Kane's plunge into the dark sea was like falling into a physical void. The black water, so terrifying from the surface, was even more horrifying from within. It was a suffocating, lightless expanse where sound was muffled and every sense screamed of a wrongness that defied comprehension. The chill was immediate and bone-deep, a cold that didn't just numb the skin but seemed to seep into his very soul.
He felt the presence of the gargantuan creature before he saw it, a malevolent mind thread that pulsed with predatory hunger. In the murk, he saw the monstrous tentacles, thick as ancient trees, swirling around him, a chaotic maelstrom of destruction. Kane's instincts, honed by countless battles, screamed at him. He twisted his body, a desperate maneuver to avoid the first crushing blow. The tentacle passed just inches from his head, the sheer force of its movement creating a powerful current that buffeted him. He barely managed to orient himself before another one lashed out, and then another.
He dodged each strike by the narrowest of margins, his movements a frantic dance of survival. 'Lucky, I got a memory to breathe underwater,' he thought, a detached sense of irony cutting through his panic. His father's journals, filled with esoteric knowledge and forgotten abilities, had been a lifeline. This particular one, a trick to draw oxygen directly from the water, was a godsend. Without it, he would have drowned a dozen times over.
The immense tentacles were not the only threat. The abyss teemed with various other sea creatures, each one of varying ranks, their large, pulsating mind threads a kaleidoscope of hostile intent. But Kane's focus remained on the one that held Nephis. He saw her, a silver flash in the gloom, being dragged deeper and deeper. She was trying to fight back, her sword a streak of defiant light as she hacked at the bulbous flesh that bound her. The sight of her desperate struggle ignited a cold fury in Kane.
Immediately, he summoned his own sword, the blade of his Aspect, and began to cut through the oppressive darkness toward her. He had to sever the tentacles in his path, a task that was far from easy. The creature's hide was incredibly strong, its flesh dense and resistant to his blade. He was forced to use his Aspect to increase his body strength, a costly and draining effort in the hostile environment. Every swing was a monumental struggle, the water's resistance slowing his movements, the creature's sheer power absorbing the force of his blows.
Meanwhile, Nephis was trying to cut down the tentacles that were starting to coil and cover her completely, restricting her movements. Her frantic slashes were becoming less effective as the creature tightened its hold. Kane pushed himself to the limit, his arms screaming in protest, his lungs burning. He dodged and cut, a whirlwind of desperate motion, and finally, miraculously, he reached Nephis. He was barely holding on himself. His body was covered in deep cuts from the razor-sharp scales of smaller creatures and the abrasive friction of the tentacles. Blood started to flow freely, a crimson cloud in the inky water.
Nephis saw him. She didn't react with a word or a sound, but her eyes, usually so cold and composed, held a flicker of... something. A fleeting look that wasn't relief, but a deep, silent recognition. Her frown deepened, and she renewed her assault on the tentacles, her motions becoming more coordinated with his. Her body was covered in cuts as well, the price of her own fierce resistance.
With both of them working in a grim, wordless partnership, their combined strength and skill proved to be enough. They severed the tentacles holding them surprisingly fast, and with the sudden release, they began to swim upwards, a desperate race against the crushing depths.
But the reprieve was short-lived.
Suddenly, hundreds of small, serpentine Nightmare Creatures swarmed them. These creatures, with their long fins and hook-like teeth, were drawn to the scent of blood that now permeated the water. The creatures were like tiny, living needles, digging into their flesh, tearing at their armor and skin. Kane let out a low groan of pain as a particularly nasty one latched onto his arm, but Nephis, ever stoic, couldn't make a sound, her body trembling with the effort of holding back her screams. The creatures began to rip apart their flesh, their bites agonizing and relentless. More blood started to flow, a bloody trail in the water that attracted even more of the horrors.
Nephis and Kane, their backs to each other, began to fight the creatures, killing them with every swing of their blades. Even though a single creature was likely dormant and weak, the sheer number of them was overwhelming, making survival absurdly difficult. As they fought, a series of familiar sounds echoed in their minds.
[You have killed....]
[You have killed...]
[You have killed...]
The constant pings of the Spell announced their relentless progress, but for every creature they killed, ten more took its place. They were struggling to fend off the fish-like creatures, their movements growing sluggish from pain and blood loss. The swarm seemed to grow denser, their hope of escape dimming with every passing second.
Then, a small, snake-like creature with long fins and a long, hook-like tooth shot out from the swarm. It moved with a speed that defied their senses, a flash of motion in the murky water. It attacked Kane's left eye. The pain was immediate and absolute, a blinding flash of agony that made his vision swim. He swung his sword wildly, but it was too late. The creature had done its work, and just like that, Kane's left eye was completely gone.
With a scream of pure, unadulterated rage, he killed the creature that had mutilated him. His vision, now a swirling vortex of black and white, was disorienting and painful. He looked at Nephis, and through the haze of blood and tears, he saw that the same thing had happened to her. Her right eye was gone, a bloody socket where her brilliant silver eye had been.
**
'What's with this coincidence?' he thought, the bizarre synchronicity of their injuries a chilling and impossible thing to comprehend in the middle of a life-or-death struggle. As he looked to the side where the creature had come from, he saw thousands of them attached to a massive, pulsating mass. The whole swarm, a single, horrifying organism, attacked them from all sides. They were ripping at flesh and tearing at their armor, a thousand tiny teeth biting into them.
Kane and Nephis were holding the line, barely. They were barely holding on to their lives, knowing that if just one more creature got through, it would be the end. Their strength was fading, their bodies growing numb from the agony.
Then, he saw it. A faint, ethereal light began to penetrate the inky blackness of the water above them. The sun was starting to rise, and with it, the oppressive water of the dark sea began to recede. A wave of relief, so powerful it almost made him cry, washed over Kane. The swarm of snakes and fish-like creatures, which seemed to thrive in the dark, began to retreat, moving deeper into the abyss.
Kane and Nephis, sensing their chance, started to swim upward with renewed vigor, their movements spurred on by the promise of air and light. But just as they were about to break the surface, something tried to wrap around his leg, a powerful force that tried to drag him back down.
Immediately, Nephis, with a speed that Kane didn't know she possessed, grabbed his hand and pulled him upward with all her might. In that brief, crucial moment, Kane made a decision. He immediately transferred the [Truffle Mask] to Nephis, its protection shimmering over her form. Then, he let go of her hand.
He let her go.
He watched as she was pulled to safety, a flicker of shock and disbelief on her face. 'I would never have thought I would save that bastard's daughter,' he thought, the irony of the situation not lost on him. As the monster below him began to tighten its grip, Kane made up his mind to fight the leviathan that was dragging him down. He turned, his one good eye filled with a cold, unforgiving light.
'It is time to kill you, bitch,' he thought, a grim smile on his face. He would not die here. Not now. Not like this.
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Hi Guys,I am Back.From now on there will regular updates
Fanfic Ideas:
1.Naruto:King Grey is reincarnated(TBATE MC)
2.Shadow slave:Third son of Anvil
3.Naruto:Reborn as Kenpachi in uchiha
4.Shadow Slave: I am Azik Eggers
5.Naruto:Uchiha Raikage