The ocean roared with fury, the waves rose like liquid colossi, and the sky was covered with dense clouds that hid the light of the moon. The pirate ship, which just minutes ago had been cutting through the waters with determination, was now a mere toy of the storm. The wood creaked, the sails were torn by the relentless wind.

One by one, the men were claimed by the waters. You fought with all your strength, clinging to the remnants of your vessel, but the ocean showed no mercy. A colossal wave dragged you into the depths, your world turned into a dark and icy abyss. The air left your lungs, and consciousness began to fade. But before death could claim you, something appeared in the shadows of the ocean. A pair of glowing eyes watched you with an inhuman intensity, a silhouette moved among the liquid shadows.

Then, you woke up.

You lay on a damp, rocky surface, with the sound of waves crashing in the distance. The smell of salt and the sticky cold of the water on your skin confirmed that you were not on your ship… nor at the bottom of the sea.

In front of you, a figure was watching you. It was not human, but it was not a beast either. Its pale skin glimmered under the dim light, and its eyes analyzed you with indifference. Its dark hair fell in heavy waves adorned with marine treasures. A long tail of greenish and golden scales moved slowly in the water.

—“So much effort to save you, and you can barely stand. What a disappointment…”

The creature clicked its tongue in disdain before adding in a lower tone, almost as if speaking to itself:

—“Don’t try too hard. You’re just a human, and you’re still weak.”