The salty breeze whipped against their faces as the boat rocked gently on the waves. The squad boarded the vessel, where Kenny stood at the helm, his massive frame exuding an aura of unrestrained excitement. His wild grin stretched ear to ear as he watched them settle in.
"Heh! So, we got some big shots onboard!" Kenny bellowed, his voice filled with uncontained amusement. "Didn't think I'd be stuck babysitting a bunch of rising stars!"
Velvet crossed their arms and smirked. "Babysitting? We held our own against Duke Erisia. I don't think we need a bodyguard."
Kenny let out a hearty laugh. "Held your own? That's cute! You lot still got a long way to go before you can even think about standing on my level. But I like the confidence! Keeps things interesting."
Leonardo leaned against the railing. "So, why are you coming along with us anyway? Just a coincidence?"
Kenny scratched his head. "Nah, I got my own reasons. Got business in the Western Luminant. Figured I'd hitch a ride and watch the 'next generation' in action. Might get a good laugh outta it."
Kouneli narrowed his eyes. "What kind of business?"
Kenny's grin widened. "Oh, just the usual. Smashin' heads, pickin' fights, and seein' who's still got some fight left in 'em. You know, the important stuff."
As they sailed, the waters gradually darkened. The vibrant blue of the Etrean Luminant faded into something far more ominous. A thick, gray fog slithered across the waves, swallowing the boat whole. The sky above twisted in impossible patterns, stars flickering in and out like dying embers. Space warped—sometimes the ship seemed still, other times it felt as if they were moving at speeds beyond comprehension.
The helmsman, a grizzled sailor with years of experience, gripped the wheel tightly. "We should reach the Summer Company HQ in about an hour. That is... if the sea allows it."
The squad gathered near Kenny, seeking distraction from the strange, shifting void around them.
"So, Kenny," Rajin started, "do you have any family back in Etrea?"
Kenny's grin softened slightly. "Yeah. Got an adoptive daughter back there. Left her to do what I gotta do."
Rajin nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds familiar. Amorus is the same with Eris. He adopted her and left to do what he thought was necessary."
Kenny chuckled. "Heh, Amorus, huh? Now that's a name I ain't heard in a long time. Guy was somethin' else. Had a real sense of rhythm—everything he did, even fightin', had a beat to it. Not to mention, one of the only bastards who could keep up with me in a fight!"
"It's been years since he left, hasn't it?" Kouneli asked.
Kenny's expression darkened slightly. "Yeah. Three years now, since he went down to the Third Layer of the Depths. No word since. Either he's fightin' for his life, or... well, you know how it is."
The boat suddenly lurched forward as the helmsman shouted, "Whirlpools ahead! Stay sharp!"
The squad braced themselves as they neared the deadly vortexes swirling in the water like hungry mouths. Just as they steadied their footing, the ship jolted violently.
"We're stuck!" the helmsman yelled. "The ship's frozen from below! We're under attack!"
A deep, guttural roar echoed through the fog as the water split apart. A monstrous serpent, its body as thick as a fortress wall, emerged from the depths. Its scales were an eerie blend of deep blue and ashen gray, its eyes glowing with a sinister light.
Übel's eyes widened in recognition. "This is bad. That's a Dread Serpent... a child of the Doom of Caerenthil."
Kenny's laughter boomed across the ship. "Now THIS is what I'm talkin' about!" He cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming with battlelust. "Alright, kids, try not to die. Time to have some fun!"