Chapter 127: Leviathan 1

Ryu's heart shook. "The Legendary. .. Leviathan."

Ryu and Seraphina shared a look before Seraphina asked in a low voice, "W-what should we do? Should we wait for Kai and Jane here?"

Ryu shook his head and replied in the same hush tone, "We should search for the exit first before we wait for them. If anything happens, we can just go to the other Islet."

There was no point in wondering the underwater aimlessly. Now that they found the Leviathan's lair, they'd be fools to turn back and look for Kai and Jane and get lost.

If they knew where to look, it wouldn't be a problem. But what if the Leviathan woke up before Kai and Jane even arrived? They couldn't wait for them when that happened, so it was better to look for the exit first, so just in case the beast woke up, they'd know where the exit was.

Seraphina agreed as well. She then flicked her staff, and vines covered Tethyt's tiara on her head. "It's better to hide it than be the target later." It would be troublesome if someone identified the tiara and caused a commotion because of it. It was a God-tier accessory, and she wouldn't gamble with it.

Ryu nodded, and they swam like the others to get a closer look at the Leviathan and, hopefully, find the entrance to the next Islet. They swam cautiously and quietly like the others. Afraid to wake the monstrosity sleeping in the deep.

Eventually, they reached the body of the Legendary Serpent. The Leviathan's body was coiled in numerous mountains of corals, but Ryu couldn't see the end of it. This was the longest beast Ryu had ever seen. 

Ryu and Seraphina continued to swim, searching for the gateway to the next Islet while more beings entered the Leviathan's lair from behind. Ryu could only hope that they remained quiet and wouldn't be dragged down by them.

Upon searching, Ryu finally discovered the head of the Serpent. It was more massive than he thought, like the size of Tethyt in her mermaid form. Its eyes were shut closed beneath layers of its draconic bluish scales, and the large holes from its snout emitted white freezing smog. Whatever this white fog touched, everything immediately turned to ice. 

No wonder it was cold and foggy. All of it was the Leviathan's doing. With just its breath, it could change the atmosphere of the ocean!

Everyone was moving with the utmost caution, not daring to make a sound for fear of startling awake the legendary beast. The silence was brutal and the only noise shattering their hearts was the loud snores of the gigantic beast.

It was a good thing that no other beasts lurked in the Leviathan's lair. Rather, no beasts nor sea creatures would dare go even near its body.

Seconds turned to minutes. Minutes turned to hours but still no sign of the exit. 

Where is it? Ryu thought. Each passing time was burrowed time for the Leviathan could wake up from a random noise or wake up by itself. Everyone knew it, too. That was why they were frantically searching for the exit.

More and more entered the Leviathan's lair, and something was bound to happen if this kept up. 

Other groups were exchanging messages and signals through meaningful looks. But no matter how hard they searched, they still couldn't find the exit.

Ryu spanned around and took time for himself. It was no use to be frantic and panicked in search of the exit. Think. With this many beings searching, they should have found the exit by now. 

Could it be hidden? If only his back would react as it did with the hidden cave. .. but Ryu got none. 

WhiiiIisSSHhh! WhhooOOssH!

The sound of the Leviathan drew Ryu's attention to it. Then something in his mind clicked. "Impossible."

But it was the only area that no one searched. No one wanted to go even a hundred meters near the Leviathan's Head. It was too terrifying, and the faint of heart would drop dead at just the sight of it. What's more, the area around it was freezing cold. If its breadth struck you, you'd turn into popsicles and crumble into crystals. It was instant death!

"But because no one wanted to go near it. .. there's a chance that the exit is there." Ryu mused to himself, and he swam to Seraphina's side and told her that he would look near the Serpent's body.

Seraphina's eyes widened, and she mouthed the words, "Are you sure?"

Ryu nodded, and before Seraphina could stop him, he swam closer towards the Leviathan. 

Some cursed him in their minds while some attempted to stop him with their eyes, telling him not to go near the Leviathan. They were afraid that Ryu would wake the Legendary Serpent, and they would be implicated!

Without a choice and choked with worry for Ryu, Seraphina went after him.

Ryu signaled Seraphina to search on the other side, and the latter nodded. They start on the safe distance of its body first. Since they couldn't see the end of its tail, they searched from its mid-section. 

Seeing what Ryu and Seraphina were doing, the others deducted that the exit might be hidden behind the massive body of the Serpent. One group at a time, they swam near the Leviathan and searched as well.

Rumble. . .

The Leviathan's body tightened around the mountains of corals, and its muscles and flesh constricted.

It woke up!

Ryu's face was drained of colors, and Seraphina signaled Ryu to flee quickly. The others dispersed as well without a trace.

Without a second longer, Ryu and Seraphina swam back into the farthest distance that they could swim. Ryu didn't know if they'd be safe after swimming hundreds of kilometers away from the Leviathan, or would the Leviathan give chase?

For the first time, Ryu was frightened. The Leviathan was not something he could defeat. He couldn't bet his life that it would spare him like the Ancient Hydra, Tethys, and Nereid did. But he was not going to linger around that massive creature to find out. He already escaped deaths too many times to gamble again.

Rumble. . .

The mountains shook, and the corals and rocks fell on the ground as the Leviathan's body moved.

At this moment, all Ryu thought was his time with Ferris and how he missed her warmth and antics. At least. .. at least he wanted to repay her for all the things that she did. He wanted to revive her first! 

He can't die here!