I re-joined Link at the dock, he had remained there, feeling that he had to make sure no one became Cutter’s next victim and was helping Fiske with his boat, still sat on land.

Link informed me there had been no casualties from the assailants visit and Cutter had not left the waters to pursue us, which was a relief to hear, but he was uncertain if Cutter was still in the area.

“Are you sure you’re fit enough to do this?” questioned Link. “You have only been resting for a few hours.”

“I am more than ready to deal with him,” I answered. “Raziel taught me an ancient technique to restore my energy.”

“I see.” He nodded. “Is there anything I can do while you enter conflict?”

“If he is still in the waters, then I want you to make sure no one is near the sea, things could get bad pretty quick.”

“Understood.” Link nodded. “But what if he isn’t?”

“Then we aren’t leaving until he shows up again,” I answered. I felt sad at my own words as it meant I might be a few more days away from Tigra, but the mission came first, he needed to go if this place was to return to normal. “And remember no matter what happens, you are not to take that pendent off.”

“I promised and I must obey you,” he bowed obediently.

After getting Fiske’s boat back into the water using Mila, we were heading out towards the same location as before, my heart pounding, I began feeling nervous, then anticipation of the impeding battle. I doubted Cutter would have gone far, knowing it was me who had come to stop him, after all Dumah wanted me dead and what prize to tell their master than the death of a Fang.

I dove straight into the waters. The dark aura was slightly denser than when I left earlier; Cutter had undone some of the work I had done, which to be honest pissed me off, but once I dealt with him, it wouldn’t matter.

I sank deeper, looking around and using Mila’s power to feel around in the water. It was then I picked up a pulse in the dark energy, this dark smog was just like my ability from Mila to sense within the water, a sensory network, but why had they not attacked before.

“I thought you might come back after I undid all your work.” I heard a voice from within the dark smog.

“Where are you?” I questioned quickly looking in every direction.

“Come for revenge have we Fang.” The voice came closer. I saw a glimpse of a shadow striking me. I moved to the left just in time to avoid his attack.

I didn’t respond as he began attacking from every angle if it wasn’t for my clairvoyance I wouldn’t have known where they were coming from, the dark smog clouding my vision, making it harder for me to sense his movements through the water. I felt Mila’s hands on my shoulders.

“I am sorry master, the density is worse than before,” said Mila. “He is creating more; the darkness always feeds on conflict.”

“That is an understatement.” I dodged another one, he was so fast, just like when he attacked us on the boat.

“Is this really what the legendary Fang is capable of.” He was mocking me.

“Hurry up and do something.” I heard Arata’s voice from his blade.

I waited for the culprit to attack again, before making my move. Just as he came into attack, I held out my hands to create an underwater tornado. It forced him away from me and up to the surface.

I drew my swords, ready for when he landed back within the water. My eyes widened as I finally saw his form, rage filled within me, remembering his scent from the scene of my murdered friends. “Cutter!”

“Fang.” He grinned showing off all his teeth. “You have only just started to discover the true darkness in this world. I wonder if you’ll reach the end alive.”

“I’m here to stop you,” I snarled.

“To stop me.” He laughed. “You may have a powerful water talisman, but you are still a Feles in a Piscis world.” His fins twitched; he was readying to attack again. “Considering you survived our attack Dumah thinks you may be worth keeping around a little longer, but I don’t see it to turn you would waster too much time and energy of our dear master.”

“Don’t worry I’ll get to him and Dumah.” I hissed at his name.

“Your clan has always gotten in our way, but this time will be different. I won’t let you leave these waters alive; I hope you said goodbye to Princess Tigra and your parents as you won’t be seeing them again, ever.”

“We’ll see about that Cutter.” I prepared myself as he began to swim towards me. I knew what to expect this time, his fast speed.

As he came closer, I moved upwards, then pushed down with my palm, touching his back. I grinned as I combined Mila’s and Larana’s power, forcing Cutter down towards the rocks below.

I quickly followed as he sat there pinned for a few seconds from the powerful current I had created.

“Not bad.” Cutter grinned. “This will be more fun than ambushing you.” His words infuriated me.

Cutter came at me again, forcing me back up closer to the surface, instead of striking quickly like he had before, he continuously snapped at me, I felt like he was trying to stop me from finding something.

I dodged each snap of his razor-sharp teeth; one bite could break a bone or even tear off an arm. Away from the rocky bottom, Cutter went back to his previous choice of attacks, swimming at great speeds, trying to batter me down.

Dodging his movement his words repeated in my head. ‘This will be more fun than ambushing you.’

My mind flashed seeing my unit being struck down. Dumah had planned it all, wiping them out including me if it wasn’t thanks to my talismans. Perhaps they had been trying even before that.

I thought back to the village they had trapped dad in, then the attack that almost wiped out the entire place. The simple thought of it all sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t believe they had been trying to kill me for longer than I had expected, was this what was expected of those in my clan? Had dad faced all these troubles too, while he served to protect Cathopia?

“What’s wrong fish got your tongue,” mocked Cutter.

“It’s cat got your tongue and you know it.” I felt a strange anger fill me, thinking of my friends faces and the life they took from them; Cutter was one of them, he needed to pay with his own life.

I began swiping blindly at him, hoping to strike, I blew powerful currents at him, but everything missed. I barely avoided every attempt he made at me. I had control over everything down here, why was this so hard.

I held my hands out summoning an underwater vortex, sucking him in again. I brought it closer aiming it straight for myself, ready to strike Cutter as he came close. As he came into range my power disrupted for a second and Cutter avoided my swipes.

“You need to try better than that.” Cutter drew a tooth shaped dagger, striking downwards. I lifted my swords defending, then pushed outwards, forcing him away. “Losing sync with your talismans.” He laughed as if he had expected this to happen.

“Why isn’t this working?” I moaned underneath my breath, feeling weaker. My anger crying out words within my mind, he needs to pay for his part in the deaths of my friend, but when I went to attack again, nothing happened. “Losing sync.” I repeated.

“You must calm yourself master.” I only just about heard Larana. “Your anger will prevent you from doing any damage, blind you from hitting your target, you’ll lose.”

“I can’t.”

“Then you must calm down, you cannot use our power affectively when you become angry.” I heard Raziel. “Our connection is a spiritual one, anger prevents that connection from happening.” Hearing his words, I understood why everything had not worked.

“Master, relax.” Mila’s hands were on my shoulders. “This is not how you fight, and you know it.”

“Sorry.” I shook my head. They had been right; this was not how I fought. I had won many battles by remaining calm, following my instincts, and flowing with my talismans. “Alright.”

“Almost had you.” Cutter came at me again, seemingly annoyed I had not continued to fight with anger. This time I was ready. I wasn’t going to lose against him, I needed to save this place and return to Tigra; I promised her I would always return. The waters became wilder as I let Mila’s power lose, she loved a fight.

“At last master.” Mila’s form changed to her adult form; she was smiling as she swam up in front of me as Cutter came in. Mila then swam towards him, turning her whole body into a giant water tornado, for a second, I could feel the pounding of her heart, just like before when I had fused with Larana, was it going to happen again?

“Why don’t you just submit and die with some honour left,” said Cutter, coming closer, unintimidated by her power.

“You are too predictable,” I responded as Mila reached him.

“So are you.” He swam towards the current, around the edge hoping to use the current to increase his speed, but the current was too strong, sucking him straight in it.

I pointed my hand down to the bottom, Mila responded by smashing Cutter against the rocky bottom of the sea. I could see smog build up in the water, along with blood. I had injured him, thankfully the thickness of the smog hid the bloody scent.

Swimming closer to see if I had done the job. The smog slowly clearing to reveal what Cutter had tried to hide earlier.

I noticed a purple glow all around me. Looking around the rocky sea floor was covered in purple crystals, all expelling the dark smog. I had been purifying the water, but never realised what the real source was. It wasn’t from Cutter, but these crystals, another dark crystal farm.

I felt all the work I had done had been completely pointless, even if I had cleared the waters from the darkness, it would have returned shortly after I left, returning things to the way they were before I even showed up.

I stared at Cutter to see the dark aura originating from him, feeding the crystals to expel the dark smog which chased away all the fish. He had placed them and imbued them with the same dark essence that now flooded Cathopia.

“Damn.” I cursed under my breath, perhaps I had been angry from the moments I suspected Cutter was behind this, blinding me from seeing this all in the first place.

“Master, watch out,” warned Mila as Cutter came at me. My focus had been disrupted for a second, but it was all he needed to come in and graze my arm. It had been the first hit he’d landed on me since our conflict had begun.

My blood floated in the water. I watched as Cutter breathed it in. “What a scent.” His eyes seemed to glaze over. “Your blood is perfect. I can taste your power, so pure.” A grin greased his lips. “I want to devour it all.”

“Oh crap.” I had heard some species of Pistris went into a wild frenzy whenever they got a taste of blood, and rumour had it Cutter was as wild as they got, no one had ever survived a conflict against him when he lost control.

Mila sealed off my wound, but by then it was too late to stop the frenzy that was about to begin.

“Now the real fun starts.” He took a sharp breath in savouring the scent of my blood, his fins twitched, his scales moved erratically.

“Move,” roared Raziel.

I moved away from him as he came at me, faster than he had before. His weapon bared, along with an open mouth. I defended against his dagger but neglected to remember his teeth. His teeth scraped along my arm, where he breathed in more of my blood.

“Whoa.” I cried out as he became crazy strong, pushing me backwards, not even Mila helping could stop him from pushing against me.

“I will devour you!” Cutter shouted, the dark smog around us began to be absorbed into his body, his size increased by at least double.

“What the?” All I could do was hold my swords in front of me as I was forced around like some toy. I couldn’t believe what was happening, that all this strength had started with just a few drops of my blood. Cutter twisted and turned, then forced me downwards, towards the rocky bottom.

I had to risk it, summoning sparks of lightning from Arata the waters became electrified but seemed to have little effect on Cutter as his speed increased and crashed me against the rocks.

I let out a groan, coughing up blood. My whole body filled with pain, my breath catching in my throat as he backed off a little, allowing me to float there stunned, like the catch of the day.

“Soon, very soon.” He chanted, swimming at me, his dagger barred as he struck me once, then again and again; my blood slowly filling the waters around me. “Oh, the taste.” His voice quivered with such joy. “I wish I could keep you as my personal snack, but I can’t play with you forever.” Still stunned I could do nothing to stop him.