Leveling Up by Seducing Milfs-Chapter 170. Into The Depths of Ocean

During all of those explanations from Zephyra, Sylvia had been very quiet. She stood with her arms crossed near the edge of the dock and had a complicated look on her face.

It was strange that the Dragon Queen looked like she was having an argument with herself because Sylvia was usually the most decisive person Rick knew.

At last, she moved forward. "Second thought... I’m staying on the surface."

Everyone looked at Sylvia with a shocked expression. Even Zephyra looked a little surprised, which was the same as being shocked and not believing it.

Rick asked, "What?" in a way that showed he was really confused. "This is one of the Seven Major Powers, Sylvia."

"You’re kind of important for the whole prophecy thing."

"I’m a fire-type dragon," Sylvia said, her voice lacking any pride. "Flame is the foundation of all my magic."

"My Dragon’s Breath doesn’t function at all in the ocean, and fire doesn’t work underwater... did you forget basic physics?"

Natasha frowned. "The flame of a dragon like you is ancient."

"With the right changes, it should be able to work in water."

"It could, but it would only work sixty percent as well," Sylvia said. ""My flight is also negated underwater due to water resistance being exponentially higher than air resistance."

"Even with Zephyra’s current negation crystal, my wings aren’t designed for aquatic propulsion. And my Draconic Sovereignty, which is my primary combat enhancement, reduces by another sixty percent in the wrong elemental environment."

Her molten amber eyes were steady and sure as she looked at Rick. "I would be a burden for you all, not a benefit."

"And even more importantly, this port needs a deterrent."

Zephyra’s face changed to something that might have been respect. "I’m listening..."

"Your barrier is a defensive perfection," Sylvia said, pointing to the shining dome above. "I’ve looked it over while you were getting ready."

"The Oceanic Barrier is self-sustaining, almost impossible to get through, and protects the whole port population, but what if something attacks from the outside?"

"Your offensive magic is limited while channeling a barrier of this size, right?"

"That’s correct," Zephyra said. "I can maintain the Oceanic Exclusion indefinitely, but my offensive capabilities decrease to about 30% of normal while I do so."

"That could be a problem if there is a big attack on corruption."

"Yeah! See?! She gets it." Sylvia’s smile was sharp and hungry. "I’ll stay here, patrol the barrier perimeter, and burn anything that tries to get through."

"You keep the shield up, and I’ll give you the firepower! Isn’t that a good strategy?!"

Rick’s chest felt like it was twisting. He knew Sylvia was right, but the thought of going into the most dangerous part of this mission without his dragon queen felt wrong in some way.

He could feel her confidence through their bond. She was sure that this was the right strategic choice.

Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "This is a big job."

With one clawed hand, Sylvia stepped closer and held his face. The claws were deadly, but she was surprisingly gentle.

"My consort..."

"I trust you to take care of the ocean, and you also have to trust me with the surface."

"We’ll both protect what we’re best at."

She put her forehead against his in that close, draconic way that always made his heart skip a beat. "I promised you a dragon family after the world was at peace."

"If I drown in saltwater, I can’t do that... right..?"

Rick’s gooner brain turned on right away when he saw the rare, vulnerable smile on her face. "Wow, Mommy Dragon is staying home to watch the kids while Daddy goes to work."

"This is literally the MILF domestic fantasy..."

"Wait...!"

"FOCUS, RICK!!! NOW’S NOT THE TIME."

He was able to say "Okay" out loud.

"You and Zephyra are in charge of the land, so let the rest of us take care of the ocean."

Sylvia kissed him quickly, her lips warm and tasting slightly of smoke. He sensed her pride and worry through their bond, a mix of both emotions.

"Hahahahah" Zara laughed hard at what Sylvia just said.

Both Sylvia and Rick immediately broke the kiss to look at Zara.

Sylvia frowned. "What’s so funny, bitch?"

"Oh please... you’re acting all heroic and lovey-dovey to hide your true feelings of fear about going deep into the ocean, right?!" Zara smirked.

"No one asks for a bitch’s opinion!" Sylvia walked toward Zara.

"Earlier you said that you would support us with your slutty flame, but it turns out... you’re already chickening out seeing the ocean." Zara walked toward Sylvia as well.

Both of them start to crash into each other with their huge breasts as their barrier to prevent each other from bouncing. Rick’s brain immediately got a neuron activation seeing two mountains collide.

"Holy tits...!!! I WANT TO GET CRUSHED BETWEEN THEIR TITS!!!" Rick screamed in his mind. "W-Wait, no!"

"Come on now... it’s not the time to argue." Rick managed to stop them by sliding between their tits until his head was between them.

Thalor was getting more and more nervous as he watched this conversation. He walked up to the floating megalodon corpse and put one webbed hand on its huge head.

His ocean-blue eyes closed as he started to speak in what had to be Oceanic, the language of people who live in the ocean.

It sounded like whale song and rain mixed together, with harmonics that Rick could feel in his chest even though he didn’t understand the words. The megalodon’s dead eyes suddenly lit up with a soft blue light, the same color as Liora’s purification magic mixed with something else that felt old and deep.

Thalor said, "She’s ready," and pulled his hand back.

"Corrupted beasts can be reclaimed if purified quickly enough. She’ll carry us to Meridia."

Natasha looked at the megalodon, which was now glowing. "We’re going to ride a corpse?"

"She’s not a corpse," Thalor said, sounding a little offended.

"She’s just asleep..."

"Ocean dweller magic lets us put creatures into a state of suspended animation."

"Believe me, this is normal for us."

"Your idea of normal is very concerning," Natasha muttered, but she was already figuring out the best way to sit on the creature’s back.

The boarding process went surprisingly smoothly. Carmilla was the first to climb up.

She found a stable place to stand near the dorsal fin, where the megalodon’s back was the widest. Natasha stood right behind Carmilla, close enough that she could cast ice barriers to protect her from any direction.

Liora took the middle part, and her divine magic was already making a soft golden aura around her. Zara took up the rear guard position near the tail, with her twin blades drawn and her demonic sensing active.

With Thalor’s help, Rick climbed up last and took the front position, where he could keep the bond network running while Thalor took care of navigation.

Even though it was in cold water, the megalodon’s skin was surprisingly warm. It felt like wet rubber.

Zephyra walked up to the edge of the dock one last time, with baby Sophia still sleeping soundly on her chest. She looked at each one of them in turn.

Her brown eyes were sharp behind her glasses. "Those Thalassic Crystals will keep you safe from the ocean," she said, her voice flat, but her eyes were very focused.

"You can’t trust them to keep you safe from what’s in the ocean."

"The corruption has been there for weeks. Expect changes. Expect smartness. And expect ambush tactics."

With her other hand, she fixed her glasses. "And Rick..."

"Keep in mind that Nerissa Abyssryn is not like Sylvia."

"Bravery won’t win her over, and an act of heroism won’t sway her. For fifty years, she has felt nothing."

"Whatever you do down there has to be real."

Rick looked her in the eye. "I know... Sebastian said that, and I will be myself. That’s all I have!"

Zephyra nodded a little. "That might be enough."

...

At the edge of the dock, Sylvia stood next to Zephyra. The Dragon Queen waved with one clawed hand, and Zephyra held Sophia’s tiny hand to make the baby wave too.

It was cute in a strange way.

The Crystalline Observer above Rick’s shoulder lit up and got brighter.

The sphere made Zephyra’s voice sound perfectly clear. "The visual and audio feed is on..."

"I can see and hear everything."

"Don’t let me down, Rick Rolland."

Rick said, "No pressure at all, huh?"

Thalor turned around and looked at everyone on the back of the megalodon. "Is everyone ready?"

Rick glanced at his partners. Carmilla nodded confidently, her hand resting on her sword. Natasha’s eyes were sharp and focused, resembling ice.

"Yeah!" Rick said, "Let’s go see an Empress."

Thalor took a deep breath and let out a whistle. It wasn’t from his mouth, but from somewhere deeper, a deep oceanic pitch that carried across the water like a whale’s call.

The megalodon’s eyes lit up bright blue in response.

The water around them began to churn and swirl, forming a vortex that steadily pulled them downward. As Rick adjusted to breathing in water instead of air, the Thalassic Crystal activated completely, and a warm sensation spread across his chest.

Before the ocean swallowed them, the last thing he saw was Sylvia’s fierce grin and Zephyra’s thoughtful look.

Then the corrupted depths took them, and the real mission started.