Good or bad, does it matter?{HP}

Half an hour later, having exited the gorge without any issues, and after casting a spell of distraction alongside several enchantments that reduced his presence to "nothing," Severus headed toward the oasis situated in the heart of the Tianzi Mountains.

On his way, Severus's thoughts kept returning to the silhouette within the crystal. The unsettling sensation he experienced as the passage was sealing—a distinct feeling of something watching his back—lingered in his mind. It wasn't hard to deduce who or what that "someone" might be.

This greatly alarmed Severus. If the mind of that creature had already awakened, it could only mean one thing: it would soon break free. How it intended to regenerate its arms, legs, and the gaping hole in its chest was a question, but underestimating such a being was never wise. Severus was convinced that the creature imprisoned within the crystal was at least an Archmage of early rank, judging by the immense amount of magic concentrated within.

What troubled him further was the creature's intentions. Severus had no way of knowing what dark machinations lay in its mind. The killing of the Vampire, while a small victory, might have slowed the creature's recovery, but it also turned them into enemies. The gaze that followed Severus's retreat was anything but warm—it was arctic in its intensity, carrying a faint, nearly imperceptible thirst for blood that Severus's finely tuned senses could not ignore.

This made Severus all the more determined to wrap up his affairs quickly, leave the area—preferably the entire country—and shift his focus entirely toward strengthening himself. It was time to accelerate plans involving the "Heart of the Treant King" and initiate the "Second Home" project.

Severus and Nagini soon found themselves on a small beach near a large spring, surrounded by towering, verdant mountains. Here, in total solitude, Severus conjured a protective dome and gradually began to submerge himself in the water.

"This is… amazing," Nagini whispered, her voice filled with awe as they fully entered the aquatic world and the breathtaking underwater scenery revealed itself.

While the surface offered little beyond an expanse of shifting blue hues—from dark to light tones—the barrier provided a spectacular view beneath. Vibrantly colored fish of all shapes and sizes swam alone or in schools. Some aquatic creatures resembled eels, others starfish, and still others octopuses. Occasionally, an inquisitive animal would glide past the barrier.

The underwater landscape was equally mesmerizing. Towering plants thrived here, from simple algae to magnificent flowers growing atop massive, moss-covered stones riddled with holes. Schools of fish darted in and out of these openings, creating a dynamic and ever-changing tableau.

"I can't argue with that; it really is an incredible place," Severus admitted, his voice soft and touched with a rare smile. He directed the barrier lower, deeper into the water. Although the growing pressure was noticeable, the barrier protected them well. Nevertheless, the descent demanded increasing amounts of magical energy to maintain the protective dome.

"But where—"

"Here it is," Severus interrupted aloud, narrowing his eyes at a distant blue silhouette. The shape grew larger with every passing second. Moments later, a deafening, furious roar resounded: "RAAAAAAAAAR!"

The water around them seemed to boil. Fish and other underwater creatures scattered, fleeing in every direction to find shelter.

"He's… huge…" Nagini hissed, shock evident on her face as the creature finally appeared before them. Over thirty meters in length, the monster's body was sheathed in blue scales, from its tail to its head. Its eyes, rimmed in yellow with vertical black pupils, gleamed with intelligence and malice. The creature's muzzle resembled that of a horse, and its mouth was lined with two rows of razor-sharp teeth.

The serpent didn't stop to confront them directly. Instead, it began circling the barrier like a shark, growling ominously while fixing its predatory gaze on Severus.

"He says we should leave this place. Otherwise…"

"Hmm? You can understand him?" Severus turned toward Nagini, raising an eyebrow. Her sheepish expression made it clear this was as much a revelation to her as to him.

"Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," he muttered, sighing heavily. "You've demonstrated similar abilities before. When we get back, I'm going to need a few hours of sleep—my brain feels like it's running on fumes."

Massaging his temples, Severus continued grumbling. "Ask him if there's anything unusual here—like caves containing a large crystal or an altar, or passages leading to unknown destinations. I just want to check, and then we'll leave immediately."

"Alright," Nagini replied, tilting her head toward the Sea Serpent. She relayed Severus's question verbatim. The creature froze for a moment, its unblinking gaze fixed on her, before growling something in response. Nagini nodded silently and turned back to Severus.

"He's asking how you know about this," she explained.

"Tell him I've seen something similar elsewhere," Severus instructed.

Nodding, she relayed his words to the enormous magical creature, who growled something in response.

"He says he cannot allow it. His master commanded him to guard that place and prevent anyone from entering several thousand years ago. He insists we leave immediately, and in return, he won't harm us. Otherwise…"

"I see. I suspected as much," the Prince replied, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he studied the monster before him. Although larger than the Basilisk, it wasn't significantly stronger in terms of overall power. On land, the Basilisk would surely defeat it, though in water, this serpent would undoubtedly hold the advantage. "Still, I doubt it's truly several thousand years old. Sea Serpents, even in my world, live no more than fifteen hundred years, maxing out at the sixth rank near the end of their lifespan. This one appears to be fourth rank—about the Basilisk's level. If that's the case, somewhere out there are the remains of at least two fifth-rank monsters…"

The creature let out a low, dissatisfied growl, sensing something unsettling in the man's gaze—a dangerous glint that boded ill.

"He says this is your last warning to leave," Nagini translated. Her voice trembled slightly as the serpent's eyes began to glow crimson, and a whirlpool formed around it, slowly gaining strength.

"Eh… If my teacher could see me now—me, a fire mage, venturing into the water to face an elemental monster—he'd definitely give me a solid whack on the head before even trying to understand the situation. But…" Severus's smile turned cold and calculating, a change the monster immediately perceived, stiffening with unease.

"Severus... he's going to attack!" Nagini exclaimed, her voice quivering.

"Let him try if he can," Severus said, dismissing the serpent entirely. Manipulating the water with ease, he continued their descent. He had already pinpointed the location he was searching for, while Nagini watched the growing whirlpool nervously.

"Severus, this isn't—"

"RAAAAAAAAARR!"

The serpent let out a deafening roar as the water around them exploded into chaos.

Severus and Nagini descended until they reached a small, tunnel-like hole, barely wide enough for the serpent to pass through. It was situated near the ocean floor, almost hidden from sight.

"How did you manage that underwater?" Nagini asked, marveling at the perfectly rounded walls of the tunnel as they moved through it at a slow, cautious pace.

"Simple…" Severus replied, producing a small vial filled with a red liquid. He uncorked it, and the contents floated out, separating into hundreds of needle-like forms before her astonished eyes. "The weak point of a Sea Serpent lies between its scale joints."

He allowed the needles to reunite and flow back into the vial as he continued his explanation.

"Your body doesn't have that vulnerability. You've evolved toward protection and poison. The serpent, on the other hand, evolved along the elemental path, making it nearly invincible underwater. On land, however, you'd have a seventy percent chance of defeating it." He slipped the vial back into his bag with practiced ease.

"I see..." Nagini murmured.

"And don't get complacent. You're still too weak," Severus said, cutting through her momentary confidence. "Your goal is to reach the strength of the Chimera King within the next four years. After that, I'll help you grow even stronger."

Nagini's expression turned resentful, her disappointment evident. Amused, Severus flicked her nose lightly.

"I told you not to do that!" she protested, jerking back with an indignant glare.

But Severus had already turned his attention forward, his gaze fixed on the end of the tunnel, where a warm, rainbow-colored glow beckoned.

"We're here," he announced.

A few moments later, they emerged into a small, radiant cave illuminated by multicolored minerals embedded in the ceiling. At the center of the chamber stood a translucent orb floating above a six-meter-wide bowl of crystal-clear water. The orb shimmered briefly before vanishing. Severus moved calmly toward the edge of the source, scanning the surroundings.

"This place is beautiful," Nagini remarked, her eyes sparkling as she admired the glowing minerals above.

But Severus's focus was elsewhere. His attention had been drawn to a passage leading deeper into the unknown. The opening was small, with an uneven oval shape, about two meters high and five meters wide at its widest point. It narrowed sharply to a meter-wide gap further in.

"It's unclear where this leads," Severus mused. "Even the Sea Serpent doesn't know. Its father was merely tasked with guarding this place, a duty passed down to him after his father's death."

Nagini nodded, still entranced by their surroundings.

"Let's continue," Severus said, already moving toward the mysterious passage.

"Uh-huh," Nagini agreed, following close behind.

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