Chapter 21: The Limpid Sea

Cynthia was no stranger to the name "Sea of Clarity." She had visited those waters before and had even encountered its native inhabitants: the Abyssal Sea Race.

Standing once again upon the soft white sand and gazing out at the familiar azure expanse, Cynthia felt a complex array of emotions. The era had changed, yet this sea seemed untouched, remaining exactly as it appeared in her memories. She felt a momentary sense of disorientation—was this truly the Sea of Clarity, or some pocket dimension constructed by a deity?

"My King."

Azathoth’s voice pulled Cynthia from her wandering thoughts. She acknowledged him with a hum and scanned her surroundings. Not far away, ripples disturbed the surface of the water, and a figure slowly emerged. His lower body was a shimmering, iridescent fish tail, while his upper body was indistinguishable from a human’s. His skin was fair, adorned with a scattering of glistening scales, and his eyes were a pure, crystalline sky blue, as if they held the entire ocean within them.

He glanced curiously at the multitude of "Eligibles" who had suddenly appeared on the beach. Showing no hostility, he offered a slight nod before diving back into the Sea of Clarity and vanishing from sight.

"Wow! Is that a member of the Abyssal Sea Race? So beautiful!"
"The Sea of Clarity is stunning! I want to come here for a vacation!"
"Where is the Blade of Time? It’s not at the bottom of the sea, is it? As someone who can’t swim, I’m crying."
"The Sea Race seems pretty friendly."
"Everyone, I think this is the real Sea of Clarity. I’ve been here once before. The trials for the Path to Godhood have been feeling a bit off lately..."

The comment questioning the integrity of the trials was quickly buried by the rapidly scrolling chat, unnoticed by anyone.

"Attention! Current coordinates of the Blade of Time: (800, 20025). Coordinates will refresh in three hours. This trial is a race; the first Eligible to obtain the Blade of Time shall become its wielder."

Almost the instant the announcement ended, the atmosphere on the beach shifted. The Eligibles scrambled to pull out their items and surged toward the blue sea, and a small-scale skirmish broke out on the water’s surface almost immediately.

Cynthia did not want to get caught in a melee while the situation remained unclear. She glanced at Azathoth, who understood her intent and leaned down to scoop her into his arms.

"My King, please give your command."

It was not the first time Cynthia had been carried by Azathoth. After a brief, futile struggle, she resigned herself to her fate and nestled into his embrace.

"Azathoth, find Rhea first."

*Why look for that frivolous woman?* Azathoth felt a surge of dissatisfaction.

"You seem reluctant, Azathoth."

"I am not, my King," Azathoth denied it vehemently. He would never say anything that might displease her.

Cynthia sighed. While the seven Royal Guards under her command were all exceptionally talented and formidable, in many ways, they were all overgrown, problematic children. As the guardian of these unruly individuals, Cynthia often found herself with a headache.

They hadn't traveled far before they spotted a massive boulder with a young man lying flat on top of it. Seeing them approach, the youth sat up. When his gaze landed on Cynthia, his dull, brown eyes seemed to brighten, and he waved to greet them.

"Yo! Hello there! I didn't expect to run into fellow kin here! I’m so lucky!" His tone was natural and familiar, as if he didn't consider Cynthia and Azathoth strangers at all.

Cynthia, perched on Azathoth’s sturdy arm, scrutinized the youth. His aura of the Abyss was authentic, and he appeared to pose no threat.

"Who are you?" Cynthia asked.

"Loki, just a passing, helpful fellow traveler from the Abyss. Given that we’re all from the Abyss, why not let me tag along? You two clearly look like the powerful sort."

The young man grinned, acting like a lone player seeking the protection of a strong team. Cynthia was about to refuse when a voice she least wanted to hear at that moment rang out from another direction.

"Little Abyssal monster, you’re certainly bold, daring to bring the Holy Grail into the trial grounds."

Cynthia whipped her head around to see Lin Yan, Gerald, and Helder emerging from the bushes by the beach. Lin Yan’s complexion remained pale, and his eyes were filled with cold, murderous intent as he looked at Cynthia.

Enemies meeting face-to-face, eyes burning with hatred. Gerald immediately drew his bow, and Helder began to growl as he entered a state of half-dragon transformation.

Loki jumped down from the large rock and quickly ducked behind Cynthia’s team, muttering, "Whoa, looks like you’ve got quite a few enemies. You’re not very big, little girl, but you sure know how to stir up trouble." There was no fear in his voice; instead, it sounded like excited mockery.

Cynthia had no time to address the newcomer, her full attention locked on Lin Yan.

"We of the Abyss aren't bold; we’re just resilient. Unlike certain believers of the Goddess of Life who go around killing themselves."

"Sharp-tongued wench! I won't give you another chance this time! Great Goddess of Life, grant me the scorching summer heat to incinerate this filthy, unclean thing!"

Before Lin Yan had even finished speaking, a massive torrent of flames descended from the sky. Azathoth set Cynthia down, instinctively moving to shield her with his body from the searing heat.

Cynthia stopped him, stepping forward to face the attack head-on.

[Ding! Fatal attack detected! 'Little Cutie's Absolute Domain' automatically triggered! (˵˚ω˚˵)]

That pink light barrier, adorned with cute heart-shaped illusions, materialized in an instant.

The scorching flames from above slammed into the barrier. A moment later, as if struck by an invisible giant's hand, they were batted back along their original path with even greater speed and intensity.

"This move again!" Lin Yan gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear Cynthia to shreds. "Flame Wall!"

In his haste, he condensed a defensive wall of fire.

*BOOM—*

The scorching heat he had summoned crashed into his own flame wall with a deafening roar. Flames splashed everywhere and heat waves surged; Lin Yan was knocked back repeatedly by the force of the explosion, his heels carving deep furrows into the white sand, leaving him looking quite disheveled.

Gerald and Helder’s attacks froze mid-motion, their expressions looking as if they had just swallowed a fly.

*Not again. This is absolute madness!*

The livestream chat scrolled by at breakneck speed.

"Reflected again! Hahaha!"
"Lin Yan: Season 2 of 'I Kill Myself'!"
"Cynthia: You have to admit, the effect is great!"
"On the Art of Making Your Opponent Have a Mental Breakdown."
"Lin Yan is about to lose his mind!"

Cynthia gave a silent nod of approval to the 'Cute King Raising System' in her mind; this skill was a hundred times more useful than all those previous, humiliating ones.

Loki, hiding in the back, widened his eyes and let out a low whistle. "Whoa! Little girl, that’s impressive!" His brown eyes glinted with a strange light—not the expression of an ordinary member of the Abyssal race, but rather the excitement of someone who had found an interesting toy.

Lin Yan steadied himself, his face turning an ashen blue, his chest heaving with rapid breaths. To fall into the same trap twice—especially the second time, when he had been prepared—was a humiliation of the highest order in his career. He stared fixedly at the pink light barrier that had yet to fully dissipate around Cynthia, his eyes filled with doubt and alarm.

*What kind of bizarre ability is this? Rule reflection? I’ve never heard of the Abyssal race possessing such a power.*

He didn't dare launch another attack lightly. Who knew how long this strange domain would last or how many times it could reflect damage? What if it happened again...?

Gerald and Helder had clearly lost their nerve as well, holding their weapons in a state of hesitation. They couldn't win, and the reflection was too lethal.

Just then, the Oracle’s announcement rang out once more, breaking the stalemate.

"Attention! The coordinates for the Blade of Time have refreshed. Current coordinates: (1250, 19800)."

New coordinates had appeared, and they seemed to be further out, in deeper waters. This announcement served as a signal, reminding everyone of their true objective.

Lin Yan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage and murderous intent. He cast a cold, death-filled glare at Cynthia, but ultimately chose not to strike.

"Let's go," he said to his two teammates in a hoarse voice, turning and walking toward the sea.

Gerald and Helder, feeling as if they had received a pardon, followed immediately, not wanting to stay a second longer. If they continued to tangle with her, they would miss the best opportunity to seize the Blade of Time. Lin Yan marked this grudge; once he obtained the divine blade, he would settle all old and new scores together.

Watching Lin Yan’s team depart, Cynthia breathed a silent sigh of relief.

"My King, are you alright?" Azathoth asked with concern.

"I'm fine," Cynthia shook her head, turning her gaze toward the Abyssal youth who called himself Loki. "They’re gone. You can go, too."

Loki, however, stepped closer with a grin, showing no intention of leaving. "Don't be like that, little girl. Look at how weak I am—how dangerous it is to be in this trial alone! Your team is so strong, why not let me tag along? I’m very useful! I’m fast, I have great intel, and I can even tell jokes!"

Azathoth frowned and took a step forward to block him, his cold gaze filled with warning. "Stay away from the King."

"Oh, don't be so fierce," Loki raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, though his expression remained relaxed. "I’m genuinely here to seek shelter. Look, I was even worried about you being surrounded just now."

Cynthia watched Loki, always feeling a strange sense of familiarity. There was a profound, dissonant feeling in his every word and action.