Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Chapter 1908: Twin Dragons and Six Wyverns

In his hand, the sea god Raashim's incarnation wielded a runic trident, a weapon as imposing as he was.

The trident was crafted from a dark, lustrous metal that seemed to absorb light, giving it a shadowy sheen.

Its three prongs were razor-sharp, each one etched with ancient runes that glowed with a faint blue light. These runes pulsed with power, their energy resonating with the divine aura of Raashim's incarnation.

As Raashim's incarnation stood before the ten participants, his yellow eyes scanned them with a mixture of scrutiny and thoughtfulness. The crowd below erupted in renewed chants, their voices a cacophony of prayers and praises.

The sea god Raashim's envoy who stood behind him was equally imposing. By this point, the sea wyverns had transformed into their humanoid forms. All were A-Ranked creatures, radiating power.

The first wyvern, named Kaael, had dark blue scales that shimmered like the ocean at night. His teal eyes were sharp, and his body was covered in glowing tattoos. His long tail ended in a spiked fin.

The second wyvern, Lyra, was smaller but fierce. Her deep green scales looked like seaweed, and her bright emerald eyes sparkled with intelligence. She had webbed fingers and toes, and fins on her arms and legs.

The third wyvern, Arion, had shiny silver scales. His icy blue eyes and elegant, curling horns gave him a regal look. He was lean and athletic, with large wings folded behind him.

The fourth wyvern, Thalassa, had turquoise scales with hints of gold. Her amber eyes glowed, and she wore a crown of coral and pearls. She was adorned with sea glass jewelry.

The fifth wyvern, Draven, had dark, almost black scales with hints of purple. His deep violet eyes and scarred body showed he had fought many battles. His large, bat-like wings and sharp claws made him look fierce.

The sixth wyvern, Nereida, had seafoam green and white scales that changed color in different lights. Her soft green eyes and calm demeanor were complemented by her long, seaweed-like hair and graceful mermaid-like tail.

Kaael, Lyra, Arion, Thalassa, Draven, and Nereida stood beside the envoy, making an impressive and intimidating sight. Their strong auras added to the awe and excitement of the crowd below.

***

The six sea wyvern weren't the only draconic creatures included in the envoy.

There were two entities who looked even more intimidating than the six sea wyverns combined. They were none other than two S-Ranked true dragons who had also taken humanoid forms.

The difference between the sea wyverns and sea dragons could be easily identified.

Firstly, these sea dragons were both in the S-Rank. As such, the aura that surrounded them was obviously much more potent and intimidating. Secondly, unlike the sea wyverns, the two sea dragons had a more perfect humanoid form. They didn't have scales over their skin and they carried no other signs of dragonification other than two distinct horns over each of their heads.

One of the sea dragons, named Marina, had a striking appearance.

Her hair, a mix of gray and white, cascaded down her back like a waterfall of mist. Her lips were a vivid cherry red, adding a bold contrast to her otherwise pale complexion. With a curvaceous figure that seemed sculpted by the ocean's currents, she exuded a feminine grace and might of a dragoness that was undeniable.

Two horns protruded from her head, curving gracefully upwards like the horns of a mythical creature. Despite their formidable appearance, they only added to her allure, giving her an air of elegance and power.

Marina wore a long dress that hugged her curves in all the right places, accentuating her figure with every movement. The fabric flowed around her like the waves of the sea, shimmering in the light with an ethereal glow.

Beside her stood another sea dragon, named Azurea. Unlike Marina, Azurea had a more understated beauty. Her hair, a deep shade of blue-black, framed her face in waves, contrasting with the pale ivory of her skin. Her lips were a soft coral pink, adding a touch of warmth to her features.

Azurea's figure was more slender than Marina's, but no less captivating. She moved with a grace that was both elegant and powerful, her every gesture commanding attention.

Two horns adorned Azurea's head as well, though hers were smaller and more delicate than Marina's. They curved gently upwards, framing her face like a crown of jewels.

Azurea wore a simple yet elegant dress, its deep blue fabric complementing the color of her hair and the shimmering scales that adorned her arms and shoulders. With each step, she exuded a quiet strength.

***

As the sea god Raashim's incarnation stepped forward, his towering presence commanded the attention of the crowd below. With a voice that resonated like crashing waves, he addressed the gathered worshippers.

"Beloved devotees of the mighty Raashim, I, Shir Ogeegaai, welcome you all to this auspicious ceremony," he boomed, his words echoing across the island.

The crowd fell silent, their anticipation palpable as they awaited his next words.

"I congratulate the ten brave participants who have proven their valor and skill in the recent competition," he continued, his gaze sweeping over the assembled contestants.

"Today, I shall bestow upon three of you the blessings of the sea god Raashim himself," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of divine authority.

Among the three lucky winners who would receive the sea god's blessings stood Berserker Goran.

"But before we move on with the blessing bestowment, we need to complete the annual ritual," Shir Ogeegaai said as he looked at the priests standing on the platform flanking the two participants.

As the sea god Raashim's incarnation directed the priests of the temple to proceed with the ceremony, a sense of anticipation filled the air. The priests moved swiftly, their movements practiced and precise.

A magic circle appeared on the platform, shimmering with ancient runes and symbols. Shir stood at its center, his presence commanding. Inside the circle, each sea dragon and sea wyvern took their place within their own Array Eyes, their forms pulsing with energy.

Meanwhile, the ten participants stood together inside a single large Array Eye, their expressions a mix of excitement and apprehension. It appeared that the faith energy gathered on them was also being utilized in the ritual.

One could argue that the entire reason the sea god Raashim invested so much time and effort into organizing the event was for this very purpose. They aimed to use the participants as metaphorical lighthouses, drawing the faith energy of the crowd towards them as they continued to win their respective battles. This faith energy would then be used as fuel for a very peculiar ritual.

***

This ritual wasn't just for show—it served a vital purpose. It strengthened the runic restrictions placed on a certain giant sea monster, an enemy of Raashim's temple.

Centuries ago, this monster had defied Raashim's commands, its potent life force and regenerative powers making it nearly impossible to kill and defeat.

This S-Rank behemoth had even bested the two sea dragons in battle, a testament to its strength and ferocity.

But the sea dragons and sea wyverns refused to be bullied by this monstrous creature. They combined their forces with Shir and the rest of the sea god Raashim's templars to deal with this peculiarly stubborn creature.

With a roar that shook the very air, the monster charged forward, its massive jaws snapping hungrily. But Shir, flanked by the sea dragons and sea wyverns, stood firm, his resolve unyielding.

The battle raged on, a titanic clash of wills and strength. Shir's trident clashed against the monster's razor-sharp claws, while the sea dragons unleashed torrents of water and the wyverns swooped and dove, their attacks relentless.

Despite the monster's ferocious onslaught, the combined might of Shir and his allies proved too much. With a final, deafening roar, the beast was finally captured using an enslaving formation in the deep sea waters.

From that moment on, the two sea dragons and six wyverns had decided to support Shir and the sea god's temple. All of them wanted to keep the S-Ranked psychotic sea beast locked in the depths of the sea.

This was how a mutually cooperative relationship between Shir and the 8 draconic creatures was formed. The dragons and wyverns didn't like to be someone's underlings. However, they hated to be bullied by the other creatures even more.

Of course, Shir made ideal use of the sea monster as a reason to turn these 8 draconic creatures into his allies. He had already tamed the six wyverns with the benefits he had offered them. And he was sure that the remaining two dragons would also come around to support the sea god Raashim's temple unconditionally.

***

As the ceremony to strengthen the seal over the sea monster began, an air of solemnity descended over the temple grounds. The priests chanted ancient incantations, their voices rising and falling in rhythm with the crashing waves below.

"I'm starting the seal strengthening now," Shir Ogeegaai declared, his eyes burning with determination. Around him, the magic circle pulsed with energy, its intricate runes shimmering.

With a sweep of his hand, Shir guided the flow of magic, causing the runes to detach from the circle and glide through the air like ethereal birds. They darted and weaved, guided by an unseen force.

As they reached the towering pillars of the sea temple, the runes swirled and danced, wrapping themselves around the stone in intricate patterns. With each pass, they glowed brighter, infusing the temple's structure with energy.

Unbeknownst to Shir and the others, there was someone who wanted this seal strengthening to fail at the last moment.

They had made all the preparations necessary to ensure that outcome.