39 Chapter 18.3: The Truth Behind The Hood (1/2)

Going back there are still a few contestants, Alessia found herself in an environment that was worlds apart from what she was used to. It was fascinating yet unfathomable. As her gate opened it felt like she found herself in a world only found in fairy tales.

Looking around as far as the eye could reach it became clear she was indeed underwater.

Quickly trying to hold her breath and to find out how far away the surface of the water as she began swimming upwards in the hope that she could make it. Luckily as she swam towards the surface there seemed to be hidden pockets with air, allowing her to catch her breath.

”This area… It is really fascinating. It's even thriving with life!”

Alessia having caught her breath went on her way. Taking in as much of the environment as she could huge schools of fish swam past her showing an occasional bigger one jumping out of the water and splashing back into it. Coral could be seen on the surface of the rocks and even weeds on the bottom. What made the environment even more magical was the fact that not only the coral and plants but also the fish had luminescent bodies, lighting up the depths of the darkness in the deep.

Alessia had to find a way out as fast as possible not only because her oxygen was limited but also because she didn't know what kind of beasts could be lurking in the depths of this ocean-like area. For now, it was best to stay to the ocean floor seeing as most fish didn't get close. Finding air pockets on occasion she was relieved for having enough oxygen to keep on moving.

After a while the sandy ocean floor began displaying blood-red plants, revealing the occasional water rainbow slug. Huge for their size these slugs seemed docile not caring about what came close to them. But they really were mesmerizing, with colors fluctuating throughout their bodies. Trying to observe one of them Alessia got lost in thoughts when she began slowly but surely began feeling light-headed. The beast had locked her attention to it making her forget the fact that she was indeed still finding herself inside a huge ocean.

When she began running out of oxygen she finally snapped out of it, but was it too late?

Quickly Alessia rushed around in the hope to find another of those air pockets, but nothing looked remotely like that. There where weird looking fruits on the bottom floor.

Glowing with a bright light blue essence it looked as if the plants were hollow.

Could it be? Alessia had nowhere else to go, it was all or nothing. With her last breath, she desperately swam towards the fruit. Closing in the light began to pulsate faster and faster when it suddenly popped as it came into contact with her hand.

*pop*

Alessia felt refreshed, almost as she had never lost any oxygen. In the excitement of her victory against death she unnoticed went deeper into the ocean, now being in open waters it dawned on her.

”Shit! Where am I? There are only open waters as far as I can see… damnit…

I can't hold out for long like this… and what if I'm attacked out here? Then there would be nowhere to go…”

Alessia kept going forward in the hope of finding another gate of some sort.

instead, something crept closer towards her in the depth of the sea.

Before it noticed her Alessia needed to get to the surface.

Quickly making her way up she hoped she was not yet spotted in these vast open waters.

But to no avail… A huge roar could be heard felt throughout the waters.

*Rooooaaarrrr*

Alessia didn't dare to look back as the creature closed in on her.

She was almost at the surface! She could do this! I looked like there where small islands all around, she would be saved is she could make it there. Not giving up hope she swam for her life as fast as she could with the beast breathing down her neck.

Making it to the surface she jumped out with all her might, landing on the edge of the island, only to see the sheer size of the beast that had pursued her here.