Supreme Mage System: I grow Infinitely Stronger

Everything was blurry at first.

Gradually, the world came into focus as Ingrit and his companions' eyes adjusted to the underwater environment.

When their vision cleared, they were met with a breathtaking sight that left even seasoned divers in awe beneath the endless blue expanse of the ocean.

A parade of vibrant purple seahorses gracefully drifted past them, while glowing yellow jellyfish illuminated the water as they floated behind.

For Ingrit, the prospect of earning money was secondary; his true passion for diving lay in uncovering the mysteries hidden beneath the vast ocean.

Sein lightly tapped his three teammates and gestured with his index and middle fingers, signaling them to split into pairs to search for the treasure. This strategy would not only save time but also ensure that each group could watch the other's back in case they encountered any sea creatures.

The others nodded in agreement.

Dirt swam close behind Sein. Then, Sein motioned forward with his finger, directing Ingrit and Inia to head one way while he and Dirt explored another path.

With a final nod, Ingrit and Inia turned and began swimming in their assigned direction.

After watching them disappear into the depths, Sein and Dirt turned as well and started moving in the opposite direction.

Before long, as Ingrit and Inia swam forward, they noticed a faint blue glimmer far below them, nestled within the crevices of a tall, staircase-like hill.

"Could those be crystals?" Ingrit wondered.

He turned to Inia, and their eyes met. With a shared nod of agreement, they silently decided to dive deeper toward the source of the glimmer.

Nodding, they began their descent toward the source of the glimmer.

Within minutes, they reached the hill, which sloped like a staircase carved by nature itself.

A narrow, 50-centimeter-wide hole was nestled in the hill's left corner.

Inia's eyes widened as she leaned closer to peer into it. When Ingrit followed suit, his reaction mirrored hers. It was as though fortune itself had decided to bless him.

For one, it wasn't every day Ingrit stumbled across so many crystals in a single spot. On past missions, the poor guy had often returned empty-handed or with just one or two small, low-value magic crystals.

But now, there they were—20, perhaps 30 crystals clustered together, gleaming like treasures long forgotten.

What made this discovery even more remarkable was the way Ingrit usually struggled to keep any crystals he found. More often than not, they were divided among the team, leaving him with only a meager share.

Crystals, however, were invaluable. They were the lifeblood of the cloud states, brimming with magical energy used to power everything from electricity to the systems that kept human civilization afloat in the skies. They were also a coveted commodity, fetching high prices at any magic shop.

As the blue crystals glimmered in the dim light, Ingrit chuckled and reached into the hole, eager to grab one.

"What the—?"

His laughter froze, his eyes widening in utter disbelief as he stared deeper into the hole.

Among the blue crystals, hidden just beneath the surface, was something extraordinary: a golden crystal.

The moment the blue crystals shifted to reveal it, the golden crystal emitted a radiant glow so intense that it overshadowed the others entirely.

Golden crystals were exceedingly rare—so rare, in fact, that most divers went their entire lives without ever finding one. Yet here it was, sitting right before them, as though waiting to be discovered.

The sheer improbability of the situation almost made it feel surreal.

While both Inia and Ingrit were overjoyed at the sight, a growing sense of unease began gnawing at Ingrit.

Something about the arrangement—the neatly placed crystals, the hidden golden treasure—felt far too convenient, almost staged.

With tension tightening his features, Ingrit shot a cautious look at Inia. He spoke quickly, his voice low:

"This might be a trap. Don't touch anything yet, okay?"

Inia met his gaze and nodded, her expression equally wary.

'I don't sense any sea beasts within 30 meters.'

Ingrit thought, though unease still gripped him.

The divers' suits were marvels of magical engineering—not only resistant to toxins but also capable of detecting any sea beasts within a 30-meter radius. Yet, despite the silence of the detector, something didn't sit right with him.

Abruptly, a hand brushed against Ingrit's back. He flinched, his body tensing as a strange and unfamiliar sensation crept over his skin.

Reacting instantly, he clenched his fist, red energy flaring around it. In one fluid motion, he spun on his heel and launched a powerful punch.

But the strike never landed. A familiar voice rang out, halting him mid-swing.

"Waaait! It's me, Sein. Don't be alarmed!"

As Ingrit focused on the figure, the tension in his body ebbed, and a flicker of relief softened his sharp black eyes. He exhaled slowly, the tightness in his chest dissipating.

"Oh, it's you, mr. Sein. For a moment, I thought it was a sea beast."

Sein chuckled lightly, his tone teasing. "It's good to stay sharp. So, did you guys uncover anything interesting?"

Yet, both Ingrit and Inia sensed an underlying unease in the air.

Though Sein had returned, something was missing—someone. Dirt.

Ingrit's voice wavered with concern as he asked, "Where's Dirt?"

Sein's expression faltered for a moment, his gaze drifting to the array of crystals glinting in the cave. Something among them caught his attention—a golden crystal. His eyes widened in awe before narrowing into something darker, almost predatory.

After a weighty silence, Sein finally spoke, his voice carrying an odd undertone.

"Wow, seems like you guys stumbled upon quite the fortune, eh?"

He sighed and added, "Sadly, Dirt was killed when a sea beast suddenly attacked him. I told that fool to stay close to me again and again. It's such a shame."

Ingrit wasn't the type to be easily deceived by cheap tricks, especially not lies. He immediately sensed that Sein wasn't being truthful.

He knew something was definitely amiss. Without wasting a moment, he widened his stance. But before Ingrit could react, a powerful kick struck him in the throat, sending him flying backward. His back slammed into the hillside with such force that the impact created a massive shockwave.

"Oops, I really need to learn how to hold back," Sein laughed, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Khugg!"

Ingrit clutched at his throat, blood seeping from his eyes and staining his goggles as he struggled to crawl up the slope.

Inia, frozen in disbelief, stared wide-eyed at Sein, her mind reeling from the betrayal of a trusted comrade.

"What?" she stammered, her voice trembling with shock.

Before she could react further, Sein vanished. In an instant, he reappeared behind her.

Inia attempted to raise her hands in defense, but was too late to react. The next moment, she noticed the water around her turning crimson. Her hands, detached from her arms, drifted downward, ribbons of blood trailing them.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Inia screamed in sheer agony.

Sein laughed coldly, his demeanor predatory, as he reached forward and ripped the mask from her face.

"You won't need this anymore," he sneered.

With calculated ease, Sein turned toward the crawling Ingrit, swimming toward him with predatory speed. In moments, he was leaning over him, tearing away Ingrit's mask.

As the mask came off, blood erupted from Ingrit's mouth, his weakened body convulsing in pain.

Sein smirked and turned away, heading toward the glowing crystals nearby.

"I don't need to dirty my hands. The poisonous ocean will finish the two of you for me," he said, his tone casual as he left them to their grim fate.

Sein reached the treasure—blue crystals glowing with an otherworldly light. He began placing them into a shimmering white storage magic circle, one by one. Finally, his hand hovered over the largest, most radiant crystal—a golden gem that pulsed with immense power.

"Aaahahahaha! This is mine!" he exclaimed, his laughter echoing like thunder.

He carefully placed the golden crystal into the magic circle, then turned to glance briefly at Ingrit and Inia. Their bodies were pale green, the poison's grip tightening.

Satisfied, Sein made the magic circle vanish. Stretching his arms wide, he brought his hands together in a deafening clap, unleashing a shockwave that rippled through the ocean.

"See ya," he said nonchalantly before shooting upward with astonishing speed.

Moments later, as Ingrit and Inia lay motionless, their faces drained of life, a sharp signal blared in their minds.

Despite sensing the approaching sea beast that Sein had summoned, neither of them reacted. Inia's fading eyes drifted as she sank further into the depths, while Ingrit lay slumped on the seafloor, mere moments away from death's embrace...