Lorigna was alive with celebration. The battle against the leviathans had been won, and the people cheered as Samuel and his party stepped onto the docks. The salty ocean breeze mixed with the scent of fresh seafood being prepared for the festival in their honor.
But Samuel barely heard the cheers. His mind was elsewhere.
He had tamed one leviathan.
Now, he had to claim the second one's soul.
Samuel's Excuse,
As the celebration began, Jason clapped Samuel on the back. "You did good, kid. Real good."
Samuel forced a smile. "Thanks. I'm just glad we all made it out."
Elaine smiled warmly. "You were amazing out there, Samuel."
Sylvia stretched her arms. "We should eat! I feel like I could finish a whole table of food."
Samuel nodded, but inside, he was already planning his next move.
He needed to return to the ocean. Alone.
The second leviathan's body still rested beneath the waves, its soul lingering. He could feel it, just like he had felt the first one. If he didn't act fast, the soul would fade.
"Hey," Samuel said, forcing a fake grin, "I think I need a little time to myself. That fight took a lot out of me."
Elaine tilted her head. "Are you sure? We should rest together. You pushed yourself too hard."
Jason folded his arms. "Yeah, you almost passed out on that leviathan's back."
Samuel scratched his head. "I just need some air. I'll be back soon."
The group hesitated, but eventually, they nodded.
"Alright," Elaine said, smiling. "Just don't go too far."
Samuel gave a small nod before turning away. He hated lying to them, but he had to do this.
If he was going to protect the people he cared about, he needed more power.
Returning to the Sea,
Under the cover of night, Samuel made his way back to the ocean. The town's celebrations were still loud behind him, but here, at the water's, all was quiet.
He closed his eyes and focused.
The second leviathan's soul was still there, deep beneath the waves. It was weaker than before, but it hadn't disappeared yet.
Samuel stepped into the water, (while holding his breath)
Unlike before, this time he wasn't battling for survival. He was here to claim what remained.
Now extracting the Soul,
The water was cold as Samuel sank deeper. The moon's light barely reached this far, but his senses guided him.
And then, he saw it.
The second leviathan's lifeless body rested at the bottom of the ocean. Its scales had lost their shine, and its massive eyes were now dull and empty.
But its soul was still floating above it,
Samuel reached out his hand.
The moment he did, he felt a pull—the raw, ancient power of the leviathan struggling to resist. Unlike the first one, this soul wasn't willing to submit.
Samuel clenched his jaw. "You're already dead. Your body is gone. But your power… I can use it."
The soul trembled, resisting.
Samuel focused harder.
His power as a Soul Tamer was growing, and now, he was beginning to understand something new.
Taming a living beast's soul was one thing.
Claiming a soul from the dead… was something else entirely.
So he used the same method he used on the dragon,
It was stronger. Wilder. But also free from a physical form.
And that meant—if Samuel succeeded—he wouldn't just control the second leviathan.
He would own its power completely.
The soul fought back one last time.
Then, it broke apart and rushed into Samuel's chest.
A wave of energy surged through Samuel's body. His vision blurred, and for a moment, it felt like he was sinking into the ocean itself.
Then—he felt it.
The second leviathan's power wasn't tied to a body anymore.
It was pure energy now, flowing through his veins.
Samuel clenched his fist. "I did it."
He was stronger now. He didn't just tame a leviathan. He had absorbed one.
But what did that mean for him?
Returning to the Celebration,
By the time Samuel walked back into town, the celebrations were in full swing. People were laughing, eating, and drinking.
Elaine spotted him first. "Samuel!" She waved him over. "You're back! You feeling better?"
Samuel forced a grin. "Yeah. Just needed a little fresh air."
Jason handed him a plate of food. "Eat up. You earned it."
Samuel took the plate and sat with the others. They talked, laughed, and enjoyed the festival.
But deep inside, Samuel knew something had changed.
His power was growing.
And he had no idea what that would mean for the future.