The Lost History

Floating on the sea at night, Old Stone Helm noticed a light emanating from the water's surface, its ethereal glow scattering across the waves, drawing attention.

This light did not appear without reason; it guided the People of the Abyss.

In the vast ocean, where no reefs or islands should have been, a lighthouse emerged, its tall tower breaking through the water's surface with a light stone embedded at the top.

Looking at the lighthouse, Old Stone Helm sighed wistfully, "It's back again."

Tito, unable to see, followed closely behind Old Stone Helm. "What's ahead?"

Old Stone Helm replied, "The royal capital of the Abyss Kingdom, the former Yesael City."

"Built by Yesael, the second-generation King of Wisdom and Redlichia's own child."

"It is also the most ancient city in this world."

A horrific wound crossed Tito's eyes. He leaned forward, as if yearning to see this legendary underwater city with his own eyes.

This was his first time reaching this place, or rather, the first Trilobite Man to arrive here in many years.

"Can you describe what Yesael City looks like?"

Old Stone Helm glanced at Tito, sensing the deep longing and aspiration on his face.

He smiled and looked in the direction Tito was leaning, as if the two were admiring this beautiful wonder together.

"Legend has it that it was built by Yesael's companion, the Ruhe beast Nini. The city can accommodate tens of thousands of residents."

"Inside, there is the palace where Yesael once lived, grand and majestic. The stone slabs paving the ground were excavated from the edge of the abyss, black and glossy."

"There is the towering Yesael Tower, rising above the sea—truly an unimaginable miracle."

"One of the stone tablets inscribed with King Redlichia's writings, brought from the God-Given Land, is still enshrined in the Yinsai Temple within the city."

Just hearing this made Tito's blood boil with excitement.

"Ah!"

"How magnificent, how grand these ruins are!"

"They bear witness to the glory of the ancient king and record the splendor of the God-Given Era."

At this point, a sense of loss and regret gradually appeared on Tito's face.

"What a pity."

"It's right in front of me, yet I cannot see it."

After a moment of silence, Tito suddenly turned to Old Stone Helm.

"With so many People of the Abyss here, why not go around?"

Old Stone Helm answered, "Because the place you must pass through is the Deep Sea Abyss. Only by crossing that dark, lifeless bottomless chasm can you reach the temple of the gods. This is the necessary and shortest route."

Tito asked again, "How do you know all this? Do you know where the God-Given Land is?"

Old Stone Helm shook his head. "I don't know, but I do know that people have searched for it before."

"Many have crossed that abyss to seek the legendary God-Given Land."

"Unfortunately, nothing exists there."

Old Stone Helm looked at Tito earnestly. "I hope this time, you can find that place."

Tito asked, "You believe I can find it?"

Old Stone Helm replied, "My feeling tells me you will."

Tito pondered, "You also believe in fate?"

Old Stone Helm smiled, "No, this is an old man's intuition."

Old Stone Helm led Tito underwater to a place piled with large fragments of broken stone, among which were some frightening remains.

"This is where the waste stone from the construction of Yesael City was discarded. Patrolling soldiers don't usually come here."

"At dawn, there will be a gap in the patrols. That's our chance to pass through."

Old Stone Helm lay down on an irregular rock, curling up skillfully.

"For now, let's rest here."

Tito couldn't sleep. The large broken stone he leaned against was full of pebbles and irregular pits, the gritty feeling as uncomfortable as eating sand in his food.

He tossed and turned, suddenly realizing that what he had thought were pits on the stone were actually characters, one after another.

He sat up at once.

"What is this? It seems to have writing on it." Tito turned to Old Stone Helm, who could read his intentions without him needing to speak.

"It should be a discarded, unfinished stone tablet that was thrown here," Old Stone Helm transmitted the information he knew into Tito's mind.

Tito reached out and touched the stone, tracing the patterns one by one.

"This is King Yesael's name. It records events about him."

Tito was overjoyed. This must be a stone tablet that had been abandoned halfway through engraving, documenting the history of King Yesael.

As he read the contents of the tablet by touch, he discovered that it was no ordinary story.

Or rather, the fact that it could be engraved on a stone tablet meant it couldn't be ordinary.

It recorded the scene of King Yesael's first audience with the gods, following his father. It also described the gods bestowing upon King Yesael the title of Priest of God, and the appearance of the Ruhe beast.

"Beside the temple of the gods stood a young girl. She possessed the countenance of the divine race, yet wielded the terrifying power of the king of beasts."

"His Highness Yesael humbly entered the temple, following the great King Redlichia."

"Then, he saw the eternal God."

"What a great existence that was!"

"The god, who transcended ages and controlled the laws of time, radiated a starlike brilliance. The light engulfed His Highness, and everything in sight turned a dazzling white."

"God spoke."

"'What is thy name?'"

Reading this, Tito trembled with excitement.

He looked in Old Stone Helm's direction, gesturing repeatedly with his hands.

"This is what I've been looking for, what I've been seeking."

"I finally found it. This is the lost history of us Yinsai."

"I must record it. I must pass it down forever."

Tito took out a bone tablet and his carving knife, meticulously engraving all the text from the stone tablet, afraid of missing a single character.

Faced with this tablet, he was like the most devout believer.

Old Stone Helm did not stop him, only resting quietly beside him.

Suddenly, the tranquil seabed became lively. There was movement in the not-too-distant Yesael City.

The patrolling Abyss Kingdom soldiers began to move irregularly and gather in the direction of Old Stone Helm and Tito, as if they had discovered something.

"Surround this area and search carefully." The People of the Abyss touched tentacles, continuously relaying orders.

"Look for any suspicious individuals."

"I heard he's back. The old king is back to reclaim his throne."

A Prawn Knight, riding a monstrous sea beast, tore through the waves. Dozens or hundreds of Abyss Kingdom soldiers followed behind him as he transmitted orders and signals using the power of wisdom.

"The bloodline stone is glowing. The king says the previous king has returned."

"We must find him. He cannot be allowed to set foot in the royal capital."

The psychic ripples carrying these messages also reached the minds of Tito and Old Stone Helm, who were hiding.