Descending the glistening waters of the Royal Marines’ beach in an aura sphere made by Noelle, the light above dimmed further and further the deeper they went. A hundred meters, then another hundred. Then another, until the light was no more, with nothing but the glow of Noelle's aura sphere providing a source of light. The sphere began to crack from the pressure of the water, making Noelle wince as she strengthened it. The water starts to feel colder and colder. The pressure from the surrounding water increases, making it harder for everyone to breathe.
As the group continued to delve deeper, the underwater city was slowly coming into view, a vast and complex labyrinth of abandoned buildings and structures, now covered in a thick layer of colorful aquatic life. The silence underwater was both eerie and beautiful, broken only by the occasional sound of a bubbling fish as it whooshed by.
A thousand meters later, they reach the entrance of the underwater city. The ancient city is in ruin, and the structures are covered in seaweed and barnacles. A realm of forgotten history and secrets hidden beneath the waves, this underwater environment was unlike anything they had ever seen before. The city itself was a marvel of ancient technology and artistry, built from a mixture of stone, metal, and glass. The structures were all connected by narrow pathways that snaked through the water-filled corridors, leading deeper into the heart of the city.
All around them, the beauty of the underwater world was on display, with colorful schools of fish and other marine life darting in and out of the structures like dancers in a show.
The group moved slowly and cautiously, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily. The ancient structures cast long shadows in the faint light of Noelle's aura sphere, and the silence was broken only by the sounds of their own breathing and the occasional creak of an ancient wall.
As they wandered deeper into the city, the group began to notice strange markings etched into the stone walls. The symbols were unfamiliar and seemed to glow faintly in the dim light.
"Heh? What d’ya think these symbols mean?" Rachel whispered, her eyes fixed on the glowing markings.
"I'm not sure," Camilla replied, equally intrigued. "But they look ancient, and they're all over the place. They must be important in some way.”
"Maybe they're a form of writing or language," Alice mused, her fingers tracing one of the symbols. "If we can decipher them, we may be able to understand this place better.”
"That's a good idea," Noelle agreed, her eyes narrowing as she studied the symbols. "But they don't look like any writing system I've ever seen before. It might be harder to decipher than we thought.”
As the group continued their exploration, they came across a large, circular structure that seemed to be the center of the underwater city. The walls were made of a smooth, black stone, and in the center of the room was a large platform upon a pedestal. On the platform, a small, glowing crystal sat atop a circular base.
"What is that?" Camilla asked, her eyes fixed on the crystal.
The crystal glowed with a soft, almost otherworldly light, casting a warm, inviting aura that filled the chamber.
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"I think it's a source of energy or power," Alice said, her analytical mind working quickly. "It must be connected to this city's technology or systems. It could be the key to finding the World Core.”
"Let's approach it carefully," Rachel suggested, her hand on her sword hilt. "We don't know what it does or what might happen if we touch it.”
The group cautiously approached the platform, moving around it to observe the crystal from every angle. "It's beautiful," Rachel said, her voice soft.
The crystal was made of a clear, flawless material, that shimmered with a rainbow of colors, its light reflecting off the walls of the chamber. As they gazed at it, the crystal seemed to pulse with energy, as if it was alive and reacting to their presence.
"It's almost hypnotizing," Noelle said, her head tilting to one side as she stared at the crystal.
As the group continued to watch the crystal, the room suddenly began to shake and rumble. The walls trembled and water began to ripple all around them.
"What's going on?" Camilla asked, her voice filled with urgency.
Suddenly, a powerful force slammed into them, sending them flying across the room and into the walls, breaking their Aura Shields. They hit the ground hard, pain lancing through their bodies as they struggled to catch their breath.
"What was that?!" Rachel gasped, her words broken by her labored breathing.
"I don't know," Noelle said, shakily getting to her feet. "But I have a feeling we're not alone here.”
As the group looked around, dazed and disoriented, a sharp voice rang out through the chamber.
Levitating before them was a mermaid, her long, silky black hair streaked with navy blue, her cyan eyes intense and her taupe brown skin glowing faintly. Her tail was a beautiful mix of blue and silver stripes, drawing the gaze of Noelle, who found something familiar about the creature's appearance.
The mermaid's voice echoed around the chamber, her tone filled with curiosity and slight annoyance.
"What's this?" she asked, her gaze sweeping over the group. "Visitors at the Royal Palace... it's been a long time since we had any, indeed. You may call me Sapphira. I'm the sole inhabitant of this now-abandoned city. Before its downfall, I was its administrator, tasked with overseeing the World Core.”
The group stared at Sapphira in surprise, their eyes flicking over her elegant yet fierce appearance. They were clearly taken aback by the sudden presence of a mermaid, especially one who had once been the city's administrator.
"Sapphira," Noelle said, her voice trembling slightly. "We've been looking for the World Core. We need to close the Dark Gateways to stop the spread of the Depraved across different worlds, including this one.”
Sapphira's eyes narrowed as she listened to Noelle's words. She circled the group slowly, her gaze fixed on each member for a few moments before moving to the next.
"That so?" she finally spoke, her voice soft yet firm. "You seek the World Core, hm. I must admit, I'm impressed you made it this far.”
"Impressed?" Noelle echoed, scratching her head as she bored her gaze deeper into Sapphira. "How long have you been down here alone?”
Sapphira chuckled softly, the sound melodic yet sardonic. "Longer than you could even fathom, child. I've watched as this city fell to ruins and the people left or transformed into Depraved.”
"Just how old are you?" Alice asked, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
Sapphira smiled slightly, revealing a glimpse of sharp incisors. "You mortals are always so fascinated by age and time," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "Let's just say, I've seen eras come and go, civilizations rise and fall. Time means little to one like me.”
The group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. They could hardly believe they were in the presence of someone who had witnessed history unfold for centuries.
"So, you know where the World Core is?" Camilla asked, breaking the stunned silence.
Sapphira stopped her circling, her gaze now fixed on Camilla. "Indeed, I possess the knowledge you seek," she replied, her tone cryptic. "But know this, the World Core is not something to be trifled with.”
"We understand the gravity of it," Zalgo chimed in, his voice determined. "We're prepared to do whatever it takes to close the Dark Gateways.”
Sapphira chuckled again, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "Your braveness is admirable, albeit a bit foolhardy," she said, gliding closer to the group. "You have no idea the power you're dealing with. The World Core holds the essence of every world connected to this one.”
"We know it's a risk," Noelle acknowledged, her voice steady despite the fear she was trying to hide. "But we can't just let the Depraved overrun every world. We have to find the Core and shut down the Dark Gateways.”
Sapphira's lips curled up into a smile, a mix of curiosity and caution. "Brave indeed, your convictions burn bright. But be wary, the World Core is protected, heavily," she warned, her tone serious. "There are trials to overcome and guardians to face. The Depraved are not its only defenders.”
“We understand,” Noelle confirmed, her voice firm. “But we have the means and the will to succeed, so lead us to the Core, please.”
“How persistent of you… Very well, come this way…”