What was that?! Colm's head snapped to the side as he scanned the murky distance. I could've sworn I heard something… or felt the rush of a current.

His eyes flicked back to the massive shark trapped beneath the crumbling ruins. A shiver ran down his spine as he commanded his phantoms to stay close, his gaze sweeping the vast, open water.

Alright… this is starting to feel terrifying. Definitely getting some thalassophobia vibes. The thought of endless, sinking depths with unknown creatures lurking below made his stomach twist.

I have no idea what's down here with me. Or even how strong they are. Hopefully, whatever's in here is closer to the Ice Elemental's level… and not the Frost Wyrm.

Another rush of water surged past him—this time from behind. He spun around fast, eyes darting across the dark expanse.

And then he saw them.

Two small, eerie blue glows flickered in the distance.

Well… shit. There's something there.

His mind raced as he issued a silent command—Robin and Carver, on offense for any immediate threats. As for Lance, Colm made a quick decision. Based on how effortlessly the phantoms moved through water, Lance would be the one to drag him out of harm's way.

That'll be way better than me trying to dodge myself. I'm probably slow as shit compared to whatever's out here.

His focus locked onto the glowing orbs, watching them grow larger—no, closer. And then, a shadow loomed behind them.

Colm swallowed hard.

It's big.

Not as massive as… whatever that was. His eyes flicked toward the crushed fin beneath the ruins before returning to the approaching figure.

If I had to guess… maybe around the size of an orca?

But as it glided toward him, its form still unclear in the depths, a more pressing thought clawed its way into his mind.

What… what is it?

Treading in place, he steadied himself as Robin and Carver held position in front of him, while Lance remained at his side—ready to pull him away at a moment's notice.

Cryoshark (Level ???)

Colm gulped at the Analyze result. Well, it is a shark… but it's different.

Its head was sleek and angular, reminiscent of a great white, but far more jagged, its structure rough and uneven. Ice crystals jutted out along its body, forming sharp, irregular ridges at every curve.

His eyes locked onto its mouth—large, lined with jagged teeth that glistened even in the dim water. Illuminated by the soft glow of its body, the sheer size and sharpness of its fangs sent a shudder down his spine.

He scanned downward, following the length of the creature until he reached its tail—long, curved, almost like a sickle blade.

Another gulp. The connection between this one and the crushed fin beneath the ruins became painfully clear. They're the same species… except this one is much smaller. A cold realization settled over him. I guess I'm fortunate in that regard.

The creature was only a dozen feet away now, closing in with eerie precision.

What unsettled him most weren't the teeth or the size—it was the eyes. Two glowing orbs piercing through the water, boring into him. The longer he stared, the deeper the unease seeped into his bones. A chill crawled up his spine, making him shudder.

Well, no point in waiting. He steadied himself. I'm guessing it's going to attack me. But to make sure…

Carver. He sent a mental command to the Phantom Warrior. Go forward, see if it's aggressive. Be on guard.

Carver nodded and glided effortlessly through the water. Watching his phantom move, Colm couldn't help but feel a twinge of awe. Their movements underwater were incredible—fluid, graceful, almost mesmerizing.

Within moments, Carver reached the Cryoshark and halted, waiting to see its response.

The creature didn't stop. If anything, its glowing eyes darkened, and then—without hesitation—it surged forward.

That settles it.

The Cryoshark lunged, mouth wide, revealing rows of rough, jagged teeth.

Shit.

Carver reacted instantly, veering to the side with ease as Robin nocked an arrow and fired.

The moment the arrow was released, Colm felt the displacement in the water—the sheer force behind it. The projectile cut through the depths with staggering speed, barreling toward the Cryoshark.

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Then, impact.

A loud, bone-rattling crack echoed through the water as the spectral arrow pierced clean through the Cryoshark, shattering a portion of its icy form.

Colm's eyes widened. Holy shit.

He turned his gaze to Robin, who was already nocking another arrow.

My phantoms are deadly in the water.

Colm's gaze flicked back to Carver and the Cryoshark just as the Phantom Warrior's spectral blade pulsed with a familiar blue glow—the telltale sign of Ripping Cleave.

Hmm… how does tidal energy work underwater?

Fixating on Carver's movements, he watched as the phantom glided to the side, effortlessly dodging the Cryoshark's snapping jaws. In a single, fluid motion, Carver's glowing blade carved through the creature, bisecting it cleanly.

Colm's eyes widened as he observed the water itself react—the force of the strike displaced it unnaturally, sending a shockwave outward. A surge of pressure pulsed through the water, strong enough that even at this distance, Colm felt himself pushed back slightly.

Interesting… it seems amplified. The way it displaces water makes the force ripple outward, affecting everything around it.

His gaze settled on the two halves of the Cryoshark, icy blue blood leaking into the water as the remains drifted downward.

Cryoshark (Level 134) Defeated. Experience Gained. Bonus experience granted for defeating a higher level enemy.

The battle had ended so quickly, it almost didn't feel real.

Colm floated in the silent depths, still reeling from what had just happened. The aftermath of the fight settled around him like a fading ripple in still water. There had been no drawn-out struggle, no desperate maneuvers—just a single exchange, swift and precise. One arrow, one blade, and the Cryoshark was dead.

He drifted slightly, watching as the severed remains of the creature sank toward the ruins below, its pale blue blood swirling and dissolving into the water like frost melting into the wind. The water soon stilled, reclaiming its eerie calm.

His gaze dropped to the shattered remnants of the structures beneath him. Time had long since consumed whatever once stood here, leaving behind only fragments—broken pillars, jagged walls, and collapsed archways, half-buried in the seafloor. Some pieces remained eerily intact, standing against time's erosion, while others were reduced to little more than rubble.

This can't all just be the fountain ruins. His eyes traced the skeletal remains of the structures. There are too many buildings for that. There had to have been something else here… and I just happened to find a way in.

Yet, despite the ruins, there were no signs of life. No coral, no clusters of deep-sea flora reclaiming the stone. Even the Cryoshark's lifeless body, now resting at the base of a collapsed column, seemed out of place. There should have been scavengers, small fish—something—moving in to take advantage of the fresh kill.

But nothing stirred.

The quiet felt unnatural.

His phantoms lingered around him, their spectral forms softly shimmering in the dim water. Robin remained steady, bow at the ready, while Carver and Lance hovered with patient vigilance, their weapons lowered but still prepared for another fight.

This place… something happened here.

A part of him wanted to explore deeper, to uncover the history buried beneath these ruins. But another part whispered caution. The ruins were too quiet, too undisturbed, as if they had been left untouched for far longer than they should have.

Colm inhaled slowly, then nearly let out a sharp breath—but caught himself, clamping his mouth shut before instinct could betray him to an unnecessary choking fit. His focus snapped back to the Cryoshark.

What the hell? His eyes flicked over the corpse. That thing was higher level than the Frost Wyrm outside the Echo… but this was way easier.

His eyes darted between the split creature, his phantoms, and the remains.

What tier was it?

Swimming forward, he approached the fallen Cryoshark, hoping to find an ice core—or something similar—to gain more insight.

As he neared, his gaze locked onto the upper half of the shark. Even in death, its eyes still glowed, their eerie luminance standing out against the darkened depths.

Maybe that's them? Can I still Analyze them if they're part of the shark?

A second thought struck him. And why did no one tell me about this thing? His eyes darted toward the distance where the other Cryoshark still loomed. I don't think it's a rare spawn if there's another one.

He quickly activated Analyze on the glowing orbs.

Cryoshark Eye (Tier 4)

Holy shit. It's a Tier 4. And yet, it went down insanely easily.

At this level, it should have at least 80 more stat points than me… His fingers twitched. Are my phantoms really that lethal in the water because of my attunement?

Dazed by the revelation, he sent a command to Carver. Cut out the creature's eyes.

The Phantom Warrior obeyed instantly. Within moments, Carver held two severed Cryoshark Eyes, their eerie glow undiminished.

Colm took them without hesitation, quickly storing them in his inventory.

There is a trade-off.

Colm floated in place, his movements sluggish compared to the effortless glide of his phantoms. I am much less agile in the water and more vulnerable… but does their lethality make up for it?

His eyes fell once more on the Cryoshark's remains, now resting on the ground. The two halves lay in eerie stillness, their icy blue blood seeping into the water like frozen mist.

I think so.

The Cryoshark had been destroyed in seconds. It barely had the chance to react. His phantoms weren't just an advantage down here—they were dominant.

He glanced upward toward the distant surface, obscured by the deep's murky gloom. What's my next move?

His first instinct was to resurface, but hesitation crept in. I think… I might stay here. If there are more Cryosharks, I could grind them for experience.

It made sense. The fight had been absurdly fast. If he could repeat that, leveling here could be more efficient than anything he'd done before. A high-level creature that can barely put up a fight against my phantoms? It was a golden opportunity.

Then, his eyes widened.

Wait… I didn't check all the notifications.

Phantom Warrior (Tier 2, Level 3) has increased to Phantom Warrior (Tier 2, Level 4).

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

Level Up! +5 Stat Points Available.

New class abilities available.

Colm's eyes widened. Finally. It's been a while.

A grin spread across his face as anticipation bubbled within him. Let's see what we've got in store.

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