Chapter 3: Ch. 2: Oceanic Depths

Around 11,000 meters from the surface of the ocean, there exists a sizable gap in between the walls of the deep-sea trench *Void’s Chasm*, formerly known as the deepest point in the seas. This gap spans around 600 meters in diameter, past this gap is a large clearing that extends in all directions known as the *Hadal Doorstep*. At the bottom of the Hadal Doorstep, you will finally be able to see the maw of the beast that is Gaia’s Mercy.  

Diaz: “Ooooookay, so what do we have for breakfast?”

He says as he grabs hold of a serving tray before slamming it on the railings.

Unsurprised by the bombastic behavior of Diaz, Antha follows along behind him taking a serving tray for herself while Erika treads behind her lost in thought.

Antha: “Let’s see let’s see~”

She looks upon the array of available braised and grilled fish.

Antha: “Ooh we have a lot tuna and…”

She exclaims before being cut off.

Diaz: “Is’t,  *sunlight*? ”

He asks excitedly.

Antha: “Looks like *twilight*…wait no I think its *midnight*, oh wait no…”

Unsure of her assessment, Antha caresses her chin lightly confused.

Antha: “Hmmm, the meat looks lighter on this one…”

She mutters.

Erika: “They are midnight, these samples have pronounced fat linings and the meat itself is paler compared to that twilight pilotfish over there”

Erika answers confidently.

???: “Accurate as ever Erika”

A sequence of clicks and clanks followed by the sound of an apron being put on accompanies the remark.

Erika: “Thanks Steven”

She gratifies

Steven: “Righto, we have some midnights and twilights for y’all this morning”

The man elaborates happily.

Steven: “The folks over there at #2 managed to snag a couple of good ones ere”

He continued.

Steven: “A shipment of *abyssal*s and *hadal*s are expected to arrive later this afternoon here at #4”

Erika: “Abyssals and hadals?!”

Erika shouts, perking up with a visible smile.

Diaz: “Uh- no thanks, get me that twilight pilotfish and tomato soup”

He says demandingly while pointing towards the fish.

Antha: “I would like some midnight tuna with cabbage and mayo on the side please Steven”

Raising her hand before asking respectfully.

Erika: “Oh, do you have leftovers from last night?”

She eagerly asks.

Steven: “We sure do, there is always a surplus of “that” haha”

He insinuates.

Erika: “Great! I’ll take the blobber stew and some beans thanks”

To the dismay of her two friends, Erika cheerfully requested.

Steven: “Ok here is your pilotfish and tomato soup, in a can”

Presenting Diaz with a platter before placing a resealable can on the space next to it.

Steven: “Your tuna with mayo cabbage…in a can”

Doing the same but waiting for a moment longer before placing the can.

Steven: “And finally your reheated blobber stew and beans……in a can”

Again, waiting an estranged amount of time before placing the can seemingly to add tension.

The trio: “Thanks~”

The group exclaims before heading towards a suspended array of chairs facing the wall.

Antha: “I still can believe you would rather go for, “that”, than freshly caught fish”

She says while uneased.

Diaz: “Oh please, you KNEW she was going to ask for that the moment we mentioned that it was for dinner yesterday”

He explained while cockily waving his hand.

Antha: “Despite me knowing that it was inevitable, it won’t stop my surprise”

She sighs.

Erika: “You two, it’s not every day that you get to eat food from the Hadal Doorstep”

She explains defending her exotic choice of food.

Erika: “It’s something that has lived 11,000 or more meters under the ocean, do you know how HARD it is to get your hands on these?”

Continuing while staring at the dish before scooping up a mouthful up high.

Antha: “What I find HARD to understand is how you are able to stomach this…”delicacy” ”

Rebutting while unconsciously putting distance between her and Erika.

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Diaz: “Antha, please understand that our weird friend here likes weird food, we shouldn’t judge…”

He says while patting Antha's back suggesting to be open minded.

Diaz: “I still will tho”

Adding as he opens the resealable can of tomato soup.

Erika: “I’m weird, you say that as you prefer fish caught closer to the surface?”

Asking in defense before eating said mouthful.

Erike: “Like just now you chose the twilight pilotfish over the midnight tuna, you are aware that the closer the fish is found to the surface the more toxic they are?”

She says after chewing for while to the displeasure of her companions.

Diaz: “Yes yes, the suspended plastics have already spread downwards to even the 1000-meter mark”

He assures trying to understand the fact pointed out by his friend.

Diaz: “Fish from 0 – 200 meters are practically toxic, that why we almost never have any sunlights in the first place, and if we do they won’t give them to us”

Continuing begrudgingly.

Diaz: “They go straight to the auction houses back at land”

He ends as he takes a sip of soup.

Antha: “Yes, I worry that we won’t even get to enjoy twilights anymore at this rate”

She says in passing as she carefully arranges her meal.

Diaz: “Then why did you go for the tuna?”

Pointing his fork at said fish.

Antha: “I like to stay healthy thank you”

She replies astutely before finally taking a bite herself.

Diaz: “You say that but still refuse to eat hadals and even some abyssals”

Passingly commenting.

Antha: “I also like to stay sane thank you”

She replies again before clinking her fork to the plate.

Erika: “So what, are you two implying that I’m insane for liking deeper catches?”

Asking confused as she open her can and started gouging on the beans. Filling her mouth in the process.

Antha & Diaz: “That’s what we’ve been saying for 4 months now…”

Both reply in unison.

Antha: “Erika, the fishes from 4000 - 6000 meters have strange consistencies and unbearable stenches that don’t match the tastes”

Monologuing, she continues…

Antha: “Blobber stew for instance is basically salty slime and pudding with hints of fish that has a sweet aftertaste”

She establishes while wincing.

Erika: “That’s what makes it good!”

She says, thoughtlessly replying before having another spoonful of stew.

Antha: “The fish past that depth, towards 11 000 meters are more bone that meat and they taste bitter for some reason and are so salty that your mouth starts drying up”

Continuing her monologue while she grasps her head with her hand with a driven look on her face.

Antha: “I get that they are much healthier, BUT I can never stomach them psychologically…”

Finally ending her monologue followed by another bite of her meal.

Diaz: “AND it doesn’t help that there are more servings whenever they are caught, the deeper you go the bigger they become for some reason”

He adds while chewing his food.

Erika: “Whatever, it’s not me who is gonna suffer down there”

A brief moment of silence is shared between the three as a concerned Antha awaits to ask.

Antha: “Hey Erika, do you really wanna-”

Suddenly the speakers ring out cutting Antha off, “Paging-“, the announcer gets abruptly replaced by a coarse voice, “Mainlander! Get your ass over here NOW!”

Erika: “Ugh! That millennial! what does he want!”

She quickly ate up her meal before saying goodbye to the two.

Erika: “Imma go ahead, I gotta see what that crone wants from me, bye~”

Antha: “Ah- Bye…”

Diaz: “Bye..”

Both gaze at their sprinting friend before Diaz breaks his gaze and faces towards Antha.

Diaz: “She really is serious huh?”

With a concerned look on her face she faces him suggesting.

Antha: “Let’s get back to eating shall we?”

…

“Despite the pressures of the depths in Gaia’s Mercy being the highest in the known world…Instead of getting smaller, these creatures become larger the deeper you go, how curious…they also get progressively more intelligent, much, much more intelligent”

-Humbolt “The Philomath”

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