A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6769

After a moment, Kael opened his eyes. Gravity and certainty mingled in their dark, ocean-blue depths.

He kept his voice to the faintest whisper and carried it to Neris and Riven through a controlled ripple, keeping the sound from traveling far enough to expose them. "We are here.

"The water ahead is 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the surrounding sea. That tiny gradient appears where a man-made space meets natural waters, which means an excavated passage is nearby.

"The entrance lies beneath the black reef ahead. Its surface is smooth and free of seaweed and barnacles, so it will be easy to distinguish from the others."

Neris and Riven nodded together. Brief excitement lit their eyes, but neither lost his composure or made a sound.

The three steadied their breathing, suppressed their auras as thoroughly as possible, and resumed their silent advance.

They skirted several enormous reefs and avoided a number of violent undercurrents before finding a rock that was black from top to bottom.

Roughly 11 feet tall, it had a polished surface as smooth as a mirror and stood out sharply in the dim water.

A narrow fissure opened beneath it, only wide enough for one person. It descended into darkness, and its depth was impossible to judge.

The faintest warm current emerged from within, carrying an aura foreign to the surrounding seawater.

It came from the spiritual energy released by an active array.

"This is it," Kael said, unable to conceal every trace of excitement. "The fissure leads to the subterranean waters beneath the island's center. Ready yourselves, regulate your breathing, and stay close behind me. Above all, do not make a sound."

Neris and Riven nodded again, inhaled deeply, and brought their internal energy into balance.

Kael entered first. The narrow passage allowed only one person through at a time, with rough rock pressing close on both sides.

The walls were cold and wet beneath his hands. Tiny holes covered the stone, shedding grains of sand that struck his waterscale armor with almost inaudible taps.

Kael slowed down and pressed himself against the wall, letting the current carry him forward to minimize his movements. At the same time, he extended his perception into the passage to examine the terrain and search for traps.

A thick layer of rock lay overhead. It formed Azurewave Island's foundation and marked the lower edge of the island-protection array.

The array enclosed the sky above the island and the space around it. It was powerful enough to withstand attacks from a Grand Zenith Immortal Level Two cultivator, but it failed to cover this fissure buried far below the surface.

The underwater terrain was simply too complicated, filled with intersecting currents and countless gaps. Even Damian could not seal the island's entire foundation. That omission had allowed the Water Clan to find a route inside.

The fissure narrowed as they progressed. In several places, Kael had to turn sideways and bend low to squeeze through. His armor occasionally scraped against the wall with a tiny rasp.

Each scrape sent his heart into his throat. He feared that even such a minute sound might alert the sentries.

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