am-books Chapter 401 Into the Depths, Entering the Rift
Chapter 401 Into the Depths, Entering the Rift
Stark stared at the arrow that now pointed down into the depths of the ocean.
The holographic marker hovering above his [Multi-Task Watch] seemed almost mocking, as if daring him to take the plunge.
"Great..."
Resigned, Stark dove into the depths of the ocean without wasting a single second, the shimmering sunlight above quickly fading as he descended.
His strokes were strong and steady, aided by the [Submersible Suit], which allowed him to glide through the water effortlessly.
The suit's seamless integration with his body made him feel almost weightless, and the resistance of the water was barely noticeable.
Despite the efficiency of his movements, the journey was long and eerily quiet.
The further down he went, the darker and colder it became.
Stark's keen senses stayed on high alert, scanning the murky waters around him.
He wasn't foolish enough to assume he'd be alone down here.
Minutes turned into what felt like hours.
The vast underwater expanse seemed endless, the occasional flicker of marine life breaking the monotony.
Stark's [Multi-Task Watch] guided him deeper and deeper, the holographic arrow unwavering in its direction.
Then, without warning, his instincts flared.
A shadow moved in the distance, growing larger as it approached.
Stark stopped swimming and hovered in place, narrowing his eyes at the figure emerging from the gloom.
The creature was enormous, at least twenty feet long, with a sleek, eel-like body covered in bioluminescent patterns that pulsed with an ominous glow.
Its gaping maw was lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, and its fins flared out like jagged blades.
"...Damn."
[Name: Leviathan of the Depths]
[Level: 750]
[HP: 40,000,000/40,000,000]
[Strength: 54,839]
[Stamina: 47,821]
[Speed: 66,924]
[Defense: 35,517]
[Skills: Abyssal Roar, Abyssal Leviathan, The Depths of the Sea, Shadow Lunge, Chasm Wisp, Ebon Cloak, Hydro Frenzy, Concentrated Beam, Blue Fire...]
The monster let out a guttural roar, the sound distorted by the water but still loud enough to rattle Stark's nerves.
It surged toward him with terrifying speed, its glowing patterns intensifying as it closed the distance.
Stark didn't hesitate.
Summoning his crimson aura, he activated Aura Smash, materializing five glowing fists around him.
They hovered briefly before rocketing toward the creature with incredible force.
The first fist collided with the monster's head, sending a shockwave rippling through the water.
-3,082,184!
The second and third struck its sides, creating deep gashes in its tough, scaly hide.
-2,649,059! -2,855,663!
The [Double Damage] passive from the [Magus] class was actually incredible, and with it, even such a monster wouldn't even put a dent on him, well, if it was on land at least.
The creature writhed in pain, but it wasn't finished yet. With a powerful flick of its tail, it darted around Stark, trying to flank him.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Stark, and its maw opened to release a deafening Abyssal Roar.
"Well, this is it," he said, reaching out cautiously.
His fingers brushed against the portal's surface, and a message appeared in front of him.
[Access Granted: Chosen One Detected.]
"Great," Stark muttered, stepping closer.
But before he could fully enter, the water around him began to churn violently.
Stark instinctively looked around, heightening his awareness.
The current grew stronger, and a massive figure began to materialize in front of the portal.
Emerging from the swirling waters was a colossal monster, easily three times the size of the one Stark had faced earlier.
Its body was humanoid but grotesque, covered in barnacles and seaweed.
Two glowing eyes stared down at him with an intensity that made the water feel even heavier.
In its hands, it held two massive tridents, their tips crackling with an eerie energy.
Stark tensed, preparing for another battle, but the creature made no move to attack.
Instead, it spoke, its voice a deep rumble that seemed to echo through the water.
"Seems like Lord Godless was right, he truly came..." it laughed.
Stark blinked, "You are..."
He immediately understood.
The creature didn't respond.
Instead, it raised one of its tridents and pointed it toward the portal.
A sudden surge of energy pulled Stark forward, as if an invisible hand were dragging him closer.
"Wait, what are you," Stark began, but before he could finish, the creature thrust its other trident toward him.
He wanted to avoid, but he still hadn't fully mastered [Aquatic Battles].
"GARGH-"
It pierced his stomach, and then pulled him directly into the portal, the vortex swallowing him whole.
Stark felt his body being pulled through a tunnel of light, the sensation disorienting and almost overwhelming.
He gritted his teeth, trying to regain control, but the energy was too strong.
After what felt like an eternity, the light faded, and Stark found himself standing in an entirely new environment.
The first thing he noticed was the air, heavy and humid, with the faint scent of salt and vegetation.
He wasn't in water anymore by the way, but on actual land.
He looked around, taking in his surroundings.
Looking around, Stark took in his surroundings.
He stood in a vast underwater cavern, its jagged walls adorned with luminous crystals that cast a gentle, otherworldly glow.
Streaks of moisture dripped from the rocky ceiling, forming shallow pools that rippled softly at his feet.
At the far end of the cavern, a wide tunnel descended back into water.
Stark sighed at the sight, realizing he wasn't done swimming just yet.
Behind him, the portal shimmered faintly for a moment before vanishing completely, leaving him alone in the cavern.
"Great," he muttered, brushing himself off. "What now?"
His [Multi-Task Watch] beeped, a new message appearing on the screen.
[User has been detected inside of the rift!]
[Mission Updated: Eliminate the Apostle.]