The Might of The Death Ocean

For an entire week, the seven youths went through continuous pain that made them wish for death. However, all of them soldiered through it without complaint. They knew that everything had a price.

The members of the Third Room were quietly meditating in front of Dawn. Their entire bodies were bathing under their own sweat. Their Arcana were still flashed beside them, but they were different than before. They physically looked the same, but they were more apparent. They had a glow that they had never possessed before. It was as if a new life was breathed into them.

"Well, that's one week I would never relive," Keith said with a soft smile.

"You and me, Keith," Audrey affirmed.

The other five also slightly nodded.

'That was a very productive week, but oh my world, not again,' Laigiel thought.

"Gale is already waiting in the Second Room. Go," Dawn said with a smile before sending a gush of Arcane toward them. It immediately rejuvenated their bodies and cleaned them as well.

"Thank you, Lady Dawn," the seven bowed.

'She really is an Angel,' Laigiel thought with a smile.

Inside the Second Room, a gentleman wearing a full suit of a butler with a monocle greeted them. He had straight waist-lengthed black hair and grey eyes. He looked of similar age to the other members of The Keynote Journalists, but he had a mature demeanor.

"Good morning. I have no doubt that you know my name and feel free to address me as such. Lady Dawn had requested for me to bring you to The Villa of No Return and train you enough for you to catch up with the prodigies in the future training camp. Are you ready to proceed?" Gale asked with a calm and straight tone.

"Yes, Mr. Gale," they simultaneously replied.

'What an uptight person. Even amongst these individuals,' Laigiel remarked.

"Good. Let us proceed. Eve."

Just then, a space crack opened before them which they entered with the gesture of Gale.

'So it was Lady Eve who made those, interesting--Woah!' Laigiel's thoughts were interrupted when he felt that he was falling. He did not expect that they would be transported to the skies. He quickly grabbed hold of himself, though, and flew, but he still lowered his head in embarrassment, especially after seeing Audrey hold back her laughter.

They were high up in the sky, but when they looked around, all they saw was nothing but the ocean.

"Is this the Death Ocean?" Dylan asked.

"Indeed, it is. This is a relatively safe part of the Death Ocean. We are going to venture west to get to Point Death. It is an area where Death Laws are most common. Afterward, we are going to dive deep into the ocean until we reach The Villa of No Return. I will protect you with my Arcane from the pressure of the sea but try to withstand the might of the Death Laws on your own," Gale said before waving his hand and developing everyone with a thick layer of air.

'Damn!' Laigiel cursed after being suddenly dragged by the impact of the orb moving. They were moving faster than the wind itself which almost made Laigiel nauseated.

The further west they go along, the eerier they felt. It was as if something within them innately fears the environment around them.

"Is this the feeling of death?" Keith asked. His normally brave and outgoing personality is nowhere to be seen. He was constantly looking around because of the eerie feeling he has.

"It is. No matter what sentient being one might be, there is always an innate fear of death. You need to overcome what you are feeling, this is only the beginning," Gale reminded.

Laigiel started to rub his left arm with his palm to comfort himself. Audrey was tossing her golden coin repeatedly for peace of mind. Dylan was lighting a fire with his thumb and blowing it away over and over again. Keith was forming light between his two palms while praying. Aliza kept adjusting her glasses. Ethia kept shuffling her tarot deck, and Ashe was constantly combing her hair with her fingers.

It was undeniable that the seemingly empty and normal ocean was giving them anxiety. Slowly, the fear inside them started growing. Despite them moving fast, it felt like they were moving slowly in the vastness of the ocean. It paired incredibly well with the growing strength of the Death Laws around, which made the seven feel like they are slowly approaching death.

'What the hell is this week? It is as if death itself is calling me home. First pain, now, fear. Damn!' Laigiel cursed. His fear is slowly turning into anger.

Gale was looking at the anxious and fearful looks of the seven youths which made him inevitably smile. 'You are actually doing better than I thought,' he thought, but he kept a stern expression.

'I feel like vomiting,' Ashe thought. 'I should be better than this.'

"We are entering the 'Death Zone'," Gale reminded.

'What?! We are not even in the so called death zone?' Laigiel complained.

"Seriously?" Keith asked in a shallow voice.

'What is this feeling? It feels innate and safe but I fear it to my very bones. How creepy,' Aliza thought.

As soon as they entered the Death Zone, all of them opened their mouths and breathe. They felt the need to suck air. They felt thirsty for water and searching for light.

'Damn! Stay focused, Laigiel!' Laigiel woke himself by stabbing Arcane to his belly which he immediately healed. 'It's a wonder how pain reduces fear.'

It was not just him, the others also hurt themselves in a variety of ways to wake themselves from the fear.

"That's good. Pain gives a sense of living," Gale hinted.

This was enough for the youths to hurt themselves constantly as they travel deeper into the Death Zone. Such a scene would cause a spectator to think of them as masochists.

'Finally, we stopped! Here we are,' Laigiel sighed in relief.

"It's going to get worse," Gale said with a smile.