Chapter 144: Ruchir's Sacrifice and Unwavering Resolve

But as Garret attempted to swim, he quickly discovered that this water was anything but normal. It clung to his limbs, resisting his movements, and every stroke felt like he was pushing through thick, heavy sludge.

"What the hell is this?!" he tried to shout, but his words were swallowed by the water. Bubbles rose from his mouth, his attempts at cursing reduced to comical blubs.

Seeing Garret's struggles, Captain Hato's lips curled into a wicked grin. He, too, was panting heavily, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but the sight of his enemies floundering in his trap seemed to reinvigorate him.

"What's the matter, Garret?" he taunted, his voice strained yet filled with sadistic glee. "Can't swim your way out of this one?"

Garret, his face contorted in frustration, tried to yell something back, but all that came out were more bubbles.

He gestured wildly, his expression an exaggerated mix of anger and helplessness. Internally, he fumed.

Of all the things, I had to be drowned by a maniac!

Not far from Garret, Robert was struggling as well, though he managed to keep a somewhat more composed demeanor.

He glanced over at Garret, who was flailing around like a fish out of water, and despite the dire situation, a small, involuntary chuckle escaped him—only to result in a mouthful of water.

His eyes widened in shock as he gagged, struggling to spit it out.

Garret, noticing Robert's predicament, grinned internally. Serves you right, he thought smugly, though his own situation was hardly any better.

Ruchir, too, was fighting to stay conscious, the pressure of the water squeezing the air from his lungs. His thoughts raced as he tried to come up with a plan.

In the midst of the chaos, he reached out telepathically to Professor Aanya, whose glowing form was barely visible through the swirling water.

"Professor Aanya," Ruchir's voice echoed in her mind, strained but determined. "Is there any way to reverse this situation?"

Professor Aanya's response was delayed, the strain of maintaining her composure evident in her thoughts. "There… there is a way," she replied, her voice tinged with concern.

"But I'll need to be at my prime condition to pull it off. Unfortunately, I'm far from that right now."

"What do you need to recover?" Ruchir asked, his mind working furiously to assess their options.

"I need to restore at least seventy percent of my Righteousness Energy," she answered, her thoughts tinged with worry. "I'm too drained right now… and without my full power, I can't break through his spell."

Ruchir fell silent, contemplating her words. The situation was dire, but he knew they couldn't afford to give up. Somehow, they had to buy time for Professor Aanya to recover. But how?

As if sensing their desperation, Captain Hato's mocking laughter filled the water sphere, reverberating around them like a haunting melody. "Struggling, are we?" he jeered, his voice laced with cruelty. "It's only a matter of time before you all drown like rats in a trap."

Garret, despite the suffocating water pressing down on him, felt a surge of defiance.

He wanted to retort, to hurl some scathing insult back at Captain Hato, but every attempt to speak was met with more water flooding his mouth. Why does this bastard have to be so smug? he cursed inwardly, his frustration mounting.

Yet, in this moment of peril, the group remained united in their determination. Ruchir's mind was already working on a strategy, trying to figure out how they could create an opening, how they could keep fighting despite the odds stacked against them.

And though Garret and Robert struggled to keep their spirits up, they refused to let Captain Hato's taunts break them.

Professor Aanya, sensing Ruchir's resolve, pushed through her own exhaustion, focusing on the faint glimmers of hope that still remained.

She knew that time was running out, but with Ruchir's leadership and the group's unwavering spirit, they might just have a chance to turn the tide.

But for now, the dark waters of Captain Hato's abyssal trap continued to swirl around them, threatening to pull them under. The battle was far from over, and the path to victory was fraught with peril.

Yet, despite the overwhelming odds, Ruchir and his companions were not ready to give in. Their will to fight, to protect the innocent and uphold justice, burned brightly even in the face of certain doom.

And as Captain Hato's cruel laughter echoed through the suffocating depths, the group held onto that spark of hope, knowing that the fight was far from over. The real battle had only just begun.

The suffocating grip of Captain Hato's dark waters closed in around them, tightening its grasp on Ruchir, Garret, Robert, and Professor Aanya. The situation was dire.

The oppressive force of the water sphere drained their strength, leaving them gasping for air and struggling to stay conscious. Captain Hato's laughter echoed menacingly within the sphere, his voice taunting them as he reveled in their despair.

Ruchir, fighting to stay focused, reached out telepathically to Professor Aanya once more. "Professor," he began, his thoughts clear despite the strain, "what if I transfer my remaining reserves of Righteousness Energy to you? Would that be enough to restore your strength?"

Professor Aanya's response was immediate and filled with a fierce protectiveness. "No, Ruchir! You know the dire consequences of such an action! How could I ever ask you to do that?"

Her thoughts were laced with urgency and anger. "Once you transfer your Righteousness Energy to me, your foundation will be severely damaged. You haven't even reached the Materialization Stage yet! The harm it would do to you is unimaginable."

But Ruchir remained steadfast, his mind made up. "Isn't the safety of the citizens, and the lives of my dear friends and teacher, more important than that?" His thoughts were calm, but the weight of his resolve pressed down on Professor Aanya's heart like a leaden weight.

"As your teacher, I can't allow you to do this," Professor Aanya retorted, her tone softening but still firm.

"You have a bright future ahead of you, Ruchir. Why would you waste it like this? Your potential is limitless. You could become someone who changes the world. Don't throw it all away for this!"

But Ruchir's resolve only deepened. "My future doesn't mean anything if I'm not willing to protect those who are important to me," he replied, his thoughts filled with an unwavering conviction that struck Professor Aanya to her core.

"Isn't that what you taught us? To use our power to protect others, to uphold justice no matter the cost? If I can't do that now, then what good is my potential? What good is my future if I'm too afraid to sacrifice for the sake of others?"

Professor Aanya felt a sharp pang in her heart. Ruchir's words, so full of selflessness and courage, pierced through her resolve.

As a teacher, she had always encouraged her students to act righteously, to put others before themselves.

But now, faced with the reality of Ruchir's sacrifice, she felt disheartened. The idea that her student would harm his future because of her own weakness weighed heavily on her.

"Ruchir…" she thought, her resolve wavering. "You're asking too much of yourself…"

But Ruchir, without waiting for her permission, swam to her side. Placing his hand gently on her back, he began to channel his Righteousness Energy into her.

The moment the transfer began, an excruciating pain shot through Ruchir's body.

His limbs trembled as he pushed through the agonizing sensation, his mind reeling as if it were being torn apart.

His Righteousness Energy, the very essence of his cultivation, was being drawn from him, weakening him with every passing moment.

"Ruchir, stop!" Professor Aanya pleaded, her thoughts filled with desperation. "You're going to destroy yourself! Please, don't do this!"

But Ruchir only smiled through the pain, his thoughts unyielding. "I won't stop, Professor. Not until you're strong enough to fight. Not until we've won. The people are counting on us. You're the only one who can stand against Captain Hato. I believe in you."

Captain Hato, noticing the energy transfer, let out a roar of anger. "What do you think you're doing?" he shouted, his voice dripping with malice.

"You think you can stop me with this pitiful display?!" His eyes glowed with an intense fury as he prepared another attack.

"Demonic Water Serpent!" he bellowed, thrusting his hand forward.

A massive serpent made entirely of dark water surged forth, its jaws open wide, ready to strike at Ruchir and Professor Aanya.

Garret and Robert, still struggling within the water sphere, watched in horror as the serpent approached. Garret, despite his usual bravado, felt a deep sense of dread.

He tried to push the fear away, tried to maintain his poker face, but the sight of the impending attack made his heart race. "Ruchir…" he thought, unable to voice his concerns.

"Why did you have to do this, you idiot?"

Robert, too, felt a surge of fear and concern. But deep down, he held onto the belief that somehow, someway, a miracle would happen.

"Come on, Ruchir," he thought, clenching his fists. "Don't let it end like this…"