"Oh there we go. That was quick." Thomas said with a surprised expression.
"Lucky. Let's hope it leads us to the sea. You guys can withstand the water pressure, right?" Max asked.
"We'll have to. The bigger concern is if we'll be able to hold our breaths enough." Eliyah said with a frown.
"The sea shouldn't be too deep. The island is only about 20 kilometers away from Rinea." Manuel answered.
"Well it's either this or fighting an army." Max concluded. "You guys ready?"
"Wait." Said Manuel.
Everyone looked at him.
The spear knight took out a red vial. A health potion.
"We should drink this. It might help us endure." He said.
"Good idea." Max replied with an uneasy smile.
"If this kills us, just know that we would've died either way." He added.
"Not a good way to begin this insanity, Max..." Said the aura mage with a forced laugh.
Swimming in water systems below the sea, hoping to pop out at the bottom of it, just to them swim up to the surface, was pretty insane.
Less insane than the alternative however.
The squad summoned potions out of their inventory. They drank with swiftness. Probably stemming from fear.
Max thought of his wife, her encouraging and angelic voice...and his kids.
He took a few deep breaths. So did the others.
"Everyone turn on your light gems. Follow me." He said. Firm and determined.
Everyone took a deep breath, and Max jumped in first.
The darkness was illuminated immediately and the way ahead was clear. It was wide and the current wasn't powerful. The underground river was gentle. Easy to fight against.
Max swam forward with calmness and forced tranquility in mind, body, and spirit.
The squad reinforced themselves with aura and made powerful, but slow and smooth motions to swim forward.
They all fought internally to keep calm and steady. Frozen faces of forced calmness.
A minute passed, then two. Nothing unbearable yet.
They swam straight since the start. The cave tunnel filled to the brim with water went on and on.
After four minutes passed, unease started trickling in. Everyone besides Max was now feeling the lack of air in their systems.
Their movements remained consistent and smooth.
Five minutes.
Now, the cave went upwards, which was a good sign.
However, the pressure in the chest of the players was starting to set in. Even Max felt something akin to slight irritation.
The others felt worse. But still. Bearable.
The light from their gems only revealed more and more darkness in front of them, with rock walls on their flanks.
Six minutes. Eliyah was red in the face. He was losing his stamina first.
He had the weakest physical specs, since he was a mage.
Max felt Eliyah giving out. He expected this.
Nearing the seventh minute, Eliyah stopped and fell unconscious. This was his limit, he didn't even suck in the water in desperation. He simply gave.
Max felt it somehow. Perhaps due to his Aura Sense. He felt something was wrong. He looked back, the other two pointing at Eliyah.
Max went with a frown on his face and grabbed the player as he was being carried away by the weak current.
He took his arm, and the three of them resumed the swim.
Eight minutes passed. Now fear was taking over much more.
Acceptance of the outcome, regardless of what it was, was what kept them in control.
But it was going to be over for them soon. One way or another.
Nearing the ninth minute, Thomas gave. He sucked in the water out of desperation.
Max's eyes showed heavy concern and fear now.
He went for Thomas too, since he still could endure another few minutes.
'Oh, God...'
He swam towards the fallen archer. He grabbed the teenage boy by the arm with his left, now holding and dragging two of his fallen members with him. In hopes he could bring them back to life somehow. Perhaps the brain can endure longer as well without oxygen, with their stats in the game being high as they are.
It was now only Manuel and Max who remained.
Manuel had high Constitution due to his playstyle, so Max could rely on him for now. Not having to try to drag three people.
Max was feeling worse now. It went from slight irritation to slight pain.
Manuel had a frown on his face, from what Max could see.
Ten minutes. The upwards trajectory of their swimming now turned into a straight one. This hit Max like a truck.
Was there more? More of the river they had to traverse, not even yet reaching the sea?
'Luna, Lucy and Preston...I'm sorry. I love you.' He thought.
Eleven minutes.
The tunnel expanded into...
'Oh...'
It was the sea.
Max looked towards Manuel.
The knight shook his head.
'No...'
He was already holding two people.
How could he carry three?
Max offered his back by swimming below Manuel.
The knight went on his back and hugged him from behind.
Max's situation was also getting unbearable.
With three people he was dragging along, he swam upwards.
'No...' His vision was darkening.
'No...No,no,no...Please. Just...'
He stopped.
It was over.
He thought of his kids...then his wife.
He gazed up blankly, not even feeling pain in his anymore.
'I loved you all my life, I will also love you in the darkness. '
This was an accepted outcome. It was in fact likely.
Max kept an image of his wife running in his head as he was starting to black out.
'Im sorry.'
[The Apex Sea Predator recognizes your armor!]
'Huh...'
Confusion was Max's last emotion, before he blacked out completely.