The trio ventured deeper into the island, where abandoned buildings stood eerily amidst the overgrowth. Vines wrapped around crumbling walls, trees burst through rooftops, and pools of water reflected the haunting beauty of a forgotten world.
"Wow, this place is gorgeous," Rei said, her voice tinged with awe as she took in the surroundings.
"True," Imai replied, her tone cautious, "but stay alert. Monsters could still be lurking. This place looks like it hasn't been touched in centuries."
"Look over there! A bright orange fish!" Uta exclaimed, pointing toward the water.
Sure enough, a vibrant fish, its scales shimmering with orange and red hues, swam lazily through the shallow pool. Its serene movements were abruptly interrupted as a massive shark erupted from the depths, its jaws closing over the unsuspecting fish in one swift motion.
"The fish is…gone," Uta said softly, her eyes wide.
"Don't worry. It died happy, knowing it was admired by a world-class singer," Imai quipped, patting Uta's shoulder.
"Are we not going to talk about the size of the shark that just jumped out of the water?!" Rei interjected, flailing her arms.
"Is it surprising?" Imai asked with a shrug. "We've already seen plenty of mutated animals. A shark that big is just par for the course."
"What she said," Uta added.
"No, no, you don't get it!" Rei grabbed Imai's arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Imagine the amount of food we could get from that shark! We could eat it for days! I love seafood!"
Imai pried Rei's hands off with an exasperated sigh. "Then go catch it yourself. Uta and I will keep moving."
"On second thought, never mind," Rei said quickly, scrambling after them as they started walking away. "What kind of pirate leaves her captain behind? Wait for me!"
As they approached the entrance to a massive pyramid, a strange buzzing noise filled the air.
ZZZZZZTZZZZT!
Imai stopped, narrowing her eyes at the dark opening. "What is that noise?"
From the shadows, a swarm of ants emerged, their mandibles clicking as they surged toward the group.
"Just ants?" Uta asked skeptically.
"Be cautious," Imai warned. "They might be mutated like everything else on this island. Rei, handle it."
"Yes, Captain!" Rei saluted dramatically. "Flash Step!"
Blue flames erupted beneath her feet as she launched herself into the swarm. A streak of fire blazed through the center of the ants, freezing them mid-motion. In seconds, the entire swarm was encased in ice.
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling kind of chilly," Rei said with a grin as she sheathed her katana.
The ice cracked, then shattered into fine dust, leaving no trace of the swarm.
"Why are you acting like the main character with all this dramatic flair?" Imai said, crossing her arms.
"Let me have my moment!" Rei retorted, earning a giggle from Uta.
"Anyway, let's keep moving," Uta said, glancing at the branching paths ahead.
"Let's go right!" Rei declared. "Right is always right!"
Imai sighed. "Your logic makes no sense."
"Right it is," Uta agreed, leading the group.
The path twisted endlessly, turning this way and that until they suddenly emerged on a hill. They stopped in their tracks, staring in astonishment at the sight before them.
"What in the world…" Rei muttered.
"Floating islands?" Uta asked. "Are we on one too?"
Imai's expression darkened, her smile grim. "It's not a coincidence. This is Shiki's work."
"But we reached this island by sea," Uta pointed out. "If it were floating, how did we even get on it?"
"It periodically descends," Imai explained. "We must've arrived during one of those times. That's what I meant when I said it might be fate."
"So, all of these islands are under Shiki's control?" Uta asked.
"Yes. No wonder this place feels strange," Imai said. "It seems Shiki hasn't been idle these past twenty years."
"But the real question is whether he's here now," Rei said, plopping down on the grass.
"He's not," Imai said confidently. "But he'll be here soon."
Uta squinted into the distance. "Is it just me, or is something flying toward us?"
The others followed her gaze and spotted a yellow, bird-like creature speeding toward them.
"I'll handle this," Imai said, stepping forward.
The bird screeched and dived straight for her, its beak aimed like a spear. Imai caught it mid-dive with ease, gripping its beak tightly. The bird squawked and unleashed a burst of electricity, but Imai didn't even flinch.
"Your electricity won't work on me," she said with a smirk. "I'm made of lightning."
The bird's body went limp, its fight drained.
"Are we eating it?" Rei asked hopefully.
"That's too cruel," Uta protested. "Why do you keep wanting to eat the animals we find?"
"We're not eating it," Imai said firmly. She looked into the bird's eyes. "You know this place, don't you? You're going to guide us to where we need to go."
The bird let out a soft "Kuuu…" in response.
"Good bird," Imai said, releasing its beak.