I’m Really Scared
Chapter 222: Racing Against Time

“Crack, crack, crack…”

The glass above continued to fracture, creating long cracks. Water sprayed out, forming water curtains. The ground was completely soaked, and the entire underwater tunnel was on the verge of collapse, as if it might cave in at any moment.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”

Guan Shan pushed his speed to the limit, breaking through the water curtains, flying forward.

The duration of [Gravity Control] was only 60 seconds, after which it would enter a 10-second cooldown, drastically reducing his speed. Time was running out.

Of course, the so-called limit now was just the maximum acceleration his body could handle, about 100G, ten times the early rocket acceleration.

He was actually conserving most of his strength, constantly on guard for the potential collapse of the glass tunnel above.

That was the greatest threat now!

If he detected any collapse risk, he would immediately use [Gravity Control] to hold it up!

Guan Shan stayed hyper-alert, monitoring the glass, but soon realized the problem wasn't the glass—it was the water!

The water was flowing rapidly, which was normal, but the abnormal part was that most of it, instead of flowing down through the cracks, seemed to be... flowing upstream.

Yes, despite the chaotic appearance and the sound of breaking glass, deep within, there was a massive, unified current converging upwards.

Guan Shan felt a sinking feeling. With his current level of perception, he couldn't be wrong.

The water was flowing from all directions towards the top...

Something was up there!

Guan Shan alertly raised his head, eyes wide, holding his breath.

The surging seawater appeared calm and deep, seemingly motionless from the outside. But Guan Shan could see a huge vortex forming within, with a shadow growing larger and larger...

His scalp tingled. Realizing the danger, he sped up, but no matter how fast he moved forward, the shadow remained constant, showing no signs of decreasing.

His eyelid twitched, quickly realizing the shadow wasn't following him but was instead... growing larger!

As the shadow expanded, its edge remained constant in Guan Shan’s high-speed vision, as if the sea itself was enlarging.

Realizing this, Guan Shan immediately turned to look further back.

The whirlpool area in the sea had sunk into a shadow, but without any solid presence, the seawater remained, while the ink-like shadow spread quickly, like an ominous cloud pressing down on a city.

At that moment, Guan Shan felt a malevolent gaze directed at him!

An information panel appeared on the empty seawater.

[BOSS [Aquarium] Waterform (lv.29)]

[Health: —— (Hidden)]

[Description: It's not just squids that love diving; there are friends too.]

“Do you think you’re being cute?”

Guan Shan's eyes widened in frustration, “Where’s the useful hint?! What does this description even mean?”

The simulator not providing hints and even hiding the health bar was a bad sign!

The sheer 9-level gap made Guan Shan feel a chill.

A 9-level difference!

This meant the opponent was not just B-level but nearly A-level, far beyond the recently promoted B-level Esper he encountered at the Wuhao Team base!

Guan Shan had needed Sun Han's help to defeat that Esper. Now, alone and without any special items, how could he possibly win?

No matter what he thought, the shadow in the seawater quickly formed a funnel shape, with its sharp end breaking downward, rapidly creating more cracks in the already fragile glass.

“Crash…”

Water gushed down like a waterfall, about to flood everything.

Startled, Guan Shan immediately used [Gravity Control], putting all his remaining strength into blocking the gap.

The usually effortless [Gravity Control] finally met its match.

The weight of the seawater was overwhelming, and the pressure increased as he pushed upward. Guan Shan felt sure [Gravity Control] wouldn’t hold for long.

“I have to hold on!”

The immense pressure made his veins bulge and eyes bloodshot. Even without pain, he felt his temples throbbing, his vision blurring, “Come on… lift it!”

The cracked glass was forcefully pushed back up a bit!

Seizing the moment, Guan Shan retracted the reverse gravity and applied it to himself, fleeing at a speed beyond his physical limits.

Looking back, he saw the exit not far ahead!

“If I can just reach there…”

“Boom!”

In the next instant, the tunnel behind collapsed. The shadow flowed downward like dirty water in a flushing toilet, spiraling into the tunnel, rushing towards Guan Shan with the roaring seawater.

In the narrow tunnel, the overwhelming seawater, mixed with unknown debris, surged at Guan Shan.

The sight, to Guan Shan, was akin to the iconic blood flood in "The Shining."

Not just terrifying, but a fear born from the sheer reality of imminent death!

And now, Guan Shan was about tens of meters from the exit.

Normally, just a second’s span.

[Gravity Control] entered cooldown!

Guan Shan plunged into the water. The moment he was submerged, a long-forgotten, deep-seated fear enveloped him, as the once-distant gaze felt like it was right behind him, almost touching him!

The sensation was chilling!

Now it was truly a race against time!

Guan Shan’s heart pounded, adrenaline surged. Prepared, he held his breath, diving deeper, and immediately pulled out the [Defective Serum].

The product of a failed syringe experiment!

[Effect: Immediately reduces maximum health by 60%; if max health drops below 4000, death occurs instantly; if above 4000, self-healing drops significantly.]

“Crack!”

Guan Shan instantly opened the serum vial, the dark liquid spreading out.