After a month of training in the Whale Realm, Dhaga couldn’t imagine a better place to improve himself. Not only were all the orcas so strong that even a small challenge pushed his limits but he also felt that they were all great mentors. In that month, he already felt the incredible growth he had gone through that surpassed all the years prior. With the mentorship of the orcas, he also felt that his mastery over the advanced echolocation was coming together. The ability allowed him to sense attacks and dangers his eyes couldn’t hope to detect. In a way, losing his sight was a blessing as it opened more doors to him.

  Cridraw! Do you know what happens when I leave? Does a large portion of my powers also get sealed off?

  Not sure! You're an exception since you came to this realm. I’m certain we’ll find out once you do return.

  The naga couldn’t deny that he missed his home. Despite the threat of the Kraken right outside the city, he wanted to be there defending his home with the other nagas. The fact that even the Leviathan was there only made him feel ashamed of being in a safe place. Dhaga had to wonder if his disappearance had been noticed yet. More specifically, he wasn’t sure how Cridror and the other orcas would feel about him vanishing without warning.

  Don’t worry about Cridror and the others! They knew of your presence here and had been hiding the fact from the others. She is still fighting in your stead.

  After learning from Cridraw how this was possible, the naga asked if he could communicate with Cridror to learn what was happening outside. Cridraw merely said that the Dhaga should focus on his training for the time being.

  You won’t be very useful without advanced echolocation. We also don’t know how much weaker you’ll become upon leaving. If you want to help them, get as strong as you can!

  Taking the orca’s wisdom to heart, Dhaga resumed his training. With the help of various orcas, an obstacle course filled with numerous dangers was created. The naga had to navigate through it without getting hurt. Whenever he was hurt or lost a limb, an orca with healing spells easily got him back to top form before sending him back to the starting line. The repeated training taught him a lot of how to maneuver. The open ocean back him had made him lazy because he had so much space to maneuver around. The obstacle course made him better at changing directions with a slight adjustment of his entire body. This only aided him further in combat where he made minimal movements to avoid incoming attacks, allowing him to counterattack much faster.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Not bad, Dhaga! Now I see why my sister saw the potential within you.

  Shaking his head, Dhaga wondered how the big orca could get through the obstacle course easier than him. His size should give him the advantage but the orca somehow just knew where to go. He inquired on the matter after he completed the course with a few nasty gashes. The orca replied that mastering advanced echolocation was the key. With enough mastery of the ability, the naga should be capable of detecting much further out, possibly up to several kilometers as proven by some of the orcas.

  If you thought you were dangerous when your detection range is a few meters, imagine controlling several kilometers and be able to pick out dangerous foes hidden among countless enemies.

  Taking all the lessons to heart, Dhaga trained hard until a hundred days were up. The orcas all agreed that he mastered advanced echolocation far faster than any of them. In addition to that ability, the naga also improved his body in ways that allowed him to maneuver through the water with such ease that some orcas were envious. This day was also important since a single day had passed in the other realm. Dhaga approached the matriarch who had promised to find a way out for him. The condition of letting him out was him proving his growth and being a capable warrior despite losing his sight. Everyone agreed during his arrival that Dhaga would only be a burden if he returned as weak or even weaker.

  I admit I was skeptical when I named the condition but you have surpassed all of our expectations. As promised, I will show you a way to return home. However, remember that you may not be able to come back to the Whale Realm after leaving. Staying for another a hundred days can potentially make you even stronger. Are you sure you wish to return?

  Before meeting with the matriarch, Dhaga got his wish to speak with Cridror. The battle wasn’t going ideal as the two remaining creatures were wreaking havoc on the flank he was assigned. The orca reported that morale was at an all-time low. In other words, the flank desperately needed Dhaga’s return. Delaying his return by a day could spell disaster but the extra one hundred days of training was nothing to scoff at, especially when one looked at what was achieved in the first one hundred days. After debating internally, the naga made up his mind as he was before the matriarch.

  The extra growth is tempting but there’s no point if the Kraken wins. Please allow me to return and fight alongside my fellow nagas! They need my help and I intend to turn things around with all that I have learned in the Whale Realm.

  The naga watched as an incredible magical aura formed around the matriarch. Seconds later, a portal formed between the two of them and, after thanking all the orcas, Dhaga entered it without hesitation. As he swam to the exit of the portal, he noticed some chains appearing along the walls.

  Are those the seals the orcas have been talking about? They seem to sense whoever is traveling through the portal and move to intercept.

  Not knowing why he did what he did, the naga summoned his trident and attacked the chains, trying to fend them off with his weapon.