As the massive Bioluminescent Manta Ray glided through the sky, the group approached the next set of islands.
They were the Halo Islands, a strange and otherworldly formation that seemed almost too perfect to be natural. Vastarael, Phaenora and Sirithiele all looked down in awe as they approached this peculiar region.
The first thing they noticed was how the entire archipelago of three islands seemed to radiate a strange energy, as if the land itself was charged with an ancient power. The islands, though distinct, were perfectly aligned.
Two large, crescent-shaped islands flanking a small, perfectly round island at their center. From the sky, the islands looked as though they had been intentionally arranged, as if carved by some divine hand. The very shape of the archipelago almost resembled an ancient sigil, etched into the ocean with care, glowing with an ethereal aura.
The outer crescent islands were barren, filled with nothing but black rocks and cliffs with no life.
The central island, smaller than the crescent islands but equally mysterious, was surrounded by a wide, tranquil lagoon that shimmered under the sun's rays. The waters appeared to be a liquid that wasn't quite water.
It was more like molten glass, reflecting the entire sky above. The island itself was crowned with a single, towering structure made of crystal-like stone, reaching up as if trying to pierce the sky. It emitted an almost imperceptible hum, as though it were a key to some long-forgotten mechanism hidden beneath the island's surface.
"Look at this place," Vastarael muttered, as the manta ray slowly descended toward the outer ring of the Halo Islands, offering them a closer look. "These islands... it's like they were intentionally built, or perhaps even grown. It looks like a sigil."
Sirithiele's eyes narrowed, clearly entranced by the sight before them.
"It almost looks like an ancient seal of some kind. Perhaps a barrier or a trap. The sigil could be a protective ward or an artifact meant to shield whatever lies within."
Vastarael nodded, his golden eyes sharp with curiosity and growing wariness.
"Yes. The way the islands are arranged... it's not natural. Whoever created this, if they were even mortal, knew the significance of symbolism. I can feel the power from here."
Phaenora, who had been staring out at the islands in wide-eyed wonder, now leaned in closer, her usual playful demeanor subdued.
"You think this place holds some secret, don't you?"
"There's no doubt in my mind," Vastarael replied. "This place is tied to the events that will shape Spheraphase. And if the Frozen God is anywhere close, this island might hold the answers."
As the manta ray glided closer, the trio could feel the strange, magnetic pull of the central island. The edges of the perfect circular lagoon sparkled as though some internal force was at work, creating light patterns that were hypnotic. The crystalline structure atop the central island became clearer the closer they got, its surface covered in intricate, rune-like carvings that pulsed with faint light, resembling the sigils Vastarael had seen in ancient texts. It was as if the very island itself was part of some larger, grand design.
The fog around the crescent islands began to thicken, swirling as though the islands were exhaling in unison. Vastarael felt the weight of history pressing in from every direction. The closer they came, the stronger the feeling of being watched. There were things hidden in this archipelago, things that had been waiting for eons.
"This place..." Sirithiele's voice was almost a whisper. "We need to leave. Believe me, this place is worse than the Fallen Bridge."
Phaenora tilted her head thoughtfully as they flew past the Halo Islands.
"Seriously? What's in there?"
"I don't know but whatever it is, the island is sealing it. If you'll head here during your Epoch Cycle, do not unlock any seal. Otherwise..."
The manta ray continued its flight, moving ever further to the Halo Islands as the trio grew more certain that the mysteries of the archipelago were beyond mortal and immortal comprehension.
They were absolutely shocked to see the next two islands which were jointed together.
It was submerged and had an underwater volcano on it.
They decided to call them the Submerged Islands.
They were a breathtaking sight, but also one that sent a shiver down their spines. Unlike the islands they had just passed, these two islands were entirely submerged in the ocean, with only the peaks of volcanic rock breaking through the surface. The island chain appeared as if it had been slowly sinking into the ocean's depths for centuries.
From above, the islands were connected by a thin strip of land, though this connection appeared to be under constant assault by the tides, leaving only a sliver of land visible above the waterline. This exposed land, however, looked eerily lifeless, almost as if the elements had eroded everything it once held.
In the distance, the outline of an underwater volcano could be seen. It had an aura of barely-contained violence, with occasional bursts of steam rising from its vents, sending plumes of water up into the sky.
As they approached, Vastarael's gaze turned serious, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight.
"This is... unsettling," he muttered. "This island is on the edge of eruption. The volcano is submerged, but I can still feel the heat rising from it. If it erupts... it would trigger a series of events that could drown these islands entirely."
Phaenora leaned in, her voice a teasing whisper despite the gravity of the situation. "So, you think it'll erupt in three hundred years, right? You're thinking it'll be the trigger that sets everything off? A world-ending catastrophe in the making?"
Vastarael nodded solemnly.
"Exactly. According to normal geography, in three hundred years, this volcano will erupt. The lands will sink even further and the volcanic eruption will destabilize the surrounding islands, especially the ones closest to it."
"So, we're just waiting for the countdown? Watching this island chain die slowly, only for it to come back to life in another form?" She leaned back slightly, shifting her position as they floated through the air.
"This island... will eventually become an underwater graveyard. I don't know if they'll exist in the future but according to the Erna Frozen Isles map, they still do. Now, off to the nest remaining two islands."
The massive hundred meter wide manta ray was moving at incredible speeds and due to its size and speed, it was taking them an hour to get to each island. They spent sometime floating around the Halo Islands, trying to see if they would figure out anything once they went back to the Epoch Cycle.
After all, this was a side quest given to them by Spheraphase.
The second-to-last island was a surprising contrast to everything they had seen so far. As they flew closer, it felt almost too... normal.
It was larger than any of the other islands they had visited, towering over the surrounding sea, its coastlines dotted with sprawling fields and dense forests that extended as far as the eye could see.
There were no volcanic eruptions, no strange mystical forces and no decaying ruins. It was almost as if this island existed outside the chaotic cycle of the others, as though it were a piece of the past that had been untouched by the turbulence of time.
What struck them immediately was how unremarkable it was. The island was covered in lush greenery, with vibrant forests that stretched to the horizon, almost perfectly symmetrical in their layout. The air felt fresh, filled with the scent of wildflowers and the gentle rustling of leaves. The waves lapped at the shores lazily, creating a soft, rhythmic sound as they kissed the sand.
For the first time since they started their journey, the group felt an overwhelming sense of tranquility. There was no tension in the air, no hidden threats lying just beneath the surface.
There were no ominous fogs, no strange storms, no signs of sentient life or monsters lurking within the island's borders. It was as though the island had been suspended in a moment of static calmness and undisturbed by the ravages of war or the influence of powers.
This normalcy was unsettling in its own way.
"This place... it's too normal," Phaenora muttered, her eyes scanning the horizon. She had become so accustomed to islands filled with danger or mystery that this one's quiet, idyllic nature was unnerving.
Sirithiele, though usually reserved in her demeanor, couldn't help but share in the shock.
"I... can't believe how normal it is either. It feels like something is off because it's so... perfect."
As they flew over the island's surface, the most striking feature was the sheer size of it. It was the largest island in the entire archipelago, with towering cliffs that gave way to rolling hills.
Small rivers snaked their way through the landscape, converging into serene lakes. Fields of wildflowers and tall grasses stretched across the land like a quilt, while the scattered human settlements appeared perfectly integrated with nature. There was a balance here that felt almost too deliberate. It was as if this place had been crafted to be the picture of harmony.
"We've been through so much chaos," Vastarael continued, a frown crossing his face. "The volcanic island, the frozen wastelands to come... yet this place remains untouched, serene. It feels almost like an illusion, like a dream in the middle of a nightmare."
Phaenora gave a small laugh. "I don't know. For once, it's nice to be somewhere without death lurking around every corner. Even if it is... too perfect. Maybe it's time to take a breather. We deserve it."
But Sirithiele couldn't let go of the feeling that the island was hiding something beneath its surface. Her gaze swept over the seemingly peaceful landscape, wondering if there were any forces at play that had protected this place from the turmoil the rest of the archipelago had suffered.
Was it possible that this island held a secret, something far darker than any volcanic eruption or creepy mysteries?
"This isn't what I expected," Sirithiele said quietly, breaking the silence. "If something's hiding here, it's been carefully hidden."
Vastarael nodded, his golden eyes reflecting the same wariness, "I agree. Something feels off. We'll have to dig deeper when we get back. There's more to this place than meets the eye."
They continued to glide over the island, noting the details with a new sense of caution. Despite the overwhelming peacefulness, they couldn't ignore the feeling that it was, in fact, an anomaly—one that stood in stark contrast to the chaos around them. They all knew one thing.
The normalcy of the island was deceptive.
And the last island was a desert.
The only thing they saw were sand dunes all over.