Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System-Chapter 481: Sixth Floor: The Chamber of Seven Seas (2)
Jesua smirked, turning toward the glowing portal. "Well, only one way to find out. Let's go see what fresh hell awaits us."
As the trio stepped through the shimmering gateway to the sixth floor, a sudden change in atmosphere enveloped them. They found themselves submerged in a vast, otherworldly underwater world. The weightlessness was immediately noticeable, their movements slightly sluggish but still functional, as though the water itself had been enchanted to allow for a semblance of normality. Each breath felt damp and heavy but miraculously possible, a subtle magic weaving through the environment to sustain them.
The floor stretched endlessly in every direction, bathed in an eerie, ethereal glow that seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once. Massive coral structures, like undersea skyscrapers, towered above and around them, their surfaces alive with an array of vibrant, shifting colors—crimson, gold, azure, and violet. Each branch of coral seemed to pulse faintly as if it were breathing in time with the soft, rhythmic currents that wound their way through the expanse. Tendrils of bioluminescent light spiraled outward from these structures, intertwining to form a web of soft luminescence that stretched into the dark, watery abyss beyond.
Between these coral giants lay open spaces, some vast and tranquil, others cluttered with the scattered remnants of a lost civilization. Ancient temples, their grandeur now cloaked in the mystery of time, stood silently as if guarding secrets of the deep. These ruins were carved from a strange, barnacle-covered stone, their surfaces roughened by centuries of exposure to the relentless ocean currents. Columns and archways, many of them broken or leaning precariously, were etched with faded, cryptic symbols that glowed faintly under the bioluminescent light. Some sections of these temples had collapsed entirely, half-swallowed by the shifting sands that coated the cavern floor like a delicate veil.
The ground beneath their feet was a patchwork of textures, a mixture of soft, shifting sands that stirred with every step, and jagged, barnacle-encrusted stone that threatened to catch on their boots. Here and there, shimmering pools of water seemed to defy the laws of the environment, their glassy surfaces reflecting the flickering lights above like dark, enchanted mirrors. Schools of tiny, luminescent fish darted across the terrain, their collective glow briefly illuminating hidden crevices, sunken statues, and ancient carvings. Among these smaller creatures, larger, more ominous shapes moved at the edges of visibility, their forms distorted by the water but unmistakably alive. They prowled silently, their glowing eyes betraying their predatory intent.
Bioluminescent flora adorned every surface, transforming the underwater landscape into a dreamlike realm. Long, flowing strands of seaweed swayed in the unseen currents, their tips glowing faintly like submerged candles in a sunken cathedral. Clusters of anemones clung to the ruins, their hypnotic tendrils radiating soft, otherworldly hues of blue and green. Coral polyps opened and closed in slow, mesmerizing patterns, releasing faint specks of light that floated upward like tiny stars seeking a new sky. In the distance, the ghostly forms of giant jellyfish-like organisms drifted lazily through the water, their translucent bodies pulsating with vibrant inner light. Each pulse seemed to echo faintly, as if the creatures were silently humming the forgotten songs of this submerged world.
The water itself was an enigmatic presence, both revealing and concealing. Though enchanted to allow the trio to breathe and move semi-normally, its murky depths hinted at the unfathomable mysteries hidden below. The deeper they peered, the darker the water became, until it vanished into impenetrable shadow. This shadow was alive with movement, flickering with hints of swift, deliberate creatures navigating the labyrinth. Occasionally, faintly glowing forms would glide through the ruins, their appearances as brief and elusive as fleeting memories.
Above them, the "ceiling" of this floor was a swirling spectacle of shadow and light, where shafts of illumination filtered down as if from an unseen sun. The faint, haunting melodies of the currents seemed to come from every direction, echoing softly through the labyrinth of coral and ruins. The sound was both calming and unnerving, a reminder of the beauty and danger that coexisted in this alien world.
Sections of the labyrinth seemed almost alive. Sudden surges of water would rush through cracks in the walls, flooding chambers and revealing hidden tunnels. These tunnels, glowing faintly with bioluminescent markers, beckoned with the promise of deeper exploration but warned of their instability. Some pathways would collapse as quickly as they appeared, the shifting sands and falling debris creating fleeting opportunities and dangers.
In the far distance, the faint outline of a colossal temple rose from the darkness, its spires reaching toward the swirling ceiling as though in supplication to some forgotten deity. The temple's facade was intricate, its carvings depicting scenes of an ancient civilization intertwined with sea creatures and mysterious glyphs. Glowing veins of light ran along its structure, pulsing faintly like the heartbeat of the ruins themselves. The temple exuded a magnetic pull, its presence commanding and ominous, promising untold secrets and, undoubtedly, greater perils awaiting the trio within the Sunken Ruins.
The group moved cautiously through the eerily quiet landscape, their footsteps muted by the sand and the strange, weightless drag of the underwater environment. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the currents and the soft rustling of bioluminescent flora swaying in unseen tides. Jesua's hand rested uneasily on the hilt of her blade, her sharp eyes scanning the intricate coral structures and ruined temples for any sign of movement.
"Still can't get used to this," she muttered, her voice carrying oddly through the water. "Breathing underwater. It feels... wrong."
Sylus nodded, his expression tight. "Same. It's unnatural. I keep expecting to choke any second now."
Cyrus, however, moved with a calm assurance that set him apart. His golden eyes, faintly glowing in the aquatic light, scanned their surroundings with an intensity that belied his outward composure. As part leviathan, he could feel every ripple, every faint disturbance in the water. His connection to this environment was instinctual, almost primal. Yet, the complete absence of life set his nerves on edge.
"There's nothing," Cyrus murmured, his voice low and certain. "No fish. No predators. Just plants and ruins. It's like... everything left. Or something drove it away."
Jesua's hand tightened around her sword hilt. "I don't like this. Too quiet."
For thirty tense minutes, they traversed the labyrinthine coral structures and ruins, their movements cautious and deliberate. Each step across the glassy sand sent faint clouds of silt swirling upward, the only signs of disturbance in an otherwise still world. The jagged coral formations and leaning temple spires loomed around them like silent sentinels.
Cyrus abruptly stopped, holding up a hand to signal the others. He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head as if listening to something just out of reach.
"What is it?" Sylus whispered, his voice barely audible.
"There's something... beneath us," Cyrus said, his tone sharp. His feet shifted slightly, and he felt it again—a faint vibration, subtle but unmistakable, emanating from below the sand. His senses flared, the water around him whispering warnings he couldn't ignore.
A sudden rustle in the sand sent a shockwave of tension through the group. Before they could react, the ground beneath them erupted in a spray of silt and shards of obsidian, revealing grotesque, hulking forms crawling out of hidden burrows.
They were half-human, half-crustacean monstrosities, their humanoid torsos fused grotesquely with chitinous, crab-like lower halves. Their limbs ended in sharp, jagged claws that gleamed in the dim light. Their eyes glowed a furious red, radiating an unnatural rage, and their distorted mouths gurgled out guttural snarls as they surged forward. Barnacles and seaweed clung to their malformed bodies, adding to their grotesque appearance.
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Jesua was the first to draw her blade, its edge flashing as she swung at an oncoming attacker. The crab-man dodged with unsettling speed, its claw lashing out in retaliation. She twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the snapping pincer, and countered with a quick upward slash that sent sparks flying as her blade scraped against the creature's armored shell.
Sylus, standing slightly behind, thrust his staff forward, conjuring a burst of searing light that momentarily blinded two of the creatures. As they reeled back, he followed up with a powerful arc of electricity that crackled through the water, stunning one of them long enough for Cyrus to leap forward.
Cyrus, his predatory instincts awakened, met the nearest crab-man head-on. His claws extended from his fingertips, glowing faintly with energy, and he slashed downward in a powerful strike. The creature's carapace cracked under the force, but it retaliated by sweeping its massive claw toward his torso. Cyrus twisted midair, his tail flicking out to deflect the blow, and landed in a crouch, water rippling around him.
"There's more coming!" Sylus shouted, his eyes darting toward additional mounds of shifting sand where more of the creatures began to emerge.
Jesua gritted her teeth, pivoting to deliver a spinning kick to an advancing crab-man's abdomen. The impact sent it staggering back, but it immediately recovered, slashing at her with both claws. She ducked low, her movements fluid, and drove her blade upward into a vulnerable gap in its shell. The creature let out a shrill cry before collapsing into the sand.
The fight quickly descended into chaos, and the group was surrounded by the relentless attackers. Jesua and Cyrus took the front lines, their movements precise and brutal as they worked in tandem. Jesua deflected a claw strike with her sword before stepping aside to give Cyrus an opening. He surged forward, his claws tearing through another crab-man's chest with a decisive, crushing blow.
Sylus stayed at the center, his staff glowing brightly as he cast shield-like barriers to intercept the creatures' lunges. "Keep them off me!" he called out, his free hand weaving intricate symbols into the water. With a burst of magical energy, a wave of force erupted outward, pushing the nearest crab-men back and buying the group a moment's respite.
"They're endless!" Jesua growled, her breaths coming heavy but steady as she parried another strike.
Cyrus snarled, his eyes glowing brighter as his leviathan blood surged. "Then we finish this quickly. Hold your ground!"
