"How is he cutting through the skin of those sea creatures so easily?" Maria wondered silently, her eyes narrowing as she watched Razeal from a distance. She remembered very well that most sea creatures had bodies covered with scales thicker than iron their skin resistant even to strong magic and high level of physical attacks. Yet here he was, slicing through them as though their flesh were made of soft butter.

Each swing of his sword tore through the water like a flash of crimson light, and the creatures that met the blade were shredded apart in an instant. Blood spread around him like ink in the sea. It wasn't even a fight anymore; it was a massacre.

Maria's mind spun. How is that possible? she thought. No ordinary weapon could pierce through skin that thick. Like she literally gave that sword to Razeal and it.. wasn't well that impressive as only an . 4th ranked weapon. It shouldn't cut this clean unless it was a 5th or 6th ranked one… and he's not even using magic to support it...Again.. She stared at him from afar, trying to comprehend what kind of force or ability was allowing him to do this... Just physical strength? That can't be right?

While Maria was lost in thought, Neptunia, who was floating slightly beside her, raised her bow again. Without hesitation, she pulled the string back.. the arrow she took out from behind..As the arrow's golden tip glowed. Then, with a sharp exhale, she released it.

The arrow tore through the dense ocean water like lightning, piercing through the distance and slamming into one of the incoming beasts. The creature convulsed, its massive body shuddering before collapsing into stillness, drifting downward as just got consumed in.. Chaos of other monsters around.

"Let's go," Neptunia said sharply, her voice cutting through the water. "Standing here will only waste our time. The faster we pass through these monsters, the better. From the looks of it, he could really have.. handle all this alone anyway."

There was a faint trace of irritation in her tone .. not loud or emotional, but quietly sharp. She clearly minded what Razeal had said earlier about leading the way through the Wild Sea. Now that she was witnessing his power firsthand, his words were proving true.. and she didn't like that. The way he cut through the horde with such effortless dominance made her chest tighten slightly, a mix of disbelief and pride wounded by his earlier arrogance.

Maria glanced at her briefly but said nothing, only nodding once. "Yeah."

Together, they swam after him.. the water parting smoothly as they moved forward. Strangely, there were no monsters in their path...to behind his back.. Everything ahead of them had nothing.

So they reached behind him.. In just seconds..

He turned around a little as sensed there approach.. his head tilted slightly..

"There are more monsters coming from behind," Razeal said suddenly, his tone calm and firm. His gaze remained forward. "Like a wave. I can't even sense the end of it..Whch means the number of monsters be farr greater then thismm so follow behind me.. fast. Also our goal isn't to kill every monster, but to cross this path safely. Remember that."

"I'll make the path ahead and kill as many as I can. No monster will come close to you from the front. But some might circle around or try to attack from behind. That's on you both. Take care of it," Razeal continued, his voice commanding, yet steady.. leaving no room for argument.

Neptunia and Maria nodded immediately.

"And also, you," Razeal turned his head slightly toward Maria, "these monsters are strong. You can use it without worry."

"Really?" Maria asked, hesitating. Her voice was uncertain, her gaze flickering toward Neptunia beside her. She remembered clearly what Razeal had told her before.. not to use any powers that could expose her as someone not from Atlantis. And now he was telling her to use it, openly, with an Atlantian right beside her.

"Yes," Razeal interrupted, his tone cutting through her doubts. "These creatures aren't weak. Their strength is equal to third or fourth-rank beasts some even of 5th rank. Without using it, you'll hold me down. So yes, use it."

Maria's eyes lingered on him for a moment, unsure. But the authority in his voice and the faint trust in his tone made her sigh lightly and nod.

Neptunia, however, had raised her eyebrows. She turned her sharp blue gaze toward Maria, eyes narrowing slightly in thought. From their conversation, she could clearly sense the discomfort and clear gaze towards her as they.. don't wanna do something because of her..

"Don't mind us," Razeal said suddenly, catching Neptunia's stare. "It's just that her Relica is a little… unique. And special."

"I'd also appreciate it if you kept it a secret," Razeal added, his tone casual but carrying quiet weight. "Ohk?"

Razeal said obviously lying through his teeth. He had no idea how Neptunia would react once Maria pulled that thing out, so he threw in the excuse to mislead her.

to make her think it was just an relica too . This way, she'd be busy guessing what made it 'unique,' instead of realizing it might not even be from Atlantis at all.

"Ohh, I see… I see. Don't worry about it," Neptunia said, her voice calm but her expression betraying curiosity. She sent a long, interest filled gaze toward Maria one that lingered longer than necessary. The tone of Razeal's explanation had intrigued her more than he probably realized. For a Relica to be kept so secret.. atleast from there way of interactions, what kind of power could it hold? she wondered silently, her fingers still lightly gripping her bow.

As for the "thing" Razeal had mentioned, it wasn't really a Relica at all.. ofcourse it was a Power Disk.

Yes, Maria had one. Razeal had only found out about it back on the ship, during one of their quieter moments when he had asked how she planned to handle herself if things went wrong once they reached the deep waters of Atlantis. She had been hesitant at first, but eventually, she had revealed the truth.. that she carried an ancient Power Disk, an heirloom of the Grave Family.

He remembered the conversation clearly.

A Power Disk wasn't something ordinary people had. It was a treasure, a tool so rare that only a handful of noble families possessed. In the novel he had read, he couldn't recall the Grave Family ever being mentioned as owners of such thing. That alone was odd. He didn't know what ability it have.. But if Maria truly possessed one, then it must be genuine and incredibly powerful.

If Sylva's had a disk attuned to wind, he thought, then it makes sense that the Grave Family's might have water attributed. He wasn't sure, but that was the most logical assumption. Either way, it would serve for better.

And now, under the water, he found himself thinking the same if she uses the disk, Neptunia will think it's a Relica. That would be the best possible cover. Certainly better than Maria accidentally revealing her magic, which could instantly give them away as outsiders.

Razeal's eyes narrowed briefly at the thought. The less anyone from Atlantis learned about who or what.. they really were, the safer it would be for all of them.

And then the concept of Power Disks flashed through his mind again

A Power Disk wasn't simply a weapon. It was more like a short-cut to magic itself.. a method to perform complex spells instantly without going through the usual lengthy process. Normally, to create a single spell.. like a wind arrow, for instance one had to go through several steps: visualize the spell's form, control and compress the elemental particles, stabilize the mana within, and finally release it.

Each step required focus, time, and perfect synchronization. Doing that for even one attack required significant effort.. and doing it for hundreds at once was almost impossible for any ordinary mage.

That's where the Power Disk came in.

By storing the process of a spell inside the disk, one could cast it instantly, without repeating the entire procedure. It was like saving a spell as a "command," ready to be executed in bulk. All it took was mana.. and the more one had, the deadlier they became.

It was, in essence, a tool for efficiency.. and for destruction.

The difference was overwhelming. With a disk, even someone who knew just one attack could become a one man army, raining spells endlessly as long as they had enough mana to feed the disk.

And that wasn't the only benefit.

The Disk also reduced mana consumption drastically ..nearly by threefold, sometimes even more, depending on its grade. It bypassed the waste and instability caused by human error, channeling only the purest form of elemental energy. And that, in a place as dense with mana and water.. as the ocean depths, made it a terrifying weapon for her personal.. Ofcourse if she had a water attributed disk that is.

All these thoughts circled inside Razeal's head as he remembered the concept of it..

"Alright then…" Maria said finally, her voice calm but edged with determination. "I will, if you say so. Though don't complain to me later."

Without another word, she reached into her storage ring and drew out a round, aqua-blue disk. Intricate engravings spiraled across its surface, faintly glowing with soft light as she held it up. Ancient symbols shimmered like veins, pulsing faintly under the water. The disk looked fragile and special at the same time ..delicate as glass, but humming with immense power.

Razeal didn't reply.. as he didn't even glance back. He had already turned away, cutting through another group of creatures, clearing the path ahead with brutal precision.

Neptunia, however, was fully focused on Maria.

Her eyes glinted.. sharp, curious, analytical. She was intrigued. The energy coming off the disk wasn't like relica. It didn't carry the signature pulse of a Relica, nor the aura of pure will infusion. Instead, it felt… alien.. faintly vibrating in rhythm with the water itself.. And another different energy.. making her think she was hillusinating.

Her gaze narrowed as she studied it more closely. The disk was palm-sized, smooth, and circular, glowing gently with layered ripples of blue light. To her, it was strange but not suspicious.. as relicas came in all forms and shapes, after all. Some looked like stones, others like rings, even fragments of armor or bone. But still… this one gave her a faint sense of dissonance.

She blinked, brushing the thought away. A unique Relica, huh? she thought, reminding herself of what Razeal had said. It's probably just different from what I've seen before.

Maria, aware of Neptunia's steady gaze, didn't flinch or react. Her expression was calm, almost stoic, even though her heart beat slightly faster. She knew she couldn't afford to look suspicious.

She took out her weapon from storage ring ..a beautifully crafted bow.. and attached the disk into a small circular slot built into its handle. The moment she did, a soft pulse of light rippled outward.

The bow hummed gently, resonating with the disk's energy. The carvings lit up, glowing with a deep aqua hue. The water around them trembled faintly as if responding to its activation, the current shifting ever so slightly in rhythm with the disk's pulse.

Razeal, now several meters ahead, could feel the faint energy surge behind him. He didn't need to turn around. Just sensing that familiar vibration was enough to make the corner of his lips lift slightly. Good, he thought... It really is a water attributed disk..

"So…What does this Relica of yours do?" Neptunia finally asked, her voice carrying genuine curiosity. Her eyes followed every motion Maria made as she carefully attached the glowing disk to her bow. Neptunia had expected it to be some kind of support-type Relica.. maybe one that strengthened the user's aim or enhanced the speed of arrows. Still, something about it didn't feel ordinary.

She sighed quietly in her mind, her gaze flicking toward Razeal fighting up ahead. At least someone here has brains, she thought. Using a bow in a water battle makes far more sense than charging forward with a sword. There was a faint irritation behind her eyes, but also a grudging respect for Maria's choice.

"See it yourself," Maria said simply, instead of answering.

Her tone was calm firm enough to make Neptunia's brows lift slightly. Maria raised her bow, her posture graceful yet steady, pulling the string back even though there was no arrow in sight. For a moment, Neptunia thought she was pretending.. until...

From the space between her fingers, water began to swirl. The liquid curved and solidified, shaping itself into a translucent arrow that shimmered under the faint blue glow of the ocean. The arrow looked alive, rippling faintly as if breathing.

Neptunia's eyes widened instantly. "Water manipulation?" she whispered under her breath.. She was shocked

Before she could process it further, Maria released the string.

The arrow vanished in a blur, cutting through the water with incredible speed. There was no resistance, no delay ..just a sharp whistle as it tore through the current. It shot toward a large intermediate 4th-ranked shark lurking in the distance, a massive beast with hardened scales and an aura of killing intent radiating around it.

The arrow hit dead-on.

It pierced through the creature's reinforced hide as if it were nothing but silk, slicing straight through its body.. then didn't stop there. The water arrow continued forward, drilling through two, three, even four more monsters behind it. Within seconds, the entire cluster of beasts collapsed, blood clouding the water like red smoke.

Neptunia stood frozen for a heartbeat.. well not from the strength of attack rather the attack itself.. her eyes wide as the realization struck her.. that was definitely water manipulation.

Her mind buzzed with disbelief. That's impossible. Question marks jumping all around her..

She knew that there is only one relic in the entire ocean known to possess that kind of power.. one capable of bending the water, shaping it like a limb... And from look she was sure this wasn't that.. relica.. Yet, here before her eyes, this girl was wielding something which isn't that relica but still manuplating water..

She couldn't help but stare at the glowing disk embedded in Maria's bow. The faint blue lines carved into its surface pulsed with energy, matching the rhythmic movement of the surrounding water. That aura strange, fluid, and foreign.. felt unlike any relica energy she had ever felt before.

Neptunia's expression turned serious, her curiosity deepening into quiet suspicion. If anyone found out about this… she thought. They definitely be curious about this or might even mistake this relica as that ralica..

Her eyes now having understanding.. as why Razeal was careful.. and called it "unique Relica" This was definitely something to be careful of..

"What rank Relica is this?" she finally asked, her tone calm but carrying clear weight. "And what stage of resonance have you reached with it?"

Maria froze slightly, glancing toward Neptunia out of the corner of her eye.

"Huh?" she said softly, pretending to be confused, though her mind raced. She had been worried the entire time that Neptunia might somehow notice the truth.. that the disk wasn't a Relica at all, but a completely different kind of artifact. And now, from the way Neptunia spoke, it seemed her lie had worked.

Neptunia truly believed it.

Relief mixed with tension in Maria's chest. Still, she couldn't afford to seem suspicious.

"That's too personal to ask," Maria blinked... "So NO I can't answer that." She replied in her Usually hotti tone.

Neptunia blinked. "…Alright," she said, a little surprised at the refusal. Normally, people boasting Relicas would eagerly brag about their rank and resonance, proud of their progress. Maria's calm dismissal only made her seem more mysterious. Still, Neptunia decided not to press further.

She's hiding it, Neptunia thought. Probably because it's rare. Maybe she doesn't want word of it spreading.

Maria smiled faintly, realizing trick had worked . The tension in her shoulders eased just slightly, and she gave a small nod toward Neptunia. "Let's follow behind him," she said, her tone back to composed calmness.

Neptunia didn't argue this time. Together, they both turned toward Razeal's direction.

Up ahead, the path through the ocean was already carved open ..bodies of slain sea creatures drifting downward, the water painted red. The visibility was clearer than before, though the smell of blood in the water was thick enough to make the surrounding predators restless.

The two women swam forward, closing the distance between them and Razeal, keeping only three or four feet behind him.

Razeal was still moving fast, his sword cutting through waves of monsters like a crimson blur. Every swing was precise, every motion efficient.. not a single wasted movement.

Behind him, Maria and Neptunia swam side by side, their expressions focused. Whenever a stray creature slipped past his range a serpent darting from the side, or a shark turning from below.. one of them would take it out.

Maria's bow shone brightly, the disk glowing each time she pulled the string. Water condensed instantly into arrows, each one hitting its target with sharp precision. The arrows cut through scales, tails, and tentacles, sending bursts of blood into the current.

Beside her, Neptunia did the same, but her bow shimmering with no cool glows nor any automatic reload arrows.. as she have to always take one arrow from behind and then shoot.. Though.. she shot arrows faster than most could blink, moving with ease born of experience.

"Keep up," Neptunia muttered softly, eyes focused ahead.

"I am," Maria replied calmly, though her heart raced slightly, feeling the energy of the disk vibrating faintly through her bow.

Together, the three of them cut through the sea ..Razeal leading like a storm of crimson, Maria and Neptunia following like twin streaks of blue light.

Behind them, the monsters surged endlessly but not a single one reached close.

The Wild Sea howled and churned around them, filled with blood, light, and the echo of battle.

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