A smile appeared on Yuris’ face. He let out a chuckle and cracked his knuckles.
"Right... why are we running away?"
His emerald eyes lit up with excitement as he looked toward the approaching monsters.
"We are powerful now!"
Then, hell was unleashed beneath the water. The people on the ships above the ocean soon noticed the disturbance as many corpses of dead monsters began floating to the surface. A big commotion erupted amidst those who saw the scene.
But Skyler and the others didn’t care.
Within two hours, the group found the challenge of the 21st level beneath the ocean and the gate leading to the next level.
Inside the dome where the gate stood, a large octopus awaited them, its enormous tentacles tightly wrapped around the gate.
As they entered the circular dome, they noticed that there was no water inside its barrier. The instant they stepped into the dome, the octopus’s countless glowing eyes turned toward them. Isaac stepped forward with a serious expression.
"This guy looks like it’s at the peak of the mythic tier, just like us. Let me handle it."
No one stopped him.
However, even as he stepped closer to the enormous octopus, it didn’t attack. Instead, it opened its mouth, revealing a far smaller octopus emerging from within. Although it was not truly small—it was like a building in front of Isaac’s figure—it was still smaller compared to the huge creature behind it.
The smaller octopus rushed toward Isaac, who simply blinked in surprise. With a few powerful water attacks and a barrage of golden flame arrows, he swiftly defeated it.
Isaac waited for the massive octopus to make its move, expecting another battle.
However, the creature merely released the gate and allowed it to open before them.
The unexpected scene left Isaac stunned.
"Huh? That’s it??"
Skyler chuckled and patted his shoulder.
"Yes, the Battle Royal wouldn’t make us fight such a powerful creature so soon."
He glanced at Isaac with an amused expression.
"As long as we clear its challenge, it will allow us to pass. Why do you think we all didn’t interfere and join in? Now, let’s go."
With that, they all walked toward the gate. Skyler was the first to step inside and disappeared with the mermaid and Riruru.
Isaac glanced back at the octopus, still unable to believe they had cleared a level of the Battle Royal so easily. Was it because they had become far stronger now? Had the challenges that once seemed impossible become this simple after their growth?
After they had all left, the large octopus, which had appeared so nonchalant in their presence, finally released the breath it had been secretly holding. Its voice came out much quieter than its usual majesty, almost as if it was afraid someone might hear it.
"Damn... why are such powerful creatures still roaming the lower levels?"
The octopus trembled slightly.
"I didn’t sign up for this. If they had actually attacked me, I would have died horribly."
It looked toward the closed gate and sighed in relief.
"Good thing I’m only a guardian, not the challenge itself. But still... the main system better compensate me for this emotional damage."
***
After passing through the gate, Skyler and the others appeared on the next level, once again finding themselves inside a massive ship, similar to the one on the 21st level.
Without hesitation, they followed the same approach and jumped into the ocean below.
The challenge of the 22nd level was similar to the 21st. But instead of an octopus, they faced a group of Electric Sea Horses under the glowing gaze of a statue of a sea horse.
The next four levels followed a similar pattern. Each challenge was different, but none posed a significant threat to them. In just one day, they reached the 26th level.
However, the instant they appeared on the ship of the 26th level, they were suddenly attacked by countless powerful people.
Yuris jumped back to avoid a sword strike.
"What kind of welcome is this?!"
Charles and the others also dodged the attacks aimed at them. Zack noticed the dark aura surrounding the people attacking them and immediately shouted.
"These are the Dark Lights!"
"Don’t hesitate to attack!"
Skyler frowned when he noticed the ship beneath them creaking under the strain.
"Everyone, don’t use your full power. The vessel we’re on may be large, but it isn’t strong enough to withstand the impact."
Hearing his warning, Zack and the others stopped using their strongest attacks.
Instead, they relied on weaker skills and close combat to deal with the villains.
Due to the sudden commotion, the people around the ship began to panic. Some fled, some joined the battle against the villains, while others left to quickly call for help from the Lights stationed in nearby areas.
Skyler vanished and appeared behind one of the strongest villains before snapping the man’s neck and throwing him into the ocean.
At that moment, countless powerful corpses appeared around the group, controlled by the Dark Lights.
However, simultaneously, a loud hissing sound echoed throughout the area, followed by a dazzling golden light.
A familiar massive white snake appeared above the vessel, making the area shake violently. It slammed its tail toward the Dark Lights and the corpses they controlled, sending many of them flying.
Skyler chuckled when he saw the scene.
"Good job."
Hearing his praise, Riruru’s crimson eyes glinted with a hint of pride. The mermaid beside the snake clicked her tongue, but she wasn’t one to fall behind either.
She began chanting a spell, and a water bubble formed around her. As the bubble expanded, the surrounding water gathered and took the shape of another massive snake. Anyone who attempted to approach her was immediately sent flying.
Riruru narrowed her eyes but didn’t say anything. With the two enormous snakes fighting alongside them, the surrounding enemies were instantly overwhelmed.
Skyler smirked at the sight and shouted.
"Guys, wipe them all out!"
Charles groaned as he narrowly avoided the sweeping tails of the two serpents, making sure he didn’t become collateral damage.
"Who the hell was the one who said not to use our full power here?! Does that rule not apply to your wives?!"
He gritted his teeth while dodging another attack.
"You are so two-faced! You jerk!"
Austin grabbed his head and pulled him down alongside himself, narrowly avoiding an attack from a dark corpse. His voice was filled with frustration.
"Anyway, why are the villains suddenly attacking us? Everything was fine until now, so why this sudden assault?"
Isaac’s voice came from behind them.
"I think they’re probably here for revenge. They must be targeting us because of the many Dark Lights we killed in that ruined village where we saved the Spirit Princess."
Yuris agreed with him.
"Most probably."
Suddenly, he laughed.
"Or maybe they’re just hunting us down because we have climbed so far at such a young age, and they think we have some kind of powerful treasure helping us."
Zack instinctively glanced toward Skyler when he heard the words ’we have some kind of treasure helping us’ and chuckled. It seemed they did indeed have a treasure helping them. It was just that this treasure was a person.
He looked away, only to see everyone else also glancing at Skyler’s floating figure with the same thought written on their faces.
Ultimately, Isaac commented.
"Haha, it’s probably because of him."