The submarine, a sleek, silver vessel, sliced through the water like a knife. Its hull, reinforced with moonstone plates, shimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the water. Inside, the crew of four, Fedring, Japo, Carlos, and Presta, were strapped into their advanced moonstone-powered suits.
Drepo Penkudo watched them from the observation deck, his gaze fixed on the four Seekers. Their faces were etched with lines of experience and a hardened determination. They seemed troubled, their eyes filled with a mix of anger and sorrow.
Fedring, the leader, caught Drepo's gaze and offered a friendly smile. "Relax, Drepo," he said. "We're just a bunch of survivors trying to make our way in a dangerous world."
Presta nodded. "Unit 6, Lakapati, has eleven members. Their leader, Lenero, has been a Seeker for twenty-eight years. And Unit 7, Ameterasu, has twelve members. Their leader, Haime, was promoted two years ago. They're the two strongest units among the eight Seeker groups."
Drepo was intrigued. "Why are you so troubled?" he asked.
Fedring hesitated. "We're the only survivors of Unit 4, Mayari. There were sixteen of us originally."
Presta's eyes filled with tears. "We were ambushed by Halmaw. They were relentless. We fought bravely, but in the end, we were overwhelmed."
Drepo felt a surge of sympathy for the survivors. He had heard stories of the Halmaw, a fearsome race of underwater creatures known for their ruthlessness and strength.
As they talked, Lenero and Haime, the leaders of Unit 6 and Unit 7, respectively, joined their conversation. The two men were seasoned Seekers, their faces weathered by countless adventures. They discussed the mysterious circumstances that had led to the submergence of 90% of the world's land.
Finally, they reached the submerged city of Becu. The city was a ghost town, its buildings shrouded in a thick layer of algae. The Seekers donned their gears.
Their suits were sleek and powerful, designed for both undersea exploration and intense combat. The dark armor shimmered faintly with embedded veins of moonstone, glowing a soft blue as the power stones activated. Each suit was armed with an Arnes Katar, a close-combat weapon designed for underwater use, sharp and efficient, with the ability to channel moonstone energy for a devastating thrust. Strapped to their backs were moonstone-powered cannons, capable of discharging concentrated energy blasts deadly enough to injure even the Halmaw. and boarded the three manta ray robots, each capable of holding twelve people. A sense of foreboding washed over them. They knew that the dangers lurking beneath the waves were far greater than anything they had ever faced before.
As the submarine descended deeper into the ocean, the sunlight faded, replaced by the eerie glow of the moonstone-powered lights. The pressure increased, but the submarine held firm.
As they approached, the city came into view, its structures shimmering with a faint blue light.
"It's beautiful," Presta whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Fedring nodded. "But it's also dangerous. The Halmaw are known to frequent this area."
The submarine descended towards the city, its engines humming quietly. As they approached the entrance, a powerful energy field surrounded the city. The submarine's scanners detected a high concentration of moonstone energy.
"It's a protection barrier," Fedring explained. "We'll need to disable it before we can enter."
Japo, the submarine's pilot, maneuvered the vessel closer to the barrier. A beam of energy shot out from the submarine, striking the barrier. The barrier flickered, then began to fade.
With the barrier down, the submarine entered the city. As they explored the streets, they saw evidence of the Halmaw's presence. There were damaged buildings and scattered debris.
"They've been here recently," Drepo said. "We need to be careful."
As they continued their exploration, they heard a faint noise.