The Fourth Sea Begins

For several moments, nobody spoke. The ocean was completely still. Miguel stood at the front of the ship, staring at the place where the Leviathan had disappeared. The crew celebrated around him, exhausted but victorious. Then Shawn noticed something strange. “Uh… guys?” Everyone turned. Floating in the center of the ocean was a small, glowing crystal. Miguel’s expression immediately changed. “That shouldn’t be there.” Alejandro looked at him. “What is it?” Miguel slowly stepped toward the edge of the ship. “The Leviathan wasn’t the source of that darkness.” Before anyone could respond, the crystal shot into the air. A massive shockwave exploded across the ocean. The sky turned black. The sea began to rise. Jonathan grabbed the railing. “WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” Suddenly, a gigantic symbol appeared in the clouds—a glowing eye surrounded by strange markings. Anthony stared at it. “I’ve seen that symbol before.” Marcus turned toward him. “Where?” “In the ruins of the Second Sea.” The symbol suddenly spoke. “THE GUARDIAN HAS FALLEN.” Everyone froze. “THE AURA HAS AWAKENED.” Miguel’s eyes widened. The voice continued. “AND NOW… THE TRUE KING RETURNS.” The ocean behind them suddenly split apart. A colossal black ship rose from beneath the waves. It was unlike anything they had ever seen. Its sails were completely white, but its hull was covered in ancient golden symbols. Standing at the front was a mysterious figure wearing a long black cloak. Miguel slowly drew his sword. “Who are you?” The stranger laughed. “You really don’t remember me?” Miguel froze. The stranger pulled back his hood. The entire crew stared in disbelief. It was Miguel. Another Miguel. Same face. Same voice. But his eyes glowed with the same corrupted darkness that had once surrounded the Leviathan. Shawn stepped backward. “That… that’s impossible.” The dark Miguel smiled. “You defeated the Leviathan because I allowed you to.” Miguel tightened his grip on his sword. “What do you mean?” Dark Miguel raised his hand. The crystal floating above the ocean flew directly toward him and disappeared into his chest. The clouds began to crack apart. “The Leviathan wasn’t protecting the Third Sea from you.” He looked directly at Miguel. “It was protecting the Third Sea from me.” A deafening roar shook the ocean. Behind the dark Miguel, hundreds of enormous shadows began rising from beneath the water. Jonathan stared in horror. “How many enemies are there?” Alejandro looked toward the horizon. “That’s not an army…” His voice trembled. “It’s an entire fleet.” Dark Miguel smiled. “Welcome to the beginning of the Fourth Sea.” Miguel raised his sword. His white aura erupted around him once again. But this time, something was different. For the first time, his aura wasn’t completely white. A thin line of darkness appeared across it. Miguel looked at his own hand in disbelief. Dark Miguel laughed. “Now you finally understand.” “You and I aren’t two different people.” “We’re two halves of the same power.” The ocean exploded beneath the ships. And the battle for the Fourth Sea began.