After leaving the Forum and arriving back to his shed, Nereus's thoughts were heavily occupied with what he considered his most viable methods for quickly increasing his strength and cultivation.
Swimming back and forth in the tiny shed, he debated on which method he should choose, 'No no, trying to find let alone use a relic would be a waste of time right now, I only have about 46 hours until I'll be facing combatants left and right so whatever I choose has to be a method that can be enacted right now.'
'Hmm... no matter what...my main issue is this body is not receiving enough nutrients and sea essence and I currently don't have any resources to change that. I can sit in here and cultivate until I'm gray in the fins but until that changes, I'll only have mediocre gains. As such, there's only one possible solution...'
Nereus paused his swimming as a serious look appeared in his azure orbs, "I have to go hunting in the Open Sea"
The Open Sea was the deep and boundless portion of the seven seas that connected them all together.
It was known to be immeasurably dangerous due to the wild sea creatures, terrifying eldritch horrorlike sea monsters, and the rare & mysterious races hiding within its depths.
Legends spoke of the largest and most powerful of sea creatures known as sea monsters calling this area home, however legends also spoke of the numerous wonders and treasures that could similarly be found within this stretch of ocean.
From long forgotten hegemonic inheritances to fate defying herbs and plants, all could be found within but only the bravest Sealockes dared to venture out into the Open Sea, and only the most skilled of them ever returned victorious.
To enter such an area before reaching the Reef Grandmaster stage was tantamount to suicide for a regular Sealocke, luckily however Nereus was no regular Sealocke.
Back in his time as ruler of the seven seas, the Open Sea was known as the ultimate location for training if one was serious about advancing in their cultivation.
In fact, Nereus had some pretty fond memories of training within the area from when he was still a young Leviathan, much younger than the present body he was in actually.
Of course, there was some increased risk of danger since he was now in a Mer body instead of his previous Leviathan one, but Nereus wouldn't let that dissuade him, after all the greatest benefits also usually went hand in hand with the greatest danger.
With his mind firmly made up he wasted no time exiting his shed and heading down the small path leading out of the sect. As he crossed the sect's territory boundary he glanced back with a firm and resolute look on his face.
'When I return...I shall make this sect mine!'
Under the cover of night and while everyone was just beginning to slumber, Nereus left the sect and made his way towards the Open Sea.
According to his memories from when he initially reincarnated, Nereus knew that the distance to the Open Sea from the Vorteesi Sect was very short. He estimated that since he left early, he could definitely make it to the Open Sea and back within the allotted 46 hours for his challenges.
At this moment he was rapidly gliding through the waters and leaving a trail of bubbles and froth in his wake.
Passing above the Karpow Mines, which were at the very edge of the sea mount the sect was located on, he could still see the damage left to the abandoned mine shaft from his awakening.
'Hmm it's a good thing the sect didn't investigate this matter thoroughly. Although it would have incriminated those murderous mertwins, it could have revealed my reincarnation secret if not implicated me as well...'
Nereus decided not to give more thought to the matter as he swam faster and left the mines and the sect in the distance.
At this moment just beyond the edge of the seamount, he could finally see the deep sapphire blue of the Open Sea for the first time in his new life.
From where he looked out he could see that where the Vorteesi sea mount abruptly cut off, there was a deep dark abyss that continued on for some distance before sloping up to another seamount a long ways away from him.
Thanks to his eyesight being slightly enhanced by the slight Leviathanic blood in this new body, he was able to see the ocean bed deep below.
He saw deep trench like crevices that went on for miles.
And after observing for a bit longer he was shocked to see giant crab like organisms maneuvering within some of these trenches.
What shocked him next was the sight of a huge serpent like eel with arcs of lightning undulating over its body in another miles deep trench and next to that what looked like a shipwreck of some kind could be seen!
As he cast his gaze to the other sea mount in the distance, he noticed what looked like a lush kelp forest growing from it's top.
And amazingly he could even see what looked like glittering manta rays, and a family of giant grazing sea horses.
Most amazing of all to Nereus is that he could visibly tell that this entire place was very rich in sea essence.
From the seamounts, the trenches, and even the waters themselves they were all awash in a calming blue glow that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
'The Sea Borealis effect,' he thought to himself with a huge smile on his face, ' I knew this place would be better for cultivating and this proves it ! Only the most sea essence rich areas of the sea could ever hope to glow like this, especially at night.'
Looking upon the familiar glittering blue expanse before him he felt deep nostalgic emotions bubbling up but suddenly the sight of a small group of big barracuda caught his eye.
"Dinner!"
Quickly diving down and out out of sight, he began to silently circle behind the unsuspecting group of barracuda.
The group of six barracudas seemed completely oblivious to the young merman encroaching on them from far behind as their attention was squarely upon attacking a giant group of starfish upon a trench wall.
Seeing that each of the 2-meter-long barracuda were much bigger than his current weak and feeble frame, he decided to be cautious and keep the battle long distance.
Nereus quickly began to circulate the sea essence within his body as he prepared to take out all six with one attack
'Haa!'
Without further ado, he released all the sea essence he could muster at once in one attack.
With his cry the group of barracuda turned towards him with their sharp daggerlike teeth poised to counterattack. Sadly, they wouldn't get the chance.
Fueled by the sea essence he'd mustered, flying ahead of Nereus and towards the barracudas was a huge 3 meter long crescent made from solidified water.
Once the water was solidified it appeared strange in the surrounding seawater as it was slightly translucent but awash with a bright blue glow.
The sharp, crescent-shaped arc of solidified water shot through the water like a razor, cutting through the first four barracudas in a single, fluid motion.
SWOOSH
Their lifeless bodies drifted away, blood clouding the once-clear waters. However, the remaining two predators were luckier.
Although the attack grazed them, they only appeared stunned, their fierce eyes still gleaming with hunger and malice.
Nereus clicked his tongue in frustration.
His attack, while powerful, hadn't finished the job.
The two remaining barracuda shook off their disorientation and surged toward him with lethal intent, their sleek forms darting through the water like missiles.
With no time to waste, Nereus darted backward, narrowly dodging a set of razor-sharp teeth that snapped mere inches from his face.
The next few moments became a chaotic dance of evasion.
The barracudas attacked relentlessly, their powerful tails propelling them forward with terrifying speed.
Nereus twisted and weaved, using every ounce of his agility to stay one step ahead, but they were fast—too fast for him to keep this up for long.
One of the barracudas lunged again, and Nereus barely managed to deflect its momentum with a quick burst of pressurized water, pushing it away.
He realized that if he kept running, he'd only tire out and become easy prey.
'Damn it this getting annoying!' he thought incensed, 'The blood of the mighty Leviathans rushes through my veins, a race that has ruled these seas for centuries! I will never be some weak, preyed-upon Mer. I'm their king!'
With renewed resolve, Nereus dove deeper, leading the barracudas into a narrow trench.
As the predators followed, closing in for the kill, Nereus gathered the last dregs of his sea essence, focusing it within.
His instincts screamed at him, reminding him of the bloodline that seemed to slumber within his very soul—it was time to unleash that dormant power.
'Dominate them.'
The thought surged through his mind, ancient and powerful.
"RARGH"
Nereus let out a guttural roar, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly azure light as he summoned the fragments of his Leviathanic heritage.
His blood boiled, and the sea around him trembled as if it recognized the presence of something ancient and primal.
The two barracudas faltered, slowing in their approach, their instincts kicking in as they sensed something far more dangerous than themselves.
"Hah!"
Nereus extended his hand, and the water around him thickened with an invisible pressure.
The barracudas, who had been relentlessly pursuing him, suddenly stopped in their tracks, their once-feral eyes now clouded with confusion.
The power of Leviathanic dominance pulsed through the water, a silent command that bypassed their instincts and rooted them in place.
For a moment, the two barracudas hovered, their bodies trembling under the weight of Nereus's will. The opening was now there.
With a swift motion, Nereus summoned his last reserves of energy, creating two smaller, but lethal, water crescents that sliced through the water with deadly precision.
SWOOSH.
The blades found their marks, ending the lives of the remaining barracudas in an instant and leaving their bodies drifting apart in thick clouds of blood.
'I can't believe my bloodline's Domination effect actually worked this early,' he celebrated inwardly in shocked jubilation, ' it definitely drained me far more than I expected though...'
However before Nereus could even take a moment to breathe, with his body still shaking from the exertion, he felt a pulse of something... deep, wrong… rolling through the water behind him.
At that moment he turned just in time to see three more barracudas burst from the trench below—larger than the others, nearly 4 meters long.
Then came four more, followed by two monstrous shapes that had to be the alpha pair of the den.
The Open Sea had many rules, and one of them was never to disturb a predator's meal.
And unbeknownst to him this is exactly what he did, and to add insult to injury he had then slaughtered the young of the barracuda den.
Now the entire nest was coming for him.
"Shit." was all he had time to mutter.