The Real Question

“Alright, crew!” Perla’s voice cut through the hum of the ship’s systems as she adjusted her glasses with a measured confidence. “We’re nearing Worlderia’s barrier. From there, it will take about three days to reach our destination.”

“Three days?!” Kael’s brows furrowed, and a vein visibly throbbed on his forehead. “We usually travel beyond the barrier in under ten hours. Where in the world are we going?!”

“You’ll see,” Perla replied cryptically, her tone leaving no room for argument.

As her words hung in the air, the ship began to shift slightly, the engines changing their cadence. Through the wide viewport, the shimmering blue of the ocean stretched endlessly before us, its waves catching the faint light of a setting sun.

“We’re already at the ocean?” I asked, leaning closer to the glass. “But there’s nowhere to go from here. If we cross it, we’ll just loop back to Worlderia.”

Before I could question her further, the ship shuddered. A deep, resonant hum vibrated through the walls, and the floor beneath us shifted subtly. The once-light hum of the propulsion system transformed into a low, rhythmic rumble. I steadied myself against the nearest wall as metallic panels along the ship’s hull began to shift, revealing hidden mechanisms beneath.

The sleek, angular ship we had boarded was transforming before our eyes. The nose of the vessel elongated, its edges curving inward, while mechanical fins unfurled from its sides, slicing through the air with an audible hiss. The interior lights dimmed to a soft green glow, and the wide viewport’s reinforced glass expanded, offering an even broader view of the ocean.

With a sharp hiss and a sudden weightless lurch, the ship dipped forward. Water rushed around us, cascading over the reinforced exterior as we plunged beneath the surface. The rhythmic sound of the engines deepened, steady and powerful, as the vessel fully transformed into a submarine.

“What the hell?!” Toren exclaimed, his voice tinged with awe. His gaze darted from the viewport to the glowing panels inside the cabin. “I didn’t know our ships could do this! Truly a masterpiece, fit for our divine existences!”

The view outside was mesmerizing. Sunlight filtered through the water in shimmering beams, revealing schools of fish darting in synchronized patterns. Coral formations of every color imaginable glowed faintly, creating an underwater world teeming with life and movement. It was breathtaking.

But my mind raced ahead of my senses. “Does this mean that…” I began, my voice trailing off in disbelief.

“The location of the almighty Yggdrasil is under the ocean?” Perla finished for me. Her tone carried a mix of confidence and tempered caution. “Yes. The Association has always known its general location, but finding it has proven… elusive. Let’s hope this mission changes that.”

As her words settled over us, the submarine descended further, the light outside growing dimmer with every passing second. The vibrant colors of the coral gave way to darker, more foreboding shades, and eventually, the endless abyss swallowed us whole. The soft glow of bioluminescent creatures occasionally pierced the darkness, their movements ghostly and serene.

The atmosphere in the cabin shifted as we all took in the surreal world outside. Liora’s pale hand pressed gently to the glass, her gaze transfixed. Serena leaned back in her seat, her usual playfulness replaced with a rare moment of quiet reflection. Even Toren, ever the brash warrior, was uncharacteristically silent, his eyes scanning the depths with reverence.

Our collective awe was broken when Perla turned in her chair, her sharp gaze settling on each of us in turn.

“Tell me,” she asked, her words deliberate. “Why do you want to find the Alpha Biocore?”

Her question hung in the air, heavy and unanswered, as the submarine continued its journey into the unknown.

“Well, it’s obvious,” I began, though my mouth felt inexplicably dry. “We’ll reverse our conditions with the Kyslicium the Alpha Biocore can produce. And at the same time, we’ll secure resources to supply humanity for generations to come!”

Perla tilted her head slightly, her glasses catching the faint glow of the submarine’s interior. “You’re overestimating the Alpha Biocore’s capabilities,” she said, her tone calm but firm. “Even if it can produce an endless supply of oxygen under optimal conditions, its regenerative properties are still a mystery. And what even are these mythical ‘optimal conditions’? There’s no guarantee it can do what you’re hoping for.”

Her words landed heavily, and I felt a knot tighten in my chest. Of course, it wouldn’t be that simple. It never was. But I refused to let the idea go.

“We’ll find a way,” I said, more to convince myself than anyone else.

“Find a way for what, exactly?” Serena’s voice cut in, smooth and biting. She leaned back in her chair, her fur coat spilling over her shoulders like liquid opulence. Her eyes sparkled with the kind of ambition that never stayed hidden for long.

“Well, we’ll work together to find the Alpha Biocore, sure,” she said, her voice dripping with casual disinterest as she inspected her nails. “But after that? Let’s just say I’ve got my own plans.”

Toren scoffed, adjusting his mask with a deliberate motion. “Your ‘plans,’” he said, sneering, “sound like something a scavenger would come up with. Me? I’ll make sure that Kyslicium goes where it belongs—to those who deserve it. The rest can fight over the scraps.”

Serena’s lips twitched into a smirk. “Oh, darling. And here I thought you were just a brute. Turns out you’re a hypocrite too.”

Toren leaned forward, the faint hiss of his mask audible in the tense silence. “Watch your words, Serena.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” She waved him off, but her gaze lingered, sharp and calculating. “I don’t waste breath on people who can’t afford me.”

Liora coughed quietly, drawing their attention. She sat rigid, her pale fingers clasping the edge of the table. “None of you understand what’s at stake. This isn’t about power or influence—it’s about saving lives.”

Her voice trembled slightly, but she continued, her gaze flicking toward the viewport as though searching for reassurance in the vast unknown. “People shouldn’t have to suffer like this. Not anymore.”

Kael snorted, breaking the brief silence. His eyes burned with a quiet rage as he spoke. “You’re all delusional. The Alpha Biocore isn’t some miracle cure or a fountain of power—it’s a weapon. And in the right hands, it’ll tear this system apart.”

He leaned back, his tone dropping into something almost reflective. “Freedom. That’s what humanity needs. Not more chains wrapped in Kyslicium.”

The weight of their words pressed down on the room, each one darker and heavier than the last. I could feel the air grow thick with tension, each crewmate revealing how far they’d strayed from the people I once knew.

Perla, seated at the head of the table, watched the chaos unfold with a quiet smile. There was something unnerving in her calm, as if she were studying us rather than sharing in our burden. Her amusement didn’t sit well with me.

I clenched my fists, the unease in my chest coiling into something darker, sharper. These weren’t the same people I’d fought alongside. The mission hadn’t even begun, and yet it felt as though the Alpha Biocore wasn’t the only thing at risk of being lost.

“Perla,” I said, cutting through the noise of their bickering. My voice was low, steady. “Can we talk in private for a moment?”

She glanced up, a faint smile curling at the edges of her lips. “Shouldn’t you be calling me ‘Captain’ during this mission?” she teased lightly, tilting her head.

I didn’t respond, turning on my heel and motioning for her to follow. As I walked away, I pressed a hand to my lower back, wincing as the familiar ache flared up again. Perla’s laughter followed me, airy and unbothered, but she didn’t resist as I led her into a secluded corridor.

She leaned casually against the wall, one eyebrow raised as she crossed her arms. “Well then, Zehn, what’s so important?”

“What are you hiding from us?” I asked bluntly, my eyes locking onto hers.

Perla’s expression didn’t falter. If anything, her smirk deepened. “Whatever you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb,” I shot back. “Your knowledge about Yggdrasil runs deep but that’s to be expected from the Head of the Science Division. Either way, that’s not what’s making me nervous. The fact you used to be a Wood Hunter, the sudden shifts in your speech, your demeanor, and this… this thing you’re doing, sowing discord among us…”

She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as if amused by a child’s tantrum. “Well observed, Mr. Hero,” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “But now, stop dancing around the real question.”

I took a step closer, lowering my voice. “You’ve been exposed to oxygen too, haven’t you?”

Chapter 13: END