Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System-Chapter 362: Second Floor: The Gaurdian of Autumn Toads (1)
He danced through the clearing, his sword a blur of light as it cut down swan after swan. Their blood stained the grass, the once peaceful clearing now a battlefield. But even as they fell, the swans showed no sign of retreat, driven by some primal instinct to fight until the last.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last swan crumpled to the ground, its body joining the others in the carnage that now filled the clearing. Cyrus stood among them, breathing heavily, the aether sword still shimmering in his hand.
He looked around at the fallen creatures, a sense of satisfaction mingling with the realization of their true strength. They were not formidable alone, but together, they were a force to be reckoned with. It had been a longer, more intense fight, but Cyrus had emerged victorious, his skills and experience shining through.
Athena approached him once more, her expression one of quiet admiration. "You handled them well," she said softly. "Few can take on a pack like that and emerge unscathed. But now you see the true nature of this floor. It’s not just about strength; it’s about understanding the challenge that lies beneath the surface."
"Let’s go to the next floor."
After the battle with the swans, Cyrus felt a rush of exhilaration, but it quickly gave way to a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead. Athena, noticing the shift in his demeanor, suggested that they move to the next floor of the tower. Without hesitation, Cyrus agreed, eager to continue his exploration.
Athena led the way, guiding Cyrus through the serene yet eerie landscape of the Haven of Spring Cranes. The further they went, the more the environment around them began to change. The forest thinned out, and the gentle sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls were replaced by an eerie stillness. Eventually, they reached what seemed to be the outskirts of the floor.
Ahead of them stood a massive swirling black portal, its surface rippling like liquid shadow. The portal exuded an unsettling aura, and Cyrus couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease as he approached it. The dark vortex seemed to absorb the light around it, creating a stark contrast to the peaceful surroundings they had just left behind.
Cyrus hesitated for a moment, his instincts warning him to be cautious. The portal was unlike anything he had encountered before, and the idea of stepping into it was far from comforting. Sensing his unease, Athena offered a reassuring smile.
"This is the way to travel between floors," she explained calmly, her voice steady. "It may look intimidating, but it’s perfectly safe. It’s how adventurers like us navigate the tower. Trust me, Cyrus."
He studied her face for any sign of deception, but found none. Athena’s calm demeanor and the sincerity in her eyes put him at ease, even if only slightly. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead. If this was the only way forward, then he had no choice but to trust her.
"Alright," Cyrus finally said, his voice firm despite the lingering unease. "Let’s do this."
With a quick and certain nod, Athena stepped through the portal first, her form vanishing into the swirling darkness. Cyrus hesitated for only a moment longer before following her lead. As he stepped into the portal, he felt a strange sensation wash over him, as if the very air around him was shifting, warping.
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The darkness enveloped him completely, and for a brief moment, it felt as though he was floating in a void, with no sense of up or down. But just as quickly as the disorientation set in, it faded, replaced by the sensation of solid ground beneath his feet once more.
When Cyrus opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a vastly different environment. Gone was the tranquil forest of the first floor; in its place was a sprawling, misty marshland. The air was thick with humidity, and a faint, earthy smell filled his nostrils. The ground beneath his feet was soft, almost spongy, covered in a carpet of damp, decaying leaves.
In the distance, Cyrus could see massive toadstools rising from the ground, their caps a vibrant array of autumnal colors—reds, oranges, and yellows—that glowed faintly in the dim light. The trees here were gnarled and twisted, their branches heavy with moss and vines that draped down like curtains. Pools of stagnant water dotted the landscape, their surfaces covered in thick layers of green scum.
"This," Athena said as she appeared beside him, "is the Garden of Autumn Toads. It’s a far cry from the first floor, isn’t it?"
Cyrus nodded, taking in the strange, almost surreal beauty of the place. The atmosphere here was heavier, more oppressive, but it also carried a certain allure. The Garden of Autumn Toads felt ancient, as though it had been untouched for centuries, its secrets hidden beneath layers of decay and growth.
"Ready to explore?" Athena asked, her voice laced with excitement.
Cyrus glanced at her, then back at the marshland before them. He could sense that this floor would pose new challenges, ones that would test him in ways the previous floor had not. But that only fueled his determination.
"Let’s see what this place has to offer," he replied, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Together, they began their journey into the Garden of Autumn Toads, the mist swirling around them as they ventured deeper into the unknown.
As Cyrus and Athena ventured deeper into the Garden of Autumn Toads, the environment around them seemed to shift and change with every step. The air grew thicker, almost tangible, as if it were saturated with the essence of the marshland itself. The faint scent of decaying vegetation mixed with the earthy aroma of damp soil, creating an atmosphere that was both oppressive and strangely invigorating.
The ground beneath their feet was soft and uneven, a patchwork of squelching mud and decaying leaves. Every so often, their boots would sink into the mire, only to be pulled free with a wet, sucking sound. The trees here were unlike those on the previous floor; their trunks were twisted and gnarled, their bark rough and knotted, covered in thick layers of moss. Some of the trees leaned at odd angles, as if burdened by the weight of their own ancient age.
Above them, the canopy was dense, with only the occasional sliver of light filtering through the thick tangle of branches and vines. This gave the marshland an almost perpetual twilight, where shadows danced and flickered in the corners of their vision, and the boundaries between day and night seemed to blur. The leaves on the trees were a riot of autumn colors—deep reds, fiery oranges, and golden yellows—that glowed faintly in the dim light, as if capturing the last vestiges of sunlight before the long winter set in.
Massive toadstools dotted the landscape, their caps as large as shields and covered in intricate patterns of red, orange, and brown. Some of the toadstools emitted a soft, bioluminescent glow, casting eerie pools of light that illuminated the mist swirling around them. The mist itself clung to the ground like a living thing, tendrils of vapor curling and twisting through the undergrowth as if searching for something unseen.
Strange, melodic croaks and chirps echoed through the marsh, the sounds of the toads that gave this floor its name. The creatures were well-hidden, their voices blending seamlessly with the natural symphony of the marshland. Occasionally, a splash could be heard in the distance, followed by a rustling of leaves, as something unseen moved through the water.
As they pressed on, Cyrus noticed that the marshland seemed to breathe with a life of its own. The trees creaked and groaned in the slight breeze, their branches swaying as if reaching out toward the travelers. The ground itself seemed to pulse with an almost rhythmic energy, as though the marsh was a living, breathing entity, aware of its presence.
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Athena, walking beside him, seemed unfazed by the eerie atmosphere. She moved with a graceful confidence, her footsteps light and sure, despite the treacherous terrain. As they navigated through the twisting paths, she would occasionally point out small details—a particularly vibrant cluster of fungi, a tree with bark that looked like the face of a sleeping giant, or a pool of water that reflected the canopy above like a perfect mirror.
Cyrus couldn’t shake the feeling that this place was alive, that it was watching them, judging them. Yet, there was also a strange sense of peace here, a quiet that settled over them like a blanket, muffling the outside world. The Garden of Autumn Toads was a place of contrasts—both beautiful and dangerous, serene and unsettling. It was a place where nature reigned supreme, indifferent to the struggles of those who dared to traverse its depths.
As they moved further into the marsh, the mist grew thicker, the trees closer together, and the light dimmer. The garden seemed to close in around them, the air growing heavier with each step. Yet, despite the oppressive atmosphere, Cyrus felt a thrill of excitement. This was a new challenge, a new mystery to unravel. And with Athena by his side, he was ready to face whatever the Garden of Autumn Toads had in store.
