Chapter 345: Soul Shroud
When Coop exited the Coral Forest, he emerged into a world that was bathed in the rosy light of dawn. The atmosphere was almost flushed, as if the previous day’s sun had kissed pale cheeks, leaving a slightly ruddy sunburn on the planet. He wasn’t sure if the prominent reddish tone was due to his time spent underground causing his eyes to adjust, but somehow he doubted it was that simple. The atmosphere was noticeably changing as time went on.
The settlement was eagerly awakening with the sunrise, stirring with activity as the day began in earnest, ignoring the rubicund blush as the reliable tropical sun climbed higher.
Coop slowly turned, taking in a panoramic view of the territory. After spending so much time within the underground dungeon, acclimating to the relatively dim illumination provided by motes of mana, bioluminescence, or in the actual darkness of the abyss and other caverns, it felt good to be back on the surface. The sunlight was able to penetrate all the way to his soul. To him, it was like being warmed by a fireplace after a cold winter day. He relished the feeling.
It seemed like the collective forces that attended the continental summit had arrived in Ghost Reef during the night, disembarking before the sun had risen. The most eager of the bunch had gone straight to the Coral Forest, still in the mindset that they were racing with the Unchosen Champion. Coop supposed it wasn’t over yet, but he had taken a lead as they all pushed beyond the soft limits of the assimilation, and that was probably bad news for the most ambitious of his friendly rivals.
He took a deep breath, leaning his head back every so slightly as he exhaled in order to catch the sun on his face. He couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction, like a neglected office plant spreading its leaves in the open air for the first time. He embraced the atmosphere, letting his exposed skin be bathed in the sun, letting it cleanse his concerns with its warmth.
After a single moment, he felt rejuvenated. All the mental fatigue was expunged by the idyllic landscape and summertime heat. It was almost too bad that he had more work to do, more levels to gain, and more stats to accumulate. A long break would have hit the spot, but he had no idea when the next event would be triggered, and his re-levelling grind was incomplete.
The shallow sea was spotted with hundreds of ships, coming and going with bells tolling from the harbor. Dozens of parties were patrolling the sandbars, hunting Primal Kites in teams, occasionally highlighting a section of the ocean with explosions of energy or the spotlights of levels gained. Foragers were slowly wading further away from the islands, seeking small treasures and resources to harvest, sometimes strolling miles away from any shore.
Despite the minor disturbances, the surface of the ocean was a rough mirror reflecting the fiery hues of the rising sun, shimmering with a thousand focal points, one at the top of every tiny wave. The horizon, opposite the islands, was a breathtaking scene of orange and crimson, igniting the sky, and casting long dramatic shadows across the superficial waves. Coop had arrived just in time to experience the perfect moment of sublime beauty, a testament to the treasure that was Ghost Reef itself, untarnished by the influence of the assimilation.
The main island, where the fort marked the center of their civilization, was completely saturated by the light of the climbing sun. The overwhelming light, reflecting all across the horizon, made the entire key seem insignificant, but to Coop, the apparent triviality made it that much more precious. He nodded to himself, embracing the surge of motivation that came from beholding his home, standing strong in the changing times.
Further toward the shore, local families were enjoying the morning, playing catch along the sandy beach or tagging each other in games with the swimming pigs as the animals trotted through the shallows. Coop noted the number of people exercising or training, taking the opportunity to start the day properly. New residents were being escorted by strangers that were already comfortable enough to guide people around the settlement. Even Coop could tell the difference because the expressions of shock toward the security of Ghost Reef were always the same. The ones that were so obviously in awe were clearly brand new, with one exception: Coop himself.
Before he moved on to the Slayer grinds that would define the third phase of his leveling plan, Coop decided to take the rest of the morning to revisit his own routine. The timing just seemed right.
He stretched both arms over his head, leaning side to side, feeling the extension in his upper back, before he let his arms down with a sigh. He started wading back toward the shore, tracing the sandbars with his feet and passing by a small skiff that carried several parties of adventurers to the Coral Forest for their own missions. He rinsed some of the grime off of his skin as he went, making himself seem less like a monster rising from the depths and more like just another resident.