Colm quickly rolled out of the way—or at least, he tried to. What he imagined was a graceful maneuver was more of a frantic, stumbling push as he swam to the side, desperately avoiding the collapsing pillars.

Shit, shit, shit! His arms flailed as the ruins crashed down around him, a deafening boom echoing through the freezing water.

Gotta get out of here. Panic surged through him. I don't know how long I can hold my breath. His thoughts spiraled frantically—until he paused.

Wait… come to think of it, I actually feel fine. A flicker of confusion cut through the panic as he patted himself down. Yeah… I don't feel lightheaded, no burning in my lungs.

As the dust settled and the last remnants of the ruins finally came to rest, the water cleared around him. There was no immediate threat. No more debris threatening to crush him.

The water's cold, but not unbearable. And I don't feel like I'm out of breath… Why is that? His mind raced as a realization struck.

Could it be… my Morvyn racials? He stroked his chin, the thought lingering in his mind—just as an old, familiar notification surfaced before him.

Lifebound Sustenance - Through their innate connection to life energy, the Morvyn are sustained without the need for food, water, or sleep. The constant flow of life energy fuels their bodies, providing all the nourishment and rest they require functioning at peak condition.

Twilight Sight - Linked to the cycle of life and death, Morvyn possess the ability to pierce through even the deepest shadows. In total darkness, their vision becomes as clear as daylight, allowing them to see the world in crisp detail. When active, their eyes glow with an ethereal blue light.

It doesn't necessarily say anything about breathing… Colm mused, rereading the notification. But it does say it provides all the nourishment I need to function. And I don't feel my chest tightening or anything.

He recalled countless times swimming in the ocean back on Earth, pushing his limits to see how long he could hold his breath. The familiar tightness, the burning sensation of running out of air—it wasn't there. I'm not feeling any of that.

His eyes scanned his surroundings as the last of the dust settled. And I can see perfectly fine… He glanced around, the murky water no longer an obstacle. I'm guessing Twilight Sight is putting in work here.

His gaze fell on the ruined debris where he had once stood—or rather, floated. He looked up at the crumbling ruins, a shiver running down his spine. That would've squashed me like a bug.

How deep is this fountain? He tilted his head back, trying to spot the surface, but it was nowhere in sight. It's like I was pulled into some hidden depth… eerie. His arms drifted with the current as he gently kicked his feet to stay in place, surveying his surroundings.

Knew there was something here. He stifled a chuckle. Should've been more alert about it. His brow furrowed as another thought surfaced. Where are my phantoms? He turned in place, searching, but there was no sign of them.

They're probably trying to reach me… or maybe they can't? Unease crept in. I don't want to be down here alone if something happens.

Without hesitation, he activated Phantom Warrior and Phantom Spearman, deciding against summoning Phantom Archer for now.

Hopefully, Robin finds their way here. He sent a thought-command. Sorry—I'm not sure how effective arrows would be underwater. Make your way toward us if you can.

Moments later, Carver and Lance materialized before him, their spectral forms shimmering beneath the water. A radiant glow pulsed from them, reflecting in the rippling currents.

Wow… Colm watched in awe. It's as if that tidal energy somehow resonates with them down here…

Hey, he projected to his phantoms. As you can see, we're in a bit of a bind. Might as well explore while we're down here. Think you two can scout the area?

The two nodded, silently drifting away to cover more ground. A sense of comfort washed over him. Yeah… having them on guard is great.

His mind drifted, thoughts slipping back to his life on Earth. I was never a fighter. A sigh escaped him. I'm relying heavily on the phantoms for pretty much… everything.

The moment of reflection shattered as water rushed into his mouth, sending him into a fit of coughing. His body curled inward as he choked.

Shit—bad idea! He clamped his lips shut, forcing himself to calm down. Okay… that seals it. I definitely don't have any oxygen left. He took a slow, steady breath through his nose—nothing.

And yet… I still feel fine.

His eyes flicked back to Carver and Lance. Are they… faster? He watched as their forms didn't swim but instead glided effortlessly through the water. How does that work?

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Thinking back to Tidal Attunement, the answer clicked. That has to be it, doesn't it? I don't see how else it would work. There was something natural about the way they moved—almost as if they were more at home in the water.

If that's the case… maybe Robin would be fine down here too.

With a quick thought, he activated Phantom Archer, and Robin materialized beside him.

Hey, he nodded toward the phantom. Sorry for not summoning you earlier—wasn't sure how effective arrows would be underwater. He waved his arms, treading in place. Mind firing one off into the distance?

Robin gave a curt nod, forming a spectral arrow before smoothly nocking it onto the bow. Colm's eyes followed the glowing projectile, mesmerized by the way the water seemed to ripple and radiate around it.

The arrow was loosed—and immediately, a surge of water pulsed outward as it shot forward. The sheer speed of it was staggering, slicing through the depths far faster than any arrow Colm had ever seen before.

Holy shit. His head turned, tracking it as far as he could before it vanished into the distance.

Nodding. Okay… you're even deadlier in the water. Duly noted.

Robin, however, didn't seem entirely satisfied. There was a slight shift in their stance, the faintest tension in their form—a silent but unmistakable message.

Colm smirked. Ah… you're upset I glossed over you earlier, huh?

He raised his hands in surrender, sending a thought. I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know how effective you'd be down here.

Robin crossed their arms, nodding in exaggerated disapproval—clearly unimpressed by the excuse.

Colm chuckled, lowering his hands. Won't happen again.

After a long pause, Robin finally nodded—this time with a hint of smug satisfaction as if saying, That's right.

Colm couldn't help but smirk.

It's pretty eerie down here, Colm thought as he swam along the bottom. There's really not much besides… well, all these ruins.

He approached another large outcropping of crumbled stone resting on the seabed. His phantoms stayed close, their presence reassuring, ready to intervene if anything happened.

Colm ran his hand along the smooth stone surface, feeling the texture shift until his fingers brushed against a jagged edge where it had broken off from whatever structure it once belonged to.

Nothing. He exhaled through his nose. I mean, I could just swim up… His gaze lifted toward what he assumed was the surface, though it remained obscured in the dim water.

But I feel like there's something else here… something I'm missing. He turned, scanning his surroundings.

It's massive down here. There has to be something. He floated in place, letting the thought settle.

Then, realization struck.

Wait a damn minute. His face twisted in disbelief. Damn it, Luke—I specifically said no water levels! And where the hell am I now?! He flailed his arms as if Luke could somehow hear his frustration. I'm surrounded by water!

Despite his irritation, his gaze flicked to his phantoms. Seeing them gliding effortlessly in the water, a new thought surfaced. Actually… this makes me want to try that other one.

Breaking from his thoughts, he swam toward another massive slab of stone, partially buried in the ruins a short distance away.

Maybe this one has something… He shrugged, closing the distance.

As he neared, his movement faltered. A subtle shift in the water caught his eye.

What…? His brows furrowed. What is that?

The water around the stone was darker—subtly different from the rest. Not just a shadow, but something else entirely.

It almost looks like… blood?

Despite the warning bells in his mind, his hand instinctively reached out, though he was still too far to make contact.

Then, his gaze drifted lower—toward where the massive stone lay.

His breath caught in his throat.

Something jutted out from beneath the rubble.

Is… is that a fin?

His eyes narrowed, focusing on the shape. The longer he stared, the more certain he became.

That's definitely a fin.

And it was massive.

The thought solidified in his mind.

Oh shit.

A shiver ran down his spine just as he heard a faint swish in the distance.

* * *

"SHARK!" the voice called out, sharp with alarm.

Colm chuckled, pressing a finger into his ear to rub away the irritation from the sudden shout. "You don't need to yell, I'm right here," he laughed. He gestured around them. "Besides, we're literally the only ones here for miles."

The voice beside him hesitated before responding, quieter this time. "Ah… sorry. I just—I don't think I've ever seen one up close like this before."

Colm nodded. "Yeah… it's been a while for me too," he muttered, squatting down near the shoreline. His eyes focused on the small shark flailing on the wet sand.

"It's just a little one, but it somehow managed to get stuck here," he said, scanning the tide. "Best guess? It got trapped in the rocks during high tide, and when the water started receding, it didn't have anywhere to go." He sighed.

The figure beside him nodded, though there was still a hint of panic in her voice. "What should we do?"

Colm chuckled, waving a hand to calm her. "No worries, it's not a big deal." He crouched closer to the stranded shark. "It's harmless," he assured her, placing a gentle hand on its slick body. "Just needs a little help."

Lowering himself further, he slid both arms beneath the small creature and carefully scooped it up from the sand.

"See? Just gotta be careful," he said, adjusting his grip while making sure to keep clear of its thrashing jaws. The shark twisted in his hold, but he kept a firm grasp as he stepped into the water, navigating the uneven rocks beneath his feet.

"Just a little more," he muttered, carefully maneuvering his steps to avoid slipping. The tide lapped at his legs as he reached deeper waters, nearing the edge of the rocky shoreline.

"Here you go, little guy," he said, lowering the shark into the water. The moment it was submerged, he quickly pulled his arms back to avoid any mishaps.

He turned, grinning as he called over his shoulder, "See? All good!" He waved before making his way back to shore.

The moment he reached land, the figure beside him threw up her arms and yelled, "My hero!" before wrapping him in an enthusiastic hug.

They both laughed as they tumbled backward into the sand, the sound of the waves rolling in behind them.

* * *

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