Deep Sea Embers

Skillfully, Duncan maneuvered a control lever, initiating the gentle sound of water filling the ballast tanks. He expertly controlled the submarine’s angle of descent, tilting it slightly to provide a better upward view. As he moved deeper, he was urged to look back and observe the city-state’s foundational outlines.

Suddenly, the searchlight revealed a massive shape lurking below. There was a palpable sense of unease as what seemed like a “rock layer” became clear in the illumination. Even without any supernatural elements, the sight was so overwhelming that it might unsettle an average observer, possibly even evoking profound fear.

Within the submarine’s porthole, the enormous base of a structure named Frost came into view. It loomed large, appearing upside down as if it was a floating world above. Shadowed against this vast backdrop were countless bizarre formations, looking like densely packed tower-like forests or gigantic stalagmites—a thick substance connected these “stalagmites”, weaving in and out between these various tall structures.

But despite the intimidating surroundings, Duncan felt an insatiable urge to explore. He skillfully piloted the submarine closer to this strange underwater “forest”.

In a parallel moment, Duncan found himself back in the captain’s quarters aboard the Vanished, dramatically opening the “Door of the Lost”.

Around this time, Zhou Ming returned to his home and, as expected, found a glowing keepsake newly appeared on his table: a meticulously designed “model” of Frost.

He was captivated by the artifact and picked it up, closely inspecting the replica of the city-state from every angle. The strange outgrowths on it resembled chaotic, malformed tentacles or, more audaciously, odd-looking limbs.

Thanks to Zhou Ming’s previous explorations, he had a comprehensive understanding of the city-state’s foundational architecture, much more than what he had perceived through his flame-induced visions.

With a sense of familiarity, he closed his eyes, absorbing the wealth of insights from this alternate dimension. He could vividly feel the vibrations of the submarine and visualize the grand “landscapes” gliding past the transparent porthole.

The humble vessel was now navigating between two massive “stalagmites” that were believed to be hundreds of meters tall. The searchlight’s beam was Duncan’s guide, allowing him to traverse this perilous pathway safely.

Interestingly, no such spectacle had been recorded in the data from the Abyss Project. Neither Tyrian nor the records in City Hall had mentioned a submarine journeying through this “dangling forest” at the foundation of the city-state.

The pioneers who first ventured into these depths might have focused exclusively on exploring the deep sea, bypassing other potential avenues of investigation. Another possibility is that the looming, shadowy giants lurking in the waters seemed too intimidating, causing the initial submarines to avoid such daring explorations. Or, perhaps someone had indeed ventured into this unknown territory, but whatever they discovered remained concealed, never making its way to the surface.

As these thoughts crossed Duncan’s mind, the beam from the searchlight cut through another dark expanse, revealing an image that made its way into his line of sight.

Reacting immediately, Duncan pulled a lever on the control panel. The rapid reversal of propulsion created such a forceful jerk that the submarine emitted a sharp, metallic groan. The sturdy steel vessel trembled amidst the vast depths, the sound of its strained machinery creating a cacophony in the watery abyss. Yet, after all the tumult, the submarine came to a sudden stop, just inches away from crashing into a nearby “stalagmite”.

A concerned voice pierced the silence. “What just happened?” Agatha questioned, her voice tinged with anxiety.

She quickly turned her gaze to the porthole, only to see countless glowing particles drifting lazily around, overshadowed by a much more prominent light. Its intricate details remained hidden, its origin uncertain.

Duncan remained silent, his attention captivated by the astonishing sight beyond the porthole. Emerging from the darkness was an immense, pale-colored eye.

A solitary eye, stark against the dark, tentacle-like extensions. It was of such an enormous scale that their submarine seemed like a mere grain of sand next to it.

This colossal eye showed no signs of life, giving the impression that it had been lifeless for centuries or perhaps millennia. Its pale and hollow appearance suggested that it once gazed serenely at the endless ocean floor, even in its final moments. Now, the submarine hovered right in front of its dormant lens under the silent scrutiny of this bygone behemoth.

“That,” Duncan whispered, breaking the silence, “is an eye.”

The residual light from the searchlight illuminated the surrounding area, highlighting the suspended black “stalagmites” within the water. With this clearer view, Duncan could confidently deduce – these weren’t mere rock formations but organic appendages.

They resembled tentacles, though decayed and lifeless, hanging beneath the ocean like dried vines in a subterranean cavern.

Agatha’s hand clenched the handrail even tighter. Even without a heartbeat, she felt a surge of emotion threatening to erupt from within. Grappling with the enormity of the revelation, she stammered, “Are you saying…”

“The foundation of the city-state rests atop a colossal creature,” Duncan replied measuredly. He too was taken aback by this discovery but tried to remain calm and organize his thoughts. “Or, at least, remnants of such a creature are still evident here.”

Agatha took a moment to process, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. When she finally broke her silence, her voice wavered with disbelief, “Could it possibly… be alive?”

She spoke in hushed tones as if fearing that even the slightest whisper could awaken the colossal behemoth beneath them.

“In all likelihood, it’s long been dead,” Duncan said, already cautiously maneuvering the submarine further away from the gargantuan, lifeless eye. Even with his conviction about the creature’s demise, the unnerving possibility that it might react remained at the back of his mind. “Yet, its preservation doesn’t align with what we know of biology. This looks less like a natural corpse and more like a grotesque relic… or a city constructed upon such a relic.”

Agatha’s mind raced. She was torn between marveling at Captain Duncan’s analytical composure amidst such staggering revelations and pondering the implausibility of a creature so massive and durable that it defied biological norms. The weight of the realization that their beloved city-state rested atop a mysterious goliath left her grappling with a profound sense of astonishment.

Snapping out of her reverie, Agatha turned her gaze to Duncan, uncertainty clouding her eyes. “Could Frost be the only city built this way?”

Despite her internal turmoil, Agatha’s innate curiosity pushed her to seek answers. Though she wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to hear, her need to understand propelled her to voice her questions.

Duncan looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, “It’s possible other city-states share a similar foundation. I recall structures beneath Pland that didn’t possess an eye but rather had a collection of misshapen growths in its place.”

Agatha, taken aback, responded, “You’ve been under Pland as well?”

Duncan shook his head. “Not physically. This journey marks my first tangible exploration into the deep sea. However, I’ve garnered insights about what may lie beneath city-states through other means.”

As he spoke, his attention was once again captured by the eerie, inverted “forest” that seemed to float in the obsidian depths outside the porthole.

But deducing from a distance had its limitations. If not for this direct exploration, Duncan might have never fully grasped the haunting and ineffable reality concealed beneath the city’s surface.

The enormous, pallid eye began to recede from their view as the searchlight’s beam methodically illuminated the surrounding, sinuous tentacles. But even as the eye was engulfed by the surrounding darkness, an eerie feeling clung to them. It felt as though invisible tendrils were ensnaring the submarine, squeezing it from every angle, to the point where even the rhythmic humming of the steam core seemed stifled and hesitant.

Of course, these sensations were just products of their heightened emotions and vivid imaginations. In reality, the submarine maintained its smooth departure from the daunting “forest” and the ever-watchful eye, with no real impediments in its path.

Breaking the tense silence, Duncan spoke up, addressing Agatha, “This revelation about the foundation of our city-state is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re plunging into a realm of mysteries, where every shadow could hide an unexpected truth. The question is—are you prepared to continue this journey into the unknown?”

Agatha’s eyes settled on the encroaching abyss outside the porthole. After a brief moment of contemplation, she looked back at Duncan with a determined expression.

“Without a doubt,” she affirmed with the steely confidence of someone sworn to protect their home, “Let’s delve deeper into these mysteries.”