Rein walk to the gathering area, the other were already there. Kincade, Dianna and Leena are cooking the meal; Sierra is maintaining Layla's bionic arms; Fabian sitting on the sofa while reading a book and sipping a coffee; Verna and Devine is watching a famous singer on the monitor. Devine then change the channel, now it shows 3 old men driving weird looking vehicles through a mountainous terrain.

"Oh wow, they finally upload a new episode." said Devine.

"Who?" asked Verna

"You don't know about them?" Devine look disappointed. "They are the Top Coq."

"Top what?" Fabian lower his book.

"Top Coq, they are retired explorer who decided to went around the galaxy and drive the vehicles from different civilization." Devine explained. "They also really funny."

"Are they even allowed to do that?" ask Rein bewildred

"They only do this on a planet that already visited and allied with us."

One of the old men with scruffy hair suddenly shout "WATSON!!!", because the tall old men accidentally reverse and hit his vehicles.

"Watson you moppet." said the scruffy hair old men whose vehicles are now dent really badly, while the short old men laugh hysterically.

Rein chuckle seeing them.

"Dinners ready!" called Kincade.

"Great timing!" said Devine, he take the chicken bowl and return to the sofa and eat while watching the show.

Rein and the other sit on the dining table and start eating. Kincade have made variety of dishes. Rein take the kebab and a bowl of soup.

"How's our supplies?" asked Fabian while eating the kebab.

"Still a lot, we were given each a year worth." said Kincade. "We also got a ton of military rations for emergency."

They finished eating and Rein decided to head back to his room, however before he enter his room, Asha announced that they are finally arrives at their destination. Rein quickly head to the bridge along with everyone, although Devine have to be dragged because he still want to watch the show.

"Asha, find the nearest star."

A minute later Asha said "Nearby star located."

Rein glance at Kincade who immediately steer the ship to the coordinates of the nearby star. Few minutes later, they arrive at a star system. They passed 2 ice giants before finally found a water planet.

"It's beautiful." said Leena

"That's look promising." said Dianna

"Prepare for landing." said Kincade, they all take their seat as the ship slowly descent into the atmosphere.

"Hey! there's an island." Verna point at a patch of land big enough for their ship. There are no other island on sight.

Kincade land on the island. Rein order Asha to sent the drones to patrol the whole planet. They see the drones leave the ship. a few hours later, they check the drones fed but there are no sign of life on the other islands they found, however there are sign of life under the sea. Asha informs them that the air is breathable.

They lower the hangar ramp and walk outside. Rein breath the air, it doesn't smell any different with the one back home, he kind off disappointed.

"Wow!" Dianna eyes sparkled seeing the crystal clear blue sea. She suddenly ran toward the sea and take off her clothes.

"Woah! what are-" Rein panicked as he try covering his eyes, but he realized Dianna wear a swimsuit underneath.

"I'll accompany her." said Devine, he then ran after Dianna.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Verna

"Oh! right, for now let's sent some drones underwater and check if there are civilization there.. and we lower the submarine. "

They nodded and begin preparing underwater drones and the submarine. After lowering the submarine to the water, Kincade build the camp near beach; Sierra control and monitor the drones while Rein and the other familiarize themselves with the subs; Devine and Dianna haven't return yet, in fact, Rein didn't see them for quite a while now.

"Where's Devine and Dianna?" Kincade asked, looking around.

Then they see 2 figures emerge from the water. It's Devine and Dianna, they bring several buckets. When they see what inside, the bucket is filled with variety of fishes. The fish looks really weird, they are more like a lizard with fins.

"What are you doing?" asked Sierra

"Gathering samples." said Dianna while drying her hair. "There's lot's of fish, i only manage to gather few."

"What are you going to do with them?" Leena asked, looking at Devine sorting the fish on the water tank.

"Dissect them." said Devine. "Just kidding." He added after seeing Leena horrified look.

"We'll observe them for a while and then release them next day." said Dianna, she's humming while looking at the fish.

While Devine and Dianna busy observing the fish, Rein and the other continue preparing the submarine, however as they about to start the dive, the skies is getting darker really fast.

"That was fast." said Verna

Rein was dissapointed. "Alright, we'll continue tomorrow morning."

They decided to make a camp outside. Rein look at skies filled with stars.

"Woah!" Rein was awed by the real night sky. He wonder Akane and the other also looking at the skies right now.

Kincade finish cooking and distribute it to everyone except Devine and Dianna who are still busy with their fish. As they eat, Kincade said he is wondering the taste of the fish Devine and Dianna caught.

"They might taste like a chicken." said Dianna, she suddenly appear beside Verna.

"Where's Devine?"

"He is still drawing." She then added after seeing their confusion. "He like to draw any animal he encounter. He already has several volumes of it in his room."

"Really? I want to see his drawing." said Verna

Not long after, Devine joined them. Verna asked to see his drawing. Devine give her his note book. Rein was curious and he also see the book. The note book is full with sketch of animals. Rein doesn't recognize all of this animals, but Devine explained that most of it were bred in Wild Havens which made Rein wanted to visit there when they return to the fleet.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The next morning, Rein was awoken by someone distraught voice, he look around and see Devine in front of the water tank, putting a device inside. The other also awoken and they all approach Devine. Rein notice all the fish they caught yesterday are dead.

"What happen to them?" Rein asked.

Devine was still looking at the device. A while later, he finally said that they all died due to old age, which according to him was weird because those fish were only few weeks old.

"Maybe.. because of this planet short time cycle?" suggested Verna.

"Could be.." Devine then point at the death fish. "but, look."

Rein then squint his eyes, something burst from the fish belly.

"Wha- what are those thing?"

"Their offsprings, they died when giving birth." said Devine, "all of them.."

"I know some type of animals died after giving birth, but i never seen this many different species from the same habitat have the same reproductive method." said Dianna.

There were silence, Rein then suggest they investigate further using their submarine. They then enter the submarine however it doesn't have enough space for all of them, thus Fabian and Leena are given task controlling the surveillance drones at the shore, and Devine because his body is made of Eternalum, he can withstand the depth pressure and thus he will be following them outside.

Kincade start the dive. Rein look outside and see Devine beside them, he is using a propulsion device to follow them. Few minutes later, they are finally at the open ocean and found it was teeming with all kind of creatures. Aside from the fish they caught earlier, there are other bigger species and some kind of spider like thing walking at the reef, it snatched a smaller fish with it 6 pincers and quickly gulp it.

Devine slowly approach each fish and check them with the same device he use earlier. Dianna receive the transmitted data and check it on her computer.

"What's that device do anyway?" Verna asked

"Mostly for checking health and age, let me show you." Dianna take out a similar device and point it at Verna, she suddenly looks surprised "You're 53 years old?"

"Wha- stop! stop!" shout Verna.

They then hear Devine talking from the comm, "Really? she is the oldest then?"

"No! Kincade!" Verna called him, "You're the older than me right?"

"Me? oh come on.. i'm still 27 you know... there goes my confidence.."

"Really?? i thought you're maybe 60 or older." said Sierra

"Not you too..." Kincade face palm. Rein notice Layla faint smile.

Dianna point the device at Kincade. "He is 27 alright." she said cheerfully.

Rein hear Fabian and Leena laughing from the comm. However they were suddenly surprised by the loud beeping sound, warning them of something big nearby. Suddenly a really large creature emerge beside them, Kincade steer away just in time, avoid colliding with the creature.

"What is that?" Rein asked.

"is It attacking us?" worry Verna

"Where's Devine?" Dianna look outside, searching for him.

"Is he get caught by that thing?" said Sierra

Layla quickly get up from her seat and about to wear her diving suit when they hear Devine voice from the comm.

"I'm fine.. don't worry, that creature is harmless."

Rein finally see Devine, he is near the large creature with big gaping mouth while checking his device. Rein realize there are dozen more of these creature not far from them.

Dianna said "This is odd, that creature only few months old." She then receive more transmission as Devine check the other creature. "Even the oldest one is only 1 years old."

"Leena, Fabian, could you calculate how long this planet revolve around it star." asked Rein

A while later, Fabian informed them that the the planet 11 hours a day and it needed around 206 days to fully revolves around it star.

"Hmm.. " said Devine.

"By the way, the drones found bunch of large structure on the depth, few kilometers further from your location. "

"Structure?" Rein become intrigued, "There's a man made structure? Kincade, let's go there."

"You should head back for now." said Leena "The skies is getting dark."

"Already? okay, we'll be heading back to surface."

Kincade nod and was about to steer their submarine back to the surface but Devine told them to stop because he notice one of the creature suddenly having a spasm, then something burst from the creature belly.

"Is that?"

"So.. even the large one have the same reproductive method." said Devine

Devine want to check the creature but Rein told him that they should head back, Devine reluctantly agreed and he begin following them back to surface.

Back at the surface, they begin discussing their plan for tomorrow. They will depart as soon the star rises and head to the structure location. They then having their meal and they rest for a while. At morning, they were surprise to learn that Devine had already left to the structure location by himself. Rein told Kincade to hurriedly ready the submarine and they begin pursuing Devine.

"Devine.." Dianna murmur

"Is he always like this." Verna asked

Dianna nod, "His curiosity always get the better of him."

They finally able to contact Devine, when he replied, Rein scold him for being reckless and told him to stay put until they reach his location, however Devine said that he already found the structure.

"It's not a structure. Dianna, I'll sent the live feed."

Dianna open her computer and shown the live feed. He is in front of some kind of really huge wall, and there's lots of them.

"I've already check it and it is a bone." said Devine

"A bone? I'll be damn, that thing huge." Kincade is bewildered.

"Wait until you see the length of the creature." Devine then shown the rest, it stretch further than their eyes could see.

"This thing must be the largest creature of this planet and at the top of the food chain." Devine swam to the creature skull, it's massive and filled with sharp teeth "Look at the size of it, it could easily swallow the creature from yesterday."

"Well, I'm glad it already died.." said Rein "It will be dangerous if we encounter one."

"Too bad though, i want to see it, alive i mean." Devine sounds disappointed.

"You're joking right?" said Verna

Suddenly Fabian contacted them, "The drone detected something coming towards Devine's location."

"Isn't it us?" said Verna

"No! This thing is huge!" shout Leena. "Devine! behind you!"

"Huh?" Devine turn his head, from the feed, he see a pair of large glowing blue orbs coming towards him. "What the-"

"What-" Rein unable to finish his sentence when a large gaping mouth with rows of sharp teeth charging at Devine. Devine unable to evade in time and the live feed is cut.

Horrified, Verna frantically told Kincade to hurry. Dianna keep trying to contact Devine while Sierra help Layla gear up with her diving suit. They finally able to contact Devine, but they only hear an electrical discharge and loud screech.

After what felt like really long time, they finally reach Devine's location. Rein was astonished by the sheer size of the serpentine creature, that thing length might be able to envelope this planet. Rein see Devine's hands glowing and as he evade the creature, he land few punch to the creature head, which each blow generate a bright light and loud crackling noise, although only made the creature even more aggressive.

"Devine! you hear me? Layla will come to help you!" said Dianna, Layla was about to enter the water chamber when Devine finally reply.

"No! Don't! those suit won't stand a chan-"

They are horrified to see one of Devine's leg got bitten off by the creature. The creature then turn around to finish him off.

"We have to do something!" Dianna panicked

"Is there anything in this submarine that can scare away that creature?" Rein asked Kincade

"We got air cannon and flash bombs." said Kincade "But i don't think it strong enough to do any damage.

"Use the flash bomb! and shot the air cannon at max power at it head." said Sierra "maybe it can buy us some times."

Dianna warn Devine of incoming flash bomb. Kincade then launch the flash bomb. It works, the bomb exploded near the creature face, blinding it. Layla use the time to swim outside and save Devine. As soon as they see Layla and Devine steer clear from the path, Kincade shot the air cannon at the creature and hit directly at head, stunning the creature. After Layla brought Devine inside the submarine, Rein told Kincade to quickly head back to the their ship.

Rein contact Fabian and Leena, he told them to pack up their thing and be ready to retrieve the submarine. Rein look at their radar and he is glad to see the creature wasn't pursuing them. He then went to see Devine. Dianna and Sierra is tending Devine injuries.

"How is he?" Rein asked them

"I'm fine, don't worry" said Devine, although he sounds weak

"Are you idiot? you almost dead!" scold Sierra.

"He lost lots of Manna." said Dianna while she try seal Devine leg to prevent more of the green fluid leaking from it.

"And his skull is cracked." said Sierra, she look at Devine "you're lucky it didn't shatter!"

Minutes later, they finally arrive at the island. They hurriedly store the submarine while Fabian and Sierra bring Devine to the medical bay. They then head to the bridge. Kincade ignite the engine and begin to ascent to the skies when suddenly Asha warns them of incoming huge object from the sea, it's the serpentine creature, leaping from the sea and tries to devour them.

Kincade barely evade it, he then set the thruster at maximum power and fly above the cloud. Rein look below and see the creature is now trashing the water and furiously looking at them. They all sigh in relief and laugh at the situation, this will be heck of a story when they relay their finding to the fleet.

As they left the planet, the bridge door open and Devine and Fabian enters. Devine is patched up and his leg is now replaced with a metal stick which make him looks like a robot pirate. It is a temporary repair while waiting for Sierra to make a replacement leg and his new exosuit.

"Asha, lead us to the next location."

A few minutes later, Asha informed them that she found the next nearest star system. Kincade steer their ship to the location given by Asha. Rein look back at the blue planet and he smile, wondering what Akane and others first encounter.