The Compass pointed to the Darkness is the first episode of Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun, the second season opens with a young Vueko looking at the Star Compass while remembering her sexually abusive foster father. He discovered the compass on a burnt ship. There he and his companions witnesses a horrible scene. A “smoldering corpse” and body that was split in two, and an old traumatized man. Through tears the old man tells him the “golden city is inside the giant man-eating pit.” Made in Abyss instantly reminds you of the misery the world holds. Vueko inherited the compass and trains to be a Delver. She joins a Ganja group lead by Wazukyan and becomes one of the Three Sages.

We are introduced to a few more new characters, Belaf another of the Three Sages. He tries to encourage Vueko to be more confident. The following night they endure a storm and find the island where the golden city is located. As they venture forth they encounter people living on the island. Belaf can communicate with them. A old man offers to help them if Vueko gives him the compass. She gives it to him without much fuss. According to the natives the Golden City or “The Capital of the Unreturned,” is real. Once you enter you can never return.

The Cursed Pit

The Ganja’s crew are warned that if the enter the pit they will suffer from it’s “curse.” They ignore the warning a continue. When Vueko enters the Altar of the Absolute Boundary, a elevator that connects the 5th layer to the 6th, the episode switches to the perspective of Riko, Reg, and Nanachi. When Riko rubs her whistle the elevator begins to descend. The pass a massive sea creature and the layer of bones and corpses. The altar lands in the 6th layer, in the ruins of the golden city. The second season appears like it will follow the Ganja group as they travel through the city then transition to Riko and her group. The appears to be a great deal of time between the Ganja’s journey and Riko’s.

If this is accurate then the differences in the groups abilities to adapt to the dangers of the 6th layer will be compared. Riko’s group likely has more advanced knowledge of the world and will be more prepared. Considering the size of Ganja’s group I fully expect most of their crew to meet terrible deaths. However, in this series death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you. I wonder what horrors Made in Abyss has in store for us and the two crews. If the first season was any indication even our main characters aren’t safe from the consequences while exploring the Abyss.