The Supreme Level Up System

When Aion inquired about it, he heard that the helmet that covered his whole face was a common item to use in underwater and poisonous areas. The only problem was the fact that they couldn't go that deep using it… their bodies were strong enough to withstand the pressure more than the average person, but even that has its limits. It wasn't the perfect solution, but it was what they could use under the current circumstances.

"Should we test this?" Sauros asked while holding the crossbow.

"As much as I want to show off, we shouldn't… they use the energy of the magic stones quite a bit since I focused on power over everything else," Seris replied.

"So, you guys have limited ammunition," Aion said and then checked the bag of magic stones that Seris was using. "That complicates things."

The magic stones were just ordinary glass-like stones that emitted a light-blue glow. Aion did some tests with them, but he was unable to get the mana inside them. However, he got one thousand experience points when he absorbed one… it was a pity that they cost ten silver coins. Hunting the slimes probably will be an excellent way to get experience, though… It will be very efficient.

"They will last for twenty shots each," Seris declared.

Since they bought around 150, then it was a pretty good amount… Not even Aion's full mana could let him fire that many wind bullets. By focusing on speed and power, those consumed five points of mana.

Eventually, the group reached the area where the dungeon was supposed to be, and basically, the cannons never stopped working. The crew of the Breeze of the Sea was going to stay nearby while invisible since it was impossible to tell when adventurers or pirates were going to appear.

"We can't communicate underwater, so we will use hand signs," Sauros said while he was checking his mask for the last time. "Closed fist upward, and you need to stop. Open hand upward, we advance. For the time being, Seris and eye will fight the monsters. Aion should focus on defense since he can use his magic the way he wants. If things get dicey, I will point my arm to the side, and then we will run away." Our first goal is to decrease the population of monsters in the area. Remember that."

Since the adventurers were preparing to look for the pirates, the weird carapace creatures that resembled sturdy oysters had increased in numbers. They won't reach the dungeon until they deal with them…

Without wasting any more time, the group jumped into the ocean and then began to sink… they soon stopped when they saw several of the monsters approaching… they don't even swim normally underwater. They just roll pretty fast. Seris already had the excuse to aim and fire her crossbow, and the impact, much to Aion's surprise, made her shoulder tremble… a powerful spear of wind flew toward of the target at fearsome speeds and then easily pierced the carapace.

Sauros did the same and hit another, and even though his stance was firm and he was holding the weapon with both arms, he still felt a powerful impact on his right shoulder. The weapon was effective, but the recoil will prevent them from using it for long.

As if the monsters had forgotten about the ship, which was yet to disappear, they all surrounded the group. Aion was ready to stop the monsters, but they never got close enough to be a real threat. For a couple of minutes, they stayed underwater, slowly killing the monsters that approached and getting used to moving below. For some reason, it seemed that the helmet helped them sink faster and go upward as well… After a while, Sauros gave them the sign to go up.

"What is wrong?" Aion asked.

When they took the mask, Aion confirmed what he already knew…

Sauros and Seris had damaged their shoulders.

"Hmm, even underwater, the recoil is that powerful… if you guys can endure this, then I can heal you all underwater," Aion said.

"I will come up with a solution later. For now, we should endure this, brother," Seris said.

"Yes, no problem," Sauros said. "Their firepower and this hunting speed are more than enough to make us endure this."

"Just give me a second," Aion said and then began to swim toward the corpses of the monsters and made his weapon absorb them.

Since they were water monsters, Aion could make them improve the refinement of the Necromancer's staff. They could use magic, apparently, but underwater it was close to useless. As for the carapaces, they could refine his sword and shield, and the creatures had nothing else that could be used.

"Let's go," Aion said.

The other two nodded, and then they dove… they had to swim for a couple of minutes before they could find a new group of monsters. It seemed that they moved in groups of five, and they headed to places in which the water was moving too fast or in an unusual way. That was why the Breeze of the Sea was attacked so often… Aion had no idea how they could sense that while they were so far away, though.

Whenever they found five groups, they would take a break, and then Aion would heal their shoulders. He wasn't using mana until now, so there was no point in being stingy. Thanks to that, they recovered quite fast. Still, eventually, the fights began to happen more often, and Aion was forced to join them when two of the monsters got too close to smashing Sauros and Seris. Instead of using wind magic, Aion just froze the water around the creatures, and then they slowed down enough for those two to finish them off.

They had to slow down even more when the group was only a few hundred meters away from their destination… they could see a massive swarm of those creatures just swimming around a cave…