Redd and the three dragons, mercilessly swept along by the undersea currents, were now in another race against death.
Like leaves in a gale, they tumbled and collided in the cold, engulfing seawater. Every time the current tossed them up and slammed them down, a burst of excruciating pain followed.
Redd had long since lost consciousness, leaving him at the mercy of the currents.
But in this desperate situation, the three dragons displayed astonishing coordination and protective instincts.
Rather than scatter, they gripped one another tightly with their powerful claws, joining together into a temporary, stable unit that resisted the force of the currents.
King Ghidorah, in particular, focused on protecting Redd.
With one claw, he clamped tightly onto Redd's shoulder, while his other claw intertwined with those of the other two dragons.
At the same time, his broad, sturdy wings acted like a moving fortress,
wrapping the unconscious Redd securely within their protection, shielding him from even more violent impacts and injuries.
In the cold, dark depths, this small bond and protection became their only hope against death.
How long had Redd been unconscious?
A day? Three days? Or a week?
Time had completely lost its meaning in his present state of awareness.
He felt as though he had sunk into a boundless, dark abyss. Occasionally, a cold, viscous liquid
was forced roughly down his throat. That was one of the few hazy sensations he could still perceive.
Beyond that, his consciousness seemed to have been locked inside a cramped, sealed "dark room."
Darkness so thick it could not be dispelled surrounded him, shrouding him completely.
He could not even sense the existence of his own body. His limbs, bones, and internal organs all seemed cut off in some distant place.
It was a feeling of utter helplessness, like having both the network and power cut off. He could neither see nor hear nor feel, and even time seemed frozen.
There was no past, no future, only boundless chaos and stagnation.
Just as Redd was beginning to think his consciousness would sink forever, a sudden, blinding light pierced that eternal darkness.
Like lightning cleaving the night sky, it instantly illuminated his muddled consciousness.
Immediately afterward, a notification sounded, slightly mechanical yet strangely carrying the cool, clear voice of a young girl, echoing directly in the depths of his consciousness:
"Host has survived for one year.
Would you like to update the system based on current circumstances?"
The sudden voice struck like a sledgehammer, jolting Redd's nearly dormant consciousness awake.
His mind, still hazy and muddled, was forcibly dragged back to reality by the clear notification.
Almost instinctively, Redd used his consciousness to select "Update" on the system page that appeared in his mind, without the slightest hesitation.
He knew full well that he was terrified of falling back into that utter nothingness.
In that state, he might even lose the ability to make a choice.
If that happened, even if his body survived by chance, his consciousness would likely fall into an eternal sleep, no different from death.
So he had to seize this chance afforded by the system's awakening. Even if he did not know what this update would bring, it was better than being lost forever in that darkness.
The instant Redd made his choice, his consciousness seemed to experience a brief, final rally.
He could even faintly sense the cold seawater surrounding him and the waves of intense pain coming from his body.
But it lasted only an instant before that familiar haze and confusion swallowed him again, and his consciousness fell back into that boundless, dark "room."
Yet as he lost awareness once more, the system deep within his mind began to operate.
The notifications in the cool, clear girl's voice continued. This time, it meticulously announced the update's progress:
"Update progress: 1%... 5%... 10%... 25%... 50%... 75%... 100%!
System update complete. System optimization complete.
Adjustments based on current circumstances:
Adjust energy collection method. Adjust energy storage method. Add medical repair function."
Immediately afterward, the system performed a status check. "Host detected in a severely injured, unconscious state, with an extremely high probability of death.
Adjusting system energy. Activating medical repair function. Beginning energy expenditure to heal the host's injuries."
As the system's final notification ended, Redd's consciousness, lying dormant in the darkness,
began to ripple like a still lake into which a pebble had been dropped. The tiny ripples gradually spread, and his consciousness awakened.
The moment his awareness returned, the first thing he felt was agonizing pain throughout his body, as though countless sledgehammers were pounding him over and over.
But the pain did not last long.
Soon, an indescribable warmth spread outward from his core like a tide, swiftly enveloping every corner of his body.
He could clearly feel the internal injuries sustained while tumbling along the seabed, injuries that had nearly broken him-his shattered internal organs and torn muscle tissue-
rapidly healing and repairing themselves at a speed visible to the naked eye-or rather, to his consciousness-until they vanished completely.
Almost in an instant, he went from gravely injured and on the brink of death to perfectly healthy and unscathed!
Redd found this transformation, as though he had been remade from the inside out, somewhat hard to believe.
His eyes snapped open, and he gasped violently, his lungs greedily drawing in cold air. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, as though trying to break free.
Looking around, he discovered that he was actually lying face down in a relatively calm stretch of seawater, surrounded by murky, churning water that still held some warmth.
The three dragons were still there, too, their claws still linked together, and King Ghidorah was still shielding him with his wings.
He had survived! And in such an inconceivable way.
Now awake, Redd swiftly sorted through his jumbled thoughts while warily surveying his surroundings.
Only then did he realize he had actually been washed onto a shallow beach.
The seawater reached only his ankles and was as warm as a hot spring. Soaking in it was even rather comfortable.
Clearly, he was probably still within the Smoking Sea, but he must have drifted to its outer edges-the warm seawater was the best proof.
After all, the water in the center of the Smoking Sea was practically as hot as boiling water.
He still clearly remembered the scalding, burning sensation when seawater had flooded his throat and lungs before he passed out.
That particular "delight" had been unforgettable, making him swear he never wanted to experience it a second time in his life. Once was enough to remember for a lifetime.
Redd tried to stand and move his long-idle limbs, only to discover that his hands and feet were stiff and numb. His movements were sluggish, as though his limbs would not obey him.
It seemed he had probably been unconscious for more than a day or two.
Before you continue