Location: Sangonomiya Shrine, Watatsumi Island
Current Form: Human
Status: Collecting payment, preparing for a deep dive
The war was over, the celebrations had died down, and Raiden Ragnvaldr was ready to collect his debt.
He stood at the edge of the massive whirlpool in the center of Watatsumi Island. Sangonomiya Kokomi stood beside him, holding the Key of the Moon-Bathed Deep.
"You really intend to go down there," Kokomi said, her expression a mix of awe and concern.
"Enkanomiya is a place of darkness. The Bathysmal Vishaps have evolved to be ruthless hunters. Even our ancestors fled that place."
"Ruthless hunters?" Raiden smirked, adjusting his gloves. "Sounds like crispy calamari to me."
Kokomi sighed and handed him the key. "A deal is a deal. You turned the tide of the war. The depths are yours to explore. But please... if you find any historical texts regarding the Dragonheir of the Depths, bring them back. Watatsumi history is... complicated."
"I'll bring you a souvenir," Raiden promised.
He turned to Aether and Paimon. "You two coming? Or are you afraid of the dark?"
"Paimon is afraid of the dark!" Paimon admitted shamelessly. "But where the Traveler goes, Paimon goes!"
Aether drew his dull blade. "We need to explore everything. It might have clues about the Abyss."
"That's the spirit," Raiden grinned.
He grabbed them both.
"Going down!"
Raiden jumped into the whirlpool.
Location: Enkanomiya (The Entrance)
Depth: 5,000 meters below sea level
They fell through the water, but Raiden's [Hydro Nullification] created a bubble around them. They landed with a heavy thud on cold, ancient stone.
The sky here was nonexistent. It was a void, illuminated only by bioluminescent plants and the faint glow of ancient civilization.
"Spooky," Raiden commented, his voice echoing in the silence.
Suddenly, the ground shook.
Three Primordial Bathysmal Vishaps crawled out of the shadows. They were massive, reptilian, and radiated pure elemental energy - Hydro, Cryo, and Electro.
ROAR.
They charged.
"Dinner is served," Raiden stepped forward.
He didn't use magic. He simply let his [Dragon's Haki] leak out.
The air grew heavy. The pressure of a being that stood at the apex of all draconic species crushed down on the vishaps.
The vishaps skidded to a halt. They sniffed the air. Their instincts screamed one word: SOVEREIGN.
They dropped to their bellies, whining like kicked puppies.
"Good lizards," Raiden walked up to the Hydro Vishap. He tapped its snout. "You look delicious. But you surrendered, so I can't eat you. It's against the rules of the hunt."
The Vishap whimpered.
"Go away," Raiden waved his hand.
The monsters scrambled into the darkness, terrified.
"You bullied the monsters again," Paimon deadpanned.
"I established the pecking order," Raiden corrected.
They moved deeper into the ruins until they found a giant library. Standing in front of a map was a man who looked distinctly out of place.
He wore glasses and casual researcher clothes, but his posture was... wrong.
Enjou.
"Oh! Hello there!" Enjou waved, feigning surprise. "I didn't expect visitors down here! I am Enjou, a humble researcher. I'm just looking for a library book. Late fees are a killer, you know?"
Aether and Paimon looked at him suspiciously.
Raiden looked at him and smiled.
"Great Sage. Analysis."
"Subject: Enjou. Species: Abyss Lector (Pyro). Disguise Level: 4/10. Threat Level: Moderate. Humor Level: High."
"A researcher, huh?" Raiden walked up to him, putting an arm around Enjou's shoulder. "Nice to meet you, buddy. You smell like fire and treason."
Enjou stiffened. "I... beg your pardon?"
"I said you smell like seasoning," Raiden lied smoothly. "So, Enjou. You know your way around here?"
"I do!" Enjou laughed nervously, sweating under Raiden's heavy aura. "I need to reach the Dainichi Mikoshi - the artificial sun in the center. If we work together, I can translate the ancient script for you!"
"Sounds like a plan," Raiden patted Enjou's back hard enough to nearly dislocate his spine. "Lead the way, spicy librarian."
They traveled across the floating islands. Raiden spent the time eating the local flora (Ghostfish) and critiquing the architecture.
"The Greeks would sue for copyright infringement," Raiden noted, looking at the columns.
They finally reached the central island. The Dainichi Mikoshi towered above them—a massive tower meant to act as a sun for the underground realm.
"We need to turn it on," Enjou explained. "The Golden Bridle is required."
Aether produced the item (found after a few puzzles Raiden brute-forced by eating the walls). They placed it in the mechanism.
HUMMM.
The tower roared to life. A blinding artificial light flooded Enkanomiya, banishing the shadows (and the Ghostfish).
"Let there be light," Raiden said, shielding his eyes. "A bit harsh on the retinas though. They should have installed a dimmer switch."
Enjou chuckled. "Indeed. Now... about that book I was looking for."
He turned to them. The friendly facade slipped.
"The book Before Sun and Moon," Enjou said, his voice deepening. "It contains the truth about this world. The truth that Celestia wants to hide. The fact that the gods... are aliens."
"We know," Raiden said, bored. "Celestia is a colony ship. Phanes came down, beat up the Seven Sovereigns, terraformed the planet, and set up shop. Old news."
Enjou froze. He stared at Raiden.
"You... you know?" Enjou gaped. "That is forbidden knowledge! The Abyss Order has spent centuries uncovering this!"
"I read the wiki," Raiden shrugged. "Also, your disguise is wearing off. You're smoking."
Enjou looked down. His clothes were burning away, revealing the red and black armor of a Pyro Abyss Lector.
"Fine!" Enjou roared, bursting into flames. "The jig is up! I am a servant of the Abyss! And I will take that book, even if I have to burn you to ash!"
He summoned a massive fireball. "Prepare to face the heat of the truth!"
Aether drew his sword.
Raiden stepped forward. He looked at the fireball.
"Enjou," Raiden said calmly. "I like you. You're funny. You're honest about being dishonest."
"Uh... thank you?" Enjou paused, confused.
"But," Raiden's eyes turned into vertical slits. "You are threatening my tour guide."
Raiden opened his mouth.
[Gluttony: Fire Eater].
He inhaled.
The massive fireball Enjou had summoned was pulled from his hands. It stretched like taffy and vanished into Raiden's mouth.
Gulp.
"Needs tabasco," Raiden burped a puff of smoke.
Enjou stood there, empty-handed.
"You... you ate my magic," Enjou whispered. "That's... that's cheating."
"I'm a Dragon," Raiden grinned, black scales appearing on his cheeks. "We don't play fair. Now, turn into your book form, or whatever you Abyss guys do when you retreat."
Enjou backed away. "You are the Anomaly the Prince warned us about. The Void Dragon. Fine! You win this round! But the Abyss will... wait, are you looking at my arm like it's a chicken wing?"
"You're made of Pyro energy," Raiden licked his lips. "Very crunchy."
"I'm leaving!" Enjou shrieked.
He opened a dark portal and dove through it, narrowly avoiding Raiden's grasping hand.
"Darn," Raiden snapped his fingers. "He got away. Fast food these days is literally too fast."
With Enjou gone, Raiden turned his attention to the Bathysmal Vishap Herd boss that had just spawned to defend the tower. Two massive lizards - one Cryo, one Electro.
"Finally," Raiden cracked his knuckles. "The main course."
Ten minutes later.
Raiden sat by a campfire made of the Dainichi Mikoshi's heat vents, roasting a piece of Vishap tail.
"Tastes like electric eel," Raiden offered a piece to Aether.
"I'll pass," Aether looked green.
"System Report."
"Consumed: Bathysmal Vishap Essence."
"Gene Analysis: Ancient Dragonheir. Unpolluted by Archon rule."
"Evolution Progress: [Hydro Sovereign Authority] (Pseudo) acquired. You can now manipulate water pressure and communicate with sea life."
"Useful for Fontaine," Raiden noted.
He picked up the book Enjou had left behind—Before Sun and Moon.
"Great Sage. Scan and Archive."
"Affirmative. Lore acquired: The Primordial One. The Second Who Came. The suppression of the Sovereigns."
"So," Raiden closed the book. "Celestia is definitely on the menu."
The Exit
They returned to Sangonomiya Shrine. Raiden tossed the book to Kokomi.
"Here. The forbidden history of your people. Don't let the Shogun see it, or she'll delete your island."
Kokomi took the book with trembling hands. "You found it. And... you defeated the Abyss Lector?"
"He ran away," Raiden said. "But I had a nice lunch."
Kokomi looked at Raiden. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You feel... different. More... aquatic."
"I adapted," Raiden winked. "Well, Kokomi. It's been fun. But I have a date with a forest."
"Sumeru?" Kokomi guessed.
"Yeah. I need to go talk to a tree about the internet. Don't ask."
Raiden turned to the Traveler.
"Ready, Aether? Next stop is the land of Dendro. I hear the mushrooms there get you high if you look at them wrong."
"I hope Tighnari doesn't arrest us," Aether sighed.
"If he does," Raiden grinned. "I'll eat his ears."