Gura leaned against the airplane window, her eyes tracing the contours of the sprawling city of Holo below. From this height, it resembled a mosaic of dreams—a place where peace flowed through the veins of its streets. Amelia Watson, ever the pragmatic detective, observed her charge with a furrowed brow. Babysitting a shark girl was an unexpected twist in her career, a departure from her usual deep-sea investigations. Yet, here they were, hurtling toward a city that held secrets both mundane and magical.
"Damn those higher-ups," Amelia muttered under her breath. The bureaucracy had thrust this peculiar assignment upon her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Gura than met the eye. The greatest detective in history reduced to a glorified babysitter—life had a way of humbling even the most brilliant minds.
"Watson!" Gura's voice cut through the cabin noise.
Amelia turned toward her, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Gura's eyes widened as she gazed at the cityscape. "The buildings," she marveled. "They're so beautiful."
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Have you never seen them before?"
Gura shook her head. "I've always been confined to the castle. This is all new to me."
The detective's mind raced. What kind of upbringing had led to such isolation? Colorful buildings fascinated Gura, and Amelia wondered about the childhood memories she carried—whether they were filled with wonder or longing.
"What did you do back in Atlantis, Gura?" Amelia asked, steering the conversation away from the city.
"I trained to fight and studied within the castle walls," Gura replied. "They told me there was no need to venture outside. Everything I needed was within those confines."
As the plane touched down, Gura's excitement bubbled over. The bustling airport terminal enveloped them, and she darted her gaze from shop to shop. Then, a scent—a tantalizing promise—drew her like a moth to flame. She followed it, guided by anticipation.
And there it was: a quaint bakery, its windows fogged from the warmth within. Breads and desserts adorned the display, each a masterpiece of flour and sugar. The shopkeeper, a friendly soul, approached Gura.
"Hi there, miss! Would you like to purchase something? It's only 4.99 holocoins," he offered.
Gura hesitated, tilting her head. "What's a holocoin?" she wondered silently.
Amelia stepped in, her grin knowing. "Holocoin is our currency," she explained. "Think of it as the heartbeat of this city."
"Can I have two strawberry crepes, please?" Amelia requested, her own curiosity piqued.
"Of course," the shopkeeper obliged, packing the delicate pastries.
Turning to Gura, Amelia offered, "Want some?"
Gura's eyes sparkled. "Yes."
As they savored the sweet, flaky layers, Gura marveled. In her past life, humans roasted raw food on sticks over open flames. Now, here she was, tasting the wonders of a world that had evolved beyond her wildest imaginings. Perhaps even Atlantis couldn't match this culinary delight.
"You guys were amazing," Gura said to Amelia. "So different from the humans I knew."
Amelia's smile wavered. "True, but with progress comes darkness. Not all our achievements are noble."
"What do you mean?" Gura pressed.
Amelia hesitated. "Some things are best left in the past. It's the future that matters now."
Amidst their meal, a dark force loomed over them. A voice echoed through the void: "Those two—they are part of them, destined to thwart us." The darkness—an entity forgotten by the world, darkness with no end—the one who dreams in the abyss, Cthulhu—spoke: "Those lesser gods dared to create a world before us, disrupting our slumber. This world of theirs will fall, and we shall restore peace to our eternal sleep."
Amidst their meal, a dark force loomed over them. A voice echoed through the void: "Those two—they are part of them, destined to thwart us." The darkness—an entity forgotten by the world, darkness with no end—the one who dreams in the abyss, Cthulhu—spoke: "Those lesser gods dared to create a world before us, disrupting our slumber. This world of theirs will fall, and we shall restore peace to our eternal sleep."
In the shadowed depths of its dream, the impending demise of those two took shape. Emerging from the murky abyss, a creature materialized—a fusion of octopus and bat, its wings unfurling as it soared into the world. Drawn by the noxious energy emanating from a tormented human, it became a conduit, birthing forth a monstrous force.
It goals were only one "kill".