Doesnt that essentially mean there are no ships? Highbro asked, sounding perplexed.

The Insect King Chieftains seemed slightly taken aback before retorting, [Well, there is a ship. Its just submerged beneath the sea.]

It seemed they had shamelessly made up their minds to proceed regardless.

No, what are we supposed to do about the sunken ship? What are these scammers up to now! Highbro growled, prompting the pirates to discreetly glance at Vikir.

Then, Vikir intervened, Enough.

What mattered now wasnt that.

Its true that theres no buoyancy in the Black Sea, causing everything to sink? Vikir thought, turning his head to gaze at the black horizon.

That vast expanse beneath the sea would likely be entirely empty.

Even if peculiar creatures lived there, the distance between them would be vast.

An abyssal sea filled with emptiness. And there, beneath it, lays the sunken ship.

Judging by the sunken ships, doesnt it mean vessels are unable to navigate the Black Sea? Vikir questioned further.

[No, our vessels are designed to float even on the surface of the Black Sea,] the Insect King Chieftains replied, demonstrating their black armor and thin wings underneath.

They were lightweight, sturdy, and coated with a wax substance, making them buoyant in water.

[The longstanding conflict between the Stag Beetles and the Rhinocerous beetles had caused numerous casualties. We gathered the remains of fallen warriors to construct a vessel light and sturdy enough to navigate the surface of the Black Sea. It sank due to disputes over ownership]

Why exactly did it sink? Vikir pressed for clarification.

[Well, you see one day, a group of Insect Kings seized the ship by surprise and set sail but then, as they crossed the central region of the Black Sea]

The subsequent tale of the Insect Kings was truly unbelievable.

Ah I see now. I somewhat understand the circumstances that led to this, Vikir remarked, sensing why the Insect King Chieftains looked uneasy.

Without delay, Vikir took action.

Well salvage the sunken ship for now. Tell me the exact location where it sank

* * *

The Black Sea was calm.

Yet, far off on the distant horizon, fierce storms raged, acting as a barrier that kept challengers from venturing beyond.

However, Vikir did not traverse the sea.

Splash!

He merely sank deeper into the abyss.

Glug

Foam and bubbles surrounded him, and within seconds of submerging, his vision was engulfed in darkness. But it didnt matter much. Vikir possessed the ability to see dozens of meters ahead even in the darkness. It was an additional skill he had honed over two years of practicing archery and hunting in the Red and Black Mountains.

As he descended further, the pressure pressing against his body intensified. It felt like a heavyweight, as if he were sinking into icy water. With almost no buoyancy, he sank rapidly even when still. Gradually, oxygen became scarce. The pressure suppressing his lungs seemed to accelerate oxygen consumption compared to regular water.

Still not as bad as the Styx River. I almost drowned back then, Vikir thought to himself as he submerged.

Eventually, Vikirs hand found a fully inflated pouch.

[Oil-paper pouch that doesnt dissolve in water] / Pouch / D

A sturdy pouch that doesnt dissolve easily in water. It has the ability to block moisture, making it suitable for storing items. The pouch was filled with air. Vikir took a sip through the straw and put it back in his pocket. Despite holding a pouch full of air, it didnt float due to the lack of buoyancy. Vikir occasionally sucked in the air from the pouch when he felt short of breath, sinking deeper into the abyss.

Then, Decarabia hanging from his chest spoke up.

[Hey, human.]

What?

[In truth, you didnt want to join the insect kings, did you?] Dekarabia pointed to the mission status window floating in one corner of Vikirs vision.

[Mission] Seize the Sap!

Survive by snatching the sap pool from the terrifying indigenous people!

In fact, thats the mission of this floor. But Vikir interpreted it differently. The meaning of indigenous people might be a bit different. It might refer to the ships owner, the insect king people or something else entirely as well.

[[Hmm. In that case, the success of the mission clearance would definitely depend on whether the ship exists or not,] Decarabia said.

Yeah. Surely, there must be other ways to clear this floor Vikir concluded.

Engaged in a conversations, they suddenly saw the bottom. A forest of dead corals. Originally, the terrain from another world had sunk under the Black Sea. The sight of sparse trees rising above the dead coral reefs looked like a forest of dead trees. It was a scenery reminiscent of the evil within the Demons Abyss Tree.

As they descended to a certain depth, Decarabia on his chest reacted.

[Human. Look down there, below the ridge.]

Beneath the towering cliffs, deep in the valley, something could be seen. Piercing through the darkness of the abyss was the bow of a ship.

The glossy black ship, with its sails woven from insect kings wings, still fluttered in the currents. This locked-up black sailing ship appeared quite agile and sturdy. Vikir pushed through the heavy currents and approached the bow.

Starting with its massive and pointed end, the figurehead began to reveal its overall shape. Though there were severe wounds visible on the deck and hull, the keel, which could be considered the ships spine, was intact. Despite being submerged for a long time, there was little seaweed or moss attached to it. The only major issue was a large hole in the bow and bottom of the hull.

Water must have flooded in through that hole, causing it to sink, Vikir deduced. It was fortunate that it sank due to the hole rather than lack of buoyancy. Once salvaged, the hole could be patched up.

At that moment, Decarabia inquired, [But how do you plan to salvage such a huge ship?]

Dekarabia seemed to struggle to understand Vikirs plan. [It seems impossible with human strength alone. Even with twenty humans from the island and eighty Insect King Chieftains, it would be difficult. Besides, those guys probably wouldnt even make it down here in the first place]

Well, I have a plan, Vikir responded, swimming a bit faster as the air was running out.

Eventually, Vikir found himself standing in front of the massive sail ship.

In the dark void, the sunken ship beneath the abyss of darkness stood alone.

The creaking planks and the tattered sails under the silent sea made the ship look like a ghost ship.

Well then, lets quickly start the salvage operation, Vikir said, just as he was about to swing his arms.

Clang-clang-clang

An unpleasant noise echoed from somewhere. A mysterious sound from across the ship. As Vikir raised his head, something emerged from the darkness before him.

Shark-like scales enveloping its body, horns protruding from its forehead, and rows of sharp teeth bared in a gaping mouth. Dogma, transformed into a demon, was here. Though the flames that once enveloped its body like fur were extinguished, its sinister appearance remained unchanged.

Ugh, why did it have to sink here? Vikir sighed and assumed a combat stance.

But then

Eugh-eugh-eugh

Something was off. Dogma, emerging from the darkness, was trembling thinly, with only its upper body protruding, showing no other movement.

Then Plop!

Suddenly, Dogmas severed head, previously buried in darkness, fell to the seabed. Its torso vanished into the darkness in an instant, leaving only the horns and teeth of its head rolling away under the ridge, gradually disappearing from sight.

Vikir tore his gaze away from Dogmas head and stared back into the darkness. Sssss Upon closer inspection, it seemed that the darkness where Dogmas corpse had been buried was slowly moving. It wasnt a specific form but the darkness itself rising from the seabed.

Come to think of it, that area seems unusually dark, Vikir observed. While the other side was dimly lit, the enormous darkness approaching them was pitch black, devoid of any visibility. And Vikir could immediately sense it. The darkness looming towards them was an absolute terror incomparable to the Hellhounds, Cerberus, or even the Bloodsoaked jade flower from the previous stages.

So, this creature was living here all along, Vikir realized. It was a genuine threat, surpassing even the S-rank danger level.

It was the moment when the Core of Darkness revealed itself.