Magical Comprehensive Travel

Outside the acrylic glass, there is endless darkness.

Deep sea night -

The almost breathless silence and cold penetrated into the skin through the carbon alloy hull.

The floodlights only reflected the remains of plankton falling like snowflakes. The submarine research vessel "Islus" is continuing to dive towards the bottom of the sea where the sun cannot reach.

"How deep is the diving depth?"

asked the captain in a blue diving suit in an impatient tone. He belongs to a private diving survey company and is a veteran with nearly ten years of diving experience. This man, who used to love jokes and had a cheerful personality, was very unhappy today, exuding an anger that wanted to kill.

Seemingly feeling helpless with the captain's attitude, the young pilot replied in a businesslike manner.

"It's more than 4,000 meters, and it's still 2,500 meters away from the diving limit."

"...Did it really sink to such a place? That thing?"

The captain snorted unhappily.

The deepest part of the waters east of Itogami Island, where they were commissioned to investigate, was more than nine kilometers deep. There are only a handful of submarines that can dive to that depth today. In other words, it is forbidden territory for humans.

"A biological weapon from the age of mythology... It is said that the wreckage of that thing can be found around here, where are these rumors? I guess it is some unfounded legend or something?"

"Who knows. Maybe a murloc or something?"

"... Half-Murloc?"

"Haha, just kidding. But this time the client is a company from the 'Demon Special Zone', right? It's not surprising even if you know someone in this area."

"Indeed. Then this kind of boring investigation should just be handed over to those guys by the way."

The captain sighed deeply after speaking in disgust.

Traces of biological weapons that were said to have been created in ancient times—this is what "Isrus" was searching for this time. This stupid job content is why the captain is not happy.

It is said that the purpose of building the submarine research vessel "Islus" was to investigate and study the ecosystem and evolutionary process of deep-sea organisms. It is obviously not its original mission to unearth old antiques whose real existence is uncertain.

"Anyway, I still don't think it's worth spending so much money to find it. Isn't it rumored that the ancient weapons (Naraqwala) left by the 'Tianbu' people were also easily destroyed by the Special Zone Guard."

"Does that mean the thing that the Black Death Emperor sent to Itogami Island? Well, speaking of rumors, there is also a saying that it was actually destroyed by the Fourth Primogenitor... If it's true, don't be too small. It's better to look at ancient weapons... eh?"

The driver, who had been watching the exploration display, suddenly frowned in confusion.

The captain looked at him with a surprised expression.

"What's wrong?"

"There is some discrepancy with the terrain data... It's here, can you tell?"

The CG-processed seafloor topography is displayed on the screen the driver is pointing to. The terrain data obtained from past surveys is reproduced in 3D images. The image displayed by the framed lines is the real-time situation obtained by the "Isrus" sonar. There is a strange misalignment of two data that should be identical.

There is an area on the sea floor that spans several kilometers and is slightly uplifted.

"It doesn't seem to be the fault of the sonar being affected by the thermosphere. Is it an abnormal uplift of the seafloor?"

"No... There is no sign of volcanic activity in this sea area. This shape... simply, like some kind of creature..."

"biology?"

How could it be - the captain stared at the driver's pale profile in surprise. However, the analysis image of the sonar on the screen was changing its shape irregularly little by little.

It does look a lot like a creature crawling on the ocean floor.

A crocodile or a snake—or maybe a dragon—several kilometers in length.

"How could such a creature exist... It's too big... It's just... It's really a monster in myth...!"

The captain was trying to convince himself, but the pilot next to him suddenly screamed.

Immediately after that, a burst of rapids like the impact of an explosion hit the submarine in an instant.

It was a strong deep sea wave with water pressure four thousand meters below sea level—

The violent whirlpool that appeared near the bottom of the sea rolled "Isrus" like a leaf tossing and turning. The pressure-resistant shell protecting the driver's seat was squeezed so hard that it made a groaning sound.

The source of the vortex is already obvious without confirmation. is a monster. The huge monster submerged in the sea moved slightly. Just like this, a strong shock wave was created around it.

"Indeed...the pulse wave of biological magic power is confirmed! This guy...is alive...!"

The driver grabbed the seat tightly and yelled.

Super-giant sea creatures with a total length of several kilometers. This is beyond common sense and extremely absurd. Now, however, it is now in front of their eyes, with overwhelming destructive power and fear.

"Avoid...! Emergency avoidance! Hurry up!"

The captain screamed. However, the hull of "Isrus" tumbled violently in the sea water, and even the sense of direction up and down disappeared. The ballast used for the emergency ascent had been disengaged, but had little effect in the frantic whirlpool.

In the next instant, "Isrus" stopped as if caught by some huge object.

The hull shattered in terrible shaking. The pressure casing also made a strange noise.

"Ultra, exceeded the pressure limit! The ship is going to be crushed-"

"At this depth...?!?"

The captain held his breath amid the wailing of the driver. The snorkeling limit of "Isrus" still has room to spare even in this situation. In particular, the special pressure shell is made to withstand the hardness of 10,000 meters of water pressure because of the safety of the passengers. Such a solid "Isrus" is being crushed by a huge force.

"Boat, captain!"

"Could it be..."

The floodlights that provided lighting outside the ship had been destroyed, and the surrounding area was plunged into darkness. The last light that appeared before this was countless fangs like rocks—

It was the jaws of the giant monster that grabbed the submarine "Isrus".

"Could it be that we...are being eaten...!?"

The captain whispered in astonishment.

Before the words were finished, the pressure shell of "Isrus" shattered, and they didn't even have time to feel the coldness of the sea, and their consciousness sank into the endless darkness.