Reincarnated as a Carp: The Evolution System

The Prism Fields were behind them, but the deeper they ventured into the Abyss, the more the sense of unease grew. The water, once clear and shimmering with vibrant hues, had taken on a darker, more oppressive tone. The fragments they carried felt heavier now, as if the weight of their mission was increasing with every passing moment.

Daniel swam silently beside Mira, his mind racing. Korrath's parting words echoed in his thoughts: "I will aid you—for now." There was a certain coldness in the creature's voice, a warning hidden beneath the surface of his promise. The deal was struck, but it came with no guarantees.

"How much further?" Daniel asked, his voice carrying a note of impatience. They had been traveling for what seemed like days, the oppressive silence of the Abyss wearing on him. Despite the eerie stillness around them, Daniel's senses were heightened—his system constantly scanning for any threat that might emerge from the depths.

"We're close," Mira replied, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "The next stop is a place called the Trench of Echoes. It's where our contact should be waiting."

"The Trench of Echoes?" Daniel repeated. The name alone sent a shiver down his spine. "Sounds like the kind of place you'd avoid if you could."

"Only if you're not looking for something... or someone," Mira answered, her eyes scanning the dark waters ahead.

As they swam deeper, the pressure of the Abyss seemed to increase, the very water around them growing thicker with each movement. The landscape had become less fluid and more jagged, the rocky formations forming an intricate maze that seemed to stretch on forever. It was easy to lose track of direction in the Abyss, especially when the landmarks seemed to shift.

A soft, pulsing light appeared in the distance. At first, Daniel thought it was another illusion, a trick of the shimmering water. But as they approached, it grew clearer—a soft, ethereal glow, emanating from a narrow chasm carved into the rock below. Mira led the way, her movements confident as she navigated the darkness.

They entered the chasm, the water growing colder and the light dimming as they descended deeper. The glow came from bioluminescent moss that clung to the walls, casting an eerie light that only seemed to highlight the shadows. It was a place of stillness and silence, the kind of quiet that made even the smallest sound feel like a thunderclap.

They finally reached the bottom, where the glow faded completely into a pitch-black abyss. For a moment, it felt as if they were suspended in nothingness, surrounded by the deep, consuming dark. Then, without warning, a figure appeared from the shadows, its movements as fluid and silent as the water itself.

"Welcome, Mira," the figure said, its voice low and smooth, reverberating in the silence of the trench. "And you must be the traveler."

The figure was tall, humanoid but with an almost ghostly translucence to its form, a stark contrast to the living beings that inhabited the Abyss. Its eyes were an unnatural shade of violet, gleaming with an unsettling intelligence.

"You're late," the figure added, its gaze flicking to Daniel. "I wasn't expecting you quite so soon. But... things rarely go according to plan, do they?"

Daniel could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand up. There was something wrong about the figure—something that felt off even before it spoke. His system registered it immediately:

[New Entity Identified: Rhea, the Whisperer of the Trench.] [Threat Level: Unknown.]

"I didn't expect to find you here so soon either," Mira said, her voice a little more guarded now. "But circumstances have changed. We need your help."

Rhea tilted its head, studying Mira for a long moment before answering. "Help, hmm? That depends on what you're offering. You know the price here is always steep, Mira."

"Nothing is free," Mira replied, her tone sharp. "I know that."

Rhea's violet eyes flicked to Daniel again, and for a moment, Daniel thought it saw through him, as if it could perceive his very thoughts. "Ah, the traveler," Rhea mused. "I wonder... what exactly brought you to this place, little carpa? What is it that you hope to find?"

Daniel's fins twitched, a sensation that was almost like being prodded. "I'm not here for anything personal," he said, though he wasn't entirely sure if that was the truth. "We need information about the fragments. And the ones hunting us. We need to know who's behind this, and how to stop them."

Rhea's smile, if it could be called that, was unsettling. It was not a friendly smile, but something more predatory, as though it knew something Daniel did not.

"Ah, the fragments," Rhea said. "Those little shards of power. So many are drawn to them, yet few truly understand their significance. It is... a dangerous game you are playing, little carpa. But perhaps that is what makes it so enticing."

Mira's gaze hardened. "Enough with the riddles, Rhea. We need your help. No more games."

Rhea's eyes gleamed as it slowly swam closer to them. "You want my help, then. Fine. But first, you must prove you are worthy of it. You know the price."

Daniel's stomach tightened. He had a feeling they weren't going to like whatever price Rhea demanded.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Daniel asked cautiously.

Rhea chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the stillness of the trench. "Prove yourselves in the waters of the Trench. There's a test I require of those who seek my aid. Only those who can survive it... will earn my favor."

Before Daniel could respond, the water around them began to shift. It was subtle at first, like a faint current running through the depths. But then it intensified, the water seeming to twist and writhe as though alive. Daniel's fins tensed, and his heart raced as he realized what was happening.

[Combat Engaged: Trench Wraiths.]

From the shifting depths emerged creatures—nightmarish, semi-transparent wraiths that glided through the water, their bodies ethereal but with razor-sharp talons that glinted in the dim light. They surrounded Daniel and Mira in a blink, their eyes glowing an eerie violet like Rhea's.

Mira's hand went to her weapon, her expression set. "Stay close," she warned Daniel. "These things are fast, and they're not alone."

Daniel activated his system immediately, his body pulsing with energy as he prepared for the onslaught.

[Combat System: Active.]

The wraiths circled them, closing in from all directions. Daniel felt the pressure of the water intensifying, as though the very depths themselves were bearing down on them.

"Stay alert," Mira said, her voice low. "These things are tricky."

The first wraith lunged, its talons aimed at Daniel's side. He dashed to the side with Hydro Dash, narrowly avoiding the strike. His blade was already drawn, and he swiped at the wraith as it passed, only to watch it phase out of existence before his eyes.

"They're phasing!" Daniel exclaimed.

"Keep moving," Mira commanded. "Don't give them time to regroup."

The battle continued in frantic bursts, Daniel using every ability he had at his disposal to try to fend off the wraiths. His strikes were mostly ineffective, the wraiths dissipating in the water before he could land a hit. His system identified the weaknesses of the creatures, but it was clear that hitting them head-on was not an option.

"They're too fast," Daniel grunted, frustration rising as another wraith slashed at his fins.

Mira moved with deadly precision, her blade flashing in the water as she cut through the ethereal bodies of the wraiths. But for every one they destroyed, more seemed to emerge, their forms rising from the water like shadows brought to life.

"We need to find the source," Mira said, her voice strained as she parried another attack. "There's always a source."

Daniel nodded, his eyes scanning the dark water for any sign of the wraiths' origin. The system was trying to adapt, but the constant movement of the wraiths made it difficult to track anything.

Then, a pulse of energy disrupted the water, sending a shockwave through the trench. Daniel felt it before he saw it—the source of the wraiths, hidden deep in the trench.

"That's it!" he shouted, pointing toward a dark alcove in the rock. "Over there!"

Mira nodded, and together they made their way toward the source. The wraiths tried to intercept them, but their movements grew slower as the pulse intensified.

As they reached the alcove, Daniel felt a strange energy in the air—a dark, oppressive force that made his skin crawl. At the center of the alcove was a crystal, glowing with an eerie violet light. It was pulsing in rhythm with the waves of energy emanating from it.

"Destroy it," Mira commanded, her eyes locked on the crystal. "Now."

Daniel raised his blade, channeling every ounce of energy he had into a single strike. The crystal shattered with a deafening crack, and the wraiths immediately dissipated, their forms dissolving into the water.

[Combat Concluded: Trench Wraiths Neutralized.]

Daniel breathed heavily, his body still tense as he watched the water around them calm. The trench was silent once again

, save for the soft ripple of the current.

Rhea's voice echoed in the darkness. "You've passed my test, traveler. I'll honor my word. What is it that you seek?"

Daniel and Mira exchanged a look. The price had been steep, but they had earned Rhea's aid.

"We need information," Mira said. "About the fragments. And about who's hunting us."

Rhea's violet eyes gleamed once more, a twisted smile curving its lips. "Very well. I will tell you... everything."