"Go forth, Spikefin, Water King!"
- Malvel naming Spikefin
Spikefin the Water King is one of the Evil Beasts of Seraph. Originally a fisherman named Brenner, he was transformed into a Beast by Malvel to delay his foes as he made his way to the Eternal Flame. Spikefin is equipped with three rows of jagged teeth and a huge tail to propel him through the water. He has powerful arms and curved claws. The Water King is unable to breathe above the surface for long, but can fight above the surface in short bursts. He is also armed with a trident forged from black steel. Spikefin was the last artificial Beast created as part of Malvel's plot to gain infinite power by burning the Warlock's Staff in the Eternal Flame and the only one created by Malvel himself and not Petra (Silver was a joint effort). The Water King is based on the merman originating from Greek and Roman myth, with his being forged from black steel. The Beast also draws inspiration from sharks, such as the three sets of teeth, gray tail and blood attraction.
The Warlock's Staff[]
Malvel attacking Brenner.
Spikefin emerging from the water for the first time.
After a long day at sea, Brenner was unloading a bountiful catch from his boat to sell in town when Malvel appeared on the jetty. The dark wizard was struggling with the fact that the Warlock's Staff grew heavier as he drew closer to the Eternal Flame and due to Noctus being pyrophobic, the Soaring Unicorn couldn't carry him there. As such, he feared if he didn't create another Beast, Tom and Elenna would catch up with and capture him. Turning to see Malvel, Brenner was shocked that someone had snuck up on him, apologising for his shock, and extended his fist for the traditional Seraphian greeting of bumping knuckles, which Malvel ignored. Malvel drew the wand he used to turn animals into Evil Beasts, but put it away quickly, likely thinking it may fail as Brenner is human. The wizard asked to buy three fish, stating Brenner could choose any to sell. Despite sensing something was wrong, Brenner handed the dark wizard the requested fish, which he placed into his cloak. When asked how he would pay, Malvel drew a magical dagger (likely the same used to turn Cora into Koraka) and stated it would be his payment. The Seraphian attempted to run as Malvel lunged, but stumbled in the shallows, with Malvel vanishing and reappearing over him. The wizard slashed his leg with the dagger and held his head down under the water, whispering to the fisherman that he now belonged to him as he drowned him. Instead of succumbing to the ocean, the fisherman found himself transformed into a monstrous sea Beast. Brenner, transformed, emerged from the water with no memories. Malvel asked for his name, and the newborn Beast was agitated when he failed to remember it. The wizard dubbed his creation Spikefin and sent the Water King to roam the waves. The creation of Spikefin put the Avantians in a dilemma as the Sea of Seraph was significantly off course from the Eternal Flame, however the group were unwilling to leave the innocents to suffer the tyranny of a new Beast and shifted towards the ocean, giving Malvel an increase of time to complete his mission in.
Spikefin lunging at Tom with his trident.
Spikefin being slashed by Tom.
While crossing the Raging River, Petra betrayed the Avantians, leading to them being dropped into the Sea of Seraph. Spikefin quickly sensed them and approached. He passed under Tom and swam towards Silver, striking the wolf with his tail and throwing him towards the shore. As Spikefin moved to attack Silver again, Tom lured the Beast towards him by declaring himself his true enemy. The Water King turned and moved towards Tom, emerging from the waves before him while groaning in pain due to the transformation. Spikefin lunged with his trident, the blow being parried by Tom's sword, however the attack forced him below the waves. Roaring, the Beast tried again, lunging with his jaw and catching Tom's shield as he failed to move back quickly enough. Spikefin lifted Tom from the water as his teeth overcame the enchanted wood, beginning to damage it as a tooth broke through. The Water King lunged with his trident, which Tom parried and flicked back at the Beast, forcing him under the water, dragging Tom with him. Under the water, Tom kicked the trident away and raked his blade along Spikefin's scaled torso, who moved away with a hiss and retreated.
Spikefin attacking the hut's stilts.
Spikefin breaking out of the net.
Spikefin being stabbed in the mouth by Tom.
The Water King attacked again when Tom and Elenna were speaking with the village leader Varra. The Beast attacked the supporting stilts with his tail to sink the hut, managing to completely drag it into the water with his attacks. When the hut was submerged, the Beast waited for his foes to emerge. When they did, Spikefin charged towards them, slamming into the whale net the pair held between them and being bound by it. Using the spikes on his forearms, the Water King quickly tore the net apart. Turning to face Elenna, the Beast knifed through the water towards her, being intercepted by Tom, who tugged on a piece of net trailing from his teeth to force him away from Elenna. Spikefin swam into deeper water, pulling Tom with him due to the net remnant, however Tom was able to get free and returned to the submerged villa. The Evil Beast pursued the warrior to the villa, erupting from the water under him and aiming his trident at his foe's throat, which he dodged away from. Spikefin lunged again, however his weapon was grabbed by Elenna, and the Beast was stabbed in the mouth by Tom, making him roar in pain and drop the trident. Slashing the spikes on his arm, Spikefin forced Tom into a corner of the room, however was distracted by Elenna, turning and being stabbed in the gut by his own trident. Moving away and slapping the water with his arms in panic, Spikefin leapt over Elenna to escape and fled.
Spikefin sinking his teeth into the chainmail, becoming trapped.
Spikefin being further bound.
Brenner after Spikefin's defeat.
Choosing to act as bait, Tom donned the magical chainmail and played dead in the water, hoping the blood from his wounds would bring the Water King. Spikefin smelt the blood and rushed to Tom, finding him fighting sharks that were also drawn by the wounds. The Beast forced the sharks away and began to circle Tom, correctly sensing a trap. Unable to figure out what the trap was, Spikefin charged at his foe, sinking his teeth into his torso, however the chainmail protected the warrior and trapped his teeth. Spikefin began to shake his head, increasing his thrashing when Tom grabbed his gills. Pulling on the rope attached to Tom, Elenna and the fishermen began to reel the Water King in, being pulled onto the loading platform above the water as he was unable to free his teeth. The fishermen quickly tied the Beast up, but he was able to strike a pair of them, throwing them into the water. He began to drag himself along the jetty with his claws, but his tail was grabbed by Tom, who held him in place. The Water King was further bound, with a rope coiling around his throat. He was dragged back along the jetty, the oxygen beginning to defeat him. Brenner, through Spikefin, was able to begin requesting freedom before he began to turn back from the Water King and returned to human form, retaining no memories of being a Beast.
Powers, Abilities and Weaknesses[]
Powers and Abilities[]
- Natural Weaponry: Spikefin has sharp claws and teeth, which are so sharp that they can pierce Tom's shield. He also has a tail which he can use to batter his enemies and sharp fins on his arms.
- Underwater Breathing: Spikefin can breathe underwater.
- Enhanced Strength: Spikefin has enhanced strength, as he can escape from a whale net with ease.
- Weapon Mastery: Spikefin is proficient with a trident.
Equipment[]
- Trident: Spikefin carries and wields a trident in battle.
Weaknesses[]
- Struggle to breathe: Spikefin struggles to breathe out of water.
- Reversion: If Spikefin is out of water for too long, he will revert back to Brenner.
A - Z of Beasts[]
"Brenner, an innocent fisherman, was slashed with a poisoned blade and drowned in the sea. He re-emerged as Spikefin: half man, half sea-creature. Spikefin's ferocious claws, razor-sharp fins and huge whipping tail can destroy any boat sailing in his path."