Chapter 26: Sunken Secrets
With Dock 13 firmly under Ethan's control, operations were running smoothly, but new rumors circulated among the NPC merchants and adventurers. Tales of an ancient underwater ruin, filled with treasures and forgotten power, piqued Ethan's interest. If he could uncover the secrets hidden beneath the waves, it could give him an immense advantage over rival factions.
Quest Unlocked: Sunken Secrets
Objective: Explore the Underwater Ruins and uncover its mysteries.
Reward: Unknown Relics, Potential Power Source, Unique Equipment.
Difficulty: High
Ethan knew this would be no simple task. The depths were fraught with unknown dangers, requiring specialized gear. Consulting with NPC craftsmen, he invested in enchanted diving equipment.
Diver's Suit: Grants the ability to breathe underwater and resist extreme pressure.
Submerged Vision Goggles: Enhances sight in dark waters and detects movement within a 50-meter radius.
Harpoon Gauntlet: A retractable harpoon for traversal and combat.
Pressure-Resistant Storage: Prevents items from being damaged by deep-sea conditions.
Brandon, eager for adventure, joined Ethan in the dive. They gathered a small team, including an NPC marine biologist, Captain Darius, to provide insight into the ruins' history.
The ocean's surface was deceptively calm as they descended into the depths. The further they sank, the darker it became, forcing them to rely on their gear. Ethan activated the Submerged Vision Goggles, revealing the eerie beauty of the ocean floor. Strange bioluminescent creatures slithered through the water, while remnants of ancient stone structures loomed in the distance.
As they approached the ruins, a system notification appeared:
Warning: You are entering a high-risk area. Respawn points are disabled. Proceed with caution.
The ruins were massive, carved from black stone with glowing blue runes that pulsed with energy. Captain Darius explained that these ruins belonged to the Ancient Tideborn, a civilization that vanished mysteriously centuries ago. Their artifacts were said to hold immense power, but few had ever returned after seeking them.
As the team explored the outer ruins, they triggered a trap. The runes flared, and monstrous figures emerged from the shadows.
[Status Window – Abyssal Guardian]
Name: Abyssal Guardian
Level: 75
HP: 12,753/12,753
Strength: 305
Agility: 190
Endurance: 420
Intelligence: 215
Skills:
Crushing Wave: Sends a concussive blast of water at enemies.
Depths' Embrace: Creates a gravitational pull that slows movement.
Regenerative Flow: Slowly recovers HP over time.
The creatures were heavily armored with coral-encrusted plating, resistant to normal attacks. Ethan and Brandon adapted quickly.
Ethan activated Abyssal Harbinger's skill: Void Rend.
A black, crackling energy blade formed in his hand as he slashed through one of the creatures, dealing 3,521 damage. The monster screeched as its armor cracked, but it retaliated with Crushing Wave, knocking Ethan back and dealing 1,147 damage.
Brandon used his harpoon gauntlet to maneuver around, striking from different angles. Their coordinated efforts eventually brought down the guardians, but not without cost. Their oxygen supply was dwindling, forcing them to move swiftly.
Deeper Into the Ruins
Beyond the guardian chamber, they discovered an ancient vault with a massive sealed door. Inscriptions in an unknown language lined its surface. Captain Darius deciphered part of it:
"Only those who bear the mark of the Tideborn may enter."
Ethan examined the glowing runes on the wall. Using his Abyssal Harbinger abilities, he channeled void energy into them. The runes reacted, shifting and unlocking the door with a deep, echoing rumble.
Inside, a grand hall awaited, filled with treasure and relics. But at the center stood something far more terrifying—a slumbering Abyssal Leviathan, its eyes beginning to open.
A system notification appeared:
Boss Encounter Initiated – Survival Mode Activated.
The darkness of the underwater ruins was oppressive. Ethan and his team—Brandon, Captain Darius, and two NPC warriors from Dock 13—navigated through the submerged corridors, their torches barely illuminating the path ahead. The water was thick with ancient sediment, the remnants of a civilization long lost beneath the waves.
As they approached the central chamber, a tremor rippled through the water. A guttural growl resonated from the abyss below. Then, the darkness moved.
[System Notification!]
Warning: You have entered the Abyssal Leviathan's domain! Escape is impossible until the boss battle is resolved!
A massive shape coiled in the depths, its glowing, abyssal-blue eyes locking onto the intruders. The Abyssal Leviathan had awoken.
Boss Monster: Abyssal Leviathan
Level: 85
HP: 850,003/850,003
Attack: 7,453 - 9,771
Defense: 5,319
Skills:
Abyssal Devour: Swallows a target whole, dealing instant death if not resisted.
Tidal Collapse: Generates a vortex that crushes all enemies in range.
Dark Pulse: Releases a wave of abyssal energy, stunning enemies for 5 seconds.
"We can't win this fight head-on!" Ethan shouted, diving to the side as the Leviathan's tail whipped through the water, shattering stone pillars with an explosion of bubbles and debris.
Brandon's health bar flickered dangerously low as he barely dodged a tendril of shadow that lashed out. Captain Darius fired his harpoon rifle, the projectile piercing the Leviathan's scaled hide but only shaving off 3,051 HP—a negligible amount given its massive health pool.
The NPC warriors were not so lucky. One was instantly grabbed by the beast's tendrils, his form disappearing into the monster's gaping maw.
[Player 'Darius' has suffered critical damage!]
[NPC 'Varka' has been eliminated.]
Ethan clenched his fists. They were outmatched. His Abyssal Harbinger class granted him immense power, but this monster was beyond anything they had faced before.
[System Notification!]
Hint: The Abyssal Leviathan's power is tied to the ruins' ancient mechanisms. Find a way to weaken it!
His eyes darted around the cavern. Carvings on the walls hinted at something—a sequence of glyphs glowing faintly beneath layers of coral and sediment.
"Brandon, buy me time!" Ethan ordered.
Brandon activated [Frenzied Barrage], unleashing a flurry of blows that forced the Leviathan to recoil, its eyes flaring with fury. Captain Darius fired another harpoon, this time dealing 5,125 damage—a better hit but still not enough.
Ethan swam to the glyphs, scraping away the sediment with his gauntlet. The moment he cleared the markings, they pulsed with an eerie blue light.
[System Notification!]
The Abyssal Seal has been partially activated. The Leviathan's defenses have weakened by 20%.
"It worked! Keep it busy!" Ethan yelled as he moved to uncover the next set of glyphs.
The Leviathan roared, the water churning into a vortex.
[Tidal Collapse Activated!]
A massive whirlpool formed, pulling the team toward the beast's waiting jaws. Brandon barely managed to grab onto a crumbling pillar, his health dipping into the red as the whirlpool's force threatened to tear him apart.
Ethan activated [Abyssal Dash], propelling himself toward the second set of glyphs. His hands moved quickly, brushing away the debris. The glyphs glowed once more.
[System Notification!]
The Abyssal Seal has been strengthened. The Leviathan's attack power has decreased by 30%.
It wasn't enough.
They had to escape. Now.
"Darius, set explosives near the cavern's entrance! We'll bury this thing under the ruins!"
The captain hesitated for only a moment before nodding. He swam to the entrance, placing small charges along the weakened stone supports.
Brandon let out a pained cry as the Leviathan's tail slammed into him, sending him crashing against the wall. His health hit 97 HP, a sliver away from death.
"NOW!" Ethan shouted.
Darius triggered the explosives.
[System Notification!]
Warning! Structural collapse imminent. Evacuate immediately!
The chamber trembled. Rocks tumbled, sealing the Leviathan within its prison once more. The beast let out a deafening roar before it was buried beneath thousands of tons of rubble.
Ethan and the others barely escaped, their health bars flashing dangerously low.
[System Notification!]
You have escaped the Abyssal Leviathan's lair. Quest updated!
Ethan panted, his fists clenched. They had bought themselves time. But the Leviathan wasn't dead. And it would be back.