It was a desperate and dangerous move, as the water swallowed up the dark cavern fear crept its way into his heart. The ceiling crumbled fast falling all around him, nothing but the sounds of frantic gobbles and rushing water echoing in the area. Ray of Light was a powerful offensive move but after using the skill he immediately felt lethargic, if it was due to his depleted SE or simply from the pressure he was under he wasn't sure. It took all the strength he had not to be swept into the current as he continued to swim up in the darkness.

After the initial confusion, the surviving stenchling began to gain their composure and water being their natural habitat started gliding through the water, like birds in the sky they dominated the water and Shin with his depleted SE and strength could put up little resistance to their onslaught of attacks. The current of the water seemed to get stronger as he helplessly swam up, slowly being dragged deeper into the abyss.

The stenchling began their attack zipping through the water like missiles, mouths gaping wide as his body was being sliced apart. As if his situation wasn't dire enough he began to run out of air, holding his breath for a little over 2 minutes now his composure started to crumble and the thought of him dying in the darkness surfaced in his mind.

Using his last ounce of strength, Shin attempts to break through the current. His arms and legs burned with every movement slowly pushing himself to the top, the stenchling continually slicing into him but he pushed forward in the darkness. Holding his breath for a little over 3 minutes now his mind became hazy and his movements monotone, simply moving due to the fact that not moving would mean his demise. His bones creaked, as the stenchling smashed into his body disrupting the momentum he had struggled to gain.

As despair began to take hold of him the pull from the current stopped, the debris from the ceiling closing off the tunnels below. The unexpected shift from the current sent the stenchlings zipping past him slightly missing their target, rings went off in his head as Shin scrambled up towards the surface his insides burned from the absence of air. With the current gone the remaining stenchling began to rapidly swim up in the darkness as their target frantically tried to get away.

Passing through the collapsed ceiling the light from the sun illuminated the pond floors, the stenchling stopping before being exposed to the outside glare.The sun an unknown entity to the stenchling as the light resembled the glow from the skill that resonated from Shin's hands, causing many of them to revert back to their former selves. Looking at the meal that got away from the darkness they slither back to the ruins of the Virulent Cavern.

It had been 4 minutes pushing on 5 since he last breathed in air and the surface of the water still far in the distance. Coming so far he didn't want to give up now but the lack of air combined with the strain put on his body and mind ate at him, his body not responding the way he wanted.

He wasn't sure it would work, he wasn't sure how much of his SE regenerated but it was his only option if he was going to break through the surface. Placing his hand on his chest his palm burned hot, as a cool aura fell over his body his lungs filling with air.

His body still riddled with wounds Shin pushed harder towards the light, he had regenerated enough SE to purify the lungs, decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in his body. Which had helped, enough so he pushed his way through the surface of the water taking in mouth fools of air.

"I made it," he says still panting, the sound of his voice was the confirmation of his survival. The sun shined brightly in the sky radiating the heat his skin longed for, swimming towards the shore that wasn't too far off he heard the familiar rings in his head. Dismissing them he closed in on the shore, the aches in his body were being to feel intolerable as he crawled onto the shore before falling onto his back.

"I fucking made it," smiling he opens his User screen.

Shin A.Venge Health Spirit Energy Stamina Maturity 17/220 Regeneration (3.5/ min) 4/250 Regeneration (5/min) 9/240 Regeneration (2/ min) 16 Vitality Strength Agility Intelligence 24 11 22 19 Wisdom Fortitude Will 17 30 28 Title One who Denies Death (Active) Inactive Water Mutant Discoveries Purify IV, Clairvoyant, Ray of Light I Passives Chemical Resistance, Soul Rearrangement

Killing dozens of stenchling by destroying the ceiling of the cavern had increased his maturity exponentially, and a majority of his stats had risen by at least 5 points. Closing the screen he turned towards the messages he had received while in the abyss.

[Congratulations! you have earned the Title: Eradicator of Dungeons (Rank B)]

Title: Eradicator of Dungeons Rank: B Perk: 20% increase in Health, Stamina, and Spirit Energy when you enter a dungeon.

[New title has been set as active due to higher grade.]

[Congratulations your Maturity has risen to 16!]

[You have discovered the Specialty stat!]

Attribute: Specialty Description: The concentration of a given or earned skill.

[Skill - Ray of Light I has been enhanced to Ray of Light II]

Skill: Ray of Light II Mastery: 19% Description: Condense Spirit Energy into a single beam. Speed: Average Consumption Rate: 50 SE/ per use

[You have discovered the Luck stat!]

Attribute: Luck Description: The chance of good fortune coming your way.

[You have discovered the Passive Skill - Perseverance!]

Passive Skill: Perseverance Description: The increase of Intelligence and Will by 2% when health reaches below 50%. Consumption Rate: N/A

[You have discovered the Skill - Protection I!]

Skill: Protection I Mastery: 54% Description: Absorb 5% of physical damage. Speed: Instantaneously Consumption Rate: 10 SE/ per minute

He had gained a useful set of skills and upgrades, he thought to himself before closing the messages. Ray of Light increasing to tier II was a big thing for him it being his only offensive move against the creatures of this new world, the new attributes he would have to experiment with along with Soul Alteration when he had the time. Laying on the ground he looked over himself examining the shreds he called clothing he wore, his shirt in nothing but ribbons anyway he began to tear off strips to wrap his gashes and cuts.

"No need to survive all that just to die from blood loss."

Finishing the mediocre first aid he lays on his back, the aching in his bones pulsating with every breath. Not sleeping for hours and the tension of being under the constant pressure of the stenchling finally released from his body whisking him off to sleep.

After all he was, safe now.