novelraw Chapter 301
Chapter 301
Kanzaki Rei and Kumironi floated within that pitch-black expanse. Just minutes ago, they had still been submerged in the deep, viscous darkness of the ocean.
Now, however, the space around them felt terrifyingly empty.
Ahead of them hung a massive sphere.
Simply probing it with perception confirmed it—this was indeed a planet.
But not a vibrant, life-filled world like Earth.
It was barren, stripped bare, nothing but desiccated soil stretching endlessly across its surface—a dead world.
"Where... exactly is this place?" Kanzaki Rei asked Ansu inwardly.
Ansu replied in a casual, almost dismissive tone, "What else could it be?"
"This is the Sea Abyss—the bottom of the ocean. One of the Three Great Abysses."
"The Three Great Abysses?"
Kanzaki Rei had heard of the Abyss before—bottomless depths filled with countless monsters.
"Yeah, this is the Sea Abyss. You’re currently on its first layer."
Kanzaki Rei searched his memory.
Back when he had explored the Secret Sea, he seemed to have received faint hints through his Hidden Origin.
But at that time, the prompt had indicated that he had entered the "Ocean Nest — Second Layer of the Sea Abyss."
It was there that he had encountered that being whose death date was set at 19,999 years.
"What kind of danger exists here? Why are there no monsters?" Kanzaki Rei asked, his gaze fixed on the threads of the future even as he drew Fate Cards, calculating possible outcomes.
He was getting closer and closer to Earth.
At full speed, it would take less than an hour to arrive.
And precisely because of that, he grew even more cautious.
The result of his divination remained unchanged—three Death cards.
Even after reshuffling and drawing again, it was still three cards of death and annihilation.
Ansu chuckled. "Why are there no monsters?"
"Heh... that’s a good question."
The moment Ansu let out that chuckle, Kanzaki Rei had already extracted a deeply unsettling answer from his thoughts.
"Because weak monsters aren’t worthy of appearing within the territory of powerful ones."
"If there isn’t a single monster here, then most likely... there’s at least an eighth-tier monster present."
At Ansu’s answer, Kanzaki Rei’s lips twitched slightly.
"But don’t worry... even an eighth-tier monster can’t destroy the divine authority housed within you."
"If you really ’die,’ you probably won’t actually die."
"Though if it comes to that, you’ll just have to watch as the entire Secret Sea is annihilated. These oceanic monsters will soon rampage across all seas. Before long, even in the Moon Sea... you’ll start seeing them."
"You’re going to have to face it sooner or later."
...Tch.
Kanzaki Rei maintained a calm state of mind as he replied, "I just want information about the Sea Abyss. Spare me the rest."
Seeing his reaction, Ansu dropped the topic and continued, "Oh~ about the Sea Abyss..."
Kanzaki Rei and Kumironi landed upon the barren planet before them.
"Kanzaki Rei... this place..."
"This is the Sea Abyss," he replied.
At the same time, he began setting up a ritual on the planet’s surface.
"Kanzaki Rei... what are you doing?"
"Re-establishing a ritual," he answered simply.
"To make sure it’s always available when needed. It’s best to leave preparations behind at every step."
...Huh?
Setting up a Pure White Descent Ritual at every step?
In less than two minutes, Kanzaki Rei completed the ritual.
Throughout the entire process, his combat state never disengaged—his enemy had not disappeared.
As for the activation conditions of 「Divine-Level: Pinnacle State」, Kanzaki Rei had already figured them out.
Fighting himself wouldn’t work—not even using undead.
It had to be another independent entity, outside his control, engaging him in battle for the talent to activate.
However...
As long as anyone harbored the intent to fight him, or released hostility, it would trigger instantly.
Conversely, if he himself developed the desire to fight something and initiated even the slightest probe, it would also activate.
The conditions were extremely lenient.
He could even use this talent to detect the presence of enemies.
If it activated for no apparent reason, it meant an enemy was nearby—preparing to engage.
The ritual was complete.
During this time, Ansu had also shared quite a bit of information about the Sea Abyss.
Many forgotten or abandoned things existed within it. Occasionally, adventurers would venture into the Sea Abyss in search of treasure.
But no one had ever heard of any living person managing to reside here long-term.
Because this was not a place meant for life.
After completing the ritual, Kanzaki Rei and Kumironi continued speeding through the Sea Abyss.
Suddenly, Kumironi spoke.
"Kanzaki Rei, are you sure this is the right direction?"
They came to a halt.
"The call I’m sensing... it’s coming from that direction." She pointed elsewhere—slightly offset from the direction Kanzaki Rei was heading toward Earth.
Kanzaki Rei nodded. "It seems the calls we’re sensing aren’t from the same source."
"Kumironi, I’d like to go with you, but... I’m sorry."
"This is really important to me."
Kumironi tilted her head. "What are you talking about? I only said the call is coming from that direction—I never said I was going there."
"To be honest, I’m also worried that call might be some kind of trap."
"So I’ll stick with you."
At her response, Kanzaki Rei gave a helpless, wry smile.
Somehow, it felt like he was the irrational one now.
"Alright. Together."
Kanzaki Rei continued, "There’s another planet ahead. I’ll set up another ritual there as well."
Another barren world.
Only ten minutes remained before reaching Earth, yet there had still been no sign of the solar system.
Earth itself might be small, but the solar system should be vast.
At his current speed, if he were truly approaching Earth, he should already be traversing within the solar system.
And yet, everything before him remained nothing but the hollow darkness of the Sea Abyss.
A deeply ominous feeling rose within him.
My talent, "Hidden Origin," is pointing directly to the location of my father and mother. The direction is unmistakable.
But... where is the sun?
Where are Venus, Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto?
Where is the universe?
Don’t tell me this pitch-black void—where nothing can be seen—is the "universe" I learned about in my previous life?
Another Pure White Descent Ritual was completed.
Along the way, Kanzaki Rei had already encountered dozens of different planets, leaving behind a Pure White Descent Ritual on each one.
After finishing the setup, the two set off once more.
"Kanzaki Rei, how much farther is it?" Kumironi’s voice carried a trace of concern.
She could clearly sense it—something about Kanzaki Rei was completely different from before.
His state... wasn’t right.
"About... two more minutes," Kanzaki Rei replied.
His voice had grown uncertain—unsteady.
Beneath the uncertainty, there was even a faint hint of self-doubt.
Kumironi could even detect a trace of panic in his tone.
Two minutes...
In just two minutes, he would finally see Earth—the place he had longed to return to ever since transmigrating into this world.
But this endless darkness before him—
Could this really be home?