Chapter 76

  Evolving Monsters of Fear And History

  The monster took two massive steps, at least that is the action that Frank’s mind associated with the movement.

  Yet the movements that Frank witnessed weren’t steps, not truly. The movements were too choppy, too lumbering.

  As the creature moved dark billowing clouds of shadow followed the creature, rolling out in echoing waves of darkness that slowly reached out towards the other stationary monsters.

  Then as the shadows moved closer the other animals instinctively moved back.

  A few of the braver creatures let their feet into the mist, but soon found their resolve to prove their mental resilience fade as the waves of darkness became deeper and the creature that appeared was enough to send chills down Frank’s spine.

  “There will be no fighting and no forceful stealing of a talented candidate, not for this one,” a low rumbling voice spoke. As it did, a slight shiver went through Frank’s spiritual form.

  While Frank’s mind and consciousness still worked to process what was happening, the monster before him still looked undefined. While he could occasionally make out odd horned and muscular details that rose above the murky trail of shadows that always seemed to follow the beast, its true form remained a mystery.

  Then before Frank could truly contain himself, before he could stop his mind from working quickly, trying to understand the immense being before him, he spoke.

  “What…”

  One word, a word that spoke volumes for while every spiritual creature that had gathered had all turned their collective consciousnesses towards the massive creature that seemed to be the source of nightmare fuel.

  Finally, having had a moment to look at the creature, it was clear that this was a water creature of some kind.

  The massive rolling waves of shadow that served as a prelude for the creature gave off that impression. But there was more, the odd scales that glistened in the random streams of light that barely illuminated this realm. Then there were its awkward herky-jerky movements that seemed unnatural for a creature that should be the epitome of power and grace.

  Then just as his mind made the mental connection needed to place the monster, it spoke.

  “I am the Leviathan, or at least that is what I started as,” the old creature began. “What I became and what you see now are far different from where I began. You see, I like all of the creatures before you have and will continue to morph and change as human’s collective consciousnesses and ideas about what we have changed.”

  There was a pause as the beast seemed to let that concept solidify in Frank’s mind.

  Then seeing that Frank had either no questions, or what was really the case, that he was incapable of speaking, the giant monster continued to speak. As he did, he both seemed to give a historical lesson of what the creatures here were, and what exactly to expect from this process.

  “Since my first form, I have changed to be the very incarnate of change and fear that land creatures have. I am the first creature many land dwellers have when they go too deep into the oceans and can no longer feel their toes touching the ground.”

  Another pause, as Frank tried to grasp this fear. While he had only been in deep water once, and that was in a river, meaning he never experienced this fear that the leviathan now spoke about.

  Then again, he felt he would if he had seen a truly limitless ocean, or at least a body of water that went on beyond what his eyes and senses could comprehend.

  Perhaps as if reading Frank’s mind, the creature continued.

  “I can see you never felt that primordial fear that is ingrained in all land creatures. Even those that eventually overcome this fear, still have that one gnawing thought of me in the back of their minds. That is what I now am, for it is what the minds of people have grown to perceive me as.”

  Slosh.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  The more the monster spoke, the more it continued to move closer to Frank. As it moved it was clear that while a dark mist of water rolled off the creature and did ease its movements, the creature was clearly at a disadvantage here on land. Or what Frank mentally considered to be land as his feet still touched the ground.

  Cold chills.

  Frank felt the moment the advancing pool of liquid got close enough to him that he could feel his bare feet get covered.

  Hurried-flapping.

  Off in the distance, the aviary beasts of history could be heard rising into the air, a certain panic to their desperate attempts to fly upwards. Yet, they were secondary to the massive creature that was still slowly slithering its way forward.

  Now that it was closer, it was clear that this creature before him, this Leviathan was the king of the ocean. There were no other monsters that could rule the ocean, so long as this creature and its massive red spheres of power existed. Then to add even more to the tension that Frank was now experiencing, the creature spoke.

  “As a demonstration, I will show you the fear that you should now be experiencing.”

  Frank was about to protest, that he didn’t need any demonstration as he could fear the creature just fine. Even at a disadvantaged state, the creature was monstrously powerful.

  Yet, before he could do anything a wave of water, or dark liquid that Frank’s mind interpreted as water came out and enveloped him.

  Struggling splashing.

  Frank wasn’t alone in his sudden submersion, for every creature that was still on the ground suddenly felt the same surge of water reach out and grab them as well. Not that this helped Frank at all, for right now he felt a surge of panic as his body arose.

  His muscular frame and intense connection to the earth caused his body to sink immediately.

  Yet, he knew he would quickly drown if he did nothing, for the water was soon over his head and continuing to rise. That’s when he forced his body to relax, as he began performing the same swimming motions that he had learned in the same SERE training that taught him to swim in a river for an hour. He had been terrible at swimming then but had done enough to pass.

  Even his recent attempts at swimming in the giant lake on Ravena’s land were not enough to prepare for this event. By contrast, the still and serene lake was a nice reprieve compared to the dangers he now felt.

  Now Frank felt the fear of barely being able to swim and kept his head above water, while staring at the imposing leviathan that was now clearly in its element.

  Fear gripped Frank, for in this moment there was absolutely nothing he could do to resist. His element of Earth was useless here. His mind desperately tried to call upon the other powers that he had at his disposal, but his mind was too fuzzy, too filled with intense primal fears that the leviathan spoke about.

  Even in the water, Frank could feel the weight and pressure of the Leviathan’s giant red orbs staring at him. It was a haunting feeling, one that spoke of being all but helpless, as he could barely swim, let alone deal with trying to hide from a monster with all seeing red eyes. Eyes that could pierce the darkness of water and peer right into his very soul.

  Then just when it was almost too much, Frank felt his body sinking back to the ground. As he sank, Frank let out a sigh of relief as he could feel the earth getting closer.

  Then finally he was close enough to be able to stand up, which he did. His legs were wobbly for a moment as they were affected by both fear and the sudden reapplication of gravity that now did strange things to his body.

  Gasping.

  Many of the other monsters were also lowered and allowed to rest. From a quick glance around it was clear that many of the more feral and feline creatures had a hard time with the sudden surge of water. It was almost enough to cause a slight smile for Frank to appear, but he quickly regained his composure, not wanting to have to deal with yet another altercation involving these strange and mercurial creatures of power and lore.

  Having felt that fear, that deep ingrained fear that the creature spoke about, all he could do was look up and stare at this monster.

  While there were no oceans, or even deep rivers nearby, at least not as far as Frank knew about, he would bond with this creature if it so demanded.

  There was no fighting this monster, and Frank knew it.

  “Sorry, I might have overdone my demonstration to let you know the fear that all your species has. This is also a not so gentle reminder for the others of my prowess and that I am now watching you.” The giant creature, this Leviathan continued to speak.

  Again, there was a pause, but it was only once the creature seemed to turn away and almost begin its long process of lumbering away that Frank dared to speak.

  “Wait, you mean you won’t choose me?” Frank cried out, his words echoing and drawing the attention of all the other monsters. Monsters that all looked on with waterlogged silence at the duo. Well, everyone was waterlogged except for the giant birds that managed to fly up and apparently avoid the worst of the waves.

  “Unfortunately, no, as you can see we are clearly incompatible at this time. Had it been later, after you had witnessed the great oceans and wondered what lay beyond, then we could have worked out something. But alas, you are here now as you are, and as you know you are completely unfit for the water and life on the water.”

  Silence.

  Frank’s mind blurred to life as he tried to take in everything, tried to come up with ways to counter what had just been said. Then finally, he nodded to himself. Before he could utter his response to this insight the great creature spoke once more.

  “While we will never be able to combine for any measurable effects, know that should you enter the ocean. Should you experience the fear of the unknown that you just felt, know that it is a lie. That should you choose to brave the ocean, I and my own will be there, but as a protector.”

  With that command a focused beam of light struck out from the center of the largest horn on the Leviathan’s head and burned a single glyph onto his wrist.

  Even in the darkness that mark glowed with a bright blue sheen. His mind instantly interpreted the glyph as a protection dealing with water in some way, but his mind could not process what was happening.

  Then before he knew it, the great beast began to lumber away, taking massive and awkward steps that spoke of both power and the fact that the beast was out of its natural element. But despite being out of its natural element, the creature still radiated power.

  Power that all of the other spirits who were watching on in muted fascination instinctively accepted and tried to cower from.

  Even now, Frank could see the once proud serpent, a serpent that was still injured slithering away.

  That cold look of malice that was on its features was easy to notice and interpret, their feud was not done. Not by a long shot, but for today, they would both be allowed to leave with their lives.

  At least that is the way Frank interpreted the gesture and hostile glances.

  Once the Leviathan was far enough away that it could once again sink into whatever constituted an ocean in this realm, the other monsters relaxed.

  Even from this distance Frank, and the other creatures of history could see the glowing red eyes of the Leviathan.

  Eyes that rested upon a long-coiled body that seemed to sink down into oblivion.

  Those eyes spoke volumes without having to utter a word.

  The lesson that Frank took from this was simple, even now the Leviathan was watching and would not dare to hesitate to stop anyone or anything fool enough to begin a second fight here.

  There was a long awkward pause, before finally one of the more powerful birds swooped down and began to approach Frank.

  Flap-flap-flap.

  “Hello there, you are already aware of my tribe, but please allow me to introduce myself…”

  Then as if the flood gates had been released again, the barrier that had seemingly separated Frank and the other creatures broke away, as the creatures that Frank was compatible with all came closer to talk.