The expedition walked at a steady pace. They were still within Nexus's influence, but here, it was thin and brittle. Creatures were still somewhat held back by its presence, but they appeared far more frequently than near the cities.
The small islands of light surrounding the expedition revealed rock formations of varying sizes. Sometimes, they passed jagged stone spires that vanished into the gloom, or strange, unnatural shapes—almost man-made, but not quite.
This had once been an ancient quarry, mined extensively to help establish Goreth as an industrial powerhouse. It was abandoned when its resources were exhausted, remnants of tracks and carts still scattered throughout. The landscape was barren—for now. That would change once they entered the shifting territories.
After several hours of walking, Bright Light signaled for a break. The expressions of the newly Unlocked ranged from quiet fatigue to silent dread. Their only true comfort was the expedition leader himself: Bright Light. His presence alone seemed to chase away the shadows, as if his very soul radiated light into the world.
It was the only thing keeping morale from plummeting.
Perched on a rock beside his group, Elion pulled out a dense ration bar from an aluminum wrapper. He looked at it with visible disdain before biting into it. His teeth felt like they might shatter against the brick-like surface. Eventually, it cracked, allowing him to chew.
It tastes like sawdust and has the texture of sandstone, truly appalling.
Elion forced it down with a swig of water and grimaced.
Do I really have to eat this for the next weeks?
He glanced at the others in his group. All had similar reactions—even Joart, surprisingly. Only Mao remained unfazed. With all the expeditions he'd done, the man was clearly used to it, chewing the bar with ease, his face betraying no discomfort.
After fifteen minutes, they resumed the march. The further they moved from the cities, the more vegetation appeared. Traces of the quarry grew rarer. Only the occasional support beam along the walls hinted at human craftsmanship.
At one point, Bright Light raised a hand, and everyone halted. Elion, too far back to see what was happening, waited in tense silence.
A sudden flash of light cut through the gloom—followed by a terrible screech of agony.
Then, as if nothing had happened, they continued forward. Whispers rippled through the newly Unlocked ranks when they passed the grotesque carcass of a creature of the Depths, its gaping maw pierced and scorched with terrifying precision.
After a long, grueling day of walking, the expedition finally arrived at the base located at the edge of Nexus's influence. The structure was built into the stone, its alloy exterior worn and scarred with deep grooves. It looked incredibly sturdy—and utterly abandoned.
Bright Light inserted a key into the lock. It clicked loudly before releasing. The tall man gripped the handle and pulled, muscles like steel cables flexing beneath his skin. A terrible scraping sound echoed through the air as the heavy door dragged against the stone floor.
Inside was a dark expanse carved into the wall. There was no electrical lighting—interference from the Depths was too strong. Only a stone hearth stood ready beneath a smoke trap.
"We've arrived at Last Reach," Bright Light announced. "Settle in for the night. Be ready to enter the Depths tomorrow."
Yeri lit a fire using the stack of wood piled near the entrance. This was likely the only place where they could afford to burn wood for warmth since the source of such luxuries lay just beyond.
The pale logs were quickly swallowed by flames, their warmth pushing back the growing cold.
Elion dropped to the ground, exhausted. He ate without even bothering to complain about the taste, laid out his sleeping bag, and zipped himself into the comforting embrace of sleep.
When he awoke, something felt off. His dreams—usually vivid since becoming an Unlocked—were often forgotten by morning. But now, he could remember fragments.
There was fear, pain, and the sound of rushing water. That was all he could recall. It hadn't been a pleasant dream, but the fact it lingered made it stand out.
He rubbed his eyes. Around him, people were already packing up. Soon, everyone would be awake and ready to truly venture beyond Nexus's influence.
When they were prepared, Yeri exited through a door in the back. Her ability seemed well suited for scouting.
In the meantime, Bright Light addressed the group:
"Once we start descending, do not talk. Try to avoid making any noise at all. We need to limit the attention the expedition attracts. If we're attacked, stay back and don't engage. If you have questions, now's the time."
Everyone stayed silent.
"Alright then, let us depart."
Yeri returned shortly after and led them to the far side of Last Reach. There, a balcony overlooked the abyss below. Until now, they'd been walking on mostly level ground. But now, the true descent would begin.
Elion looked back at the building. This side of Last Reach had deeper, more numerous grooves—signs of fierce battles long past.
Yeri led them down into the abyss. She kept one hand over her right eye, as if peering at something others couldn't see. The recruits walked carefully, forming a long line along the thin ledge of the crater.
At several points, they had to climb down using anchored ropes.
They had been descending for hours, yet still no sign of the bottom. Strange trees began to appear, leaning at odd angles from the edge, their roots embedded deep into the rock. The bark was a dark grey, and their leaves were pitch black.
How they fed became clear when a bat-like creature flew past and was ensnared in the thick web of falling leaves. Its life force was absorbed instantly, the branches rustling in eerie satisfaction as the drained husk dropped into the abyss.
Elion shivered and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Everything down here was dangerous. It demanded utmost caution—if you wanted even a sliver of a chance to survive.
The deeper they went, the more of those cursed trees appeared, populating the cliffside like a twisted vertical forest. Bioluminescent growths clung to the bark, glowing deep blue, creating a breathtaking—if unnerving spectacle.
Up ahead, Yeri raised her hand and exchanged a few quiet words with Bright Light. The two walked to the ledge, gesturing for the expedition to pause. She pointed into the impenetrable darkness. Bright Light raised his hand, joining his index finger to his thumb to form a circle.
Within it, a radiant dot of pure white light appeared. The shadows recoiled instantly. The dot elongated into a beam and fired off into the darkness, illuminating a distant point in the crater with a blinding flash.
A high-pitched noise filled the air. Elion instinctively covered his ears. Something was rising from the depths. A winged creature soared upward, its four massive wings generating violent drafts that stirred the black leaves. One of its wings was pierced and scorched, causing it to fly unevenly.
As Elion set eyes on it, a faint glow emerged on his forearm. The Voice of God whispered:
[Class: II]
Despite its injury, the creature lunged toward Bright Light, talons outstretched in an attempt to seize him. At that moment, one of the First Fingers—Olia—stepped forward. Her dark hair was tied in a loose bun behind her head, a shield and sword slung over her back.
Just as the beast was about to strike, it slammed into something invisible. Olia's outstretched arms trembled, holding the barrier. Then, Bright Light released another beam of light, searing through the creature's deformed skull and sending it plummeting back into the abyss.
Moments later, the sound of something hitting water echoed through the cavern.
Water…
It was probably baseless superstition, but the sound made Elion uneasy—especially after his dream.
They continued descending. An hour later, the ledge began to widen. The glow of their lights reflected off a dark expanse of water. Strange trees surrounded the area, their roots stretching deep into the water like parasitic organisms.
The creature's corpse was nowhere to be seen.
Everyone filled their water bottles, using the built-in filters to make the liquid safe to drink.
Yeri made a point of moving away from the water before calling for rest. That small act made Elion feel slightly better.
Now, everyone sat on the cold stone floor, staying quiet. Only the rustle of packs being opened broke the silence. They had chosen a clearing with fewer trees and better visibility. With two hundred people, staying completely hidden was impossible, so their best option was to spot danger before it reached them.
This routine continued for several days. They crossed varied terrain. Bright Light and his team battled many abominations—and prevailed—but injuries were beginning to pile up.
Things weren't exactly smooth, but they were manageable.
Well, until now…