Return to the Abyss / Male Reader x Made In Abyss

[S0] Chapter 0: Prologue

The Abyss. The name alone carries a weight that sends shivers down the spines of those who hear it. It is a place of legend, of mystery, of both wonder and horror. A colossal chasm that stretches deep into the earth, its depths cloaked in darkness and secrets unknown to those who lived on the surface. For centuries, it has captured the imagination of adventurers, scholars, and the curious alike, drawing them in with promises of untold riches, forgotten knowledge, and relics of a bygone era.

But the Abyss is no ordinary pit. It is a world unto itself, with its own ecosystems, creatures and rules. Each layer of the Abyss is a distinct realm, progressively more dangerous and alien as one descends further into its depths. The surface is but a threshold to the vast unknown below, where even the bravest souls hesitate before taking the plunge.

The first layer, known as the "Edge of the Abyss," is a relatively tame environment, a place where novice cave raiders—those who dared to explore the Abyss—cut their teeth. Sunlight still reaches these depths, and the flora and fauna were reminiscent of those found on the surface. Yet, even here, the Abyss's mysteries begin to reveal themselves.

The second layer, "The Forest of Temptation," is where the true dangers begin. Thick jungles, towering trees, and treacherous landscapes test the mettle of those who ventured within. The creatures here are more aggressive, the environment more hostile. Yet, it is also here that the first hints of the Abyss's treasures can be found—relics from ancient civilizations, imbued with mystery.

Deeper still, the third layer, "The Great Fault," is a vertical chasm within the Abyss, a sheer drop that separates the explorers from the world above. Here, the curse of the Abyss—the mysterious force that afflicted those who tried to ascend—begins to take hold in earnest. Instead of mild headaches and vomiting, the mere attempt to return to the surface would cause intense nausea and hallucinations, often driving normal cave raiders insane.

The fourth layer, "The Goblet of Giants," is a realm of massive flora, where trees and plants grow to impossible sizes. It is a place where the curse intensifies, causing bleeding from every orifice for those who tried to ascend. The creatures here are monstrous and deadly, their forms twisted and enhanced by the Abyss's strange properties.

The fifth layer, "The Sea of Corpses," is an unforgiving cold landscape, filled with an even colder ocean. At this depth, the curse causes the loss of all senses, leaving raiders disoriented and vulnerable. Only the most experienced cave raiders dared venture here, and fewer still returned to tell the tale.

Beyond this lay the sixth layer, "The Capital of the Unreturned." A name that is both a warning and a promise. Those who attempt to return from this depth are said to lose their humanity, transforming into something other, or simply dying outright. The curse of the sixth layer is the most feared, as it marked the point of no return for all.

The seventh layer however, shrouded in mystery, is a place of legend. Few have ever seen it, but no one has returned from it. It is said to be the final destination for those who seek the TRUE bottom of the Abyss, the point where all secrets would be laid bare—if one could survive the journey down.

To navigate these layers, one needs more than just courage. Cave raiders are divided by rank, each denoted by the colour of their whistle, and thereby their skill: