The surface of Metis Island groans beneath their feet like a dyeing creature. Steam hisses from cracks that spiderweb across the volcanic rock. Fire erupts in the distance, painting the hazy sky in shades of orange and crimson.
Aurélie stands at the edge of the plateau, her silver hair whipping in the hot wind. Anathema rests at her hip, her hand never straying far from the hilt. Beside her, Law's eyes scan the horizon with the intensity of a man who has run out of patience.
Bepo bounces on his heels, his white fur bristling with nervous energy. His paws cup around his eyes as he squints toward the churning sea. "I see them, Captain! Both subs have broken free!"
Law's jaw tightens. His hand finds his hat, pulling it lower. "Where are they?" His voice carries the edge of a blade. "Where is everyone else?"
Atlas stands beside him, his rust-red fur catching the firelight. His blue eyes sweep the chaos. "They'll make it. They always do."
Aurélie's voice is measured, calm. "We may not be able to wait much longer."
Penguin shifts beside her. "That's harsh."
The island answers with a violent quake. The ground splits beneath them, a jagged crack racing across the surface like a wound. Fire erupts from the fissure, spewing molten rock and ash.
Atlas's voice cuts through the chaos. "There! I see the Boss! They're coming!"
Law's head snaps toward the direction Atlas indicates. His eyes find the distant figures—moving fast, cutting through the destruction with desperate purpose. His shoulders relax a fraction. "It's about damn time."
---
Bō-Zak, Shachi, and Uni emerge from the smoke first, their boots pounding against the trembling ground. Marya follows close behind, Nisshoku still drawn, her raven hair streaming behind her.
Above them, Jannali and Ember fly overhead—Jannali astride Gosan in its Hatzegopteryx form, Ember clinging to the dinosaur's neck with manic glee. The ancient predator's wings beat against the ash-filled sky, its massive jaws snapping at the air.
Penguin's jaw drops. "Is that a—"
Law's voice cuts him off. "Enough gawking!"
Jannali's voice carries from above as they descend. "See you at the ship!" She banks hard, the Hatzegopteryx turning toward the distant water.
Marya's feet hit the ground, and she meets Law's gaze. Her smirk is sharp, unreadable.
Law's voice is clipped, urgent. "Let's go."
Bō-Zak's form ripples, shifts, expands. His body, becoming a condor with a wingspan that blots out the sky. He winks at Law. "Looks like he was worried." Then he launches into the air before anyone can reply.
Aurélie's translucent insect wings unfurl from her back. She nods once, then launches herself into the sky.
Shachi's voice carries a note of disbelief. "They can all fly?"
Everyone's gaze swings to Atlas, waiting.
Atlas does not fly.
His form ripples, expands, transforms. His rust-red fur bleaches white, his eyes blazing with red-gold fire. Electro crackles across his body like a living storm, his claws extending, his muscles swelling.
Bepo's voice carries a note of panic. "But there's no moon!"
Atlas's grin is feral, sharp. "I don't need the moon."
His gaze finds Marya. "See you on the ship."
He launches himself across the water, his body a blur of white lightning.
Marya glances at Law. Her voice is quiet, almost playful. "See you on the next island?"
The ground shakes again. Louder. More violent.
Law's voice rises above the chaos. "Let's go!" He grabs a handful of rocks, looks towards Marya but she is already gone. He tosses the stone into the air. "Shambles!"
His crew vanishes.
---
The deck of the Dreadnought Thalassa groans beneath Marya's boots as she lands. She turns, her eyes finding the Pluton's deck across the churning water.
Law appears with his crew—Shachi, Uni, Bepo, Penguin. They materialize in a cascade of blue light, the rocks they swapped with falling into the sea.
Their eyes meet across the distance.
For a long moment, neither moves.
Then Shachi, Uni, Bepo, and Penguin file into the Pluton's hatch. Bepo holds the door, his voice carrying across the water. "Captain!"
Law's gaze holds Marya's for a heartbeat longer. Then he turns, his hand finding his hat, and disappears into the submarine's interior.
Marya's smirk softens into something unreadable.
---
Galit's voice echoes through the Dreadnought Thalassa's intercom. "Captain, we have system resumption. All stations report—"
Marya steps through the hatch, making her way to the bridge. She slides into the captain's chair, her fingers finding the armrests. "Status!"
Galit's voice is sharp, efficient. "AI is down. All systems are at sixty percent operational capacity." He glances over his shoulder, his long neck curving. "We're in manual mode."
Marya nods.
The view screen flickers to life.
Marya grips the armrests, her fingers digging into the worn leather as the bridge groans and vibrate. "What the—"
Aurélie's voice comes from the copilot's seat, calm and analytical. "It appears to be emitting from the Pluton."
The water before them parts as if struck by an invisible blade. A beam of pure force—silent, terrible, absolute—tears through the space between the submarines and the dying island.
The island explodes.
Fire. Smoke. Debris. The shockwave hits them a moment later, rocking the Dreadnought Thalassa on its keel.
Atlas whistles.
Marya's lips curve into a smirk. "Show off."
Galit's voice returns, carrying a note of professional satisfaction. "It appears the island has been obliterated."
Marya nods, her eyes still fixed on the burning wreckage. "Good. Plot a course to Facility 38-14." She pauses. "And make sure to—"
The hatch bursts open. Eliane rushes in, her silver hair disheveled, her blue eyes wide. "I just checked on our food supplies, and—"
Marya holds up a hand. "See what islands are on the way. Looks like we need to make a stop." She glances at Galit. "Make sure to coordinate with Bepo."
Galit nods. "On it."
Marya settles back into her chair, her eyes finding the view screen one last time.
The island of Metis is gone.
But the journey is only beginning.
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