Unlike the Exploration Ship, the detached cockpit activated its Hall Thruster immediately to escape faster.
Under the immense pressure, the boiling point of liquid ammonia had risen to an extraordinarily high level.
Even so, the high-temperature plasma stream from the Hall Thruster was still far hotter than the Liquid Ammonia Sea could withstand.
The ghostly blue glow from the thruster nozzle rose like a small sun in the pitch-black depths, illuminating the surrounding waters.
The silhouettes of the four giant fish were also exposed in that ghostly blue light.
(PS: Here's an extra picture. After spending most of the day wrestling with it, this was the best AI-generated image I could get. Please make do with it.)
Because sound traveled relatively slowly, they had yet to notice anything unusual and were still charging toward the Exploration Ship that kept making "noise."
Meanwhile, masses of scorching ammonia bubbles formed as the liquid ammonia vaporized, leaving a winding trail behind the cockpit.
Illuminated by the ghostly blue glow, a magnificent yet perilous scene unfolded 261 kilometers beneath the surface of the liquid ammonia ocean!
Unfortunately, none of the native inhabitants saw this wondrous sight-they had never evolved visual organs and thus had no chance to appreciate such "beauty."
Propelled by the Hall Thruster, the cockpit shot toward the surface.
Using ultrasound to probe its surroundings, the giant fish leading the charge finally registered the problem, albeit belatedly.
But it was too late!
It plunged straight into the searingly hot ammonia bubbles!
The scalding bubbles slowly rose, their heat rapidly transferring into the surrounding Liquid Ammonia Sea.
The giant fish emerged back into the Liquid Ammonia Sea.
Though the contact had lasted only a fleeting instant, it still let out a tremendous cry of agony.
The thick "armor" covering its body had saved