Chapter 529: The Hidden Island Beneath the Sea
"We’re here."
Marcus couldn’t keep the excitement out of his voice. The submerged island rising before them had to be the Lion’s Tomb, the mysterious Crescent Island recorded in Silas’s notes.
Every instinct told him to start exploring immediately, but unfortunately yesterday’s battle with the Twin-Winged Thunder Wyrm had exhausted most of his abilities. Several of his strongest skills were still on cooldown, and all of his Sea Demon Souls had already been used for the day. There was no point rushing in at less than full strength.
After a brief discussion, everyone logged out to rest, agreeing to continue once the game’s daily reset refreshed their skills.
The following day, they logged back in at the same location, and before moving, Marcus looked at everyone and spoke seriously.
"Stay close to me, and don’t wander off. Until we’ve scouted the island properly and figured out what kinds of monsters we’re dealing with, don’t attack anything unless I give the word."
The girls nodded without complaint. After everything they had experienced together, they trusted Marcus’s judgment completely whenever they entered unfamiliar territory.
Visibility underwater wasn’t much different from being on land. Everything inside their field of vision appeared perfectly clear, while objects farther away gradually faded into a hazy blur.
As they swam closer, the enormous hidden island resting a thousand meters beneath the sea slowly emerged from the darkness.
According to Silas’s map, Crescent Island was concealed by some sort of ancient formation. If someone simply dove straight down from the ocean surface, they could search forever without finding it. Only by following the exact route used by the white sea lions, the same path Silas had carefully mapped, would the island reveal itself.
Silas had spent three full days investigating the place, hoping to uncover the secret behind the formation. In the end, however, he had found nothing and reluctantly moved on, leaving behind meticulous notes and route markers for anyone who came after him.
Looking down from the island’s highest point, Marcus finally saw the island’s true shape. Just as Silas had described, Crescent Island rose from the abyss like an enormous crescent moon standing upright on its edge. Its scale was difficult to comprehend. Even the narrowest section near the top would take well over an hour to circle on foot.
"It really does look like a crescent moon," Amber said in amazement.
Jade studied it for another moment before tilting her head. "...Actually, from this angle it reminds me more of a giant stone bow standing upright in the middle of the ocean."
Marcus looked again, and the comparison fit surprisingly well.
"I was thinking the same thing," he admitted. "There are legends about treasures that support heaven and earth. If something like that exists... who’s to say this isn’t a Divine Artifact? Maybe it’s some enormous bow that’s anchoring part of the ocean."
The girls examined the island again, and the longer they looked, the harder it became to dismiss the idea.
"It really does resemble one," Lily murmured.
Amber’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then let’s swim all the way down and see what’s underneath!"
Marcus smiled at her enthusiasm. If it were possible, that was exactly what he wanted to do. An island hidden beneath an ancient formation almost certainly held secrets worth uncovering, and he was just as curious as everyone else. Still, curiosity couldn’t replace common sense. He shook his head. "Silas already tried."
Everyone turned toward him. "He followed the formation downward to investigate. The deeper he went, the stronger the monsters became. At around eight thousand meters, he started encountering Level 80 sea monsters. Beyond twenty thousand meters, there were even Level 90 monsters."
Marcus paused before continuing. "The pressure was even worse. By the time he’d descended only another few hundred meters, his overall attributes had already been cut in half. Fighting Level 90 monsters in that condition was impossible, so he had no choice but to retreat."
He looked back toward the island’s highest point. "For now, we’re only strong enough to explore the upper section. The monsters here are Level 60 Blue-Eyed Sea Lions. Everything deeper will have to wait until we’re stronger."
No one argued. After hearing Silas’s experience, they all understood that forcing their way deeper would only end badly.
Following the route marked on Silas’s map, they headed toward the entrance to the Lion’s Tomb.
Their priority wasn’t uncovering every mystery hidden beneath the sea; it was completing the quest.
The entrance lay at the very peak of Crescent Island, where only Level 60 Blue-Eyed Sea Lions roamed. If the monsters had been much stronger, recovering the treasure map connected to A Rich Man’s Wish would have been impossible for them at their current level.
Before long, they reached the summit. At close range, the island looked even older than they had imagined.
The rocky surface was blanketed with thick moss, swaying seaweed, and countless underwater plants, many of them over a meter tall. Together they formed something that resembled a miniature underwater forest. Brightly colored fish drifted peacefully between the plants, adding an unexpected sense of tranquility to the silent depths.
That peaceful atmosphere ended only a short distance away. About ten meters farther down the slope, several Blue-Eyed Sea Lions came into view.
At first glance, they resembled ordinary lions, but their bodies had clearly adapted to life beneath the sea. Long, silky white fur flowed around them with every movement, undulating gently in the currents, while their striking blue eyes shone with an almost unnatural brilliance.
Marcus immediately became focused. Without wasting time, he summoned all of his pets and refreshed every available buff. Once everything was ready, he dispatched a Sea Demon Soul to lure a single sea lion away from the group.
As the monster approached, Marcus activated Insight.
—
Blue-Eyed Sea Lion
Level: 60
Health: 42,000
Description: A pride of wild lions accidentally consumed a rare Blue-Eyed Fish, triggering a gradual evolution that allowed them to survive both on land and beneath the sea.
Talents:
Flowing Fur (Passive): Its soft, flowing white fur reduces incoming damage by 10%. Its attacks also have a 10% chance to inflict Stun.
Skills:
Feral Pounce (Active): Leaps at enemies within ten meters, striking twice in quick succession. Each attack has a 10% chance to inflict a bleeding effect that deals 100 damage per second for five seconds. This skill is most effective while on land.
—