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Turning Chapter 963
🕑 Added 2024-03-05 05:42:08 +0000 UTCChapter 963
"Alright. Although I've never attempted this before, if this is the best course of action you've found, then surely there can be no better option for me either."
These words felt to Yuder like a declaration, a commitment to make the 'best course of action' he had found truly the best. Indeed, the expression in Kishiar's eyes seemed to echo this sentiment.
Until now, and even more so from this point forward, predicting what lay ahead for them had become an impossible task. The remaining strategies they had were barely enough to keep them from the worst outcomes.
Yet, despite this.
Now, the countless possibilities of failure no longer felt suffocating or burdensome.
Why, one might wonder. It certainly wasn't solely because Kishiar had said so.
For Yuder Aile, the 'best' had always nearly equated to solitude. Acting alone had seemed the optimal way to exert full effort.
Alone, there was no worry about others causing trouble within unseen bounds. There was no need to pay mind to any presence irrelevant to the objective. Decisions could be made quickly and easily without consultation, and should things go awry, the responsibility fell on but one head, making it somewhat easier to address.
And so, it had been a heavy burden.
He had always thought it natural for the weight of the best to be heavy. If he failed, it meant that no one else could succeed, such had been the outcome of his 'best course of action' until now.
But now, his shoulders felt unbelievably light. It was a sense of relief he had never experienced before.
Such a light 'best'. Yuder stretched out, shaking off the oppressive weight that had once burdened him. Morning light, reflected in his eyes as he opened them, tinted the pupils that had always been as dark as an abyss. Before his comrades could even begin to doubt what they saw in his unfamiliarly bright eyes and softly curved lips, Yuder turned and spoke.
"To reach the site of the crack, we have a long journey ahead. Let's go."
Splash. The shadows of three figures, tinged with a faint blue hue, began to sink deeper and deeper into the ocean. Yuder exerted the protective power of water to its limits to cover not only him but also Kishiar and Mick.
The members remaining on the surface were astounded to see Yuder use his protective abilities, which were already strenuous to employ for oneself, for the three of them. However, this was not solely Yuder's power.
Yuder's lack of hesitation in inviting Kishiar to the undersea journey was due to the nature of his power's use. Previously, during the hailstorm, he had interfered with Gakane's shadow curtain, 'pulling' it to inflate its size massively.
Thus, it stood to reason that the 'water's protection', which manifested power in a specific form over the body, similar to the shadow curtain in essence, could also be stretched and applied more easily to others.
Upon hearing Yuder's words, Kishiar pondered for a moment before responding that it was indeed possible. And now, he was proving that his answer was far from an empty promise.
'The strain of exerting power on three people is far less than one would expect. Truly remarkable...'
Even for Yuder, if he had to protect the three of them in the deep sea using only his power without Kishiar's cooperation, any other activity would have been impossible. In a situation heading towards an unknown danger, it would have been worse than not acting at all.
As the surroundings gradually darkened and the light faded, the oppressive pressure intensified with each passing moment. Yuder was accustomed to this pressure, having been in these depths before, while Kishiar, true to his title as a swordmaster, endured it calmly. Mick, however, was different. As an untrained civilian, the deeper he descended, the more his complexion paled under the increasing pain, despite the protective powers.
Yet, seeing Mick grit his teeth and bear the pain without much complaint, it was clear that he was not someone who had lived an easy life, contrary to his seemingly feeble appearance. Like before in the West, and now, he had promptly abandoned all his tasks and rushed alone at the call of Kishiar. His willingness to follow into the madness of an undersea journey, without a word of protest, made it hard to believe he was a mere civilian without any powers apart from those of an Awakener.
Mick Shuden's loyalty to Kishiar was undeniably genuine.
Rumbleβ¦
The eerie, faint vibration skimming the skin was a sign they were nearing the sea floor. Yuder spotted several dimly twinkling lights not far away - members wearing glowing bracelets approached them.
"Commander!"
"My goodness! You brought someone else!"
Amidst the members' incredulous stares at Kishiar and Mick, Steiber appeared. Despite the unexpected situation, he, as the Deputy Commander, managed to maintain a relatively calm demeanor and greeted Kishiar.
"Commander, it's a relief to see you in good health."
"Likewise."
"But who is the person with you...?"
"Just someone helping out for a while. He'll be leaving soon."
Kishiar kept his explanation of Mick Shuden's identity brief, given the complicated circumstances. Steiber and the other members nodded and concluded their greetings with a brief eye contact with Mick. Yuder, after a moment of silence, broke the stillness of the water and spoke.
"Steiber, how have things been since I left?"
"There have been four minor tremors since you left, Yuder. And then it's been quiet until now."
Four times. The time spent above wasn't long, but it seemed too few to be just four tremors.
There was only one implication.
The intervals of tremors emanating from the crack hadn't shortened; on the contrary, they had significantly increased. Yuder's expression grew serious.
There is a moment of temporary calm before a great disaster strikes. One must never mistake it for peace. It's merely a step back before a major upheaval.
"Has there ever been such a lull before?"
"We've never experienced a sudden halt in tremors like this. It doesn't bode well."
Responding honestly to Kishiar's question, he then turned to Mick, gripping his shoulder.
"Mick. Do you see anything?"
"..."
"Mick?"
Mick, who had been silent during their descent, finally responded to the call. Yuder saw a flickering transparent energy in his eyes. If it was this visible, it meant Mick was currently using a tremendous amount of power.
Since when had he been exerting his abilities to this extent? As this thought crossed his mind, Mick's pale lips slowly parted.
"...Danger."
"What?"
"Move!"
Before the questioning faces of the Cavalry members could clear their confusion, Yuder reflexively used his power to push everyone swiftly in all directions.
Simultaneously, a crushing pressure enveloped them, and the entire sea pulsated violently up and down.
Rooooar...!
"...!"
If someone were to haphazardly flip and then violently spin the world as if it were a cup, perhaps this is the shock that would ensue.
Everything was upheaved, turning stomachs inside out. The Cavalry members, mouths agape in agony, involuntarily released bubbles of air as their eyes rolled back in pain. Yuder, trying to protect them, unleashed the power of water, but combating the frenzied, shaking impacts was akin to trying to calm down a herd of crazy cattle with bare hands. It was an even more challenging task while safeguarding three people.
"Guh...!"
As Yuder gritted his teeth, swallowing the rising blood, an arm stretched out from the darkness, grasping his waist and pulling him into an embrace.
Kishiar, holding Yuder, released an invisible force all at once.
Whoosh...!
The power emanating from him rippled like water in a violently shaken bucket, sweeping away the external shocks that had been engulfing them.
With the directionless impacts now pushed away, calm returned to their surroundings, and astonishingly, everything began to regain stability. Since the force originated from Kishiar, Yuder, in his embrace, was the first to stabilize.
"...Thank you."
Regaining his composure, Yuder firmly intertwined the protective power, swiftly reasserting his command over all water within his reach.
Suppress!
Responding to his command, the water reluctantly began to calm down. Yuder seized this opportunity to draw the members, who had been wildly swept away by the currents, and Mick, closer to them.
"We were close to losing someone for real..."
Only then did Kishiar withdraw his power and release Yuder. Everyone struggled to regain their senses from the intense shock, but fortunately, thanks to each exerting their abilities desperately, no one was seriously injured.
Mick, the last to come to, gasped for air but managed to mouth his words audibly.
"...It's going to emerge soon."
Comments
Marie
To be fair, at least in noble society it seems like PDA is a no-go. It happens, but it's inappropriate. We don't know explicitly about commoner culture but it could be similar. Also I don't think they've been off duty around people except when they were injured, so PDA wouldn't be for the best. I'm still hoping for a big damn kiss in front of everyone though.
SchaheraZade
When will they stop hiding their love and just have open PDA. I mean at this point we are heading there; the lingering sticky eye oggling going on, the small touches, the embrace, Yuder smiling, the flower and the vase banter. You will have to be blind not to see the two in love. And did the Cavalry never ever wonder why Yuder doesnt have a room in the Southern headquarters? He has been sleeping in the same room as Kishiar has been sleeping ever since they got there. And arent there members in the cavalry with good hearing and smell? Cant they smell or hear the dying squeaking bed and sofas and moaning? π
GG
Poor Mick π
