Apocalypse - Evil Shelter System-Chapter 244: The Mermaids’ Lair

Unlike the salty taste of seawater, the lake water here was refreshing and delightful to drink. It washed away the discomfort caused by the immersion in seawater. Alex could deduce that there must be something special in this river water.

While swimming, Alex accidentally took in a few sips and discovered that the water contained some unique substances, quickly restoring Alex's stamina. The entire body felt invigorated.

Alex recalled the legends marked on the map, claiming that in the middle of Mermaid Island, there was a sweet spring. Drinking its water would improve one's physique and even cure many diseases. Now that the mermaids' legend had come true, it seemed that the legend of the sweet spring was likely true as well.

It appeared that after the apocalypse, many mythical tales were becoming a reality one by one. Discover more content at novelbuddy.com

As the mermaids swam towards the center of the island, Alex gradually saw a hidden lake within the dense forest. Under the moonlight, this beautiful freshwater lake emitted a sparkling and enchanting glow, with rippling waves, resembling a fairyland.

Above the lake was a beautiful waterfall, with a soft and clear water curtain. Combined with the colorful and exotic flowers blooming beside the waterfall, Alex felt a surreal and dreamlike sensation.

The mermaid maidens swam into the water curtain, and Alex followed closely, entering it as well.

Passing through the water curtain, there was a stone wall ahead, and the mermaid maidens suddenly disappeared.

Alex hurriedly descended, swiftly swimming underwater. Sure enough, all the mermaid maidens were swimming in the depths.

Underwater, there was a hidden world!

Following the mermaid maidens through a narrow passage, they quickly ascended. Finally, they emerged in a cave emitting a red light.

As Alex surfaced, the scene before stunned him. Within this island, there was such a hidden paradise!

The space above this cave was filled with red gemstones, casting the entire cave in a twilight-like glow. The location Alex entered was just the cave's entrance. Beside the entrance, there was a piece of land.

On this land, various living utensils were arranged. There were lounge chairs, stone tables, and even a partially damaged wooden fishing boat. The boat seemed to be quite old, with the wood already starting to decay and covered in moss.

Most surprising to Alex was the countless treasures next to the boat! Gold, silver, coins, and various jewelry, gems, and weapons.

If this place had been discovered before the apocalypse, any of these treasures could have made someone incredibly wealthy! However, in the current post-apocalyptic world, these things were essentially useless to Alex.

Seven mermaid maidens gracefully swam up from the water pool at the entrance. Thereafter, flapping their fish tails, they swam into another water pool within the cave.

This was a spring water pool occupying only around fifty to sixty square meters. The spring water, with glittering golden spots, gushed up from the underground, continuously merging into the water pool, casting a layer of golden light over the entire pool.

Alex bent down and gently smelled the golden water in the pool, then dipped a hand to feel it. Indeed, the peculiar substance sensed in the river earlier emanated from this water pool.

As Alex observed the surroundings, the seven mermaid maidens had already swum into the water pool. They swam towards a cave on the inner side of the water pool.

Once the mermaid maidens entered the cave, Alex cautiously stepped into the water, following them into the cave emitting a white glow.

Inside the cave, not entirely filled with the golden water, Alex felt a powerful oppressive force upon entering. Looking up, there was a waterway in the cave, more than two meters wide, with numerous caves branching out on either side. The seven mermaid beauties swam deeper into the waterway. freēwēbnovel.com

Alex first looked into one of the adjacent caves. Surprisingly, it resembled a cozy chamber, adorned with a bed made of coral and shells and arranged in a warm and inviting manner, akin to a young girl's boudoir.

Exiting the cave, Alex once again followed the waterway, chasing after them.

Soon, a palace-like underground castle appeared before Alex's eyes! It was an ancient and somewhat rudimentary castle, with a simple and worn-out interior. Fortunately, the castle was adorned with countless luminescent gemstones and columns made of gold.

Passing through the columns, at the innermost part of the underground castle, there was a golden throne. Seated on the throne was a mermaid queen holding a golden trident, emitting a golden glow.

The mermaid queen seemed to be of a mature age, around her forties. There were some wrinkles on her face, but she retained her charm, exuding the allure of a mature woman. Especially noteworthy were her voluptuous and extremely enticing bosom and slender, captivating snow-white mermaid tail, practically captivating Alex's attention.

It was evident that this mermaid queen had been stunning in her youth. The mysterious force that Alex had felt, the one causing oppression, emanated from this mermaid queen.

[Beep beep beep... S-Rank mutant creature detected — Mermaid Queen!]

[Danger Level: S-Rank! Extremely high!]

[Creature Name: Mermaid Queen]

[Name: Naga]

[Gender: Female]

[Constitution: 424 (Transcendent!)]

[Spirit: 452 (Transcendent!)]

[Strength: 358 (Transcendent!)]

[Endurance: 420 (Transcendent!)]

[Agility (Land): 65 (Ordinary!)]

[Agility (Ocean): 565 (Transcendent!)]

[Skills: Thunderstorm, Summon Sea Soul Warrior, Oceanic Shield, Frost Arrows, Melody of Heaven]

[Weapon: Sea King Trident (Can transform between trident and bow forms)]

(Adult male human average is around 60.)

"So powerful!!" Alex felt a wave of shock in his heart!

No wonder even with his current physical attributes, Alex felt oppressed. It turned out the Mermaid Queen was so powerful!

Mermaids could be considered a type of mutated being, perhaps a variation of marine life. However, they definitely did not belong to the zombie category. Judging from the situation here, it seemed that this race existed before the apocalypse. However, after the apocalypse, the mermaid population underwent changes, likely influenced by some energy during the end times.

If the mermaid race was this powerful, it would be troublesome for Alex to try to subdue them through force. Coercion wasn't an option; cunningness was the key.

Alex's mind began to calculate, but he couldn't come up with a clear plan immediately. Faced with absolute power, it was challenging to conquer this race through cunning schemes.

Of course, if Alex was willing to wait, he could return here after becoming stronger and defeat the Mermaid Queen to subjugate the mermaid race.

"Mother, are you summoning us?" The seven mermaid maidens walked to the throne and respectfully bowed to the Mermaid Queen.

Around the palace, a group of shrimp soldiers and crab generals slowly emerged. These were genuine shrimp soldiers and crab generals, all bizarre creatures in the form of marine life. There were octopuses taller than humans, crabs two meters high, and lobsters the size of a person. There were even fish-like creatures with human limbs.

These sea creatures held various weapons, looking somewhat clumsy. However, judging from the energy emanating from them, they still possessed some combat capability. According to Alex's estimation, their strength was probably similar to that of ordinary mutated beings.

Alex roughly counted, and there were probably dozens of these peculiar shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

"Children, be careful recently. The humans on Welcoming Light Island seem to have discovered us, but for now, they can't get in. I've been feeling uneasy these past few days, as if something bad is about to happen," Mermaid Queen Naga said with a furrowed brow, expressing her disquiet.

Just now, she had again sensed a feeling of unease, feeling that there was a different aura on the island. Moreover, this feeling was becoming more intense.

Hearing Mermaid Queen Naga's words, Alex was startled. If the seawater weren't a bit chilly, he would have broken out in a cold sweat. Originally, he had wanted to stealthily climb out of the water and explore the castle.

Now, Alex had to stay in the water, not daring to move carelessly. Even though he was currently in an invisible state, once he left the water, the movement might be detected, especially with the drops of water, a significant loophole.

[Beep beep beep... Invisibility time is about to reach the limit...]

The system's electronic synthesized sound echoed in Alex's mind. He slightly paused, silently cursing. He almost forgot that the invisibility spell only lasted for an hour. Beyond that, he needed to rest for some time before activating the skill again.

Alex originally wanted to continue observing the situation of the mermaids, but it seemed impossible now. Even in his invisible state, the Mermaid Queen could sense something abnormal. Without the cover of invisibility, he might be exposed.

With Alex's current strength, he was definitely not a match for the Mermaid Queen. Just as Alex was preparing to leave, the Mermaid Queen commanded the shrimp soldiers and crab generals around her, "Strengthen patrols during this period. I always feel a foreign aura on our island."