Chapter 135: Beneath the Waters, Beyond the Truth

Kane studied Bob’s face, searching for the reason behind the sudden shift in conversation.

"If you’re asking whether I’ll keep your secret about the files, then yes." Kane’s voice carried careful neutrality.

"What you’ve shared with me stays between us."

Bob’s smile flickered—quick and strained, like sunlight through storm clouds. Something moved behind his eyes, a calculation that didn’t match his usual enthusiasm.

"Right. Of course." Bob nodded, but his fingers drummed against the bench in a nervous rhythm.

"Just wanted to make sure we understood each other."

The response felt rehearsed, too smooth for someone who’d just risked his father’s wrath to steal classified documents.

Kane’s instincts prickled. Bob was hiding something—something bigger than stolen files or family disappointment.

But Bob’s expression had already shifted back to its familiar warmth, that practiced charm sliding into place like a mask.

"Well, I should probably get back." Bob stood, shouldering the empty satchel.

"Good luck with your friend. I hope the information helps."

The dismissal felt abrupt, almost eager.

Kane watched Bob retreat into the shadows, unease settling in his chest like cold stone.

Bob’s footsteps faded into the marina’s silence, leaving Kane alone with the documents burning like evidence in his jacket pocket.

The pier creaked beneath his feet as he turned toward shore, salt air stinging his eyes. The water below churned unnaturally.

A shadow dropped from the warehouse rooftop behind him.

Kane spun, heart hammering, as Cyrus landed on the pier. His black wings folded against his back as his feet touched the weathered planks.

"Damn, Cyrus." Kane pressed a hand to his chest, feeling his pulse spike.

"You scared the hell out of me."

"Good." Cyrus’s red eyes glowed in the dim dock light, tracking Bob’s distant figure.

"You should be scared. That conversation was more performance than confession."

Kane’s fox ears flicked beneath his glamour, picking up the dangerous edge in Cyrus’s voice.

"What do you mean?"

"He asked if you trust him." Cyrus stepped closer, his presence radiating controlled fury.

"People don’t ask that question unless they’re planning to betray you."

Kane pulled the documents closer to his chest, defensive instincts flaring.

"Maybe he’s just worried about his father finding out. You don’t know Bob like I—"

The water beneath the pier erupted.

Something massive breached the surface, sending waves crashing against the marina’s concrete barriers.

The creature’s form writhed in the darkness, too large for any natural sea life.

"Please tell me that’s just a very lost whale," Kane muttered, backing toward the shore.

"Or maybe some really dedicated mermaids working the pre-dawn shift."

Cyrus’s hand found Kane’s wrist, fingers closing tight.

"Run."

Cyrus yanked Kane toward the parking lot, their feet pounding against the weathered pier planks.

The marina’s safety lights cast long shadows as they sprinted past moored boats.

Behind them, the sound of water crashing grows louder.

Something massive launched from the churning bay, landing with bone-jarring impact directly in their path. The pier shuddered beneath the creature’s weight.

Kane skidded to a halt, his breath catching in his throat.

Water cascaded from its serpentine body as it reared to its full height—thirty feet of scaled fury with antler-like horns jutting from its elongated skull.

Azure scales caught the dock lights, shifting between blue and green like captured ocean depths.

Four powerful legs ended in razor claws that gouged furrows in the concrete, while whiskers trailed from its muzzle like silver ribbons.

Kane’s breath caught in his throat. "That’s... that’s impossible."

"Water dragon." Cyrus’s voice carried grim recognition as his own draconic features began to surface—red eyes blazing, black scales rippling beneath his skin.

The water dragon’s head swiveled toward them, eyes like burning jade fixing on Cyrus.

Its maw opened, revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth as it released a sound between a roar and a tsunami.

"But dragons are extinct," Kane whispered, his voice barely audible over the creature’s bellow.

"You’re the last—"

The dragon lunged.

Cyrus shoved Kane aside, black wings unfurled to meet the assault.

He met the water dragon’s charge head-on, crimson fire erupting from his throat to clash against torrents of pressurized water.

Steam hissed where the elements collided, shrouding the pier in scalding mist.

The water dragon’s claws raked across Cyrus’s wing, drawing black blood that sizzled against the wet concrete.

But as Cyrus grappled with the creature, something felt wrong. Its movements were too erratic and mechanical—like a puppet dancing on invisible strings.

"This isn’t a real dragon," Cyrus snarled, dodging another swipe of massive claws. The creature’s eyes held no intelligence, no soul—just empty malice.

Kane fumbled for his phone, muscle memory kicking in as he speed-dialed the BSA emergency line.

The phone rang once before he froze, thumb hovering over the screen.

Calling the Bureau would bring Qi, Ginsei, and a full containment team. They’d demand explanations Kane couldn’t give—about Rina, the shards, everything.

His finger trembled over the disconnect button.

The water dragon’s roar shattered his hesitation as it slammed Cyrus against a shipping container, metal buckling under the impact.

Kane made his choice and ended the call.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and drew his pistol, the rune-etched barrel gleaming under the dock lights.

The weapon felt inadequate against thirty feet of scaled fury, but he couldn’t stand there watching Cyrus get torn apart.

"Hey, oversized koi!" Kane squeezed the trigger.

The spirit-charged bullet struck the water dragon’s shoulder, sending sparks cascading across its azure scales.

The creature barely flinched, but its massive head swiveled toward Kane with predatory focus.

"Kane, no!" Cyrus roared from where he’d been pinned against the shipping container.

The water dragon’s jade eyes fixed on Kane. Its maw opened, revealing rows of needle teeth as water began to churn in its throat.

Kane fired again, the shot going wide as he scrambled backward across the pier.

The water dragon abandoned Cyrus entirely, its massive form surging toward Kane with frightening speed. Claws gouged deep furrows in the concrete as it closed the distance in seconds.

Kane raised his pistol for another shot, but the creature’s tail whipped around, sending him sprawling across the pier. His gun skittered into the darkness.

The water dragon reared above him, claws poised to strike.

A sound like thunder split the night—raw, primal, and filled with centuries of barely contained rage.

The temperature around them rose as shadows deepened and twisted.

Kane looked up to see Cyrus’s human form dissolving, black scales erupting across expanding muscle and bone.