The Stone Mask

Katsu floated in the dark depths, his mind racing.

Burn the ocean? He had no clue if it was even possible.

But giving up? Not an option.

Above him, Simon hovered, arms crossed, watching with curiosity.

"Well?" Simon's voice vibrated slightly through the water. "Let's see it."

Katsu inhaled—well, tried to. Bad idea. He coughed out bubbles and focused.

He raised his fingers and started moving them in strange motions.

No, not strange. Precise.

He was trying to create fire.

Simon, observing from above, thought the whole idea was absurd. Fire? Underwater? The moment flames appeared, they'd get snuffed out. But still…

He watched.

Katsu clenched his fists. Sparks formed at his fingertips, only to vanish into useless bubbles.

He gritted his teeth and tried again. Bubbles.

Again. Bubbles.

Again—Nothing.

His frustration built. He was Katsu Blazewood, dammit! Fire was his thing.

Then—

Movement.

From below, the massive eyes appeared once more, glowing in the abyss.

Katsu's heart pounded. It was coming.

The water shook as the creature rushed forward, its monstrous mouth yawning wide—

BOOM.

The force alone sucked Katsu in instantly.

The last thing he saw was Simon, still floating above, arms still crossed, still watching.

Then—darkness.

Simon's Perspective

Simon exhaled as the water settled.

Katsu was gone.

The massive creature descended back into the depths, victorious.

Simon calmly floated to the surface, stepped onto a rock, and sat down.

A normal person would panic.

A normal person would try to save their ally.

Simon?

He just grinned.

"…Well, now this is interesting."

He rested his chin on his fist.

Now the real test begins. 

Inside the Belly of the Beast

Katsu slammed against the creature's insides, tumbling down its wet, pulsating throat.

He was not going to die like this.

He forced himself to stop falling, spreading his arms and legs to brace himself.

He had planned for this.

Step one: Get swallowed. Done.

Step two: Get out once the creature reaches the bottom of the ocean.

Step three: Get the chest and leave for the surface.

Katsu looked up. The creature's throat was closing fast.

He activated his flames, launching them from his feet—

And immediately, his body jerked downward.

The deeper he went, the heavier everything felt.

Simon hadn't told him much about the Mystic Ocean's depths.

But Katsu was figuring it out firsthand—

The lower you go, the stronger the pressure gets.

And worse?

He wasn't alone in here.

As he plummeted deeper into the creature's insides, he saw movement.

Small at first. Then bigger. Then monstrous.

He wasn't the first thing this thing had swallowed.

And not everything inside was dead.

Katsu swallowed hard.

"…Alright then."

His flames flared brighter.

If he wanted to get out of here alive—

He was going to have to fight.

To Be Continued…