Chapter 353: Western continent

As the massive head of the abomination broke the surface, the water below parted to reveal its menacing form. It had tentacles for hair, and its four eerie crimson eyes stared at us with a malevolent gaze. The sight of its mouth missing its lower jaw, exposing a row of sharp yellowish teeth, sent a shiver down my spine.

The creature's obsidian skin seemed to shine with an ominous aura as it rose to intercept us. Its sheer size was enough to dwarf all of us, and I could feel the weight of its malevolence in the air. Breta didn't hesitate and hurled her spear at it, the weapon instantly growing in size and emitting a blinding golden light that illuminated the area.

The monster let out a deep roar that shook the water, revealing the power it held within its formidable form. Breta's spear pierced through the air, aiming straight for one of the creature's crimson eyes.

The abomination reacted swiftly, swatting the spear away with one of its massive tentacles. Its other tentacles surged forward, reaching for us with lethal intent. I dodged and weaved, relying on my instincts to avoid the creature's deadly attacks.

I was about to counter with an attack of my own, when Sidus's dark mana surged, encompassing the massive abomination in a dome of darkness. The creature froze in place, appearing like a marionette whose strings had been suddenly cut loose.

"Keep going, brother. We don't have time for this; we have to find Ynos first," Sidus urged. I quickly nodded, and Breta refrained from sending another attack as I flew past the immobilized monster.

"How long will it stay like that?" I asked, glancing back at the large Shade we left behind.

"Not for long. I can already feel my connection breaking," Sidus replied through gritted teeth. He was in pain, and I could feel his struggle as he maintained control over the dome of darkness.

And so, I pressed forward, knowing that time was of the essence. The dark aura surrounding us seemed to grow denser as we ventured deeper into the ocean. our eyes constantly scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger.

It didn't take long for the strain on Sidus to became evident. His control over the dome of darkness he had left seemed to waver. I tried to move faster; to create as much distance as possible between us and whatever that thing was. Although we could no longer see it, it was still better to be safe than sorry.

Along the way, my frown deepened as I kept a watchful eye on the ocean below. The somber scene weighed heavily on my heart as we continued our journey. The once vibrant ocean and water elements had turned into a graveyard, the lifeless bodies of sea creatures floating to the surface, a haunting testament to the devastation that had befallen this once-beautiful place. The corrupted water spread like a malevolent stain, poisoning everything in its path.

Occasionally, we passed what appeared to be islands from a distance, only to discover that they were nothing more than massive floating dead bodies. Among them, some belonged to deities, others to Shades, and the corruption emanating from them further tainted the surrounding water.

My mind couldn't help but ponder the extent of the taint's reach and the number of lives it had already claimed. The speed at which it had spread was startling, leaving me to wonder if it was even possible to fix this now. It seemed as though it was too late to prevent the damage that had been done.

As I flew on, my mind was filled with a mix of emotions. I felt a sense of urgency to reunite with Ynos. And so, with every beat of my wings, I propelled myself forward, leading my companions toward the unknown.

The occasional remnants of Shades and Deities here and there served as grim reminders of the battles that were raging across the realm. It was a miracle that we managed to evade any serious danger, thanks to the vigilance of Sidus and Breta, and my quick actions.

We did encounter some close calls with the remains of Shades, but our swift and coordinated efforts dispatched them without slowing our pace. The bastards' aura was persistent and uncomfortable, it seemed like it was determined to thwart our progress at every turn.

The real danger, however, came when we stumbled upon the falling bodies of a Shade and a Deity. The sight was grim, as both beings had lost limbs and their auras were dull and lifeless. The impact of their bodies hitting the dark ocean sent the water surging high in a massive explosion. With the bodies falling dangerously close to us, I wasted no time in teleporting us out of harm's way.

After what felt like an eternity of flight, we finally caught sight of the distant western continent. As we descended, I landed on the now-darkened sand, my body returning to its usual form. The exertion of maintaining my transformation had drained me, leaving me feeling weary and weak.

Sidus, ever observant, glanced at me with concern evident in his eyes. "Are you alright, brother?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

I managed a nod, mustering a faint smile. "Yes, I'll be fine. Just need a minute to recover."

Breta's voice suddenly interjected, her tone urgent, "I'm afraid we don't have a minute."

I raised my head just in time as Breta's figure turned into a blur, and with incredible speed, she rushed toward the line of trees past the beach. Her presence alone seemed to ignite the air around her, and the area was instantly illuminated by a radiant glow. The moment she reached the mutated forest, a powerful explosion erupted, leveling the trees.

As the dust settled, Breta's figure emerged, standing amidst a graveyard of monster corpses. The fallen abominations surrounded her, lifeless and defeated. She had single-handedly obliterated the threat with her divine power, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Sidus and I approached her, and I grinned, giving her a playful pat on the shoulder using my tail. "You always know how to make an entrance," I teased.

Breta snorted in response, her eyes shining with satisfaction. "It's all in the timing," she replied. "Now, let's not waste any more time."

I nodded and took a deep breath to steady myself and regain some of my strength before I replied, "Okay, let's move."