V3: Chapter 30: Something of Crucial Importance
“It absolutely has to be opened, but not now.”
Prescott pressed down on the box.
“I’ll study it when I get back. Give me this box first.”
Prescott reached for the box. But, the instant he touched it, he put it back.
“No, I can’t take it. I’ll stay here and study it. Taking it home is somewhat dangerous; I might not be able to guard it alone. It’s safest inside the Magic Tower.”
That made sense.
Prescott and his daughter settled into the Magic Tower, spending their days studying the box, except for eating, sleeping, and working on it.
Laura, back at the Langwendi mansion, gave Gladys a cold shoulder all day.
She was a timid person to begin with, and being forced to see something so bloody and disgusting was bound to leave her somewhat unable to accept it.
So, that night, she had a nightmare.
Night fell, stars hidden behind thick clouds, and the sea rippled with unease.
The sea breeze, salty and chilly, gently caressed the surface, yet struggled to penetrate the thick darkness. Beneath this boundless curtain of black, the seawater was no longer a calm blue, but a deep, ominous inky black, seemingly capable of swallowing all light and life.
Waves crashed against the rocks, producing a deep, powerful roar that mingled with the occasional strange sound from afar.
Beneath the sea, in a chaotic void, something was slowly writhing—an indescribable entity, not of this world, yet having found its territory here.
As it moved, the surrounding seawater began to act strangely; the temperature plummeted, and even time seemed to be distorted by this unknown force.
Suddenly, enormous tentacles emerged from the dark depths of the sea. They had no fixed shape, no distinct color, but stood out starkly and eerily against the darkness.
These tentacles, almost alive, moved nimbly through the seawater. Their surfaces were covered in an unknown slime, emitting a suffocating stench—a mixture of decay and antiquity, enough to instill fear and unease in any creature that approached.
The tentacles danced slowly in the water, as if searching for something, or perhaps announcing their existence to the world.
They intertwined, forming a massive whirlpool that churned the surrounding water violently.
Laura felt as if her body didn't belong to her.
As Laura's gaze continued into the unfathomable depths, the scene grew increasingly bizarre and terrifying.
Here, the seawater lost its natural blue, turning into a deep, oppressive black, like the darkest corner of the universe, swallowing all light and color.
Within the range of the enormous tentacles' movement, the seawater began to exhibit an unusual ripple, as if some colossal creature was slowly moving beneath the surface.
The number of tentacles seemed endless.
These tentacles roamed freely in the seawater, sometimes intertwining, sometimes suddenly opening wide, as if performing some mysterious ritual, or perhaps issuing a warning to intruders.
As the depth increased, the surrounding environment became increasingly eerie.
The rocks and silt on the seabed were covered by strange creatures, emitting a faint glow that added an eerie touch to this dark world.
However, the presence of these fluorescent creatures did not make this sea more welcoming; instead, it added a layer of unknown terror.
Around the tentacles, one could occasionally see the remains of marine creatures, entangled and killed, their bodies tightly wrapped by the tentacles, their life drained by some force.
Further down, the seawater became even colder and more piercing, and even time seemed to slow down.
The tentacles became one with this deep sea; their existence was no longer merely biological behavior, but rather a manifestation of the sea itself, a warning and a rejection of intruders.
Finally, when the view could no longer penetrate, only endless darkness and chaos remained.
There lay the secret of the deepest part of the sea, a forbidden land forever beyond human reach.
It seemed that here, tentacles and darkness had merged into one.
Laura suddenly felt fear. She desperately wanted to turn and run, but an invisible force was pulling her down.
No.
No…
I can't be pulled down!
If I'm pulled down, I will die!
For some reason, this thought kept replaying in Laura's mind.
Just as Laura was surrounded by endless darkness and eerie tentacles, almost swallowed by despair, a dazzling white light suddenly erupted from behind her. This light stood out starkly in the pitch-black depths of the sea, like a ray of hope piercing through from another world, instantly illuminating everything around her.
Laura turned slightly and saw that a pair of enormous white wings had unfurled behind her. These wings were pure and flawless, like those of an angel descending.
However, upon closer inspection, she discovered that the wings were densely covered with countless eyes. These eyes varied in size and shape, and were now eagerly opening, each pair containing a different emotion and a story.
Ah… yes...
They're the same wings and eyes she'd seen before.
But even knowing this, even having seen them before, seeing them again now still sent waves of unease through her, a sense of dread.
Some of these eyes were filled with curiosity, others with fear.
Laura felt a shock and a profound impact. She didn't know what these wings and these eyes meant. But one thing was certain: these eyes wouldn't harm her; in fact, it could be said that the wings and these eyes were protecting her.
As the wings unfolded and the eyes opened, the seawater around Laura seemed to begin to change. The once icy seawater gradually warmed, and the tentacles, which had been restless, seemed to sense a threat and began to slowly retreat.
Laura felt an unprecedented power surge within her. She felt as if she had been endowed with some mysterious ability, to communicate with the deep sea on a profound level.
Yes.
That's the feeling.
A feeling that she was something of vital importance.
This time, Laura wasn't startled awake. Instead, she slowly opened her eyes.
On the surface, she remained calm. After a moment of quiet, she silently threw back the covers, walked to the door, and pressed the doorknob.
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