Chapter 400 Heading Toward the First Mission's Location, Scuba Suit
Stark stepped into the crisp morning air outside his room, his mind already set on the daunting task ahead.
He had left a brief message for the girls, Lana, Sora, and Lilith, knowing they'd understand when they woke.
The time for hesitation had passed. Only five apostles remained, and Stark had no intention of wasting another second.
"Multi-Task Watch," he said calmly, "send me to the [Domination Association] headquarters."
In a flash of crimson light, the world around him blurred and shifted.
When the light faded, Stark found himself standing in the imposing [Commander's Meeting Room] of the [Domination Association].
The room was vast and circular, with a high domed ceiling inscribed with glowing runes.
At the center stood a grand table made of black stone, around which the commanders were seated.
"We need to check out those things, there seems to be at least four ongoing trials," Ed informed.
"Yeah, and new portals have been discovered too, it's weird, there's been a rise in rift portals lately..." Unity sighed.
"How about we just smash them all," Tia laughed.
"Doesn't matter, send the appropriate teams to the locations, we'll deal with them ourselves if needed," Oliver completed, his voice rough and authoritative.
The moment Stark materialized, the conversation came to a halt. All eyes turned to him.
"Well, look who decided to show up," Ed said with a smirk, leaning back in his chair. "Took you long enough."
"Good to see you too, Ed," Stark replied dryly, stepping closer to the table. "I'm here to let you know, I'm heading out to complete the first mission."
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of Stark's declaration sinking in.
"Oh wow," Tia was the first to react, "So you're actually doing that?"
"...?" Stark titled his head, confused.
"You just lost me 100 bucks kid," Alexis groaned, pulling out his wallets and giving two pieces of paper to Ed and Oliver.
Did they seriously bet about whether he would get cold feet?
"Well, kid, you've got guts. I'll give you that," Ed said, rising from his seat. "But before you go, take this."
Ed walked over to a storage unit embedded in the wall and retrieved something.
When he returned, he handed Stark a sleek, black suit that seemed to shimmer faintly under the light.
"What is it?" Stark asked, holding it up.
A panel appeared from his [Multi-Task Watch], providing a detailed description:
[Submersible Suit]
[Rank: Godly]
[Description: A form-fitting scuba suit that becomes completely invisible once worn. Designed for underwater stealth and extreme conditions. Grants enhanced mobility and durability in aquatic environments.]
Stark raised an eyebrow, then placed the suit into his [Spatial Inventory].
"…Thanks," he said, tilting his head. "But why?"
Ed's grin widened. "You'll see why soon enough. Trust me, you'll be glad you have it."
"I'll take your word for it," Stark muttered, already turning to leave, "I've got work to do."
"Good luck, kid!" Ed called out. "I hope to see you later."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Stark replied, waving dismissively as he made his way to the [Teleportation] room.
Once inside, Stark paused for a moment to open his [Multi-Task Watch].
Navigating to the [Missions] app, he examined the three missions displayed on the screen.
However, when he tried to access the second and third missions, notifications popped up.
[Mission #2]
[Complete the first mission before accessing this one.]
[Mission #3]
[Complete the second mission before accessing this one.]
"Figures," Stark said with a shrug.
He selected the first mission, bringing up its details.
[Mission #1]
[Location: Lampod]
[The Multi-Task Watch will guide you if needed.]
"That'll do," Stark muttered as he closed the panel.
He headed toward the [Teleportation Room], the door closing behind him as the commanders all looked at his back.
"500 bucks that he's not coming back," Alexis shouted, "I want my money!"
"You're on!" Ed grinned.
Back to Stark, he stepped into the Lampod Teleportation Device, a circular platform surrounded by glowing runes.
As he stepped onto the platform, a surge of energy enveloped him, and his surroundings blurred once more.
In an instant, Stark was teleported to the capital city of Lampod.
...
The first thing Stark noticed was the light.
Unlike the bustling metropolis of Fellarburg, Lampod was bathed in a serene, almost ethereal glow.
Its architecture was a blend of modern design and ancient elegance, with crystalline towers reflecting the golden rays of the sun.
The streets were paved with smooth, marble tiles, and the air carried the faint scent of saltwater.
"Not bad," Stark remarked, taking in the view as a holographic arrow appeared above his [Multi-Task Watch], pointing him in the direction he needed to go.
He began to run, his shoes clicking softly against the tiled streets.
Yet despite the vibrant atmosphere, there was an undercurrent of tension. People glanced at him curiously, some even whispering as he passed.
"Hey, wait a damn minute... isn't that [HIM]?!"
"IT IS! TAKE A PICTURE! HOLY SHIT!"
Stark paid them no mind, his focus solely on the glowing arrow guiding him.
As he moved deeper into the city, the surroundings began to change.
The streets grew quieter, and the buildings took on a more abnormal design, with fewer decorations and more functional structures.
Eventually, the city gave way to the coastline.
Stark found himself standing at the edge of a vast, glittering sea.
"Huh," Stark muttered, glancing at the arrow.
To his surprise, it still pointed forward, directly over the water.
He frowned, then heard a familiar ding as a panel appeared from his [Multi-Task Watch].
[Mission #1 Update]:
[The first portal is located underwater, which makes us believe that the rift will happen in the same conditions...]
"Underwater, huh?" Stark said, scratching the back of his head.
He glanced at the ocean, the sunlight glinting off its surface, "Figures."
The message explained why Ed had given him the [Submersible Suit].
He briefly considered equipping it but decided to wait just a little bit.
"Alright, let's get this over with," Stark said, stepping closer to the water.
The holographic arrow continued to guide him, shifting as he walked along the shoreline.
Realizing he had no choice but to swim, Stark reluctantly retrieved the [Submersible Suit] from his [Spatial Inventory].
The suit conformed perfectly to his body the moment he put it on, becoming invisible as if it weren't even there.
To his surprise, it wasn't uncomfortable at all, it felt like a second skin.
"Well, at least it's not annoying," Stark muttered, stretching his arms before stepping into the water.
The moment he began swimming, Stark felt the suit's enhancements kick in.
His movements were smooth and efficient, cutting through the water with ease.
His swimming speed, while not groundbreaking, was still impressively fast.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
For the first several minutes, the swim wasn't too bad.
The gentle rhythm of the waves and the quiet expanse of the ocean offered a rare moment of peace.
But as time dragged on, Stark began to grow impatient.
"Alright, how much farther is this thing?" he muttered, glancing at the holographic arrow from his [Multi-Task Watch].
He kept swimming for what felt like forever, the ocean stretching endlessly in all directions.
After about 30 minutes, with no sign of a portal or any change in the environment, Stark was starting to get frustrated.
Then, the arrow abruptly shifted.
Instead of pointing forward, it turned back.
"Wait, what?" Stark stopped, treading water as he stared at the arrow, it meant that he had just passed it!
The arrow flickered, readjusting before pointing directly downward.
Stark stared at the water beneath him, the endless blue stretching into darkness.
He let out a heavy sigh, realizing what came next.
"...Of course," he grumbled, taking a deep breath. "Here goes nothing."
With that, Stark dove beneath the waves, following the arrow into the depths.