The trench walls narrowed as Ethan Cross led his team deeper into the abyss. The water thickened, like syrup laced with ink, resisting their every movement. The second Binding Pillar was said to be hidden within an ancient growth once called the Garden of Elaris—now twisted by abyssal corruption.
The Chainheart Sigil pulsed in Ethan's grasp, its glow intensifying as they approached the edge of the garden.
"This is it," he said, halting near a jagged coral ridge. "The Garden lies just beyond."
Eren scanned the darkness. "Looks more like a graveyard."
Indeed, what should've been verdant plant life now resembled a forest of black tendrils and thorny seaweed writhing unnaturally. Between the stalks lurked twisted shapes—plants that breathed, moved, and hunted.
[System Notification]
Location Discovered: Abyssal Garden of Elaris
Once a sanctuary of underwater flora, now corrupted by Abyssal influence.
Warning: Flora are semi-sentient and aggressive. Proceed with caution.
Objective: Locate and activate the second Binding Pillar.
Enemy Encountered: Thornlash Creeper
[Status Window]
Name: Thornlash Creeper
Type: Abyssal Plant (Mutated)
Level: 46
HP: 3,600
Skills:
Vine Barrage: Launches razor-sharp vines in a cone, deals 393 damage.
Sap Drain: Drains 211 HP over 5 seconds.
Abyssal Bloom: Explodes upon death, dealing 555 AoE damage.
The first strike came fast. A Thornlash Creeper snapped forward from the gloom and lashed a vine straight toward Kaela.
Kaela receives 393 damage!
She staggered but held her ground, casting a quick light ward over herself.
Brandon reacted instantly, jabbing his spear into the creature's core.
Brandon dealt 521 damage!
"Watch out!" Ethan called. "If it dies too close, it explodes."
The Creeper's thorns retracted, and its bulb swelled—an obvious tell of the Abyssal Bloom skill.
"Scatter!"
Ethan threw a dagger, striking the plant in the center.
Ethan dealt 699 damage – Critical Hit!
Thornlash Creeper Defeated!
Abyssal Bloom triggers – 555 AoE damage!
Everyone dove back. Kaela's shield absorbed most of it, but Eren took the blast head-on.
Eren receives 555 damage! HP: 133/1,300
"Medic!" Kye shouted.
Kaela knelt, channeling her strongest healing skill:
Prayer of Vitality – Eren healed for 711 HP
The Garden wasn't a dungeon—it was a living maze. Each step forward meant navigating between sentient vines that whispered to one another. Darkened lilies sprayed poison clouds; coral stalks lashed like spears. The Sigil pulsed stronger the deeper they ventured.
"I see something up ahead," Brandon said. "A clearing."
They emerged into a dome-shaped chamber formed from intertwined vines and coral. At the center stood a massive spire covered in etched symbols—the Second Binding Pillar.
But it wasn't unguarded.
[Abyssal Keeper – Myrel, Bloom of Ruin Appears!]
[Status Window – Abyssal Keeper Myrel]
Type: Abyssal Dryad (Corrupted)
Level: 58
HP: 10,200
Skills:
Blooming Despair: Summons corrupted roots to snare and explode.
Thorn Wreath: Shields Myrel for 1,001 damage every 15 seconds.
Pollen Cloud: Inflicts hallucinations and disorients vision.
"I'll keep her focused!" Brandon yelled, charging.
Myrel raised her arms, and an explosion of pollen filled the room.
Ethan is disoriented! Accuracy reduced by 45%
"Dammit!"
Kaela resisted the effect thanks to her relic. She summoned a Light Lance and pierced the shield:
Kaela dealt 733 damage – Shield broken!
Ethan activated his ultimate:
[Skill Used – Abyssal Rift Implosion]
Effect: Creates a black hole at Myrel's feet, pulling in surrounding enemies.
Damage Dealt: 1,179... 941... 835...
Myrel screamed, roots flailing. She summoned vines that dragged Kye across the battlefield.
Kye receives 419 damage per second!
"Cover me!" Ethan darted in and activated a new class skill unlocked by the Chainheart Sigil:
[Skill Used – Abyssal Chain Seal]
Effect: Binds an enemy in place, reducing movement by 100% and taking 25% extra damage for 8 seconds.
Myrel bound!
Brandon pierced her heart with his spear, glowing from Abyssal minerals.
Brandon dealt 1,133 damage – Critical Hit!
The Keeper let out a shriek, exploding into a mass of withering vines.
[System Notification]
Abyssal Keeper Myrel defeated.
Second Binding Pillar Activated.
Corruption Reduced by 5%.
The chain on the relic tightened further, binding another phantom limb of the Leviathan in place.
"Two more," Ethan breathed.
The pillar pulsed, releasing spores into the air. One drifted into Ethan's chest—and a notification appeared.
[Item Acquired: Bloomcore Fragment]
A rare Abyssal plant-based material used to craft healing or poison-based items.
Can be used in combination with Leviathan materials.
They exited the garden cautiously, battered but alive. The whispering of the Leviathan grew fainter, as though its chains now pulled it further into slumber.
Back at Dock 13, Kaela began processing the Bloomcore into vials while Ethan checked the map for their next path.