The ship began to move with a deep vibration that ran through the entire tal structure like a slow heartbeat. At first there was a faint creak from the hull; then the powerful sound of the engines pushing their way against the ocean.
Thomas and Ashley were leaning against the railing on the starboard side of the ship. In front of them, the gigantic world-city of Ark was beginning to drift slowly away.
The colossal walls protecting the city rose like an artificial mountain range, stretching for kilotres across the horizon.
Watchtowers, secondary ports, and enormous mariti gates grew smaller and smaller as the ship pushed farther into the ocean.
The waters of the Atlantic shimred with deep blue and silver reflections beneath the morning sun. Waves struck the hull with a steady rhythm while the salty wind stirred both of their hair.
Ashley rested her elbows on the railing. Her eyes were shining.
"It’s... incredible."
Thomas looked at the city as it continued to shrink in the distance.
"First ti leaving Ark?"
"Yes." Ashley breathed in the sea air deeply. "I always wanted to see the ocean like this... without walls around it."
She stayed quiet for a few seconds. Then she looked at him with a sincere smile.
"Thanks for inviting , Thomas."
He raised an eyebrow. Ashley narrowed her eyes playfully.
"This is a once-in-a-lifeti experience. A lot of won would kill to have an experience like this."
Thomas laughed.
"I hope not literally."
Ashley rested her cheek against her hand while looking at him.
"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to repay you. Tonight I’ll pay you with my body," she declared while slowly swaying her hips.
Thomas burst into laughter.
"Well," he said with a shrug. "I’ll gladly accept that paynt."
Ashley smiled proudly.
"I knew you would."
At that mont, an elegant shadow fell over them.
"I see you’re enjoying the scenery."
Both of them turned. Angel was standing behind them, as if she had appeared without making the slightest sound.
She walked with her usual refined composure, both hands clasped behind her waist. Her black dress moved gently with the sea breeze as she approached with a calm that felt completely detached from the ship’s military atmosphere.
She stopped beside the railing. Her eyes turned toward the endless horizon.
"The Atlantic Ocean has always seed beautiful to ." Her voice carried a soft, almost contemplative tone. "Every ti I travel through here I end up watching it for hours."
Ashley looked at her curiously.
"It’s huge... It’s honestly hard to believe we live right next to it."
"And very old," Angel replied. "This ocean has seen wars, monsters, and entire civilisations disappear."
Then she smiled faintly.
"Enjoy the trip. It will only take about four hours for us to reach the top of the Abyss."
Thomas frowned.
"The top?"
"The upper zone where several entrances are located," she explained. "The Abyss doesn’t have a single access point."
Then her gaze slowly slid toward Ashley. Her smile remained, but her eyes sharpened slightly. Angel took a step closer to her.
"By the way."
Ashley straightened her posture slightly.
"Yes?"
"Everything you see, hear, or discuss with the people we’re about to et... must remain secret."
Ashley looked at her attentively. Angel took another small step, elegantly invading her space.
"If any information leaks..." she said softly, "...I will personally co for you."
Ashley felt a chill run down her spine. Angel continued in the sa calm voice.
"And for your friends."
A second of silence passed. Then Angel stepped back and adjusted her posture with elegance.
"And I like you far too much to have to make you disappear."
Ashley nodded imdiately.
"I won’t say anything."
Angel smiled with satisfaction.
"Good." She looked back at the ocean. "Then everything will go smoothly."
◇◆◇
Two hours later, the ship was in the open sea. The horizon was now completely unobstructed. Nothing but dark, deep, endless water.
The waves were larger and the wind stronger. The ship cut through the ocean while its white wake stretched kilotres behind it.
Thomas was back on deck with Ashley.
"It’s... too big," he murmured.
Ashley narrowed her eyes while looking at the water.
"Is it just or is the ocean moving weirdly?"
The water several tres away from the ship suddenly began to churn. A second later, a creature shot out of the sea.
It had mbranous wings, black skin, and a jaw full of jagged teeth.
"Monsters!" soone shouted.
Then more appeared. They weren’t endless, but they were constant. One after another they erged from the ocean or descended from the sky.
"Well," Thomas said. "I guess that was bound to happen."
Before he could react, a woman jumped from the deck. Her body rose into the air.
She literally flew.
Her power held her suspended as she extended a spear of blue energy that pierced two creatures at the sa ti.
"Heroines in combat!" a crew mber shouted.
Several more won rushed onto the deck. So leapt into the air. Others ran toward the edges of the ship. Ashley’s eyes widened with barely contained excitent.
"This is amazing!"
A large, muscular heroine stepped forward on the deck. She raised both hands toward the sky. The air around her began to vibrate while her hair whipped violently.
Thomas felt the heat.
"What the hell...?"
The woman inhaled deeply and then exhaled. A gigantic solar beam descended from the sky. A column of golden light tore through an entire horde of flying monsters.
The impact caused a section of the ocean to explode into a massive cloud of steam.
Bodies disintegrated in the air while charred remains fell into the water and the waves churned violently.
Thomas and Ashley stared at the scene with their mouths open.
"That’s incredible!" Ashley exclaid.
"That was... a damn orbital cannon."
Angel was leaning calmly against the railing.
"She’s a solar energy user."
She said it as if she were comnting on the weather.
"Very efficient against flying creatures."
Suddenly the ship tilted violently. Enormous tentacles erupted from the ocean. Sea creatures slamd against the hull. Several heroines moved forward.
One raised her hand and the ocean froze around a tentacle within seconds.
Another heroine lifted both arms and the water itself rose like a gigantic spear, piercing the sea creature before it could attack again.
The ship continued rocking violently from side to side. Thomas and Ashley dropped to their knees.
"Is this normal?!" she shouted.
Angel observed the chaos calmly.
"Actually..." An explosion blasted three monsters across the deck. "...we’re having quite a safe trip."
Thomas and Ashley looked at each other from the floor. Ashley was the one who ford a worried expression as a bead of sweat slid down her cheek.
"I don’t even want to imagine what a dangerous trip looks like."
Suddenly an entire horde of flying monsters began attacking. Heroines leaping through the air. Explosions. Beams of energy streaking across the sky. Bodies crashing onto the deck.
A creature split in half landed a few tres away from them. Angel watched all of it. Then she sighed softly.
"I’m hungry."
Thomas lifted his head.
"What?"
Angel began walking toward the interior of the ship with complete calm.
"Co."
A heroine landed behind them with a monster impaled on her sword. Another burned body fell from above. Angel continued walking elegantly while speaking.
"I hope they have fresh fish. Fish always tastes better at sea."
Ashley and Thomas stood up and began following her. A spray of blood splattered across the deck behind them. A heroine flew over their heads, causing Ashley to bump into Thomas’s arm.
Another one split a monster in two with a slash of energy. Angel continued walking as if nothing were happening.
"Maybe they’ll also have seafood soup."
A charred body fell near the door. Thomas stepped around it and Ashley jumped over it.
"You know," Angel continued thoughtfully, "I’d also like sothing sweet afterwards."
They entered the interior of the ship while behind them bodies continued falling into the ocean and blood ran across parts of the deck.
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