Nowadays, people refer to this apocalyptic event as the Annihilation of the Deep Demons, primarily because 99 percent of all deep dwellers have perished.
These days, it's not even a rare species—it's practically extinct. The last man standing was Bjornist, the Chief of the Deep Warriors. He defeated 100 skilled assassins, all by himself, before unfortunately collapsing, primarily due to his injuries.
The entire layout and the foundation of the nation where the Deep Ones resided had been absolutely decimated by all 500 assassins from the Darkened Crest.
Many applauded their "heroes" for defeating the Deep Demons, but as time went on, they lost interest in them and their fear of the Deep diminished.
All of this occurred precisely one year ago, on the 514th year of the Deep Calendar — a calendar created by the Deep Ones — and that was when he awakened from his slumber.
Vyus...was alive, but in a paradise of sorts, where glittering beings sang in time with the imposing waterfall's rhythm that was visible in the distance.
"Is this...the World of the Above?" Still in disbelief at what he was witnessing, Vyus asked.
"You're mistaken, child."
'What was that voice...?' Vyus turned his head instantly.
Then something unusual appeared. A figure, who was emitting abyssal smoke, approached him. Despite his dark cloak and black accessories, Vyus was more uneasy because of his headless face.
"I am your Triune's reflection," the figure said, still annoyed by Vyus's cluelessness.
"Okay...but what's a Triune?" Vyus questioned.
"You don't know what a Triune is? Oh great trinity, we're going to be here forever."
"Is it some sort of like...mythological thing?"
"No...it's not. It's real, and it exists within everyone."
Vyus looked at something else, at a rock, and he sat on it, then looked back at this odd entity.
"I mean, I have a lot of time, so I'm all eyes and ears, y'know."
The entity sighed because he had never encountered someone so uninformed.
'God...why do I have to deal with such a pathetic kid...'
"Alright, so everyone's inner ability is Triune. The Nexus is your spiritual center of sorts. Your Triune can be unlocked if you awaken your Nexus because its energy travels through your spiritual streams and, consequently, through your body."
After giving it some thought, Vyus asked a question in light of the situation.
"Okay...but what does it do?"
"Your Triune...it's basically magic," the entity simply explained, "and, I shall assist you with your destined rebirth."
"Alright. I have another question — does everyone have a Triune?"
"Not all of them. On the edge of death, people feel a unique kind of adrenaline. If the person overdoes it and his Nexus's energy reaches the term 'zero,' it will awaken itself to continue thriving. That is the Nexus using up all of its energy to save you."
"I see...but, surely nothing can come from zero...right? Something can't come from nothing."
"You're right, Vyus. But, Triune quite literally breaks that rule — its an ability from 'boundless' itself. Now, it's time we stop talking.
Vyus's curiosity was tempered by disappointment after hearing those sentences, but he began to rise from his stone and face the creature.
"So, what are we going to do?"
"All right, we'll sign a contract. If this world's top predator is vanquished, and by vanquished, I mean if you defeat it, you will be ready to be reborn into the real world."
"Okay...when do I start?" These words were followed by Vyus's eyes sparkling, with determination.
But suddenly, gusts of wind emerged, coming from the figure's location, and before Vyus was aware of it, the figure disappeared altogether.
Vyus thought to himself, "Huh...I guess he won't be helping me," as he examined for a starting point for his quest.
Not once has he ever appreciated the Deep. Thus, he reasoned that it would be great if he could just appreciate the surroundings, ambiance, and creature he was surrounded with.
Like fairies, the glittering entities were described exactly in the books his guardians used to read to him — extremely small floating creatures, with either a glowing dress, or a glowing suit, with glowing hair, and glorified bright white skin.
Vyus asked to himself, "I wonder...if my speed is the same as from the real world," while assuming a mandatory posture, ready for a dash.
He began to run as fast as he could, and naturally, he was running very fast, nearly as fast as when he had that adrenaline rush, but not quite.
Vyus's eyes turned pale, as he halted his actions. He was disappointed, for a good reason.
'Those guys...they kept up with my speed, even when I had my adrenaline. Does this mean that they can catch up to me with no difficulty...?'
Vyus's muscles tensed, his eyes grew piercing, and his normally icy manner changed. He was examining the surroundings mainly to kill, not for aesthetic reasons.
'...Where are some places that I'll find some monsters,' Vyus thought, as he adventured within the radius, to find a starting point.
He made another attempt to enter his mind in order to determine any possible landmarks that he could go investigate, and then it dawned on him.
"The waterfall," Vyus said, whilst heading over there.
He heard echoes from that location, but he never brought it up because he was too taken aback by the situation he found himself in with that entity.
But before Vyus realized it, he was in a territory mainly occupied by a species that was regarded as the highest of this world's species.
He looked at a raging, seemingly hostile animal that looked like a rhinoceros but had some odd water particles in its body and horns.
"Man...this place could not get any weirder!" Vyus yelled out, sending out a battle cry when he charged with the rhinoceros.
He tried to knock the animal out of his way, but the rhino's agility surprised him.
The rhinoceros sidestepped Vyus's attempt to grab its horn and immediately smashed its horns against Vyus's ribs, sending him flying in the direction of a nearby tree.
Vyus almost fainted after being knocked out. But, he was able to stay upright and kept his gaze on the rhino.
"Is that all you got...you piece of shit?
In an attempt to permanently defeat Vyus, the rhino lunged at him. But Vyus scraped a piece of the tree with his fingernails.
He then took hold of the piece's peak and scraped it until it was sharp. The procedure was causing his hand to bleed.
"Not yet...not yet..." As the rhino drew closer, Vyus's mind raced with ideas, on how to counter.
"Now!" Vyus shouted as he leaped over the rhino and grabbed its horn.
Now that he was above the rhino, he repeatedly stabbed the animal with the tree part.
Blood splattered everywhere, as the rhino roared in pain, before eventually collapsing from all the blood lost.
Vyus was now covered in blood, after the brutal win, but, he wasn't done yet, as he'd have to slaughter the entire pack of rhinos at that waterfall.
"It's time...for a massacre," Vyus calmly said, in a slight whisper, whilst giving out a inhumane smile, that wasn't usually like him.
"Maybe, the humans weren't wrong about calling us Deep Demons."