I checked the entire ship. Every compartment. Every damn panel. Nothing.
No suit, no mask, no oxygen tank.
And just when I started to panic, Quincy interrupted my thoughts with her irritatingly mocking tone:
[Master idiot. (—.—)]
—What do you want now, Quincy?
[You have the best ability to solve this inconvenience, master idiot. ( 눈 . 눈 )]
—Which one?
[The "Dimensional Adaptability," master idiot. It will solve your concern. ☜ ( ㆆ . ㆆ ) ]
—Are you… sure?
[It is a skill that will literally let you survive in any environment, master ignorant. (-_-) ]
—Fine… I'll try to trust your judgment —I muttered, sighing, still not entirely convinced.
I prepared to leave the Narval, but then I noticed a new system notification.
[Ding!]
[System Message:An astonishing feat. You are the first to discover the ancient city of Atlantis.]
[System Notification: Conditions met. You have made three discoveries of antiquity. You receive the title: "Expert Explorer."]
Title acquired: "Expert Explorer"
An explorer is followed by luck and success,but experience makes them wise and intelligent.
▪ Luck increased by 10%
▪ Object identification rate increased by 20%
▪ Recognition potential increased by 30%
[System Note:Reputation will grow as you discover and explore more. This title can evolve.]
[System Notification:This title is rewarded with 1000 additional stat points.]
[System Notification:Error… stat points cannot be added to your status window.]
[System Message:Excessive statistics… Error… reporting to Origins.]
[System Message:Receiving situation… Origins will handle the anomaly within 3 hours.]
Reading all of that, I frowned.
"Why the hell did they give me stat points? No… why now and not before?"
I remembered my days with my old character, Erling.
All those hours grinding experience, leveling up.
The endless massacre of goblins, snakes, orcs, anything that breathed "EXP."
And yet, I never got a title like "Goblin Slaver" or even a single reward for being the first to hunt any species.
I only remember how experience got slower and slower.
I hunted stronger monsters… and nothing. Until I finally reached level 100.
And then Quincy spoke again, interrupting my thoughts.
[Master, obtaining a title or achievement is not that easy. Certain conditions are required.]
[For example: to obtain a hunting title, you must kill about 1000 per race or species. ( ' ₒ ' )/]
—Wait… are you telling me I had to kill a thousand goblins to get Goblin Slaver?
[Correct, master. (~_~)]
I stayed silent.
Confirming what I had suspected for a while, but didn't want to accept. Because if that was true… it was better not to think too much about what it meant.
I sighed, closing the system log.
—This is the second time I've seen that name. What the hell is Origins? —I asked out loud, more to myself than to her.
But Quincy, as always, ignored me with her usual arrogance.
[Master, exit the Narval now. We are wasting time. ( ◉ ₒ ◉ )✊]
—Fine, fine… don't shout.
[Basic Skill "Dimensional Adaptability" activated.]
When the skill activated, I felt nothing.
No buzz, no bodily change. Nothing.
But still… I decided to risk it.
I moved to the back of the Narval.
The metal hallway vibrated with a deep hum as I approached the automatic hatch.
The door behind me sealed slowly, adjusting to external pressure.I could hear the gears grinding and water slamming against the metal.
When the hatch opened, a wall of liquid swallowed me.
The impact was brutal, like a mountain crushing me… but I didn't die. Not only that: I could breathe.
Water entered my lungs, and they worked as if it were air.It was an indescribable sensation: cold, heavy… but alive.
Once I adjusted to this strange breathing, I pushed myself outside. My body was clumsy at first, but each movement became more natural, more fluid.
The Dimensional Adaptability skill was beginning to work, adjusting my physiology.
And as I moved through bioluminescent beams of light, I couldn't help but think: "This skill… will be indispensable in the future."
My destination was clear: the Temple of Poseidon.
I passed coral columns and corridors carved with ancient reliefs.The place radiated power, and with each meter the water felt denser, as if the sea itself feared what dwelled here.
In the center stood a statue.
White marble, pure, decorated with gold inlays.I didn't need confirmation. I instinctively knew it was Poseidon.
Then—sound.
I hid among the shadows of the nearest pillar.
Three sirens passed through the hall, beautiful and deadly.Their bodies—bare from the waist up—glowed under the marine light.
Their tails, covered in blue-silver scales, moved gracefully as they swam toward a chamber behind the statue.
I waited a few seconds and moved closer.
But then… I regretted having this damn skill.
My senses, enhanced by Dimensional Adaptability, picked up sounds I would've preferred never to hear.
Rhythmic applause… slow… then fast.
Moans. Female voices.
Words dragged between gasps and laughter.
I knew exactly what was happening inside.
"How pathetic…" I thought.
"Well… technically, it's not a bad way to live.But that bastard threw everything away… just to touch the wrong person."
Then, without warning, another notification appeared before my eyes:
[Basic Skill "Force of Creation" is now active.]
I didn't hesitate.
Anger, disgust, rage accumulated since Melissa… since my mother… it all condensed into my fist.
I struck the statue.
The impact was brutal.
Marble shattered in every direction, cracks spreading like golden roots. The roar echoed through the temple… and beyond.
It wasn't just a tremor. It was as if Atlantis itself felt my anger.
…
The spectacle inside that chamber stopped instantly.
The sirens screamed, fleeing naked in human form before transforming into their true shapes.Their tails flickered through the rubble as they escaped in panic.
In the middle of the chaos… no one noticed me.
And then I saw him.
Poseidon.
I recognized him instantly. Not by presence—but by his status window.
White hair like sea foam. White brows and beard. Deep blue eyes, vast and indifferent like the ocean itself.Bronzed skin stretched over a body carved by tides.
He was furious, shouting as he looked at the ruins of his statue. The temple trembled. The pillars shook.And I stepped forward.
I approached from behind. His voice thundered like a storm trapped in a cave.
And then I spoke.
—Why?
Poseidon turned, surprised.For a moment, confusion crossed his face.Then he smiled arrogantly.
Poseidon: —"What are you doing here?" (How did I not notice that immense energy? Ah right… I was too distracted with those beauties.)
He completely ignored my question.But I insisted.
—Why?
Poseidon raised an eyebrow, that divine arrogance in his expression. His tone turned mocking.
Poseidon: —"It's surprising that a human can breathe underwater. You almost seem like my descendant… are you sure I'm not your father?" (Hmm, interesting… but who the hell ruined my temple?)
—I am not a demigod —I said firmly—. Answer my question.Why?!
But he kept ignoring me.
Poseidon: —"Did Triton help you? Or maybe Atlas?… or the sea witch?" (One of those bastards must've launched this sneak attack.)
—I came here on my own.
Poseidon: —"Impossible. You are four kilometers underwater. Pressure would destroy any human transport." (I'm certain… this kid received help.)
—That's none of your concern. I came to fulfill what I told you in Ataxia.
Poseidon laughed dryly.
Poseidon: —"You really think I'm afraid of you?You're just a small mortal who doesn't know his place." (Anyone could destroy a weak statue. Does he think that makes him special?)
My voice cracked slightly as I said his name.
—Why did you have to touch Melissa?I don't understand… I really don't understand.
Poseidon frowned for a second… then smiled again.Careless. Cynical.
Poseidon: —"Ah, that was her name? If you want a reason… it's because I could, idiot. No one has ever stopped me from doing what I want."
—Don't you regret anything? Not even a bit of remorse?
His smile widened, rotten with arrogance.
Poseidon: —"The only thing I regret…is only doing it twice with her."
For a moment, my body froze.
I felt something sink inside me. Not rage. Disappointment. Pure pain.
A stab like losing something irreplaceable.
—You have so many beautiful sirens who adore you —I said quietly—Why bother with humans?
Poseidon laughed.
A roar that echoed through the water like something vile.
Poseidon: —"Eating too much fish isn't good."