Chapter 380: Chapter 380: Atlante (3)

The Submerged Island, Atlante.

It was located in the Grand Rock, the easternmost region of the 6th floor, and it was the place where I could obtain my second core essence after [Gigantification].

It wasn't difficult to reach.

You needed a ship that could sail to the Grand Rock.

The ability to freely dive deep into the sea, whether it was through magic, spirits, or skills.

And most importantly, the patience to endure repetitive tasks.

Those three things were all you needed to reach Atlante.

‘Time to grind.’

We entered the Grand Rock and carefully navigated the ship, avoiding the reefs and searching the area.

There was something we had to do before we could reach the Submerged Island, hidden beneath the easternmost region…

“Um… do you happen to know where we’re going…?”

The navigator couldn’t contain his curiosity and asked, and I hesitated for a moment before answering.

I didn’t see the point in hiding it anymore.

“Huh? A red rock island…?”

The navigator tilted his head at my answer.

“Yes, big enough for about twenty people to stand on.”

Three red rock islands were randomly generated in the Grand Rock every time the labyrinth opened. And we had to complete the unlock event on all three islands to reveal the hidden Submerged Island.

“…Okay.”

Surprisingly, the navigator didn’t question my orders.

“So that’s where we’re going.”

It seemed like he knew about the Submerged Island event.

He must be an experienced navigator.

“Then I’ll focus on searching and create the most efficient route.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

The navigator, who now knew my goal, steered the ship with a more proactive attitude, and we found the rock island we were looking for on Day 4.

Splash.

A flat rock island, partially submerged in water.

We went to the center of the island and checked a crevice, and there were ostrich egg-sized eggs neatly arranged inside.

“Eggs? What do we do with these?”

Erwen, who was right behind me, asked curiously, and I chuckled.

That’s how hidden elements in [Dungeon and Stone] work.

Crack!

If it looks suspicious, you break it.

That’s what exploration is all about.

____________________

「The character has destroyed the Mermal’s nest.」

____________________

After smashing all the eggs, we waited.

“Something’s coming.”

“Huh?”

“Prepare for battle!”

As soon as I shouted, sea monsters started emerging from beneath the rock island.

Well, were they really ‘sea monsters’?

Splash.

I scanned the monster that was glaring at us, holding a trident.

It was bipedal and had human-like proportions.

But its blue skin resembled scales, and its shiny skin was covered in glowing tattoos.

And it was wearing clothes and had various hairstyles, unlike the other monsters, which all looked the same.

Well, its intelligence was probably no different from other monsters.

[Kyaaaaaaaaaak!]

A savage howl that sounded like gibberish.

The monsters, which had surrounded us, all charged towards us at once.

And…

「Mermal defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Warrior defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Archer defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Shaman defeated. EXP +3」

「Mermal Great Warrior defeated. EXP +4」

We gained a lot of new experience points, thanks to their diverse classes.

The battle itself wasn’t that difficult.

Hundreds of monsters were attacking, but their average level was below 6.

Crack, crack, crack!

I attracted most of the aggro with [Gigantification], and we were able to clear them all without any casualties.

But could it be that our performance was impressive?

“To think you did that against these monsters… It’s no wonder you’re in that state.”

The mage muttered in disbelief, and the navigator nodded in agreement.

Damn it, there’s no point in regretting it now.

“Mage, gather the magic stones if you have time to talk.”

“…Alright.”

We used the mage to gather the magic stones scattered around after the battle ended.

“An essence dropped. What should we do with it?”

“Leave it. It’s not worth much.”

“…….”

A Mermal essence had dropped, but we didn’t bother taking it.

We had a mage, and he even had a test tube, but it wasn’t cost-effective.

We couldn’t waste our two test tubes on this—

Rumble.

What the…

Why is the ground shaking?

“Mister?”

“Wait a minute.”

We stopped and observed the situation as we were about to board the ship. The tremor, which was traveling through the water, lasted for about a minute and then stopped, as if nothing had happened.

But I think I knew the reason.

「An underwater city has emerged from the depths of the sea.」

Someone had already cleared another rock island.

Then we didn’t have to waste time finding the other two.

“Is this good luck or bad luck…”

I couldn’t tell.

We had saved time, but the fact that the events on the other two islands had already been completed meant only one thing.

There was another competitor who was after the Submerged Island.

Of course, it wasn’t 100% certain yet.

Maybe they just cleared the event on their way to another location.

But…

‘I’ll find out when we get there.’

I decided to think about it later.

I had no intention of changing my plans, even if there was another competitor.

‘So, what about the members…’

I thought about it one last time, but I concluded that it was best to take everyone.

We needed someone to store the essences in test tubes if they dropped.

I had to take the mage.

And I also had to take Erwen, who could breathe underwater, and Amelia, who was a Guide.

Well, I didn’t need the navigator…

‘But it would be unsettling to leave him alone.’

“Mage, you said you could use underwater breathing magic, right?”

“Yes, but…”

“How long can you maintain it?”

“For how many people?”

“Three, including you.”

Erwen and I could breathe underwater with [Elemental Barbarian], so we just needed to cover Amelia.

We could also use the water spirit to help her breathe, but it was better to conserve our resources.

“About four hours, if I don’t cast any other spells.”

“That’s shorter than I expected, but it should be enough. Everyone, get ready. We’re going down.”

“…….”

The navigator and the mage nodded, gulping nervously.

Geez, they’re so dramatic.

They’re not even going to fight.

Splash.

I jumped into the water first.

I didn’t feel any discomfort, even though we were underwater, since I was linked to Erwen through [Elemental Barbarian].

And my vision was clear, as if I was wearing goggles.

Whoosh.

My body, which was naturally buoyant, quickly sank to the bottom.

I looked up and saw Amelia following us.

She had tied a rope to the navigator and the mage and was holding it like reins.

Ah, for reference, the navigator’s feet were shackled with heavy iron chains.

Thud!

My feet touched the ground after about ten minutes of descending. Amelia and the others soon arrived.

Click.

It was pitch black, so I activated the Light Gem and attached it to my helmet.

I hadn’t turned it on before because monsters would attack if they saw the light while we were descending.

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

The light only illuminated a small area.

Whoosh, whoosh.

I couldn’t speak, even though I could breathe, so I gestured for them to follow me.

We were in the dark depths of the sea, where even compasses didn’t work.

But finding our destination wasn’t difficult.

We had Amelia, the Guide.

「Deep Diver defeated. EXP +4」

「Sea Worm defeated. EXP +3」

「Shell Armor defeated. EXP +4」

「Mad Clopter defeated. EXP +5」

「Marimore defeated… 」

We killed various sea monsters as we traveled, and after about two hours…

…we reached our destination.

A submerged and ruined city.

We entered the city, and the remaining pillars emitted light, illuminating the surroundings.

Swaaaaaaaaaa…

[Wow…]

Erwen, the only one who could speak freely, gasped.

I felt the same way, even though I couldn’t express it.

‘It’s really magnificent in 3D.’

It felt like a real adventure. It would have been even more thrilling if I had stumbled upon this place without knowing anything about it.

Whoosh, whoosh.

We passed through the deserted ruins and climbed the stairs, entering the temple.

And…

[Huh…?]

…we arrived at a small room at the top of the pyramid-shaped temple.

Erwen’s eyes widened in surprise.

[It’s a portal…?]

Ah, didn’t I tell you?

I had expected her to know, considering I had Amelia, the Guide, lead the way.

I just shrugged and entered the portal since I couldn’t answer anyway.

「Character has entered Atlante.」

I hope the essence drops on the first try.

____________________

The Submerged Island, Atlante.

A hidden island you could reach by diving into the deep sea after clearing the rock island event.

Unlike ordinary islands, you had to go through a portal, but that didn’t mean it was a ‘rift’.

There was no Guardian.

The drop rate was the same as outside.

And there were no rift stones or Numbered Items.

So I called it a hidden field.

Lalkas’s Maze, where I first encountered the Dragonslayer, and the Otherworld, which I entered with the mirror I obtained after killing Milalorden on the 5th floor, were prime examples.

「Field effect - Atlante activated.」

「Status effect [Hyperventilation] applied.」

「Character is not affected by water, but all resource consumption is doubled.」

「Status effect [Challenger] applied.」

「Character cannot escape during battle.」

As expected of a special field, changes occurred as soon as we entered.

A red aura shimmered on the ground beneath my feet.

‘That’s the ‘Challenger’ effect…’

And although [Hyperventilation] didn’t have a visual effect, it was already active.

I could talk properly now.

“You can deactivate [Elemental Barbarian] now.”

Phew, I can finally breathe.

It was frustrating to communicate with hand gestures.

[Huh? But…]

Erwen hesitated.

[Huh? Mister, you can talk underwater?]

“I told you, didn’t I? You can deactivate it.”

[This is a strange place…]

Erwen deactivated [Elemental Barbarian], and the mage, after glancing at me, also dispelled his underwater breathing spell.

“This feels strange. I’m clearly underwater, but I don’t feel any discomfort. And I can move freely, just like on land.”

Amelia, as always, started examining her condition as soon as the environment changed.

“This is the Submerged Island, Atlante…”

“I’ve been on the 6th floor for over ten years, but this is my first time here…”

The mage and the navigator also expressed their admiration.

But then they seemed to get nervous.

“Um… what should we do now? We won’t be much help in battle…”

The navigator cautiously asked for my opinion, and I chuckled and gave them an order.

“All four of you, wait here and then slowly follow me in five minutes.”

“…Huh?”

The navigator tilted his head, confused, and the mage frowned.

And…

“Schuitz, you said 3rd-grade monsters appear here, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. Even you… can’t handle it alone…”

Amelia and Erwen expressed their concerns.

It was an understandable reaction.

The Submerged Island was one of the most difficult areas on the 6th floor.

And there were so many monsters that it was usually cleared by an expedition force.

But…

“Just listen to me. Have you ever seen me do anything dangerous?”

“…No.”

“You would be hard-pressed to find an example.”

…Damn it, that’s embarrassing.

“Anyway, I’m saying there’s no need to worry. Just because we can breathe and talk doesn’t mean we’re not underwater.”

“Well… that’s true.”

“Call me if you’re in danger! Okay?”

Erwen and Amelia finally let me go after I gave them a plausible explanation.

Okay, persuasion complete.

Thud, thud.

I slowly descended the stairs from the portal.

And the moment I stepped off the last step…

Swaaaaaaaaaa!

…dozens of red eyes gleamed in the darkness beyond the Light Gem’s reach.

They were Sea God Stones, monsters that appeared in the early stages of Atlante.

For reference, they were 5th-grade.

They were tower-type monsters that couldn’t move from their designated location, but they had high Physical Resistance and a slow but powerful long-range attack…

Thud.

…but I just stood there in the middle of them.

There was no need to draw my weapon.

This was much more efficient.

「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」

「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」

「Reflects 30% of the received damage to the enemy.」

「Natural Regeneration has reached its maximum due to the passive skill [Origin].」

「Powerful Luck.」

「Reflects 150% of the received damage to the enemy.」

[Gachaat—!!]

「Sea God Stone defeated. EXP +5」

Now, let’s start the free exp grind.