The cursed archipelago of Nicodweep lay hidden in endless waters, surrounded by a massive ring of red-colored sea that spanned over 600 kilometers of oceanic area. From afar, the red ring was clearly visible — crimson, thick, unnaturally calm. The water inside it looked peaceful, almost beautiful… yet inside the ring, not a single fish swam.No bubbles. No ripples. Just a heavy, silent stillness — drip… drip… drip…
A wooden ship moved slowly forward toward the red ring, its old planks creaking — CREEEAK… CRRK… — under the pressure of the tense sea. One of the crew members, an aged man with pale, weary skin and loose cheeks trembling in fear, grabbed the railing, his hands shaking."Captain…" he whispered, his voice quivering, "We have to turn this ship back. That's the Red Ring… Do you remember? No one… no one has ever crossed it!"
The captain, a tight, muscular man with a powerful frame and dark brown skin, let out a rough laugh — HMPH!"How can you fail to believe such foolish myths even after sailing beside a man like me, huh?" he scoffed. "All of this is just fear created to stop trade. Nothing more."
Up on the flag tower, the crew member holding the binoculars burst into ridiculous laughter — HAHAHAHA! — while the waves slapped against the hull — SPLASH! SPLASH!
But as the ship moved closer… and closer… and closer…WHOOSH…The laughter faded.
Fear crept into their eyes.
Some men began to tremble. Some muttered prayers. Some even leapt into the sea — SPLAAASH! SPLAAASH! — trying to escape an invisible doom.
Suddenly… something massive moved beneath the ship — GLOOOOM… SWOOOOSH…
The captain clenched his jaw."Don't be afraid, fellows! That's probably just a big fish," he growled, though his voice had lost its earlier confidence.
The ship moved on…CREEEAK… CREEEAK…
And then…
The very first particle of the red ring touched the hull.
SSSSSSSSSSSSS…
The water began to boil violently — SHHHHK… SHHHHK…Small violent tides rose — WHOOOOSH! SPLASH! — and broken wooden pieces floated to the surface while the rest of the ship began to sink — GLUG… GLUG… GUUURG…
In a single horrifying moment — THUD! CRASH! GLUG!!! — the ship and her men were swallowed into the depths.
And then…
Silence.
Complete stillness returned to the water, as if nothing had ever happened.The cursed red mirror lay calm once more.
Inside the Hall of Dwee
A large hall stood in deep shadow, barely illuminated by green and blue flames flickering from strange lamps — FSSH… FSSHH…A long meeting table filled the center. Four leaders were already seated — two of them women, their aged faces lined with years of wisdom and conflict.
TIIIIING!A bell echoed.
Slow, powerful footsteps echoed through the hall — THUMP… THUMP… THUMP…
A tall, elderly man entered with his guards. His back was straight despite his age, his aura heavy like stone.
Instantly, all seated leaders stood up, bowing respectfully — RUSTLE… RUSTLE… — and joined their hands in greeting."Namaste."
He raised his hand slightly, his voice low and commanding."Guards, stand by."
As he moved forward and sat — THUD — a butler stepped in and placed name tags before each person.
The man who had just entered was the Leader of Dwee.
"I am truly thankful to all of you," he said, his old voice deep yet steady, "for accepting my invitation and coming to this meeting."
The aged woman to his right, her long white hair braided tightly down her back, her sharp eyes shining like a hawk's, spoke in a firm, clear voice as she paused her folding fan:"The problem must be grave indeed, if we were all summoned together. Tell us, Leader of Dwee… why have you called us here at once?"
"You have forgotten the greatest problem that bleeds this sea?" he replied quietly."The problem… of the Red Ring. That is the single reason for this gathering."
Narrator
I know what you are thinking, fellows — what is this Red Ring, and why such fear?
The Red Ring is a massive blood-colored circle in the ocean, with a radius of 500–700 kilometers. Many believe the red is not merely a color… but true, ancient blood.
There are countless myths surrounding it.
Some believe it is a portal.Some say it is a curse.Others whisper that something ancient sleeps within it.
But one truth stands unbroken through time:No one who crossed it ever returned whole.
From past to present, every person who has tried was said to be split in two — one half sent to this side… the other lost forever on the opposite side.
Within the last decade alone, more than 120,000 people have gone missing.Some were found.But only in pieces… broken… decayed… twisted by unnatural time.
The leader with the tag "Leader of Cobar", his voice rough and exhausted with age, slammed his palm on the table — THUD!"How could we ever forget that cursed ring? It has shattered our trade, ruined our culture, strangled our people! And yet… we still stand here without a solution!"
Across from him, the Leader of Nino, thin and wrinkled with eyes as cold and sharp as a blade, spoke calmly:"That… is exactly why we sit in this hall today. Not as enemies. But to find a solution — collectively."
At that, the Leader of Kent, an elderly woman with perfectly straight posture and a calculating, unreadable gaze, let out a quiet scoff — HMPH."Collectively?" she said. "Have you already forgotten the blood that was spilled between our islands? The great War of Nicodweep?"
Narrator:Nicodweep is the collective name of five islands — Nino, Cobar, Dwee, Poman, and Kent.
The Leader of Dwee leaned forward."We have not forgotten," he said firmly. "But if we cling to the old treaty forever, we will never retrieve what was lost — our money, our culture, our people. And the deaths… will never end."
One by one, heads nodded — RUSTLE… RUSTLE…All… except Kent's leader.
Outside the hall — WHOOOOOSH! — violent winds screamed.BOOOOM! Lightning tore the dark sky apart. The air itself seemed disturbed.
Finally, after a long silence, Kent's leader spoke:"Fine. I agree."Yet in her eyes… something strange and profitable flickered.
The Leader of Dwee signaled his butler with a subtle motion and whispered into his ear. The butler stepped out… then returned moments later and clapped three times — CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
"Forgive the interruption," he said. "I, the butler of the royals of Dwee, will now read what has been agreed upon, with your permission."
All nodded.
"All the leaders of Nicodweep have agreed to work collectively to find a solution to the Red Ring. The treaty signed after the war has now been abolished."
A gust of storm wind burst through the windows — WHOOOOOSH!!! — blowing curtains wildly behind the Leader of Dwee.
The Leader of Nino then spoke:"What if we were to issue an invitation throughout Nicodweep?"
"Invitation? For what?" asked Cobar.
"For an expedition. One that will enter the realm of the Red Ring — to research it… and to discover its truth."
A low murmur spread through the hall — MMMMM…Then, one by one, they agreed.
Nino's royal butler stepped in and handed him a paper. He began to read."All persons who believe themselves brave and strong, who possess the arts and techniques of their islands, and who practice any form of Wrathism — ninjutsu, genjutsu, taijutsu, kurohana, kaminiteja, akaigo — are invited to the Royal Palace of Dwee on the 17th."
He raised his eyes."No matter who you are… criminal or official… you will be favored. Your strength alone will decide your fate. Regards — Expedition of the Red Ring."
CLAP… CLAP… CLAP…
Servants entered with wine — CLINK… CLINK… SPLASH… — filling the glasses.
Back to the Sea
Once again… a ship moved toward the clearly visible Red Ring.
A crew member shouted over the wind,"Sir! We must turn back! That is the Red Ring! No one has ever crossed it!"
The captain laughed — HAH!"You still believe those foolish myths meant to stop trade?"
Up on the flag tower — CLICK… SHUFFLE… — laughter again.
Then… something moved beneath them — SWOOOOOOM…But they ignored it.
The first touch of the ring…
SSSSSSSSHHHH…
Boiling water. Rising tide. Broken wood — CRACK! SPLASH! — sinking screams — GLUG… GLUG… AAARGH—
And then… silence.
Moments later, bodies surfaced.
Split. Divided.
Placed upon drifting wooden logs like offerings — DRIP… DRIP…
One half on this side.One half on the other.
Their flesh partially decayed… bitten… aged as if years passed in seconds.
The Red Ring lay still again.
Waiting.