Amidst the Waves [Wuthering Waves]

"DEVA," Kyorin called out, his voice distant and detached, much like the bygone breeze that swept through the vast expanse of the sea they traversed.

"Yes?" came the casual response, her voice emanating from the peculiar gourd perched on the boat's railing. DEVA seemed utterly relaxed, her tone laced with disinterest as if she had all the time in the world.

"Why did you choose me?" he asked, his gaze lingering on the horizon, where the sun painted streaks of fire across the waves. His voice was genuine curiosity, though it remained calm and measured.

The gourd shifted slightly, almost indignantly, before DEVA sighed dramatically. "Haaah, Kyorin," she began, her voice heavy with exaggerated exasperation. "How many times do I need to explain this? Your Resonance matches mine. It's rare, it's powerful, and it's why I chose you. Satisfied?"

Kyorin was silent for a moment, his attention shifting to the steering wheel, which moved gently on its own. It was an eerie, almost hypnotic sight, and it reminded him of DEVA's earlier proclamation.

"You doubted me," DEVA continued as if reading his thoughts. Her tone brimmed with smugness. "When I said I'd set the boat to autopilot, you questioned it. And yet, here we are—on course and without a single issue. Go ahead, admit I'm amazing."

He didn't reply immediately. Instead, he leaned back against the railing, his posture relaxed but his mind far from at ease. "Alright, I'll believe you," he finally muttered, though the words felt more like a concession than actual faith.

The gourd gave a faint rattle, as though DEVA herself had been startled by his unexpected compliance. "Wait... Are you finally coming around to trusting me?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of excitement.

Kyorin tilted his head slightly, his expression impassive. "Not exactly. I just realized I can't get rid of you anytime soon, so I might as well play along."

Her response was immediate, her tone flaring with indignation. "Get rid of me? Do you have any idea who I am? I'm the greatest creation in existence, the pinnacle of all weapons. You should be grateful!"

Kyorin, unfazed by her outburst, simply closed his eyes. "Sure sure," he murmured under his breath as if making light of her declarations before turning to the other side, ignoring her rather than engaging in her tirade.

"You'll regret that attitude when I leave," DEVA snapped, her voice sharp with wounded pride.

"Be my guest," Kyorin replied, his tone languid as sleep began to claim him. He leaned further into the railing, the rhythm of the waves lulling him into unconsciousness.

Inside the gourd, DEVA simmered, her thoughts whirring with irritation. 'Humph. When a Tacet Discord attacks, I'll let it rip this boat to shreds. Then we'll see how much he misses me.'

As if summoned by her thoughts, a dark silhouette began to form on the distant horizon. A Tacet Discord emerged, its puffed-up, monstrous shape gliding through the water like a predator sizing up its prey. DEVA's attention sharpened, anticipation sparking within her as she awaited its move.

The creature approached its tiny presence a foreboding shadow over the vessel. But to her surprise, it passed by without a second glance, its puffed-up form slipping into the sea's depths as if the boat were invisible.

"What?" DEVA muttered, her voice tinged with disbelief. She rationalized quickly, her pride flaring. "It must be my presence. Yes, of course. I scared it off."

But doubt lingered, compelling her to suppress her aura entirely. Moments later, another Tacet Discord appeared—this one far more menacing.

An avian beast with cyan feathers and razor-like talons circled above, its massive wings blotting out the sun. It dove toward the boat with terrifying speed, its shriek piercing the air.

DEVA waited, certain it would strike. Instead, the creature veered off, plunging into the ocean and resurfacing moments later with a flailing fish clutched in its talons. Without a second glance at the boat, it soared away.

"What is happening?" DEVA murmured, her voice now laced with genuine confusion. The gourd trembled faintly as strange blue energy within began to churn, its movements erratic and unsettling.

Her focus turned inward, her attention drawn to the enigmatic force she was safeguarding for Kyroin. The energy pulsed, almost as if it were alive, reacting to something beyond her understanding.

"Exactly what is this blue mass of energy... Kyorin?" DEVA muttered, her tone carrying mild annoyance as if speaking to herself. She had uttered Kyorin's name without much thought, more out of habit than intention.

For some time—for some hours—she had been the one safeguarding—no, acting as a container for—this enigmatic energy, while Kyorin wielded control over the other half of his dual elements.

At first, she'd dismissed Kyorin's element, deeming it insignificant compared to her abilities. But the more she thought about it, the less sure she felt. These elements weren't familiar to her—they were from Wuxia World, the same place Kyorin formerly hailed from.

"How strong is he, really?" she asked aloud, her holographic projection pacing slightly as if the movement would spur an answer. The energy Kyorin held always seemed faint, hardly worth noting.

But then she scoffed lightly, "Well, compared to mine, of course, it seems weak. Oh, right—he's still growing. That must be it." Her reasoning felt satisfactory as she added, "With his progress, these elements should naturally grow stronger too."

Her musings led her to a curious thought. "But what if I tried using it myself? Surely, with my power, it'll reach its full potential," she muttered, her tone now tinged with anticipation.

She extended her energy toward the blue mass, letting her aura envelop it with surprising ease. The energy didn't resist; in fact, it seemed to accept her, as if allowing her control.

"As expected of me," DEVA declared smugly, her holographic lens gleaming brighter. She tested her newfound influence over the energy, already imagining the potential it could unlock under her guidance, her circuits practically humming with glee.

What DEVA failed to notice, however, was Kyorin stirring from his slumber. His eyelids fluttered briefly, his pale yellow moonlit eyes catching the faint glow emanating from the gourd.

'Ah it's just her,' he thought before closing his eyes. Though he quickly relaxed again, his heart skipped a beat, a subtle tremor coursing through his chest. The tremor caused him to cough lightly, a sound that startled DEVA.

The sound startled DEVA, her projection flickering for a moment. "Ahhh!" she squealed, her tone a mix of surprise and irritation.

Realizing it was just Kyorin, she huffed. "Stupid Kyorin! You almost made me leak some current," she grumbled, her circuits rattling in frustration.

Kyorin, in a deep slumber, ignored her antics and continued to go into a deeper sleep, much to DEVA's chagrin. "Hmph, always so useless," she muttered, turning her focus back to the blue energy.

"Thirteen Echoes... I'm sure they're all open by now," she mused proudly, her confidence unwavering as she experimented further. She could feel the energy intertwining with her circuits, responding to her manipulation.

But then something unexpected happened. "What's this?" she mumbled, her circuits buzzing with caution. Instead of the steady control she expected, the energy began to act independently. Shapes began to form within her perception—beasts, strange and unfamiliar, moving as though they had their own will.

The first shadow formed, it was a grotesque creature—a bulbous form with a glowing lure. It drifted ominously, its glow cutting through the murky void, illuminating jagged teeth in a haunting grin.

DEVA raised an unseen eyebrow, her prideful aura undisturbed. "Pathetic," she muttered under her breath. "Is this supposed to impress me?"

The next figure emerged sleeker and more refined, its elongated body brimming with sharp edges and spectral jaws that snapped and shifted unnervingly in the depths of the energy. It carried a deadly elegance, its movements like whispers of destruction. Still, her demeanour remained unshaken.

She swirled her energy lazily, her circuits flickering with amusement. "It's not even that big," she quipped, eyes flicking toward the silhouette. "I could crush it in an instant."

But then, the next figure shifted through the depths—this one, a sleek and powerful fish-like form, radiating an almost tidal aura that seemed to ripple through the energy.

As it moved, the entire blue mass surged, mimicking the rise and crash of ocean waves. DEVA's eyes sharpened, though she kept her distance.

"Now that... that's a bit more intriguing," she muttered, her arrogance momentarily faltering. The power it exuded was undeniable, yet it still did not inspire fear.

But before she could process further, the energy shifted again, and the air around her grew heavy. More silhouettes emerged, but this time, they bore a weight unlike the others.

Another figure emerged, its many heads regenerating as they lashed out viciously. DEVA's confidence returned, her circuits buzzing with light as she scoffed. "Regenerating, huh? Nothing Impressive," she remarked, brushing aside any lingering concern. "I've seen stronger ones."

Then came the pair—a violent, twisting mass of water and chaos, pulling everything in its wake into the churning whirlpools it created.

DEVA stood firm, her posture unchanging as she eyed the destructive force. "Nice try. But I could shut them both down before they even have a chance to reach me."

However, her attention sharpened when the next figure emerged—massive and imposing, with colossal tentacles reaching from the depths. Its presence was undeniable, a force that made the waters around it tremble.

DEVA's circuits buzzed with more intensity now. "Oh?" she murmured, her voice darker. "This one... now we're getting somewhere—!!?"

*Chills*

But just as the next figure emerged, something changed. The energy shifted frigidly in a way she hadn't expected.

A chilling, frigid presence washed over her, sending a cold shiver through the air. The silhouette that took form from the depths was unlike anything she had encountered so far.

The creature's body was vast, resembling a colossal, crocodilian form, with thick, armored scales that seemed to shimmer with icy frost. Its long, powerful tail lashed behind it like a weapon of devastation.

What truly set the creature apart was its head—elongated and monstrous, with an elephant-like trunk that swayed through the water like a mighty force of nature.

It was a vision of primal strength, with enormous tusks that gleamed as though they had been carved from ancient ice.

The cold energy radiating from the creature seemed to freeze the very water it moved through, and as DEVA observed, her circuits hummed with the pressure.

"What in the world...?" she muttered, eyes narrowing as she examined the silhouette, recognizing the overwhelming power it exuded.

"This almost matches my children's—the Sentels—powers," she thought, yet there was more to come, which made her a bit uneasy.

Soon, a new shape loomed from the dark waters, its segmented, snake-like body stretching into the distance. DEVA felt the shift in the very air around her.

Its immense form, crowned with terrifyingly sharp teeth, made her pause. "Impossible..." she whispered under her breath, her arrogance faltering for a heartbeat as her energy surged outward.

It wasn't merely a simple beast, but something more, a power that could rival her own. An Echo at the level of Sentinels, almost reaching her own.

It moved with terrifying elegance beneath the water, its bioluminescent patterns flickering as it took shape. DEVA's circuits hummed louder, her pride momentarily shaken.

"This... this is different. This one is strong, very strong." But just as quickly, her pride reasserted itself. "Still, I won't be surpassed." Her voice, though filled with disdain, held a hint of caution now, the first sign of hesitation in a long time.

But before she could dwell on it further, another presence appeared, a silhouette emerging from the depths. This one was massive—its body dark and ancient, with an imposing shell. DEVA froze momentarily, her circuits buzzing with recognition.

"Xuan Wu?" DEVA blurted, her voice barely above a whisper. She soft-reseted, disbelief clouding her thoughts. "No, it can't be," she muttered again, her tone wavering between certainty and doubt.

"The ancient divine beasts existed only in an era that far surpassed the Great War... and they were already immortalized by then," she uttered, recalling the History of the Illustrious Annals of Solaris 3. "No... Kyorin can't possibly have such powers."

As she continued to ponder the situation, her circuits hummed with a growing sense of unease. The more she thought about it, the more she found herself drawn to the undeniable feeling that it was Xuan Wu. With a deep breath, DEVA made up her mind.

"Let's see what happens," she said, still trying to maintain her haughty composure.

With a decisive thought, she activated the Echo. Almost immediately, the water beneath the boat began to churn violently, creating turbulent waves.

The massive figure of Xuan Wu began to take shape, encircling them in a protective sphere. The colossal turtle's shell radiated an otherworldly aura, its surface etched with complex symbols and patterns, gleaming faintly in the dark ocean-like constellations.

Around the shell, a long, black snake coiled tightly, its scales shimmering with a dangerous elegance as it hissed softly in the air. The serpent's head was raised high, its eyes narrowing as it assessed the situation.

Xuan Wu's serpentine tail uncoiled with fluid grace, wrapping protectively around the boat, its immense form towering above the vessel. Its presence was both commanding and watchful, its eyes narrowing as they fixed on DEVA.

Almost instantly, the creature's demeanour shifted to one of hostility. Despite DEVA being the one to summon it, Xuan Wu didn't recognize her, and its immense jaws gaped open, ready to strike.

DEVA's circuits hummed with rising energy, her form beginning to shift halfway into a scythe, prepared to defend herself. The tension in the air was palpable as she readied herself for the inevitable clash.

But then, the snake halted, stopping midway in its approach.

Its forked tongue flicked in and out, tasting the air, and as it finally focused its gaze on Kyorin, the hostility in its expression slowly began to dissipate.

The anger faded, replaced by a flicker of recognition. The serpent's posture softened, and its gaping mouth closed, no longer poised to strike.

Simultaneously, Xuan Wu's immense shell shone with a quiet, protective light, as if it were watching over both DEVA and Kyorin. The boat glided smoothly across the sea, undisturbed by any turmoil.

The presence of Xuan Wu was so powerful that any Tacet Discord daring to approach the boat ran away with fear, making their journey almost effortless.

DEVA, still unsure if all of this was a dream, gazed at Kyorin, her thoughts swirling. "What... No, who exactly were you before you came to this world, Kyorin?" she asked in a whisper.

Yet, no response came, except for the soft snoring from Kyorin, prompting a frustrated exhale from DEVA.

DEVA: "Yare Yare Daaze"

For now, She chose to keep her thoughts to herself as the boat continued to sail toward the horizon...

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Peeu—Peeu 

The Peeu-Peeu of seagulls filled the air, their calls piercing the calm evening. Kyorin's eyes trembled open, his body stretching as the weight of sleep finally lifted from him.

"Finally awake," DEVA remarked, her voice still as haughty as ever, almost mocking the slowness of Kyorin's awakening.

Kyorin nodded, his eyes scanning their surroundings. By now, Xuan Wu's ethereal form had vanished, leaving behind only the eerie stillness that marked the end of its presence. However, they had arrived. The destination was in sight.

"Is that it?" Kyorin asked, his gaze fixed on the distant island with a mountain that resembled an emerging dragon, its silhouette striking against the dimming sky.

"Yes," DEVA replied, affirming they had arrived at their destination.

Kyorin gazed at the island, anticipation growing within him as he pondered what Jue, the wielder of time, looked like.

End of Volume 1: The Dawn.

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A/N: Setting things up, and note: the main story will began from volume 3 and for the next volume I have some surprises. MC will be joining a Faction in the next volume, put your guesses on the comments which faction it is.