Chapter 90 : The Sunken Shrine and the Tidegem's Current

The battered fishing boat limped towards the shore of the island, its mast a splintered mess, a testament to the Kraken's fury. Drake lay unconscious, his breathing shallow, his companions' faces etched with worry.

"We need to find the shrine, and fast," Elara said, her voice strained. "Drake needs healing."

Corvus, clutching the Sunstone, nodded grimly. "The map indicates the shrine is located in a hidden cove on the other side of the island. We'll have to cross the island on foot."

The island was a dense jungle, its vegetation thick and tangled. The terrain was uneven, making travel difficult. The air was humid and heavy, and the sounds of unseen creatures echoed through the trees.

"This place is a jungle," Borin grumbled. "And not a friendly jungle. More like a 'we're-going-to-get-eaten-by-something-nasty' jungle."

They carried Drake between them, taking turns bearing his weight. They moved as quickly as they could, but the dense jungle slowed them down.

As they journeyed through the jungle, they encountered various creatures: giant spiders, venomous snakes, and even a pack of wild boars. These encounters, while challenging, were manageable, their previous battle with the Kraken having hardened them.

"Seriously," Drake mumbled deliriously as they fought off a group of giant spiders, "can't we go anywhere without running into giant… creepy… crawlies? It's like the universe is trying to give me… arachnophobia… therapy. And it's not… working."

Suddenly, Drake's eyes flickered open. His increased Constitution, a result of his recent level-ups, was beginning to take effect, mending his grievous wounds. He was still weak, but conscious.

"Easy, Drake," Elara said, her voice filled with relief. "You took a bad hit from the Kraken."

"Yeah, well," Drake rasped, sitting up slowly, "that oversized squid has a mean… handshake. Or… tentacle-shake? Whatever. I'm feeling… better. Though I could really use a… chimichanga. And maybe a less… humid… jungle."

He struggled to his feet, though still clearly favoring his side. "Let's… keep moving. We need to… find that shrine."

After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the other side of the island. They found themselves in a secluded cove, surrounded by cliffs. A waterfall cascaded down the cliffs, emptying into a small pool. Behind the waterfall, they could see the entrance to a cave.

*Notification: "Location Discovered: Sunken Shrine. Ancient Shrine. Suspected Artifact Location."*

"The Sunken Shrine," Corvus said, pointing to the cave entrance. "The Tidegem must be inside."

They carefully entered the cave, the sound of the waterfall echoing around them. The cave was dark and damp, the air thick with the smell of salt and seaweed.

The path led them down a winding staircase, deeper into the earth. Finally, they reached a large chamber, partially submerged in water. In the center of the chamber, on a raised platform, they could see the Tidegem, a shimmering gem pulsating with a blue light.

*Notification: "Artifact Detected: Tidegem. Powerful Artifact. Emits Water Energy. Incompatible with Current User."*

"There it is," Elara said, pointing to the Tidegem.

As they approached the platform, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a humanoid creature, its skin covered in scales, its eyes glowing with an eerie light.

*Notification: "Enemy Detected: 1 x Tide Guardian. Threat Level: High."*

"The guardian," Corvus said, his voice grim.

The Tide Guardian was a powerful magic user, wielding the power of water. It raised its hands, and the water in the chamber began to swirl and churn.

The battle was fierce. The Tide Guardian summoned waves of water, creating whirlpools and tidal currents that threatened to sweep Drake and his companions away.

Corvus, still attuned to fire, found his magic less effective in the water-filled chamber. Elara, however, was in her element, using her wind magic to control the currents and create pockets of air. Borin, ever the stalwart warrior, charged into the fray, his axe cleaving through the water.

Drake, though still weakened, joined the fight, using his enhanced dexterity to dodge the water attacks and create openings for his companions. He knew he wasn't at his full strength, but he couldn't stand by while his friends fought.

Just when it seemed like the Tide Guardian had the upper hand, Elara, with a surge of power, summoned a massive wave, crashing down on the guardian and disrupting its magic.

Corvus seized the opportunity, unleashing a blast of radiant energy, searing the guardian's scaled skin. Borin followed up with a powerful blow from his axe, finally felling the creature.

*Notification: "Enemy Defeated: Tide Guardian (+8000 XP)."*

*Notification: "Experience Gained: Tide Guardian Encounter (+8000 XP)"*

*Experience: 57200 + 8000 = 65200/14000*

*Notification: "Level Up! Drake has reached Level 21!"*

*Notification: "Stat Points Available: 21"*

*Notification: "Skill Points Available: 2"*

He allocated his stat points putting 11 into Strength and 10 into Dexterity.

*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Strength +11. Current Strength: 85."*

*Notification: "Stat Points Allocated: Dexterity +10. Current Dexterity: 90."*

He allocated his skill points, putting one into Void Embrace and one into Void Step.

*Notification: "Skill Point Allocated: Void Embrace (Level 6). Effect: Increased enhancement to darkness and void skills, no health drain per turn, grants a temporary boost to mana regeneration, and now grants a temporary boost to attack speed."*

*Notification: "Skill Point Allocated: Void Step (Level 7). Effect: Increased teleportation range, significantly reduced mana cost, leaves behind a brief afterimage that can distract enemies, allows Drake to teleport through solid objects, grants a brief burst of speed after teleporting, and now allows Drake to teleport while cloaked, maintaining invisibility."*

Elara, attuned to wind and water, approached the platform and reached out to the Tidegem. It accepted her touch.

*Notification: "Tidegem Acquired. Water Energy Absorbed. New Skill Unlocked: Tidal Wave (Elara)."*

With the Tidegem secured, they quickly left the Sunken Shrine, eager to find a safe place to rest and allow Drake to fully recover. Their quest for the artifacts continued, the challenges growing ever more daunting, but their resolve remained unbroken.