Editing The Abyss (section)

==Description==
The Abyss requires collecting 2 hearts to open a gate before Layer 7. It begins on Pluto's surface as a cube; on the right side is a lake of water, and below it is the entrance to 'The Abyss'. After jumping into the lake, the screen turns blue.

After the second checkpoint of Layer 3, there is an open room with a big statue in the centre, with text reading the following:

<blockquote>
At the bottom of our great fault, our salvation awaits.<br>
All will be one, we will find our peace.<br>
A mind shared, a world freed.<br>
We will escape our mortal bounds.<br>
</blockquote>

Halfway through the robot checkpoint of Layer 5, there is a hidden passage on the right wall, where an ''abyss angel'' can be found with the following dialogue:

*'Another comes?'
*'I know of kind like you'
*'you are not born of the abyss, yet your roots are firmly planted here'
*'the lower we descend the more our souls reject the beyond'
*'should i descend further, my soul will reject my being even moreso.'
*'but you- you void those flaws. your descent will be effortless'
*'but me? I will remain here. nothing remains to return to.'
*'us abyss angels live for ages. our only downfall was our own ambition'
*'leave now, construct your purpose awaits.'

===Layer 1 – The Ruins===
This layer features the first needle mini-robot gameplay of the level. Layer 1 has four checkpoints in total.

The first checkpoint is focused entirely on robot precision gameplay, with no orbs or portals on the main path.

The second checkpoint has gameplay similar to the previous one; however, it is considered the hardest checkpoint of Layer 1 because of the last dropdown and the section at the beginning with sawblades on the top and ceiling.

===Layer 2 – The Great Pit===
As the name suggests, the entire layer requires descending a steep drop. It is considered one of the easiest layers of The Abyss, featuring four checkpoints.

After beating the fourth and last checkpoint of Layer 2, there is a rock before going into the next screen with the following text:
<!-- The typos are part of the level, not a mistake on my end. -->
<blockquote>
A gate lies guarding the entrance to the<br>  
7th layer. Two hidden hearts will be open the barrier<br>  
Seek them before decending the 6th layer<br>
</blockquote>

===Layer 3 – The Sunken City===
This layer has two checkpoints.

The first checkpoint features the first moving hazards, with multiple moving sawblades. The last jump is a very tight drop with walls lined with sawblades, requiring a mid-air movement before hitting the floor to avoid dying.

The second checkpoint features straightforward mini-robot gameplay, except for a stream of bubbles that push the player upwards as they weave through spikes in a vertical corridor.

The first heart of the level is located in Layer 3, at the base of the tower that can be found to the right of the drop that leads to Layer 4.

===Layer 4 – Thermal Vents===
This layer features only one checkpoint.

Layer 4 requires collecting two hearts to open a gate at the bottom of the room. At the start of the checkpoint, two paths are available, one to the left and one to the right, each leading to one heart.

The right path introduces objects that lower the gravity. This path requires weaving through corridors made of sawblades in low gravity before reaching a series of orange rock platforms rising from a lava-filled floor. The first heart is located on the last platform to the right. After collecting it and moving back to the left, the path loops upwards towards the starting area of the checkpoint.

The left path consists of standard cube gameplay without additional gimmicks. It begins with a dash orb and continues with a sequence of jumps across platforms while avoiding sawblades. After falling down a vertical corridor made out of sawblades, the second heart can be collected.

Both hearts must be collected in a single attempt, in whichever order the player prefers.

Once both hearts have been collected, the gate at the bottom of the room opens, leading to a narrow vertical drop. During this descent, the screen tint returns to blue, and the lens circle shrinks.

<!-- The level does not capitalise the words 'lost' or 'forest'. -->
===Layer 5 – The lost forest===
This layer features two checkpoints.

The first checkpoint introduces ball gameplay, which primarily involves navigating through tight corridors with spikes on both the floor and the ceiling. Several blue orbs are placed throughout, requiring buffered inputs.

At the beginning of the checkpoint, the left path must be taken first. At the end of the left path, a yellow orb can be found, which moves towards the right. Moving the yellow orb is required to reach the height needed to collect the heart on the right path. After moving the yellow orb, the path must be retraced to the starting point of the checkpoint.

The right path has the same gameplay as the rest of the checkpoint. At the end of the section, the heart must be collected with the help of the yellow orb to open a gate. Once opened, it leads downwards and returns to robot gameplay.

The second checkpoint features standard needle gameplay while descending into the next layer. After completing this robot checkpoint and falling down another long drop, the player lands at the start of Layer 6; however, to open the gate in Layer 7, the second heart must be collected.

To obtain this final heart, a path to the left must be taken instead. This path leads to a long, mostly empty section. Along this path, a rock displays the following message:
<blockquote> 
Our ruins lie dormant.<br>
Those above us have found their peace.<br>
Those unworthy will face their eternal sentence.<br> 
</blockquote>

Near the end of this path is the entrance to the Old Castle.

===The Old Castle===
The Old Castle features three checkpoints.

The first checkpoint introduces spider gameplay, requiring moving through one-block-wide corridors with mini spikes. Near the end of the checkpoint, four keys must be collected. These keys open a gate blocking access to the next checkpoint.

The second checkpoint begins with UFO gameplay, with spikes that alternate in a timed cycle. The gameplay then transitions into ball gameplay, continuing with the same corridors with alternating spikes, before briefly switching to spider gameplay near the end.

The third and final checkpoint begins with UFO gameplay through four tight gaps between spike pillars, followed by a short jetpack section that requires straight-flying near the beginning. At the end of this straight-fly, the final heart of the level is collected, opening the gate in Layer 7. Collecting this heart also opens a gate that allows exiting the castle. After leaving the castle, it leads back to the same long pathway from before. From there, progression continues to the right towards the next layer.

===Layer 6 – Unreturnable Abyss===
This layer features two checkpoints and is widely considered the most difficult layer of the level. 

The first checkpoint consists of tight needle gameplay, with the final two jumps requiring a pink orb followed by a yellow orb.

The second checkpoint also has tight needle gameplay, but it is longer and features more awkward jumps and chokepoints, including the last jump of this checkpoint.

If the two hearts were not collected after completing the second checkpoint, a barrier prevents further progression.

===Layer 7 – The Final Maelstrom===
This layer features only one checkpoint.

Layer 7 significantly reduces visibility, with the lens circle shrinking further to limit the visible area to approximately one block around the icon. Unlike the previous layer, this one is more open, consisting of a large vertical descent rather than tight corridors.

The gameplay involves navigating a large area filled with spike structures while descending. Upon reaching the bottom, a final drop leads to the last layer.

===Layer 8 – %*#(*(@===
This layer features no checkpoints.

Layer 8 consists of a single final room. Dying in this layer results in respawning back in Layer 7. Visibility is higher than in the previous layer, and the room has a red tint.

The room only contains a few jumps and a single drop. The gameplay has two paths, but they are identical since they are just mirrored. At the centre platform, two closed pink-eye objects are present, while at the bottom of the screen, a circular object with a cross indicates the end of the room.

After completing this room, the level transitions into the ending room. This one features a star-filled sky and a grass floor. On the right, a cube is seated on a chair, with an empty chair beside it.

Landing on top of the empty chair triggers the end of the level, disabling player movement and showing the following dialogue:

<blockquote>
Player: 'Is this really it?'<br>
Player: 'Why is it only us here?'<br>
Cube: 'Ascension shows you whatever makes you happy, I suppose'<br>
Player: 'I'm... not sure if this makes me happy'<br>
Player: 'I feel like I've already been past this..'<br>
Cube: 'Well, you're still here, aren't you?'<br>
Cube: 'We both know you're always in the past'<br>
Player: '...'<br>
Player: 'I just want to be... happy...'<br>
</blockquote>

After the dialogue finishes, the camera slowly scrolls upwards, marking the end of the level.