Quickening their pace, soon the darkness around them was replaced by the rapidly approaching light that subsequently gave way to a sight that took their very breaths away.
'What the...' Triton trailed off
This place.. it's unreal!'
At that moment with awe struck expressions glued upon their faces, the trio's eyes drank in the sprawling sights before them.
They'd expected for the sea serpent's fearsome appearance to be the first thing that greeted them upon their arrival to it's chamber, but instead they were greeted by the sight of massive moss covered stones surrounded by a breathtakingly lush environment that resembled an emerald green rainforest nestled deep beneath the ocean.
All around the chamber, towering kelp and swaying aquatic plants draped themselves upon the stone structures, their leaves fluttering gently in the current.
The temple itself was similarly a marvel of undersea masonry, with massive stone blocks seamlessly fitted together to create grand pyramids and terraces.
Engraved upon them were carvings of mythical sea creatures and sea serpents of massive proportions, their stone forms further adorned with vines of glowing sea flora.
Nearby, pathways could also be seen winding through the temple while lined with glowing mossy steps that seemed to lead to chambers unseen.
Even more eye-catching were the blue essence crystals, radiant and pulsating with ethereal light, that grew in various corners of the temple and casted a serene glow over it's verdant depths.
The crystals seemed to hum with a barely restrained ancient energy, their light reflecting off the wet stone and accentuating the otherworldly atmosphere.
Just looking at this space and imagining the effort required to build it, one could tell that it was a testament to some ancient power that once thrived beneath the waves.
But the most awe inspiring feature was not the foliage, the architecture, or even the essence crystals.
But instead...
"Holy depths, do you guys see that?!" Jonny all but yelled at a sight on the ceiling of the temple.
Inlaid right at the very center of the ceiling above the massive moss covered group of stones was a magnificent, pearlescent purple pearl.
The thumbnail sized gem shimmered with shades of lavender and violet that illuminated the chamber with a mystical, otherworldly light.
Beneath its gentle radiance, the temple felt like a sacred haven, a place where time stood still and the boundaries between the real world and the fantasy blurred
Suffice to say the trio were all stunned silent at the chamber before them but none were moreso than Nereus.
It could be said that within this moment he was having a feeling of distinct deja vu.
'I-It can't be... but surely it is.. but how?!' he questioned to himself in disbelief.
Nereus's eyes widened in disbelief as his gaze fell upon the shimmering orb nestled within the ceiling —a Spatial Pearl, its radiant surface pulsating with the familiar energy of his past life.
This was no ordinary treasure; it was an Epic-ranked artifact, one that had once been his most prized possession, capable of creating a mobile pocket dimension.
In his previous life, the Spatial Pearl had been both a tool to undertake his personal research's' experiments' and a tool that had saved him from countless perils.
At that moment beneath Nereus's surprised expression, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
'Perhaps fate, in its twisted sense of humor, had chosen to return what is rightfully mine...' he thought before quickly ruminating on several plans that could ensure the pearl's return to his ownership.
Meanwhile several feet away from Nereus, Jonny, growing curious, decided to take a closer look at the giant stones before them.
But to everyone's surprise, as he neared the moss covered stones a palpable killing intent soon spread just as a sudden shaking began to rattle the whole chamber.
"Jonny, no!" Nereus shouted, but it was too late.
BOOM
Seemingly all at once the massive boulders before them began to shift and morph onto and into a sight reminiscent of an extremely large serpent.
To an onlooking eye it would appear the rocks were part of the giant serpent and the creeping moss upon closer inspection proved to be the emerald scales of the serpent that weren't rock or sediment covered.
SKREEONK!
After a few more breaths of time, the sea serpent had fully revealed itself before them and from all looks it was the breathtaking embodiment of the earth's primal force.
It's massive form exerted a presence that was both ancient and unyielding.
Its emerald scales, each as large as a shield, shimmered with a deep, verdant hue, encrusted with sharp, rocky projections that jutted out like jagged cliffs.
Various underwater plants had taken root in the crevices between the scales, creating a living tapestry of mosses, corals, and vines that swayed with its every movement.
Yet, despite these earthen features, the serpent retained its aquatic nature—its fins undulated gracefully in the water, its gills pulsed rhythmically along its massive neck, and long, sinuous feelers trailed around its form, sensing every vibration in the depths.
It was as if the very essence of earth had taken the form of a sea serpent, a creature of stone and life, as formidable as the land and as fluid as the sea.
The massive sea serpent reared its head, emerald scales glinting ominously as the chamber shook with its fury.
The creature's presence was overwhelming, a living force of nature that seemed to embody the very essence of earth itself. As the serpent's eyes locked onto the intruders, the water around them seemed to grow thicker, heavier, charged with the oppressive energy of the beast's wrath.
"Get back!" Nereus shouted, his voice cutting through the turbulent waters.
Triton, reacting quickly, drew on his own sea essence, summoning a protective barrier around them.
The water within the shield glowed faintly as Triton manipulated it, creating a swirling vortex that deflected the debris and rocks being hurled at them by the enraged serpent.
His eyes were focused, every ounce of his concentration dedicated to maintaining the shield against the serpent's relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Jonny's instincts kicked in as he saw the situation escalating beyond their control.
With a quick glance at the looming serpent, he realized that staying within the chamber was a death sentence. "We're outmatched here," he muttered to himself, already swimming backward, his movements swift and precise.
He aimed to put as much distance between himself and the serpent as possible, hoping to find a safer vantage point or an escape route if things took a turn for the worse.
Nereus, however, found himself frozen in place, his gaze locked onto the Spatial Pearl still embedded in the ceiling.
His original plan had been simple: claim the pearl, and then focus on locating and figuring out how to handle the creature.
But now, with the serpent's fury unleashed, that plan had crumbled.
The beast's wrath was palpable, and its power seemed to be at the peak of the Reef Grandmaster level—a level of mastery that meant none of them here, even working together, were it's match.