.
Xhen awoke to a blinding white light, the rhythmic beeping of a machine a harsh counterpoint to the comforting lull of the ocean. Pain throbbed in his head, a dull ache that pulsed with every beat of his heart. He tried to move, but his body felt heavy, anchored to something.
Disoriented, his vision blurred as he tried to focus. A woman with familiar emerald eyes swam into view, her face etched with worry.
"Xhen?" she said, her voice filled with relief that tugged at his heart. "You're finally awake."
"Mother?" Xhen croaked, his voice hoarse. "What happened?"
Queen Anya offered him a gentle smile. "You were unconscious when we found you, just drifting near the surface. It seems the crystal's last surge of energy acted as a beacon."
"How long…?" Xhen rasped, his throat dry.
"Two days," she replied, a hint of concern in her voice. "You were very weak. But you're a fighter, Xhen. Just like your father."
The mention of his father, a figure shrouded in a veil of forgotten memories, sent a pang through Xhen's heart. He needed to know more, but right now, he had a more pressing concern.
"The monolith," he said, pushing himself up against the soft cushion he lay on. "The darkness… did you receive my message?"
Anya's smile faltered. "We did, Xhen. You were brave to face the corrupted creature alone."
"But what about the artifact?" Xhen's voice sharpened with worry. "The darkness is still there, isn't it?"
Queen Anya sighed, a troubled look clouding her emerald eyes. "You're right, Xhen. The obsidian sphere is a powerful artifact, a conduit for the Corrupter's influence. Destroying it is no simple task."
"Then what do we do?" Xhen felt a surge of despair. He'd come so close, risked his life, only to discover the battle wasn't over.
"There is an ancient prophecy," Queen Anya said, her voice gaining a hint of hope. "It speaks of a convergence, a meeting of three lights – the crystal's celestial glow, the luminescence of the deep sea, and a third, a light yet to be identified."
"A third light?" Xhen echoed, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What does that mean?"
Queen Anya shook her head. "The prophecy is cryptic, Xhen. But it offers a glimmer of hope. We need to decipher it, find this third light."
"And what about the surface world?" Xhen asked, suddenly remembering Maria. "I promised… I need to let her know I'm alright."
A fleeting smile touched Anya's lips. "We have ways of communicating discreetly with the surface. Don't worry, your friend will know you're safe."
Relief washed over Xhen. He still had a long journey ahead, a prophecy to unravel, a darkness to vanquish. But for now, knowing Maria was safe, knowing he wasn't alone in this fight, rekindled the fire of determination within him.
"Then let's decipher this prophecy," Xhen declared, his voice firm despite the lingering pain. "We won't let the Corrupter win. We'll find that third light, and together, we'll bring peace back to the ocean and the surface world."
Queen Anya placed a hand on his arm, her eyes shining with pride. "That's my son," she said. "Together, we will."