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The facility would not stay still.
The moment Velkira vanished—
Everything began to change.
The glowing platform pulsed violently beneath Dianara's feet, the ancient runes flickering between stability and collapse.
"Something's wrong," she said, her voice tight.
"That's obvious," Mira muttered, scanning the room.
The walls trembled.
Not from battle—
But from something deeper.
Something moving.
Lior staggered slightly as the fragment floated above his hand, glowing brighter than ever before.
"I can't… hold it steady…"
Izumi rushed to his side.
"Hey—focus."
Lior shook his head.
"It's not me…"
His voice trembled.
"…It's pulling me."
Silence.
Seraphina stepped forward immediately.
"…Then we move."
Dianara turned sharply.
"Wait—if we leave now, the system could collapse completely."
"And if we stay?" Mira asked.
Dianara didn't answer right away.
Then—
"…We get caught in whatever is waking up down there."
That settled it.
Seraphina made the decision.
"We go deeper."
Izumi blinked.
"…Deeper?"
Seraphina's gaze didn't waver.
"That's where the core is."
"If something is activating, we need to see it."
Mira grinned faintly.
"Finally."
"Now this feels like a real adventure."
Dianara sighed softly.
"…This is not an adventure."
But she didn't argue further.
Because she knew—
There was no better option.
The lower levels of Nerathis were nothing like the upper ruins.
The moment they descended—
The light faded.
Completely.
Only faint traces of ancient blue energy lined the walls, barely illuminating the path ahead.
The water felt heavier here.
Thicker.
Every movement required more effort.
Izumi frowned.
"…It feels like the ocean itself is pressing down."
Dianara nodded.
"It's not just pressure."
"It's mana density."
She touched the wall lightly.
"…This place is saturated with it."
Mira glanced around.
"…I still don't like it."
Seraphina walked ahead, leading the group.
"Stay alert."
Lior followed closely behind Izumi, the fragment glowing steadily now.
Almost guiding them.
The deeper they went—
The quieter it became.
No currents.
No distant sounds.
Just—
Silence.
The kind that made every step feel too loud.
Izumi felt it again.
That presence.
Stronger now.
Closer.
"…It's definitely awake."
Dianara didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"But not fully."
"That's the only reason we're still alive."
Mira exhaled slowly.
"…Good to know."
They reached a massive gate.
Ancient.
Towering.
Covered in runes far more complex than anything they had seen before.
And—
Cracked.
Thin lines spread across its surface.
Faint light leaking through.
Izumi stopped.
"…This is it."
Dianara stepped closer.
Her eyes scanning the structure.
"…This is one of the primary seals."
Lior's fragment pulsed violently.
As if responding directly to the gate.
Seraphina placed a hand on her blade.
"…Can it be stabilized?"
Dianara hesitated.
"…Maybe."
"But…"
"But what?" Izumi asked.
"…It requires full synchronization."
Silence.
Everyone looked at Lior.
He swallowed.
"…Again?"
Dianara nodded.
"But this time…"
Her voice lowered.
"…you'll be directly interacting with the seal."
Mira crossed her arms.
"That sounds bad."
"It is," Dianara replied.
The gate trembled.
A deep sound echoed from beyond it.
Low.
Ancient.
Alive.
Lior flinched.
"…It knows we're here."
Izumi stepped forward.
"…Then we don't have time."
Seraphina nodded.
"Do it."
Dianara moved quickly.
Setting up a stabilizing formation around the gate.
Runes formed in the water.
Complex.
Precise.
"Place the fragment here," she instructed.
Lior stepped forward slowly.
His hands shaking.
But determined.
"…Okay."
He raised the fragment.
It hovered toward the center of the gate.
The moment it touched—
The entire structure lit up.
The Seal Reacts
Energy surged violently.
The runes activated.
Light spread across the cracks.
For a moment—
It seemed to work.
The cracks slowed.
The gate stabilized slightly.
Dianara exhaled.
"…It's holding."
Then—
The light shifted.
Darkness spread from within.
The cracks widened again.
Faster.
Stronger.
"…No."
Dianara's eyes widened.
"It's resisting."
The ground shook violently.
A deep roar echoed from beyond the gate.
Not loud—
But heavy.
Like it came from something massive.
Something ancient.
Mira stepped back slightly.
"…Yeah, I really don't like this anymore."
Seraphina raised her blade.
"Stay ready."
Izumi looked at the gate.
"…It's breaking through."
The light from the fragment flickered.
Struggling.
Failing.
Dianara's voice became urgent.
"We need more energy!"
Izumi stepped forward.
"…Then I'll give it."
She turned sharply.
"No—!"
Too late.
Cold energy surged from Izumi again.
But this time—
Controlled.
Focused.
He placed his hand against the gate.
"I won't let it break."
The ice spread across the surface.
Reinforcing the seal.
The cracks slowed again.
For a moment—
Everything stabilized.
End Build-Up
Then—
Something pushed back.
From the other side.
Hard.
The ice shattered instantly.
The runes flickered violently.
The fragment pulsed uncontrollably.
Lior cried out.
"I can't hold it!"
The gate cracked further.
A massive shadow moved behind it.
Visible now.
Something huge.
Watching.
Waiting.
Izumi stepped back slowly.
"…What is that?"
No one answered.
Because they all felt it.
That presence.
That power.
Beyond anything they had faced.
The seal wasn't just weakening.
It was failing.
The gate cracked.
Not slowly—
Not gradually—
But all at once.
CRACK.
A massive fracture spread across its surface, splitting ancient runes apart like fragile glass.
The light from the fragment flickered violently.
Lior screamed.
"I can't hold it—!"
Dianara rushed forward.
"Don't let go!"
"I'm trying!"
The pressure exploded.
A surge of dark mana burst from the cracks, swallowing the stabilizing formation whole.
The runes shattered.
The gate trembled—
Then—
A gap opened.
Small.
But enough.
Enough for something to see through.
Everything stopped.
Not physically—
But instinctively.
Every single one of them froze.
Because from within the darkness beyond the gate—
Something moved.
Slowly.
A massive shape shifted behind the fractured seal.
And then—
An eye opened.
Far larger than anything that should exist.
Ancient.
Endless.
Watching.
Izumi felt his breath disappear.
"…What… is that…?"
No answer came.
Because no one there had the words.
The eye didn't blink.
Didn't move.
It simply stared.
At them.
Through the broken seal.
Lior collapsed to his knees.
"…It sees us…"
Mira's usual grin was gone.
"…Yeah."
"…I can tell."
Even Seraphina—
For the first time—
Did not move forward.
Her grip on her blade tightened.
But her body stayed still.
Dianara whispered—
"…This is bad."
"…This is really bad."
The eye shifted slightly.
And with that single movement—
The entire structure shook.
The pressure doubled.
Tripled.
The water itself seemed to compress.
Izumi dropped to one knee.
"…Ghh—!"
Mira braced herself.
"…This thing—"
"…it's not even free yet!"
The eye focused.
Directly on Lior.
The fragment in his hand flared.
Reacting.
Calling.
Dianara's eyes widened.
"No—"
"It's trying to resonate!"
Seraphina stepped forward instantly.
"Pull him back!"
Izumi grabbed Lior and dragged him away from the gate.
The moment he moved—
The eye followed.
Not physically—
But its presence did.
Like it was reaching.
Without touching.
Then—
A voice.
Not spoken.
Not heard.
Felt.
Inside their minds.
"Fragment…"
Everyone froze.
Izumi's head snapped up.
"…Did you hear that?"
Mira's voice was tight.
"…Yeah."
Dianara's expression turned pale.
"…It's communicating."
The voice came again.
Heavier.
Clearer.
"Return…"
The fragment pulsed violently.
Lior cried out again.
"It's pulling me—!"
The force intensified.
Dragging him toward the gate.
Izumi held him tightly.
"Not happening!"
Seraphina stepped between them and the gate.
Her aura exploded outward.
Golden light clashed against the darkness.
"Back."
Her voice was firm.
Commanding.
For a moment—
The pressure stopped.
The eye narrowed slightly.
Then—
The darkness surged.
The Breaking Point
The crack widened further.
More than before.
The seal was failing.
Fast.
Dianara shouted—
"We can't hold this!"
Mira glanced back.
"…Then what?"
Dianara's voice was sharp—
"We retreat!"
Izumi froze.
"…What?"
"If we stay—"
Her eyes locked onto the gate.
"…we die."
Simple.
Clear.
True.
Seraphina didn't argue.
She turned immediately.
"Fall back!"
Mira grabbed Izumi's arm.
"Move!"
Izumi hesitated for a split second—
Looking back at the eye.
At the thing beyond the gate.
"…We're just leaving it?"
Seraphina's voice cut through.
"This is not a battle we can win."
That was enough.
They moved.
Fast.
Escape from the Depths
The moment they turned—
The gate reacted.
The eye glowed.
The voice echoed again.
Stronger.
"Return…"
A surge of force burst from the opening.
Chasing them.
The corridor behind them began collapsing.
Walls cracking.
Structures breaking.
Dianara shouted—
"Run!"
They rushed upward through the dark passages.
The pressure chased them.
Relentless.
Izumi carried Lior, who was barely conscious.
The fragment still glowing wildly.
Mira moved ahead, clearing debris.
Seraphina stayed behind—
Holding back the pressure with her aura.
"Go!"
Her voice echoed.
"I'll follow!"
Another surge hit.
Stronger.
Faster.
The darkness stretched—
Almost reaching them.
Izumi pushed forward.
"…We're not dying here!"
They reached the upper levels.
The pressure weakened slightly.
But didn't stop.
Not until—
They crossed back into the main ruins.
Then—
Silence.
Aftermath
They stopped.
Breathing heavily.
Exhausted.
Alive.
Lior collapsed completely.
The fragment dimmed.
Finally—
Calm.
Dianara dropped to one knee.
"…That was…"
She couldn't finish.
Mira exhaled sharply.
"…Yeah."
"No thanks."
Seraphina arrived last.
Her aura faded slowly.
But her expression—
Remained serious.
Izumi looked at her.
"…What was that thing?"
Silence.
Then—
Seraphina spoke.
"…Something that should never be free."
Dianara added quietly—
"…And it's waking up."
Izumi clenched his fists.
"…Because of the fragments?"
Dianara nodded.
"Yes."
"And now…"
Her eyes darkened.
"…it knows we exist."
Final Scene
Far below—
The cracked gate remained.
The eye slowly closed.
But not fully.
Never fully.
And the voice—
Echoed once more.
Soft.
Patient.
"Soon…"