Death... and me

3064  Only Starting

It didn't take long for the waters in the Heavenly Marine Tunnel to grow chaotic. The elements soon began to run rampant, and the Spiritual Energy blasted from different sides, making it difficulty to absorb it normally.

Yuan moved slowly. Even with all those phenomenons happening around, he could still resist it all. This was nothing like it would be further down the Heavenly Marine Tunnel. What he was really scared of was the Spatial Rifts, which were basically invisible until they appeared out of nowhere.

*wrummmmm...*

Suddenly, a powerful maelstrom appeared just a few meters away from Yuan, pulling all the water into its center as a terrifying destructive power raged at its center. "Shit!"

Yuan immediately used all his Spiritual Energy to try to swim away from it, but he was too close, being easily dragged into it. He couldn't help but curse. He had just entered the Tunnel, and he was about to die for the first Spatial Rift that he got in contact with.

"Oh! No wonder you guys are so scared of this place. That is indeed not a joke," Yet, Rean, on Yuan's back, didn't seem the least bit concerned. His Black Star appeared, his hair changed into a mix of Black and White Colors, and another Red Lightning took form. This one different from Roan's Dark Red Lightning. It was much, much brighter, even brighter than Foliana's original one.

'Red Life Style, Red Line!'

Rean didn't hold back, sending a powerful attack that contained his Sword Aura, Sky Energy, and the best of his Elements. He, too, was able to create his own version of the Red Lightning, which further increased his strength.

*kabrum!*

A perfect red line of Red Lightning, made of the merged four elements into a new one, pierced right into the center of the Maelstrom. The power carried behind an all-out attack from Rean was very close to the Peak of the Elemental Transformation Realm now that the Red Lightning was added to the mix.

*Boom!*

The new Red Lightning reacted with the Spatial Powers of the Spatial Rift, causing a huge explosion of Spiritual Energy and Elements.

"Wooooaaa! What the hell?!!!"

Yuan was scared out of his mind. The explosion blasted him into the distance like a cannonball. *Bang!*

He hit the wall a moment later, creating a small crater around him. He coughed out blood. He quickly tried to get out of there, and it was just in time to see another Spatial Rift appearing, followed by the maelstrom around it. "Fuck!"

Yet, from behind that Spatial Rift and Maelstrom, another bright red color appeared. The power of Red Lightning took form once again, and another attack was delivered into the center of the maelstrom, where the Spatial Rift was.

*Kabrum!*

*Boom!*

*arrrghhh...*

Yuan felt like crying. The explosions were hurting his body even more. His only salvation was the fact that it was better than falling inside the Spatial Rift. That was definitely a death sentence.

"Well, it seems like it is enough," Rean suddenly said.

When Yuan looked over, Rean was right there on his side, seemingly free of any injuries. "How are you not hurt at all?"

Rean glanced at him. "The better question is, why are you hurt? Couldn't you simply protect yourself with your Spiritual Energy? Those explosions weren't anything that dangerous."

Yuan looked at the two areas where the Spatial Rifts were destroyed. "Not dangerous? Are you kidding? Any of those two explosions could have killed me! But... I admit that if you hadn't acted, I would have fallen into the Spatial Rift. Thank you."

Rean didn't feel like he did anything that impressive. "Alright. Let's not stay here for much longer and continue forward."

"I don't know if I can continue," Yuan shook his head. He came out of the crater on the wall, and several deep injuries cause his blood to flow out nonstop. "I will need some time to recover, so we better go back for today and try again tomorrow. The Heavenly Marine Tunnel has many different paths, so we can just take a random one and hope we don't bump into the other guys."

"Hum?" Rean turned to him. "Oh! There is no need."

'Life Style, Instant Recovery!'

Luan's injuries, both internal and external, all healed in a matter of seconds. Yuan even felt he was better now than when he arrived in the Tunnel. "This..."

"I'm very good at healing," Rean commented and swam to Yuan's back again. "Anyway, let's keep going."

Yuan glanced at Rean, finding it hard to believe he could do so many things. "I won't even bother to ask..."

Rean faintly smiled. "That's a smart decision."

Not too far behind, following other paths, other groups had also entered the Heavenly Marine Tunnel. One of them, Denyu's group, just escaped another Spatial Rift as well. "Well done, Tinta," he commented to a Stage Six Sea Demon Beast on his side.

Tinta nodded, feeling relieved. "Fortunately, my senses are truly good for this place. Let's not hurry too much, or I might not feel when a new maelstrom began to form due to the Spatial Rifts."

"No can do," Denyu immediately refused. He looked behind and pulled three Sea Demon Beasts. "The three of you go ahead. Do not slow down, or I will end your life. Tinta, with them ahead, it shouldn't be a problem to continue downward fast, right?"

Tinta sighed but nodded. "Yes. With them ahead, it will be easier. But we need to be careful nonetheless. Be ready to move in the same direction as me immediately."

Denyu was satisfied. "That's what I wanted to hear." As for the three Sea Demon Beasts that he ordered just now, they would probably die to the Spatial Rifts. It didn't matter to him, though. Having them ahead and Tinta on his side, he was confident in his chances of surviving.

Tinta was from a race that was attuned to the ocean water more than any other in this Saramina Sea, the prismatic jellyfish. When a Spatial Rift begins to form a maelstrom, Tinta would be able to feel the changes in the currents of water and pinpoint the location of the Spatial Rift ahead of time. That was the only reason he was here now. Denyu wasn't the only one to bring some methods to survive the Heavenly Marine Tunnel. The other participants also brought their subordinates and treasures. It was all valid as long as they acquired the Jade First. This search was only starting.

And as always, any Golden Tickets and Stones are welcome. ;)