That year, the signs in the sky became restless:
The stars moved in strange patterns, forming a spiral circle, as though aligning themselves with long-forgotten constellations.
The waves of the eastern sea froze, halting like ice, unmoving even amidst the storms that shook the entire world.
The plants around Stones wilted for no apparent reason, tracing the ground and leaving dry trails as ominous signs.
And amidst this chaos that defied rational explanation, a voice echoed deep underground — a voice suggesting that a door to something far greater was swinging open.
In the midst of this unease stood Lord Esgal Mercury, a diplomat who not only mastered the art of persuasion but also understood his role in a fragile civilization. With ambition burning in his heart, he resolved that Stones was not merely a destination to be explored, but a gateway. A gateway to a civilization deeper and grander than anything humanity had ever envisioned. With a keen gaze, he made the decision to lead an expedition into the uncharted depths.
In the rolling darkness akin to fog, the underground world awaits. Footsteps seem to be swallowed by the damp earth, and ghostly whispers flow through the silent corridors, as if creatures are watching, lurking behind invisible shadows. The cave walls tremble with a soft sound reminiscent of the sighing wind, hinting at an unseen presence, which adds to the chilling atmosphere enveloping each step taken. Shadows flicker by swiftly, as though they are souls trapped from a time long past, instilling a sense of fear in anyone daring to explore the depths. Each echoing sound feels like a call from the past, inviting uncertainty and darkness on a journey that has just begun. As the descent deepens, the atmosphere grows more sinister, as if this world seeks to unveil the forgotten darkest secrets, where every second feels like a century.
Lord Esgal, known as a great diplomat with an extensive network of influence, devised a plan that involved a select group of individuals to help him achieve his goals. He chose them based on their unique skills, which were essential for exploring and uncovering the mysteries of the Stones. As they approached the threshold to the underground world, the air began to vibrate, as if the space around them were filled with ethereal whispers, reminding them of the presence of the beings that once ruled this place.
He gathered nine chosen individuals, the backbone of the expedition. With each step, they delved deeper into the shadows, accompanied by rustling sounds that created an almost unbearable tension. Among them, uncertainty hung in the air, giving rise to a fear of what awaited them at the edge of the darkness.
Saria Wenthall, a Proto Speech expert, is the only one capable of deciphering the ancient underground carvings from a long-lost language. In the darkness, each carving seems to come alive, exuding a mystical aura that invokes both reverence and fear. This language is not merely a tool for communication; it holds the key to unlocking doors that have been sealed tightly for centuries, concealing buried secrets and whispers from souls trapped in eternal darkness.
Magus Ferrun, a highly skilled wind sorcerer, excels in navigating the intricate labyrinth of the underground they are about to explore. With his powers, Ferrun can control the direction of the wind and manipulate the atmosphere to ensure that their path remains safe and uninterrupted. However, he also senses the presence of ethereal creatures creeping along the walls, creating a gentle rustling that sends a chilling shiver down his spine, as if reminding them that each step deeper is a step into the darkness where mysteries and dangers wait patiently.
Knight-Commander Hektor stood as the armed hand designated to protect the expedition. His extensive experience in battle and strategy made him an indispensable figure on this perilous journey. Yet, he was also the one who harbored the most doubt about what lay ahead. Around him, the dark corridors whispered, as if concealing secrets far beyond their understanding, drawn up from the deep shadows. The flickering shadows in the corners of his vision were intimidating, suggesting that they were not alone in this journey. Each step they took echoed with strange sounds, creating a rhythm of tension that intensified the foreboding atmosphere, as if the underground world were alive and watching them with malicious curiosity.
In addition to these three key figures, there are six others — scientists, guards, and trackers — each bringing essential expertise to the journey. The scientists are responsible for observing and documenting the strange phenomena they encounter, while the guards and trackers ensure they stay on a safe path, despite the unseen threats lurking in every corner. Among the crevices of the moss-covered labyrinth, soft whispers reach their ears, inviting them with otherworldly echoes that are beyond comprehension. Each flicker of light from the torches they carry creates an illusion of dancing shadows, depicting ancient, forgotten forms, making every moment feel as if they are walking between worlds. Their presence seems like an intrusion to the creatures that have inhabited this place for thousands of years, generating an extraordinary tension as they continue their journey.
They carried fragments of the Proto seal, meticulously arranged. This seal was the key to unlocking the glyph etched at the Center — the focal point where everything would begin. Each piece of the seal seemed to vibrate in their hands, as if connected to the ancient power lying dormant within the darkness of this labyrinth. As their fear deepened, a silent scream seeped into their souls, compelling them to remember their primary objective, despite the growing threat of encroaching shadows. Once their preparations were complete, they entered the spiral corridor leading to the Second Gate, a place known only to a select few as a forbidden site, where time appeared to stand still and life was guarded by unimaginable entities.
They understood that in order to enter, they must shed their names. This was not merely a metaphor or something symbolic — in this realm, names held power. When names were forgotten, what remained was a soft whisper surrounding them, revealing the grim fate of anyone who had ever stepped into this place. A name provided identity, and identity was what tethered a person to the fabric of the reality they knew. Once someone relinquished their name, they released everything that bound them to this world, walking into the eternal silence that awaited, surrounded by dark shadows moving with a specific purpose, ready to claim the souls daring enough to venture forth.
One by one, they approached the white altar within the dark, damp spiral corridor. The stone walls seemed to whisper in an ancient tongue, sharing forgotten tales that perhaps should have remained buried. Before the altar, a large carving shaped like a circle encircled a symbol they only recognized as Gerbang Kedua, while faint shadows danced around the artwork, as if striving to draw attention to the secrets concealed within.
"I am Saria Wenthall. With this, I surrender myself to the void," Saria said in a calm voice, her body trembling as she uttered her last words. A whispering sound from the corridors seemed to pull her name away, making her a part of non-existence. A chilling silence enveloped them as her name vanished from the air, as if evaporating into an invisible hole, while the shadows around her seemed to swell, attempting to fill the emptiness she left behind.
"I am Ferrun. I am the wind. I am no longer Ferrun," he said, and with those words, Ferrun raised both hands into the air. The wind swirled around his body, sweeping through the place with a whispering sound that carried his name and essence away, creating the illusion of an ethereal being watching over every step they took. The atmosphere grew more ominous as the shadows on the walls appeared to move, drawn to the energy being released.
Knight-Commander Hektor stood tall, gazing at his companions who had already shed their names. As a thick silence enveloped the space, he felt a crushing doubt creep in, ensnared by the shifting shadows that slithered around him. However, he eventually stepped forward and declared, "I am Hektor. With this, I release my name," only to hear an unseen whisper that seemed to approve his decision, adding weight to his steps into the void.
All sounds merged into a profound silence, transcending their consciousness. The echo of that sound traveled deep into the unseen depths of the tunnel, like the heartbeat of the earth inviting them further down. In that darkness, indistinct sights and rustling sounds promised something more than mere loss of name; there was an aura of mystery and danger lurking within the crevices of the stone walls, quickening each heartbeat and igniting a burning fear. At that moment, they sensed something greater than themselves, something that had long dwelled in this darkness, now drawn to usher in another kind of darkness.
Then, as his turn arrived, Lord Esgal Mercury stood before the altar. His expression was calm, yet within him lay a turmoil that only he was aware of—a strange sensation as if unseen eyes were watching him from the shadows. As he uttered the words meant to free him from the web of identity, deep whispers of incantations mingled with the supernatural sounds of the darkness, serving as a reminder that not everything seen could be trusted and not every step forward would lead to the freedom sought.
"I am Esgal Mercury, but not anymore... Not now, and not for this world," he spoke softly. With those words, he enveloped himself in a layer of magic that shielded him from the rules of Gamma. He did not surrender his name. He concealed it.
At that moment, the first sin began.
With names that had long vanished from this world, they stepped forward, leaving behind their old existence. The Second Gate slowly opened, revealing an unexpected dark space. Shadows danced on the walls, seemingly born from the darkness itself, whispering softly in an unspoken language. These muffled voices carried an aroma of antiquity, like the breath of lost lives and forgotten tales. It was a world that did not belong to them, yet there was no turning back.
They descended through the spiraling corridor that seemed to plunge deeper into the unseen depths. The passageway felt alive, its vibrating surface whispering, made of dark stones that seemed to moan. The structure of this place defied the laws of physics known to them, as if the room itself were distorted in strange ways. Each step filled them with a sense of dread, but also a deep yearning for hidden knowledge, as if ghostly voices beckoned them to venture further, hinting at what lay buried beneath the mysterious surface.
Upon reaching the very bottom, they encountered something far more terrifying than they had ever imagined: a pulsing core of energy, invisible to the naked eye. The core glimmered with arrogant light, revealing a formless shape that seemed to draw them closer with each echoing thrum in the darkness. It was something beyond mere object — it was a force higher than human comprehension, a reminder of their limitations, as if the entire space trembled with an ancient power lying dormant.
And there, they witnessed something terrifying. The dark and damp space was filled with moving shadows, reminiscent of ancient creatures trapped between time. The walls, so old, seemed to harbor ghostly whispers recounting dark tales of betrayal and obscurity, creating an oppressive atmosphere. It wasn't just buried knowledge that resided within this space, but also a force striving to connect this world with more distant dimensions, pushing them to the limits of their imagination—something that must remain sealed.
Yet, with courage pulsating in their hearts, they could not withdraw. The inaudible whispers from the darkness seemed to tempt them, trying to influence their steps deeper, delivering vague warnings. And it was here that betrayal began to creep in—starting with Lord Esgal Mercury, who, with ambitions surpassing anyone else's, began plotting darker schemes; his shadow flickered uncertainly among them, even if it meant distorting reality itself.
As they took their first step toward the deeper door, they were unaware that their journey would end far worse than they could ever imagine. Each step felt increasingly heavy, as if an unseen force was pulling them into the darkness, compelling them to press on. In the midst of this pressure, they failed to realize that the darkness held more than what met the eye — ancient creatures that might have been awakened by their arrival, ready to either embrace or intimidate them within the thick blackness.
Among them stood Lord Esgal Mercury, no longer just a diplomat but now a traitor who had forged a new path for a civilization that remained unknown to anyone. In the dim light, his expression was marked by anxiety, while the shadows on the walls seemed to mock his intentions, challenging his bravery. A path that would ultimately collapse the world.