Chapter 114: Deep Pressure
The world turned from the bright lights of the Crucible to a silent, dark blue abyss. As they dove deeper, the last of the surface light vanished, leaving them in a world lit only by strange, glowing plants and the faint blue lines on their own armor.
The pressure outside was immense, enough to turn a spaceship into a tin can, but inside their re-woven gear, they felt nothing but a comfortable stillness.
They moved with a grace that felt impossible. With a small kick, they could glide for a hundred feet. They twisted and turned through the water like a school of fish, perfectly in sync.
"Team, check in," Ryan’s voice came through their comms, calm and clear.
"Emma here. All systems green. The gravity negation is holding perfectly," she reported, her tone crisp and professional. She was already scanning their surroundings, her mind mapping the vast, vertical maze of the Sunken Arena.
"Zara. Vitals are stable. I’m getting some fascinating energy readings from the local flora. I’m taking samples," she said, her voice buzzing with academic curiosity. A tiny drone detached from her wrist and carefully plucked a glowing piece of seaweed.
"Chris here," the big man’s voice echoed slightly. "I’m, uh... I’m not sinking. This is weird. I feel like a very handsome, very well-armored dolphin." He did a slow, clumsy backflip to test his new agility. "Okay, maybe a manatee. A majestic manatee."
Scarlett’s voice was the last to check in, a soft whisper in their ears. "Scarlett. All clear. I see movement below us. Other teams."
They looked down. Far below, they could see the bright headlights of several bulky submersibles and mechs. They were moving slowly, their powerful engines fighting against the crushing gravity.
One team, piloting what looked like a giant metal gorilla, got one of its legs stuck in a narrow crevice between two ancient Precursor buildings. They watched as the pilots struggled, their machine groaning under the strain.
"Big toys get stuck in small places," Chris chuckled. "Guess size isn’t everything."
"They are attracting guardians," Scarlett noted.