EXCEL -Volume 1: The Beginning-

🔹Chapter 4: Decoding the Anonymous🔹

The voice echoes around the sea, calling her, seeking her attention.

Forget what? Ylona's head murmurs as her body floats underwater.

Remember, don't ever let them know...

Ylona made her way to the shore, recollecting the events that happened earlier. She looked above the high cliff to where she fell. In an instant, she began searching for the shards hoping that they weren't lost in the sea. Luckily, it was kept safe in her pocket. Now that that's done, it was time to go back to her previous agenda, finding the key.

In the waters, Ylona noticed a strange light illuminating. Without hesitation, she jumps back into the water to investigate. Whether it be the key or something else, as long as it can be used to escape this place, it will be beneficial.

As she swam further down, a strange feeling overcame her. She went down, deeper into the sea, the light coming closer to her presence. What she found was a chest—an unopened treasure chest. When she opened it, a gust of wind blew her once more. This time, less violent than the last one. Ylona took a closer look and found nothing inside. She eventually left the chest and continued to search through the vast waters.

After a while of finding nothing valuable, Ylona proceeds to go up to search for the key to land. Suddenly, something on her feet dragged her down. She tried to break it apart, but her attempts were useless. The creature pulled her deep into the sea. Ylona tries to get her scythe but the swift movements of the creature accidentally push her to a huge rock, causing an injury to her arm and leg. They made their way to a dark cave where Ylona was thrown and blocked by a web-like mucus.

With the help of a device that allowed her to breathe underwater, Ylona was able to move freely under the sea. She observed the mucus, looking for something that may help her escape. But all she found was nothing but dirt, rocks, and some skeletons of dead prey. Too much time wasted and she might end up lying next to the skeletons. Then, she found that this mucus can only be removed using blue flames*, a fire used only on water. The only problem is, that she is not capable of producing one however she could acquire them using seaweeds or corals.

To her luck, she found one about 12 miles from where she was. Unfortunately, she cannot wait that long as her time is about to run to the last hour—she cannot sacrifice her time as it is still unsure if the coral will produce blue flames. The flames are rare to acquire underwater despite their ability to only function in water. If she needs to escape quickly, she has to find another way. But exactly how?

She found an idea but she will have to wait for the monster to swim back to her location.

A few minutes passed and as she predicted, the creature went back, circling the cave. She proceeded with her plan and went close to a spot not covered in mucus. Ylona closed her eyes as she began her enchantment, her eyes glowing in bright aqua, hypnotizing the monster and luring it closer to her*. By her orders, the monster opens its mouth and bursts out blue flames, melting the mucus until it is no longer visible. Ylona successfully escaped the trap and immediately headed to the shore to find the key.

She went from every place possible but the key was nowhere to be found. She grabbed the shards and built them into a diamond—just like the one the Alpha showed before the test.

Just then, a light reflects from the centerpiece, hitting her eye. She distanced the shard from her and immediately reverted to the item.

There was no source of light here except the sun but the sun was opposite of where the reflection hit her. Something must be in the sky. Using the diamond, Ylona looked at the centerpiece and caught a glimpse of something from above. Something was above the sky and she is sure that she needs to find out. The question is how given that she has no wings nor enchantments to make her fly.