Chapter 239: Sylvia (2) Part 1

I swam through the sea, pushing against the current that never let up, moving upstream through waves that stretched into infinity. The storm, thick with mana, beat down on me, and the dense fog pushed back against my direction.

I had long since lost all sense of time. I moved only by instinct, enduring whatever I could. Waterspouts howled as they tore upward, waves leapt like great whales breaching, then slammed down to shatter the ocean’s surface, and lightning tore across a world stripped of color.

However, at that moment, in the false calm of the sea, I sensed a presence—a gaze from somewhere unknown. Then came the roar of the ocean, and a whirlpool twisted around my ankles, tightened around my waist, and dragged me into the deep.

Fwoooosh—!

The current burst around me, and I sank below the surface. My breath caught tight in my chest, but I moved through the water in silence, as though diving deep.

Crunch—!

Without warning, a sea monster clamped down on my arm, and I ripped its teeth loose with nothing but my bare hands.

Splat—

At that moment, a tentacle caught my ankle—an abyssal anemone trying to drag me toward the deep. I severed it with Wood Steel and forced my way back up. All around me stretched the open sea, and the storm showed no sign of ending. The waves in the distance climbed high enough to swallow the heavens.

“

Hmm

.”

Nothing I’d seen had ever come close. Even I—rarely caught off guard—could only stare in stunned silence.

Whoooooosh...

It towered over the world, a wall of water swallowing everything, as if the sea had gathered itself into a moving mountain. It was the kind of monstrous wave you only see in films.

“So, you were watching after all.”

It was the kind of disaster that would drive any human to despair. But my heart was calm, and some part of me felt at peace as I sensed someone’s mana pulsing through the wave.

“Sylvia.”

It was Sylvia who raised this wave—just a petty attempt, thinking she could drive me out with something so small.

"Soon, I'll come to you," I said, staring through the unseen distance between us.

Filling my lungs with one long breath, I dove—just before the wave came.

Splaaash—!

As I descended, the pressure wrapped tighter, pressing against my ears, sealing them and blurring what little sound remained.

... Craaash.

I felt the aftershocks of that massive wave passing across the surface above, but it posed no threat. The Iron Man's lungs were nearly on par with a whale’s—I could endure down here for hours. The deeper water held a kind of silence that sharpened my thoughts. And just then, a system message appeared—one that somewhat satisfied me.

[Enlightenment has been attained.]

◆ Attribute Acquired : Gold Medalist Swimmer

Gold Medalist—a term from the modern world, now foreign—surfaced across my vision.

And at the very next moment...

[Your

Mental Strength

has endured extreme conditions. The attribute has evolved.]

◆ Attribute Evolved : Mermaid

───────

[Mermaid]

◆ Grade

:Rare

◆ Description

:Remains unhindered in aquatic environments.

:Navigates tides and open currents with instinctive finesse, moving through deep waters as fluidly as one walks the earth.

:Sea monsters do not perceive the user as hostile and will not initiate aggression.

───────

Unfortunately, I still couldn’t breathe underwater—but my body moved more naturally in the water, and the pull of the deep felt like something I’d always known. I turned into the current and let it carry me.

***

In that same moment, Sylvia sat by the beach, her fingers drawing in the sand as her eyes watched over the distant sea—where he was.

Right now, he's out there, crossing the sea, coming toward me. And I know why—because the Voice is born of a demon,

Sylvia thought.

Tap—

At that moment, Swifty landed lightly on Sylvia’s shoulder, while Bearbie Panda made itself comfortable on her lap.

"No," Sylvia muttered, nodding as she petted the small heads of her pets.

Maybe I don’t need him anymore. Not in this world I share with my mom. I don’t even remember his name anymore, and maybe that’s reason enough. No—I don’t need him. Not anymore.

"... There's no need."

Sylvia pushed him back, and the sea answered—the wave swelled, and the storm awakened.

“Professor.”

The one I hated, despised, and loved. But I don’t need you anymore. Cielia—my mom, the one I love more than I ever loved you—she’s alive, here with me.

“So.”

Just leave me alone,

Sylvia thought.

At that moment...

"Sylvia," Cielia called, her voice full of warmth as she stepped closer.

“Yes,” Sylvia replied, her smile blooming as she turned to face her mother.

“What were you up to?"

“... Just looking out at the ocean.”

"I see. The sun's almost down. Want to head home now?"

"Okay," Sylvia replied, brushing the sand off of her as she stood up.

Sylvia held Cielia’s hand, and together they walked along the beach, where the waves brushed in around their steps like breath.

“... Sylvia.”

The breeze off the sea, a tiny crab inching across the sand, and sunlight catching on glittering grains—within that serene scene, Cielia called to her, and Sylvia turned to look back.

“Yes.”

“

He

will come, Sylvia. I promise you that.”

Sylvia’s expression tightened, and her steps stopped where they were.

Why do you continue bringing that up to me?

Sylvia’s eyes darkened as she looked at Cielia, clouded with quiet blame.

“Mom, why would you—”

"

He

will be the one to protect you."

"

He

’ll be the one to protect me," Sylvia asked, her brow furrowing as she turned to Cielia for meaning.

"

Mhm

. He made me a promise—before I died."

Swooosh...

Waves whispered at the coast, soaking the warm sand. The nature of the Voice flowed on as always—but Sylvia’s time stood still—and suddenly, she was afraid, fear blooming in her chest.

“... How do you know,” Sylvia asked, her words catching in her throat.

That mom, you are already dead.

"Because I'm your mother, Sylvia," Cielia whispered, her smile warm as her hand brushed Sylvia's head. "Not an illusion or a dream—but your real mother."

“...

Ah

.”

In that moment, something gave way in Sylvia’s chest, her breath catching as tears streamed down before she could stop them.

“And because of that, I have to say goodbye.”

“Why. Why. If you’re real, then don’t—”

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

“...

Shh

,” Cielia murmured, her touch a whisper against her mouth.

Sylvia looked up at Cielia, her eyes glassy and rimmed with red from tears.

"I'll tell you the rest when he gets here."

Swooosh...

Each crash of water tossed a spray of light, the droplets shining like fragments of crystal across the sand.