Boreas POV

As I descended deeper and deeper into the depths, I marveled at the newfound clarity of my surroundings, the once murky waters now crystal clear and teeming with life.

With each stroke of my arms and kick of my legs, I propelled myself further into the heart of the ocean as I swam much faster, my senses heightened by the nymph's blessing. I could see with a clarity that bordered on the miraculous, the vibrant colors of the coral reefs and exotic fish dazzling my eyes with their beauty.

But it wasn't just my vision that had been enhanced by the blessing. I could hear the sounds of everything happening around me in the water as well. I arrived at the underwater ruin and Mari was already there.

"What took you so long?" she asked

"You can teleport?"

"I can, but I didn't. Anyway, loot this place to your heart's desire."

As I explored the depths of the underwater ruin, my heart raced with excitement at the prospect of discovering ancient treasures hidden within its crumbling walls. But as I sifted through the debris scattered across the floor in the ruin, I quickly realized that most of the items were little more than relics of a bygone era, their significance more symbolic than practical.

"Promise me something."

"What?"

"Just promise me you won't say anything, but I'll wield this sword by the end of it."

"...Fine...I'm interested in what you'll do." her eyes shone for a slight moment there.

*****

"They called you a hero?" I scoffed, "More like a legend in your own mind, you weakling. Remember that time you came at me with a bat?! Yeah, good times. You swung like a blindfolded toddler at a pinata. And to think, people actually look up to you. PUAHAHAAHAHAHA."

I laughed aloud while Mari looked at me like some sort of crazy person as she murmured under her breath about much of a disappointment she was.

I mean, I beat you senseless without breaking a sweat," I continued, "If it weren't for your precious goddess swooping in to save your sorry hide, you'd still be licking your wounds like the pathetic excuse for a hero that you are. You couldn't even fight your way out of a paper bag without tripping over your own two feet!

"And don't even get me started on your strategy or lack thereof. Charging in like a headless chicken would have been an improvement! I mean, seriously...I didn't even have any fighting experience, you tried to attack a hungry guy and LOST! I had you on the ground before you even knew what hit you! And let's not forget how you cried for mercy like a sniveling coward.

"The way you cried like a baby when I had you pinned to the ground? Oh, it was priceless! I've never seen someone blubber so pathetically in my life! I mean, I knew you were weak, but I never realized you were such a crybaby, they should have given you a pacifier instead of a sword! And what kind of name is Craven Moorehead, anyway? Sounds more like the punchline to a bad joke than the name of a hero."

"I mean, what were they thinking? Were they hoping you'd grow into it? Because if so, I hate to break it to you, but you fell short by a long shot! You're nothing but a crying pacifier-sucking coward!"

A lightning bolt then struck the ground before me with a deafening crack and a figure materialized from the smoke and sparks.

"2 for 2."

"You dare to mock the name of Craven Moorehead!" he screamed, "I'll kill you right here!"