Clairvoyant

A luxurious vessel more than ten meters long raced just above the sea, hovering a meter or two over the surface. Thanks to the ground effect, the streamlined black craft flew steadily.

The hull bore the logo of one of Extreme Ice City's Three Great Families. Behind the vessel was a relatively spacious recreation area, where a muscular man in sunglasses and swim trunks lay on a sun lounger, basking in the sun.

"Ah, the Abyss fragments are so much more comfortable. You can't get any sunlight in the Real World..."

The muscular man sighed lazily, then grabbed a chilled beer from beside him and gulped it down. The icy, refreshing taste made him let out a burp.

"Watch yourself. Put your armor on first. These waters aren't exactly peaceful. Have you forgotten the sea beast we ran into earlier?"

A voice came from the front, where a bespectacled man in a robe appeared.

His silver-white robe had a metallic sheen. It made the handsome man look scholarly and refined, while also giving him a heroic air.

"Hey, that sea monster was spotted in advance, wasn't it? And the occasional pirates are even easier to spot."

As he spoke, the muscular man, Newt, still tapped his wristband. Black liquid began to spill from it, spreading over his body until it covered him completely.

When the black coating receded, it revealed a skin-tight combat suit that traced the contours of his muscles.

"Sending powerhouses like us out to scout a map is such a waste. If not for the mission points, I wouldn't come for the pay alone. Wouldn't it be better to stay in the Pioneer Zone and pick up women?"

Newt turned around, his body creaking as if it had springs inside.

"Something happened just a while ago. Keep