Loud sounds echoed throughout the castle once again.
The gigantic wooden doors creaked as they opened across the vast hallways of the fortress. Fungi walked alongside the full squad of explorers, moving like a military unit. Mundane guards stood at either side of the path, rigid as statues, blending in with the grandeur of the hall.
Endless corridors, long red carpets finely embroidered with golden thread, tall open windows, and barely lit chandeliers shaped the inner structure of the palace and base of the exploration unit.
It wasn't lavish like a noble house—just functional enough so the massive building wouldn't feel completely empty.
Fungi looked from side to side, hoping to find something impressive or important, but the base felt more like a labyrinth with its perfect symmetry. If someone told him to find a specific room, he wouldn't even know where to begin.
Meanwhile, the rest of the squad paid him no mind. They resumed casual chatter—some about work, others about unrelated stories—as they followed behind their captain.
The captain, silent from the start, exchanged only glances with the soldiers guarding each door, signaling them to open it. Out of the entire group, Fungi was the only one who seemed out of place.
Eventually, they reached a massive chamber designed to resemble the deep ocean floor. Uneven terrain, caves, vegetation, moisture—it was a fully immersive simulation environment. Fungi noticed mechanisms that could unleash strong water currents or muddy traps meant to swallow intruders whole.
The captain turned to Fungi with an emotionless look and spoke:
"This is our simulation arena. Here, we evaluate the first of three traits required for any sea explorer.
All around the room, you'll find precious stones embedded in the walls and rocks. Your task is to extract at least five of them using the Water Path. You have five minutes. Hurry—imagine the zone you've just cleared may not be clear for long."
Fungi nodded slightly. As soon as the test began, he stepped into the arena—and instantly felt heavy.
His movements became sluggish. The whole area had been rigged with a ritual to mimic the crushing pressure of the ocean depths.
Though surprised, he quickly composed himself. He still had a test to pass.
Trying to keep a neutral expression, he fought against the crushing weight on his shoulders.
He soon found his first gemstone, embedded in a wall. Using the Water Path, he manipulated the surrounding moisture to loosen the gem through gentle waves. Keeping an eye out for traps, he managed to extract it safely. Relief washed over him.
He quickly spotted a second gem nearby and began working on it. But then, like a spark, his Soul Sense flared.
Two hostile presences approached fast.
Before he could react, a clean kick to the head sent him flying.
Blood spilled from his lips and nose as he hit the ground.
Two explorers stood over the gem he was working on, smirking.
"Sorry, but that gem's too pretty to waste. You'd get a good payout for something like this," one of them mocked.
Fungi glared, but turned toward the captain.
The captain calmly returned his gaze.
"Mining isn't just about dodging hazards or clearing out wild beasts. Greed is part of the job too. You won't always be able to trust your teammates. When payment depends on how much you collect, don't be surprised if someone tries to kill you over a few coins."
Fungi didn't reply. Instead, he searched for another gem, analyzed the environment, then sprinted toward a distant one—ignoring all terrain traps.
The two explorers chased him effortlessly.
Fungi summoned his sea serpent and commanded it to attack. The men dodged easily, but Fungi had planned ahead. He mentally ordered the serpent to explode into a flurry of needle-like water droplets.
Caught off guard, the two were pelted—wounded, though not seriously.
Fungi rushed the one who had stolen his gem. With a quick incantation, water from the serpent lashed around both attackers, forming rope-like restraints.
With swift movement, he grabbed the thief's head and kneed him in the stomach. Using momentum, Fungi fell backward and launched the man toward a mud pit using his legs.
But the second attacker wasn't idle.
He conjured a cannon-like blast from the surrounding moisture.
Fungi had barely any time to react. The force sent him crashing through several rocky outcroppings, shredding his clothes and bruising his body.
Blood burst from his mouth as he examined his badly bruised abdomen. Fortunately, the hit wasn't piercing.
Glancing at the damage, he noticed some gemstones hidden within the rubble that shattered during the impact.
Battered, barely breathing, he healed only his internal injuries using the Soul Path. It cost him dearly, but he couldn't stop.
His Soul Sense flared again.
This time, he was ready.
Fungi feigned weakness, slumping as though about to faint. The attacker smirked, collecting hidden gems with a wave of his hand.
"Damn, your body led me right to the jackpot. Thievery pays better than mining," he sneered. "What do you say I toss you around again and see what else shakes loose?"
Still pretending to be dazed, Fungi waited until the man got close.
Suddenly, the sea serpent leapt from Fungi's gourd, aiming to strike.
"Tch, same trick again?" the man scoffed.
He shattered the serpent and twisted the surrounding water to assert control. But Fungi wasn't done.
He pulled out the first gem he'd extracted—his trump card.
He infused it into his spell.
Casting with material catalysts greatly reduces incantation requirements. Depending on the material's quality and affinity, it can drastically enhance a spell's power.
With this gem, Fungi's serpent reformed—sharper, stronger, deadlier.
It morphed into blades that stabbed the man before exploding like shrapnel. Fungi was caught in the blast too, but he didn't care.
He seized the stolen gems, used another as a catalyst to restrain the enemy, and squeezed his throat with water ropes to keep him from chanting.
Despite his injuries, he charged toward the captain.
The simulation tried to stop him—bursting torrents, collapsing floors, all aimed to halt his progress.
He pushed through the pain, dodging what he could and healing only what was necessary.
The Soul Path was draining fast.
The body reflects the soul, and every bit of restoration drained his essence, leaving it pale and unstable.
Still, he used everything he had left.
Just before reaching the exit, his Soul Sense flared again.
The other attacker hadn't wasted time.
He had mimicked Fungi's catalyst technique and trapped him in a high-pressure water bubble.
Calmly, the man walked over, snatched Fungi's gem pouch, and stood tall.
The captain signaled the end of the first trial.
It hadn't just been a mining test—it was a simulation of daily life in the dangerous world of underwater exploration.
If someone wanted to be a sea explorer in the East, they had to be ready for anything.
Fungi failed to complete the first trait.