When the Nest Fell, All Scattered

The Sea Salamander's severed half was swimming rapidly through the seawater.

A thin membrane first formed over the stump, sealing the wound tight and preventing more tissue from spilling out.

Then the tissue beneath it began to swell. Missing organs, bones, muscles, and other parts rapidly regrew. In moments, two tiny limbs pushed out of the bulge and quickly thickened into new legs and feet, while the membrane grew thicker and tougher.

At this rate, it would be whole again in minutes.

But as it regenerated, its body gradually shrank, and the light that had shimmered across it dimmed considerably. The recovery clearly came at a cost.

As its limbs returned, it picked up speed. Just when it thought it had escaped danger, its darting body jerked to a halt. A hand had seized its tail. Regrowth had consumed so much energy that its reactions had slowed, and by the time it realized what had happened, it was too late.

An irresistible force hauled it upward. It burst through the surface, but the force did not fade. It flung the Sea Salamander high into the air.

The Sea Salamander seemed to sense that this was its most dangerous moment. Its eyes turned bloodred, a hiss rose from its throat, and spines rapidly swelled and sprouted across its skin. With a shudder, they shot downward, trailing flickering light and smoke.

For all their ferocious appearance, the spines were feeble. A layer of white-gold light around the figure below stopped them, and they quickly dissolved within it.

Chen Chuan stood on the sea, luminous energy rising around him, his blade held calmly at his side. Watching the Sea Salamander soar overhead, he raised the blade and made a casual slash toward it.

The slash was only a gesture. No force actually left