A "Beach Party" and the Sleeping Army
Time: That unknown "Dream" time.
Location: Atlantis "Protective Layer" (Desert Dimension).
The Sand Sharks flew through the air like living missiles. Their speed was even greater than swimming in water, as the sand offered less resistance than the ocean (or perhaps the physics here were simply ridiculous).
The first shark lunged at Zero (Shiro).
Zero didn't budge. He merely adjusted his glasses and calculated the shark's trajectory.
"Angle: 32 degrees. Wind speed: 15 m/s. Mouth opening radius... hmm, large."
When the shark was 20 centimeters from biting his head off, Zero took a single step to the left.
WHOOSH!
The shark sailed past him.
With a sharp piece of scrap metal (a souvenir from the prison) in his hand, Zero sliced open the shark's flank—right through the gills.
The shark slammed onto the sand with a thud and began to thrash.
"Hitbox is too big," Zero remarked indifferently. "A mob designed for amateurs."
The second shark attacked Odin and Rynna.
Odin (The Strategist) shoved Rynna behind him, scooped up a handful of sand, and threw it directly into the shark's eyes.
"Go blind, you filth!"
The shark, blinded and disoriented, spun in the air and crashed nose-first into the sand. Like an ostrich, it buried its head, its tail flailing wildly in the air.
The third—the massive "Alpha Shark"—was heading straight for Kenji, who was carrying Laylo in his arms.
Kenji had no time to put Laylo down. One arm was occupied.
"Great," Kenji said. "Remaking the movie 'Jaws' with one hand."
The shark opened its maw and leaped.
Kenji didn't dodge. He clenched his free right fist.
He had almost no Mana left, but his eighty years of physical conditioning and his instinct for weight distribution were intact.
Kenji drove his fist into the shark's most sensitive spot—the tip of its nose (where the ampullae of Lorenzini are located).
CRUNCH!
The blow was so powerful that the shark stopped mid-air. Its eyes rolled back. Its entire nervous system went into shock.
The shark lost consciousness and flopped to the ground at Kenji's feet.
Kenji placed his foot on the shark.
"Fishing trip's over," he announced. "We're having 'Sashimi' for dinner. But I don't have a knife. Zero, lend me your scrap metal."
Zero handed over the piece of iron.
"Fish... in the sand..." Zero shook his head. "I need to find the programmer who wrote this 'physics engine' and break his hands."
Rynna (The Programmer) coughed guiltily.
"Ahem... Actually, I didn't write this part. This was 'Legacy Code.' I think it's the Atlanteans' own defense system."
The Road to the Pyramid
They set off again. The sun beat down relentlessly.
Kenji carried Laylo on his back.
After half an hour of walking, they approached a "mirage."
But it wasn't a mirage.
Standing before them, in the middle of the desert, rose a colossal Pyramid made of blue crystal. It was at least 500 meters high (three times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza). A low hum and cool air radiated from its walls.
But what stunned them wasn't the Pyramid itself.
At the foot of the Pyramid... there was a Sea.
Or rather, a small lake had formed around the Pyramid, and floating in the middle of that lake...
Was the pitch-black "Night Owls" Submarine!
The ship hadn't crashed into the sand; it was resting in clear, blue water.
People were disembarking from the ship.
The 500 prisoners (former heroes) and the Owls led by Kaito were sitting on the shore (the sand beach), drying their clothes, while some drank the water in disbelief.
"They're here!" Rynna cheered. "Our 'Taxi' made it!"
Kenji and his team ran down the dune.
Seeing them, the prisoners below stood up and cheered:
"Shadow! General Odin! You're alive!"
Kaito ran over. His clothes were soaked, but his face was beaming.
"Captain! We thought we were dead! The ship hit a whirlpool and... plop, we landed in this lake. Where is this? Hawaii?"
Kenji handed Laylo to Kaito.
"Not Hawaii. This place is much more expensive. Look at Laylo, she's passed out again."
Odin looked at the ship and the Pyramid.
"So, they brought us here on purpose. They crushed the government ships but 'teleported' us."
He gestured to the Pyramid.
"It seems our hosts are waiting for us."
The base of the Pyramid opened.
Stairs descended from within.
And down the stairs... came people.
No, they weren't humans.
They were tall beings with skin shimmering in pale blue, slightly pointed ears, wearing thin armor that looked like liquid metal.
Atlanteans. (Or in Game terms: "Deep Sea Elves").
Their leader—a woman holding a long staff topped with a triangle—stepped forward.
Her eyes were as dark and deep as the ocean floor.
The prisoners backed away. Kaito drew his dagger.
"Captain, who are they? Enemies?"
Kenji stepped forward. He was calm.
"Lower your weapons. If they were enemies, we'd be shark food by now."
The Atlantean woman approached Kenji. She didn't look at him... she looked at Laylo, lying unconscious in Kaito's arms.
Then she bowed.
It was a bow of respect.
"'Daughter of the Sea'," the woman said. Her voice sounded like rushing water. "And her guardians."
"Welcome to Atlantis. We heard your call."
Kenji frowned.
"Call? Did Laylo call you?"
"She is of our Queen's blood," the woman said, dropping a bombshell. "The 'Ancient Water' flows in her veins. She awakened us."
Kenji and Rynna looked at each other.
Laylo... isn't a normal human? Kenji thought. The Core said something similar.
"Can you give us shelter?" Odin asked, seizing the moment. "We are fleeing from the government."
The Atlantean woman gestured toward the Pyramid.
"Enter. A 'Sandstorm' is beginning outside. Inside... a true city awaits you."
Kenji looked at the sky. A black storm was indeed rising on the horizon.
"Alright people!" Kenji shouted to the 500 prisoners. "Vacation's over! The 'Excursion' continues. Everyone inside!"
They entered the Pyramid.
And inside... what they saw left even Kenji, who had played the game for 80 years, speechless.
There was no desert here.
Under a massive dome lay a Futuristic Underwater City filled with flying vehicles (Magitech) and crystal skyscrapers.
Kenji whistled.
"Well, I'll be damned. If Akvamen saw this place, he'd die of envy."