Chapter 80 ‒ Whispers Beneath the Waves
Chapter 80 ‒ Whispers Beneath the Waves
Tyler stood on the sandy ocean floor, the water above him shimmering like a moving ceiling of blue glass. After Crono Crab’s outburst about his son, he found himself trying to steady his breathing, even though the Aqua Helm made it effortless.
“Where exactly are we?” Tyler finally asked, curiosity outweighing the echo of laughter still drifting from Crono’s rants.
Crono clicked his claws thoughtfully. “Ah! We are near the city of Aquapolis, the jewel of the ocean! Come, come! Let me show you around!”
Crono led him through a winding coral path, past fields of seaweed that rippled like silk in a gentle current. Brightly coloured schools of fish darted between giant kelp stalks, and faint beams of light from the surface cut through the depths like silver blades.
At last, a sprawling settlement appeared before them, its structures grown from coral and bioluminescent shells. Jellyfish lanterns floated between archways, casting a dreamy glow on the twisting streets.
Crono proudly stopped at a large structure with a sign that read: “Crono’s Crustaceous Cuisine — Finest Seafood Under the Sea!”
“Welcome to my shop!” Crono exclaimed, puffing out his chest as best a crab hybrid could.
Tyler’s eyes roamed over the menu plastered on a driftwood board. One item caught his gaze immediately — [Roasted Crab Legs].
He raised an eyebrow. “You… sell crab legs? Isn’t that a bit… self-harming?”
Crono waved a claw dismissively, clicking in exasperation. “Oh, those are from a different species! Less intelligent, more… chewy. Business is business!”
Tyler almost laughed aloud but stopped when his eyes fell on another dish: [Shark Fin Soup].
An item description hovered next to it:
[Grants temporary underwater breathing for 5 minutes.]
Tyler exhaled, grateful. Thank you, King Orlan, he thought. If not for this Aqua Helm, I’d probably have to gulp down hundreds of these soups just to explore.
He left Crono’s shop shaking his head, amusement tinged with disbelief, and wandered deeper into Aquapolis. Soon, he spotted two dolphin hybrids standing beside a coral stall adorned with colourful seaweed bundles.
“Hello, we are Pino and Pano! We are farmers!” Pino began, his voice bright and friendly.
Pano continued seamlessly, “So Crono Crab wasn’t lying. Greetings [Player], I heard you are undertaking quests.”
Pino chimed back in, “Oh! Before that, you can check our wares too. I’m sure you’ll find something useful.”
Tyler glanced over their merchandise: coral fertilizers, bubble traps, even a glowing algae lantern. But none of it really caught his interest.
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“Alright,” Tyler said, crossing his arms lightly. “Just tell me what the quest is.”
Pano beamed. “Oh, then can you protect our farm from pests?”
[Quest Assigned: Pest Extermination]
[Objective: Eliminate pests attacking the crops of Pino and Pano’s farm]
[Reward: 350 gold]
[Will you accept the quest?] [Yes] | [No]
As the quest window blinked in front of him, Tyler’s expression darkened, his pupils shrinking slightly. His mind drifted instantly to that day — the day Milo was taken from him under the guise of a simple pest extermination quest.
He felt his throat tighten, a phantom ache blooming in his chest. The shimmering interface before him wavered like a mirage.
Pino’s cheerful face turned worried. “Excuse me, [Player], are you alright? It’s okay to reject this quest, you know?”
Pano murmured, glancing between them anxiously. “Why does he look like that? I don’t think the quest should be that difficult for his level. Maybe he’s unwell right now.”
Tyler snapped out of his haze, blinking rapidly as their words washed over him like a cold current. He forced a small, shaky laugh. “Don’t worry, guys. Haha… Lately, I’ve been zoning out a lot while thinking about my next steps. Don’t worry, I’ll do the quest.”
Pino tilted his head, his soft fins twitching. “Are you sure you’re alright? You can reject this quest. You don’t have to force yourself.”
Pano nodded fervently. “Yes! Even without your help, we can manage. The only reason we asked you was because these pests are a bit more dangerous. They use poison, you know.”
At the mention of poison, Tyler’s eyes flashed. A memory surged forth — Milo’s desperate warnings, the bitter sting of regret.
He inhaled deeply, then squared his shoulders. “Do not worry. I’ll take care of your farm. Nobody will die from poison, not under my watch.”
Pino and Pano exchanged a relieved glance. Tyler turned and walked toward the farm, each step heavier than the last.
The farm was sprawling — nearly as large as the wheat fields in Heartwood. Rows of vibrant underwater crops swayed gently, each stalk dotted with bioluminescent blooms.
Then, Tyler noticed them.
[Enemies Identified: Pufferfish-seahorse, Level 45 x18]
They slithered among the crops, their spiny bodies glowing ominously, each flick of their fins radiating tension.
Tyler unsheathed his magma sword with a confident flourish — but stopped, staring blankly at the blade. Its fiery aura sputtered, vanishing into nothing.
“…Idiot,” he muttered, facepalming so hard bubbles escaped his helmet. “I’m underwater.”
He sighed, shaking his head. Even without the [Blazing Trail], the sword was still a major upgrade.
With a resigned exhale, he lunged forward. The first creature lunged at him, spines extended. Tyler dodged and slashed it cleanly in half.
[+10 XP]
[Status: Affected by [Poisonous Spikes] debuff. Target will lose 70 HP every second. Duration: 00:00:10]
Before the sting could fully register, Tyler activated [Undying Tenacity]. His body glowed faintly as the poison effect was purged instantly.
His mind flashed again to that fateful day — if only he had acted this quickly then…
One by one, he danced among the pests, each strike precise and economical. No hesitations, no distractions. Only ruthless focus.
[+180 XP]
[Level Up! Tyler Level 125 → 129]
[Attribute Points: +4]
[Quest Completed: Pest Extermination]
[Reward: 350 gold]
Tyler stood still afterward, sword dripping with faintly glowing ichor. He didn’t look at the gold. He didn’t glance at his status screen. His eyes stared ahead, distant and haunted, seeing a memory only he could see — Milo’s form flickering into light, forever just beyond reach.
His shoulders trembled. A heavy silence pressed around him, the sound of drifting bubbles the only witness to his grief.
Then, out of nowhere, a voice shattered the stillness:
“Hey, do you want to hear about our lord and guardian, the God of Stormy Seas?”
The tone was so eerily reminiscent of enthusiastic street preachers on the surface world, it jolted Tyler from his spiralling thoughts.
He turned sharply, his eyes wide behind the Aqua Helm’s visor.
A robed figure floated in the water, holding up a conch shell like a holy relic, their eyes gleaming with zealous fervour.
Tyler’s expression twisted somewhere between disbelief and a pained laugh bubbling in his throat. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he whispered, feeling the absurdity of this oceanic sermon wash over him like a wave.