Suffering

The ocean is vast and boundless, the Deep Sea is deep and mysterious.

In the ocean.

A huge school of blue knifefish swept across a stretch of sea, stirring up the ocean waters.

After the school of fish passed, the hidden scene in the sea was revealed.

Five lifeless figures dressed in white robes floated here; the bizarre, Transcendent marine creature that resembled an octopus with a huge head and was like a Frankenstein's monster had long since disappeared.

These were the five researchers who were thrown into the ocean by the Scholar, the head of the bio-modification research, and the Mountain Green Supreme.

They seem to have been punished, now all living with the ocean they "love".

Sudden.

Asmodeus, one of the five researchers thrown into the Deep Sea, suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the surface of the sea, his face bulging like a fish's gills.

Finally, he coughed up seawater, and his eyes turned deep blue.

I did nothing wrong!

He looked into the depths of the Deep Sea, and his Transcendent power surged forth, creating a massive vortex.

"Decades of the Deep Sea research, hundreds of Transcendent Deep Sea creatures have provided me with insights for analysis today, thus establishing the Ocean Sequence..."

Suddenly.

He has been promoted from a "Sailor" Sequence 7 Navigator to a "Sea Clan" Sequence 6 "Deep Sea Folk.

At the same time, he achieved Transcendent promotion.

He also gained the means to breathe and survive in the ocean.

The bottom of the Deep Sea.

The octopus-like monster that had escaped to this place looked into the ocean, and a strange sound came from its mouth.

After some time, the Deep Sea monsters' syllables gradually unified, and they even uttered a few clear words from a pre-civilization era. "Deep Sea."

In a small town on the Western Sea Coast.

After instructing the ten Dragon to depart, Jiang Yuu You continued to conceal himself and quickly headed south.

soon.

He then spotted several fleeing figures in a town in the south.

The sun is setting.

Just as he was about to approach, he saw the carriage belonging to Gabriel's fleeing royal family suddenly speed away.

at last.

The carriage stopped outside a grove of trees by the roadside in the town.

A handsome young man stepped out of the carriage, glancing around at the guards surrounding it with a brooding look in his eyes.

He took a deep breath and looked into the carriage, his eyes filled with helplessness and pain.

"Anna, are you dressed?"

"It's all changed, brother."

A timid but adorable little girl, dressed in tattered linen clothes, stepped off the carriage with a frown.

"Brother, this outfit is so uncomfortable, I feel terrible wearing it."

However, the handsome young man ignored her words and jumped off the carriage with her in his arms.

After putting her down on the ground, he almost roughly pulled her into the grove.

The setting sun's rays filtered through the branches, casting streaks of Radiance.

The man's voice sounded incredibly pale in the approaching darkness.

"Anna, you'll have to walk this path alone from now on."

"What? Brother, why is this happening? What happened?"

Annatania's eyes widened in horror upon hearing the young man's words.

The young man, upon hearing this, was about to explain.

But then he glanced out of the woods and saw the sinister eyes of several guards. A fierce thought flashed through his mind, and he shouted at the girl.

"You little burden, do you really think you have any right to run away with me?"

"You are of no value now. Even Father King has not placed his hopes for the restoration of the kingdom on you. This matter still depends on me!"

"Ah, brother, what... what are you saying?"

"Didn't Father forbid us from restoring our kingdom?"

Annatania was stunned.

Who said that?

Whether the young man said something sincere or not, he then shoved her forward hard.

Even though Annatania was already Sequence 9, she couldn't withstand such force.

She fell into the woods, causing Jiang Yuu, who had been watching from a distance, to frown.

The young man continued.

"I won't be taking you with me on the rest of our escape, Anna!"

"I will travel light, alone to the South Empire, and live the life of a wealthy man, while you..."

"From now on, you are no longer a princess. You are just an ordinary little girl, just like any other commoner."

Remember my words.

He threw down a few silver coins.

"As your older brother, I'll leave you a few silver coins. Hey, that's enough for you to buy black bread for a year."

After saying that...

The young man suppressed his pain and turned to leave.

"It feels so liberating not having to carry any burden."

He walked out of the woods, looked at the guards who had been standing watch over the carriage and the edge of the woods, calmed down, and said.

"Let's go, I'll take you there."

The head of the guards glanced at the deep grove of trees and sighed.

"Your Highness truly shows deep brotherly and sisterly affection, but Your Highness Aguli, there's really no need for this. We will not harm the princess."

Aguli sneered.

"What good intentions can someone have who seeks ill-gotten gains?"

He harbored deep resentment; his loyal guards had all died before, but he never expected that a few jackals would remain.

This is the fate of the Kingdom's destruction.

He gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Let's go, there's no point in saying more. The treasure is on the northern coast; I'll take you there. I hope that after you get what you want, you'll keep your promise and not bother us siblings again."

"We definitely will."

The group hurriedly set off again, but this time their route was no longer south, but north.

In the grove.

Nine-year-old Anna watched Aguli and his group walk away, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Her parents died, and even her last remaining relative, her brother, abandoned her; she was heartbroken.

As the sun was about to set completely, Sun last warmth was fading, and a chill began to set in.

She hugged her knees tightly, trying to suppress her sobs and not daring to cry too loudly.

a long time.

She finally wiped away her tears carefully, picked up the few silver coins that had fallen into the mud, and cautiously walked out.

She didn't go to see the abandoned carriage.

When she was alone, her wisdom finally came into play.

This carriage, which has ties to the Gabriel Royal Family, is certainly not safe.

Besides, she's just a little girl; she can't possibly drive a carriage.

Standing on the street bathed in the last rays of the setting sun.

Filled with fear and trepidation about the future, the girl smeared her face with dirt from the ground, making it instantly filthy.

However, she looked at the quiet street and walked south step by step, facing the sunlight.

The small figure carried a hint of strength, but was no longer weak.

On the street next to it.

Jiang Yuu watched Annatania's figure, a pang of sadness welled up in his heart.

He sighed, then continued to conceal himself, following behind her.

The next day.

early morning.

Jiang Yuu You's gaze darkened slightly as he looked at the dejected, hungry, and cold little Anna, who had been kicked out of the bakery after losing a silver coin.

But he did not change anything, letting Anna leave with tears in her eyes.

That evening.

The bakery was destroyed in a fire due to years of neglect.