Thalassa, the Ocean Devourer.
A divine being that served as the mount of the Ocean Titan, Khion.
During the Age of the Titans, it was a being second only to the Titans themselves. It could traverse the oceans in minutes, and anytime it moved its massive body, tsunamis and hurricanes were sure to follow. Compared to the average human, it was pretty much a god.
Possessing enough mana to drown entire cities, it was a living calamity that brought destruction just from moving.
That's why its awakening was so dangerous.
If it were allowed to roam the world just as it did during the Age of the Titans, half of the Hyades Republic would be torn apart. Without the Titan overlords to reign it in, Thalassa would do whatever it wanted. And the result wouldn't be pretty.
It would sink every continent with its massive oceanic abilities, causing the end of human civilisation as they knew it.
That was why it was given the title of the Second Calamity.
"But we can stop it before it runs amok."
Amon said confidently, and with a tinge of boredom. His poise was so sure of himself that even Lucas started to doubt if Thalassa was a difficult opponent.
"Even if it isn't a god, it's still a divine being. No living human can stop its rampage. Aluria tried and failed spectacularly."
"If no living human could stop its rampage, how was it sealed in the first place?"
"Thalassa was a remnant from the Age of the Titans, and likely survived the Dragon Age. It wasn't Titans or Dragons who sealed it, but humans. Or more specifically, the Solaris Founder."
"H-How did you know that?"
"... it was in the archives of the Solaris House."
Amon looked away as he bluffed. Due to the long existence of the Solaris House, many records had either been lost or forgotten over time. So, it was believable to a certain extent that Amon would have stumbled across an old record of Thalassa. Of course, Amon knew the future from [Bright], but he couldn't tell them all that.
"After ending the Age of the Dragons, the Solaris Founder went on a journey to stabilise the world. With the Holy Sword by his side, he cleaned up the remnants of the ancient age to pave the way for mankind to prosper. And one of those relics was Thalassa."
Leon's blue eyes sparkled with increased intent as he raised the Holy Sword. Ever since the Solaris Founder's soul awakened and spoke to him, Leon had become interested in the man's exploits. To reach the same heights that Idrytis Solaris had, Leon investigated his own achievements and powers, but even he was unaware that the Solaris Founder had once sealed Thalassa.
"Yes, I also heard it from the Golden Dragon Progenitor, so it's undeniably true."
Amon dragged Yval under the bus, causing Yue to give him the side-eye, but he completely ignored it.
"At first, the Solaris Founder wished to kill the Titan mount, ridding it of its influence on this planet. However, after thousands of years, it had grown to become as powerful as the Titans themselves. Killing it would destroy the ecosystem of the continent, even drying up a significant portion of the oceans."
Just like the Titans before it, Thalassa had become one with nature.
Killing it alone wouldn't be enough; they had to slowly erode its influence on the planet, eventually making it weak enough to be eradicated safely without triggering a worldwide change in the oceans.
"So, the Solaris Founder sealed it and dispersed its energy gradually over time. Unfortunately, that had a side effect and created the mermen and well… the mermaid demigod."
"Ah, so that's how Aluria was created…"
Lucas finally started to make sense of the mystery that plagued him. While Aluria was the love of his life, he had no idea how she was created. Lucas always believed that the energy of the sealed god enshrined itself in Aluria and that if the god died, she would too. But based on Amon's information, it seemed that it wasn't the case.
"Leon's mom manages the seal, but it doesn't mean that she is tied by it. Her weakening is likely because Thalassa is regaining its strength from her."
"So all we have to do is kill this Thalassa, and mom would recover?"
"Yes, but there's a little more we have to do."
Amon smiled and pointed to the Holy Sword.
"We have to finish what the Solaris Founder couldn't do, and Leon, there's no one more suited for this role than you."
"Because you have inherited your mom's blood, some of Thalassa's essence flows through your veins. Also, you're the wielder of Ascalon. There's no one more suited to kill Thalassa than you, Leon."
The young hero glanced down at the Holy Sword, once again reminded of the burden he carried. Leon was widely considered the Hero of this generation, but it was a title he'd always thought he was unworthy of.
He was simply born with the talent to inherit the Holy Sword—nothing more.
Yes, he was more powerful than others his age, but he was nowhere close to Amon. He had the noble heart to do the righteous thing, but so did many others he'd met. And the number of people he saved was nowhere close to Amon and Yue, given how they'd roamed the world and made a name for themselves as the Fantasy Couple.
Without Ascalon, Leon was merely another talented Knight.
So there were days when he cursed the Holy Sword. Without it, he might have lived a regular life or at the very least, lived a life of freedom where he could do as he pleased without the moniker of Hero.
But today, he was glad he claimed Ascalon.
For it was going to save his parents.
"Understood, what must I do?"
Steeling his resolve, Leon gave a firm nod, his jaw tightening as his eyes locked onto the tranquil lake shimmering under the pale light. The water lay undisturbed, a picture of serenity that only deepened the weight pressing against his chest.
Yet, amidst that calm reflection, the faint outline of an innocent face surfaced—fragile, pure, and unaware of the darkness it stirred.
Across from him, Amon caught sight of it as well, and the corner of his mouth curled upward. Slowly, deliberately, his lips stretched into a wicked grin.
"Heh, don't regret it."
Hours later, Lucas Solaris had both his knees plastered on the mossy ground of the lake.
His golden eyes trembled with fear, his body frozen as if he had been buried in the tundra. As a former Solaris Knight who traversed the world, he'd seen everything. Humans killing humans, power struggles that resulted in mass tragedy and outright bizarre things.
But never in his entire life could he have imagined the scene that unfolded before his very eyes.
"D-Dad, please don't look."
Leon… his beloved flesh and blood… the boy whom he swore to protect with his life… had turned into a daughter.
Blue locks cascaded over his delicate features, framing a face that now seemed far softer than usual. Draped in a silken blue dress that shimmered faintly under the light, Leon exuded an otherworldly charm, his entire form bathed in a subtle azure aura.
The transformation was flawless, so convincing that not a soul would doubt he was a woman, and a strikingly beautiful one at that.
The gown's elegant cut concealed his broad shoulders and any trace of masculine build, refining his silhouette into graceful perfection. Even Yue, carefully applying the last touches of makeup, found herself pausing in astonishment at how completely Leon's appearance had shifted before her eyes.
"I-Incredible! I'd always known that you were a beautiful man, but this is quite the surprise!"
"Oh, but you're not my type, so don't get your hopes up! I prefer my men… well, like Amon! No one else!"
"Ah, and…" Yue's eyes slowly turned dark, and her tone lowered several octaves. It was no longer sweet, but a doom-laced poison. "If you ever try to seduce Amon with that appearance…"
Leon clicked his tongue, thoroughly disgusted by the conversation. No, he was more disgusted by the fact that he was forced into a woman's dress, but alas… he was given no choice.
"Must I really wear this?"
"Thalassa may be powerful, but its intelligence is relatively low. If we want to trick it to weaken itself, it has to believe that you are Aluria."
Amon's plan was simple.
Since Aluria had fallen into a slumber to prevent her mind from being corrupted by Thalassa, Leon was to act as her stand-in. He would take on the role as its proxy, and it would supply mana from its soul to his. However, since Leon wasn't actually born of Thalassa, he could use that connection to drain and seal its divinity into the Holy Sword.
That way, Thalassa would be weakened dramatically, and they would be able to fight it on even footing.
"Leon… you look exactly like your mother…"
"Dad, please shut up."
Leon held his face, completely dumbstruck by the turn of events. He'd regretted promising Amon that he would do anything, but alas, it was far too late.
"Amon, so what's the next call?"
Now that it has come to this, Leon was ready to get it over and done with. But unfortunately, his suffering was just beginning. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novęlfire.net
"You heard me… dance."
At that moment, Leon felt like Amon's sly grin was more demonic than the Demon King itself.