An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

Tristan jumped onto the ship’s rail first, using a jumping piranha as a springboard. His figure blurred into a trail of afterimages across the wave crests.

Sensing the threat, the Piranha King’s massive jaws snapped open, revealing two rows of fangs gleaming with toxic blue light. A wave of putrid breath rolled out, nearly suffocating anyone nearby.

“Now!” Tristan hurled the explosive pack toward the Piranha King’s belly while slashing through the fish swarming around his ankles.

As the fuse burned out, he used the explosion’s shockwave to flip back onto the ship. A thunderous blast rocked the sea. The Piranha King’s body convulsed violently as dark green blood splattered like a downpour.

But the massive creature hadn’t died. Instead, it thrashed the sea with its tail fin in fury, raising waves that nearly capsized the Stormrider.

Clinging to the railing, Tristan watched the wound on the Piranha King’s belly heal at a visible rate. His heart sank as he realized the monster had regenerative powers too.

“Aim for its eyes!” he roared.

in torrents, hammering the Piranha King’s head until green eye fluid gushed forth. The creature let out a deafening roar. Its trashing caused the ship to groan and creak, widening the deck

the chains!” Tristan’s voice was hoarse from shouting. “Wrap them around its

torn apart by the swarm as they

the dorsal fin’s bone spikes, Tristan drew his sword and plunged it into

rigid. Its massive jaws opened and closed futilely before it finally rolled belly-up in

their leader, the swarm of piranhas immediately fell into chaos. Some frantically rammed the ship while

fish corpses, Tristan suddenly recalled an ancient manuscript mentioning that piranhas fear their

the once-frenzied swarm scattered like they’d encountered their natural enemy. Even the piranhas stuck in the deck cracks were

against the broken railing, catching his breath. His serpent-embroidered battle robe was soaked in blood,

on deck. Some wrapped their wounds with torn cloth while

the morning light, the Stormrider’s tattered sails