Chapter 758: The Centre of the Abysal Kelp Forest
The Abyssal Stalker’s hiss turned into a low, rumbling growl that vibrated through the water. Its glowing green eyes fixed on the group, and the water around it seemed to chill even further.
“Spread out—don’t let it corner us!” Nox ordered.
The team reacted instantly. Lyra and Coralia darted to the flanks, their tridents glowing faintly. Dorran circled with Grim, keeping distance as they tried to draw the creature’s attention.
The Stalker moved faster than expected. One moment it was still, the next it was a blur of black scales and teeth. It lunged for Lyra, jaws snapping shut just inches from her tail. She twisted aside, barely escaping.
“Too close!” she shouted.
Nox propelled himself forward, lightning sparking around his arm. He slammed his palm against the monster’s side, releasing a sharp electric burst. The water flashed white-blue for an instant, and the Stalker recoiled with a distorted shriek.
But it wasn’t enough.
It twisted, tail whipping around with crushing force. The impact caught Nox squarely and sent him crashing into a rock pillar. Cracks spread across the stone as he steadied himself.
“Damn thing’s tough,” Dorran muttered, gripping his weapon.
“Focus up! Hit together—don’t give it room to slip away!” Nox shouted.
Grim shot forward again, jaws opening wide as he bit down on the creature’s tail. Blood clouded the water, but the Stalker didn’t flinch. It whipped around and slammed its body into Grim, dislodging the shark and sending him tumbling.
Coralia raised both arms, conjuring a spinning current that formed a vortex beneath the monster. “Hold on, I’ll drag it under!”
The creature’s body twisted as the current gripped it. It roared, pushing against the pull with raw muscle strength. The ground trembled.
Lyra darted in. Her trident pierced one of the glowing eyes. The Stalker screeched, thrashing violently. She was thrown back by the shockwave and barely managed to shield herself behind a coral outcrop.
Nox took advantage of the distraction. His mana surged. Frost crept up his arm as he layered ice magic over the remaining lightning.
“Let’s see if you can tank this one,” he muttered.
He dashed forward, cold energy swirling around him. The Stalker lunged again, mouth wide enough to swallow him whole. Nox didn’t back down. He thrust both arms out, forming an ice barrier just as the jaws closed.
The impact shattered the ice, but it slowed the creature enough for him to slide beneath its head.
“I’ve got you,” he hissed.
He aimed his lightning-charged palm straight at the throat and unleashed everything. A violent explosion of light filled the water, arcs of electricity crawling across the beast’s body. It convulsed, its movements turning erratic.
For a moment, it seemed stunned—but only for a moment.
It released a deep, guttural roar, and a sudden wave of pressure hit them all. The creature’s scales flared with faint green light. The water thickened, heavy with killing intent.
“Get back—it’s losing control!” Coralia shouted.
Dorran didn’t listen. He grinned and motioned to Grim. “We’re not backing down now!”
The shark darted forward again, slamming into the Stalker’s lower body with all its might. Dorran followed up with a quick thrust to one of the open wounds. Blood poured out in dark streams, the water shimmering red.
The Stalker spun suddenly, tail sweeping through the area like a whip. Dorran barely crossed his weapon in time to block, but the impact sent him flying. Grim was flung aside too, blood leaking from his gills.
“Dorran!” Lyra cried out.
“I’m fine!” he shouted, though he clearly wasn’t.
The creature turned its focus back to Nox. Its remaining eye glowed brighter.
‘Smart enough to target the threat,’ he thought grimly.
He clenched his fist and called out, “Shade!”
The Chroma Serpent appeared from the darkness behind the monster, its body shimmering as it shifted colors. With perfect timing, it released a blinding flash of white light.
The Stalker reeled back, roaring as the light burned into its wounded eye. Nox didn’t hesitate. He gathered his mana again, channeling it deeper this time. Ice and lightning twisted together into a single swirling core in his palm.
The energy crackled—unstable but powerful.
Lyra saw it and realized what he was doing. “He’s charging a finisher! Keep it busy!”
She and Coralia coordinated immediately. Coralia formed two spinning water drills and launched them at the creature’s head, forcing it to move erratically. Lyra fired compressed water bolts at its underbelly, keeping it from retreating.
“Hold it steady!” Nox shouted.
Shade darted around, weaving trails of confusion. The Stalker struck out blindly, chasing illusions and flashes of light.
He propelled himself forward with a burst of speed so sharp the water split in his wake. The energy in his hand grew blindingly bright.
“Frostbolt Tempest!” he roared.
The blast tore through the water—a spear of lightning and ice fused into one. It struck the Stalker dead in the chest. The entire canyon lit up in blue and white as the explosion followed.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The shockwave threw the others back. Even Nox had to shield his face.
When the light faded, the Stalker floated motionless. Its black scales were cracked and burned, the glow from its eyes completely gone.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Dorran let out a weak laugh. “That’s… one hell of a hit.”
Lyra swam closer cautiously. “It’s dead. He did it.”
Coralia exhaled slowly, lowering her trident. “An Abyssal Stalker, taken down by surface-level tactics… impressive.”
Nox didn’t answer. He drifted forward, staring at the massive corpse. The beast’s size dwarfed him, yet now it looked like nothing more than a broken shadow.
He reached out, prying one of its long fangs from its mouth. The black tooth gleamed faintly even in death.
“Fang secured,” he said quietly. “That’s enough proof for the king.”
Lyra smiled faintly. “I had thought surface dwellers were weak, but it seems that’s clearly not the case.”
“Oh, trust me, there are far worse monsters above,” Nox replied, his mind drifting to the Scourge Queen—wherever she was.
Dorran swam up beside him, still grinning despite his bruises. “We should head back before something else smells the blood.” Follow current novᴇls on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱
He wasn’t wrong. Already, faint silhouettes of smaller predators were circling at a distance. The scent of blood had turned the water restless.
Nox nodded and ordered his serpent to take the lead.
Shade slithered ahead, its body flickering between colors as it scouted the path. The others followed close behind, dragging the massive fang and fragments of the Stalker’s scales.
As they swam through the dark canyon, the silence felt heavier than before.
Dorran broke it first. “We’re making good progress. Between the Brine Bull and this thing, we’re way ahead of most teams.”
“Assuming we don’t get ambushed again,” Lyra said dryly.
Coralia’s expression remained neutral. “The Devotees have scouts everywhere. If they see what we’re carrying, we’ll have to fight again.”
‘Right… the Devotees dwell here as well,’ Nox thought with a frown but didn’t comment.
They continued for another half hour before stopping at a rocky alcove to rest. Grim floated nearby, nursing a few wounds while Coralia patched Dorran up. Lyra examined the Stalker’s fang closely.
“Strong aura,” she murmured. “Even detached, it carries residual energy. This could be used in forging advanced-tier weapons.”
Yes, that was right—the monster’s remains weren’t just discarded!
“Or armor,” Nox added. “The cold from its body didn’t feel natural. It’s some kind of mutation.”
He stared toward the dark horizon beyond the kelp. “There are more like it deeper inside. I can feel them.”
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Dorran smirked. “Heh, guess that settles it. We’ll rest, then go deeper.”
After a brief shuffle, the young pirate who had initially refused to come down here now looked more confident.
Shade coiled nearby, letting out a faint rumble that almost sounded like approval.
‘Seems like she’s tired,’ he thought, stroking the serpent gently.
‘If this is what the outer forest holds,’ he mused, ‘then the center must be far worse… I wonder how dangerous it would be.’