[@Lexisheeps]
[i][color=gray]Underwater Cave, Ruins[/color][/i]

[hr]

The assistant seemed to swallow nervously at this and relax, somewhat distracted by Nick's words. [b]"Right, I'll refer to you as Nick from now on."[/b]

A Nick retreated to another area within the ruins, the dragon seemed to circle back to its tunnel and glide inside. From the depths of the tunnel, different sounds could be heard. This time, tiny voices, like chicks chirping for their mother, echoed from the dark tunnel.

[i][b]"Is there anything new added to the file about this place? Like, who lived here and why?"[/b][/i]

The HiveMind assistant's voice seemed to pick up a notch, enthusiasm thinly veiled behind professionalism. [b]"From what my records indicate, when TRUMPET found this site, our initial scans showed the remnants of seismic activities. Our analysts theorized that this place is somewhat of a time capsule. Some type of reaction caused this ancient civilization, likely a fisherman village, to become encapsulated in condensed dark energy and plunge to the bottom of the sea. This is different to other sites, as there's often not so much still left intact."[/b]

There's a slight pause before she continued. [b]"Due to a few.... unforeseen circumstances, our previous ventures have proved fruitless at this dark energy site."[/b]

She was making a reference to the evidence of explosions at the site. Perhaps they were from previous Contractors trying to defend themselves and cut a way forward.

[b]"We equipped previous Contractors with all means of tools, yet none have gotten the results we have wanted. At least..."[/b]

There seemed to be a smirk enveloping her next words. [b]"Until you were chosen. HiveMind is very hopeful of your capabilities, Nick."[/b]

Climbing up to what appeared to be some type of roof of a small stone hut, Nick got his bearings. To his far left was the tunnel and the subsequent dragon. To his right, framed against the flashing sky, was the remains of a looming tower. Ahead and in the distance, past the ruins, was an ethereal sight. Trees, or at least, the silhouetted form of trees, bark dancing with the same rainbow perlecent that the dragon's scales held. They seemed to go on for a ways, Nick's eyes getting lost as he tried to see further.

That was when a sudden cry alerted him. To his right, near the tower, the frantic screaming of a young girl could be heard over the howl of a beast.

If Nick decided to follow the sound, he would see a [url=https://s1.zerochan.net/S-Snake.600.4041842.jpg]small girl[/url] kneeling on the ground and trying to pull her arm out of the jaws of a black, purple-eyed dark energy wolf. It growled, gazing at her hungrily and digging its teeth deeper into her flesh.