Tales of the Endless Empire-Chapter 146: Into the Depths (:

Thorwald, flanked by his trusted right-hand scout Joe and their band of men, arrived at the colossal stronghold of the Raha. The air was heavy with anticipation as they gazed upon the bastion, hidden seamlessly within the towering trees of the jungle.

Its scale was staggering—massive steel gates over twenty meters high blended perfectly with the jungle’s hues, making the fortress nearly invisible from afar. The structure appeared to have grown out of the trees themselves, an intricate fusion of nature and design that spoke of centuries of mastery.

Thorwald stood in awe, yet the thrill of command coursed through him. These people, the Raha, had pledged their allegiance to him after he had baptized them in the name of Solarion, the Blazing Emperor.

Despite their overwhelming strength—each of them easily surpassing his party in power, many at levels near ninety—they had submitted. Thorwald couldn’t suppress the smug satisfaction rising within him. This was how it should be. He, the chosen one, would rise above all.

The Raha were ancient, seasoned warriors. One of their weaker members, an elder with piercing amber eyes, had revealed that most of them were over a hundred years old. Thorwald’s mind raced with possibilities. An army of such unparalleled strength, experienced in both battle and the mysterious intricacies of the system, was now his to command.

Yet, as they approached the gates, a lingering doubt crossed his mind. For all its grandeur, the bastion housed only seven hundred people—a surprisingly small number.

He had envisioned thousands, a legion ready to crush any opposition. Still, seven hundred elite warriors were better than none. Perhaps he wouldn’t need them all to vanquish the undead and conquer the tutorial.

The gates creaked open, revealing a settlement of mushroom-shaped homes nestled within the fortress. As they entered, the Raha paused their work, their sharp gazes falling on Thorwald and his followers. Whispered murmurs filled the air, and the tension was palpable.

“What are those... things doing in our base?” A stern female voice cut through the silence. From atop one of the towering mushroom homes, a woman leaped gracefully to the ground, landing before the group. She moved with the predatory grace of a seasoned warrior, her emerald eyes fixed on Thorwald with suspicion.

“We were fortunate,” Bardo, the leader of the Raha escort, replied calmly. His voice rose, commanding the attention of the gathered Raha. “We have found one blessed by the legendary Solarion, the Blazing Emperor. His name is Thorwald, and he will baptize us all. Finally, after decades of bloodshed between our sects and the countless sacrifices we’ve endured, our future is no longer uncertain.”

The crowd erupted in murmurs, their expressions shifting from disbelief to awe. The woman’s emerald eyes widened, and she stepped closer to Bardo, her voice trembling with hope. “Bardo... is this true?”

“Of course,” he replied, his calm demeanor unshaken. A knowing smile played on his lips. “When have I ever lied to you?”

Thorwald stood tall, suppressing a grin as the Raha surrounded him, their reverence palpable. The baptism began shortly after, a process that consumed the next two hours.

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One by one, the Raha knelt before him, their fierce loyalty cemented as he granted them access to Solarion’s path. Thorwald reveled in the moment. These were no mere soldiers—they were killing machines, disciplined warriors honed by decades of survival. And now, they were his.

In the days that followed, the Raha proved invaluable. They shared rare materials, assisted in hunting, and conducted grueling training sessions for Thorwald and his followers. Each day brought immense progress, and Thorwald could feel his power growing exponentially. Their advice, rooted in hard-earned wisdom, shaped his strategies.

“Do not rush your evolution,” one elder had cautioned. “Hunt and strengthen yourself as much as possible before taking that step. Most of us evolved early out of necessity—on our planet, the competition for resources was brutal. But you have the luxury of time. Use it wisely.”

Thorwald learned that their planet had been thrust into the tutorial as part of a world-wide quest. The struggle to claim the opportunity had been fierce, with factions vying for dominance. He also discovered a critical detail: the Raha were not counted toward the survivor score, as they were an established force integrated into the system long ago. This revelation reassured Thorwald. He could grow in strength here, unbothered by the need to protect his allies or ensure their survival.

Thorwald had even begun dabbling in soul cultivation, a practice he’d previously dismissed as too slow. One of the Raha elders had convinced him otherwise, stressing its importance for long-term growth. Every day, Thorwald felt his power solidifying, his confidence building.

He often thought of his rivals—Steven, Kael, Kai, and even that insufferable mage, Thalion. They had dared to oppose his will, and for that, they would pay. Thorwald imagined their faces contorted in terror as he crushed the life from their bodies. He envisioned their heads mounted on spikes, a display of his dominance, a reminder to all who dared defy him.

His future was glorious, inevitable.

As he stood at the edge of the bastion, the jungle stretching endlessly before him, Thorwald’s lips curled into a dark smile. He could feel the power of Solarion’s blessing coursing through his veins, his army at his back, and destiny within his grasp. Soon, the world would tremble before him.

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Thalion’s first battle in the depths had been exhilarating, a straightforward challenge that tested his skills without overwhelming him.

But as he dove deeper into the shadowy waters, the atmosphere grew tense, the danger palpable. He was now in a vast underwater expanse, illuminated by the ghostly blue glow of fifty or so crystals. Each crystal was fiercely contested, a beacon drawing predators and defenders alike into a bloody, desperate war.

Beasts of all shapes and sizes darted through the dim light, clawing and biting at those defending the crystals. The defenders, often outnumbered, fought with relentless determination or fled into the darkness.

Others, opportunists lurking in the shadows, ambushed distracted combatants, seeking an easy kill amidst the chaos. The water grew murky with blood, its metallic tang mingling with the taste of salt, attracting an ever-growing swarm of predators—particularly sharks.

Even E-grade beasts, towering creatures of immense power, joined the fray. These were no mere animals; they were apex predators, tearing through the lesser creatures with terrifying efficiency.

Among them was a grotesque starfish-like monster, its movements eerily fast for its kind. With a flicker of psychic energy, it immobilized its prey, then slowly enveloped its victim with writhing limbs, consuming it whole.

Normally, Thalion knew, starfish dissolved their meals over time, but this creature operated with an otherworldly speed and efficiency, likely a product of the System. He kept his distance, shuddering at the thought of being ensnared by such a creature.

Thalion avoided direct confrontations with stronger beasts, instead targeting weaker E-grades and striking only when he was sure of his safety. In this deadly ballet, one mistake could spell his doom.

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The predators here weren’t just fast; they were brutal, armed with natural weapons that could shred him in an instant. His impressive regenerative abilities, which had saved him countless times before, would be useless if he was torn apart too quickly.

The deeper waters were teeming with life. Marlins, squids, strange tunas, and even predatory jellyfish drifted through the currents.

The jellyfish, though unexpected as predators, radiated a menacing energy, their translucent forms pulsing with bioluminescent light.

But it was the sharks that dominated the scene. Dozens of species darted through the waters, their forms sleek and perfectly adapted for ambush.

The most fearsome were the smaller sharks—only ten meters long but cloaked in impossibly dark black scales that seemed to drink in the faint light.

Their movements were uncanny, their forms blurring and fading as if they could merge with the shadows themselves. Thalion marveled at their adaptation; before the System, such pigmentation was unheard of in aquatic creatures.

Perhaps they had developed a high affinity for darkness, enabling them to vanish even from his heightened senses. These predators moved with chilling precision, tearing apart even the massive squid with effortless speed.

Thalion couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy. If he could acquire their shadowy movement skill, it would elevate his combat prowess immeasurably. Whether through replication or acquisition, he vowed to make it his.

He stayed hyper-focused, his title aiding him in tracking threats as they emerged from the murky depths. So far, he had successfully killed a larger squid and an E-grade jellyfish.

Unfortunately, he had been unable to absorb the jellyfish’s form; a shark had appeared from nowhere, forcing him into a desperate chase.

The shark was relentless. Thalion twisted and turned, his fins cutting through the water with practiced grace, but the predator mirrored his every move.

It was massive, nearly fifteen meters long, with a jaw bristling with enormous, rune-etched teeth that gleamed faintly in the dim light.

Thalion tried firing a skill, but the shark’s speed made it nearly impossible to find an opening. The predator stayed just close enough to strike but far enough to avoid his attacks, its primal intelligence evident in every movement.

Panic began to creep into Thalion’s mind. His water shield shimmered faintly around him, but he doubted it could withstand the crushing force of the shark’s jaws. Its teeth looked capable of ripping through steel, let alone a magical barrier. Knowing he couldn’t win in a prolonged chase, Thalion decided to test his luck.

He surged forward, accelerating as fast as his form would allow, hoping the shark might lose interest. But the beast remained locked onto him, its sleek body cutting through the water like a missile. Realizing he had no other choice, Thalion activated his ultimate skill, Tsunami Breaker. The surrounding water roared as the skill erupted outward, a destructive surge of energy crashing into the shark.

The attack slowed the predator but failed to deal the decisive blow Thalion had hoped for. The shark reeled, disoriented, and in that brief moment, Thalion channeled all his remaining mana into a charged Aqua Lance. The spear of water shot forward, piercing the beast’s side. With a final thrash, the shark went still, its lifeless form sinking into the depths.

Thalion exhaled sharply, the adrenaline coursing through him. In his human form, he imagined he would have been drenched in cold sweat. “That was too close,” he muttered to himself, his thoughts racing. The fight had shown him just how vulnerable he was without a proper movement skill. Even his regeneration couldn’t save him if he was overwhelmed.

Inspecting the fallen shark, Thalion found a glimmer of reward. The beast possessed a skill—an advanced bite technique that could prove useful. As he studied the shark’s massive teeth, he noticed faint runes etched into their surface, glowing faintly with latent power. They hinted at something greater, something ancient. A tool or weapon, perhaps, waiting to be unlocked.

Iron Maw (Common)

The shark delivers a single, devastating bite that harnesses the full strength of its jaws. This attack deals massive physical damage, focusing on crushing bones and tearing flesh.

The skill itself wasn’t particularly special, but the teeth he had acquired were extraordinary. Thalion’s current teeth resembled those of anacondas or pythons—no venom, but rows of sharp, backward-curved fangs designed to lock prey in place. Now, he had taken several of the shark’s teeth, which were also curved backward, albeit less dramatically than his own. Still, their strength and sharpness made them a valuable upgrade. He wanted more of these durable teeth, just in case he ever needed to bite his way out of a dire situation.

Using Morphic Adaptation, he began switching his teeth out. He carefully selected only the shark teeth that matched the structure of his serpent fangs, discarding those shaped like serrated saw blades.

Satisfied with the transformation, he discarded the shark's form and ran his long, serpentine tongue over his new set of teeth. The sensation of the sharp, powerful fangs sent a shiver of satisfaction down his spine. It had been a while since he last improved his Tidecaller Serpent form, and every upgrade—no matter how small—felt like a step closer to achieving his ultimate goal.

Thalion swam backward slightly to survey the chaotic battle. It was absolute pandemonium. Corpses were devoured almost instantly by the relentless predators, leaving him no opportunity to absorb forms.

The crystal-studded arena had become a bloodbath, with more and more E-grade beasts joining the fray. Their sheer power made it increasingly dangerous for Thalion to act without drawing unwanted attention from the big predators.

Some of the beasts had begun using ranged abilities. One particularly dangerous jellyfish was launching its venomous stingers at anything that moved.

The creatures hit by these projectiles either froze instantly or appeared lifeless as they were dragged into its writhing tentacles. Thalion couldn’t tell if they were paralyzed or dead, but the distinction hardly mattered—they were consumed moments later. He stayed as far away from the jellyfish as possible. It was even more of a threat than the dreaded sea star, which continued its rampage unchallenged. No beast dared to engage it.

With the environment growing deadlier, Thalion found himself targeted more frequently. While this was annoying, it was nothing a well-placed Aqua Lance or Tsunami Breaker couldn’t handle. He considered testing his mental defenses against the sea star’s abilities but ultimately dismissed the idea.

There was no room for second chances here, and even his impressive self-healing would be useless if his entire body was dissolved faster than it could regenerate.

Instead, he focused on collecting the massive crystals. These towering structures, over ten meters high, radiated an intense, pulsing energy. It was precisely the kind of power he needed. Thalion had already gathered three of them, but each retrieval was a risk.

Transforming briefly into his human form to let the amulet absorb the souls of the fallen was dangerous. The pressure in the depths threatened to crush him, but he summoned an extra layer of Blood Armor, which held long enough for the amulet to feed.

In those fleeting moments, the amulet’s power surged, fueling his strength. Each transformation was brief—a matter of seconds—but every soul it claimed brought him closer to becoming unstoppable. Afterward, he would revert to his serpent form and rejoin the fight.

One of the most frustrating limitations of his Tidecaller Serpent form was its inability to retreat or sidestep. It was all forward momentum.

While he could turn quickly, there was no way to feint or dodge backward. As a result, underwater combat often devolved into circling duels, where the first successful bite usually determined the victor. Ranged attacks were rare among aquatic beasts, which only added to the monotony.

As the hours dragged on, the blood-soaked water attracted more predators. The frenzy grew, and few seemed to notice that nearly a quarter of the crystals had disappeared during the chaos. Thalion grinned, the satisfaction twisting his serpentine features. He had exploited every opening, darting in to claim crystals whenever the battle provided a distraction.

The most dangerous moment was always the crystal's absorption. The runes he used took time to activate, leaving him vulnerable, but so far, his strategy had worked flawlessly.

New predators continued to emerge from the depths. At one point, the sea star met its match—a colossal crab. This armored monstrosity propelled itself through the water using powerful jets from its shell and legs. Its erratic, almost comical movements reminded Thalion of an old Earth spaceship—perhaps the Enterprise—but with none of Captain Picard’s finesse. Instead, this creature barreled into crystals and corpses alike, often crashing into its surroundings as it hunted.

The crab was fast, heavily armored, and utterly fearless. Instead of targeting the jellyfish, it focused on the largest beasts in the area—giant sharks, oversized fish, and especially the enormous squids. Its hatred for the squids was palpable, and it tore into them with savage abandon.

Fortunately for Thalion, his resources recovered quickly enough to keep him in the fight. Blasting beasts with Aqua Lances became second nature, and the level-80 predators provided a steady flow of experience. He could feel his progress—though slow—beginning to show. While leveling up once a day was common for others, his unique form and challenges made every advancement hard-earned. Still, the promise of growth spurred him onward.

Thalion contemplated taking greater risks. Perhaps it was time to dive deeper, where the true treasures—and dangers—awaited. The thought sent a thrill through him, his serpent heart pounding with anticipation.