It was fascinating to witness—Thalion had never considered that freezing a body part could halt the regeneration process entirely. The logic was sound, but seeing it in action was something else. Even if the leviathan had a healer supporting it, the affected area would remain inert until properly warmed. It was an incredibly effective strategy. Unfortunately, none of Thalion’s current forms offered an affinity for ice. Moments like these reminded him just how invaluable his divine skill and bloodline were. Those choices had been crucial. Thanks to them, he was almost completely immune to elemental effects. No one was freezing him of that he was certain. After several attempts, Thalion finally managed to sustain the Aqua Lance for up to four seconds. He discovered that the moment the skill was released, his mana channels briefly opened again, allowing him to funnel in more energy. With his exceptional energy control—sharpened through countless hours of training and bolstered by his title—it wasn't difficult to keep feeding the spell. If he could combine this sustained release with the raw power burst he’d used before, the leviathan wouldn’t stand a chance. A fully powered Aqua Lance that could persist for four seconds was nothing short of absurd. He began by stabilizing the lower-powered version, maintaining a consistent strength throughout the duration. Once that was under control, he focused on extending the spell's lifespan even further while simultaneously reinforcing it with additional power. After half an hour of relentless testing—and losing two more fishfolk to the leviathan’s monstrous maw—he finally reached a breakthrough. The Aqua Lance now lasted more than eight seconds. That alone was a major milestone. It was time for the true trial: combining duration and raw destructive force into one decisive strike. The timing couldn’t have been better. The fishfolk were faltering. The leviathan had adapted to their tactics, accurately predicting the paths they were being flung along by their thread-like tethers. Thalion began to gather mana across the length of his body. Illusory flames ignited along his scales, flickering like ghostfire in the depths. He surged forward, adjusting his angle to get a clean shot at the leviathan’s side, just before the creature's tentacles began. He had considered aiming for the gills, but they were far too heavily armored, and striking the narrow slit directly was nearly impossible. When the energy inside him crested beyond control, Thalion unleashed the Aqua Lance. Immediately, he poured every ounce of strength into sustaining it. Precision was impossible at such intensity, but it didn't matter. The spell struck the leviathan’s side with a deafening crack, scales shattering like glass under a hammer. It was, without question, the most powerful Aqua Lance Thalion had ever cast. And it wasn’t finished. He kept the stream going, forcing more mana into it, pushing the spell to spike even further beyond its initial output. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! The leviathan screamed—a shriek of raw agony that tore through the water like thunder. The Aqua Lance tore deep into its side, and for five full seconds, Thalion held it there, cutting and searing with all the fury he could muster. By the time the spell faded, the water around them burned with illusory flame, and the wound he left gushed so much blue blood it could have filled an Olympic pool. Something vital had been struck. The leviathan convulsed and stopped chasing its prey, thrashing violently in place. Its eyes locked onto Thalion, burning with hatred, the pain momentarily forgotten. He remained calm. Much of the surrounding water still shimmered with his illusory flames, distorting visibility and masking his movements. He dove beneath the flames, making it harder for the beast to track him. He didn’t yet fully understand what the flames did, but he knew they disoriented the leviathan—and that was enough. Frustrated, the leviathan tried blasting him with shockwaves, but they were slow and easily evaded. Even if one struck him, his shield would absorb the force effortlessly, without fear of breaking. The fishfolk wasted no time. With the leviathan distracted, they launched a relentless barrage, targeting the pectoral fins and writhing tentacles. The beast reeled under the pressure, forced to abandon its pursuit of Thalion and retaliate. That was exactly what Thalion had been waiting for. He unleashed another Aqua Lance, this time cleaving through nearly a quarter of the leviathan’s massive tail. The monster screeched again, its rage reaching new heights as blood fountained through the water. For the first time, Thalion had landed a wound that truly mattered—one that threatened the leviathan’s life. The change was instant. No longer relying on brute strength alone, the leviathan retaliated with calculated precision. It moved to shield its injuries, allowing fewer openings for attack. Shockwaves pulsed from its body, and beams of concentrated water shot toward Thalion and the hunters. In between, it inhaled the surrounding water, accelerating its regeneration. Wounds began to close faster—but it wasn’t enough. None of its attacks hit their mark. The hunters dodged with practiced ease, their agile forms slipping through gaps like shadows. Even the water beam, as devastating as it was, proved ineffective. The leviathan couldn’t move its head while channeling it, making it too easy to avoid. It was likely a weapon designed to obliterate foes of similar size—but against Thalion, who darted like a dartfish in the current, it was wasted. The leviathan seemed to realize this. Its entire body flared with energy, and the tentacles that had coiled protectively around it now unraveled. It was no longer holding back. It was going all out.