My Wife is the Asura Empress-Chapter 233: Dive into the Depths

As he drew near the location of the monarch beast, Rio gradually decelerated his pace. The moon illuminated the surface of the river, giving it a silver sheen that seemed to dance in the night.

Rio walked further and approached the stream of water, he was able to see the reflection of the stars in the river that flowed near it, making it appear like a glittering ribbon weaving through the grassy plains. The sound of the flowing water and the gentle whisper of the surrounding grass added to the serene and peaceful atmosphere.

Despite the darkness of the night, Rio could make out the long blades of grass that grew inside the river and poked out of the surface, swaying in the gentle breeze. The sight was picturesque, and he was marveling at the beauty of it all and invigorated by the refreshing breeze.

However, he didn't lower his guard and remained alert for any signs of danger. His heartbeat was in harmony he surveyed the area, scanning for any potential threats.

With cautious steps, Rio moved closer to the edges of the river, sweeping his gaze to find any clue of the monarch beast.

Rio continued his search at the stream of water's edge, hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive monarch beast. But despite his best efforts, he couldn't find any clue or hint that could lead him to it. He let out a sigh of disappointment, turning to Eve for aid via telepathy.

"Eve, why can't I find it?" The boy asked the elven girl with a frown.

"The monarch beast is in the river, but you won't find it by just standing at the edge. You need to take a dip and explore underwater," she said softly.

He stood at the edge of the River, staring at the tranquil surface of the water. He inhaled a deep breath, the fresh air going into his lungs, and with one swift motion, he dived into the river.

*Splash!*

The sound of his body hitting the water resounded in his ears as he plunged deeper into the cold, cloudy depths. The pressure of the water pushed against his body, but he had more than enough strength to dive deeper, his eyes locked on the abyss below.

The darkness engulfed him, but he pushed through it, his arms and legs propelling him forward. The water grew colder and colder, but he could feel the calling of the monarch beast growing stronger with every stroke.

In the end, he saw a faint glimmer of light in the distance, and his heartbeat quickened. With renewed energy, he swam toward it, and as he got closer, he could see a tunnel leading into the unknown.

He was delighted to finally find a clue as he followed the tunnel, and before he knew it, he emerged into a cavern so vast that the ceiling was high and wide, and Rio was awed by its grandeur as he didn't expect such an enormous cave to be hiding inside the water.

Above, sharp, pointed stalactites hung like icicles, their surfaces glistening in the mysterious glow filtering down from an unseen source above. The walls of the cavern were rough and jagged, their contours casting deep shadows that seemed to shift and dance with every flicker of light. The air was cool and heavy, saturated with moisture and the smell of earth and stone.

Rio cautiously made his way deeper into the cavern, his eyes scanning every corner for any signs of danger. As he walked further, he noticed a massive boulder standing at the end of the cavern, emanating a silver glow that illuminated the entire space.

His heart filled with ecstasy and cautiousness as he realized that the calling of the monarch beast was coming from the hand sign etched onto the boulder.

As he was standing in front of the boulder, Eve's voice sounded in his mind filled with a sense of caution, "As soon as you touch the hand sign, your trial with Purple stage monarch beast will begin. But you won't be able to contact me until you succeed. Just remember to not lose your heart to the monarch beast, or you might end up becoming its puppet!"

"Thank you, Eve." He mumbled in his mind, before taking a deep breath, calming his heart, as he walked toward the glowing boulder.

As he approached, he could feel the chilly air getting strong, being already wet caused him to shiver.

With a deep breath, he placed his hands on the boulder, feeling the rough texture of the stone against his fingers.

The hand sign seemed to pulse with energy, soon he was engulfed by a blinding light, and everything around him changed in an instant.

The sand beneath his feet was warm, and he could feel the heat of the sun on his skin. The salty scent of the sea filled his nostrils, and the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore was like a soothing melody to his ears.

The bright orb of the sun shone in the sky, casting its golden light over everything around him. The world seemed to sparkle in its warm embrace as he found himself standing on a sandy beach.

In the distance, Rio saw a shimmering, silver object floating in the air. He couldn't make out what it was at first, but as he got closer, he realized it was armor, unlike anything he had ever seen before.

"Greetings, Rio Havenglow, Welcome to my Trial. I am the Monarch beast of the Purple stage." a female voice reverberated around him, confirming he had reached his destination, but what challenges lay ahead, he could only imagine.