As Long Fei stepped out of the ancient cave, the waters of the chasm rippled with an ancient resonance. Ling Yue's grin vanished as she listened to the whispers of the waves. Her gaze sharpened as she turned to him. "The King is summoning an ancient chant. We don't have much time."
She glanced at his chest, took a sharp breath, and bit her lower lip as she noticed the subtle rise and fall of his breath. Her eyes widened. Without hesitation, she rummaged through her mystical satchel, pulling out a harpoon, a shield, and a chest that defied all logic in its dimensions. His airways began to narrow, a crushing pressure blooming within his chest. Without control over the air, his lungs screamed for oxygen. Every breath was a battle. He forced himself to maintain composure, even as discomfort gnawed beneath his skin. His body shuddered; each second grew more painful. Movements became labored, his muscles straining under the weight of the depths. He reached out, instinctively attempting to summon the air molecules around them.
Nothing.
No breeze answered. No familiar sensation stirred.
The tightness in his chest deepened. It was a bitter reminder that he was no longer the immortal who could summon storms with a flick of thought. Once a vessel of grace and power, his body now felt foreign. The confidence that once surged through him like wind through mountains had withered, leaving behind something fragile.
He, who once commanded the skies, now struggled simply to breathe underwater.
The realization clawed at him.
He turned to Ling Yue, silently pleading that she'd find something—anything—to help. She searched frantically, her small hands disappearing into the enchanted satchel. With one final pull, she produced an ornate, glowing amulet. "This will help you breathe underwater," she said, voice laced with urgency. "But it's temporary."
His hands slightly trembled as he took the amulet from her, his fingers brushing her hands, a silent apology. He quickly fastened the amulet around his neck. For the first time in ages, he felt an unfamiliar pang of dependence. He had always been the one to offer strength, to give guidance, but now, he needed her. His pride didn't stop him from accepting the help, but it felt unfamiliar, and he needed more time to adjust. The amulet was a temporary salvation, but it did not ease the crushing realization that he was no longer who he once was. The pressure on his lungs eased. Fresh air filled his lungs, a blessing in itself. He exhaled in relief and gave her a nod of gratitude, gently patting her head.
"Let's go," he murmured.
"Yes! It's morphing time," she grinned, her form shimmering before his eyes. He had seen her transform countless times, but this moment never failed to amaze him.
Her body rippled with power, expanding until she became a massive, majestic blue whale, her shadow darkening the waters.
The ocean churned violently as sea creatures scattered in a frenzy, knowing better than to remain in her path. Her tail sliced through the sea with effortless grace. The chasm trembled in reverence to her colossal form.
He swam onto her back, gripping her fin tightly as she surged forward, her speed unmatched. Her massive form parted the sea like a divine force. Fearsome creatures of all sizes, including notorious serpents and massive sea monsters, scattered in terror at the sight of her. They all knew better than to challenge the guardian of the sea.
As they rushed past the Merfolk town, the merfolks looked up in awe, their jaws agape. They had witnessed a rare sight—Ling Yue's majestic whale form casting a shadow over the town.
The palace gates came into view, and she slowed, her massive form shrinking. Her body twirled, compacting, until she was once again a graceful, humanoid figure. Her long silver-blue hair swayed with the motion of the sea as she stepped onto the palace grounds. Although accustomed to this transformation, he could not help but smile. Despite the urgency, watching her return to her humanoid form was captivating.
The palace guards, upon seeing Ling Yue approach, scrambled to get out of her way.
"Move it, or lose it!" she barked.
In a blur, she dashed forward, sending guards tumbling into the sand, disoriented. They scrambled to regain their footing, but none dared to challenge her.
Long Fei followed closely behind, using his qi gong to propel himself forward. He could no longer control the wind as he once did. Although he retained his martial arts abilities, it was still a fraction of the power he once had now that he was mortal. His once graceful movements now felt clumsy. His sight was not as clear, and the ocean blurred around him, mocking his limitations. His body had turned sluggish, and every motion now required more effort than it ever should have. He longed for the air to answer his call, but the silence was suffocating. He barely avoided the tumbling guards. His body was stiff with the loss of his immortal powers.
"Really, Ling Yue?" he called out, dodging another guard who had landed directly in his path. "Must you always make a grand entrance?"
She smirked, her focus ahead. She was determined, pushing everything and everyone aside in her path. Guards immediately jumped aside at the sight of her.
As they neared the throne room, a chill in the water made Long Fei shiver. The light dimmed, and even the coral walls held their breath. Ling Yue slowed, drawing closer to him, her sharp gaze scanning the heavy silence that had settled. The pressure thickened with every step. She paused, then turned to him and placed a finger on her lips. The very foundations of the palace hummed with an ominous force, and he felt a growing sense of dread emanating from inside the throne room. Her eyes darted to the door as she stopped at the entrance. Every sound from within seemed to echo louder, amplifying the dread that seeped into his bones. Then, a faint crackling noise filtered through the cracks in the ornate door. It wasn't just the sound of magic but far darker, like the buzz of an electric charge just before a storm broke. His gaze narrowed as the sound grew, bracing for something violent to erupt.
And then, through the narrowest of gaps, faint sobs slipped out. They were soft, broken, and filled with grief, distinctly familiar and deeply unsettling.
Long Fei's pulse quickened. The sobs were unmistakable: The princess. His heart skipped a beat, his body tensing as the muffled sobs grew louder, like a cry of a prisoner being tortured. They echoed through the door with an undeniable despair. His hands clenched at his sides, helplessness gnawed at him. The crackling intensified, like a storm about to break. A cold sweat ran down his spine as the oppressive force pressed against him. He wished he could give the Sacred Pearl to the princess. Whatever ruse the King had spun, it may have been too convincing and terrible.
Ling Yue's brow tightened, her eyes narrowing with unspoken concern. She crouched beside him, her ears pressed against the door. A strong aura of dark magic leaked through the gaps of the door.
"We can't interrupt the King at the moment," she whispered, barely audible over the crackling that had now turned to a sharp, jagged sound from within the throne room.
The door began to splinter.
Ling Yue flinched. "It would be catastrophic."