Chapter 811: Pasture [2]

SPLASH!

I went under before I could take another breath.

The wall slipped away from my hand, and the light above me disappeared as something pulled me deeper.

Everything went quiet.

’Uhkh!’

Only a dull pressure against my ears as bubbles escaped past my lips. My hand immediately moved towards the mouthpiece hanging beneath my chin.

Before I could reach it, something caught the hose.

My harness tightened across my chest.

Then a sharp tug pulled me sideways.

"....!?"

Bubbles rushed past my shoulder.

I caught the mouthpiece and brought it closer, only to stop when I saw the torn end of the hose floating in front of me.

’Right.’

That was no longer useful.

I let it go and looked down.

The light on my harness caught my knee, then part of my other leg. Beyond that, there was nothing.

I couldn’t even see the thing holding my ankle.

But I could feel it.

Fingers.

Long enough that they seemed to overlap as they tightened around my leg.

I kicked once, but the grip didn’t loosen. If anything, I started moving down faster.

My hand rose towards my sunglasses. Perhaps if I adjusted the light and looked properly, I could—

No.

What even was the point? The sunglasses weren’t goggles. There was no way I could see much even if I tried.

With a heavy heart, I had no choice but to activate one of my nodes.

[Trait Transfer]

To be specific, the Voidwalker’s new skill.

"...!?"

A sharp tingling spread through my body the moment I activated the node.

It started behind my eyes before running down my neck and into my arms. My fingers stiffened as something like electricity passed through them.

For a moment, the pain almost made me open my mouth.

I just barely managed to keep it closed.

The grip around my ankle loosened.

Then it passed straight through.

’Good.’

I pulled my leg up, letting the effect fade before kicking towards the surface.

My feet caught the water again as I moved up. A few bubbles passed my face, and I followed them upwards, keeping my arms close before reaching forward.

But just as I was about to reach the surface, something caught my wrist.

".....!"

My body stopped.

The pull came from the side this time as my shoulder twisted, dragging me away from the surface.

I turned my light towards my hand, just barely managing to catch sight of the pale fingers wrapped around my wrist.

’Fucking...!’

Another tug pulled my shoulder farther back.

I activated the skill again.

Pain shot through my arm.

The fingers slipped through my wrist, and I immediately pulled it against my chest before kicking upwards.

I couldn’t keep the skill active.

Not with the way my nodes were reacting.

A short moment was enough to get free.

After that, I needed to swim.

Unfortunately, whatever was down here seemed quite interested in stopping me from doing that.

Something brushed the sole of my boot.

I pulled my knee up.

Then my other ankle.

I kept moving before it could properly grab me.

The surface was somewhere above, but I could hardly see it. The only thing that helped me know the distance were the bubbles coming out of my mouth.

But the more came out, the less air my lungs had.

My chest started hurting as a result.

I pressed my lips together and reached forward, pulling through the water as hard as I could. My injured wrist throbbed with every movement. Even though it had been a while, it still hurt from the mimic’s actions.

’A little farther.’

A faint light flickered above me.

For an instant, I saw the surface.

It wasn’t far.

Several strokes, perhaps.

I reached towards it as something moved beneath my stomach. When I looked down, I saw my something pale reaching towards me, its fingers spreading as it came closer.

I twisted away.

The fingertips scraped against my jacket.

Then caught it.

My chest jerked downwards.

"....!"

A few more bubbles escaped my mouth.

I watched them rise past my face.

My nodes stirred again.

This time, the pain spread across my back, making my legs straighten before I could stop them. Without hesitation, I let go of the jacket as I rushed back up.

My body wanted to breathe.

Something like a lump tightened beneath my ribs.

Then another.

I swallowed against it and kept my mouth closed.

’Not yet. Not... yet!’

My arms felt heavier.

Each stroke took a little longer than the last, and the light above me kept moving in and out of view.

I reached up.

My fingers broke through the surface.

Splash!

Then something passed in front of my face.

A hand.

Its fingers curved towards my throat.

I saw them clearly this time.

The thumb pressed beneath my jaw just as I activated the skill.

[Trait Transfer].

The hand passed through my neck as I kicked upward.

I kicked.

Splash!

"Ha...!"

My head broke the surface.

I tried to breathe and coughed instead, water running from my nose as I pushed my chin higher.

"Ha... Haa..."

The next breath went in.

So did the one after.

Neither felt like enough.

I kept moving my legs, afraid that stopping would let something close around them again.

The gallery was off to my left.

Farther away than before.

Whatever pulled me down also dragged me away from the wall.

I looked towards the water beside me.

Then I pressed my hand against the surface.

My fifth node stirred.

"Kh..."

Pain tightened around my skull.

My hand almost went under before I managed to hold it steady.

A small red spot appeared.

[Markings 3/4]

I stared at the notification.

Then at the water.

The darkness remained, and something splashed a short distance behind me.

"Shit."

Still one more.

I looked towards the far side of the hall.

There was a stretch of water beyond the drifting lane ropes that I was yet to reach.

I started turning towards it.

Something closed around my calf.

Splash!

My face went under again.

This time, I was ready.

I activated [Trait Transfer] before the grip could pull me any deeper, twisted my leg free, and pushed myself back up.

SPLASH!

A sharp pain ran through my jaw.

I tried to ignore it.

There wasn’t time to sit here and feel sorry for myself.

I took a breath and started swimming.

I kept my movements short.

One arm forward.

Then the other.

My light dipped beneath the surface, showing the water directly in front of me before rising again. Every time it went under, I expected to see something reaching back.

At first, there was nothing.

Then something cold brushed my shin.

I kicked harder.

Just barely, I managed to slip away from them.

’Keep moving.’

A loose lane rope floated across my path.

I pushed it aside, only for the floats to catch against my shoulder. For a moment, I felt something pull on my shirt.

My heart jumped, but when I turned, I realised it was just the rope.

"....."

I shoved it away and continued.

The wall ahead appeared beneath a brief flicker from the ceiling.

Flick!

It was closer.

I could make i?!!

Something cold closed around my boot. Then another pressed against the back of my knee.

Instantly, my leg folded.

I went sideways, my mouth dipping into the water before I could lift it.

"Kh—!"

I activated the skill.

The pain came immediately.

My vision blurred, and for a moment, I couldn’t tell whether the hands were still there.

I pulled my leg forward, and kicked the water again, pushing myself forward.

The wall was still ahead.

’A little closer!’

My fingers shook as I drew closer towards it.

My head was starting to feel heavy.

The pressure behind my eyes no longer something that I could ignore. It grew worse with time, each node activation making the pain almost unbearable.

But I was close!

I only needed one more.

Just one marking!

Splash!

Something splashed behind my shoulder.

I didn’t look.

Another sound came from my right.

Splash!

Closer.

I kept swimming.

The wall appeared again.

I reached forward, and this time, my fingers touched the tiles.

My fingers barely stayed straight as I reached towards the fifth node.

"....!?!"

The pain took away the remaining air inside of my lungs as a new notification appeared before me.

[Markings 4/4]

At the same time, fingers slipped beneath the back of my collar, dragging me down.

Splash!

Not before I managed to mutter one last word.

"Pasture."