He felt weightless as the light softly captured him and transferred him to his destination. As he emerged, the deep water environment quickly stuck to him, causing immense pressure on the boy's body. With each second, his health began to lower.

  100hp…99hp…98hp…

  Time was passing. The boy looked around. Sea Hallows District, an underwater metropolis, built by ancient sea monsters who were more intelligent than other monsters. The infrastructure appeared similar to human cities on Earth.

  The District seeded tall apartment buildings and Stores in a neighborhood of streets drowned by the sea. Coral and seaweed curled around the buildings like ivy in bright green and blue tints. Bubbles blew around gracefully as if they had been undisturbed for years.

  89hp…88hp..

  Where is it? The boy thought.

  He looked around but to his avail, he couldn't find it.

  84hp…83hp…

  He began to lift his legs and raise his arms, putting his body planted and pushing his arm forward and back. He began to swim forward. In the distance, a light caught his eye.

  There it is.

  In the distance was a lever-like Statue. It seemed to be pulled. The light on it was red.

  Someone is here. The boy thought.

  He swam near the switch and attempted to pull the lever, but under it, it was too heavy.

  He then reached into his inventory pulled out the green Aura sword he had received and equipped it.

  His tool ran a warning sign.

  Equip Novice Sword.

  You are unable to receive the benefits of the weapon as your level doesn't meet the requirement to wield this item.

  I know!

  He lowered the weapon, downwards keeping his balance in the water, and swung his arm up to hit the lever pushing the lever upwards towards its otherside.

  Ding.

  The light on the lever turned to green.

  And a sound of moving rocks loudly entered the room. All of the water began to escape through the cracks and suddenly. The area was hallowed, filling with air.

  The boy dropped to the floor and gasped for air.

  -40hp.

  The boy held his stomach as he rose. Slowly but surely his hp would recover, he thought but he then heard a sound.

  It was a clashing of weapons in the distance.

  Aquarius! He thought gleefully.

  Following the noise, to the left of his sight, there were. Buildings hid the happenings. As he passed each structure beyond another clash. Could be heard. When he reached the end, which met an opening towards the noise, he turned the corner and saw what was making such noises.

  Aquarius?

  It was Aquarius finishing off a monster. When its body was on the floor it spurred into mist. Aquarius raised his wrist opening his terminal to look at the area's status.

  100% Cleared.

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  “Meredice where to next?” he said aloud

  The voice spoke into his ears. He stuttered only for a moment. His reaction seemed surprised and concerned. The boy could see him look around.

  “But I've cleared it 100%, there is nothing left…” he then turned his head towards the distance towards the boy.

  He gripped his sword and raced down to his side. He began to run towards the boy.

  What is he doing? the boy thought.

  Aquarius continued towards the boy. Each step was quicker and quicker.

  Aquarius raised his sword, elegantly sweeping across.

  The boy closed his eyes.

  To be killed by Aquarius’s sword! He gleamed. But the boy didn't feel the sword split him in two, nor did his life slip away. He opened his eyes and saw Aquarius’ sword clashing with something beyond him.

  The grind of swords sparked above his head which only told the boy the strength of the unknown behind him.

  “What is a child doing here?” Aquarius yelled. “Run boy!”

  Huh?

  The boy noticed Aquarius’ face was serious. A trace of what could throw off his stable demeanor meant only one thing. The threat, whatever was enough to match Aquarius. The boy turned around and was stunned.

  He raised his wrist and pointed it towards it.

  ??

  The Question marks buzzed and glitched through itself. Whatever this monster was was not normal, but it seemed real. The boy looked around and noticed the area was still in a state as if the Anomaly was cleared. He raised his wrist.

  84% Cleared

  He looked up at the monster. Its body was covered like a wallpaper with galaxies on it as it was filled with outer-space-like texture. Its weapon and armour though was clearly shaped. The boy could quickly tell.

  You're a phoney! You are not Aquarius!

  30%

  “Boy run!”

  In that instant, the monster pushed Aquarius back. Aquarius repelled the blow, while the force of the attack sent him sliding back over the concrete floor as if he were skating backwards. Aquarius's boots sparked, creating flames under his boot, noting the strength of his new adversary.

  -25% Cleared.

  "Meredice we have a problem. The level is degenerating! It's degenerated past 0!"

  Meanwhile the monster towered over the little boy. Menacing in its unnatural form.

  You're mother ever telling you...” The monster spoke. It then looked down at the boy. Its eyes boggled around and its mouth opened wide emerging thousands of speckled teeth bright as stars.

  “Don't talk to strangers!”

  The boy grabs himself. He shivered, but knew he had to move. He rushed to his feet and ran. He didn't know where he was going. He felt a sickness in his gut. An unease climbing up to squeeze his heart. It sent a shiver down his spine, and tears down his forehead. He rushed towards where he had come from but it was too late. The monster appeared, cornering the boy once again.

  Your fight is with me!.

  The monster searched for the voice that coerced him, but rather than words, he was hit with a blow from Aquarius' kick from bellow into the air. The force let a gust from the monster's body and some of it spilt to the floor. As the creature was launched into the air, it looked down, helpless in flight.

  -15% clear.

  Bzz.

  The notification sent a vibration on Aquarius's holograph.

  "I don't know what you are, but you will return to your maker."

  Energy pulsed from Aquarius. The boy covered his eyes, as Aquarius surged the area with light. It wrapped around Aquarius, while rays shot from his body towards the creature.

  Aquarius placed his sword infront of him upwards, grasping the hilt with both hands, and brought his feet together. A ring of water formed around him. He cut the ring with his sword and the the water wrapped around his sword, hardening and becoming a long spear. He leaped into the air, gripping his new weapon and as he reached the monster, he pierced through its body. For a moment, its skin was hard, but as it continued to pierce through, Aquarius could feel a fleshlike substance nudge. "Sea-Hallow's Eve!" he yelled. He clenched the spear, and from the other end it opened up into an umbrella like construction. It was large enough to capture the monster from escaping. He then flew downwards, pulling the creature now caught in the weapons grasp. As he met the floor he spun the spear like a flag, ringing it through the creatures body, yet still latched into its entrails.

  He grabbed onto the spear with both hands, pulling low from behind him over his head, and finally crushing the monster to the floor. Its body dispersed from the impact.

  120% Cleared.

  "I release you!"

  A beam of light shot from the creatures body into the horizon of Sea-Hallows ceilings.

  The boy looked up. He had never seen Aquarius take this form. This was a dispay of higher level skill. He admired Aquarius even more. The light was too bright, so he covered his eyes, but suddenly he heard a shimmering sound, and it was near. So close it was as if it was infront of him. It resonated, echoing along the Sea-Hallow District as if descending from the heavens.

  The Boy felt something, fall into his lap.

  Both of their holographic helpers would open up with a message.

  ?? has dropped the Midnight Sunset

  Arto has acquired the Midnight Sunset.

  The item was glowing dark orb. It made sounds as if it was revolving and hovering upon itself.

  What is this? The boy thought. A legendary Item? But how?

  Arto felt something was off. He looked at his hands. They looked normal. He breathed in and felt his lungs were in tact. He then looked at Aquarius. He was frozen still. He looked around at their Sea-Hallows District. The watery atmosphere has frozen in time.

  He inspected the Item.

  Midnight Sunset

  Caption: What makes night within us may leave stars

  First Form ? - Embrace

  100 Pieces to Second Form ??

  For the first time, Arto had felt something in him. Something to cure his condition? Something to reach Aquarius. At what cost?

  Feed me! The orb requested. The voice was sundering the air. Rupturing the air. It's voice scratching the inside of his ears traveling to his mind.

  100 Pieces!

  The item hovered mid-air, levitating in front of him. Slowly Items that he had stashed from ventures following Aquarius were being pulled out of his inventory into the Midnight Sunset. When all of his items had left, the Midnight Sunset began to shake.

  He then saw the glowing green sword he had just acquired.

  What is it doing?

  Give it back he yelled.

  Tears ran from his eyes.

  Give it back.

  Everything I have collected!

  He reached with his hands into the Midnight Sunset

  Give it back!

  -

  His heart pounded...

  I feel great!

  Arto felt a hunger become him. He could feel a pit in his stomach bulging, tempting him to find something to quench it.

  He noticed a coral in the distance wave slightly. Things around him were finally moving.

  He felt a something in his stomach. It was not the hunger from before but something else. It felt good. Looking down he could see a blade struck through his chest. As he followed the blade with his eye, it's wielder was none other than Aquarius.

  You ruined all of my work! He yelled. "And now you must die!"

  ..