City of The Drowned

Black couldn't help but release a sigh,  opening a portal back to his cave. He thought there was no reason for him to continue walking like he was when he was just getting nowhere.

The moment he walked through the portal he appeared back inside his cave. However, where his rabbits should've been were people with rabbit ears and tails.

The females had hair as white as snow and their eyes were the color of wine, the males on the other hand had ash gray colored hair and black eyes.

Black stared at them all without much of an expression on his face, the first thing gaining his attention was the fact they were all naked.

Black knew these were his rabbits, their ears and tails gave them away, not to mention their scent.

One by one they began to notice Black's presence and bowed. One of the male rabbits stepped forward out of the group then took a knee, he had short shoulder-length gray hair, black eyes, and looked to be in his early 20s. 

"My liege."

Black looked down at the young man somewhat surprised. "You can speak?"

The young man nodded his head. "Yes, my liege."

"What about the others?" Black asked, turning his head towards the other rabbits who remained silent.

"I'm sorry my liege, they need some time before they are able to speak." Answered the young man with a disappointer expression.

"How are you able to speak?" Asked Black.

"I was the first to change, at first I could barely make a single sound but my voice slowly but surely came to me." The young man explained, holding his hand over his throat, gently caressing it.

"I see, do you have a name?" Asked Black, moving his gaze back towards the young man only to see him shaking his head. 

"Then your name will be Nell from now on." 

Nell looked up at Black with wide eyes. "My liege, you mustn't waste such a name on me, I'm not worthy." Nell Responded, trying his best to protest against his king wasting such a name on him.

Black ignored his words and bought some clothes from the system, tossing them to Nell he couldn't help but ask. "Do you know how to put those on?"

Nell took the clothes and looked them over, his brows furrowed as he moved his gaze back towards the ground with a small frown. "I'm sorry my liege."

Black released a sigh hearing Nell's answer. After helping Nell put the clothes on Black bought more for the others then ordered Nell to help them.

While Nell handled the other rabbits, Black looked for a comfortable place to rest. 

Even though he took a nap after evolving he still felt tired. With the addition of traveling worlds and walking for hours, he was worn out.

Seeing there was no place to rest, Black decided to buy a mattress for himself in one of the corners along with a couple of others for the rabbits. He was their king, and with that title comes responsibility.

The moment he fell on his mattress he went out like a light.

…

Black slowly opened his eyes and turned towards the cave's entrance without making a sound. He was at his most quiet when waking up from a nap.

"You're awake, greetings king of the horror rabbits." 

Black's ears perked up at the sudden unknown voice. Turning his head to the source, he was greeted by the sight of a woman in a black cloak bowing to him. 

"Who are you?" Black asked.

"My name is Angelica, a messenger. I've come to escort you to the Owl's castle where the monarchs are waiting." Answered Angelica, keeping her eyes directed at the ground.

'So it's time..'  Black looked around him to see that the others were still sleeping, their ears raised listening for the slightest sound.

Black wasn't worried about the woman's sudden presence, if she held any kind of ill intent his ability unconscious combat would've kicked in. Though it would've been a lie to say he wasn't impressed she got by the rabbit's sharp hearing.

'Guess she's the messenger for a reason.'

"I see, let's go." Said Black, getting up from his mattress.

Black believed he had a good idea of what place the woman was speaking of. The only time he had ever come across a place with a castle was when he was at the lake.

Angelica nodded her head then stood up. "This way please." 

Angelica gracefully moved through the cave back to its exit with soundless steps. Black decided to follow her movements, with how high his agility was they were pretty easy to follow.

He could've teleported but he chose to keep his cards close, he didn't know if these monarchs were friends or foes.

Without wanting to waste much time the cloaked woman and black rabbit ran towards the center of the Depths. It was darker than usual outside, the hole up above not releasing any light.

From Black's previous experience, he knew this meant it was pretty late in the night.

Thanks to how quick the two were, Angelica and Black appeared in front of the murky lake in under an hour. 

Angelica walked to the edge of the lake then took a bell out of her cloak before ringing it. A moment after the bell rang the ground began to tremble as a bridge slowly raised out of the water.

'This must've been the reason I wasn't able to enter before.' Thought Black, looking at the bell in Angelica's hand.

"From here we just have to reach the castle." Angelica said, putting the bell back inside her cloak and taking a step forward.

"Lead the way." 

Black followed behind her looking off the side of the bridge. 

Multiple megalodon heads poked out of the water and stared them down, watching as they crossed the bridge with clear aggression. Thankfully it didn't take them long to reach the other side.

When the two entered the city, they continued their walk towards the towering castle in the far back.

The first thing that caught Black's attention was the great diversity of races. Some had lavender skin like that of Kari or blue skin with horns protruding out their head.

There were some with normal human-like skin colors walking the streets as well but Black wasn't sure if they were human either.

Everything gave off a fantasy feel, in a way the city reminded him of another named Orario that he recalled from his memories. 

Angelica turned around to check on Black, when she saw him looking around curiously she couldn't help but release a chuckle.

"Beautiful is it not? This is the city of the drowned, a neutral territory for all races of the depths who wish to avoid conflict." 

"Conflict?" Asked Black, shifting his attention back to Angelica.

He understood the depths were dangerous but he couldn't understand what would make several different races come together.

Angelica nodded her head. "You see, whenever a monarch is born they are destined to battle in hope of becoming the ruler of the depths."

"As one may have expected, this led to countless wars and battles, killing many in the process. However, this as well led to the creation of the city of the drowned, a place where those of different races can come together to avoid conflict of their respective monarchs."

"I see.." 

Noticing they had arrived at the castle, Angelica led Black inside down multiple white and black corridors until they reached a door.

"This is as far as I go." 

"Thank you."

Angelica only nodded her head and walked after saying her goodbyes, once she was out of sight Black walked towards the door and pushed it open.

On the other side were 5 individuals sitting around a long table, their eyes instantly locking onto him with a scrutinizing gaze. 

"So this is the new monarch? He doesn't look like much." A man suddenly spoke, disrupting the silence. 

He had shoulder-length green hair and sickly pale skin, his eyes green and slitted like that of a lizard. What caught Black's attention was the emerald green crown atop the man's head signifying his status as royalty.

[??? - King of the Sarcos: Level 50]

"Of course you'd say that, he's a rabbit and you're a crocodile." Responding to his words was a man with pale skin. 

Unlike the sarco king, he had short midnight purple hair, green eyes, and a golden crown on his head.

[??? - King of the Karkinos: Level 49]

"I think he looks pretty cute." Said a young woman jumping into their conversation.

She had milky white skin, long white hair that looked to reach the end of her back, salmon pink eyes, and a purple/pink crown atop her head.

[??? - Queen of the Cnidarias: Level 50]

"I didn't think jellyfish had a thing for rabbits." A woman teased with a small smile exposing her sharp shark-like teeth.

She had tanned skin, scarlet red hair, and a red crown on her head.

[??? - Queen of the Megalodons: Level 45]

"Shut up, all of you, you're monarchs so act like it." Said a cold voice that echoed throughout the room, silencing everyone.

At the far end of the table was a woman with skin as white as snow, her eyes and hair as dark as the night.

She looked at everything with an uncaring gaze, a white owl mask on the side of her face and a black crown atop her head.

[??? - Queen of the Depths: Level 100]