Facing the Vortex

Unlike the surrounding azure sea, the center of the vortex was pitch black, as if it had swallowed all light, revealing nothing of what lay beyond.

“I say, we aren’t actually planning to jump in there, are we? Little Shadow, are you sure?” Seeing that the other three remained silent, Po Kong spoke up slowly.

“This... I’m not sure... it’s just a bit too much, no matter how you look at it...” Xia Duo stared blankly at the massive vortex before her, which spanned over a kilometer in diameter, her voice wavering.

It was indeed a vortex, but the diary hadn't mentioned such a terrifying scene! This was taking things a bit too far!

“How about I go down and take a look? Little Crescent, tie me with a strand of seaweed. If something goes wrong, pull me back?”

Seeing Xia Duo’s complete lack of confidence, Po Kong sighed and actually volunteered to go down and investigate.

However, Moen’s response was like a bucket of cold water, dousing his enthusiasm and killing the idea as soon as it arose.

Her enhanced seaweed could only extend a few hundred meters at most, nowhere near the center of the vortex.

If she forcibly spliced multiple strands together, she couldn't guarantee their strength. She couldn't just watch Po Kong take such a risk.

Just then, Starlight, who had been focusing on recovery, suddenly widened his eyes and looked back.

“There’s no time... they’ve caught up. Our only way out now is down!”

Hearing this, everyone whipped their heads around. In the distance, billowing clouds of sand and dust had been kicked up from the seabed. Countless figures with long tails were tumbling and swimming through the silt, closing in on them at extreme speeds.

Starlight didn't even need to count to know that the mermaid army was several times larger than before.

Not only were there numerous burly giant mermaids, but a large portion of the force consisted of various strange sea beasts.

At their current speed, the mermaids would be upon them in less than ten seconds.

Now, even the normally confident Po Kong looked grave. If they didn't jump into the rift, the four of them would surely be swallowed by the locust-like swarm of mermaids.

“It’s a last-ditch effort, then! Let’s risk it!” Xia Duo gritted her teeth, and the three of them exchanged looks.

Through their mental link, Starlight and the others immediately understood her plan.

With a wave of Moen’s hand, a thick strand of seaweed rose from the seabed, nimbly wrapping around their bodies like a long safety rope, binding their waists tightly together.

At the same time, she used every ounce of her strength to cast Nature's Blessing on the four of them and the seaweed. Green light transformed into a bond, firmly linking them together.

“So we’re going down after all? Then I’ll take the lead and clear the way!”

Po Kong tested the strength of the seaweed at his waist, nodded to the others, and leaped toward the massive rift ahead.

Xia Duo followed immediately, plunging into the pitch-black water.

Moen looked worriedly at Starlight, who was currently casting a spell. As if sensing her gaze, Starlight turned and gave her a small smile.

“Go on, I’ll be right behind you.”

“Okay, be careful!”

Seeing Moen leap off the coral reef, Starlight turned to face the mermaid army that was now practically upon them, his expression hardening.

“Taking all of you out might be unrealistic, but just holding you back for a moment won't be a problem!”

In the next instant, all the remaining mana in his body erupted. Under his guidance, a vast expanse of seawater froze into ice, forming a white ice wall that stood like a fortress in the mermaids' path.

A large number of mermaids were instantly pinned beneath the ice wall. While not fatal, it served as a perfect obstacle.

After exhausting himself to cast this spell, Starlight felt as though his body had been hollowed out.

Finding it difficult even to lift a hand, he simply let the current pull the seaweed at his waist taut, dragging him down into the abyss.

...

Inside the massive vortex, Starlight felt an indescribable sense of shock and dread.

It was as if he were surrounded by endless darkness, experiencing the illusion of the world spinning around him every second.

Intense tearing forces felt like invisible giant hands, repeatedly pulling at his body. The roar of crashing water sounded like the bellows of a giant beast in his ears.

Fortunately, with the empowerment of Nature's Blessing, Starlight’s body wasn't torn apart in the meat-grinder-like currents, though his bones still let out creaking groans of protest.

In this chaotic scene, if not for the green glow of the seaweed and the faint silhouettes ahead, he might have lost all sense of where he was.

Perhaps due to his excessive mana consumption, his thoughts began to blur, leaving him teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

Yet, in this extreme situation, Starlight felt his senses being infinitely magnified. The deep, terrifying darkness of the ocean floor seemed to grant him a new realization.

“So, this is darkness? Is despair... the true essence of darkness?”

If Noah were still by his side, he would have surely noticed that under these extreme conditions, Starlight had actually entered a wondrous state.

This state, akin to an epiphany, further enhanced his control over dark elements. If he could maintain it, he would soon fully comprehend the elemental mark left by Taros.

However, having an epiphany in such an environment was also extremely dangerous. Because his consciousness had drifted so deep, he had almost lost control of his physical body, swaying in the water like a piece of tattered cloth.

At a time like this, even a small stone hitting him could cause serious injury.

Fortunately, the terrifying tearing force gradually weakened shortly after. As the vortex dissipated, Starlight slowly broke free from that strange and dangerous state.

As he slowly recovered from the extreme dizziness, he realized he was now inside an underwater channel formed by rushing seawater.

Although the current was still incredibly fast, it was nothing compared to the center of the vortex.

From the movement at his waist, it seemed Moen and the others had noticed his condition and were pulling him forward with all their might.

“Starlight! Are you okay?!” Xia Duo’s voice carried a hint of anxiety.

“Little Star, wake up! We’re safe now!” Po Kong’s voice also came through.

“My Nature's Blessing hasn't been broken... thank goodness. I thought something had happened!” Moen breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest gently.

Before he even reached them, their voices traveled through the mental link.

“I’m fine... just a bit drained, and a little dizzy.”

Starlight forced a smile and gave them a thumbs-up with a hand that had just regained sensation.

Seeing that everyone was safe and sound, the weight on Starlight’s heart finally lifted. Only then did he have the chance to observe his surroundings.