The bone spear vibrating against the energy wall was just the beginning. I could see the muscles tensing in Leo and Wilong's shoulders, their hands tightening around their weapons as they prepared to leap into the fray.
"Be careful," I warned, my voice steady despite the murky chaos outside. "My [Aqua Breathing] Skill only functions within the perimeter of this barrier. If you overextend, the pressure and the lack of oxygen will become your primary enemies before the Nagas even get a chance."
Wilong didn't seem deterred. If anything, the challenge only made his playful smirk widen.
"[Activating 'Shadow Clone' Lvl 6!]"
In an instant, the deck of the ruined galleon was crowded. Wilong had manifested a dozen identical copies of himself, each gripping a spectral version of his spear. With a synchronized roar, the clones charged out of the [Aegis of Still Waters], diving headfirst into the crushing weight of the ocean toward the circling Naga Warriors.
"[Activating 'Demon Thrust' Lvl 7!]"
The spears of the clones gleamed with a deep, toxic green hue as they carved through the water. However, the Nagas moved with a fluid grace that made our movements look like they were happening in slow motion. Almost instantaneously, the clones' thrusts were parried and countered. These were skilled underwater combatants, born and bred in the currents that were currently dragging at our limbs.
I watched the exchange with a growing sense of unease. Something was fundamentally wrong here. According to the lore I had memorized during the VR days, the Naga tribe were considered royalty among the sea dwellers. They typically resided in the opulent depths of the inner sea, thousands of miles away from a fringe zone like the 'Ruined Sunken Ship'. My gut feeling, sharpened by years of survival, told me that an unprecedented shift in the story-line had occurred once again.
"Leo," I said, turning to the teenager who was bouncing on his heels, waiting for his turn. "Do you have any magic that can help with language translation?"
"Uhh, yeah, Master told me a few theory-based spells. I think I can pull it off with my current level," Leo answered. He closed his eyes, his youthful face becoming uncharacteristically solemn as he focused all his intent on his upturned palm. Slowly, a soft, light-green hue began to swirl above his skin.
To the average Ranker, these were just 'Skills', but to the residents of the Tower, it was simply 'Magic'. One of the most terrifying things about Leonhart Francis was his 'Innate Ability', a power so unique that even my [Copy] Skill couldn't touch. It was called [Magic Creation]. Much like my [Fusion] Skill allowed me to combine Items and abilities, Leo could manifest entirely new forms of magic as long as he could visualize the concept and understand the underlying logic.
The kid had no idea he was sitting on a goldmine, which was why I was constantly nudging him, giving him hints and puzzles to solve so he could realize his potential on his own. Right now, I was witnessing the birth of a new 'Skill'. Somewhere in the Tower's administrative layer, a scroll was likely being etched by a confused Administrator to record this moment.
As the 'Prana' solidified into a glowing orb in Leo's hand, he crushed it with a determined grunt.
"[Activating 'Friendly Communication' Lvl ???!]"
The energy dispersed in a silent wave, washing over the team and the surrounding Nagas. To an outsider, it just looked like a standard buff, but the effect was immediate. The garbled, clicking sounds of the aquatic world began to resolve into recognizable speech.
"Grrrrr... Another trouble, one after another... Grrrr..." one of the Naga Warriors grumbled, his voice sounding raspy and exhausted as he leveled his bone spear.
"Grrrrr... Damn it! It seems we won't be able to reach the Palace in time," another answered, his fins fluttering in a display of clear agitation as they prepared for another collective charge.
"Hyung! I did it! We can hear them now!" Leo shouted, his excitement breaking the tension. It was a two-way street; the magic bridge meant they could understand us just as clearly as we understood them.
"Grrrr... These people possess unnatural energy," a third Naga whispered nervously to his comrade. "We might not make it out of this alive."
"Hmm? What's this?" Melchior murmured, his expression shifting to one of genuine surprise. "Their need to return to their palace is so strong... I can feel their 'Will' pulsing off them. Arthur..."
Melchior, as a former Patriarch of noble blood, possessed a refined version of [Lie Detection]. He could perceive the raw, genuine emotions and desires of others as if they were physical weights in the air. He wasn't just hearing their words; he was feeling their desperation.
"Don't worry, Mel," I said, resting a hand on the hilt of Erravoth. "The fact that Naga royalty is out here in the sticks is already questionable."
In the VR days, the Naga were never aggressive unless provoked. They were a proud but diplomatic tribe. If they were out here picking fights with Rankers while crying about their palace, the 'Flooded Catacombs' were in much worse shape than the System was letting on.