(Eddie POV)

  I step over Jake's lifeless body, glancing down at the broken phone in my hand. The message I sent from his phone, luring Kazuya and his remaining friends onto this yacht, has been delivered. With Jake eliminated, there's one less obstacle standing in my way.

  Jake was one of Kazuya's closest friends, a wealthy teenager who lived in a sprawling mansion with only his servants for company. His parents were often away on business, leaving Jake to his own devices. I knew he would be an easy target, cowering in his isolated home while the rest of Kazuya's group was out at the club.

  Sneaking into the mansion was child's play. The servants didn't notice me because I was crawling through the building camouflaged. I spot Jake, the spoiled and entitled brat, was holed up in his room, playing video games and sipping on expensive liquor. He never saw me coming.

  A swift blow to the head, and Jake crumpled to the floor, dead. I made quick work of disposing of his body by swallowing him whole.

  I noticed Jake's phone and checked it, though it was difficult to operate with these claws. As I went through his pictures, I was disturbed to find a trove of disgusting images. It seems Jake had been manipulating and exploiting many young women, dating multiple girls at once and cheating on all of them. The depth of his depravity was truly sickening.

  I noticed Jake had a yacht, and an idea formed in my mind. I quickly sent a message to Kazuya, inviting him and the rest of his friends to Jake's yacht. To my satisfaction, Kazuya responded, saying he and the others would be there. This is the perfect opportunity to end it all. Kazuya and his friends are going to gather, and it will be my chance to finish them once and for all.

  I quickly leave Jake's mansion, crushing his phone in my claws to destroy any evidence. The servants did not notice anything amiss as I exited the mansion. I make my way to the underground tunnels and head to my van.

  Once I was back in the van, I used the S.Y.N.A.P.S.E. Activating the device, I feel the familiar sensation of my consciousness being pulled back. The world shifts, and I'm looking through my own eyes again, seated in the driver's seat. I take a deep breath, steadying myself after that intense experience as Talon.

  Gripping the steering wheel, I start the van and head towards the docks. This is it - the moment I've been waiting for. Kazuya and his remaining friends will be gathering on Jake's yacht, completely unaware of the trap I've set for them.

  I pull up to the docks, my hands gripping the steering wheel as I take a deep breath. This is it - the moment I've been waiting for. Kazuya and his remaining friends will be arriving soon.

  As I step out of the van, I can't help but let my mind wander back to a time when things were simpler, when Miyuki and I were just kids playing make-believe. I remember those days so vividly, a bittersweet smile tugging at my lips.

  The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood as Miyuki and I ran around the backyard, our laughter filling the air. Miyuki was dressed in a homemade Ember Nova costume, her red hair tied back in a ponytail, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  "Alright, monster!" she shouted, her voice filled with determination. "It's time for you to surrender! The mighty Ember Nova is here to save the day!"

  I stood across from her, my body hunched over. I had fashioned a makeshift costume out of old clothes and cardboard, transforming myself into a fearsome creature with glowing eyes and sharp claws.

  "Never!" I growled, my voice low and guttural. "I am the unstoppable Talon, and I will not be defeated by the likes of you, Ember Nova!"

  Miyuki summoned her flames, sending bursts of fire in my direction. I deftly dodged the attacks, my movements swift and agile. In return, I swiped at her with my claws, forcing her to retreat.

  "You can't win, Talon!" Miyuki shouted, her voice filled with determination. "I won't let you terrorize this city any longer!"

  I let out a menacing roar, reveling in the thrill of our playful battle.

  Our game continued, with Miyuki using her flames to try and subdue me, while I countered with my claws and ferocity. We danced around the backyard, lost in our own world of imagination, the line between hero and villain blurring.

  In the end, Miyuki won, tackling me to the ground and holding me down. I let out a dramatic groan, conceding defeat, and Miyuki beamed with pride, her eyes shining with accomplishment.

  "I did it!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy. "I saved the city from the evil Talon!"

  I couldn't help but smile, despite my "defeat." Seeing the pure happiness on Miyuki's face was worth it. At that moment, we were playing without a care in the world. Just being happy playing make-believe. My mom called us soon after and told us to change because we got filthy from playing.

  A bittersweet sigh escapes my lips as I'm pulled back to the present, the memory of our carefree childhood fading.

  Miyuki has always shone brightly, even when we were kids. This makes what Kazuya and his friends did all the more despicable.

  I hear the approaching footsteps and see Kazuya and his remaining friends in the distance. I quickly retreat back into the van, and I hear Talon growl from the containment unit. "Yes, it's almost over," I murmur.

  I put on the S.Y.N.A.P.S.E., ready to end this once and for all. My vision fades, and I'm back in Talon's body, the familiar rush of power surging through me. I let out a low, guttural growl, my claws flexing in anticipation.

  Kazuya and his friends arrive at the docks, searching for the yacht that Jake had promised them. They notice the family name emblazoned on the side of the boat, confirming they've found the right vessel.

  "Where's Jake?" one of the friends asks, looking around with a puzzled expression. "He said he'd be here waiting for us."

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Kazuya frowns, a nagging feeling of unease creeping up his spine. "I don't know, but let's get on board. He's probably just running late."

  The group cautiously boards the yacht, their voices echoing across the empty deck.

  As they explore the cabin below, they find no trace of Jake. The silence is deafening, broken only by the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull.

  Kazuya and his friends make their way to the yacht's pilot area. One of them, a lanky boy named Jiro, examines the controls.

  "Hey, you think any of us know how to drive this thing?" Jiro asks, running his fingers over the various buttons and levers.

  Another friend, a muscular guy named Takeshi, shrugs. "Can't be that hard, right? Let's just give it a shot."

  Takeshi reaches for the ignition, and with a rumble, the yacht's engine roars to life. The group exchanges excited glances, and Takeshi carefully eases the boat away from the dock, steering it out towards the open sea.

  As they gain distance from the shore, one of Kazuya's friends, a timid girl named Emi, speaks up. "Do you think we should have left without Jake? What if he shows up and we're already gone?"

  Kazuya waves a dismissive hand. "Nah, he'll be fine. Jake can just take another boat to catch up with us. This is our chance to have some fun without him hogging all the attention."

  The group falls silent as they focus on navigating the yacht further out, the salty breeze whipping through their hair. Kazuya leans back, a smug grin spreading across his face. With his friends by his side and the open water ahead, he feels a sense of power and freedom.

  As the boat left the dock, Kazuya and his friends did not notice the large shadow swimming in the water. The dark, ominous shape glided silently beneath the surface, its presence unseen but undeniably there.

  Kazuya and his friends found booze and snacks on the yacht and started drinking and chatting. Laughter and the clink of glasses filled the air as they reveled in their perceived freedom, unaware of the predator lurking just out of sight.

  Kazuya and his friends gather on the yacht's deck, drinks in hand. The salty sea breeze ruffles their hair as they indulge in idle chatter.

  "Ah, man, we should've invited some girls along for the ride," one of the friends, a lanky boy named Jiro, says with a wistful sigh. "This would've been the perfect opportunity to get lucky."

  Another friend, a burly guy named Takeshi, shrugs. "It was a last-minute thing, dude. Can't be helped. But hey, at least we've got the whole yacht to ourselves, right?"

  Kazuya leans back, taking a long sip of his beer. "That's true. No parents, no teachers - just us and the open sea. We're living the dream, boys." He flashes a cocky grin.

  The conversation drifts to more degenerate topics, punctuated by laughter and the occasional crude joke. Kazuya, ever the ringleader, seems to relish in the attention and camaraderie.

  "Hey, Ryu, why don't you go grab us some more drinks?" Kazuya says, his tone laced with a hint of entitlement. "I'm starting to feel a little parched over here."

  Ryu, a meek-looking boy, nods quickly. "Y-Yeah, sure thing, Kazuya." He scurries off, eager to please his friend.

  As Ryu disappears below deck, the remaining friends continue their boisterous chatter.

  Ryu makes his way below deck, as he reaches the galley, Ryu pulls open the refrigerator, only to find it empty, and he lets out a small sigh.

  "Guess I'll have to look somewhere else," he mutters to himself.

  Ryu begins rummaging through the cabinets, searching for any snacks or drinks that might have been overlooked.

  Suddenly, a faint splashing sound catches his attention, causing Ryu to freeze. He holds his breath, straining his ears to pinpoint the source of the noise. After a moment of tense silence, the sound comes again, this time slightly louder and closer.

  Swallowing hard, Ryu slowly makes his way towards the edge of the deck, peering over the side. The water below appears calm and undisturbed, reflecting the fading daylight. Ryu leans in, his eyes narrowing as he searches for any sign of movement.

  Just as he's about to dismiss the sound as his imagination, a dark shape briefly breaks the surface, sending ripples across the otherwise placid water. Ryu's heart pounds in his chest, and he instinctively recoils, nearly losing his footing.

  "What was that?" he whispers, his voice trembling. Ryu leans back over the edge, his curiosity overcoming his fear. The water remains still, offering no further clues to the source of the disturbance.

  Ryu stands there, his gaze fixed on the seemingly tranquil surface, his mind racing with uneasy thoughts.

  "Must be my imagination…"

  Ryu was about to turn and leave when something grabbed him by the neck and dragged him to the water. He could barely scream, the grip around his throat cutting off his air. He thrashed around in the water, but he could feel something strong and unyielding holding him under.

  Panic surged through Ryu as he struggled to free himself, his lungs burning from the lack of oxygen. Suddenly, he felt a searing pain in his torso as rows of sharp teeth clamped down, tearing into his flesh. Ryu let out a muffled, agonizing scream, the sound barely audible above the lapping of the waves.

  The creature's jaws tightened, crushing Ryu's body as it continued to savage him. Blood began to cloud the water around them, the crimson liquid barely visible under the faint moonlight. Ryu's thrashing grew weaker as the life drained from him, his desperate attempts to escape growing futile.

  With one final, gurgling gasp, Ryu's body went limp, the light fading from his eyes. The creature, revealed to be the monstrous Talon, released its grip, letting Ryu's lifeless form sink into the dark depths below.

  A pool of blood slowly spread across the surface.

  Takeshi, one of Kazuya's friends, frowned as he noticed Ryu's absence. "Hey, where's that scrawny guy? He should've been back with the drinks by now."

  The group fell silent, and Kazuya glanced around, a hint of annoyance in his expression. "Probably got lost or something. You know how he is."

  Takeshi shrugged and pushed himself off the deck chair. "I'll go check on him. Can't have him slacking off while we're trying to have a good time."

  Stepping below deck, Takeshi called out Ryu's name, his voice echoing through the yacht's interior. As he reached the galley, he noticed the refrigerator door ajar and the cabinets left open.

  "Ryu? You down here, man?" Takeshi's eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of his friend.

  Silence was his only response.

  Takeshi's brow furrowed as a growing sense of unease settled in his gut. "This isn't funny. Come on, quit hiding and let's get back upstairs."

  He moved towards the edge of the deck, peering over the side. The water below seemed calm, reflecting the fading light of the sunset. Takeshi leaned in, squinting his eyes as he scanned the surface for any sign of Ryu.

  "Ryu! Where the hell are you?" His voice held a tinge of concern now, the jovial tone from earlier replaced by worry.

  Still no answer.

  Takeshi took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "Alright, he's probably just taking a leak or something. No need to freak out."

  Turning, he made his way back towards the cabin, intent on rejoining the others and waiting for Ryu to reappear. As he reached the stairs, a sudden splash from the water below made him pause and glance back over the edge.

  The surface of the ocean rippled, as if something had just broken through. Takeshi leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make out any movement in the darkening water.

  "Ryu?" he called out, his voice uncertain.

  Takeshi leaned over the edge of the yacht, peering into the dark water below. Suddenly, a massive, reptilian creature burst from the surface, its jaws gaping wide.

  Talon's powerful claws seized Takeshi, yanking him off the yacht and into the air. The boy let out a strangled cry, his eyes widening in terror as he came face-to-face with the monstrous creature.

  Talon's massive, serrated teeth clamped down on Takeshi's head, crushing his skull with sickening force. The sound of bone cracking and flesh tearing filled the air, accompanied by Takeshi's muffled, gurgling screams.

  The creature's powerful jaws ground down, pulverizing Takeshi's skull and silencing his cries. Blood and viscera spattered across Talon's scales as it savored the kill, the boy's limp body held firmly in its grasp.

  With a final, savage twist, Talon ripped Takeshi's head from his shoulders, the severed remains dangling limply from its mouth. The decapitated corpse tumbled back into the dark waters, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake.

  Talon let out a triumphant roar, its glowing eyes surveying the yacht as it searched for its next prey.