Deep Sea Embers

As the luminescent dim green flames flickered and cast their eerie glow within the confines of the cabin, the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves gradually transformed into something akin to a spectral lullaby, seeping into each mind like an unnerving proclamation of the sinful.

Imagine learning that the dwellings of mortal kind were constructed upon the remains of unimaginable gargantuan creatures. Meanwhile, ancient, desiccated tentacles dangled ominously from the underbellies of the floating cities, while milky, horrifying eyeballs, devoid of life, stared unblinkingly into the unending, abysmal void.

The inhabitants of this peculiar world were all direct descendants of the arcane and hallowed lords, their forms molded from the flesh of the prehistoric gods that once held dominion over all. The unfolding turmoil in the region of Frost was not merely an invasion, but signified the reawakening of these forgotten deities from within their very own creations. The hierarchy among the four gods was not necessarily stable; there was also a possibility that they could falter, losing their hold on their dominions. Such phenomena of loss of control had perhaps transpired in this world more than once. The continued protection of the four gods over the mortal realm might be attributed to them being the only remaining divine entities capable of maintaining consciousness.

In addition, the ongoing disaster in Frost would not be the last of its kind. As the conditions of the Nether Lord continued to worsen, and the inherent flaws in the grand design of creation relentlessly amplified over time, similar awakenings were deemed highly probable across various regions of the world.

Defective reincarnations of the ancient gods were expected to surface from the depths of the sea, from the bowels of the cities, and terrifyingly, from within the very essence of every mortal!

With a calm composure, Duncan imparted this chilling knowledge he had gained from the deep sea to his followers, deducing conclusions from the information at his disposal.

Subsequently, a blanket of protracted silence descended upon the cabin, so profound that it seemed to swallow all sound.

Even the usually composed Alice and the typically nonchalant Shirley were moved to silence, a sobering realization of the gravity of the situation at hand finally dawning upon them.

After an interval that seemed like an eternity, Vanna was the first to shatter the deafening silence. She drew in a deep breath, her expression turning melancholic as if a storm cloud had settled upon her face. “Had I not heard these words directly from your mouth, I would’ve dismissed this entire disclosure as the ravings of a delusional doomsday seer,” she confessed.

“Even the most deranged doomsday Ender probably couldn’t conjure a tale of this scale,” Morris added slowly.

Reaching for his pipe, he brought it to his lips, only to discover that the tobacco within had long since been extinguished. With a sigh and a bitter smile, he placed it back down.

“Yes, indeed, the doomsday Enders. One of the most perplexing phenomena in this world is how a subset of disciples from subspaces can somehow retain their consciousness,” Tyrian opined, his brow creasing in thought. Following a considerable pause, he found himself compelled to lift his head, “Father, is all of this information we’ve been given genuine?”

As the words left his lips, he felt a wave of embarrassment as if he’d just asked something utterly redundant. However, at this juncture, he felt it was a question that needed to be asked. Likely, the same question was playing on the minds of everyone seated around the expansive table!

“At the very least, it represents what I have personally witnessed and heard,” Duncan responded with a level-headed calmness.

However, he continued that information from only one source could often mislead, and even the most glaring pieces of evidence could lead to several diverging interpretations.

Moreover, the Frost Queen might not always have been truthful, and even if she had always spoken the truth, she was not impervious to error.

The best they could have done was to deduce the most plausible approximation of the truth based on the data they had at their disposal.

“What is the most likely approximation of the truth at this point?” Tyrian echoed this thought aloud before posing another query, “Did the Queen offer any signs or indicators if other cities were to face a situation similar to Frost with the awakening of the ancient gods?”

“No,” Duncan shook his head.

“He also failed to provide a concrete explanation for the mechanism of this awakening. It seems the only way to understand this process might be to dive into the depths of the abyssal sea and verify the state of the Nether Lord’s true form.”

At the utterance of these words, several pairs of eyes immediately honed in on Dog, who had been attempting to make himself inconspicuous in a corner.

“Don’t look at me,” Dog nearly leapt up in surprise, vehemently shaking his large head.

“This isn’t something I can facilitate. I don’t have the means to approach the vicinity of the Nether Lord, let alone transport anyone else there.”

“But you have been able to open the passage to the abyssal deep sea, and even managed to assist Shirley in escaping through this route.”

Duncan looked intently at the sole shadow demon in the room. “You also previously mentioned that the dark hound is a demonic breed originating in the vicinity of the Nether Lord, and your homeland is situated adjacent to the Nether Lord.”

In the past, the shallow passage could merely skirt the periphery of the shadowy realm, serving solely as an escape route.

Dog hesitated for a moment when he found himself at the receiving end of everyone’s gaze. However, left with no choice, he decided to unveil these secrets, which had served as the key to his and Shirley’s survival for many years.

“Unlike the ocean in reality, the abyssal deep sea is a realm far more intricate and uncanny than any you could possibly conceive. It doesn’t represent a singular entity, and its disparate regions do not exist contiguously! You may attempt to gaze from the shallow depths into the fathomless recesses, but traversing it is impossible. Even if you were to devote ten thousand years to the task, you wouldn’t reach your destination. In that place, distance is an illusion, and so too is movement.”

“I’ve been cast out from the abyssal deep sea. While I can’t elucidate the specific principles involved, it could be that my exile is due to the development of my conscience. For many years now, I’ve been incapable of opening the passage leading to the vicinity of the Nether Lord. Furthermore, I’m not exactly a welcomed entity amongst the denizens there. Even a fleeting transit through the safe zone in the shallow region is enough to attract the wrath of countless demons. Moreover, putting all these deterrents aside, I can’t easily transport people there. Shadow demons can only traverse the passage with their symbiotic contractors. Meaning, I can only escort Shirley; I’m unable to bring anyone else along!”

Dog rattled off this lengthy explanation, then carefully observed the reactions of those around him, particularly focusing on Duncan’s response. Pulling his neck back a little, he added, “I assure you, Captain, I’m not fabricating excuses. The challenges are indeed numerous!”

However, Duncan didn’t seem irked by Dog’s litany of difficulties. He merely fell into deep thought for a moment before speaking in a contemplative manner, “So you’re implying that the spatial construct of the abyssal deep sea is discontinuous?”

“That’s a somewhat accurate interpretation,” Dog contemplated for a moment before nodding his agreement.

“I can’t provide a detailed explanation. Currently, I’m poring over Professor Braun Dahl’s book ‘Three Conjectures on Asymmetric Spacetime.’ Perhaps upon completion, I might be able to present a clearer explanation.”

Duncan paid little attention to the latter part of Dog’s statement, continuing to ruminate before posing another query, “But I remember you mentioning that during a period when the Vanished completely lost control, it managed to tear through the entirety of the abyssal deep sea.”

At this, Dog’s expression (abstract though it was) underwent an instant transformation, his entire skeletal frame becoming rigid with a jarring creak!

Believing that Dog might be struggling to recall the event, Duncan nonchalantly added some supplementary details, “You said it plummeted from the real world into subspace, then resurfaced, repeating this cycle of oscillation across various realms, each time crashing through the entire spirit world and the abyssal deep sea. Does this mean that during its rampage, it managed to shatter the spatial fissures within the shadow realm of the demons?”

At this question, not only did Dog’s expression become increasingly more mental, but the faces of everyone present in the cabin morphed into vivid displays of fearful astonishment. A wave of incredulity swept across the room, even encapsulating Lucretia, who was present virtually via the crystal ball.

“C-Cap… Captain…” Dog’s raspy voice finally managed to emit a sound, every fragment of his bone structure quivering, “Please don’t entertain such frightful notions! Surely, you’re not planning to… to instigate such a cataclysm again!”

“Father, you must exercise caution.” Lucretia, who had been conspicuously silent and seemed somewhat distant, found herself compelled to break the silence. With an expression betraying her anxiety, she peered at Duncan through the crystal ball, fearful that her father might revert to that emotionless, terrifying deity at any moment.

Invoking the Vanished to return to its state of uncontrolled chaos to rip open the doors to the abyssal deep sea was an utterly reckless idea, even from a purely research standpoint!

This idea was exceedingly radical!

Duncan hadn’t anticipated such vehement reactions to his audacious proposition. He shook his head, reassuring them, “Fear not, I wouldn’t venture to conduct such extreme experiments. I’ve always prided myself on being a man of caution.”

This seemed to ease the palpable tension in the room somewhat!

However, Duncan swiftly shifted gears, adding, “However, even from a standpoint of caution, this ancient incident has sparked a thought… Certain attributes of the Vanished seem to be capable of disregarding the spatial faults within the abyssal deep sea. I intend to delve into research based on this, with the aim of discerning whether it’s possible to pry open the gates to that domain whilst preserving safety.”

This statement brought the collective unease of the room swiftly back to the surface!

But, at least this time, none voiced vehement objections as they had previously. Only Morris and Lucretia, as scholars, stressed once again the paramount importance of safety and caution. Given their attitudes, it was clear they harbored concerns that the captain might impulsively opt to hurl the Vanished into the abyssal deep sea one day!

Fortunately… Duncan smoothly transitioned to the next subject!

“Beyond the state of the Nether Lord, there’s another matter that presently holds more of my concern,” Duncan mused, his fingers stroking his chin as he spoke, “These Enders, to be precise, the rational Enders whose actions are diametrically opposed to the cultists!”

As he said this, he swiveled his head, his gaze settling on Tyrian.

“Tyrian, you once shared with Vanna that three enlightened Enders had visited the Vanished and spent the entire night in deep discourse with me, correct?”

Tyrian nodded immediately, a hint of embarrassment flitting across his face. “Yes, Father. At that time, I wasn’t certain about your condition, so I discussed some of your past encounters with Miss Vanna.”

“That’s fine,” Duncan dismissed with a wave of his hand. “There’s much from that period that I don’t recall, so it’s actually beneficial that you’ve retained those memories.”

He candidly acknowledged the memory lapses he suffered as a result of subspace’s influence while also acknowledging the reactions of Tyrian and Lucretia. Then he went on, “My point is that I sense that our paths will cross with those enlightened Enders sooner or later.”

Morris instinctively enquired, “What leads you to such a conclusion?”

“Because they appear to have a vested interest in involving themselves in significant historical events.”

Duncan adjusted his position, his words emerging slowly and deliberately, “And the disturbance stirred by the Vanished is escalating in magnitude!”