The masters descended as the surface of the water vanished above them like a fading sky.
Father led the way, his golden arm guard glowing and a faint ripple forming against him as if the ocean bent to his will.
They sliced their way down, approaching the dark depths of the ocean as Jean's gaze kept scanning down the barrier.
"We've hit thousand meters. Three thousand more to go." Jean informed them, diving right behind Father.
"Damn your eyes Jean." Maxwell snorted moving alongside Pharouque. "It's not fair you're the only one who can see with your deep sea vision."
"I'm not using my deep sea vision." Jean snapped back with mock irritation. "I'm only scanning the barrier."
He pulled out a small bulb. "Besides, I have something to help us see clearly." He started pouring energy into the bulb and immediately, it gave out a light so bright one might mistaken it for sunlight.
Maxwell blinked once, twice, thrice and gasped. "What is an all sight freak like you doing with a flow bulb?"
"Shut up! I only have it just in case of emergency. And I can't use two characteristics at once."
"Oh!" Maxwell nodded. "Makes sense."
Susanna stared at Jean, her voice laced with admiration. "What bright light."
Maxwell grinned. "I almost forgot how limitless his energy is. Jean is a real monster among monsters."
For a moment, the world was silent. Not a single sound penetrated the shimmering, anti-viscous air around them. Only the occasional bubble drifted past, a reminder they were still in water.
"Two thousand meters." Jean said calmly. "Two thousand more to go."
Maxwell smirked, though his voice carried no fear. "I bet we can reach the bottom before anyone on the ship notices we're gone."
Pharouque turned his head to Maxwell. "I think you're underestimating how serious this is."
Maxwell glared at him viciously, a hint of teasing in his tone. "Like you're the one to talk. Just look at yourself. Your face even shows no sign of seriousness."
"Huh?" Pharouque frowned, his voice flat. "So what are trying to say?"
Richelle scowled, their yapping finally getting on her nerves.
"One more word from you two, and I'm kicking you out of the ocean."
Both men shivered at the looming threat in her voice.
"YES MA'AM. I'M SORRY." They said in unison.
Susanna sweat-dropped at the scene and chuckled. "She can be scary sometimes."
"Three thousand meters. We're almost there. Just a thousand more to go." Jean announced, turning to Father.
"I hope you have a plan in getting us in."
Father nodded with a calm expression.
"Suz!"
Susanna turned sharply to him. "Y–Yes? What is it Father?"
Father turned to her. "Do you still have the drill I gave you?"
Susanna nodded sharply. "Yeah! I do."
"Good. Can you pull it out for me?" He asked as they kept diving
Susanna hesitated before answering, not sounding so sure. "I...I'll try. I've never... attempted teleportation under water before, since it works with mist."
Susanna inhaled deeply and exhaled bringing her right hand before and her arm guard—gold arm guard—came on with a glitter. For a while, nothing seemed to be happening.
She frowned, straining a little but then, the water around her hand started turning green and spun into a blur. She pulled out some sort of a drill and immediately, she started panting heavily. Like she had been holding her breath the whole time.
Father smiled and complimented her. "Good job, Susanna!" He looked down again.
"Give it to Jean once we get to the bottom of the barrier."
"Is that a flow drill?" Maxwell smirked, a hint of respect playing in his words. "You're really good at planning things ahead Father. No wonder you're the Academy's Grand Master."
"We're closing in. Father, get ready!" Jean called as Father's eyes started glowing.
"3." Jean began. "2." Father clenched one hand as the ripples around the masters started getting intense. "Stop." Father swiped his hand and the masters slowed to a stop, straightening up and balancing themselves.
"Okay." Father glanced at Jean again. "Where does it end."
Jean looked over at the island's crust and pointed at it. "There."
"Okay then." Father turned to Susanna. "Suz!"
"Got it." Susanna swam over to Jean and gave him the drill while Jean handed the bulb to her.
Immediately she took the bulb, it's brightness decreased. She chuckled nervously.
"S-sorry."
Maxwell waved with a slight smirk. "Nah! It's not your fault."
Pharouque nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Jean's energy amount is just monstrous."
Richelle's frown softened a bit, turning to Susanna with a smile. "For once, I agree with these idiots. Don't look down on yourself okay, gal?"
Susanna smiled brightly and nodded. "Thanks guys. I appreciate it."
Maxwell and Pharouque smiled softly. "No worries."
But something caught their attention. They turned to Richelle with rage. "What did you just call us?"
Richelle smirked and turned to the two, her eyes gleaming with a menacing vibe. "Oh, what?" She cracked, her voice dropping with venom. "What are you going to do about it?"
Both men turned away quickly. Way too quickly. "N-nothing!" They were shaking inwardly.
Kopoo sighed at the scene, shaking his head with amusement. "It's always too lively with you guys."
But then, his ears twitched and his expression turned serious.
The masters noticed the shift in his mood and looked over at him.
"What is it?" Richelle asked first with a slight frown.
Kopoo stretched one arm, activating his arm guard.
"Don't worry. It's not anything dangerous."
The masters sighed in relief, turning back to the island's crust.
Kopoo's eyes glowed a silver color and silver hair grew on his outstretched arm and it enlarged just a bit.
"If it's not anything dangerous..." Maxwell turned away with a look of uninterest. "Then I shouldn't be bothered."
Kopoo turned sharply to his left, a huge shark came into view, right at his side. Mouth wide open, teeth bared, ready to devour him.
But Kopoo didn't flinch. With a single, fluid motion, he swung his arm like a hammer, his hand connecting with the shark's snout.
BAM
The force sent the shark spinning backward, crashing into the darkness, leaving a trail of stunned bubbles in its wake.
He then deactivated his arm guard, his arm going back to normal and turned to the group.
Father looked at the drill in Jean's hand. "You already know what to do, right?"
Jean nodded, turning to the island's crust. "I'm the only one who has that much energy to drill our way to the surface." His eyes scanned the barrier again.
"I just have to drill the part the the barrier doesn't touch, right?"
"Quick thinking." Father said. The other masters nodded.
Jean's eyes narrowed, his pupils with a golden glint. Golden energy burst from his body, flowing through his arm into the drill.
The energy burst from the drill, spinning around his it into a massive golden drill.
"Here we go." And with that he started drilling through the crust and entered. The masters entered one after the other, trailing right after him.