Chapter 16: Luck or Misfortune?

In the vast, deep blue expanse of the ocean, where the light of the sun was a distant memory and the silence pressed in like a weighted blanket, a golden mermaid swam gracefully alongside an almost five-inch-long baby manatee that she named Nana. The mermaid, Xena, glided effortlessly through the dark water, her shimmering golden tail a stark contrast to the murky depths. Her luminous glow skill cast a soft, ethereal light, illuminating her surroundings just enough to see and keeping the lurking shadows of predators at bay. The light revealed the occasional schools of silvery fish darting away, startled by her presence, and clusters of ghostly white coral swaying gently in the current.Two weeks had passed since Xena first encountered the injured baby manatee. In that time, Nana had grown healthier and more robust under Xena's diligent care. Though manatees were slow-growing creatures, the baby had noticeably gained weight and energy. When Xena found her, Nana had been 4.5 feet long and weighed around 60–70 pounds. Now, the baby manatee had grown an inch or so in length and added a few pounds, her once frail and injured body now strong and lively. Nana's wounds had healed completely, thanks to Xena's healing current skill, which she used daily. The deep gashes were now mere scars, and the manatee's once-rough skin had smoothed, gleaming faintly in the dim light.Nana, who had once relied entirely on Xena, now began to forage on her own, nibbling on seagrass and algae they found along the way. Xena watched over her fondly as the little manatee playfully explored her surroundings, occasionally bumping her snout against the soft sand in search of food. These quiet moments were a reprieve from the ever-present dangers of the deep ocean, where predators lurked in every shadow.Xena sighed, her thoughts turning to her progress."It's so slow…" she muttered, glancing at the system window that hovered invisibly in her mind.Name: Xena

Level: 17

Exp: 755/770

Species: Mermaid – Cursed (Fish Advanced Evolution)

Gender: Female

HP: 100/100

MP: 34/34

Agility: 8

Strength: 1 (Base: 10, Cursed: -90% Debuff)

Intelligence: 8

Charm: 210 (Base: 10, Cursed Beauty: +200)

Skills: Devour, Eye of Truth, Hydro Boost, Electric Pulse, Healing Current, Aqua Slash, Coral Camouflage, Mana Absorption, Predator's Instinct, Underwater Forge, Iron Scales, Barrier Reef, Blur Current, Venomous Bite, Aqua Speech, Tidal Vitality, Ocean's Blessing, Echo Pulse, Luminous Glow

Titles: Eel Slayer, Silent Predator, Serpent Slayer, Shark Slayer, Friend of the Ocean

Curses: Cursed Beauty

Remaining Stats: 0

Since it's been 2 weeks, she had around 60 pearl coins that she received from the daily quests. But she still needed to get more if she wants to buy the pet contract skill book in the system shop.Her leveling had crawled to a near halt. Level 17 felt like a barrier she could barely breach, with her current EXP at 755 out of the required 770. Hunting weaker sea creatures like small fish and crabs provided meager rewards, but it was the safest option for Nana. She couldn't risk endangering her companion by fighting stronger predators. The cursed debuff on her strength stat also weighed heavily on her mind. At a pitiful 1 strength—reduced from a base of 10 by a 90% debuff—she was weaker than most ordinary humans."This is ridiculous," Xena muttered, rubbing her temples in frustration. "Even a sickly human could probably overpower me."Her musings were interrupted by a nudge from Nana, who had finished eating. The baby manatee looked at her with wide, trusting eyes. Xena smiled softly and rubbed the manatee's head."Let's go, Nana. We still have a lot of ocean to explore."She didn't have to use her skill aqua speech and waste some MP just to communicate with Nana, the title's Friend of the ocean buff made their communications much easier.They swam side by side in the shadowy waters. The glow from Xena's skill lit their path, revealing patches of dark green kelp that waved like banners in the current and the occasional starfish clinging to jagged rocks. The ocean floor was a mix of coarse sand and scattered shells, some broken and others glinting faintly in the light. The faint clicking of shrimp and the distant echo of a whale's song created an eerie symphony in the otherwise silent expanse.After some time, Xena's keen eyes spotted a massive structure in the distance. As they swam closer, the details of a wrecked ship began to emerge from the gloom. The ship was enormous, its skeletal frame resting at a precarious angle on a rocky outcrop. Barnacles encrusted its wooden hull, and seaweed draped over its beams like tattered curtains. Time and the relentless ocean had taken their toll, leaving the vessel a shadow of its former glory."This ship must be centuries old," Xena thought, her curiosity piqued. "There could be something valuable inside."Cautiously, she swam closer, motioning for Nana to stay by her side. Xena activated her Echo Pulse skill, sending out a sonar-like wave that mapped the ship's interior and its immediate surroundings. The pulse revealed no immediate threats—no large predators lurking in the shadows—but it did highlight hidden pathways and a room that seemed to hold something unusual.With her luminous glow skill lighting the way, Xena entered the ship through a gaping hole in its hull. The interior was a labyrinth of narrow corridors and collapsed ceilings. Broken barrels and rotting crates littered the floors, their contents long since consumed by time or scavengers. Human skeletons lay scattered, their bones picked clean by crabs and other scavengers. A faint metallic tang filled the water, a reminder of the ship's age and decay.Xena moved cautiously, her senses on high alert. She ran her fingers along the walls, feeling the rough texture of barnacles and splintered wood. Nana followed closely, her small body darting nervously around debris. In one room, Xena found a rusted sword, its blade dull but still intact. She left it behind, uninterested in the relic.Eventually, they reached the room highlighted by her Echo Pulse skill. In the center was a sturdy wooden chest, remarkably intact despite its surroundings. Xena's excitement grew as she approached it, drawing her snake fang dagger from her bubble storage pouch. She inserted the blade into the chest's rusty lock, twisting it until it broke with a creak. The lid of the chest swung open, revealing its contents: piles of glittering gold coins and an array of dazzling jewelry."Gold… and jewels!" Xena exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder. The sight was mesmerizing, the gold shimmering even in the dim light. Necklaces encrusted with gems, rings with intricate designs, and coins that bore markings of a long-forgotten era filled the chest.Without hesitation, Xena activated her bubble storage pouch. The small, translucent bubble grew to envelop the treasure chest before shrinking back to its original size and adhering to her hip. The chest vanished, safely stored in the pocket dimension of her pouch."Let's go, Nana," Xena said, glancing at the baby manatee. Nana seemed bewildered by the disappearing chest but followed her faithfully.As they swam out of the ship, Xena took one last look at its exterior. The vessel was perched precariously on a rocky ledge, its stern tilted downward into an abyss. She activated her Eye of Truth skill, scanning the surrounding area for potential threats.What she saw made her heart stop.In the inky blackness below the ship, a massive figure began to take shape. The glowing text from her skill painted a terrifying picture:Deeply Slumbering Kraken (Level ???)

HP: ???/???

Attributes: Colossal octopus with massive tentacles, dormant for centuries.

Xena's blood ran cold. The creature's sheer size was unfathomable, its glowing outline stretching far beyond what her mind could comprehend. She could feel its oppressive presence even in its dormant state, a slumbering titan that could crush her with a single tentacle.