5-2: WAVES OF THE STARLESS SEA (2024)

For more information about other missions, see Levels

Sliding onto water will cause one to skip across its surface.

- The Tip of the Day.

WAVES OF THE STARLESS SEA is the second mission in the WRATH layer. It takes place in an old, wooden cabin somewhere on top of the Ocean Styx (formerly a river, which severely flooded after mankind's demise). This is the level that introduces Idols and ends with an encounter with the Ferryman.

The enemies located outdoors are susceptible to 30-damage lightning strikes when they have a screwdriver, nails or magnets attached to them. Lightning kills will not give any style bonuses.

Major areas[]

The Tower[]

The player emerges from an incredibly large stone tower, finding themselves on the River Styx, with a distant lighthouse. The damned float above the waves, fighting one another in a desperate attempt to escape. In front of the player is a bridge that must be crossed, as there is nothing else here.

Collapsed Bridge[]

A half-sunken bridge with a small rock outcrop to the right. Upon reaching the second set of planks, the player will activate the first encounter of the stage against 2 Drones floating on the left, 1 Schism at the end of the (intact) bridge, and 1 of the freshly installed Sentries stationed on the rock outcrop.

Stone Island[]

A large stone platform connected by a bridge ahead. After a couple of precarious jumps over the damned, landing on this island spawns 1 Sentry, 1 Stalker, and 1 Malicious Face. It's just an island made of stone; I wish I could add something funny about it.

Entrance Ramp[]

A square set of ramps leads to the Ferryman's house. Making your way up the ramp faces the player off with 3 Soldiers at each corner, and 1 Virtue at the highest one. After the Virtue is killed, 1 Malicious Face spawns above the center.

Fireplace and Office[]

A small section of the main building intended to introduce the Idol, consisting of a Fireplace on the first floor and a small Office with a portrait of a Ferryman on the second. After entering through the front door, the player is faced off with a truly dire challenge; 1 Filth that cannot be killed. With the doors being locked, the only method of escape is to flee up the stairs where the player encounters 1 Idol, which is protecting the Filth. Below the portrait of the Ferryman, there's a book the player can read, as seen below.

Ferryman's Diary[]

Exhibition Arena[]

A large library containing two unbreakable glass cases with Idols in each of them, 2 Cerberi statues, and a decorative statue of Gabriel. Making your way to the other side will begin the encounter.

• The first wave consists of 4 Soldiers- one in each corner of the room- 1 Malicious Face between the Cerberi, and 1 Idol-protected Streetcleaner. When all non-immune enemies are killed, the first glass case opens and reveals the first Idol to be destroyed, and killing the Streetcleaner progresses the encounter.
• The second wave consists of the 2 Cerberi activating, and 1 Idol-protected Virtue. Once the Cerberi are killed, the second case opens as well. Killing the Virtue completes the encounter.

Afterward, the far door opens, which grants access to the Blue Skull required for progression and leads back outside. If you're still not satisfied after that encounter, you can also deface the Gabe statue, because it's very funni.

Ruined Pier[]

A scattered set of bridges and planks mostly ruined by the sea of the dead, save for the dock at the end. Descending the stairs summons 2 Soldiers and 4 Strays across the pier to peck at the player from varying ranges. The dock at the end has two pedestals, Blue and Red respectively. Placing the Blue Skull will summon the Ferry. Placing the Red Skull will summon some pillars and planks to assist with climbing up to it, but is not necessary to progress if the player has the skill to reach the Ferry by other means.

To the right is the Red Skull building, connected by a bridge to a rock.

Red Skull Cabin[]

A small building with two floors, with the Red Skull visible from the outside through a window. Approaching the Pedestal will shut a glass door in front of the player and begin an encounter.

• The initial spawns consist of 1 Blessed Virtue on the second floor, with its guardian Idol on the first floor.
• Approaching the Virtue's Idol summons 3 Streetcleaners around the player.
  • Killing the Streetcleaners first spawns 1 Sentry on the first floor and 3 Soldiers on the second floor.
  • Smashing the Idol and killing the Virtue from a distance first only spawns the 3 Soldiers.
    • Killing 1 of the Soldiers from a distance will spawn the 1 Sentry.
  • Once the Streetcleaners are active, approaching the Pedestal at any point will summon the Sentry and the 3 Soldiers, if they are not already active from prior conditions.

Killing all enemies will open the glass door blocking the red skull, allowing it to be taken. Once picked up, the window behind the skull will also open, providing a convenient shortcut. The player now can easily grapple it with the Whiplash.

The Ferry[]

A gigantic cruise ship risen from the sea, under command by the Ferryman toward the bow, silently praying with the help of an Idol. The exit door is visible here but is locked until the Ferryman is dealt with, or appeased.

Ranking Requirements[]

Secrets[]

Trivia[]

Gameplay[]

• The Red Skull encounter can be skipped entirely by using the Whiplash to grab it from the stairs, then simply leaving through the door you came from.
• If the player skims across the water for long enough, moving in one direction, they will be teleported to the opposite side of the map. According to this, Hell is round.
• The Ocean Styx is so densely packed with the bodies of the damned that submerged enemies are immediately +CRUSHED by the mass of sinners fighting for the surface.^[2]
• When tossing a coin to the Ferryman, it will allow peaceful passage to the Ship of Fools. Destroying the Idol present after giving permission to pass will make the door immediately close, and initiate combat with the Ferryman.
• Florp will be added to the Spawner Arm upon first pickup. (Florp being the weird hampter you pick up)
• When the Clash mode cheat is enabled, the rain box will not follow the player, allowing you to completely leave the rain behind.

Music[]

• This is the first non-secret mission to have no regular combat music whatsoever. Hakita stated this was intentional in the level's teaser.^[3]
• Francis Xie drew the cover art for "He is the Light in my Darkness"

References[]

• The level's name is a reference to Natural Snow Building's album Waves of the Random Sea and King Crimson's song "Starless".
• Two Skeletons can be found leaning against the building on the lighthouse island, one wearing a hat and mustache while the other sports a full beard. Approaching them will display a line referencing the 2019 movie The Lighthouse.
  • The Ocean Styx's texture is a collage of naked fighting people cut from various renaissance paintings.

Lore[]

• The calamity referenced in the book- the one which caused Styx to flood with countless sinners- is likely the Final War, with the ensuing "current shift" caused by a new, even greater flood likely being whatever final event caused humanity's extinction.
• It is unknown as to why Jakito was imprisoned above the Ocean Styx, nor is it known as to who imprisoned him.
• The arms of the sinners who fight for air in the Styx have borders around their arms, and these are visible when lightning strikes.

Development[]

• Jakito existed as a nickname for hakita after someone on discord mistyped his name as Jakito.
  • Jakito is canon and we will never find out why, additional to the jakito lore is "very f*cked up".
  • Jakito is an inside joke when somebody misspelt Hakita's name as "Hakito", that then became his nickname and someone eventually misspellt that as "Jakito", the evil f*cked up version of Hakita. also Jakito lore is so dark it would get banned in all countries, including the biggest country, twitch
• On the map, there exists a hidden structure called "Old tower". It cannot be spawned in-game without using 3rd party software.
  • The tower is made of mostly glass panes and wood. It has 3 empty levels with a staircase wrapped around it. Its initial purpose was going to be the spot to place a bell to summon the ferry, but being high up would make the ferry's reveal seem less big and striking so Hakita had it happen near the surface of the water instead.^[4]
• The metal door in the final arena where you fight the first phase of Ferryman used to be much fancier. However, the testers tried to constantly enter it so the door was made worse and worse looking.

Gallery[]

References[]