COLD water.
FREEZING water.
Xin Yi sank.
Deep.
Deeper.
The shock of the impact had knocked the air from her lungs. Her limbs flailed. Panic set in immediately.
What the hell. What the HELL. WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?!
She kicked desperately, her lungs screaming for air. Finally, she broke the surface.
Gasping. Choking. Spluttering.
"What—what is going on?!" she screamed into the darkness. "SYSTEM! WHERE AM I?!"
[...]
Nothing.
No response.
No cheerful ding. No sarcastic commentary. No emoji faces.
"System?!" Her voice echoed. "SYSTEM?!"
Still nothing.
[...]
Xin Yi's heart pounded. The System had NEVER been quiet before. It was always there. Always commenting. Always annoying her.
And now?
Nothing.
She was alone.
Completely alone.
In the dark.
In freezing water.
In an ancient temple underground.
"This is fine," she whispered to herself. "This is FINE. Everything is—"
BOOM.
The sound came from below, from the DEPTHS.
Xin Yi froze.
"Eh?"
