“Who gave you your powers?” Xander demanded, falling backward as a wave crashed into the ship.

“I gave them to myself,” the man responded, causing another wave to hurdle towards them.

“That is not possible,” Kyril yelled, joining Xander.

The two exchanged glances, unsure what to do. Their ship was taking heavy damage. There were too many cracks to repair. Their ship was taking on too much water. They needed to deal a fatal blow to the man soon.

“Bow before me and denounce your god,” the man screamed, pounding them with more waves.

“Who are you?” Flavian screamed, his eyes burning. Flavian tried to put the man to sleep. He raised his arms and channeled his powers, but they did not work. Not even Poseidon was immune to Flavian’s powers. “Put these on,” Flavian ordered, throwing the necklaces Thalia had made over their necks.

Xander did not understand the need to wear jewelry now of all times. He scoffed, annoyed at Flavian’s vanity.

“I am Nikolaos. The ruler of the sea. The one true god of the water,” Nikolaos answered, his voice a roar.

Xander’s heart raced. Flavian grimaced, shaking his head. They were in over their heads. The man had more power than the three of them combined.

“We can abandon the ship and return to Poseidon,” Xander suggested.

Another wave caused the ship to splinter. They were taking on an extreme amount of water. The ship was being dragged to the bottom of the sea. Xander kept his assault on Nikolaos’ ship, wanting to sink it.

“Stop defending our ship. Attack him with everything. We will flee into the water when his ship is broken,” Kyril ordered, running to the back of the ship.

Xander nodded, not having a better plan. He swayed with the trident, whipping it about his head. The water churned at his will. He collected as much of the ocean as he could. A hundred-foot wave was at his command.

“That will wreck us both,” Flavian said, smiling.

Kyril returned with ropes. He looked at the wave with a grin. Kyril tied the three of them together, ensuring they could not be separated. Nikolaos gazed at the wave, his face showing worry for the first time. His brow raised, and he crossed his arms, sighing.

Xander dropped the wave on them. A sickening crunch filled the air as both their ships shattered under the power of the wave.

The force of the ocean dragged them under. Xander’s body flipped and turned as the waves dragged him below the surface. Flavian pointed, his eyes narrowing. Nikolaos floated, bubbles of air flowing from his nose and mouth. Nikolaos swam towards them, aiming for the trident. He could breathe underwater. Xander clutched it to his chest. In the distance, familiar figures swam towards them.

A swordfish darted between Xander and Nikolaos. The fish pierced Nikolaos’ chest, causing a cry of pain.

“Alexandra,” Kyril sighed, relieved. The swordfish was Alexandra’s creature. She and her forces flowed towards them.

Poseidon and Basil reached Alexandra’s side, readying for war. Alexandra brandished her sword. Nikolaos was outnumbered and fearful. Nikolaos glared at the arriving forces, squeezing his ring.

A current far more powerful than any Xander had ever felt dragged their bodies away from the ship. Wreckage and debris were pushed with them. Wood and metal slammed into their bodies. The four of them moved faster than any ship Xander had been in. Poseidon tried to catch them. His hands reached for them. Xander tried to grab Poseidon. They were moving too fast.

The forces of Atlantis and Poseidon himself disappeared. Blood dripped from Xander’s head as more debris crashed into him. Nikolaos pulled a knife and aimed to cut the ropes binding them together. Flavian slammed an arrow into Nikolaos's chest. A fatal blow. The arrow hit Nikolaos’ heart. Nikolaos grimaced, the water around them turning red. He pulled the arrow out, uninjured. Flavian shot again, hitting Nikolaos in the temple. Kyril kicked their enemy in the chest.

Xander looked around them, frantic to find a solution. They were in parts of the ocean Xander did not recognize. The water outside their current was calm and slow. They needn’t defeat Nikolaos. They needed to separate themselves from him until Poseidon could find them. Xander slammed his body against Nikolaos, punching and kicking him.

Nikolaos tried to cut their rope, his blade moving in one swift motion. He screamed as an arrow lodged into his crotch. Xander landed a blow. He felt the crunch of Nikolaos’ nose. He shoved Nikolaos out of the current. Nikolaos screamed as he fell out of the passage he had created. His body disappeared in the distance, a faint figure whose eyes never left Xander’s.

“We did it,” Xander celebrated, turning to face his friends. “Kyril, Flavian?” Xander yelled. He pulled on the rope binding them together. His friends were unconscious. Their bodies were bloody from their injuries. Debris slammed into Xander’s chest and head. His vision blurred and faded. He wrapped his arms around Flavian and Kyril, hoping the rope held.

Everything went black as the world faded. Xander felt the water push them into the unknown.