Greece around 1600 B.C.E., the Minoan Civilization is thriving. Somewhere in the Aegean Sea, there exists a small island where a secret cult lives—a cult that has long been forgotten that it existed. They did not worship the Cretan bull but rather the Dark god Erebus.
One day, they gathered secretly at night; they slaughtered a captured bull as an offering to Erebus and drank its blood. Then they burned the meat and inhaled the smoke, reaching a form of ecstasy.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and clouds gathered in the night sky. Soon afterward, on the nearby island Thera, the volcano erupted, shooting hot lava and rocks into the night sky.
In the sea, the crew persevered with their voyage. The ocean was tranquil as they smoothly navigated aboard their old ship. After more days of sailing, they found themselves enveloped by a dark ooze in the water, seemingly trapped without an escape route. They searched for a way out but were overwhelmed by the substance that spread rapidly.
Suddenly, there was a thunderous roar from above and fire rained down from the sky, burning away the darkened waters. The sea boiled with intense heat, revealing a shadowy figure resembling a dragon on its surface.
A commanding voice spoke: “To cleanse both water and land, you must locate four objects – the staff of eons, the scroll of purification, the bowl of chaos, and the water of divinity.” The voice fell silent, and the shadow vanished as the seawater cooled down once more.
Jaleka was once a thriving port city teeming with people from all corners of the world. Now, it lay in ruins and despair, its few remaining inhabitants recounting tales of an ominous cloud that had passed over the land. Anyone who touched this dark entity perished instantly, while others barely survived, appearing as if they'd been ill for years.
The crew was horrified by what they witnessed but were powerless to intervene. Supposedly aid was coming from the capital – food, water, and medical experts were promised to arrive soon. However, Erik knew there were no supplies for them here. “I believe our only option is to seek supplies elsewhere,” he said with determination.
Ella inquired about their destination, seeking answers. Erik replied confidently: “The next port city is Matalen. It's just an eight-hour journey from here.” Ella nodded and the group returned to their ship. Tom was silent but his eyes were filled with sorrow; he longed for home and his family more than ever before.
In a secluded and barren area on Earth, a malevolent entity crash-landed, sinking into the ground and corrupting everything around it. Dark ooze formed on the surface, transforming any plants or trees that dared to grow there into grotesque abominations. The evil continued to spread, reaching an unsuspecting human settlement and twisting its inhabitants as well. These new creatures, born from corruption, came to be known as Urakneas. They thrived on blood and raw flesh, either consuming it from other living beings or devouring one another in their insatiable hunger for destruction.
Teapot by Hayley Jane Wakenshaw
https://www.asciiart.eu/food-and-drinks/coffee-and-tea
;,'
_o_ ;:;'
,-.'---`.__ ;
((j`=====',-'
`-\ /
`-=-' hjw
Without delay, Erik lowered a rope into the sea and then leaped in himself. He swam towards the boy and assisted him by pulling him toward their ship. Climbing up the rope together, Erik noticed an unusual black ooze in the water but was unsure of its nature. The young boy was chilled to his bones, so Erik provided him with some warm blankets for comfort. Afterward, he went on to prepare a steaming cup of tea for both of them to enjoy and help ease their discomfort from the cold ocean waters.