Pacific twilight dyes the ocean indigo as Team Rebellion's hovercraft skims the waves. Xiaotao leans over the railing, Starmoon bracelet glowing blue, making seawater ripples on her glasses shimmer: "Look! That island is glowing!"
They look up to see a coral-covered isle radiating lavender light a thousand meters ahead. Silver-blue fish dart through coral branches, each petal etched with the same spirals as spiritual cores, twinkling in twilight like countless tiny lanterns.
"That's Coral City," the old fisherman at the helm wipes salt from his face, voice awed. "Three hundred years ago, it was where pattern users coexisted closest with the ocean. Then it fell into ruin... " His gaze scans the island's central spire. "Rumor says the spire holds the 'Sea Spirit's Tear,' healing any oceanic wound."
Lin Ye grips the wheel, his spiritual pattern core warming. Fused with Stellar Orbit Patterns, it resonates sharper with the ocean—this isn't ordinary energy. Sealed Sea Spirit Spiritual Patterns surge from the depths, weaving a purple-blue light net around Coral City.
"Anchor." He presses the hovercraft's landing button.
As they step onto the coral beach, the ground ripples. Translucent tendrils burst from the sand, coiling around Xiaotao's ankles. She gasps, Starmoon energy incinerating them—only for more tendrils to swarm from all sides, trapping them.
"Sea Spirit Guards!" Sakura's Patterns pinken. "They protect Coral City!"
The lead Guard raises a half-human, half-fish face: upper body gray-blue skin, lower body trailing three phosphorescent fins, forehead core pulsing with coral spirals.
"Outsiders," his voice crashes like waves on rocks. "Leave Coral City, or the Sea Spirit will devour you."
"We're not here to destroy," Lin Ye raises his hands, Burning Heaven Flames dancing in his palms. "We're here to help."
The Guard's gaze scans Team Rebellion's cores, pupils narrowing to slits: "You carry the Star Beast's scent..."
As he speaks, a thunderous rumble rises from the depths. Coral City's spire trembles, petals falling to reveal a massive crystal—the legendary Sea Spirit's Tear. Dark purple patterns crawl over its surface, identical to the Guard's core.
"No!" the old fisherman yells. "The Sea Spirit's Tear is corrupted!"
They look up as dark purple patterns in the crystal transform into chains, wrapping the Guard. His skin ulcerates, fins ooze black slime, and his once-clear core clouds like ink.
"Star Beast remnants!" Isabella's voice rings from behind, her Fire-Ice core heating. "Five hundred years ago, the Star Beast left consciousness shards here when it devoured the ocean. Now it seeks reincarnation through the Tear!"
The Guard roars in pain, fins smashing the coral wall. Corrupted tendrils surge, some coiling around Ajiu's ankle. Her Ravens dive to tear them, only to be corroded by black slime.
"Use your bond!" Lin Ye's core blazes, golden flames swirling. "Xiaotao, stabilize the Sea Spirit with Starmoon; Ajiu, sever corruption links with Shadows; Sakura, awaken his mind with Sakura!"
Xiaotao's bracelet glows blue, Starmoon energy flooding the Guard to form a protective film over his ulcers. Ajiu's Ravens become a dark purple mist, shredding twisted pattern links in the tendrils. Sakura's Patterns bloom into cherry trees, pink petals falling to clear the Guard's cloudy eyes.
"You... Why... not destroy me?" his voice trembles. "I am... corrupted..."
Lin Ye's core flies out, clashing with the Guard's. Golden flames wrap pink Sakura, blue Starmoon, and purple Shadow energy, surging into the Sea Spirit core like a dragon. Coral petals peel back, revealing pale skin—three-hundred-year-old Sea Spirit users, cores shattered, consciousnesses finally freed from corrupted shells.
"Finally... free..." the Sea Spirit user murmurs, fins dissolving into stardust, merging into Coral City's light net. "Sea Spirit Patterns... should have been... guardians..."
When the last user dissolves, Coral City regains its soft purple glow. Lin Ye's wrist core warms, purple-blue patterns like coral appearing—marks of Sea Spirit Pattern resonance.
"So this is..." Sakura's eyes redden. "Sea Spirit Patterns' mission is to guard the ocean's breath."
The old fisherman takes a pearl case from the boat, containing a tide seed: "This is the Sea Spirit Spiritual Pattern crystal. Five hundred years ago, guardians used it to repair the coral reef. Now, it returns to true guardians."
Holding the seed, Lin Ye senses its energy resonate with his core. Coral branches bow to him, fish swarm overhead, their fins splashing energy-lit water.
"Where to next?" Ajiu kicks a coral fragment, her Raven preening.
"Mariana Trench," the old fisherman points to roiling clouds in the distance. "Legends of Abyss Spiritual Patterns—luminous creatures at 10,000 meters might answer your questions about pattern origins."
Xiaotao leaps excitedly, bracelet glowing blue: "I heard users there talk to whales and command coral growth!"
"I'll pack pressure gear!" Ajiu pats her bag. "Deep-sea pressure is intense."
Sakura smiles, Sakura Patterns blooming as tiny lights. "I'll light the way with cherry blossoms."
Lin Ye gazes at his Rebellion core, sensing global pattern vibrations—like countless heartbeats resonating in clouds. He touches the core, murmuring: "Pattern meaning lies not in temples or deserts."
"Then where?" Xiaotao tilts her head.
Lin Ye looks to Coral City, where starlight pierces the sea, patterns dance on coral, and waves whisper ancient tales.
"Wherever life flows."
The hovercraft roars to life, its wake shredding the twilight into silver. Team Rebellion's patterns shine in the sun, weaving with coral purple-blue and ocean indigo into a new totem—a star trail unfurling toward the Pacific horizon.