095. Starfish

The strange shark's appearance ended as nothing more than a minor happening. With dive preparations complete, the exploration team plunged into the ocean depths.

Leading the way were Neo Hyung-seok and one Iris serving as guides. Right behind Neo Hyung-seok trailed the Necro Puppeteer, with the rest of the team lined up in his wake. Swimming through the water was a trivial matter for all of them...

"Huh? What's that?"

Or so he'd thought—until one exception reared its head. Not long after diving, the Blood Jellyfish Princess was flailing about, unable to descend further into the sea.

─［Piii! It's so hard to move! This is nothing like floating in the sky!］

Well, it wasn't exactly beer bottle syndrome. She hadn't been evolved all that long, so she just wasn't used to her new body yet. Unlike Arachne, whose form hadn't changed all that drastically, hers was a complete overhaul. Still, he had no doubt she'd adapt soon enough and glide through the water freely.

Of course, he wasn't about to wait around for that. It'd just inconvenience the others. So, speaking to the Iris screen, he summoned Arachne.

"Kinoya, you hear me? Mind supporting the Princess while you move?"

─［Got it, Father.］

Arachne spat a thread that snagged the Princess. Wrapped snugly in the thick silk, the Princess was dragged along in Arachne's grasp.

─［Hehe. Comfy.］

─［Sigh.］

After that, the dive proceeded smoothly. No monsters, no natural disasters, no bizarre phenomena.

The ocean was deeper than expected. Two hours in, and the door Neo Hyung-seok had mentioned was still nowhere in sight. The path remained clear, though. Shadowy shapes—likely monsters—flickered into view now and then, only to spot the team and bolt in terror. Even from a distance, they fled in panic, too far off to identify properly.

For the record, Jellyfish Princess had since acclimated to swimming. As predicted—not beer bottle syndrome, just unfamiliarity with her body.

With no real threats emerging for a while, the tension in Kang Geon's shoulders began to ease. Had he worried too much? Staring intently at the Iris feed for hours had left his lips parched and throat dry, despite his relaxed posture. He hadn't taken his eyes off them for a second.

"...Guess I need a drink."

He stood briefly, heading to Zapan to grab a cola.

［Zapaann! Drink up tasty, Daddy!］

"Thanks. I'll enjoy it."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

［Yeah! I love when Daddy drinks my liquid! Just watching makes me so happy!］

Twisting off the bottle cap, he gulped down the cola while surveying the monsters resting in the shelter. Next to the Irises broadcasting the feed...

"Catch, Marino!"

［Kyua!］

"Back to you!"

［Kyuuaa!］

Merino and Melody Fox playing catch with the crystal orb Rise had provided.

［Hmm. Drawing is still tricky. But with a bit more practice, I think I can make it look cool. Nowhere near Explorer's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠level, though.］

Having inherited her mother's talent, the centauride's skills were improving by leaps and bounds.

［Duumba! Du-duum-ba! Shake those hips, yot!］

The Hedgehog Summoner God, lost in dance as usual.

［Son...］

Niara Nephensis, watching him intently from a distance as instructed.

［Suuung.］

Black Magma Slime, puffed up as a bed for the others.

［Pii...］

［Ororo... Chuii...］

［I dream of wishes...］

Medical Mushroom, Snake Head, and Mummy Skeleton dozing atop the slime.

"One plus... this makes four..."

［Oh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ho, impressive. Then one plus one?］

"T...two?"

［Wrong. It's a window. Gauntlet said so.］

Azeras and Anubis Dragon studying math.

They're all resting fine on their own.

Satisfied, he returned to his seat. And then—

─［What are these sharks?］

─［They're all dead...］

The voices of the former destruction god Ignis and fallen goddess Lilith leaked from the Iris. What now? Checking the screen revealed a sea of floating shark corpses.

─［Pii! Gotta drink blood... Huh? No blood!］

The Jellyfish Princess darted to one corpse, eyes widening. Crystal-clear water flowed around the sharks—no trace of blood. Perhaps they were spirit-like beings, not fleshly ones. Tiny bubbles rose from the stilled bodies, melting away like ice before merging with the sea and vanishing.

With the corpses gone—

─［Yohee...］

A hidden monster emerged.

The monster that had fled from the team on the beach. Hard to say if it was the same one, but the Sharklord floated in near-death agony, moaning weakly.

Suddenly, something enormous engulfed it in one bite.

Krunch! Bones shattered thunderously.

─［Buburugar. Burugar.］

With the new monster's arrival, the surrounding water kaleidoscoped into vibrant hues.

A starfish-shaped monster in dazzling colors. Actual danger: S-grade. Nerfed danger: B-grade.

─［Burugarrr.］

Its teeth alone dwarfed the entire team combined. He dubbed it the Colorful Seastar—avoiding overlap with Jellyfish.

─［Burugar, burugarkk.］

Unlike prior sea monsters, this seastar showed no fear of the team—quite the opposite, brimming with confidence. Some ace up its sleeve? The team wouldn't lose, but caution never hurt.

"Kids, be careful. It's weaker than you, but it might have a trump card like Cuss Devil Gentleman."

─［Got it, Daddy!］

─［Understood.］

Jellyfish Princess and Puppeteer replied. Arachne scratched her head awkwardly.

─［Father, I was gonna... but it bolted already.］

Arachne pointed downward. Iris zoomed in.

─［Daaoooong!!!］

Bastet Daong charging the Colorful Seastar.

─［Solorb pals say I'm slacking—no spotlight! Might lose my rep before I shine! Gotta score one now!］

Bastet's eyes flashed. Her speed surged—Paang! Her body morphed into light, vanishing in a shockwave.

Shwooo! A piercing sound reverberated through ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the deep. Residual light trails barely registered on screen where Bastet had been.

And then—

─［Daaoooong!!!］

Like a meteor shower streaking the cosmos, the luminous body-slam pierced the seastar's colossal form from all sides relentlessly.

In mere seconds, without a single counter, the seastar was riddled with holes.

─［Bur... gar...］

The beehive-like body sagged limply. In the ensuing silence, Bastet reverted, striking a cheesy pose with a beaming smile.

─［Nailed it, ong! Saw that, ong? Cross me and that's your fate—remember it, ong!］

Victory to Bastet Daong. He'd worried about a hidden trump card given the seastar's arrogance, but nope—just hubris. Or maybe no chance to use it.

As the fight wrapped and he opened his notebook, the centauride rushed over with hers.

［Explorer! Let me draw this one! Please!］

He'd wanted to sketch it himself, but yielded. She'd been grinding art for compendium duty.