A few minutes were granted by Goku for them to catch their breath and recover emotionally. However, the main reason was to wait for Mira to awaken, so they focused on checking her condition.
She seemed stable now but was in a delicate state where any additional pressure could collapse her. However, there was something Zane needed to confirm, so they took Mira's bone saber and explored its interior.
The whale turned to Langrum and spoke slowly, "This saber was a gift from your master, right? It was made with bones from an abyssal beast?"
Langrum was mildly surprised and pondered, "She didn't inform me about that... but it's quite possible."
Taking a deep breath, Langrum decided to share a bit more without hesitation; this whale was no longer a stranger she needed to be wary of.
"I found my master wounded in a forest south of the continent by chance. I assisted her when she was in a very weak state, and as a reward, she taught me some secrets."
Langrum's eyes shone slightly as she recalled those memories with great affection, and Gael seemed to understand. This master must have been a motherly figure to her, a comforting presence after being abandoned so early.
"I seized the unique opportunity, and she recognized me, taking me as her disciple. We spent five years together, and she gifted me with this saber that was hers." A slight pain crossed Langrum as she mentioned the end. "In the end, she had to go back after recovering, so before leaving, she told me to go to the world of evil cultivators, where we could meet one day in her dwelling within the abyss."
The whale nodded understandingly and replied gently, "I see. I had to use all the stored Yin in the saber. However, in a short time, it has already recovered a significant portion... this only means that these bones belonged to a beast adapted to infernal laws. This saber is much more efficient within the environment we find ourselves in." Langrum looked at the saber with surprise at this confirmation.
Zane commented mentally, 'Well, with that, the last issue was resolved. Let's use the array to connect the saber, and it will constantly transmit Yin to Mira. As we walk, she will adapt and learn to use the saber to reduce the pressure.'
Mira soon woke up gently, and her eyes sought the robust, chubby figure within the dense scarlet mist. The whale sighed and gently held her, placing her on its shoulder, and then she breathed calmly, seeming to better withstand the environment now.
Soon, they uttered the words again that made Langrum and Zanou shiver. "Let's advance to the next level. We have no time to waste. There are just a little over twenty hours left."
Mira rose excitedly for the adventure, understanding the danger but confident that if her master said they could, she would follow without hesitation.
Zanou immediately protested, though. "You're crazy?! I'm not going to die for nothing..."
The whale cut him off without even looking at him. "Is that so? Alright, go back. I'm definitely not going to stop you."
Zanou was taken aback for a moment. However, he looked back from where he came and soon remembered who was coming after him and probably waiting at the entrance of the third floor. "Ahem... Now that I think about it, what is life without some obstacles? My power will definitely be of some use at some point, so this young master will follow you. There is no need to th-"
However, before Zanou could even finish his words, the rest of the group was already walking away. "Hey! Don't leave me behind!"
Goku then turned to Langrum, his gaze clearly indicating that he wouldn't force her. But before any words were spoken, she intervened.
"I'll go along. I have to make sure you fulfill the promise and go to the abyss to find my master, or else I have to die along with you," she said expressionlessly, reluctant to admit her true intentions.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Upon exiting the connection in the technique transmission, Langrum realized that her mind and memories became extremely hazy. She didn't focus on it due to the urgent need to run to save herself, but after that brief hour of rest, a strange feeling lingered within her.
It was a mixture of opposing sensations: a strange and comforting warmth, along with a dense and malicious presence. They seemed impossible to coexist, but looking at the whale made this feeling stronger, making Langrum want to stay close in an incomprehensible way. 'Just what did he do to me? I must find out!' She thought to herself.
"Do as you wish, but didn't your master's technique have a name?" the whale asked curiously.
"Master said that this was just the elementary level of the technique taught to all newborns in her clan. It wasn't something that had a name; only after the third level could one say they had learned the technique, and it would have a name," Langrum replied calmly as they moved forward.
Zane and Gael were thoughtful. The attacking power of that technique, which they learned in just a few seconds, was incalculable. It could penetrate defenses as if they were nothing, and the infernal laws were completely set ablaze in a mystical harmony.
Unfortunately, the second wing of their Evil God Mark they struggled to create was consumed when using the technique. Still, they would definitely go to the abyss to find that master and receive the true technique. Of course, Gael and Zane weren't idiots. They were well aware that the main reason behind such power was the Infernal Laws. Out of this abyss, Langrum's technique definitely wouldn't be anywhere near as strong.
***
Minutes passed as they traveled carefully, avoiding the territories of some powerful infernal beasts. Even though they could defeat them, close contact should be avoided, as the devouring spatial technique only worked individually. If surrounded, there was a risk of group members being killed; the ideal was to face one at a time or none at all.
There were places where they saw gigantic and powerful beasts, some even stronger than the Wyvern they had faced before. An attack from above would be problematic, so they had to sneak stealthily at certain moments.
Running was very dangerous, and even though they knew exactly the direction they were going, it took them three hours to reach the densest and most dangerous area of the third level. Zane and Gael clearly felt a strange aura in this place, and the expressions of the others gradually became more serious.
"Don't move without permission; even the trees here seem possessed by infernal laws. They can attack suddenly and take your life without any warning," the whale murmured for everyone to hear.
Mira clung to their shoulder, gripping tightly, but it wasn't fear; it was excitement. Zanou struggled to control his trembling body out of fear for a long time while Langrum maintained a calm expression on the surface but gripped her black sword tightly.
The jungle became denser as they advanced, and the scarlet mist in this region also grew darker, almost changing to total black darkness. Previously, they could hear the roar of beasts and the sound of nearby leaves and plants. However, in this region, all sounds disappeared. It was a frightening silence.
Langrum always refused to show fear, but at this moment, she was so tense that even the palms of her hands were sweaty. Anyone who did a bit of research knew that this was a well-known danger zone. A misstep could be fatal; dozens of elders died there every year. Even the patriarch trained there but walked with the utmost caution.
Leader Goku continued to lead the way. Zane focused on sensing the dangers around; in such a tense environment, even their sense of direction was confused. There seemed to be some mysterious energy here that suppressed people's senses.
"Wait," the whale suddenly spoke. Everyone stopped and looked at him.
A spear appeared in his hand. Like the vibrant sound of a string, it shot forward like lightning.
After that, a little ahead, the sound of metal clashing against metal reverberated. A strange monster, resembling a cross between a human and a monkey, with a pair of wings on its back, was blocked by him.
Then, with a glow coming from spatial runes, only a muffled cry of despair was heard, and the infernal beast was sucked into the spatial inventory. Mira was still on its shoulder and witnessed the process with wide-eyed astonishment; she seemed to burst with excitement.
The rest of the group approached, frightened. Until Goku acted, they couldn't sense anything even though it was a deadly threat just a few meters away.
"Shadow Bat Monkey!" Zanou muttered. He knew that beast; there were records of it in the sect. Several groups of elder practitioners had encountered this type of beast, and almost always, many died while few survived to tell the tale.
Zanou continued, "It was said that these beasts liked to eat people's heads. Once they approached stealthily, not even a higher-level elder could sense them. Then, with their sharp teeth, they would crack open their heads and suck their brains directly. It was an extremely cruel style of killing."
Langrum shuddered at that, but she was surprised by Zanou. He was weak and pathetic, but strangely, he was a scholar who enjoyed accumulating general knowledge.
The whale then turned gently and spoke. "Actually, they weren't that powerful. But the mist at this level can confuse a person's mind, and even the patriarch would be severely affected. Its hiding ability is simply because it's made of infernal laws."
Then, the spear was pointed to the side. "There are still two more. Langrum, block on the right, don't hold back." They then placed Mira on the ground, and she stood next to Zanou.
Langrum didn't disappoint and exploded with her full power in the given direction, while the whale quickly blocked the other and devoured it.
They then turned and ran quickly in the other direction. Langrum managed to surprise the beast and block it for two seconds at great cost. But the wings and tails were like bloodthirsty weapons, hitting her and penetrating her body without showing any defense.
Then, the whale devoured the second beast, and Langrum felt her whole body almost collapse with the power of this beast. It was in the early Core Formation Realm, a whole realm above. If it weren't for the black sword, she wouldn't be able to block a single blow.
She then looked at the back of the whale, which was eerily calm. Zane and Gael could only manage this thanks to their physical cultivation; only a single movement from the enemy was possible, but it was enough.
"Alright, the threat has been dealt with. Let's continue," Goku spoke calmly, continuing to walk. Langrum looked at him, seemingly reliving memories of something that had happened before.
They continued to advance in the jungle for several minutes. And every minute, they faced a different beast, and there were always two. It seemed like the whale was heading exactly for this number, and Langrum was used as a flesh shield, having to block one of these beasts. Quickly, her whole body was crushed and covered in blood.