Chapter 2 Descent into the Unknown

The Endeavor's floodlights illuminated the inky darkness as the submersible Nautilus was lowered into the depths. Evelyn sat beside Lucas and Naomi in the cramped vessel, heart pounding with anticipation. The hum of machinery surrounded them, their descent slow and steady into the abyss.

"Depth at three hundred meters," Lucas reported, eyes fixed on the instruments. "Water temperature is dropping rapidly."

Naomi adjusted her headset, reviewing the ancient map one more time. "If the readings are correct, the rift should be about half a mile ahead."

Evelyn peered through the thick glass viewport. The ocean floor was barren, save for clusters of coral and the occasional shadow of a passing creature. But then, something changed.

A shimmering distortion rippled through the water ahead of them, like heat waves rising from pavement.

"Did you see that?" Evelyn asked.

Lucas nodded. "It's like... the water itself is bending."

Before they could react, the submersible's systems flickered. The controls vibrated violently, and alarms blared.

"Power fluctuations detected," the AI system announced. "Navigational error-adjusting course."

Suddenly, the Nautilus was yanked forward, as if caught in an unseen current. Evelyn gripped the armrests as the submersible spiraled, her vision blurring from the rapid movement.

Then, the distortion intensified, surrounding them in a blinding white light. The sound of static filled their ears, drowning out Naomi's panicked shouts.

And just as suddenly as it began, everything went silent.

The submersible stopped.

The light faded.

Evelyn blinked, trying to steady her breathing. Outside the viewport, the ocean was... different.

The water was clearer, the colors richer, as if they had plunged into another world.

And then they saw it.

A massive structure loomed ahead-an ancient city, its spires covered in bioluminescent coral, its architecture unlike anything on Earth.

Lucas exhaled sharply. "What the hell is this?"

Naomi's voice trembled. "I think we just found Atluna."

Evelyn's pulse raced. They had crossed the threshold of the Bermuda Rift.

And there was no turning back.