I. The Silence After Battle
Their small vessel glided across the dark ocean surface, sweeping through the night mist that hung over the sea. Maneless led the way, his body darting like a shadow in the depths, while Lyra followed cautiously, keeping a distance to avoid being caught in the treacherous currents. This sea was different. Maneless knew it, more than just a place he recognized. This sea was a realm full of dark secrets long concealed.
Above, dim stars flickered in the vast sky, but for Maneless, his gaze was fixed only on the sea. This darkness was something deeper. This ocean was not just a place of life, but also home to countless powers, something darker than he had ever imagined.
"Do you feel that?" Lyra asked, breaking the oppressive silence. "That vibration… it's like something is waiting."
Maneless paused for a moment, looking ahead. "I feel it. Every current carries a message that's hard to understand… like something screaming in the dark."
The silence lingered, broken only by the sound of their breathing, as they continued south. In the deepening darkness, the atmosphere grew increasingly ominous. This ocean was home to creatures long forgotten by the outside world.
Then, a faint light appeared in the distance.
"That light… it's coming from Azuvar," Lyra said, her voice trembling.
II. Another Sunken City: Azuvar
They finally arrived at Azuvar after several days of travel, when the seawater grew deeper and beyond the reach of sunlight. The city was submerged in ruin — towering buildings that once stood magnificent were now just rubble covered in seaweed and shimmering crystals. Among the ruins, statues of winged orcas still stood tall, as if offering a protection they could no longer provide.
"Azuvar," Lyra whispered, her voice full of bewilderment. "This city was where the guardians of marine knowledge used to hide. They were the keepers of the Abyss's secrets, and Kael… Kael destroyed them all."
Maneless nodded, though his face showed exhaustion. Even though his body felt almost broken, he knew this journey was not over. His departure from home and his companionship with Lyra had led him to this place — a place that might hold answers or bury them both in dark eternity.
In this submerged city, there was a profound silence, which did not only stem from physical destruction, but also from the fear and betrayal that still echoed among the ruins. This city was once a center of ancient power, a place where the guardians hid the greatest knowledge and power possessed by the sea.
"No one knows what happened here except for legends," Lyra continued. "Kael came here looking for something far more powerful than what we know."
They dived deeper, towards the city's central temple located at Azuvar's heart. When they arrived there, a large statue of a winged orca loomed, appearing larger than the others. The statue seemed to be protecting an ancient altar, a place where a great seal had once been placed to contain something very dangerous.
"I can feel the energy from here," Maneless said, his voice hoarse. "Something that has been sealed for a long time."
Lyra approached the altar and touched its surface. An ancient map unfolded beneath her hand, showing the route to the Abyss and also the location of a gate known as 'Liminas'. The map also warned of the great dangers that lay there. Maneless stared at the map carefully, but a moment later he felt like a dark shadow enveloped his mind. Something he had long ignored began to surface — a deep fear, not just of the Abyss, but of himself.
"Maneless," Lyra's voice pulled him from his reverie. "You look like you're remembering something bad."
He was silent, hiding his doubts. "The Abyss… there's something I'm looking for, but I'm afraid of what I'll find there."
III. Traces of Kael and the Sea Traitor
As they continued their journey through the ruins of Azuvar's library, they found deeper traces of Kael than they had imagined. The ancient scrolls left behind were not just historical records, but also documentation of his experiments with the power of the Black Crest and the sacrifices he had to make to fully control the Abyss. Kael, whom they once considered a powerful and wise leader, turned out to be the greatest traitor of them all.
"He betrayed us," said Jheros, a shadowy figure who emerged from the library's darkness. Jheros was one of the guardians still trapped between life and death, a soul trapped in Azuvar after the city's destruction. "We believed in Kael, we believed in the power he promised. But he turned everything around… infiltrating darkness into our hearts."
Jheros showed them a scroll found beneath a pile of rubble, proof that Kael had betrayed them all. He used the power of the Black Crest to seize control of this city, and destroyed the guardians who tried to stop him. The scroll also revealed something more shocking — Kael not only wanted power, but also wanted to fully control the Abyss.
"The Abyss is a place that changes everything. Kael wants to go there, to unite that dark power with himself," said Jheros. "But to do that, he had to sacrifice everything, including us."
IV. The Temptation of Darkness
As they entered the tunnel leading to the Liminas Gate, Maneless felt something seeping into him. This was not new — illusions, voices whispering in his ears, even shadows of the past suddenly reappearing. Maneless felt his heart heavy, as if something was gnawing at his mind. He had to endure, not just for Lyra, but for himself.
The first illusion came when he heard his mother's voice, a voice he had long forgotten. "Maneless… you are a traitor. You don't deserve to be a guardian of the sea." The voice filled the entire tunnel space, filling his heart with deep doubt. Maneless staggered, sinking into his confusion.
"Don't listen to him," Lyra's voice suddenly broke through the illusion. "That's just the darkness trying to control you."
But the voice grew louder. Maneless saw a shadow of himself that looked different — becoming a creature he didn't recognize, surrounded by dark power. "You can lead the sea, Maneless. You can control everything if you want."
The darkness began to creep into him, and Maneless felt that power awakening within him in a terrifying way. His Soul Crest, which had once shone brightly, began to dim, affected by the shadows of darkness that shook him.
Lyra did not back down. "Maneless, I'm here. Don't let this illusion destroy you."
With the strength he had left, Maneless raised his hands, focusing the energy from his Soul Crest, and with a burst of light, the darkness was shattered. The illusion vanished, leaving them in a brighter tunnel, though still full of threats. However, even though he had defeated the illusion, a deeper fear began to seep into him.
V. The Bond Torn and Restored
After the incident, Maneless felt exhausted, but also stronger. He sat for a moment, trying to gather his strength, and Lyra sat beside him.
"I almost lost you," Maneless said in a hoarse voice, his words broken.
Lyra held his hand gently. "That darkness won't win if we're together."
Maneless looked at her, and for the first time, he felt their bond stronger than ever. This was not just about physical battles — it was an inner journey, a test of who they really were, and what they were fighting for. They fought not just to defeat the enemy, but also to find who they were in this world full of darkness.
VI. The Guardian of the Ancient Gate
When they arrived at the Liminas Gate, they were faced with the final test. The gate was made of gleaming obsidian, reflecting the light from the Soul Crest that now shone brighter. The gatekeeper, a sea dragon entity with four eyes, stood tall before them.
"What do you bring me?" the guardian's voice echoed, sounding like rolling waves.
Maneless looked at him, then replied firmly, "Courage. And choice."
The guardian snorted, and an arena was created around them. Maneless's memories, fears, and doubts appeared in tangible forms. His mother, lost friends, a past full of wounds. Everything he tried to forget now appeared in a terrifying way.
Lyra stood beside him. "We are not alone."
With the power of the Soul Crest blazing brightly, they fought together against the trials created by the guardian, uniting their strength to open the path to the Abyss.
VII. The Beginning Towards the Core of the Abyss
Beyond the gate, a bottomless chasm stretched. A downward sucking current greeted them. The Abyss was there — the darkness that called to them, the power that would change the world.
"We must be careful," Lyra said, though her voice was calm. "There is no turning back."
Maneless looked at the chasm, and finally, without hesitation, he grasped Lyra's hand and jumped in.
"This is not the end," he said in a firm voice.
"Whatever awaits below, we face it together," Lyra replied.
With one step they plunged, towards the darkness that welcomed them — and towards a destiny greater than they imagined.