Misuzu, Kurokami, Kawamoto, and Taniuchi sat inside Blackout, the air inside the vehicle was tense.
Kawamoto looked outside and saw a sight. "It is beautiful," she remarked. A brilliant vortex of swirling colors surrounded them. They all saw colours shifting blues, purples, and greens, twisting like a cosmic whirlpool. Streaks of white lightning crackled through the vortex, illuminating the interior of Blackout. The vehicle trembled as it was pulled forward, caught in the gravitational pull of the space-time rift.
Taniuchi gripped the armrest. "Hold on tight," she said. Her large E cups moved up and down. Her eyes were on Kawamoto.
The sensation of weightlessness washed over them as the vehicle surged forward into the unknown. Space itself seemed to stretch and bend around them.
Misuzu thought the Goddess had given them a task. She thought no, the task was given to her. She looked at the purple ring.
Kurokami looked at Misuzu wearing a flowing white robe. The robe fit loosely around her figure, the long sleeves extending down to her wrists, while the hem brushed the ground with every step. A simple, high collar framed her neck. She wore high heels. Her feet looked beautiful.
There was turbulence and Kurokami was thrusted forward. He landed near Misuzu`s feet. They looked delicious. He took his tongue out and licked her feet. His tongue went up and down on her feet.
Misuzu looked down. She saw Kurokami licking her feet and gave him a stare. He stopped. She thought it was pathetic. He needed training.
Kurokami got up and went back to his seat.
Then, in an instant, the colors collapsed inward, and Blackout shot out of the portal like a bullet. A blinding flash of light swallowed them whole—then silence.
As their vision adjusted, they took in the sight before them. The world was drowned. Vast expanses of water stretched as far as the eye could see, the remains of buildings and trees barely poking above the surface. The sun hung low, casting an eerie golden glow on the endless waves. Broken highways and half-submerged skyscrapers stood.
"This place is..." Taniuchi trailed off, his voice filled with disbelief.
"A flooded world," Kurokami finished, narrowing his eyes.
Blackout flew forward. There was no safe spot to land. Everything was flooded.
Kawamoto exhaled sharply. "So that person lives here?" she asked.
Misuzu nodded. "The Goddess has said she will be here," Misuzu responded. "We will make sure we bring her back," she stated.
Blackout rumbled forward. Crumbling stone structures jutted out from the ocean like broken teeth, covered in seaweed and slick with saltwater. The sound of Blackout's rotors echoed across the waterlogged. The sky above was a dull gray, heavy cloud swirling ominously.
Suddenly, the water's surface rippled unnaturally. A deep rumble vibrated through the hull of the helicopter.
"What was that?" Kawamoto asked, gripping the back of the seat.
Then it hit. A massive wave, easily forty feet high, surged up from the depths. It rose like a wall of dark glass, glinting with the reflection of stormy skies. The water roared as it hurtled toward them at terrifying speed.
"Wave incoming!" Taniuchi shouted.
"Hang on!" Blackout's synthetic voice cut through the chaos.
Blackout tilted violently to the left, the rotors screaming as they strained to stabilize against the rushing wind and water. The helicopter banked hard, narrowly skimming over the crest of the wave. The spray from the water lashed at the hull, and for a terrifying moment, the tail of the helicopter dipped toward the water.
"Blackout," Misuzu commanded.
With a powerful burst from the engines, Blackout surged upward, narrowly avoiding being swallowed by the churning sea. The wave crashed down beneath them, exploding into a violent wall of white foam and broken debris.
"Holy crap!" Kawamoto exclaimed, clutching his seatbelt.
"That was close," Kurokami breathed, his hand pressed against his chest. He looked at Misuzu.
Misuzu wiped her brow. "We're not alone," she said. She gazed toward the dark horizon. The ocean beyond still rippled unnaturally, as though something massive was stirring beneath the surface. They saw a land on top of the ocean.
"There is someone there," Blackout said.
"It must be her," Misuzu said.
"Are you sure?" Tanuichi asked.
Misuzu raised her ring. It was flashing. They all nodded.
Blackout landed on the small land. He opened the door. Kawamoto, Taniuchi, Misuzu, and Kurokami saw a woman with long, flowing dark hair and pale skin, with a menacing expression beneath a bat-shaped mask. She wore a dark brown, green armored corset-style top, black armored pants, and knee-high boots. In her left hand, she wielded a jagged trident.
"There were some left here in this world," she said.
Misuzu stepped forward. "We have come here from our Goddess, she has requested for you to join us. In return she will give you what you want," Misuzu said.
"Hahaha," she laughed. "For a kid you sure speak a lot," she added.
"My Goddess," Misuzu said.
"Water blast," she said as she summoned a jet stream of water and blasted it as Misuzu.
Misuzu activated her Sapphire Ring. Her clothes transformed into a purple bodysuit that covered her torso and upper legs. Her stomach and cleavage were exposed. She had thigh-high boots. On her crotch there was a star shaped emblem. Her arms were covered with long, matching purple gloves that extend past her elbows. She also has a headpiece, with a glowing, radiant light emerging from the top. "Shield," Misuzu said as she created a large purple barrier. The water hit the barrier. Misuzu held her ground and the water went either side of the barrier.
"Wow," Kawamoto remarked.
"Impressive," Kurokami said in awe.
"So you use those rings, I had killed a green one," she said. "He tried to stop me," she added.
Blackout transformed. His body parts start to change. He transformed into a heavily armored and mechanical body, featuring dark metallic plating with green and silver patterns. His face was sharp and angular, with glowing red eyes. The figure's head was crowned with jagged, spiked plating, and its body was covered in complex machinery, including cables, gears, and vents. The robot's shoulders were broad and armored, with various mechanical components extended outward.
"Interesting, a transforming robot," she said.
At that moment, she felt a light strike her head. She saw a vision of her world being destroyed. She saw herself being powerless to stop it. She saw her world being consumed by darkness, by red lightning. She saw herself summoning waves, her kraken but it was all useless. She was powerless, everything she had was gone. Then she heard a voice, "Go."
She snapped back to reality. She looked at them. The vision was different for sure. She knew this world was dying. She thought they might have the key or something. "Okay, let's go," she said.
"Go?" Kawamoto asked. She thought did she agree.
"You must have seen the light," Misuzu said.
"I will see for myself if this Goddess is real," she said.
"You have not told us your name?" Taniuchi asked.
"Drowned," Drowned responded.