Chapter 940

A strange current was forming in a place invisible to the eye.

But when Steber tried sending his power out again to confirm it, the sensation vanished like it had never been there.

“I definitely felt something... Was it just my imagination?”

Even more than the adrenaline still pumping from his near-death experience, that faint sensation gnawed at his thoughts.

Steber carefully sent out his power once, twice more.

But the current he’d sensed earlier didn’t return.

He stared into the dark depths of the sea, lost in thought.

“In this case... there are three possibilities worth considering.”

First, that it really was just his imagination.

Second, that he mistook a current caused by Yuder’s power during the search.

And third—

“...I actually sensed it correctly, but the strange current either disappeared suddenly... or moved.”

It had happened when he lost control of his power and was being violently tossed around.

Yes, it could have been a mistake.

But after thinking it through, Steber dismissed the first and second options.

“It was too distinct to be a mistake. And even in that state, I would’ve recognized if it were Yuder’s power. The current I sensed... it came from a different direction. I’ll track it. If it’s real, I’ll know for sure.”

That would mean diving even deeper—and the risks would rise accordingly.

Now that even the bracelet lights were barely visible, it was more dangerous than ever.

Still, Steber didn’t hesitate.

He spread his water power in every direction.

The threads of current spun into temporary whirlpools that briefly distorted the flow of the vast sea.

“Wherever he is, if he feels this, he’ll know where to come. And...”

Steber reached into his coat and pulled out something he’d prepared: a spool of thread.

It was made from thin strands bound tightly together and soaked in a glowing dye that remained visible even in total darkness.

It had been crafted by the mage Alik.

Somehow, it neither floated too far up nor sank too low—staying exactly where Steber left it.

It wasn’t a magic tool, nor was it powered by an Awakener’s ability.

But in a scenario where no such powers worked, it could signal his position—and save his life.

Steber fixed one end of the thread at his current location, then took the other end in hand and began descending again.

Those who noticed the signal would follow the line and find him.

Soon, he reached the area where he’d first sensed the strange current.

There was nothing visible.

But when he sent his power out again, he barely detected something similar—a faint, threadlike ripple brushing his perception like the tip of a hair.

Yet once again, nothing appeared at the location.

That spot was almost in the opposite direction from the previous one.

Still, he didn’t give up.

He extended his power again—and this time, a new ripple emerged from a completely different, deeper direction.

It was like the current vanished and reappeared elsewhere every time Steber searched for it.

“Whatever this is, I didn’t imagine it.”

The strange currents were real—and they were moving.

“But what the hell is it? I can’t see anything...”

By then, he’d reached the limit of his thread’s length.

Just as he hesitated, a faint vibration ran through it.

Someone was pulling on the other end.

He tightened his grip to respond—and not long after, several shadows appeared.

Yuder and the others.

They looked a bit strained, likely from the massive shock earlier, but everyone was safe.

Yuder appeared uninjured.

‘Are you alright?’

Yuder asked with a hand signal.

Steber responded in kind.

‘I’m fine. But I found something. Here.’

Yuder’s eyes widened slightly, then tilted his head.

‘When?’

Using hand signals and slight mouth movements, Steber explained everything he’d experienced—the strange current, how he’d chased it.

Yuder listened intently, then turned to the others.

‘Did anyone else feel anything similar?’

Silence.

Everyone shook their heads.

Even Yuder hadn’t noticed anything.

It seemed Steber had been the only one.

‘Just me, huh...’

As Steber mulled it over awkwardly, one of the members raised a hand and mouthed a question.

‘If it was just one person, maybe it was a mistake?’

Steber shook his head.

‘I don’t think so.’

‘But you said it kept disappearing. Maybe you’re just imagining it? This is really deep—we could all be disoriented...’

‘It’s not my imagination. There was something. I just think it’s better if we search together instead of me going alone.’

‘Steber... don’t take this the wrong way. We know you’re skilled. But this is your first live operation.’

Steber fell silent.

‘If we go deeper, it gets dangerous for everyone. Just saying something was “there” doesn’t justify risking all of us...’

—Bloop...

At that moment, Yuder created a small swirl of water near his face, cutting off the discussion.

‘So far, Steber’s the only one who’s found anything. That means we follow his lead and search the area. The next tremor could bring more of the same, so stay sharp and prepare yourselves.’

With that, the others nodded.

The debate ended.

Steber marked the last place he’d sensed the strange current, and everyone began to search the area together.

Yet again, the others didn’t find anything.

One member, whose ability was tuned to detect changes in water vapor, said they thought they felt something odd in the direction Steber mentioned—but that was all.

Yuder, the strongest among them, sensed nothing.

That cast a shadow over everyone’s expression.

They regrouped and exchanged thoughts.

‘Could it still be a mistake? Yuder didn’t feel it either...’

‘Maybe we should split up again.’

‘Steber, you didn’t feel anything that time either, right?’

Steber, who was still straining to sense something, looked troubled.

‘...Actually, I did feel it again, but even farther down...’

‘Farther? From here?’

The team reacted in alarm.

Any deeper, and the pressure would be enough to crush them if they lost control of their protective force—even for a second.

‘This is already dangerous. What if another shock happens down there and someone loses control...?’

‘Steber, didn’t you say you lost your protection earlier? Maybe your body’s just reacting weirdly, and that’s what you’re sensing...’

‘......’

Even Steber started to doubt himself.

‘Maybe I really am imagining it...? Maybe I’m putting these younger members in danger over nothing... Maybe I should just say it was a mistake, head back, and get checked by the medics...’

—No.

It was Yuder Aile who stopped his train of thought.

He had been listening in silence until now.

He moved his hand in a clear gesture: a firm horizontal slash.

‘Disagree.’

All eyes turned to him.

His mismatched eyes—one glowing gold brighter than any bracelet, the other darker than the deep sea—were wide open.

He moved his lips carefully, deliberately.

‘I think we should trust Steber and act accordingly.’

‘What?’

‘Just because you didn’t feel it doesn’t mean it’s not real. Yes, I’m strong. But that’s not everything.’

As Yuder locked eyes with Steber, something ran down Steber’s spine—a quiet shiver.

That fierce statement—“I may be strong, but that’s not everything”—though spoken to the team, was clearly meant for Steber.

In that moment, something clicked in Steber’s mind.

He remembered the weakness Yuder had shared with him.

‘Oh... That’s right.’

Monsters.

What if there was a monster down here—so faint in presence that even the other members couldn’t sense it?

One that only someone specialized in water could [N O V E L I G H T] barely detect.

Then it wasn’t strange that Yuder couldn’t feel it.

It wasn’t that he didn’t sense it.

It was because he was Yuder—because of his specific weakness—that he couldn’t.

And none of the others knew that.