Chapter 39: Deep underwater {1}

Immediately after that, I was flung several hundred meters through the water. What I saw next was almost impossible to comprehend.

Above me floated a whale—no, not an ordinary whale. This one was colossal, far larger than any mountain I had ever seen. It eclipsed the sea like a living island, casting a shadow so vast it darkened the water for miles.

As I looked around, my disbelief only grew. Sea monsters—gigantic ones, as tall as mountains—were moving across the ocean floor. Some of them were walking, panting, their forms rippling with raw, unnatural power. Strangely, despite their weight, the seafloor beneath them didn’t collapse. Somehow, I too was able to walk here, as if gravity worked differently under this immense pressure.

Based on my speculation, each of these creatures possessed power equivalent to a 7 or 8-Star beast. The sheer aura they exuded was enough to send chills down my spine. One of them, a particularly ancient-looking entity, approached me and delivered a complex, living map—etched not on paper, but within my very mind.

It spoke in a language that been embedded too me and gave me a deadline: two years. I had two years to complete the path laid out in the map—or my heart would stop beating.

Fortunately, when we forged the contract, I had already prepared for the worst. I had wrapped my heart in the legendary Jelly Defense Spell. It was risky. A single misstep would suffocate my heart, and death would be instant. But it was my only shot at survival.

The spell was still stabilizing. I could feel it slowly syncing with my body. My heart pulsed heavily but steadily.

I began to walk.

The seafloor beneath my feet wasn’t made of ordinary sand—it was compacted into dense, rock-like grains, pressing into each other with crushing force. Despite that, I kept going. Enormous sea plants loomed over me like underwater trees, their tendrils swaying lazily, almost as if watching.

Thankfully, the map embedded in my mind was incredibly detailed. It showed safe zones—places where I could rest and hide if needed. One such place was the Deep Sea Kingdom, marked clearly as a shelter.

It felt like a dream down here. Everything was surreal. And strangely, no sea monster dared approach me.

I soon realized why—they could see what floated above me: the ancient Starfish Guardian, a creature that signaled protection from the deepest of sea beings. It hovered over me, pulsing faintly with an ancient light.

Even the crabs in this place were massive—larger than houses. Their shells shimmered in hues of white, red, and deep ocean blue.

Then, the staff in my hand—the ancient weapon I carried—spoke for the first time since I arrived.

"Each of those crabs has different abilities. See that purple one? One strike from its claw can poison you... to death."

I gulped at the warning. Without hesitation, I summoned my companion from the summoning scroll—a necessary precaution. But at the same time, I knew this was the perfect chance to train myself.

I ventured deeper into the ocean. Above me, darkness stretched endlessly, but thanks to the Starfish Guardian’s light, I could see within a radius of about 100 meters.

So far, everything I encountered had been described or predicted by the staff. The first few days passed smoothly.

At night, I would rest and use the time to comprehend my spells, refining them. Slowly but surely, I perfected each of them.

Still, my thoughts occasionally drifted to the ring on my finger.

Before I left, I had written a note... telling them I would be gone for a long time. I had written so many words, yet none could truly express what I was about to face. Chaos. Terror. Wonder. If I had brought anyone with me, they would be in danger. No, it was better this way.

I doubted even Fate saw this decision coming.

As I continued traveling, I began hunting sea monsters that were within my ability range. Any that were 4-Star or 5-Star level, I would engage. They wouldn’t attack unless provoked, but I needed the experience.

With each fight, my skills sharpened.

One day, I encountered a massive red crab—much larger than any before. Its shell gleamed crimson, a sign of its tier. This one was a 6-Star beast.

I swallowed hard.

The staff immediately whispered its weak points to me. The battle began. I dodged its massive claws, relying on everything I had—Satan Eyes, Exorcist Form, Jelly Protection, Shadow Sentinel, and countless other spells.

But I realized something during the fight. I lacked truly offensive spells. My kit was full of support, defense, and control—but not raw, destructive force. It made the battle long and grueling.

My mana was draining fast, and the creature fought like a hurricane. But after hours of relentless struggle, it finally collapsed—its strength spent.

Just as I was catching my breath, its body began to swell and glow. The staff’s voice burst out in excitement:

"It’s a core! Get it!"

I rushed forward, tearing open the crab’s thick shell. Inside, nestled near its heart, was a glowing white stone pulsing with energy.

"Use it," the staff urged. "It will help you break through to the Mid Layer... and maybe even the Late Layer if you’re lucky!"

I was stunned. Still panting, I nodded and absorbed the core.

In the days that followed, I rose to the Mid Layer. I survived off the crab meat, eating it raw. It was disgusting, but I had no choice. I needed to reach at least 5-Star rank to overcome the need for food completely.

Time passed quickly. In what felt like a blink, a week had gone by.

Now, I was a 3-Star Late Layer. My power had grown immensely.

And finally, I saw it—the Deep Sea Kingdom.

It shimmered in the distance like a mirage, yet the map confirmed it was real. According to the guide, this was only the beginning.

it was very Huge and Millions of Non Human might living there it’s wall was not ordinary it was filled with words i couldn’t understand

And there’s Castle that Loomed over at everything it was extremely beautiful a Breathtaking sight

And above those was a Crescent Moon signifying it’s the Deep Sea Kingdom

As I approached, I noticed something strange.

The residents... weren’t human. They were humanoid They have Blue tails each have different colors and have scales all over there bodies. Their guards stood tall, each emanating the power of a 4-Star or 5-Star warrior—as standard guards.

I was stunned.

Each of them was incredibly strong. I stepped closer, cautious but curious. As soon as I did, their eyes locked onto me. They looked puzzled, even wary, as if I were some unknown species.

But then... they looked up.

And saw the Starfish floating above me.

Their expressions shifted instantly—from suspicion to reverence. Without hesitation, they all bowed deeply and respectfully, leaving me more confused than ever.

The moment we arrived, the staff immediately began explaining things with a hushed but serious tone.

"You could consider yourself a Noble because of that Starfish," he said, nodding toward the glowing symbol hovering faintly above my head. "No one will dare mess with you—even if you’re human. That’s fine down here."

His words caught me off guard. Noble? Because of this starfish-looking symbol? I didn’t fully understand, but it sounded like some kind of authority mark. I was still digesting the implications when he continued, leaning a little closer as his voice dropped.

"They’re called the Deep Fish Race. They’ve never seen a human before. You might stand out... especially because of your appearance."

I blinked, confused. My appearance?

What was that supposed to mean?

Still feeling puzzled, I nodded quietly and stepped past the shimmering curtain of light that marked the entrance.

As soon as I entered, the world changed.

It was like stepping into a dream.

Buildings carved from coral and glowing shells towered over cobblestone streets made of polished pearl tiles. Streams of shimmering water twisted around like floating ribbons, and strange sea-creatures swam lazily through the air. The scent of salt mixed with something sweet and spicy hung in the air.

And then—silence.

Dozens of eyes locked on me the moment I stepped in.

Every conversation, every laugh, every footstep came to a sudden halt. People—no, beings of all sizes, with shimmering fins, scaled skin, and flowing aquatic robes—froze where they stood. Even entire families stopped mid-bite, their gazes all turning toward me.

It wasn’t anger.

It wasn’t hostility.

It was astonishment.

Whispers began spreading through the crowd like ripples in a pond.

"A human?"

"Is he lost?"

"No... Look. Look above his head."

"The Starfish... He bears the mark."

As soon as the citizens caught sight of the glowing starfish symbol above me, most of them gave me a lingering look—then sighed in a strange, quiet pity. The tension evaporated as quickly as it had appeared. People turned away, returning to their conversations and meals, though they still glanced at me from time to time as if trying to puzzle me out.

I continued walking, still stunned by their reaction. Why pity? Was the mark a double-edged sword?

The city felt like a kingdom from a fantasy dream. Lively, colorful, and full of motion. Seaweed banners danced above the streets, merchants hawked their goods from carts fashioned from oyster shells, and strange glowing pets hovered around children who played near glowing fountains. Yet amidst all the color and life, a trace of wariness lingered wherever I went.

Still, curiosity was stronger than fear.

Especially among the females.

Many of them, young and mature alike, watched me with curious eyes—some even peeking from behind pillars or stalls, whispering among themselves. I didn’t know what they were saying, but their eyes sparkled with both interest and questions. It was a strange feeling, being both admired and avoided.

And then—I saw her.

She stood by a small seafood delicacy stall, nibbling at a skewer of some glowing fish delicacy.

Time froze again.

She was breathtaking.

Green eyes like emerald waves, deep and clear, framed by long lashes. Her hair—flowing strands of forest green—cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, glimmering under the sunlight that filtered down from the surface above.

She was tall, her figure almost sculpted with elegant curves, yet her expression was one of calm restraint. Her tail—smooth and pink like polished rose quartz—was partly hidden beneath a long silken robe, so subtle that no one seemed to notice. Maybe it was intentional. Maybe she didn’t want others to know what she was her Scale was Blue contrast of the Pink tail.

We made eye contact.

Just a second.

Just a breath.

But in that single heartbeat, her eyes widened. She froze mid-bite, then quickly gulped the rest of the food like she was caught doing something wrong. Her cheeks flushed slightly—a subtle but visible tinge of pink that made her even more radiant.

Did she know me?

[Every Gift with 50 Coins 1 extra Long Chapter while 10 will be a extra short Chapter]

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