The Sunken City

Chapter 75 — The Sunken City

Two days later, the landscape changed again.

The red marsh disappeared behind them.

In its place stood a vast valley filled with mist.

At the center was a city.

Or what remained of one.

Half of it had sunk beneath a massive lake.

Broken towers rose from the water.

Ancient bridges disappeared beneath the surface.

Aether stopped at the edge.

[Origin Key resonance detected.]

[Estimated distance: 1.8 kilometers.]

Lyra looked at the ruined city.

"So the key is somewhere in there."

Aether nodded.

"Underground."

Seris closed her eyes.

"There's a powerful current of Origin Energy beneath the lake."

Aria looked at the water.

"Can we swim?"

Aether shook his head.

"Probably not."

Something moved beneath the surface.

A massive shadow passed beneath them.

Everyone became alert.

The water suddenly exploded.

A giant serpent emerged.

Its body was covered in dark blue scales.

Two golden horns extended from its head.

[Origin Beast detected.]

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[Potential: A.]

[Current cultivation: Origin Awakening — Stage 7.]

Aether's eyes sharpened.

Stage 7.

Stronger than him.

The serpent attacked.

Aether pushed Lyra and Seris aside.

BOOM!

Its tail slammed into him.

Aether flew backward and crashed through a ruined wall.

"Aether!"

Aria rushed forward.

Aether stood from the rubble.

"I'm fine."

The serpent opened its mouth.

A stream of blue Origin Energy blasted toward them.

Seris immediately released Life Essence.

A silver barrier appeared.

BOOM!

The blast shattered the barrier.

Seris staggered.

Aether appeared beside her.

"You okay?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

Aether looked at the serpent.

He couldn't overpower it directly.

So he changed tactics.

"Lyra."

She understood immediately.

"Got it."

Lyra rushed left.

Aria moved right.

The serpent turned toward Lyra.

Aether disappeared.

Shadow Step.

He appeared above its head.

His weapon struck its horn.

CLANG!

The horn cracked.

The serpent roared.

It swung upward.

Aether barely avoided the attack.

He couldn't defeat it through brute force.

But he didn't need to.

He only needed an opening.

Seris suddenly shouted.

"I can sense a weak point!"

"Where?"

"Under its jaw!"

Aether smiled.

"Perfect."

Lyra attacked its eyes.

The serpent reacted.

Aria struck its side.

The beast became enraged.

It opened its mouth.

Aether waited.

The instant its jaw opened—

Shadow Step.

He vanished.

Then appeared directly beneath it.

His weapon drove upward.

BOOM!

The serpent's body convulsed.

Aether released every bit of Origin Energy into the wound.

The serpent collapsed.

[Origin Beast defeated.]

[Origin Points gained: 80]

[Origin Points: 400 / 650]

Aether breathed heavily.

A Stage 7 beast had nearly overwhelmed him.

He looked at the body.

"That was close."

Lyra walked over.

"You're smiling."

"I learned something."

"What?"

"Stage 7 isn't unbeatable."

Aria shook her head.

"That's what you took from that?"

Aether laughed.

"Pretty much."

They entered the ruined city.

The deeper they went, the stronger the Origin Energy became.

Eventually, they reached a submerged temple.

Seris touched the entrance.

"This place is still functioning."

Aether looked at her.

"How?"

"There's Origin Energy flowing through it."

Aether placed his hand against the door.

The Crimson Key in his possession suddenly vibrated.

Then—

the door opened.

Inside was a massive circular chamber.

At its center floated a crystal.

Not black.

Not red.

Golden.

The system appeared.

[Origin Key detected.]

[Key Type: Sunken Key.]

[Status: Dormant.]

[Compatibility: 91%.]

Aether reached for it.

The moment he touched the crystal—

the entire city lit up.

Hundreds of ancient formations activated.

A map appeared above the chamber.

Four remaining locations appeared.

But one of them immediately turned red.

[Warning.]

[Origin Key has been forcibly activated.]

Aether's expression changed.

Someone else had activated another key.

And they were doing it now.

Lyra looked at him.

"Blackridge?"

Aether stared at the map.

"Most likely."

The system displayed another notification.

[Origin Key Network synchronization initiated.]

[Current Keys: 3/6.]

[Network stability: 41%.]

Aether clenched his fist.

Three keys.

Three remaining.

And for the first time, the people collecting them were no longer waiting.

They were moving too.