Do we really have to do this? I asked as I looked down at the seemingly unending dark corridor that was descending. Although it was broad daylight, the day after defeating Skeletron, the way down the unlocked dungeon was still as ominous as the night. Omni, who was beside me nodded.

"Its necessary for progression," he stated.

After a long sigh, I hesitantly descended into the darkness with a torch. As the torch illuminated the surrounding darkness, Omni suggested leaving a trail of torches to find our way back. As we continued to descend, there was a sudden halt. There was a wall, with no way in. I looked over at Omni, who stared at the wall then immediately looked like he has got an inspiration. He took out a pickaxe, but not like any Ive seen before. The blade was molten yet solid. It was emitting lots of heat yet low amounts of light. I took it and hit at the wall, which for some reason collapsed on its own.

Now finally in the Dungeon, the damp, dark corridors was menacing enough. But it was not dripping water droplets that got be cautious, but occasional rattling of... something solid yet hollow.

What are we looking here for again? I asked.

A shadow key. I gotta make things fair for everything,He said. Otherwise, the extra loot you can keep and maybe sell.

Well, who am I gonna sell it to? You said no one could enter or leave this world.

Well, I have detected human contact sometime ago. Im not sure how they got here, but if one got here, there sure are more thats gonna come.

Well, I hope that your building is quick enough.

It is, Im just playing by the rules. Specifically, your progression.

I slowly nodded. Then I jumped for a bit. The rattling grew louder. I could not pinpoint where it was coming from. My heart pounding could not even be heard by myself due to the continuous rattling. Omni behind me warned me that I may be up for a huge fight in the tight corridor that we were in, and that we may have to retreated. As i nodded in response, he snapped his fingers and through unknown means, the entire dungeon could be felt being lit up at once. I stared in disbelief. Skeletons. Living skeletons surrounded us. It definitely was not my fear, but seeing something thats dead come to life, I panicked. There were all sorts of skeletons, ones wearing robes casting magic, sword wielding or bare handed. Then out of no where, they exploded and crumbled into piles of dusty bones. I looked back, Omni was standing differently, holding the same sword from when he defeated the Desert Scourge.

"I'll let you deal with them next time," He said while he made the sword disappear. My heart was still racing, but at least I didnt need the torches because of Omni. As we continued to explore the dungeon, we encountered a few locked golden chests. Omni said that unless we had a golden key or something else, we can do nothing about it. As I stood there, an idea flashed through my mind.

"Do you have a lock picking set? Or perhaps a few paper clips?" I asked.

"No, but I can spawn in one," he replied. I nodded, and hoping that I still remember my skills, gladly took the lock picking set and started work on the chest. Despite the chest locking mechanisms meant to be advanced, in no time at all, the chest was open. I looked over at Omni who was impressed. Opening the chest and beholding its contents, was a blue flail and random potions plus some cash and that damn suspicious looking eye. Nothing of real value to me so I held on to the loot found. Not long after, we somehow found another golden chest. Within a few minutes, the chest was open and I peeked into its contents. A cobalt shield and a shadow key.

"You still want to stay and gather more loot?" He asked.

"Yes yes," I said without thinking. With my theft abilities and adrenaline, we continued to venture down.

~

"That... was... unfortunate." I mumbled as I rubbed and attempted to soothe my injuries. Omni merely shook his head and handed me a a chocolate bar. I stared back at him with a confused look before taking it. Of course it tasted normal, but I could feel my wounds healing. I still remember what happened even though it happened in a split second. If only Omni helped me a second time there. But I guess the water candle there could be blamed on as well.

It was quite a rest, but Omni had other plans. As I laid back a bit to rest for a while more, Omni said something before disappearing and closing the door.

"Once you are ready, come to the Sulpherous Sea would ya? Got something for you to do".

"How long can I take-". Dang, already out the door.

Trekking towards the odd biome was even harder. I have not fully rested, but how long can someone wait? Once again reaching the sea, the acidic atmosphere immediately stung my eyes and nose. Wiping away tears, Omni was up ahead, seemingly chatting to a small figure. Then almost as if sensing my presence, that figure up and left, towards a small wooden cottage that I never knew was there.

"Hey, how long have you been waiting? Seems like you made a new friend." I said as I approached him.

"Not very long. Could've waited till tomorrow but oh well. And that is not a new friend, that is an old friend." He replied.

"Do they live around here? They walked towards a structure I never knew was there."

"What structure?" He asked with a smile.

I looked around. The cottage wasn't there anymore. Omni suggested to me that I should just brush it of like a bad dream.

"But that only further solidifies its existence..." I softly replied.

"..."

Omni stared at me as if I committed something he doesn't approve before ignoring me and proceeds to dropping something that made a clang, making me jump. Looking down, it seemed to be diving gear. Haven't seen one of these before, but I definitely heard of them. Its' sleek dark green metal proves what I'm looking at.

"Abyssal diving Suit?" I asked, amazed. "These are hard to come by in the city, and worth a lot too!"

"Yeah, sold by whom?" Omni questioned.

"Certain travelling merchants, although the suspicious kind..." I honestly replied. "They give the wrong vibes, but have priceless items that usually are hard to come by are just stupidly rare."

"Hm... interesting," He muttered before commenting about not supposing to happen. I stared back blankly before he pointed at the suit. With a smile, I sighed and slowly put on the diving suit.

"Uff, I never imagined it to be that light," I commented. "Not that stuffy either, completely unexpected!"

"Well, it's how it's meant to be. I have engineered the oxygen tanks to be infinite." Omni said while making final adjustments.

"Why- oh..."

"This is why I sometimes remark you as dumb."

"Shut the hell up..."

"I'll guide you through the abyss-"

"Wait, the abyss? No..."

"You do not want to go there?"

"Nuh-uh, but if I get to keep what I get, then yes."

"That was the plan..."

"Including the suit."

"Of course,"

With nothing holding me back, Omni held my hand and then in a blink of an eye, over the Sulpherous Sea with no islands close by, we fell in. It was amazing seeing exotic sea life in such an unfathomable environment. As we slowly sank, I could feel the pressure mounting on me without experiencing any burning feeling from the acidic waters.

"I think you can talk in that suit..." Omni casually said.

"Uhm... oh wow." I muttered.

"The descend might take a while, so why not we make this entertaining?"

"Like what?"

"Like, I dunno, suggest something,

Hm, ok... who was that just now?A

Of all the things you could ask...

Why?

Never mind. Lets just say Id rather answer another question.

Fine... why are you here? You could just given me the suit and made me come alone?

Im here for something. So efficiency I guess.

As we slowly descended, the surroundings got darker, and I realised the water no longer has the acidic feeling on the diving suit. Which could only mean one thing: we were in the abyss. We landed on a platform thats somehow afloat by one connection to the walls. As large as the Abyss was, I felt claustrophobic. It felt like the darkness and water took most of ones personal space. My chest just felt unease; I was perfectly capable of breathing, but the uncomfortable feeling is just there. No way else to explain it. Omni waved to get my attention, and as I turned, he pointed at a submerged cabin. Swimming inside it, all that stood out to me was the chest in the middle, and Omni handed me the shadow key we collected on the loot trip in the dungeon. Slotting in the shadow key, I turned it slowly until there was a muffled click sound. Opening the chest, water immediately flooded the contents, and some of the contents were floating off.

Do i really need this? I asked while holding a piece of metal from the chest.

No, its already part of the suit. But you can sell that Anechoic Plating. He replied.

I nodded and we sank deeper. There were now floating underwater islands, all of them had the same chests which, of course, has the loot Im after. As I opened another chest, there was... a fish. How appealing...

You can use that as a rogue weapon you know... Omni quietly commented beside me.

A fish? Hell naw, thats a hard pass for me, I replied.

It had been close to an hour of sinking and looting, but it didnt feel like an hour. What was noticeable, however was my surroundings getting increasingly darker. Occasionally, I felt the still waters pushed by something large. Large and dark since it could not be seen. Although it quietly burrowed through, I could not help but notice it was lurking close to us. But finally, we reached it.

...I see the seabed... are we really this deep? I asked

Yep, I have modified the suit to be impervious to these kinds of harsh conditions, so the pressure isnt killing you, and you can breathe down here. A rarity for Abyss Divers. Omni explained

Not a rarity, this would usually kill a diver already,I said back.I kinda dont like the vibe of this part of the sea...

Something bothering you?

No...

Nice try. Lets illuminate the area, shall we?

But just as Omni said that, I see several pairs of large eyes behind Omni. I swam back slightly and pointed at the several glowing eyes, and when Omni snapped his fingers, the abyss was basically an old creaky room. But the luminescent eyes were still glowing, and now multiple of the not so bright glowing eyes. All of them turned towards us, and made a muffled underwater roar?

Eiodolon wryms... and a lot of them...Omni stated calmly. But I was dazed. These adults are extremely efficient killers, and now that they are on us, theres no other way except-

All dead... Omni was still standing on the seabed. But all the dead segments slowly sank towards the floor as well. As Omni jumped up to my height, he pointed towards what looks to be a submerged shrine. A shadow chest and nothing more. The last treasure of the Abyss, and as I opened the chest, my heart pounded as my curiosity was dying to see what was inside...

An odd looking... thing. I cant even describe what it is. But it certainly not some white stone of legend. Omni gestured me to give him the thing, and as he closely inspected it, he tucked it away in a random pocket.

What was that?

I have been looking for one of these. Had a dry spell with it, but this works fine. Other than that, you do not need to know what this does.

And with that, I found myself on dry land, back at home again...