"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

Seraphis steadied her breathing, her keen eyes fixed on the monstrous serpent as it writhed in the dark waters below. The glow of its eerie eyes pulsed like a heartbeat, its presence a looming threat against the Raven’s Perch.

The air was thick with tension, the salty breeze carrying the scent of the ocean and something more—something rotten and ancient. Seraphis recognized it immediately: the stench of a predator that had returned for vengeance.

“Lysara, fire now!” Seraphis barked, rolling away from the battlements as the serpent’s tail lashed out again.

Lysara didn’t hesitate. She loaded one of the specially crafted Voidflame arrows, their tips coated in alchemical fire that burned even through water. With expert precision, she loosed the arrow, sending it screaming through the air.

The arrow struck true. A flash of violet flame erupted against the serpent’s scaled hide, sizzling on impact. The beast let out an ear-splitting screech, its body contorting in agony as the flames clung to its flesh, refusing to be doused.

But the serpent wasn’t done. Instead of retreating, it lunged forward, its gaping maw snapping at the battlements.

Seraphis barely had time to react. She flung herself backward as the stone wall exploded under the force of the serpent’s bite. Shards of rock and dust filled the air as part of the perch crumbled into the sea.

Lysara cursed, reloading another Voidflame arrow. “This thing’s more pissed off than last time!”

Seraphis landed in a crouch, her mind racing. They needed a strategy. This serpent was faster, stronger, and now vengeful. If they played this wrong, they wouldn’t live long enough to regret it.

“Lysara, aim for the eyes! Blind it!” Seraphis shouted as she sprinted along the crumbling edge of the perch.

Lysara nodded, shifting her aim. Another arrow flew, this one aimed straight at the creature’s left eye.

The serpent jerked its head sideways at the last moment, the arrow narrowly missing its mark. It wasn’t just powerful—it was learning.

“Damn it,” Lysara muttered. “It’s getting smarter.”

Seraphis gritted her teeth. If brute force wasn’t enough, they’d have to outthink the monster.

Without hesitation, she vaulted off the battlements, flipping midair to land gracefully on a lower ledge. From here, she had a clear shot at the serpent’s underbelly—its one weak spot.

Drawing her daggers, she sent out a mental command. The razor-sharp metal playing cards materialized around her, spinning in midair, awaiting her order.

“Let’s see how tough you really are,” she muttered, before hurling the first wave of cards directly at the serpent’s exposed belly.

The enchanted cards slashed deep, slicing through the beast’s armor-like scales. Black ichor oozed from the wounds, hissing as it dripped into the water.

The serpent let out a furious, gurgling roar. Its entire body convulsed, sending a towering wave of water crashing against the perch.

Seraphis braced herself as the force nearly swept her off her feet. She dug her daggers into the stone, holding firm as the icy water surged past her.

Above, Lysara fired another Voidflame arrow. This time, it struck just beneath the serpent’s jaw, where its scales were thinner. The explosion of violet fire sent the monster into a frenzy.

The sea serpent thrashed wildly, its massive tail swinging toward the perch like a battering ram.

“MOVE!” Seraphis shouted.

Lysara barely had time to leap away before the serpent’s tail slammed into the remaining battlements, obliterating another section of the perch.

The Raven’s Perch was falling apart around them. If they didn’t end this soon, they’d be fighting in the water—where the serpent had the advantage.

Seraphis needed a way to slow it down.

Her mind raced, and then it hit her.

“Lysara! We need to trap it! Get the harpoons!”

Lysara’s eyes widened. “You’re crazy!”

“Just do it!” Seraphis barked.

Lysara gritted her teeth but obeyed. She dashed to the weapons cache, unfastening one of the reinforced harpoon launchers they had salvaged from a previous battle.

Seraphis, meanwhile, leaped onto the serpent’s back.

The moment her boots touched its slick scales, the creature reared up, twisting violently to shake her off.

Seraphis clenched her jaw, stabbing her daggers deep into its hide for grip. She could feel the monster’s muscles coiling beneath her, readying for another devastating roll.

She had seconds.

With a flick of her wrist, she sent out another mental command. The enchanted metal playing cards whirled forward, striking at the serpent’s joints.

The distraction was just enough.

“NOW!” she yelled.

Lysara pulled the trigger.

The harpoon fired with a deafening blast, piercing straight through the serpent’s thick neck. The chains attached to it rattled violently as the harpoon buried itself deep.

The beast howled in agony, its head snapping back. It writhed, trying to shake off the harpoon, but the reinforced chains held firm.

“Reload! We need another one!” Seraphis called.

Lysara was already moving, grabbing the next harpoon and preparing to fire.

But the serpent, in a last desperate move, threw its entire weight backward.

Seraphis felt her stomach drop.

The entire perch shifted.

The foundations groaned under the immense strain as the serpent’s sheer bulk dragged it down.

Stone cracked.

The Raven’s Perch began to collapse.

Lysara barely managed to fire the second harpoon before the entire structure gave way.

Seraphis was falling.

The last thing she saw was the serpent’s glowing eyes—filled with both pain and fury—as it too was dragged down into the depths.

Then, everything was water and darkness.