Chapter 2377: Chapter 2378: Parting the Sea

Within a few seconds, a gray-black, eel-like creature swam near them.

From a distance, it really had the flavor of an eel, moving with elegance and grace, only magnified a hundred times larger; but as it approached, the crowd’s brows slightly furrowed.

Its body had the elegant streamlined shape of an eel, but its head featured an enormous, almost unclosable round mouth, surrounded by numerous tentacles and sharp teeth, with a polyp at the end resembling a chrysanthemum’s closure.

This giant round mouth could evoke a sense of eerie psychological pollution, even in those without a tendency for trypophobia.

"Ugh, so ugly," Dangross muttered under his breath, voicing the thoughts of the crowd.

"There are plenty of creatures uglier than it in the ocean depths," Nis casually remarked, then turned to Angel, "The form of this sea beast isn’t very suitable for combat. From my careful observation just now, there are slight signs of darkened corrosion near its round mouth as if eroded by toxins. It’s likely a sea beast that uses poison in combat."

Nis: "Prepare in advance, and we should be able to deal with it quickly. Shall we go in?"

Before Angel could respond, Reynaud quickly interjected, "The sea beasts pastured here were all released by the laboratory as eyes. What they see is what the laboratory sees. If they get hurt, the person controlling the sea beasts in the lab will realize immediately."

Therefore, in Reynaud’s view, since illusion techniques could obscure the sea creatures’ vision, it was best not to disturb these sea beasts to avoid alarming the laboratory.

"What difference does it make? Even if we break in, the lab can’t stop us..." Although Nis mumbled this, his approach was practical—handling this sea beast had low returns and high risks, so there was indeed no need. Thus, he didn’t insist on dealing with the sea beast.

Angel had no intention of engaging in meaningless battles unless the sea beast discovered them.

However, as Nis mentioned, this sea beast’s level of ability wasn’t high enough to be aware of the illusion technique’s presence. Even if it had the instincts of a beast sensing something amiss in this direction, it roamed nearby for a long time without any discoveries.

Shortly after, it swayed its long body and disappeared from sight.

After it left, they continued forward.

With the concealment of the illusion technique, as long as they didn’t make major disturbances, there wouldn’t be any problems.

As they ventured deeper, the surrounding seawater noticeably turned murkier, and the water currents became increasingly unstable; hidden whirlpools appeared occasionally, and sea creatures were scarce, making these whirlpools the greatest source of danger.

Moreover, these whirlpools often appeared out of nowhere, making it almost impossible to avoid them in advance. They had to stay alert and evade them quickly or disrupt the whirlpools’ formation.

In just a few minutes of travel, they disrupted more than a dozen whirlpools of varying sizes.

One of the whirlpools was so powerful that it tore a hole in Angel’s force field. Fortunately, Nis immediately used the water structure method to disrupt the essence of the whirlpool and stabilize the force field in time.

However, after Nis disrupted the whirlpool, some consequences arose. The whirlpool’s instability led to internal energy accumulation, which resulted in an explosion on the seabed ten seconds later.

The water explosion wasn’t loud, but according to Reynaud, the lab would quickly notice issues if sea creatures were attracted by the sound.

To prevent this situation, Angel intended to create a relatively natural illusionary realm nearby to confuse the sea creatures.

However, they waited for a long time without any sea creatures approaching.

It seemed the explosion sound failed to attract the sea creatures’ attention.

"This is strange. Last time we came, although we deliberately avoided the sea creatures’ routes, we indeed saw many traces of them along the way. But this time, why are the sea creatures so sparse?" It was Nausicaa who spoke, then looked at Reynaud to seek his opinion.

Reynaud also showed confusion and doubt in his eyes, "Something seems off; the number of sea creatures has seemingly decreased a lot. What’s going on?"

"Perhaps something changed on the laboratory’s side," Nis suggested, "We’ll find out if we take a look."

Angel nodded in agreement since the water explosion hadn’t drawn any sea creatures; they decided not to waste time and head straight to the lab.

As for the disturbances Nis mentioned, all of them had suspicions that perhaps it was the doing of Ferro. Unaware that sea creatures were the lab’s eyes, it’s possible Ferro roasted them with fire when he barged in.

They continued forward, and perhaps thanks to Reynaud in their group, they didn’t encounter any more whirlpools on their lucky journey.

They arrived smoothly at the: Division of the Sea Wall.

According to Reynaud, the center of the Division of the Sea Wall was where the laboratory was located.

The Division of the Sea Wall refers literally to the division of the sea...

Seeing the scene before them, Angel’s exterior remained calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

For although the laboratory’s location was said to be underwater, there was no water around it!

Just like the mythical story Jon had told of "Moses parting the sea," in front of them, beyond a constantly shifting water wall, lay an empty seabed plain with no water, only a faint mist in the open space!

Despite the water wall’s constant pressure, the ocean pressure threatened to invade this temporarily created seabed void at any moment. Yet, whenever it reached a critical point, the laboratory would isolate and remove the surrounding water currents to maintain this extensive division of the sea.

And each time they isolated the water wall, it occurred at noon. This was why the ocean currents fluctuated at noon, because... the division of the sea began.

"Every now and then the sea is divided? Why is your lab expending so much effort?" Nis looked at Reynaud puzzled, "With this time and ability, creating an entirely underwater lab would be enough."

An underwater laboratory sounds daunting due to the pressure, but there are numerous methods to avoid it. Otherwise, why do mermaid cities exist, why is there a place like Roydes’ underwater city? Moreover, the headquarters of Song of the Deep Sea is also under the sea.

Thus, constructing a purely underwater lab is quite feasible, even if constructed using the most costly method. For sure, it’d be less expensive than periodically drawing water to part the sea.

Reynaud shook his head, "I don’t know what the lab executives are thinking either. Ever since I came to the lab, dividing the sea has been a norm."

At first, Reynaud might have been puzzled, but after seeing it often, even the most incredible crafts become commonplace, and the urge to investigate fades.

Nis shrugged, mumbling, "No reason to part the sea unless there’s an internal reason."

Angel also agreed with Nis’s thought. However, since they hadn’t even seen the lab’s entrance yet, speculating wouldn’t yield much.

Instead of focusing on these details now, let’s go to the laboratory and slowly find the solution to the problem.

"Will we be discovered by the people in the laboratory when we pass through the water wall?" Angel looked at Reynaud.

"No." Reynaud hesitated after speaking and added, "Shouldn’t be."

Nis: "Shouldn’t be? Do you have an accurate answer, will we be or not?"

Reynaud was silent for a moment, then said, "Before, I always thought we wouldn’t, but the last time Nausicaa and I went to the laboratory, we were discovered by the backhand left by number 17. At the time, I thought it was an accident, but thinking about it later, before returning to the laboratory, I made a lot of preparations in advance. I entered the laboratory only during the guard shift after most people had left. But even so, we were discovered. Now thinking about it, it seems somewhat intriguing."

"Perhaps, we were discovered even before we entered the laboratory. It’s just that I don’t know which part went wrong."

Reynaud doesn’t have conclusive evidence, just a guess.

But thinking carefully, Reynaud’s guess seems not without basis.

Such a secretive organization — let’s call it an organization for now — has no presence in the Southern Domain. Even if various forces were mobilized to search, only a few peripheral clues would be found: two apprentices once witnessed an inconsequential chase.

If this organization were weak, it wouldn’t matter, as no one pays attention to it, and whether or not it hides itself is irrelevant. But based on the current information obtained, their strength is not weak, with high-level combat power even surpassing most wizard families; even apprentices can compare to a supernova.

Such an organization being so obscure in the Southern Domain is certainly because they consciously chose to be secretive.

Since they chose to walk the secretive path, the laboratory itself would also maintain a high degree of confidentiality to avoid disclosure of its existence. In such circumstances, perhaps every step has some protective mechanism.

Including stepping into the water wall.

"If entering through the water wall might be exposed, what should we do now?" Nausicaa asked.

"Even if the water wall might truly expose us, it doesn’t matter. In the end, we will certainly be discovered anyway, so there’s no need to care about these water walls." Nis said.

Though he said so, when facing unknown opponents and unknown battles, whoever reveals fewer trump cards, the scales of victory would tilt more towards them. And with the laboratory monitoring, their existence would likely be anticipated by the other side in advance. Angel and Nis are quite famous in the Southern Domain, and if there’s a targeted preparation against them, they would certainly be at a disadvantage in a battle.

Nis: "Then let’s not go through the water wall and directly emerge from the sea surface, entering from above."

Nis’s proposal is one option. However, if the laboratory is determined to conduct comprehensive prevention, there should be corresponding monitoring mechanisms for entering from above too.

Nevertheless, they still have to enter the other side of the water wall, so since both might be monitored, they should choose the option with a lesser possibility.

Angel ultimately decided to enter from above. At that time, he would alter the illusionary realm to a nightmare illusion, reducing presence, blurring and distorting direct external perception.

This way, it can maximally avoid detection.

But, just as Angel and the others began to rise, wanting to leave the water’s surface, a surge of chaotic energy transmitted from behind the water wall.

This complex energy was not targeted at them, but it seemed something happened behind the water wall, causing energy leakage.

Everyone paused their steps.

Nis sensed the energy passing through the water wall: "This is primordial magic, I feel the rhythm of water, and..."

Dangross suddenly interjected: "I feel the strength of flames, such powerful control; it feels as though the inner core of the flame is constantly compressing, ready to explode at any moment, but is restrained by a rule-like force. Even the reverberations haven’t completely lost control."

What Dangross said is complex, but it essentially conveys one meaning: there might be a fire-element wizard inside.

Life forms like Dangross, when releasing flames, it is indiscriminate attacks; after all, it won’t harm themselves, so they don’t understand restraint.

Only a fire-element wizard, or a fire life form that has been taught, would start learning restraint to avoid harming both enemy and self.

When mentioning fire-element wizards... Angel and Nis exchanged glances, a name came to mind.

Could the inside commotion be caused by the "Fire-stepper" Ferro?

This energy leakage, could it mean a battle took place inside?

If it truly is a battle, one side being Ferro, then the other side might be someone controlling water elemental powers.

"What now?" Nis looked at Angel. Though it’s just speculation, Ferro’s possibility is high.

"Let’s wait a bit more." Angel whispered.

Nis frowned, thinking Angel hesitated and wanted confirmation that it’s Ferro before taking action. But if it truly is Ferro inside, and if they wait and something happens to Ferro because of the delay, that wouldn’t be good.

Nis was about to say something when Angel spoke: "Alright, let’s go in."

Nis: "...Huh?"

Wasn’t there a talk of waiting, why did the wait end in less than two seconds?

Angel didn’t explain much and directly reached out his hand upon sensing a new wave of energy reverberations. Some concealed energy flowed in his palm.

Amidst a flickering light, an archaic door appeared before them.

"I’ve maximized the containment of leaking energy from The Gate of Void. Let’s go in now, while the energy inside is chaotic."

The reason Angel wanted to wait wasn’t to confirm if it was Ferro inside, but to wait for the inner chaotic energies and energy leakage.

Only amidst chaotic energy can The Gate of Void’s energy not be easily detected by those inside.

This greatly benefits their concealment.

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