"Wow..." I found myself already at the bow of the ship, staring at the entrance of Arin's Cave as we dropped anchor in front of it.

It looked beautiful.

The cave was naturally made by the constant waves hitting against a mountain until it passed through into Myra's Ocean. The walls of the cave were pleasing to the eye with bright blue and purple colors mixed together. However, despite its beauty, I could feel something dangerous coming from the cave.

"Zersiks..." I mumbled underneath my breath. My body started to tense up a little as I thought about the terrible creatures. The Qualze couldn't even hold a candle to those monsters. I clenched my fists as I stared down at my feet.

(We need to get there but...are we going to make it?..)

"We'll make it through no problem!" Fay snapped me out of my funk as she pumped her little fists into the air while she stood on top of my head.

"Haha...Yeah, We will make it through. Although...It's not going to be easy.." I softly sighed as I scratched the back of my head.

"Ian!"

*Zzzzuu*

I turned to look behind me and spotted Ellie moving towards me in her new motorized wheelchair. Our repair guy was able to put together a more capable wheelchair. Her eyes lit up when she found out the wheelchair was equipped to climb or descend from stairs.

She could now move around the ship without any help.

Although I was happy for her, I sort of felt as if I lost something.

"What?" I asked.

"The captain sent me to get you. He wants us to meet in his office." Ellie smilingly said

"Alright, let's see what he wants." I started to walk towards Liam's office but not without looking at the cave once again.

We arrived in Liam's office where he was already talking to Derek.

"So, you think we will be able to make it through? " Liam asked solemnly. He knew of the dangers but as the captain, he had to be absolutely sure that this is the best option.

"It's the only way captain. The only other way is directly through the heart of Imperial territory. And you know how that will turn out.." Derek sighed as he crossed his arms.

Derek continued, "I actually knew we were going to go through here. So I came up with a plan and I also bought several hundred flares guns. It should buy us time to make it if used sparingly. "

"Hmm...their eyes are sensitive to bright light...Good, go inform the crew about your plan. Let me talk to these two." Liam said as he stood up from his chair.

"Aye captain. " Derek started to walk out but not without patting my shoulder, " Be strong kid."

"Huh?" I turned my head, but Derek was already out of the office.

"Ian...Ellie...Fay.." Liam said as he stood firmly in front of us. The usual demeanor of Liam wasn't present at all as he gazed upon us with concern.

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"What's wrong captain?" I asked

"Yeah, where's your warrior spir-" Fay said

"....Fay not now..." Liam softly sighed as he crossed his arms, "You three are important to Derek's plan, but you have to promise me to stay vigilant. The place we are going is dangerous and you three will be the ones that will safely bring us through. Can you do that for me?"

"I'll do my absolute best to follow the plan. I owe a lot to you guys and I don't know how I will ever repay it..." Ellie said while sinking into deep thought. She wanted to be more useful to the crew. Ellie knew she was already at a disadvantage before joining but...

Ellie suddenly gazed up at the boy standing next to her for a split second, and one could tell that she had a strong affection for the boy.

"Huh? Repay it? No one here owes anyone. We just look out for each other that's all. We are a family" I smiled as I patted Ellie's shoulder.

"Nn.." Ellie smiled back as she nodded.

Liam had noticed Ellie's gaze even though it was just a second, and what he saw brought a smile to his face.

Fay flew off from my head, and lands on Liam's shoulder, "Don't worry so much captain! You can count on us! But especially me!" Fay brightly smiled as she flexed her non-existent muscles.

(Despite how annoying she is sometimes. I can safely admit that she is indeed cute. Maybe Uzo was on to something?.... Nah)

"Gahahaha! You are absolutely right!. Let me explain the plan to you."

The plan Liam explained to us sounded simple enough, but in reality, we all knew how hard it was going to be. Apparently, we are tasked with keeping the Zersiks off of the ship while we traveled through the cave.

About 30 minutes passed before Liam finished explaining. I found out that the Gaultier has a few options for protection despite being tampered with by Captain Xander.

(I guess the guy wasn't a complete idiot after all...But how to access them?)

"Raise the anchor!" Liam roared as we exited his office. The anchor was rapidly pulled up and we were now on our way.

The sound of running water was the only thing that could be distinctively heard as we entered the cave. It gradually got harder to see as we traveled deeper inside until finally pitch-black darkness.

No one panicked at all as they were told to be quiet and Derek informed the crew to turn on the lamps that hung on the sides of the ship.

The light of the lamps was enough to see everything on the ship, but they weren't bright enough to light the entire cave. Although the bulbs weren't bright enough to see everything, I was able to tell that the cave was bigger than what I thought it was.

"Was.. this all naturally made?" I asked as I looked all around. The cave was massive of course, but there was no way that it could have been made with just the waves of ocean water.

It looked as if was built artificially by a person.

There were stalactites and stalagmites all around us, but no matter where I looked. It all seemed even. It was as if someone came through and personally arranged everything to their liking.

"Yeah, I noticed it too," Ellie said as she studied everything closely just as I have.

"Don't worry about it too much and just focus," Derek said as he held a portable lamp. One could tell that he was a bit nervous as he walked back and forth across the deck

An hour worth of traveling passed in a blink of an eye and Vivian walked onto the main deck. She immediately found Derek who was still pacing back and forth.

"Is it finished?" Derek asked.

"Yes, it is finished...But are you sure we need it?" Vivian asked.

"This was my idea and so we have to make it through without any losses...absolutely none..." Derek's eyes seem to show complicated emotions, but he quickly recovered in a matter of moments.

*TapTapTap...TapTapTap...TapTapTap..*

The hair on the back of my neck instantly rose as I tried to see where the noise was coming from.

"Where.."

"Ian..." I felt Ellie's body shiver as she wrapped her arm around mine. She was staring at the ceiling in fear.

I immediately look up to see four pairs of glowing green eyes and then another couple.

And another...Another...

The menacing green eyes multiplied in a matter of moments until there were at least six sets of four eyes locked onto the ship.

*Booom!*

Six Zersiks landed on top of the shield Fay had already projected. I could see them more clearly once they were closer. Each one of them was about the size of a horse with dark purple skin. Their eight legs looked like sharp sickles, tough enough to pierce anything they wished.

*Screech!*

The horrifying noise the Zersiks made echoed through the cave and it signified that they were excited. Finally after so long.. Prey that they can play with!