The sea roared in an invisible fury, like a chained beast thrashing in despair. The waves surged—not merely water and foam, but colossal arms reaching from the abyss, tearing at the pitch-black sky. The wind howled, carrying the echoes of the damned, merging into the mournful dirge of the ocean. In the darkness, the Nereidian Sea was no longer itself.

Three months ago, the ocean floor trembled. A colossal ruin emerged, piercing through the murky depths as if an ancient soul had risen from its grave. Crumbling walls jutted out, silent as tombstones, engraved with cryptic symbols in a language unknown to humankind. These were not just stones, not mere remnants—they were cursed fragments of a lost civilization, a vast mausoleum buried beneath the tides. No one knew to whom they once belonged, when they were built, or why they had been forsaken by time.

But what struck terror into people's hearts was not the ruins themselves. At the heart of the structure stood a magical gate—an eye of the cosmos, a bottomless vortex staring straight into the essence of reality. It was not carved, nor was it constructed by mortal hands. It was a tear, a fracture in the world. The first ones to enter vanished—no trace, no farewell.

Then, some returned.

"What lies within is not our world. It is something else. A Void Crypt."

News spread like wildfire in a storm. Adventurers, thrill-seekers, the desperate—all flocked to this sea, yearning to unravel its untold mysteries. But the Void Crypt did not welcome them as a treasure trove waiting to be plundered. Those who stepped inside were scattered, cast into separate layers—strange and disparate worlds hidden beneath the waves.

Some who lived to tell the tale recorded their findings:

"There are at least twelve distinct domains."

[CORAL LABYRINTH]

A boundless maze of coral, stretching to the horizon. The water’s surface was as smooth as glass, reflecting the sky so perfectly it blurred the line between worlds. But beauty was a deception. The creatures lurking here did not roar, did not hunt with reckless abandon. They lay in wait, camouflaged among the brilliant reefs, watching, patient. Those who strayed too far became one with the labyrinth, their remains woven into its deadly embrace.

[WHIRLSTORM VORTEX]

A perpetual magical storm, not merely wind and raging tides, but a living force ruling over the sea. Waves towered like cliffs, lightning carved the sky with relentless fury, striking down like divine punishment. None could pass unless they could quell the storm’s wrath—if such a feat was even possible.

[GHOSTLY SHIPWRECK]

A graveyard of spectral vessels adrift in a sea of jagged rock. Skeletal sailors still roamed their decks, bound by an eternal curse. Black vines coiled around masts like chains anchoring the damned. Yet the greatest terror was not the restless dead, but the nameless entities lurking in the mist—seen only when it was far too late.

[SUNKEN CITY]

An ancient metropolis, swallowed by the sea for thousands of years. Cracked stone roads, submerged palaces, statues eroded by time. It all lay in stillness, but deep within the ruins, faint lights flickered from submerged towers—a sign of life, or of something that had long abandoned death.

[BIOLUMINESCENT BAY]

A bay aglow with magic, where countless luminous creatures painted the waters with celestial radiance. A breathtaking sight, mesmerizing yet perilous. Any disturbance to the surface would reveal an intruder’s presence—marking them as prey for what lurked in the shadows below.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

[KELP FOREST]

A sunless jungle beneath the waves, where colossal seaweed stalks twisted like ancient trees, obscuring all vision. The pathways within shifted endlessly, transforming the forest into a living labyrinth. Here, in the pitch black, predators lay in ambush—waiting for those who would never find their way out.

[ENDLESS SEA]

A vast expanse with no land, no landmarks—only infinite water stretching into oblivion. No stars above, no winds to guide, just a motionless surface concealing secrets unknown.

[LOST ISLANDS]

Islands that appeared and vanished without reason, adrift between dimensions. Those who set foot upon them might never return, forever trapped in a land that was never meant to be.

[DROWNED CATACOMBS]

A sunken necropolis of marble corridors, glowing with an eerie green luminescence. Wandering spirits and nameless guardians protected secrets buried for millennia. The water levels shifted unpredictably, turning safe passage into a sudden, watery grave. Now, the crypt had resurfaced once more.

[SALT FLATS]

Once the ocean floor, now a barren expanse of white salt. By day, it lay empty and unassuming, but by night, a black liquid seeped from beneath—bringing with it creatures that had slumbered in the abyss for eons. There was no fresh water, no visible life—only the whispers of the wind carrying unseen voices.

[DREAMING TIDES]

A realm where the waves carried the dreams of the dead. The sea shimmered softly, lulling travelers into slumber. But to sleep here was to gamble with reality—one might awaken in a different time, a different world, or face echoes of oneself from another existence. Floating isles drifted between dreams and nightmares, where treasures and horrors intertwined.

[RUINS MAZE]

A vast, underwater labyrinth of shifting walls and ancient doors sealed by time. Paths twisted, reshaping themselves endlessly, ensnaring any who dared enter. A maze with no exit—unless one was strong enough, or mad enough, to defy its will.

There were no fixed rules in this domain. The only means of travel between layers was by ship—the sole vessel capable of navigating this chaotic sea. But could these ships withstand what lurked beneath?

A harsh truth soon became clear: no one could leave a layer without finding the next gate. These gates did not simply appear—they had to be earned. To progress, one had to slay the ruler of each domain—be it a monstrous leviathan, a cursed king, or a vengeful specter. Only when the overlord fell would the [Gates of The Drowned Expanse] emerge, revealing the path forward. But at times, the gate opened of its own accord, as if it alone decided who was worthy to continue.

Not all who entered returned. Some ships vanished without a trace. Those who did return bore vacant eyes, whispering of a place their minds could never leave. Yet others emerged with treasures—artifacts unclaimed by history, relics drenched in curses none dared touch. To this day, no one knew where the depths of the dungeon led, nor its true level of danger.

Today, the Empire launched its third expedition into the dungeon. Their goal: to locate the missing royal fleet from the last voyage and uncover the secrets still hidden below. The harbor bustled with life—adventurers gathered, forming parties, preparing supplies. Merchants shouted over one another, selling rare artifacts such as the [Eye of the Frost Lizard], a recording device to document the perilous journey in exchange for royal rewards. Maps from previous expeditions, preserved rations, and specialized weaponry were all on sale—at exorbitant prices.

At the docks, captains rushed to register their ships. Those without vessels scrambled to join existing crews. From noble warships to ramshackle rafts, countless vessels stood ready to set sail.

This voyage would carve new legends into the ocean’s depths. Who would return? Who would become one with the abyss?

And now, leaving behind this vast sea of stories, we turn our gaze to a small loft in the port town of Felariel, where a young Dark Elf was savoring the quiet life of retirement.