Tales of the Endless Empire-Chapter 144: Hmm, what form will I give the other shapeshifters?

Thalion gazed out over the vast, shimmering blue surface of the ocean with quiet anticipation. One of the archers had reassured him that there must be a reef below, judging by the swarms of fish darting about in intricate patterns. Standing near the ship’s steering wheel, Thalion waited as the shapeshifters stepped through the portal. He savored the salty breeze caressing his face, its briskness stirring memories of crisp mornings back on Earth with his friends.

It didn’t take long for over sixty shapeshifters to assemble before him, their expectant eyes fixed on his masked visage.

“Listen up, everyone,” Thalion began, his voice firm yet measured. “I’ll dive first to bring you a high-rarity form. In exchange, I want every blue pearl you can find, along with the corpses of all the beasts you kill. Down in the depths, there are larger crystals, but the beasts are far stronger. I can’t say how powerful they’ve grown, but remember: never dive alone. The deeper waters are home to predators adept at ambushes—giant squids being some of the most dangerous among them.”

As his words settled over the group, a wave of agreement rippled through them. Some clapped enthusiastically, their excitement palpable. They were clearly eager to see what form Thalion would deliver.

This arrangement suited him perfectly. The shapeshifters would handle the smaller pearls, leaving him to harvest the massive crystals hidden in the depths. Later, he could also collect the pearls and materials gathered by the water mages, though he doubted he’d need them. Strengthening the people in his base meant they’d be better equipped to fight the undead, and he took satisfaction in seeing others improve.

Now, it was time to make good on his promise.

Without hesitation, Thalion vaulted over the ship’s railing, shifting mid-air into the sleek form of the Tidecaller Serpent just moments before slicing into the water. The entry was so seamless that Olympic divers would have envied his performance.

As he descended into the cool embrace of the ocean, Thalion scanned the waters. About four hundred meters below, he spotted a sprawling reef, teeming with life. Schools of fish in dazzling colors swirled overhead, while crabs scuttled across the coral below. Sharks prowled the area, their sleek bodies cutting through the water with predatory grace. Most of the creatures appeared formidable, with levels ranging in the 60s or higher.

Thalion lingered for a moment, entranced by the scene. The perpetual dance of the ocean always had a way of captivating him.

However, the reef was smaller than the last one he had visited, though still expansive. Its disk-like structure sprawled beneath him, a kaleidoscope of colors and movement. As he swam along its edge, Thalion turned his attention to finding a suitable form for the shapeshifters.

Venturing into the darker, more mysterious waters, he practiced sensing the currents as his recent body-tempering training had taught him. It was easier now—his connection to the title had grown stronger. His passive skills came to life, cloaking his presence from other creatures as he glided effortlessly through the water. His speed required minimal movement, a silent predator in his element.

Thalion mused to himself: At some point, it would be wise to fuse Tidal Surge and Camouflage of the Depths into one enhanced passive skill. Though he wasn’t sure if there was a limit to the number of skills he could maintain, he imagined the possibilities. A perfect blend of strength and efficiency—that was the dream.

The water darkened around him as he dove deeper, the sunlight fading into an inky blue. Despite the dimness, his vision remained sharp, as though illuminated by a personal sun. Soon, he spotted the faint glow of crystals clustered on the ocean floor, their eerie luminescence casting shadows on the rocky terrain.

One crystal had a massive crab perched atop it, its pincers snapping in anticipation of an unseen threat. Another crystal was guarded by an enormous barracuda, its sleek body hovering like a sentinel.

Coraltooth Barracuda: Level 79

Thalion examined the barracuda with interest. Its teeth indeed seemed to be made of coral—an unusual adaptation, but clearly effective.

He circled the creature cautiously, keeping outside its detection range. Barracudas on Earth had always intrigued him—motionless stalkers that exploded into action with incredible speed once prey entered their range. This one was massive, over eight meters long, its powerful jaws capable of dismembering prey with a ferocity unmatched by most other fish.

Thalion adjusted his position, seeking the perfect angle to strike. The ocean held its breath, or perhaps it was just his perception as adrenaline sharpened his focus.

When he was in range, he activated Aqua Lance.

The jet stream of water completely obliterated the barracuda, slicing its sleek body cleanly in half. The fish had no chance to react, its life extinguished in an instant. Nearby, the massive crab flinched violently, its coral-covered shell glowing faintly as it turned toward the disturbance. Thalion materialized beside the barracuda’s corpse, his expression calm but focused.

He examined the barracuda’s form with a practiced eye. Its skill set was disappointingly sparse, offering only the ability to bite and swallow prey. Thalion had hoped for more versatility, something that would better serve the shapeshifters on his team. While it could still prove useful, he preferred to offer them a form that was sturdier and more adaptable.

Discarding the barracuda as an option, Thalion placed a prepared rune onto the crystal the fish had guarded. With a faint shimmer, the crystal vanished into his spatial ring. It was only about a meter tall—small in comparison to the one currently occupied by the crab.

The crab, now fully aware of the threat, bristled with determination. Its shell pulsed with light, and its claws began to glow ominously. Thalion circled closer, every muscle ready to propel him away at a moment’s notice. He wondered, Does this crab have no ranged attacks?

The answer came swiftly as the crab clapped its claws together, unleashing a sudden shockwave that rippled through the water. Thalion barely managed to activate his water shield in time, the force of the attack dissipating harmlessly against its shimmering surface.

Thalion shot two Aqua Lances toward the crab, each one striking with precision. Moments later, the remains of the crab lay scattered around the now unguarded crystal. He collected both the crystal and the crab’s corpse, stowing them alongside the barracuda in his spatial ring.

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With those obstacles dealt with, Thalion descended deeper into the ocean. The changes in the underwater environment became more pronounced. Floating rock formations dotted the landscape, draped with an array of glowing plants. Long strands of seaweed swayed gently in the currents, while towering flowers—some reaching over five meters in height—added an otherworldly touch to the seascape.

“These plants don’t belong here,” Thalion thought, marveling at their alien beauty.

He recalled how scattered the crystals had been the last time he ventured into the depths. This time, however, they were more concentrated, almost reminiscent of the wind crystals atop the mountains. Below him, multiple crystals sparkled faintly, no more than a hundred meters apart. Each one was guarded by a formidable predator.

One crystal, however, stood out. It was surrounded by a dense swarm of fish, their silvery bodies forming an impenetrable barrier. The faint blue glow of the crystal barely filtered through their shifting ranks.

Thalion observed them with growing curiosity. “Are they hiding the crystal from the other predators? That shouldn’t work...”The fish resembled sardines but larger, and their sheer numbers hinted at something more menacing. Thalion resisted the urge to identify them from afar—approaching recklessly could prove disastrous.

He turned his gaze to other nearby crystals, each surrounded by its own fierce guardians. Two massive squids swam in lazy circles around one crystal, their bodies partially hidden by rocky outcrops. At first glance, there were only two, but a closer look revealed four more, perfectly camouflaged and lying in wait.

“They’re fishing,” Thalion thought with a wry smile. “Squid learning to fish—it’s almost funny.”

Not far from the squids was a colossal octopus—though it was far from ordinary. Its many tentacles stretched far beyond the usual eight, its size rivaling that of a small building. Its translucent body glowed faintly, evidence that it had consumed a blue crystal.

Sharks patrolled other crystals, their immense forms cutting through the water with predatory grace. A great white, grown to monstrous proportions, loomed alongside others resembling oversized tiger and reef sharks.

Further down, Thalion spotted a massive black crocodile sprawled on a crystal, its jaws open wide as if basking in the sun. It seemed out of place—surely it couldn’t breathe underwater? But with the system, anything was possible.

Thalion observed in silence, weighing his options. After nearly half an hour, his patience paid off as a new group of predators descended from above. Among them were three dolphins, each the size of a small killer whale. Their movements were fluid, their intent unmistakable as they spotted the swarm of fish guarding the crystal.

Dolphins were masterful hunters with intricate tactics. Thalion watched intently, eager to see how these evolved versions would fare against the enigmatic swarm.

Back on earth, dolphins moved with deliberate precision, encircling the shimmering ball of fish with coordinated grace. They exhaled streams of bubbles, forming barriers that herded the fish into a tighter formation. Slowly but surely, the dolphins drove the swarm upward toward the surface, where each member of the pod took turns darting through, snapping up the closest fish in quick, practiced strikes. Occasionally, one would dive straight through the heart of the swarm, a flick of its powerful tail stunning dozens of tiny fish at once.

It seemed the dolphins intended to repeat this familiar strategy, but the small fish guarding the crystal had no intention of becoming prey. With startling speed, the swarm abandoned the crystal and surged toward one of the attacking dolphins. Before it could react, the fish enveloped it completely. A heartbeat later, the dolphin was gone, replaced by a faint red cloud that dispersed into the water.

The second dolphin met the same fate, swallowed by the relentless swarm in moments. Only the third was quick-witted enough to flee. It darted toward the surface, pushing its streamlined body to the limit as the swarm barely missed it. The tiny fish quickly returned to the crystal, resuming their peaceful orbit as though nothing had happened.

Thalion watched from a safe distance, his sharp gaze noting every detail. It was almost eerie—none of the small fish seemed to have been harmed during the brief skirmish, though it was possible a few had been eaten. What intrigued him most was the wary glances other predators cast toward the fish.

Clearly, these tiny creatures commanded an unusual degree of respect—or fear—from their neighbors. Thalion mused on the consequences of killing one of the crystal’s defenders. A misstep could spark chaos among the surrounding predators, forcing him into a dangerous retreat.

As he deliberated, he witnessed an enormous goliath grouper approach one of the crystals, only to be swiftly ambushed by the octopus lurking nearby. The grouper didn’t stand a chance, disappearing into a blur of tentacles that left no room for mercy.

None of the other creatures seemed capable of challenging the crystal guardians. Thalion's patience wore thin as he searched for an opening. The faint blue glow of the crystals illuminated the depths, making a stealthy approach nearly impossible. He needed to act quickly and decisively, capitalizing on even the smallest element of surprise.

Thalion's target was clear: the tiger shark. At twelve meters long, it exuded a powerful presence, its sleek, muscular body radiating speed and strength. It wasn’t as formidable as the great white nearby, which he deemed too risky to confront, but it was far from weak. The smaller sharks circling the crystals didn’t interest him—they lacked the potential for growth and adaptability he required.

The tiger shark would provide an excellent form for the shapeshifters. Its abilities would enable them to gather pearls efficiently and progress quickly. As the thought crossed his mind, Thalion made a mental note to acquire another room for the aquarium—a detail he couldn’t afford to overlook.

With the decision made, Thalion steadied his nerves. It was strange not being able to breathe in his Tidecaller Serpent form, but he mimicked the sensation of deep breaths to calm himself. The fight ahead would demand precision and speed.

Thalion surged forward from the shadows, his serpentine form cutting through the water like an arrow. The blue light of the crystals caught the edge of his blade as he unleashed a mana slash aimed directly at the tiger shark’s caudal fin. If he could sever it, victory would be assured.

The shark, however, reacted with explosive speed, dodging the attack and rushing toward him with deadly intent. Thalion veered to the left, firing another water slash as he moved. This time, the shark didn’t attempt to evade, a critical mistake. The attack struck its snout, carving a deep gash that sent the beast thrashing in pain.

Seizing the opportunity, Thalion fired another water slash, this one slicing cleanly through the shark’s pectoral fin. The injury crippled its mobility, leaving it vulnerable. A few more precise strikes were all it took to bring the massive predator down.

Killing a creature of this size without damaging the body too much was no small feat, but Thalion managed to preserve it. Wasting no time, he stored the corpse in his spatial ring and propelled himself toward the surface.

His timing was impeccable—just as he ascended, the great white shark and the massive crocodile surged toward the tiger shark’s lifeless body. Thalion pushed his Tidecaller Serpent form to its limits, racing toward the hovering skyship. It hung just above the water, waiting for his return.

As he breached the surface a few minutes later, Thalion dropped the tiger shark’s corpse onto the deck and signaled the shapeshifters. This was a bit weird since he stayed in the form of the Tidecaller serpent. He had no idea how it would impact the skill to take the shark's form if his amulet passively took its partly lingering soul. They responded immediately, diving into the water to claim the shark’s form. One by one, they touched the body, transforming into slightly smaller, weaker versions of the tiger shark. The new forms quickly dove back into the water to make room for others.

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The tiger shark’s form was decent, but not ideal for Thalion himself. Its passive ability to hover in place was intriguing, a trait sharks typically lacked. However, the skill was useless in his current form, and its other abilities, focused on biting, were ill-suited to his needs. “The shapeshifters will make good use of it,” he thought, watching the transformation process with satisfaction.

Thalion allowed himself a brief moment of relief before turning his focus back to the depths. There was still much to do, and the hunt was far from over.