On another world, where humanity doesn't even exist, an amphibious alien named Rocko was born (or rather, hatched) as the son of village Chieftain, Ryuto, but finds he is unable to meet the expectations of everyone around him as the next-in-line. As Rocko cracks under the pressure, his father decides to take him out stargazing. There, Rocko finds a new purpose and meaning to his life, with the hope of escaping the overwhelming pressures unwillingly placed on him by everyone else - an intense desire to explore the stars.

WHAT TO EXPECT (VAGUE / MILD SPOILERS)

What Lies Beyond will have 3 major story arcs. (The first arc has a slow build.)

Certain large stretches of What Lies Beyond may diverge into action + adventure territory, but please don't go into it expecting either - you'll be disappointed more often than not.

Despite how it may seem, this story is not set in outer space any more than a story set on Earth is. It's set on another planet and the story focuses on events on that world.

I consider What Lies Beyond a "prologue" to a larger planned shared-universe type of series I call "The UNITY Series" (but is still its own fully planned and isolated story with a beginning, middle, and end).

While this will be a complete 3-Arc story, due to the larger shared universe it's intended to set up, there will be a few hints/references/mentions to things in it that won't pay off until later stories in The UNITY Series. (Later stories will be uploaded separately from What Lies Beyond.)

TRAUMATIC CONTENT CLARIFICATION

Contains depictions of domestic violence and psychological abuse, depression, and general trauma-related themes including themes related to the loss of loved ones.

Cover Art was commissioned from Oray Studios by me specifically for What Lies Beyond (The text and font were done by me)