Cridror led the group as they closed in on one of the Kraken follower camps. Taking the advice of some of the nagas who were more familiar with the area, they took to the tunnels that kept them concealed until they were nearly below the enemy camp. The tunnels provided plenty of herbs that were used for various purposes for the nagas. Despite how valuable they were, Dhaga never once lost his focus on the mission at hand. The destruction of the egg surpassed all of his other priorities.

  Seems like we are reaching the end of the tunnel. Let’s use this opportunity to observe the enemy camp.

  Dhaga was assigned the task of observing the terrain and enemy patrols due him being the only one who could turn his neck. It was far too difficult for the orcas to remain concealed and get a good look of everything. As the naga observed everything, he shared everything with the orcas. He made sure not to leave anything out.

  We are only about fifty meters from the enemy camp…..there are no immediate patrols due to how close we are to the camp…..the patrols are much further out, likely too far to intercept us from reaching the camp if we get a headstart…the lookouts at the camp look very relaxed....and they are very few in numbers

  As soon as the naga relayed the information, the orcas started discussing the plan on how they should tackle the approach. The time of the day didn’t matter for either side. Both nagas and orcas had ways of navigating in the dark while the Kraken followers were given improved sight for their loyalty. The Kraken followers had both the numerical and defensive advantage while Dhaga and the orcas had the element of surprise and one straightforward objective.

  The rest of us cannot harm the egg. Only the trident could pierce through it and kill the Kraken within.

  After hearing Cridror’s comment, the naga looked at the trident in his hand. From his inexperienced eyes, the weapon looked too ancient and it was covered in rust. He couldn’t help but wonder if the weapon would break the moment it collided with anything. Since receiving it, he felt nothing special from it either. Unlike the black orb which felt special the moment he came in contact, the trident felt cold and distant, as though he merely retrieved it from a scrap heap. If the Leviathan didn't gift him the weapon, he likely would have abandoned it during their journey earlier.

  I must believe in the Guardian! This weapon must be special somehow.

  After many hours of observation, Dhaga figured out the general patrol patterns and the shift changes of the Kraken followers. With confidence in his information, he and the orcas waited several minutes after a complete shift change before they approached the camp. They stayed close to the seafloor where some of the local flora helped make them harder to spot. They were also counting on the lookouts to remain complacent during their watches due to their false confidence that no one could possibly get this close to the camp unnoticed. Once getting noticed was unavoidable, the group picked up speed and headed straight through the main camp gate. Their arrival was so sudden that it wasn’t several seconds after they entered the camp before the alarms were sounded. As soon as the alarm sounded, hordes of Kraken followers seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

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  That must be the egg! Why is no one guarding it?

  The egg looked like a giant sea turtle egg. A crater was created to hold it specifically and none of the Kraken soldiers were around it. Swimming at his max speed, Dhaga went straight for the eggs and struck it. To his shock, the outer shell collapsed into dust with nothing inside.

  Damn! This was a trap!

  Kraken followers had completely surrounded him and the orcas. By forming multiple ranks, there wasn’t a single point that would be easy for them to break through without taking casualties. Seeing his foes so prepared, Dhaga readied himself for the upcoming battle.

  Trident, I don’t know your history or your abilities. However, I have two objectives in mind. One, I must find and destroy the egg. Two, I must break through the encirclement so all of us can get through this. If you can hear me, give me any power you are willing. I cannot do this by myself…

  For a brief moment, Dhaga thought the trident trembled in response. When it stopped, he wondered if he had imagined the whole thing. Then, the Kraken followers began their attack by sending their first rank of soldiers in. The compact space proved disadvantageous to the orcas who needed space to maneuver. While they did fend off the first wave, all the orcas suffered various degrees of injuries.

  We cannot allow this to continue…

  Dhaga took the initiative this time as he charged headfirst into the enemy ranks. He didn’t know where the courage came from but he still moved forward with no ounce of fear within him. In a way, it felt like the trident was guiding him forward. His sudden attack allowed him to take down two Kraken followers in an instant but he didn’t stop there. With each swing or thrust of his trident, a Kraken follower was killed. Once he got into a rhythm, the naga attacked with impunity. All of the Kraken followers seemed to be moving in slow motion, allowing him to dodge all incoming attacks and land killing blows in a single strike. Never had Dhaga felt this much power in his hands. In that moment, he felt that he had grasped centuries of battle experience in an instant, resulting in this one-sided slaughter. The more foes he killed, the more power was released by the trident. Once he killed all his enemies, he looked down at his weapon.

  The…the rust is gone…and what is all of these markings on them?

  Good work, Dhaga! You have cleared the first trial and can now unlock the secrets of the trident.