The blaring sound of the city-wide alarm echoed through the headquarters, summoning all active teams to the main briefing hall. Members of various squads hurried in, their footsteps creating a rhythmic clatter against the metal floors. Even Silly Party, notorious for their antics, arrived on time—albeit noisily.
In the middle of the room, Commander Alden stood behind a large conference table, his face uncharacteristically grim. He was flanked by his right-hand officer, who looked equally tense. The holographic display behind them flickered with ominous images of distorted oceans, swirling vortexes, and strange lights deep below the waves.
As the last of the squads filed in, Alden's sharp gaze swept over the room. His expression left no room for argument.
"Quiet down," he commanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs.
Seraphine, who had been leaning lazily against the wall while munching on a snack, smirked and raised her hand. "What's the rush, Commander? We've handled plenty of—"
"Stop," Alden interrupted sharply, his eyes locking onto hers. The weight of his voice silenced her instantly, along with the rest of Silly Party. "This isn't the time for jokes, Seraphine. The situation is different. It's serious. If you can't focus, leave now."
The entire room went still. Even the usually irreverent members of Silly Party exchanged uneasy glances. Seraphine, caught off guard, lowered her hand without another word.
Satisfied that he had everyone's attention, Alden turned to the holographic display. "As you're all aware, there have been strange occurrences around the world in recent months. Increased Mana disturbances, bizarre creatures emerging, and unexplained phenomena. But what I'm about to tell you is far worse."
He gestured toward the display, which zoomed in on a section of the ocean. The image showed colossal waves and distorted energy readings, as if the sea itself were alive and thrashing.
"This is the current state of the oceans," Alden explained. "The pressure levels have risen to unprecedented levels. No ship, submersible, or airship can enter these zones without being crushed or pulled under. We've already lost multiple reconnaissance units trying to investigate."
The display shifted to a live feed from a drone hovering above one of the affected areas. Strange, glowing fissures spread across the water's surface, and shadowy figures moved beneath the waves. The entire room felt the weight of the scene, an unspoken tension thick in the air.
"These phenomena aren't random," Alden continued. "They're spreading. And they're not just affecting the oceans—coastal cities are reporting massive Mana spikes. The waters are becoming... unnatural. Something is stirring down there, and we have no idea what it is."
Alden leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "I need teams to investigate. But let me be clear: this mission is extremely dangerous. The Mana pressure alone is enough to kill most of you. And there's no guarantee you'll return."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Some members exchanged uneasy glances, while others clenched their fists, their resolve hardening.
Navine broke the silence first. "If it's that dangerous, why not send an automated unit?"
Alden shook his head. "We've tried. Drones can't survive the pressure, and Mana interference scrambles their systems. We need people. Skilled, capable people who can adapt to the unknown."
Zara crossed her arms, her expression unusually serious. "So you're asking us to dive into hell with no way out?"
Alden met her gaze without flinching. "I'm asking you to save this world. The longer we wait, the worse this will get. Whatever's down there, it's not stopping on its own."
Nandya raised a hand, her voice calm but firm. "Who are you sending?"
Alden straightened up, his expression as stoic as ever. "I'm dividing the teams into groups. Some will handle reconnaissance along the edges of the affected zones. Others will go in deeper to gather intel. I won't force anyone to volunteer for the deeper mission, but know this: without that information, we're all flying blind."
Mira, the saintess of Silly Party, stepped forward, her pink hair glowing softly under the room's lights. "I'll go," she said with a calm resolve. "If lives are at stake, we can't sit back and do nothing."
Seraphine finally spoke, her earlier levity replaced with a steely determination. "If Mira's going, then so am I. Someone's gotta make sure you don't get crushed, saintess."
Navine sighed, shaking her head. "You're impossible, Seraphine. Fine, count me in too. Someone needs to keep you in line."
Nandya and Zara exchanged a look before nodding in unison. "We're in," Zara said simply.
Alden's gaze lingered on Silly Party for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I expected no less from you," he said finally. "But remember, this isn't a game. If you fail—"
"We won't," Seraphine interrupted, her golden eyes gleaming. "We've faced worse. Just tell us where to start."
Alden nodded and turned back to the display. "Then prepare yourselves. You leave at dawn."
As the room began to disperse, Alden's right-hand officer leaned in and whispered, "Commander, are you sure about sending them? They're... unconventional, to say the least."
Alden let out a weary sigh. "They may be ridiculous, but they're also some of the best we have. Besides, I'm not just sending Silly Party. Every team will be contributing. We're going to need all the help we can get."
The officer hesitated, then nodded. "Understood."
As the lights dimmed and the teams departed, Alden stood alone, staring at the flickering hologram of the chaotic ocean. For the first time in years, he felt a weight he couldn't shake—a sense that the world was on the brink of something far worse than they could imagine.