Panda Novel
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!n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
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.
The shockwave struck Stark like a hammer, sending him tumbling. His ears rang, and his equilibrium faltered.
Disoriented, Stark struggled to regain his balance.
"Annoying," he grunted, activating Focus to steady his senses.
His perception sharpened, allowing him to anticipate the Leviathan's movements.
The Leviathan lunged with Shadow Lunge, its massive jaws snapping mere inches from Stark's head.
He twisted and swam out of the way, a trail of crimson energy following his movements.
"Fast for something that size," Stark muttered.
The Leviathan didn't let up, swinging its colossal tail in a Chasm Whip.
The sheer force sent a shockwave through the water, tearing apart the water itself.
"What the fuck?!"
It was the first time Stark was fighting aquatic monsters, and he was currently in their environment, meaning at a massive disadvantage.
Stark darted upward, evading the attack. He retaliated by hurling three Crimson Spears toward its head.
The Leviathan activated Ebon Cloak, its body vanishing into a shroud of darkness. The spears dissipated, their energy consumed by the void.
"Tch, figures," Stark growled.
But before the Leviathan could fully hide, he threw a [Target Set] at it, locking onto the Leviathan's position despite its cloak.
A glowing mark appeared over the beast's body, visible only to him.
"Can't hide from me," Stark said with a smirk.
The Leviathan charged again, but Stark was ready.
He summoned Domi-Chains, the crimson restraints snaking through the water to latch onto the creature's massive frame.
The Leviathan thrashed violently, the chains holding firm for only a moment before snapping under its sheer strength.
The creature unleashed Hydro Frenzy, spinning water blades shooting toward Stark.
He countered with more spears that pulverized the blades. The shockwaves reverberated through the ocean.
This kept going for a while, of Stark just avoiding all attacks or countering, throwing projectiles when possible.
He even used his [Domination Soul] heart to smash it into the Leviathan's body several times.
Taking advantage of a brief opening as he noticed the Leviathan getting tired, Stark summoned the massive [Spear of Judgment], its glowing tip illuminating the abyss.
He hurled it with all his might, the spear striking the Leviathan's underbelly with a thunderous impact.
-24,847,371!
The creature roared in agony, blood billowing into the water as it recoiled.
And then... it stopped moving, it's HP having reached zero.
"Fucking hell..."
Ding!
[You have slain "Leviathan of the Depths", and gained 35,000,000 experience points!]
This wasn't enough to level up, but at least this was done with, and thanks to that thing, Stark was a little more used to fighting in water.
"This is more difficult than I thought," he muttered, resuming his descent toward the portal.
After what felt like another hour of swimming, Stark finally reached the location indicated by the holographic arrow.
The water here was pitch black, the only light coming from his [Multi-Task Watch].
He looked around, searching for the portal, when a faint glow caught his eye.
There, embedded in the seabed, was a swirling vortex of light.
The portal shimmered with hues of blue and gold, its energy radiating out in gentle pulses.
Stark swam closer, the glow illuminating his face as he studied it.
"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.]