Chapter 1: The Child Without a Crest
I. The Birth of Maneless
The sea was never still. But that night, the sea felt... like it was holding its breath. The wind did not blow, the waves did not roll. Only silence filled the depths of the Thal'Zaen ocean. Inside the Temple of the Great Current, in the midst of a dark depth unseen by any eyes, a mother was struggling to give birth to her child. This temple was a sacred place for the Or'Kai people, a place where they connected with the power of the ocean, a power incomprehensible to many creatures.
Around her, the elders stood with hopeful gazes. The light from their shimmering crests danced on the water's surface, forming beautiful patterns of light. Above the calm water altar, a woman named Nyra was giving birth to a child unplanned by fate.
"Push, Nyra! Just a little more!"
The voice of an elder, Elder Kael, sounded full of hope. Nyra, gasping for breath, gripped the hand of her husband standing beside her. Tension filled every second, the water around the altar churning with the accelerating heartbeat. Once more, the piercing cry of a newborn echoed in the sacred space.
However... there was no cheering that usually accompanied the birth of an Or'Kai child. There was no welcoming with a soul song, only a suffocating silence.
Nyra stared at the newborn with tears in her eyes, her face weak, but there was a glimmer of hope in her gaze. The baby had glossy dark skin, white markings resembling snow on its chest and face—a sign of pure Or'Kai. However, there was something different. No Wave Crest emerged, the symbol of power that distinguished every Or'Kai child from the others. The baby's back was bare.
Elder Varn, the highest leader among them, stepped forward slowly. His face was stern, full of judgment.
"He... is born without a soul," he said in a flat voice, yet it seemed to carry immense weight.
Nyra, with a weary body, pulled her child into her embrace. "He's alive! He's crying! That means he has a soul!" she cried in a hoarse voice, her eyes wet with tears. "He's my child!"
Elder Varn shook his head, his face full of worry. "He is not one of us. He is a crack in the current. A sign that the ocean will be split."
A warrior standing near the altar drew a shimmering trident. "We must seal him before the currents of darkness find their vessel."
Elder Kael looked at the warrior with sharp eyes. "No! We cannot do that. This is a child of the ocean itself. We do not know what will happen if he is left alone." But there was doubt in his eyes. Everyone knew that a child without a Crest was something that had never happened before.
Nyra looked at her son lovingly, but she knew this was the time to part. "His name... is Maneless," she said, trying to smile even though her life was almost gone.
The last of Nyra's strength ebbed away with his name. She fell to the altar floor, and her blood mixed with the water around her, turning it a deep red.
The warrior approached, but before he could do anything, Nyra's body had already slumped lifelessly. The baby lay in her arms, crying loudly, as if unaware of the loss that had just occurred.
II. Twelve Years Later: Life in the Crack of the Sea
Twelve years had passed since Maneless's birth, which was considered a curse. The Crack of the Sea, a desolate and terrible place, became his dwelling. This place was far from the bustle of the Or'Kai, a region located beyond their control. Only exiles and lost creatures lived here, far from anyone's sight.
Maneless grew into a young man who could not be called an ordinary child. His body was taller and stronger than children his age. He possessed extraordinary physical strength, but he never knew why. For years, he survived by hunting and avoiding wild creatures more dangerous than anything he had ever encountered.
But one thing always haunted his thoughts—he never knew who he truly was. Without a Crest, he felt empty, like a missing puzzle piece. Every night, he woke up from dreams filled with fire that could not burn water, and mysterious voices calling him from nameless abysses.
In a world full of solitude and destruction, only exiled creatures could speak to him—blind fish, drowned spirits, and whispers from the deep ocean floor. Maneless spoke with them, but they only gave vague, mysterious answers.
One day, while exploring the ruins of a temple swallowed by coral, Maneless found a strange carving on the wall—a winged spiral, a mark very similar to the birthmark on his chest. His heart trembled, as if an invisible bond connected him to the symbol.
He touched the carving with his calloused hand. Suddenly, the water around him began to vibrate. A deep, ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"The sealed blood... finally touches its trace."
The ground beneath him began to crack, and in an instant, the floor beneath him collapsed, causing Maneless to fall into a depth deeper than he had ever imagined.
III. The Fall into the Sealed Abyss
Maneless fell, his body slamming onto the hard floor of a vast abyss hidden far below. Rumbling sounds came from all directions, yet strangely, he felt no pain from the water pressure that should have crushed his body.
He landed at the bottom of the dark abyss, a place filled with an ancient and mysterious aura. In the center, a figure cloaked in black water stood, its face hidden in an inexplicable mist.
The figure raised a hand, and a deep voice echoed clearly in his mind.
"You... the crestless one. You who cannot be touched by light, yet cannot be swallowed by darkness." The figure stepped closer, and the heavy aura surrounding it felt so real.
Maneless felt trapped. His body could not move. He felt something greater than himself controlling his every movement.
"Do you know who you truly are?" the figure asked.
Maneless was silent. "I am only... a curse. Only a part of a wrong fate," he replied in a weak voice, still confused by what was actually happening.
The figure chuckled softly, the sound like the deep ocean. "Not a curse, but a vessel. The Crest never left you. It is hidden. Sealed. And you... are the last guardian. You are the only one who can stop The Abyssal Crown that has awakened."
Instantly, the stones around him began to glow. Bright blue light enveloped the surroundings, and the winged spiral emblem appeared on Maneless's chest. The water around him began to swirl, adding to the power emanating from his body. But his body felt weak.
"Open your eyes. And see..."
Maneless saw it. A clear vision of the destruction to come, the sunken cities, and the creatures filled with darkness. All of it caused by The Abyssal Crown that was now rising.
With his back feeling like it was burning, he fell to the ground, his body exhausted.
IV. The New Awareness
When Maneless opened his eyes, a soft blue light still enveloped his surroundings. He felt as if his entire body had just been filled with a power he had never known before. However, as he focused his gaze, the light slowly faded, leaving a void filled only by the low sound of waves crashing against the abyss floor.
His head felt dizzy, and his breathing was heavy. How could he be in this place? A place so far from the world he knew. A place filled with such ancient and alien power. The black water-cloaked figure that had just appeared—was it real, or just a figment of his exhaustion? Or perhaps it was some kind of clue about his destiny?
But one thing was clear—something within him had changed.
Maneless felt his chest. The winged spiral emblem that had appeared on his skin now shone brightly, as if hinting at something very important. Perhaps that was the power that had been buried within him all this time. A power that had been held back for so long, waiting for the right moment to awaken. But why him? Why this child born without a Crest? What made him different from the others?
Another voice began to sound in his mind, clearer than before. He recognized the voice, even though it was not a voice he had ever heard before.
"You have awakened, Maneless. The power that has been sealed within you has now been unleashed."
Maneless shivered, even though the temperature around the abyss was warm. The voice was so familiar, yet foreign at the same time. He felt something greater than himself controlling his every bodily movement. Something he could not resist.
"What is this power?" Maneless asked, his voice trembling. He didn't know what was happening to him.
"The missing Crest is not a curse, but a key," the voice replied, calm and authoritative. "The power hidden within your body is the key to stopping the coming catastrophe. The darkness that will engulf the ocean and the wider world. The Abyssal Crown has awakened. You are the only one who can stop it."
Maneless was silent, the words echoing in his mind. The Abyssal Crown—a power he did not know, yet something within him knew it was not good. Something evil, that could destroy the world he knew.
"What must I do?" Maneless asked, his voice filled with anxiety.
"Awaken your power, Maneless. Find the traces that have been sealed within you. Only then can you fight the approaching darkness," the voice replied.
Maneless tried to get up, but his body felt weak. The blue light that had briefly emanated from his chest now began to fade, but the new sensation—a power he did not fully understand—continued to flow within him. Something so vast, so strong, like an unstoppable current.
He had to learn to control it. He had to find a way to use this power, before the darkness spread further.
A night so dark, as if waiting to swallow every light. The world around him felt so vast, so foreign. But one thing was certain—his journey had just begun. He didn't know what awaited him out there, but he knew he had to find answers.
V. Discovery and Unveiled Destruction
Maneless began to move, though his steps were heavy. Every movement felt so slow, as if an unspoken burden weighed on his shoulders. However, there was another feeling within him—a strong feeling that grew stronger in his heart. This was not the end. This was the beginning of something greater.
Above, far on the ocean's surface, life continued. But below, in this sealed place, a darkness slowly began to stir. Maneless could feel it, could sense that something evil, something full of hatred, was approaching.
He reached for the blue crystal he had always kept—a legacy from his long-deceased mother. The crystal now felt warmer in his hand, as if giving him new strength. The faint light seemed to grow stronger, more alive.
"Maneless..." the voice returned, this time clearer. "Seek me. Find me, and the darkness will stop."
Maneless took a deep breath, calming himself. This journey would not be easy. But he could not turn back. A world larger than himself awaited, and he had to face it.
With more determined steps, Maneless began to walk towards the surface, towards the world he knew—and the world he would change forever.
VI. Finding the Trace
Maneless looked up, towards the ocean surface that seemed so far above him. A world he did not know—a world he had once left for the solitude he had chosen. But now, that world was calling him. The vast ocean felt full of possibilities, but also unimaginable threats. So many creatures lurked, waiting for a chance to finish him.
Moving slowly, Maneless began to climb the steep walls of the abyss. His body still felt heavy, but each step became more steady, more confident. The light from the winged spiral emblem on his chest now shone brighter, providing illumination in the increasingly dense darkness. The mark was a clue. A trace that led him closer to his destiny.
He passed through dark recesses at the bottom of the sea that had never been touched by humans or Or'Kai before. Only exiled creatures lived in places like this. Blind fish, dark-shaped beings that no longer possessed souls, and corals that had long been buried in time.
However, there was something else here. An aura that called to him, as if something greater awaited him. Something more than just ancient traces he had to follow.
Maneless paused for a moment and closed his eyes, trying to sense what was around him. Then, he heard it—a soft voice calling his name from within the darkness.
"Maneless…"
The voice was so real, and although there were no other creatures nearby, he felt it—an undefined presence. The voice came from a hole hidden behind a pile of old coral. Without hesitation, Maneless approached it, stepping further into the dark cave that grew narrower.
When he finally arrived inside the cave, he found an altar that looked very old, surrounded by large stones that seemed to have been there since ancient times. On the altar, an emblem very similar to the mark on his chest was clearly engraved—a winged spiral that seemed to shimmer in the darkness.
"The blood that carries the trace," the voice returned, this time stronger, clearer. "You have arrived at the right place, Maneless."
Maneless's heart beat faster. He knew that this was part of his destiny. That this was the place where he would find his answers. Without hesitation, he approached the altar and touched the emblem engraved on it. When his fingers made contact with the stone, a tremendous energy flowed through his body, causing him to fall to the ground.
A sharp pain attacked every inch of his body, but there was also a strange sensation that accompanied it—a relief, as if something sealed within him was beginning to open. The blue light from his chest shone very brightly, and the emblem on the altar also began to glow, following the rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Now you know, Maneless," the voice said, softer this time. "The power within you is the power that will bring change. You are the only one who can stop the awakening of The Abyssal Crown. Only by unlocking the Crest sealed within you will you be able to fight that darkness."
Maneless felt his body tremble. That feeling—as if something great was ready to awaken within him. But he also felt a deep fear. What would happen if he failed? What would happen to this world if he could not control this power?
"What must I do?" Maneless asked in a voice full of confusion.
"Open your eyes. Find the sealed Crest. Use the power within you to defeat The Abyssal Crown before it is too late."
Maneless stared at the emblem with determined eyes. There was no turning back. There was no other choice. This world—this ocean—depended on him. He had to learn to control the power he had just discovered, or everything would be destroyed.
VII. Leaving the Abyss
With steady steps, Maneless left the cave. The light that had once been faint now enveloped his body like an invisible shield. He knew this journey would not be easy. He had to seek more clues, more sealed power, and the only way to do that was to follow the traces of destiny that led him to a farther place.
However, as he began to swim towards the surface, a strange feeling lingered in his heart. Something was moving in the depths, something larger than he had imagined. The voice returned, stronger this time—a whisper coming from the deeper ocean.
"Maneless… you are not alone."
Maneless turned, but there was only darkness behind him. Something was watching, something he could not see, but could feel. Was it the approaching power of darkness? Or was it a threat greater than anything he could understand?
With a deep breath, Maneless quickened his pace. He had to survive, even though fear and doubt continued to haunt him. This ocean was full of undiscovered secrets, and he had to find them—before it was too late.
VIII. The Barrier of Darkness
Maneless continued to swim towards the surface, moving further away from the abyss and the ancient cave he had left behind. The power he had just discovered still flowed within his body, like an unceasing fire. However, a sense of anxiety and fear continued to linger in his heart. Every movement he made felt increasingly heavy, as if something was hindering his progress. The situation felt increasingly unnatural, and despite his best efforts to ignore the feeling, there was a deep sense that something—or someone—was watching him from the depths of the sea.
He looked around. This ocean was never quiet. Large fish, seemingly tireless sea creatures, swam calmly. However, this time something was different. The ocean seemed to be hiding something, something dangerous. Maneless felt a dark energy drawing closer, slowly creeping around him. The light from the spiral emblem on his chest shone with greater intensity, but it seemed only enough to hold back the encroaching darkness.
Suddenly, a massive wave appeared in front, slamming into Maneless's body with tremendous force. He was dragged down, carried away by the strong current, his body crashing against sharp coral rocks jutting out from the seabed. The water around him felt heavy and dense, almost as if something wanted to drown him.
Maneless struggled to return to the surface, feeling that a force was trying to stop him. "Who… who is blocking me?" he cried inwardly, but the sound was drowned out by the sudden roar of the waves.
"Maneless…"
The voice returned—no longer sounding like a guiding voice, but now more like a commanding one. An unavoidable force, originating from a very distant depth. Maneless tried to draw strength from within himself, pulling on the energy flowing through his body, but the more he resisted, the stronger the pressure became.
"What do you want from me?" Maneless cried out, his voice echoing in the vast emptiness of the sea.
Suddenly, in front of Maneless, a dark shape began to emerge. A large shadow with eyes that glittered like two stars in the night. The creature was not fully visible, but the large and elongated shape of its body indicated that it was something far more powerful than anything Maneless had ever seen before.
"You will not be able to escape your destiny, Maneless," the voice echoed in his mind. "I am the sealed Abyssal Lord. You are merely part of a larger plan. Nothing can stop my awakening."
Maneless felt his body constricted, as if invisible chains bound him to this place. But within his heart, an anger began to rise. He could not allow himself to be controlled by a creature like this. Although he did not yet fully understand the power within him, he knew one thing for sure—he would not give up.
With all his might, Maneless took a