Three days had passed since Lassim and Korro began their journey through the vast underwater coral network.
The depths of the coral network were a mesmerizing world of vibrant colors and teeming with life of every shape and color.
The giant shark they rode moved smoothly through the water, guided by Korro’s expert hand.
The environment grew darker as they ventured further but it was equalized by bioluminescent underwater plant life and sea life. With Lassim’s enhanced vision from his enhanced physique, he was still able to see fairly well with the few light sources present.
On the morning of the third day, as they descended deeper through a particular coral tube that curved downwards, Lassim felt an unfamiliar tremor in the water.
Through the bond tether’s expansion that he was working on with Mari, he was starting to get a better sense of his surroundings from the vibrations in the sea itself. He could feel and predict the movement of things in the surroundings more easily outside of areas his spirit sense couldn’t reach.
It was a double layered effect of both senses boosting and amplifying each other in sending information to Lassim’s brain to process.
He glanced at Korro, who had a look of concentration on his face.
"What’s wrong? Did you feel that too?" Lassim asked, his voice carrying through the water in a series of bubbles.
Korro didn’t respond immediately, his eyes scanning the murky expanse ahead.
Then, his expression hardened. "We’ve got trouble," he muttered. "A Bull Kraken. It’s probably still young given it’s size but still dangerous. It’s a bit larger than our my friend here." He gently stroked the scales of the shark mount in a side to side motion.
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Lassim’s heart began to race with excitement. He had heard of Krakens but not a Bull Kraken. "What do we do?"
"Have you ever fought underwater?" Korro asked, his tone urgent.
Lassim shook his head. "I only learned to breathe underwater less than a week ago. I’ve fought plenty, but not down here."
Korro’s jaw tightened. "Stay close and watch my back. This is going to be rough."
Ahead, the Bull Kraken emerged from the shadows.
The creature was a terrifying marvel of the deep sea. Its inky black skin, almost as dark as the abyss itself, seemed to absorb the faint light that penetrated this far down, rendering it nearly invisible against the backdrop of the ocean. Only the light from the now scattering bioluminescent creatures gave it away.
Its body was a mass of powerful, undulating tentacles, each lined with rows of razor-sharp suction cups that glinted menacingly. The tentacles writhed and twisted with a life of their own, capable of ensnaring and slicing through anything that dared to approach.
The Bull Kraken’s eyes, large and gleaming with a cold, predatory intelligence, were set deep within its massive head. They glowed with an eerie, bioluminescent green, cutting through the darkness like twin beacons.
Its maw on the underside of its head was filled with rows of jagged teeth that opened and closed rhythmically, revealing the sheer power it had.
Spiny, plate-like protrusions ran along the length of its body, giving it an almost armored appearance, while its sheer size and presence exuded a primal, raw strength that sent a tingle down Lassim’s spine. It was not a threat, but he felt it might become one in the future.
Korro summoned his spirit weapon, a formidable harpoon, and then raised his hand skyward. A constellation burst into existence above his head, illuminating the dark waters.
The collection of stars seemed to create an image. It took the shape of a slender, needle-like fish with sharp fins that appeared designed for speed and precision.
The sight of the constellation filled Lassim with awe. He had seen such displays before, but never with such clarity. This was actually his first time witnessing a Spirit Ascension cultivator releasing his innate technique since reaching his current Spirit Transformation stage.
It appeared that his enhanced senses now allowed him to perceive the intricate details of Korro’s constellation. He still wondered what this gathering of stars entailed and how it was made, but he knew it was one of the tell-tale signs of a Spirit Ascension cultivator.
The presence of the constellation amplified Korro’s power. With Lassim’s enhanced senses he could tell more about the changes that took place in Korro’s body. Korro seemed to become one with the water, moving with a fluid grace that defied the ocean’s resistance.
He charged at the Bull Kraken, his harpoon a blur as he struck repeatedly at the beast’s tough hide.
Each thrust was precise and powerful, but the Kraken’s hide was thick, the plates absorbing much of the impact.
The shark then rushed forward and joined the fray in sync with Korro’s attacks, its massive jaws snapping at the Kraken’s tentacles.
However, the beast was not easily subdued. Several tentacles immediately wrapped around the shark’s head, the razors on their suction cups biting into its flesh, drawing blood.
Seeing the shark in distress, Korro’s eyes blazed with fury. "Lassim, sorry bud but I need your help! Do anything you are able to to help distract it while I attack its eyes!!!" he shouted.
Lassim nodded, feeling the familiar surge of power as he released his full cultivation with his divine pressure spreading out in a tidal rush outwards.
He’d gotten more proficient at keeping it contained to his body even during meditation these days.
The water around them seemed to still, the marine life frozen in fear. Even the Bull Kraken, Korro, and the shark froze, suddenly overwhelmed by the immense pressure.
Not wanting to harm his comrades with his lightning elemental energy, Lassim opted for a different approach.
He gripped his halberd tightly, channeling his mana into the runes along the shaft and blade edge of his weapon. He then executed a series of [Slices], the blades of water mana shooting invisibly through the ocean with lethal precision.
The Bull Kraken’s tentacles, which had been gripping the shark, were severed in an instant with no resistance to Lassim’s overpowered strength that was equivalent enough to injure a Spirit Transcendent Yeti hide.
The Bull Kraken screeched in agony, the severed limbs floating away in the water.
Overwhelmed with fear of its tiny opponent that instilled an innate and primal level of inferiority in it, it fled as quickly as it could with no retaliation. It disappeared into the depths to recover and possibly find easier prey.
As the tension dissipated with Lassim relaxing his cultivation again, Korro quickly turned his attention to the injured shark.
He placed his hands on its bleeding wounds, summoning a water mana around his hands. A soft blue glow emanated from his palms, the energy seeping into the shark’s wounds and accelerating its natural healing process at a visible rate to the naked eye.
"It’ll have scars, but they’ll add character," Korro said, patting the shark affectionately. He then guided it to consume the severed tentacles, which would help it recover more quickly.
Turning to Lassim, Korro’s expression was one of cautious curiosity. "Now, You… You’re not just any Spirit Transformation warrior, are you? With strength like that, what does it even matter if you’ve never fought underwater before? You really buried the lede there, friend. Your power… it felt ancient and ridiculously overwhelming. Are you actually some senior in disguise?
If you are, I promise to not reveal your secret to others. I can even swear a heavenly oath upon my cultivation if you wish!"
Lassim sighed, feeling the intense suspicion. "No, I’m just… me. I’ve been through a lot, and I’m a big special. The things I’ve been through so far have given me strength. I am indeed in the Spirit Transformation stage and I don’t even know how to progress into the Spirit Ascension stage yet. My current cultivation technique and my knowledge is severely lacking.
I hope to solve it once I reach the Lightning Sect after our journey together."
Korro studied him for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "I see. Well, whatever your story is, I’m glad you’re on our side. Things could have gone horribly wrong without your help, so I’m glad you were here and able to help out. Thank you." He offered a hand, which Lassim shook gratefully.
The shark finished its meal and its wounds were still healing but not profusely bleeding anymore. The duo hopped back into the shark’s back and reattached their harnesses before continuing in relative silence.
The curve of the coral network tube eventually began to rise back upwards after it passed through a new depth for Lassim. The environment grew more vibrant with each passing kilometer, the coral glowing with a soft bioluminescence that lit their path.
Hours passed as they navigated the labyrinthine coral structures. Korro’s experience and innate sense of direction were invaluable, guiding them through the maze of tunnels and caverns of the network.
Along the way, they encountered more various sea creatures, most of which kept their distance.
This behavior was a return to what the previous three days had been like before the Bull kraken attack. Most sea beast babies wanted to just grow carefully and avoid a predator as threatening as the giant shark that moved through their territory.