Chapter 708


    Aside from the deepest depths, at least a modicum of light filtered down to the bottom of the sea where many creatures made their home. Specialized eyes picked up as much as they could, depending on how each denizen tended to live. In this case, the creature lived directly upon the bottom. The only room for eyes was on top, so two of them ended up there. These picked out various dangers, though at some point they had be almost superfluouspared to other senses.


    As far as dangers were concerned, there was a better way. A strange sort of energy that everything strong had. That included not just other creatures of the sea, but humans as well. Today, it found a human, just like the others that had been causing troubletely. Swimming just above the sands, even brushing along them, the creature crept forward then ambushed. Itsrge maw opened wide as it sucked in water, pulling in the unsuspecting human in front.


    -----


    The sudden suction pulled Anton back, and he barely caught himself on the rim of a giant mouth. It was instinct, though he wouldnt have been damaged by the snapping teeth anyway. In fact, it would have caused the creature more trouble had it actually seeded. Anton spun around, pulling back as he focused on the creature. He had been far too focused on looking for humans that he had forgotten about certain denizens of the sea- and even then, this one had to blend in for him to miss it.


    Upon seeing the massive flounder, Anton grinned. Derpy! Its you again, he waved. Sorry aboutst time. He pat the thing on the side of its mouth. Or the top? He wasnt really sure what was appropriate to call it.


    He fully expected the thing to attempt to continue eating him. The next option was for it to run away. Instead, its eyes shifted as it looked at him with understanding?


    Anton was not a beastmaster. Thus, he didnt fully understand how some beast grew powerful in cultivation but retained animal intelligence, while others didnt. It wasnt just based on the type of creature, but it also had something to do with some luck during development. Greater intelligence vastly increased their survival rates in the long run.


    Hey, you wouldnt happen to have seen other humans around here? Anton asked. Though doing so was a waste. In the chance that Derpy <em>was</em> intelligent, he likely didnt understand speech. That had to be learned. How should Anton get the point across?


    He started with forming a replica of himself out of light. It wasnt exact, but that was better anyway since it was supposed to represent someone else. He mimed following after it in a few different ways, eventually grabbing it and causing it to disappear. Then he watched the big flounder.


    It remained in ce then slowly shuffled back and began to turn around. Well, he could see why it had been scared off. But as it scuttled along the bottom, it turned so he could see its eyes once more. Did it really understand and want him to follow? He could at least try.


    He walked along the sea floor after it, though it took unnaturally quick steps to keep up with something of that size made for the water. The flounder didnt seem to be attempting to pull away, so Anton simply kept up with it for a while. Until it began going in circles.


    Anton stopped, thinking it might just be very bad at throwing people off. But Derpy turned about, fins pping up sand. Anton considered the situation, then looked towards the middle of the circle. Because it was just one, and rather precise too.


    He saw nothing. Nor did his senses pick up anything. Which, in itself, was a red g. He began to make ever moreplex patterns with his sensory energy, determining where it flowed the wrong way or seemed to fade into nothing. The formation was pretty well set up, they must have a proper formation master among them.


    Good job, Derpy, Anton pat the giant flounder on its closest edge. You hungry? I can- Before he could even seek an answer to the question, the flounder slurped up a three meter wide crab scuttling nearby, crunching it down in a few bites. Well, it seems like youve got that handled. Let me know if I can repay you somehow. And sorry about yanking you so far up back then. He didnt expect it to understand, but the more the fish grew used to human speech patterns the faster it could learn to truly understand, if it had the intelligence and the drive.


    Though his first instincts were to st apart the underwater base, or melt them with focused light magnified through the water, Anton had a problem. He didnt know if this would be the <em>only</em> base of its sort in Inistra. If they were in contact with others, letting them be aware of his presence- if they hadnt already noticed him- would be a mistake. It would be best to get more locals on board, especially to pick apart their formations in ways Anton couldnt.


    -----


    Hmmmmmmn, Catarina said as she slowly circled Chidi. Very interesting. But isnt it a little exploitable?


    Why dont we find out? Chidi replied to his mother. I am confident that if you cannot exploit the ws, then it cannot be done. I dont intend to make it easy for you though.


    Timothy just watched from the sidelines. Indeed, these two were very much cultivators. Instead of saying anything about not seeing each other for so many years, they directly got into it. Cultivators were fond of training andpetition. In this case, it was a bit of both- though strongly unbnced towards one party.


    But Catarina clearly wasnt trying to <em>win</em>. The two of them crossed swords, dancing around the area. Chidi managed to maintain his position on offense, and Timothy was surprised to find it was mainly legitimate. Specifically, Catarina wasnt holding back just to let him show off. She also wasnt attempting to defeat him quickly, though.


    Her defenses were impable, but rather than slipping past her guard Chidi seemed to be going for something else. Timothy could both see significant ws in the way his son swung his sword and no ws at all. That is to say, everything seemed intentional if inefficient. He seemed to be trying to do something, but


    Nice try, Catarina said, halting her own attack just shy of Chidi, But I like being able to use my energy.


    Chidi clicked his tongue. They exchanged a few more moves and then the young man suddenly froze in ce.


    Catarina walked around him, shaking her head. Youre going to have to do better than that, she said. But I think as long as you dont do anything crazy like fighting Formation Masters you should be fine. She tapped his shoulder with her sword, and Chidi was able to move again. I wouldnt bet on that trick you were trying working against any other Integration cultivators, either. Was that was got Rakiya?


    Chidi nodded, Basically, but I tried to make itst longer. The setup was worse.


    Far too slow, Catarina agreed. Anything that takes more than a move or two is a danger against stronger opponents.


    Dont I know it, Chidi sighed.


    Well, Timothy drew their attention. I can see how much youve learned from Chikere. So I doubt I can teach you anything about swords directly Timothy shrugged, But I can give you the opportunity to see if you can slip something past a cultivator who doesnt specialize in formations. Timothy hefted his shield. It would be a bit inconvenient if his energy was negated even for an instant, but he was confident in his ability to defend himself regardless. He also had some ideas for countering Chidi, with the most straightforward method involving simply wasting his energy all over the ce. It would be a waste to see their son get to this point and grow overconfident to the point he tried to take on more Integration cultivators. Even the one attempt was far too crazy in Timothys estimation.


    -----


    Major Siby thought she was very fortunate. Shed been handed a perfect opportunity, and hadnt even had to sustain too many risks herself. It might have been a problem if the sword saint hadnt been taken out so quickly upon arrival, but everything worked out there.


    Now she barely had to do anything. Leading her army to capture cities was more of a token gesture than an actual challenge, as half of the Harmonious Citadel forces on were without leadership, and the other half were fleeing as quickly as they could. Soon the ce would be abandoned by the Harmonious Citadel. Unless they were willing tomit more saints to the battle, but in that case they would have to redo all of their work here. It seemed unlikely, and more importantly the Scarlet Alliance fleets were beginning to properly take control of the area.


    But even with most everything going her way, she was still nervous when approached by a man and woman from Ceretos. Councilors, she inclined her head. What is it you need?


    We heard you took care of our son for a while, began the woman. Catarina, if Siby recalled correctly.


    I would hardly say that, Siby said. The swordmaster has been a much greater influence besides.


    The woman continued on bluntly. Where are you from?


    Roistea, Siby said clearly. That information should be easily avable.


    It is. I just wondered if you would admit it. So why are you here?


    Siby shrugged, It seemed like an easy way to endear myself to the Alliance, going somewhere like this.


    Not that, the woman shook her head. Why are you <em>here</em>?


    Same reason as you, I suppose. Then she frowned, Though I suppose you were from before Assimtion wasmon. Either way, I wasnt going to stay around Roistea.


    Come on dear, said the man, cing his hand on her shoulder. Think about what your grandfather would say.


    I am, the woman folded her arms. Hes also the one who reminded me to be cautious because of the war with Ekict. Catarina just stared at her for a bit.


    Well? Siby tilted her head. Should I say more? My opinion of the Snis cluster isnt necessarily any higher than yours.


    That got a more positive reaction from her. A fair point. Mostly, I was wondering how you would react. You could have been hoping nobody remembered where Roistea was, so if questioned you could say you technically didnt hide anything.


    But we werent here to make you ufortable, Timothy reminded Catarina. We came to offer help dealing with formations.


    Right, that, Catarina nodded. Since not all formation masters are interested in moving about, it could be useful.


    I will dly ept any help, Siby said. And dont worry, I intend to make my ce among you- or I wouldnt have joined the Alliance at all.


    -----


    Everheart grinned. The first visitors hade to his system. Sadly, they werent from the Harmonious Citadel. It would require more pressure to get them toe, given there was a war on. Or maybe they were nning a more concerted attack. He couldnt imagine they would simply let the insults stand.


    There was a slight issue that mighte up if they sent all their saints together. He was confident, but not crazy. Five or more ascension cultivators would be far too much, even in a ce he had prepared. If they did decide to do that well, he could figure things out then. They probably wouldnt, as that would basically involve giving up their home systems to the Scarlet Alliance and surrounding enemies.


    As for the people in his system now well, he was doing his best to let <em>some</em> of them survive. It was no good to get people to show up and not report back how deadly and potentially treasureden the area was. It would be bad for business if nobody showed up.