The moment the voice echoed—
"Who are you…?"
The entire temple began to shake violently.
The ocean currents turned chaotic.
The sand below rose like a storm.
The giant pillars near the gate trembled…
Then—
They moved.
They twisted.
They weren't pillars.
They were—
Tentacles.
Leo: "Wait… I thought these were pillars… I even kicked one earlier…"
All eyes slowly turned toward him.
Chen Wei: "…You WHAT?"
Suddenly—
A massive force surged forward.
The tentacles shot out like lightning—
GRAB!
Everyone was caught mid-air.
Lily: "Hey! Let go of me!"
Yuna: "This isn't funny anymore!"
Sahara (calm but tense): "Stay focused—don't panic!"
Raika (smirking): "Heh… now this is getting interesting."
The water in front of the temple began to gather…
Forming a massive face.
Cold.
Ancient.
Watching them.
Leo stared at it… then suddenly narrowed his eyes.
Leo: "Wait a second…"
He leaned forward slightly.
Leo: "Mr. Octopus?"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Even the tentacles paused.
Chen Wei: "BRO WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THAT?!"
The giant creature trembled.
Then—
Its voice changed.
From terrifying…
To confused.
Octopus Guardian (shaking): "Y-You…?!"
Leo grinned.
Leo: "So it really is you."
Flashback flickered in his mind—
A luxury restaurant.
A live octopus placed on a plate.
About to be cooked.
Leo picking it up… calmly walking to the tank…
Dropping it back inside.
Leo (in memory): "Go live your life. I'll eat something else."
Back to present—
The giant octopus started trembling even more.
Octopus Guardian: "YOU… SAVED ME…"
Leo (smiling): "Yeah. And I named you Mr. Octopus."
The tension broke.
Instantly—
The tentacles released everyone.
Chen Wei (landing): "You're telling me… this monster is your friend?!"
Yuna: "How does that even happen?!"
Raika (grinning): "Now I get it… you don't become top-tier by being normal."
Sahara: "So this is why he's among the Top 10…"
Lily (curious): "Top 10?"
Raika: "Yeah… the strongest martial artists in the world. He's already ranked among them."
Yuna: "And we're just finding this out now?"
Chen Wei: "This guy is hiding way too much…"
Leo scratched his head awkwardly.
Leo: "It's not a big deal…"
The Octopus lowered its massive body respectfully.
Octopus Guardian:
"This temple… has a rule.
Every generation… one of us protects it.
No one is allowed to enter."
He paused.
Then looked directly at Leo.
Octopus Guardian:
"But… for you… I will break that rule.
You may enter."
Leo (smiling): "Thanks, Mr. Octopus."
Chen Wei (muttering): "I still can't believe that name…"
The massive gates slowly opened.
The group walked inside.
Inside—
No traps.
No guards.
Just silence.
And at the center—
A glowing object floated.
The Water Core.
It pulsed gently… like a heartbeat.
The entire room felt alive.
Chen Wei suddenly stopped.
His eyes locked onto the core.
Something… was calling him.
Chen Wei (whispering): "It's… calling me…"
Step by step—
He started walking toward it.
Slowly.
Uncontrollably.
Yuna: "Chen Wei?"
No response.
Lily: "Hey! Stop!"
But he kept moving.
Closer.
Closer.
Leo's expression changed.
Leo (serious): "Something's wrong."
Just as Chen Wei was about to touch it—
BOOM!
A sudden force blasted him backward.
He slid across the ground.
Everyone turned—
A girl stood in front of the core.
Her long hair floated like water tentacles.
Her eyes… hidden.
Dangerous.
Leo (low voice): "So… the real guardian."
Before anyone could react—
Lightning flashed.
Raika stepped forward.
Raika: "Oi… little sister."
Silence.
The girl froze.
Her hair slowly calmed.
Her eyes… disappeared behind her bangs.
Her entire aura changed.
From dangerous…
To shy.
She slowly walked behind Raika… hiding.
Raika (soft tone): "Don't be scared. These are our friends."
Leo (awkward smile, waving): "Uh… hi…"
Chen Wei (getting up, smiling lightly): "So you were the one calling me…"
Lily: "Why are you so shy now? You were about to kill us a second ago!"
Yuna (excited): "Come here! Let me hug you!"
She rushed forward.
Sahara (holding her ear playfully): "You really forgot us? Why so shy now?"
The shy girl lowered her head.
Quiet.
Gentle.
A complete contrast to before.
Raika placed a hand on her head.
Raika: "This is my younger sister… the guardian of the Water Temple."
The room finally calmed down.
For a moment—
Everything felt peaceful.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion echoed from outside the temple.
The entire structure shook violently.
Everyone's expression changed instantly.
Leo: "…They're here."
Caption:
The enemy has arrived.
Will they get the Water Core…
or lose everything?
To be continued…