They stepped forward and entered the portal.
The blue glow faded, as their surroundings descended in to a gloomy darkness, painting a mysterious picture of pitch black, clouding their vision.
The white scene had disappeared, taking shape of its counter part. The light turning in to dark.
The freezing cold which was previously removed from their perception thanks to their power, was felt.
Though it was no longer a frostbite inducing physical sensation, the psychological pressure brought about a bone chilling cold.
The frost was now unseen, but not unfelt anymore.
(Alice: Quit stalling and get to the point already!
w(ﾟДﾟ)w
Seriously! You're always sooo dramatic!
Author: I'm slowly building up the suspense to make it more immersive!
Alice: Yeah, yeah, nobody wants that! They want to know what happens next, not the exact descriptions of how we felt, y'know!
Seo-Jun: Well...
Alice: Shut it! ┻━┻ ︵ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ︵ ┻━┻
Seo-Jun: Yes... (￣┰￣*)
Alice: Author?!
Author: Yes, I'll get to the point... (¬_¬")
Alice: Good.（￣︶￣）↗ )
It was but a moment that their vision seemed compromised, the world around them spinning into a blur. As the light gradually returned, they gasped at the breathtaking scene before them.
They had arrived at a beautiful beach. The warm, grainy sand shifted beneath their soles, each step sinking slightly into the soft earth.
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The air was imbued with the salty tang of the sea, mingling with the faint scent of sun-warmed dunes. An orange glow bathed the landscape, the setting sun casting its final, fiery rays across the horizon.
Mountains and caves loomed in the distance, their dark silhouettes stark against the vibrant sky. The sun's descent painted the peaks with hues of gold and crimson, shadows stretching long and deep. The caves yawned like ancient mouths, their interiors promising mysteries yet to be discovered.
The stunning blue sea stretched out before them, an expanse of water so vast it seemed to merge seamlessly with the sky. The surface of the sea reflected the descending sun, its rays creating a path of molten gold that led to the horizon.
The water shimmered with hues of white and orange, the light dancing upon the gentle waves. The sea was calm, its surface barely rippling, as if holding its breath in awe of the spectacle.
Despite its serene beauty, the sea exuded an air of mystery. The tranquility made it impossible to guess the dangerous secrets hidden beneath the surface. There was a sense of both peace and anticipation, as if the ocean itself was aware of the wonders and perils it concealed.
The entire scene was a symphony of colors and sensations, a perfect blend of tranquility and awe. The orange sky, the blue sea, the warm sand, and the distant mountains all came together to create a moment of pure, unadulterated beauty.
'It's beautiful', mumbles Zhiren in awe of the scene before her.
'That it is, however you could say this sight reminds me of an anglerfish', replied Snow, gazing at the sunset which was distant, yet seeming at arms length.
'Why an anglerfish?' asked Daiki with a worried expression.
'You know how an anglerfish uses that glowing lure to attract its prey? This sea is just like that. It looks so calm and inviting, with the water reflecting the orange and white light from the sun, but you can't forget about the dangers that might be lurking beneath the surface', explained Snow.
'Mesmerizing, but deadly', added Jason, staring at the horizon.
'Exactly', agreed Snow.
'If Uncle was still here...hah, if he was still here, that wouldn't have entirely been the case though', said Snow sadly.
'Then, where are we supposed to go now?' asked Seo-Jun, looking in Snow's direction.
'Underwater', stated Snow, calmly.
'Underwater? But how? Can we also breath underwater like how we didn't feel the cold? That is possible I suppose...' wondered Seo-Jun, forgetting it was a question as he got carried away in his own thought about the possible cheats and plotlines they could encounter henceforth.
'Not exactly...and definitely not now', replied Snow looking around.
'Huh?' asked Alice.
'Uh, we'll probably get attacked if we got in at night, especially without permission. We should camp out here in one of the caves till morn, until then throw in a bottle with a letter stating your identities and asking for permission to enter...or at least that's how it worked a millennia ago. Hopefully it still does', explained Snow.
'Yeah...that's super reassuring', remarked Daiki, sarcastically.
'Unless you have any better ideas, I suggest you keep your reservations to yourself', retorted Snow.
'How do we breath underwater'? asked Seo-Jun, panickily interrupting their banter in fear that it'll escalate in to a fight or Snow would get pissed off enough to send Daiki to collect his inheritance.
Snow silently looked at him, upset at the interference which was an obvious, quite poorly improvised attempt at an intervention to ensure peace in his eyes, before replying in response Alice's nudge.
'There was a pill which had been refined for this purpose, there were hundreds of boxes among the items you had collected. Take it now and accelerate absorption using your powers tonight so it can work by morning', explained Snow, haughtily, 'It's called the "Hu xi pill" which I believe would literally mean to breathe'.
The group quickly accessed their inventory and easily found the pills.
They first decided to buy some paper, pens and an empty bottle from the store and wrote stated their identities as the successors of their respective predecessors along with their purpose being to awaken their abilities.
They rolled the paper up and sealed it in the bottle, throwing it in to the Sea.
They decided to set up camp at the nearest cave, which was suitable enough to accommodate the group.
They lit a bonfire and huddled around it before collectively taking the pill.
They meditated as they had been taught back when forming their cores and felt as the pill released, working its purpose in mysterious ways.
Waiting until morning arrives, bringing with it tomorrow and the start of a new adventure.
To be continued...
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Daiki: What's with your obsession with killing me?
Author: ╮(╯▽╰)╭
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