Death... and me

3069  Lack of Energy

Back in the Heavenly Marine Tunnel, Rean took out his Black Star Sword and concentrated. Roan's memories of his understanding quickly flooded Rean's mind, and the Sword Aura around Reans Sword began to disappear slowly. Finally, it was completely gone, just like Diliy's.

'So that's how it is...' Rean commented through their soul connection. 'It is as if we are returning to the beginning and taking a new path from there. However, the road ahead is a lot clear, allowing us to make up for the flaws of all stages of Weapon Intent to this point.'

Roan agreed. 'Indeed. That's why there is no more Sword Aura. Still, we are not at Stage Five. We are close, but something is missing. That's where Diliy has been stuck all this time.'

'Just the fact we got to this point is already great news. If just we had the chance to see a Stage Five Weapon Intent...' Rean couldn't help but wonder.

'Anyway,' Roan continued. 'I will now train with Diliy. With two Sword Practitioners having the same level of Sword Intent, we might gain something from it. You just try to get that jade or whatever.'

Rean nodded. 'Very well.'

Suddenly, Rean felt another Spatial Rift forming. He quickly shot ahead from Yuan's back as his sword filled with Red Lightning. Not only that but his now more advanced Stage Four of Sword Intent was also added to the mix.

*Boom!*

The Spatial Rift barely had time to open before it was hit right in the middle. The powers quickly made it collapse, and the explosion happened. It was even faster than before. Yuan got used to that. So when Rean moved, he already turned in the opposite direction and took distance. By the time the explosion occurred, he was far enough for it to not effect his body. "The number of Spatial Rifts is increasing a lot. We already found three in just thirty or so minutes."

Rean returned to Yuan's back, not minding it. "Then we should move faster. I don't wanna stay in this place longer than necessary. Oh, and one more thing. When I move to get rid of the Spatial Rifts, I want you to stay by my side from now on."

"This..." Yuan was tkane aback. "But if I stay that close to you, I will probably suffer damage from the explosions."

"It is better than dying," Rean explained. "You are moving away from me every time I leave to destroy one. And the Spatial Rifts are increasing, just like you mentioned. If one appears by your side when I'm out dealing with another one, will you be able to escape on your own?"

Yuan quickly shook his head. "I will stay by your side regardless of what it might cost."

Another few days went by since then. By now, even special abilities or treasures were having a hard time coping with the Spatial Rifts. Most of the groups lost at least half of their member. Not that the participants cared since those extra Sea Demon Beasts were indeed brought to serve as cannon fodder. Of course, as there were many interconnected paths in the Heavenly Marine Tunnel, these groups would bump into each other once in a while. If a group saw that the other seemed weaker, they would attack, trying to eliminate the competition. The Spatial Rifts were definitely responsible for most deaths, but quite a few came from struggles between the participants instead.

Rean and Yuan knew nothing about that, though. First, they didn't have to wait for anyone. They weren't afraid of charged ahead since Rean could detect the Spatial Rifts faster than anyone else. Above all, they didn't need to flee from the Spatial Rifts. Rean could get rid of them, which saved a lot of time.

"Yuan, how long does it usually take to reach the area with the Heavenly Marine Jades?" Rean asked, starting to feel apprehensive. By now, he was bumping into a Spatial Rift every one or two minutes. The ones he could ignore and avoid, he did, but many of them were blocking their path, so he had to deal with them.

"Usually, the expeditions during the calm take two weeks at the very least. It isn't anything out of the norm for the expeditions to take over a month as well," Yuan explained.

"The calm?" Rean hasn't heard that one yet.

Yuan quickly explained. "The safe times. You know it. The next time the Sea Demon Beasts were supposed to enter the Tunnels was supposed to be in six years. We call those safer times the 'calm' for this reason."

"Oh..." Rean nodded. However, they had spent a few days only so far. Even if they were fast, that still meant they were probably around halfway down to the Marine Jade Deposits. "What can we expect to find down here other than the Spatial Rifts?"

"I don't know," Yuan answered. "As I mentioned, this place is considered to be of extreme importance for our Saramina Sea Demon Palace. Because of that, there isn't much information outside about what you can find at the depths."

Rean understood why Drefin chose this place. "This is definitely part of Drefin's plan. He knows things will turn even worse and wants to see who can get through it all."

"I don't doubt it," Yuan agreed with him. "The Palace Master has never been known for taking it easy on anyone when he gives them a task. He said he doesn't expect even ten percent to survive, and I'm pretty sure he meant it."

One of the problems with the tunnel was the lack of light. Rean had to keep a sphere of Light Element by his side all the time to illuminate the surroundings. Fortunately, he was very good with it, so his light truly pierced the darkness and went quite far.

However, it changed in the next day. Blue rocks began to appear in their sight, illuminating the paths on their own. Rean and Yuan didn't nd that, of course. Instead, it was the change in the environment that caught their attention. "No... Spiritual Energy?"