To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 169: A place without sun

"Roger! Rogeeerr!"

Someone called Roger's name in excitement. 

In that person's loudness, a few maid came to calm the person. 

"Ms. Jeanne!"

"Sir Roger Collins is still in Floor 2!"

"And we haven't had any news whether he has left the Northeast Region of Floor 2 or not."

The person Jeanne lost her enthusiasm in the realization. 

"Oh, that's a shame. I thought I just heard him calling me."

The three maids stared at each other's faces, feeling a little guilty.

It has been three years to its fourth year since Jeanne off to the 3rd Floor. Three years apart from her best friend. Three years trying to move forward to the next floor. 

She is now in the Abyssal Hunter's Palace Crest, [Eria]. An empire built from the power of the Abyssal Hunter. A large city, the center of all activities, networks, and home to the Abyssal Hunters.

An empire that has an Egyptian style with modernization. A city located in the middle of a meld desert. 

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Abyssal Terra / Floor 3 

Sector 2 / Eria

The Capital of Floor 3 Abyssal Citizen. An empire ruled by Troy the Gluttony, the King Emperor. Mentored by the Spear Saint. The activity center for all Abyssal Hunters. The only place that has a Guild Building.

Populasi: 1000~

Policy: Based on the Abyssal Law

Authority: The Three Emperors

Description:

[Eria is in Sector Two of the Eight Sectors of Floor 3, Abyssal Terra. In close proximity of Third Floor's Abyss Pit, Sector One.]

[Eria is the only city Floor 3 has. The only liveable place sector in all eight sectors. The only peaceful place there is. Even though once a week, the Abyss Pit would make a terrible sound that made the ears uncomfortable.]

[Eria could accommodate 1000 residents at that time. However, development continues as the population growth continues to increase every year.]

[Eria is the life of all Floor 3 Abyssal Citizens. By the time, the path to the next floor had not been found until now. Everyone is trying to live their life there. Not many have even forgotten their goal of becoming an Abyssal Hunter.]

[Having a happy family has become the standard. Doing work other than hunting, such as being an artist, singer, and sportsman, has been widely practiced and is starting to be liked.]

[Eria is place of change and determination.]

~~~~~~~~~~

Palace of Crest / The Garden 

A woman sits alone in the garden hut. Her brownish blonde hair swayed in the wind. Her eyes were closed, she was at one with nature.

"Mama!"

She got awakened by the arrival of a child's voice. 

She takes a look at the running three-year-old boy, who was accompanied by the Spear Saint, Jeanne and two maids.

"Hey! You're up already, junior?"

She accepted the boy happily with a hug.

In her hand, the boy innocently answered: "Yeah, that because grandma Jeanne scream out loud before."

At that innocent confession, she gave the Spear Saint a slightly disappointed look.

"Ahaha! I'm sorry, I was sleeping in the balcony and a strong wind woke me up."

If that is the case, there is nothing else to do but accept the reality.

"Well, looks like it's time for you to have lunch."

Time is already showing towards noon. For an active three-year-old boy, that is the perfect time to recharge and get a supply of food.

The mother herself was feeding the boy to provide well stimulation of the boy's mental health. Accompanying by the happiest foster grandmother. 

After eating, the three of them played a little child's play. Increase the intelligence and creativity of the boy.

This precious time was used very well for the development of the boy. However, there was one thing that made the boy unsatisfied.

"Mama, when papa will come home? I miss him."

That innocent question turns the atmosphere to a little serious.

At that question, she smiled gently, reassuring the boy. 

"Soon the expedition over, junior."

"But, you always said that. When exactly will dad get home?"

It was one month right when the boy's father went on an expedition in another sector. During that time, the boy had been asking that question several times. He already looked disappointed because kept being given that uncertain answer. 

It made her melt in self-disappointment.

"Junior!"

Suddenly, the grandmother scream at Junior. 

Junior startled and immediately turn to grandmother. 

The grandmother looks at Junior in a stern expression.

"Aren't you going to be a hunter too? Don't be silly just because your dad isn't home yet. Be strong."

That assertiveness was actually still difficult for a three-year-old boy to understand. But Junior is a genius kid. The words brought his senses and stopped his whining.

"Alright. I won't ask anymore and wait for dad." Junior then turned and hug his mother. "I am sorry, mama. I know you are worried too."

Junior hugged his mother tightly as he apologize for being childish.

"You know, sometimes, your maturity makes mama think that it's mama who is still like a child."

After hugging and forgiving each other, Junior came down and perform a cool pose.

"Don't worry! When I grow up, I will become a strong hunter and protect mama when papa isn't home!"

Such a high enthusiasm and big dream for a three-year-old child.

"Now-now, go to your observer room and observe Adam's Root. Grandma and mama want to have a private talk. We will pick you up in the evening."

"Roger, bos!"

At the grandmother's orders, Junior paid his respects, turned around, then left accompanied by two maids. Leaving the two mothers alone in private.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Abyssal Terra / Floor 3 

Adam's Root /

Definition / Adam's Root is Adam Tree's giant root that pierced the 3rd Floor sky. The giant roots of Adam Tree cover Sector 2 to 3 skies. On the giant roots that pierced the sky grew a lot of green plants, and there are many exotic flying animals that lived there.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Jeanne looked at Adam's Tree, which was directly above their heads. A miracle that cannot be found in the outside world.

"So, calling out an old friend's name is a wind's fault."

Frida Olden breaking the ice. Make Jeanne feel ashamed of herself.

"S-stop that. I don't know why I heard that person's call before."

"In that case, it must have something to do with what happened on Floor 2, the northeast region."

That news made Jeanne excited. "Tell me about that!"

Three years ago, she parted ways from her best friend who lived in the northeast region on Floor 2. After three years, finally something happened in the region which most likely involved her best friend.

"Another catastrophe happened."

Frida knocked on the hut table twice. A digital monitor screen appears, showing the data program that is storing information.

Frida pressed the monitor screen, which led to certain information. Shows an image of big mountains with a black sky.

"What the hell is this?" asked Jeanne in curiosity. 

"This image taken in Black Dragon Kingdom. Shows the atmosphere of the Catastrophe Beast battle with the northeast region hunters."

Frida shifts the screen, showing dozens of photos taken from the Catastrophe incident in the northeast region.

Frida stops at a different photo than the others.

"What's up with this one?"

Frida points to a point on top of a certain mountain. "Can you see something?"

Jeanne brought her face closer to the screen, trying to catch something Frida was pointing at, but still couldn't find.

"What is it really? Just tell me. I don't have good eyes like yours."

Frida takes her hand away. "It's a dragon."

"A what?"

Jeanne dumbfounded. Hearing the word 'dragon' after all this time made her a little in disbelief.

"What kind?!"

That question is just for ensure of one thing Jeanne could think of.

Frida shifted the screen to further photos before answering.

"This is just my opinion, this dragon, there are several of them. But strangely, their heads have the same structure and soul. It's like, they are in one body."

Frida is confused by the phenomenon in the pictures she sees. Her two eyes which have a golden color that move like a machine, analyze all the images in the data for a result.

"Hydra."

Suddenly, Jeanne muttered something. 

"That must be Hydra!"

"Hydra? You mean, the nine-headed dragon? But, why it appears in northeast region's Catastrophe?"

"The prophecy was true."

"Prophecy?"

[Prophecy, a phenomenon that gives a sign something will happen in the future. Prophecy can be found in a certain place, or obtained by particular people.]

If a Saint has said that, it means that it is true. 

Frida continues scrolling through the images until she reaches the last few pictures.

"In these images, it shows an extremely powerful energy against Hydra."

The last few images show an extremely bright white light moving to the other side, then slowly fading away.

"After this, we still don't have the information of what happened there. Since the people living in the northeast region were Bounty Hunters, we couldn't get this important information from them cheaply."

Jeanne suddenly became silent. She closed her eyes. The aura around her felt gloomy.

"I'm proud of you."

She suddenly spoke to herself. To be in a world of her own.

"I'm sorry." Jeanne gets up from her sit. "I want to have time to be alone."

Jeanne left on feeling lonely.

Frida closes the screen. They are done for the day.

"Being alone who still moves forward sure made her depressed."