A vision came into the eyes of Carissa, an entire planet not overly different to her own home world of Terrus but there were recognisable differences. Fashion, technology and culture including how people dressed and acted were notable examples.

Her eyes roamed across a city which she had never seen before, streets busy with vehicles and people before it shifted into a war-torn place. Screams and cries as weapons were used from planes, military and missile strikes between warring armies which caused mass death and destruction.

Then the view shifted again, this time to massive factories, far larger than she had ever seen which both belched smoke and pollution directly into the air and the waterways and oceans.

Mountains of discarded clothing and purchased products and those who worked inside the factories with their ill health and difficult lives.

A single worker from the factory stood up and walked outside into an open concrete area as grey clouds began to form and heavy rain began to fall from the skies, the drops of water washing away the clothing of the worker leaving them bare and naked as they began to laugh and dance naked in the rains.

Giant figures, their forms reaching beyond the clouds in the sky looked down at the worker as they turned their gazes towards the populated city, the war-torn region and the polluting factories. An impossibly large scaled hand reached out and brushed the clouds as torrential rain began to fall down, flooding the areas.

Carissa felt a sense of wrongness at the scene. At her own mind, but all she was able to do was watch. All sense of her own physical presence was gone as though she was simply an observer able to watch.

The people inside the city began to laugh and cry, throwing down their bags and strange items to the ground as they spread open arms welcoming the floods and the waters which continued to pour down from the skies. Even as the city began to crack and crumble, they continued to laugh and those that could tried their best to swim and stay afloat as others sank beneath the rising waters.

Her view was ripped away once more this time to the armies which had been fighting each other with weapons of war, the soldiers and their commanding officers did not laugh as the rains fell down but instead shouted and screamed towards the cloudy skies as rain began to pour down on them as well, pooling onto the ground and flooding.

They raised their guns and shot as the skies. Carissa saw underground facilities filled with men and woman who surrounded missiles bunched together in rows as they pressed buttons and adjusted computers and sent them into the heavens in an attempt to stop the downpour.

The facilities and soldiers, the scientists and military officers, the members of government all screamed as they rising waters filled their facilities and flooded them entirely. This time, none of them were able to swim and she saw as they instead drowned in their hundreds as their hands grasped for the surface.

The giant figures were pleased. Carissa knew this, they enjoyed their actions and the emotional sensation flowed into her in turn. The power and the ability to flood an entire planet washed away all traces of fear and weakness. Then she experienced a single thought, the Drowned Gods wanted another to become one of them. An individual with the power to surpass the rules of their game and attain true divinity. There was a wrongness about their actions in her view, they...no. This wasn’t her memories. This wasn’t even her view.

Get out of my mind.

I need to open my eyes. Breath. I need to breath.

Wake up Carissa.

Open your eyes and take a breath.

A voice called inside her vision, she wasn’t entirely sure if it was her own but she responded nonetheless and forced her eyes open to find that she was floating, her limbs and hair hung loosely and she was fully submerged inside the same room. This time it was filled with water and she was floating a fair distance from the floor below.

The florescent lights were activated once more giving the walls a brightness which provided her with clear visibility. Focusing her intent, her body refused to respond but she was able to move her eyes, forcing them to the sides and up and down to get a better picture.

Her mouth was entirely covered with the material of the grey suit once more, she could breathe with a little effort but it was mildly uncomfortable. For several seconds, her mind told her that she was underwater in the ocean once more as the memory of waking up in this world revisited her unbidden.

A sense of a small electrical surge flowed through her limbs and Carissa was able to move her fingers and then her head, limbs and body in turn. As she turned, she saw other grey suited player candidates wake up in turn, each one twitching as she had in response to a surge as they floated.

Several not far from her location appeared to panic and either and either grab hold of the mask covering their faces or their necks as others simply let themselves float and drift in the water without any current or drift.

As more and more Player Candidates began to wake up, the water level began to drop in the room at a steady pace as fresh air appeared above them. Carissa turned to observe the floor but couldn’t see any noticeable mechanical systems or vents in which the water was being released.

Relaxing her body, she hung loosely before deciding to kick her legs and pull her arms to reach the floor first. The mask covering her face gave her enough oxygen in adjustment to her actions as she swam down. The water continued to drain at faster rate sinking into the floor below her and as she reached the surface Carissa heard deep intakes and cries of breath from others who had pulled their masks off their faces.

The vision from before had unsettled her a little but she had either been shown a memory or recorded footage. The impossibly large figures were likely to have been the Drowned Gods.

The city, the factories and war zone their attempts to explain what they had done to this world. Either way, it was just further questions to her to solve when she had the capacity to do so. Right now, she needed to get to grips with control over her suit.

Carissa settled herself down into a crouched position and closed her own eyes, willing the mask off her face and back into the main part of the suit. When it had flowed down, she stood up to examine her surroundings. The room had changed little except for the lack of presence of anyone else who wasn’t equipped in a grey suit. Small pieces of conversation began to grow as the waiting crowd began to talk to each other.

Remembering her own possessions, she gripped a hand to her side where her spatial bag was equipped. The opening remained fastened despite her efforts to open it.

A message appeared in her mind’s eye; water words again flowed reminding her of the presence of the system.

[Player-Candidate Number 5428119402.

Storage Bags are Temporarily Locked.

Congratulations for passing Initial Testing and Vetting Stages.

All Player Candidates will enter an Ocean Gate for immediate combat testing.

Initial Placement groupings are accepted but not mandatory.

Please form groups or be randomised.

The Ocean Gods blessings be upon you all.]

Carissa noticed that her suit was surprisingly good at soaking up any excess water on her body and absorbing it. She turned around the room, not paying much attention to the rest of the grey suited ocean candidates.

The message had mentioned combat testing and she’d already had an experience with the man Mike which had resulted in her being beaten easily and taught a lesson about her own capabilities. Although he mentioned that he was a far higher player than herself, likely his physical capabilities were boosted by the rules of the system.

Either way, right now Carissa had a choice to make. She could try and join in an existing group, likely by finding Direk and Bonnie who would be in this space, form her own, join another or accept being randomised.

Then she heard a voice call out not overly far from her own location.

‘Groups? We need to form a group? Combat in a group? Anyone with combat experience?’ called out the voice.

‘Soldiers, military or private contractors form on me!’ called another.

A cacophony of voices all called out as Carissa ignored them as she saw various figures begin to form into various groups of between four and six people.

Another message came from the Ocean Gateway System informing Carissa and the other player candidates of further information.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

[Player-Candidate Number 5428119402.

All groups have a limit of exactly four player candidates.

Minimum of two player candidates per group.

All usage of the Ocean Gateway System for personal purposes will remain restricted.

Ocean Gates will form when all groups are prepared.

Optional: Set a Group Name.]

‘Of course they are. A group name is a waste of time with complete strangers though. Might as well call themselves Dead Weight or Sunken Losses.’ muttered Carissa as she put on hand onto her spatial bag. She understood the main reason that none of them were allowed to access them at this point, they could either pull out a weapon or be robbed or their own equipment.

Not that she likely had much compared to the others. She was lacking even the basic starting kit besides a single weapon. Carissa wondered where Sherry had gotten to, she would have likely brought down Direk and Bonnie to this place by herself but she hadn’t been with Mike or Chas earlier.

Likely, when she’d been forced unconsciousness and the room flooded, they’d likely left or gone back to their floating wooden home, preparing for the next bunch of unlucky people to be dumped on this flooded world with insane gods who wanted to play a game.

‘Groups! Trying to form a group here, I’ve got the basic starter kit and a decent weapon. No classes chosen yet. Any takers?’ called a voice in the distance.

A man walked out towards her accompanied by another man and a woman. They hesitated for a moment when they saw the expression on Carissa’s face but pushed forward when the man and woman nudged the man with their elbows in unison.

‘Uh, hi. We saw that you were hanging out by yourself. Have you formed a group yet?’ started the man before Carissa held up a hand.

‘Not. Interested. Thanks for the offer though.’ Carissa responded with a toothless smile and her head titled to the side. ‘Good luck with everything! I’m sure you’re find the right person for your group.’

She heard the woman mutter to the man next to her and straining her hearing Carissa was able to make out a few barely audible words.

‘...no…. too crazy. Insane loner....onnie. Leave...safer.’

‘Why yes, I am a little bit crazy it seems. I guess you saw my display earlier of the mad woman shouting aloud. Bye!’ waved Carrisa and she walked away in a random direction away from the man and his two companions.

Groups inside the sea blue coloured form were forming but Carissa paid it little interest. As long as she had a weapon then she’d be able to fight. Footsteps approached behind her; this time she tensed up but prepared herself not to strike hard in this particular situation.

Simply brushing off a hand that grabbed her would be enough if everyone in the room would be facing combat soon. The message had never specified if was to be against other player candidates or other opponents, human or non-human.

Stopping in her tracks without turning around Carissa heard the footsteps stop as she spoke aloud.

‘I’m not interested in being in a group and I don’t like to be touched. There’s nothing you can offer me which I’m interested in so take your offer and leave.’ said Carissa.

The footsteps stopped and she heard a small movement before her before a voice called out to her. One that she had heard earlier when she had woken up inside this place from her nightmare.

‘Pardon me. True beauty deserves to be protected. Or if you would prefer, I was told to come here. A group of two is sufficient and I will give you no trouble and share my provisions as necessary. Trust in this place appears to be the most precious commodity of all. I was told that you lack experience in combat, I offer to freely provide training without request or want in return. After all a trade has been made and a promise given in the name of my Lady.’ came the voice.

Carissa turned around taking in the young man with the white platinum hair and expressionless face. The relative youth of him surprised her a little given his degree of conversation, she’d been expecting less than this.

‘I’m not your Lady, you’re a little young and I have no interest. A grouping isn’t a bad idea though as long as you keep your distance. What kind of deal did Mike make with you to train with in the use of a weapon? Did he tell you how he beat me easily?’ said Carissa.

The space around them settled a little as smaller groups of grey suited individuals began to form. Nobody else had bothered to approach her again since the last group and it suited Carissa fine.

She didn’t see any sign of Bonnie or Direk but it wasn’t as though they were close or even overly familiar with each other. She’d much prefer to deal with someone who had been either paid or bribed to support her in turn.

Florescent lighting shifted a little and focused on one side of the large space they were in, the sea blue colours of the walls dimmed and brightened on one wall.

‘Mike? No, he told me that you were extremely dangerous and a hazard to my personal safety and I’d be better served keeping my distance from you. He called me a woozer for trying to help you and I shoul-’

The young man’s eyes flickered for a moment before a familiar expression passed his face. For Carissa it simply appeared in her mind’s eye once again rather than in her field of vision.

Another reminder or a threat again?

[Player-Candidate Number 5428119402.

All groups need to be formed with consensual verbal agreement.

Ocean Gateway System Functions will remain in limited mode until next stage entered.

Please form groups immediately.]

‘From the look in your eyes it looks like you received a message as well. Do you want to form a group with me then? Time could be running out for all I know and I’ve no desire to remain trapped inside this place in case it floods again but the gods decide to deactivate our suit breathing functions out of sheer boredom or annoyance.’ said Carissa.

She remained waiting for a response as the young man’s face remained vacant and his eyes continued to flicker. Several shouts rang out as people began to directly vocalise their consent for groups.

Likely Carissa had been right, they had been dumped on the oceans of this world, then fed and watered and given a talk, accompanied to this place then given visions and now they needed to enter gates for combat purposes.

She knew that if she was in charge of the situation, she would have grown bored. Gods wanted entertainment after all, or to find their own purposes.

A focus came back into the eyes of the young man as he shook his white platinum hair to the side, the sword attached to the belt remained fixed as did his own storage back. Carissa put a hand to her own to make sure it was still there but despite her efforts once again she was unable to open it or access any direct system functions.

The bag remained a bag. Even if she pushed her mind a little to try and get the system to give her a scan of the young man in front of her all she did was end of staring.

‘Are you done yet? I verbally agree to form a party of my own free will with...I don’t even know your name. And if Mike wasn’t the one who told you to join with me to form a group, then who was it? That shark man? Chas or Sherry? She seemed caring enough out of the three of them.’ asked Carissa.

Her patience was beginning to wear thin as she held back her tongue from snapping at the young man. She’d already had one outburst and another wouldn’t solve her immediate concerns.

At the front of the room circles created from water began to form, each one uniform in a row and spaced evenly. The size of each was taller and wide than her, likely enough to fit a small group through. The display wasn’t for her benefit alone though as the various groups in the room keeping their distance from each other moved towards the forming circles.

‘Ah. My forgiveness, the messages slow the mind and leaden the limbs. My name is Matthias. I am a Knight in Training of Avalon. I was tasked to assist you during the next stage by a woman with tattoos who wore a robe covering her form. She was quite clear on how I needed to assist you and the result of failure. As for what she promised me, that was a deal between myself and her. Please be assured that it had nothing to do with you in any sense of the matter, aside from rendering my assistance. She told me that I would need your help during the next stage due to my unfamiliarity with mechanical tools.’ said Matthias.

Carissa held back a snort and an instinct to laugh at the mannerisms of the young man, he had been clearly trained to be courteous and polite but it came at odds with his age.

‘Matthias. What was her name then? This lady wearing a robe with tattoos. Did she have any other distinctive features about her? A Knight in Training. Of course you are. How sweet of you to come to my aid and help me out. Tell me Matthias, do you find me beautiful? Do you desire me?’ said Carissa.

As the large water circles completed the process of forming at the front of the vast room, groups began to shift towards them with conversation once more picking up. Carissa glanced over at the movement and was sure that she saw Bonnie and Direk in one group heading towards them. She swiftly turned her gave back towards Matthias.

‘I, Carissa Acqua, formally accept to form a group with the Knight in Training named Matthias.’ said Carissa.

The young man with white platinum hair bowed formally towards her as his sword on his belt rose up pushing hilt first into his ribs.

‘You are comparable to the Lady. I desire none during this time except mutual survival. The woman with tattoos….it was odd. She never called you by your name, not that I would do so either. She warned me against it. No, she told me that you were a blessed one and I owed you respect in turn. Ah, my tongue wanders. I was always scolded during training drills for my lack of attention. I, Matthias Fischer, wish to form a party with the candidate named Carissa Acqua. I believe we should head to the portals now. Several groups have already entered and left this space.’ said Matthias as he straightened up from his bow and gestured one hand towards the fully formed circles of water which had begun to brighten with an unseen light. The surfaces of them rippled.

The Ocean Gateway System provided a message for both of them, this time it was visible in between the young man and Carissa.

A green algae covered coral edge provided a boundary around the flowing watery words as they formed in the air.

[Player-Candidates: Matthias and Carissa.

A party of Two has been formed.

Make your way to an Ocean Gate for combat testing.

May you prove yourself before the Drowned Gods.]

‘Sounds like an order doesn’t its Matthias. Come along then, let’s find out what combat means and you can show me how well you can use that sword of yours. You first please and don’t call me Lady. Carissa will suffice.’ said Carissa.

Matthias bowed again formally before he walked in front of her and the pair walked to take their turn queuing along with the other groups to enter one of the glowing water circles at the front of the room.