"Let's go," Razeal said, his voice firm as he came to a stop right at the very edge of the separation line. The faint shimmer of the water wall rippled before him like a living veil. "Also, from now on, you both stay behind me. I'll clear the way forward. If something appears ahead, I'll deal with it. The front is mine."

He turned his gaze toward both women. "From the back, that'll be on you two. Can you handle it?"

Maria didn't say anything. Her eyes were steady, her expression calm but focused. She gave a slight nod, ready to take her position without argument.

But Neptunia's brows furrowed sharply. She looked visibly displeased by his sudden command. "Why should you take the front?" she asked, her tone edged with irritation. "I'm the one who knows the direction."

"Because," Razeal said plainly, his voice steady and matter-of-fact, "I'm the strongest one among us. I can deal with anything that comes forward and keep you both safe. As for the direction" he pointed ahead, then looked back at her "you can stay behind me and guide me. You just tell me which way to go, and I'll head that way."

Neptunia frowned harder, her lips tightening. "And who told you you're stronger than me?" she shot back, folding her arms. "What if I'm the stronger one here?" Her tone was sharp, challenging, as she looked him up and down, clearly unimpressed by his confidence.

Razeal's eyes met hers, calm but unwavering. "You aren't stronger than me." He said it simplymm no mockery, no doubt, just flat certainty.

Neptunia's frown deepened. "And how can you say that?" she demanded. "You don't even know what kind of Relica I hold. You can't judge someone's strength just by looking at their face!.. Or can you?" Her voice echoed through the water, bubbles rising between them. She was easygoing by nature, but this this was hitting her pride. His words sounded arrogant, like he was looking down on her.

But Razeal didn't flinch. "If you were scared to cross this ocean alone," he said slowly, his tone turning cool, "then that already means you're either weaker than me.. or afraid. Either way, it makes you unfit to lead from the front. A person who can't face what's ahead alone shouldn't be the first line of defense."

Neptunia blinked, her expression tightening, but Razeal continued calmly.

"I can go through this alone if I need to," he added, his voice carrying confidence rather than arrogance. "The only thing I lack is direction that's what you're for. So don't misunderstand me."

For a moment, silence filled the water between them. The steady sound of the ocean's current surrounded them like a quiet hum. Neptunia's eyes narrowed, her lips parting as if to argue but before she could say anything, Razeal spoke again.

"Look, I'm not looking down on you," he said, his tone softening just slightly. "From your knowledge, I can tell you're not just some ordinary person. You probably have your own stuff. But I'm saying this because I know myself. I am stronger. That's not an insult.. it's just the truth."

He paused, letting his words hang between them before adding, "Don't take it personally. I just have far more experience fighting multiple enemies at once. This kind of fight.. it's what I do."

Neptunia clicked her tongue softly, her tail flicking through the water with annoyance. "Alright then," she said finally, shrugging her shoulders. "Take the lead, whatever. But if you can't handle it in front, it's only going to be embarrassing for you. I've heard a man's pride is very fragile."

Her tone was teasing, sarcastic, and clearly meant to poke at him.

Razeal suddenly stopped mid-motion, turning his head slightly toward her. His gaze sharpened, and a small smirk formed on his face. "Oh?" he said slowly, his tone carrying that dangerous hint of challenge. "Believe me, many have tried before. But not one has ever managed to break this so called 'fragile' pride of mine."

The air ..or rather, the water between them seemed to tighten for a moment, like a small spark of tension had formed.

Neptunia met his gaze for a brief second before scoffing lightly. "Go on then," she said with a half-smile, turning her attention ahead. "We need to go straight for now. There's nothing complicated about the path in this part. The shortest route.. I'll tell you once we reach the Second Sea."

Razeal didn't reply with words. He simply gave a short nod, his expression steady, and without another word, he kicked his legs back and propelled himself forward into the dense blue..

Both Maria and Neptunia followed after him, keeping a respectful distance of three to four feet behind. The soft glow of their hairs faintly illuminated the shifting shapes in the water..

Razeal led without hesitation.

And just like that, they crossed the invisible line of water finally entering the Wild Sea.

The very moment Razeal stepped past the boundary, he felt it. The difference between the Wild Sea and the Third Sea was clear tangible, almost like stepping from one world into another. The water here felt heavier, denser, almost thick enough to weigh on his movements. It was strange. In the Third Sea, the water had felt light.. almost like air compared to this. But now, every motion felt slightly resisted, as if he were swimming through liquid glass.

Still, it wasn't something that could slow them down. For the three of them, the pressure wasn't unbearable.. at least not yet. Compared to what a normal person might feel at these depths, this was nothing.

Razeal kept moving forward, his eyes scanning the dim currents ahead. There wasn't much else that stood out.. no visual changes that could cause a problem. It was quiet, too quiet. The water around them was strangely calm, eerily still.

They swam in silence for quite some time. No monsters appeared. No creatures crossed their path. The deeper they went, the emptier everything seemed to be.

The Wild Sea was supposed to be teeming with beasts and dangers, but so far, it felt… abandoned.

Maybe that was a good thing, Razeal thought. For now, at least.

Behind him, Maria and Neptunia followed quietly. The stillness between them was broken only by the faint rhythm of their movement through the water, the ripples fading behind them in long, soft trails.

After a few minutes, Neptunia glanced sideways toward Maria and whispered, her voice low enough to not echo through the water. "Hey… is he strong?"

Maria turned her head slightly, her long hair drifting in slow motion through the current. She glanced at Razeal, swimming a few meters ahead of them, his form cutting cleanly through the heavy water. For a moment, she hesitated. He didn't seem to be paying attention to their conversation or maybe he was and just didn't care to respond.

Still, she whispered back softly, "He is… very strong. Especially for his age."

Neptunia's expression shifted slightly, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Is he a Relica holder?" she asked quietly.

Maria hesitated again. The question caught her off guard. Her eyes flickered toward Razeal for a brief second. She didn't know what to say. He had never told her what to say if someone asked about that.. and she wasn't sure how much she was allowed to say.. Not that she knows much about this topic.

So

After a moment of silence, she shook her head lightly. "I don't know," she said carefully. "I've never seen him use any Relica."

Neptunia tilted her head, frowning faintly. "Then how do you know he's strong?" she asked, more curious than challenging.

Maria opened her mouth to reply.. but before she could say a single word, Razeal's voice cut through the silence, calm but sharp.

"They're here," he said suddenly. "I can sense thousands of creatures.. and yes, they're very hostile. Every single one of them." His tone was controlled, but there was an edge in his voice now. "They're coming toward us. Fast.. Be ready. Prepare for battle."

Maria and Neptunia instantly straightened, all traces of casual conversation vanishing. The water between them thickened with tension.

"Where?" Neptunia asked immediately, her body tensing as she stopped swimming forward.

"Huh?" Maria echoed, scanning the surrounding water, her sharp eyes flicking in every direction.

Neither of them could see anything.

The ocean stretched endlessly in all directions blue, silent, and empty. No shapes. No movement. Nothing that even looked remotely alive. It was unsettling.

"Calm down," Razeal said quietly, still facing forward. His voice carried a quiet certainty that made both women hesitate. "Wait for it."

They obeyed, staying still.

The truth was, they couldn't sense what he could. The creatures were still far.. far enough to be invisible, their movements blending perfectly into the color of the sea. Even the water itself didn't ripple enough to betray their presence. But to Razeal.. it was clear as day.

He could feel them.

Through his keen hearing and flow scensing.. And

Most of all, his Killing Intent Perception was reacting violently.

His eyes narrowed slightly, a faint red hue flickering deep within them. Before his inner sight, the sea wasn't empty anymore.. it was alive with red.

Thousands of tiny red auras shimmered in the distance like stars in a blood-colored sky, all converging toward their position at terrifying speed. Each dot pulsed faintly, beating like a distant heart.. alive, hungry, and malicious.

Razeal exhaled slowly through his nose. "Hundreds of Thousands," he muttered under his breath. "Too many to count…"

And

Finally, after a minute or so of eerie silence, Maria and Neptunia, who were still uncertain of where the enemies were coming from, narrowed their gazes toward the distant darkness ahead.

At first, there was nothing just water so vast and empty it almost felt endless. But then, faintly, they saw it: movement. A ripple… a vibration in the current. Then another. And soon, their eyes widened as the shapes took form.

From the darkness ahead, a massive swarm of creatures appeared.. thousands of them packed together tightly, moving like a living wall. They surged toward them in a terrifying wave, each shape distinct yet all merging into one monstrous tide. Sharks, serpents, orcas, octopuses, and other grotesque sea beasts all charging forward with primal, bloodthirsty ferocity.

It was chaos pure, unstoppable chaos, rushing at them through the depths.

"How did he sense monsters in water before me?" Neptunia thought, frowning sharply as her heart thudded in disbelief. This shouldn't have been possible.

It didn't make sense, but this wasn't the time to question it. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

"They're too many!" she yelled suddenly, her voice echoing through the dense water as her eyes locked on the incoming wave.

Without hesitation, Neptunia lifted her bow, her movements fluid and fast. She pulled an arrow from her quiver and drew the string back in one clean motion. The bow gleamed faintly with blue energy, a ripple of mana spreading through the water. Her aim was steady, her breathing controlled. Even from this distance at least a full kilometer away her focus didn't waver.

The creatures were getting closer enormous shadows shifting against the dim blue light of the sea.

Maria floated beside her, ready, but she didn't take out any weapon. Her expression was calm, though her eyes stayed fixed on Razeal ahead.

Then, Razeal suddenly came to a stop.

"Maria," he said evenly, turning his head toward her. "Give me a sword."

Maria blinked, slightly startled by the sudden command but didn't question it. Her hand moved instantly as she reached into her storage ring, summoning a fine-looking blade, sleek and glimmering with faint silver light. She handed it to him without a word.

"A sword? In here?" Neptunia blurted out, disbelief clear in her tone. Her brows shot up as she stared at him, almost offended by the absurdity. "Who fights sea creatures with a sword? It's a close.. range weapon! You should be using something long-ranged!" She threw her arms up slightly, frustration clear in her voice. "Was this your grand genius plan?"

To her, it was madness. A sword underwater was impractical.. the water would slow every swing, dull every strike. Unless… unless he had something else. Maybe some Relica that allowed him to overcome that limitation? But she couldn't sense any relica aura on him. Which meant… he was really going to fight physically against thousands of monsters?

Thats insane, she thought, her gaze tightening on him.

Razeal, however, didn't answer her. His expression didn't shift even slightly. "Wait for me here," he said calmly, gripping the sword tightly in his right hand. "This is the best time to take out most of them."

He turned toward the oncoming wave, testing the weapon's balance as he moved his wrist slightly. The blade cut through the water sluggishly at first.. the resistance heavy, tangible. He could feel how much the water slowed his swing.

It would be his first time fighting underwater, and he knew it. But instead of hesitation, a small smirk formed on his lips.

Good experience, he thought. Let's see how this goes.

The swarm of ocean beasts rushed closer, their enormous silhouettes twisting through the deep like a nightmare coming to life.

Razeal's eyes narrowed, and his voice lowered. "Killing Aura."

In an instant, a crimson glow flared around his body. It started from his hand.. a dense, red mist that wrapped around his skin before spreading outward, crawling along the blade he held. Within seconds, the entire sword was coated in that dark, burning aura of red.

The pressure in the water changed. It shifted.

The ocean seemed to still around him, the water trembling faintly. That aura.. heavy, violent, and suffocating spread outward, carrying with it a sense of pure dread.

"What… what is that?" Neptunia whispered, her eyes narrowing. Her instincts screamed danger. The sword, now pulsing with crimson light, radiated something far beyond anything see have seen.. Was that sword an relica? Was she not able to recognise it?

Even Maria, who had seen that aura before, felt a chill crawl up her spine as the familiar red energy grew thicker, darker.

And before Neptunia could even blink..

Razeal disappeared.

"Eh!?"

The sound escaped her before she even realized. She flinched back, her entire body tensing. Her eyes darted around, wide and confused. One moment he was right there, in front of them and the next, he was gone.

"Where?!" she started, but before she could finish her words, a massive shockwave tore through the water.

SLASHHHHHHHHH!!!

The sound echoed like thunder beneath the sea, followed by a deep, booming explosion that sent a violent ripple through the water. The wave hit both women hard, pushing them backward through the water. Neptunia barely managed to brace herself, crossing her arms in front of her face. The pressure stung her skin as the water around her shook violently.

When she opened her eyes again, what she saw froze her blood.

From far ahead.. from where the monstrous swarm had been an enormous explosion of red mist burst outward. The water had turned into a cloud of blood.

Thousands of creatures.. sharks, serpents, orcas were torn apart, their bodies drifting lifelessly in the current. The water turned dark, the blood spreading like a storm of crimson smoke.

A single slash.

Just one slash.

And thousands of creatures in wave were cut down.

Neptunia stared ahead, her grip tightening on her bow. "Just… who is he…" she whispered, her voice almost inaudible.

While Razeal stood amidst the crimson depths, a cold smile twisting across his face. His sword hung raised diagonally, the dark steel glimmering faintly under the faint ocean light. Around him, blood drifted like clouds of smoke, staining the water in deep shades of red. The entire wave of monsters had been pushed back by the sheer force of his slash.

The silence that followed was short-lived.

[+1 Killing point]

[+1 Killing point]

[+1 Killing point]

Hundreds of notifications flashed through his mind in rapid succession, a cascade of mechanical dings echoing in his consciousness. Each one rang like a thrill, like a pulse of satisfaction through his veins. His smirk widened as the count kept climbing hundreds, maybe thousands, all appearing at once.

And then, among the flashing prompts, one particular message expanded in front of his eyes.

[Due to the nature of artificially created and essence evolved entities, such beings are not recognized as true, original lifeforms. Therefore, instead of distributing points as previously done with strength-based differences, deductions and altered calculations will apply.]

[From now on, eliminating any duplicated or replicated being will grant +1 Point, regardless of its strength level.]

[Note: Creatures below Rank C do not qualify as valid targets and will not yield any points.. And it will only be counted till this rank gets completed on next rank it will not yield any point.]

The text lingered for a moment before fading, and Razeal's grin faltered slightly. His brow twitched, a brief flicker of irritation passing across his expression.

"Tch…" He exhaled through his nose, amused despite himself. "Seems reasonable, I guess. Makes sense.. these clones are cheating shit afterall."

He couldn't deny it. If these things were artificially made, then they weren't truly alive. The system's logic was solid. Still, the thought of not getting full credit for the massacre felt mildly annoying.

Even so, the numbers rolling in still brought a certain pleasure. He opened his status window with a thought, his eyes locking onto the one part that mattered most.

[Killing Intent (SSS) – (B): 7,926 / One Billion]

"Now, now… so many points left to go," he muttered under his breath. "Let's see just how many sperms this bastard has created, huh?"

The water rippled faintly around him as his killing aura pulsed stronger, feeding off the thrill. The corner of his lips curled upward.

"It's leveling time," he whispered, voice low but laced with anticipation. Then louder, with a faint, mad edge in his tone "It's leveling time!"

With that, Razeal moved again ..vanishing into a blur of red light.

The water around him erupted.

The next moment, blood exploded once more across the vast blue expanse. Thick clouds of crimson spread like ink in the current, swirling around him as bodies were torn apart in his wake. The force of each strike sent violent waves surging through the water, shaking everything nearby.

[+1 Killing point]

[+1 Killing point]

[+1 Killing point]

The notifications returned, faster and louder now, echoing violently in his head like a rhythm

----

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