Asher cautiously advanced towards the bend, the eerie, murky green light of the Life Pearl guiding his every step.
As he rounded the corner, his eyes widened in surprise at the sight before him.
The Kraken's heart, the centerpiece of this enigmatic organic chamber, was a massive, pulsating organ suspended in a fluid-filled cavity.
It was a living, breathing proof of the colossal creature's power and vitality, its rhythmic contractions reverberating throughout the cavernous space. Veins and arteries snaked away from the heart, spreading their tendrils throughout the Kraken's body, providing it with the lifeblood it needed to maintain its dominance over the deep.
And the Life Pearl was an object of mysterious beauty, casting an enchanting, murky green light that seemed to pulse in time with the Kraken's heartbeat.
Roughly the size of a human head, it was perfectly round and smooth, its surface resembling polished marble. As it emitted its mesmerizing glow, the pearl appeared to be alive, as if infused with the very essence of the Kraken itself.
It was embedded in its heart and seemed to share a symbiotic relationship with the Kraken. It was as if the pearl had become an integral part of the creature's life force, imbuing it with a power that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. It also seemed as if damaging it would be a daunting task considering how the beating heart seemed to protect it with bloody tendrils.
But it was not the pearl that truly captivated Asher's attention. To his shock, there was a cocoon of tendrils situated beside the heart, and within it was a enchantingly beautiful woman.
Her beauty was ethereal, a mesmerizing blend of elegance and dark allure that could captivate anyone who laid eyes upon her. It wouldn't be wrong to say that she was the "Allure of the Seas".
Her skin was a shimmering shade of twilight blue, a living canvas that seemed to hold the very essence of the deep ocean within it.
Her long, glowing, flowing hair, as white as the moon, cascaded down her back, framing her delicate face and accentuating her high cheekbones and full, inviting dark blue lips. Her head framed two pretty fins on either side, giving her beauty a poetic aspect.
Her slender, hourglass figure was accentuated by her bountiful bust, which was barely contained by the elegant starry bra she wore with a glimmering gem embedded in the lower center.
Asher felt like her attire had a reflection of the Umbralfiend's culture, crafted from delicate, iridescent fabrics that hugged her body like a second skin and left little to the imagination.
He was further surprised as he looked down where her lower half was a breathtaking fusion of demonic elegance and grace.
Even though her lower body resembled that of a fish's tail, it was a series of sinuous, serpentine coils, each covered in smooth, glossy scales that glinted in the faint light of the chamber.
Asher knew the Umbralfiends had a fish-like tail for their lower half unless they were on land, allowing them to easily grow legs in place of their tail.
Her upper body was smooth and scale-free, unlike other Umbralfiends he had encountered, making him wonder if some Umbralfiends were born without scales.
But despite her ethereal beauty, her complexion appeared sickly, and a network of eerie veins crisscrossed her delicate features.
Feeling baffled and curious, he decided to take a step forward.
But right before he was about to, the woman's eyes slowly fluttered open, revealing a pair of mesmerizing, sapphire blue orbs that had an otherworldly glow.
Before he could even react, a cold yet melodious voice resonated within his mind, halting him in his tracks, "Stop right there," the voice warned, echoing through the recesses of his thoughts like a haunting melody.
Her unexpected mental communication left him feeling exposed and vulnerable, yet he couldn't help but be captivated by the evocative beauty of her voice. He cautiously looked at her, his instincts warning him that there was more to this woman than met the eye.
"Who are you?" Asher inquired, his voice a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
The woman's eyes, like two shimmering pools of deep sapphire blue, seemed to look straight into his soul as she answered him, "I am Isola, the princess of the Umbralfiends," Her eyes narrowed with a look of confusion before asking, "I can't recognize what race you are. How did you even get here? Are you from the Bloodburn Kingdom?" Isola asked with suspicion in her eyes, her gaze cold.
She felt that the world outside must have changed a lot where new races like the man she was seeing before might have emerged even though it seemed shocking. Maybe they also became a part of the Bloodburn Kingdom.
Still, she couldn't believe that he ended up here. Even if he accidentally got into the mouth of the Kraken, he shouldn't be able to survive this far. He also didn't seem strong enough.
Asher quickly seized the opportunity presented by her lack of recognition.
He decided to weave a tale that would not reveal his true identity and intentions, "Bloodburn Kingdom? I wouldn't dare to get close to that kingdom for I am not welcome nor my race. I am just a wandering sailor who got swallowed by this giant creature after a storm destroyed my ship," he said, his voice tinged with weariness and desperation, "I fought tooth and nail against the parasites within this beast, barely clinging to life as I made my way here."
Isola had a doubtful look, but seeing how he wasn't a powerful warrior and how the Kraken didn't seek to focus on killing him, she felt he must be telling the truth.
She knew the Kraken would only actively try to destroy something or someone which it considers as a threat.
Furthermore, the Bloodburn Kingdom she knew would never send someone like him into the belly of the Kraken. It just wouldn't make sense while his story does.
The fact that they were at war could give birth to the possibility that the man's ship got destroyed as the Kraken wreaked havoc.
Asher paused for a moment, glancing at Isola, who was still wrapped in the cocoon, "And what about you? Why are you here, bound in that cocoon?" Asher couldn't help but wonder if the Kraken kidnapped her or something. But it wouldn't make sense since the Kraken was on their side. However, he didn't have to guess much to see that she was dying.
Asher watched as Isola's gaze fell, her sapphire eyes shimmering with complicated emotions. Her melodious voice echoed in his mind once more, laden with a heavy sigh, "I don't think it matters. I wish I could help you, but once you are inside, there is no way back. Even if you take a single step forward, the Kraken's wrath will be your undoing."
She paused, her wistful tone amplifying the weight of her words and mumbled, "Maybe it's a cruel play of fate to let you end up here with me."
Asher furrowed his brows, a determined glint in his eyes, "I still want to know what you're doing here and how you ended up in this situation," he insisted, his voice steady despite the dire circumstances, "Since my fate is sealed, I wouldn't mind hearing you out. There's nothing else I can do at this point. I also feel like you wouldn't mind telling me, considering the situation."
Inwardly, Asher had a more calculated motive. As the Umbralfiend Princess, Isola could be a valuable source of information. By engaging her in conversation, he might be able to learn whether he should take any precautions before damaging the Life Pearl or any other vital information while recovering his MP as well.
Isola's eyes flickered with a complex array of emotions as she listened to this mysterious man's words. For a fleeting moment, a hint of surprise flickered across her face, as if she hadn't expected anyone to take an interest in her considering the circumstances.
Her gaze shifted away, as if she were wondering if telling him would change anything.
A mix of uncertainty and curiosity colored her thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder why this outsider, who had seemingly stumbled into her world by accident, would want to talk to her while waiting for death. Any other normal person would be howling in despair.
Maybe he was like her... who had accepted their fate and was prepared to face it. He surely must have a strong heart to quickly accept it like that.
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, her expression softened, her eyes meeting the mysterious sailor's once more.
The intensity of her gaze seemed to convey a silent understanding between them. It was as if she had come to a decision, "You must already know my people are at war against the Bloodburn Kingdom. And I am sure you also have an idea of how strong the Bloodburn Kingdom is. My people would have never stood a chance if not for our guardian, the Kraken."
Asher slowly nodded, already knowing this fact. Without the Kraken, House Thorne alone could finish off the Umbralfiends without much losses. It was already a shocker they were strong and still had so many despite being left to rot for thousands of years.
Even if, on the off chance, the Umbralfiends had an overwhelmingly large army, he was sure Rowena would make them come inland and finish them off, especially with the dragons having a huge advantage.
But with the Kraken present, it could easily wreck chaos in the northern lands which was an archipelago, consisting of a chain of islands. The power the Kraken had over the sea can never be underestimated. If it wanted, it could flood the entire archipelago.
If the armies of his kingdom didn't confront it on the shores, there was no telling how much destruction the Kraken could have caused.
"I know but why are you trapped here if you are supposed to be out there, helping your people win the war? Why would your own guardian do this to you?" Asher asked with a confused shake of his head.
Isola's expression shifted, her gaze becoming distant and tinged with a profound sadness. The weight of her destiny seemed to bear down upon her, like the crushing depths of the ocean surrounding them.
Her voice, once again echoing in his mind, carried a cold yet melancholic tone, the melody of her words heavy with unspoken pain, "It's not like what you think. I am doing this willingly. It is nothing but a sacrifice. My purpose... my duty has always been to aid my people in this way, offering my life to the Kraken in exchange for her help in our war," she explained, her voice wavering ever so slightly, making Asher raise his brows.
