2035, the water level began rising without warning. By 2037, scientists predicted that the world would be underwater by 2058.
They were close.
By 2060, almost the entire world had sunk beneath the waves—except for a handful of islands that remained above sea level. Humanity adapted, scattered, and surviving on boats, floating cities, and rare??? — "So Lito, how did you kill the Sea Titan?"
Lito — "I just zwooped my sword at it! HAHAHA!"
He burst into laughter, beer dripping down his chin as he took another loud gulp.
Ato — "So… when are you setting sail again?"
Lito — "Me? I'm always sailing. But you, Ato—when are you going to set sail on the ocean?"
Ato — "Me? I haven't thought about it. And I don't wanna be bandits like you."
Lito — "Bandits?!"
He slapped the table, grinning.
"If you say bandits, you're gonna hurt our soul! We are PIRATES
Ato — "Like in ONE PIECE?" He asked, eyes bright with excitement.
Lito — "No, not that."
Ato — "And I don't wanna make them our enemy."
Lito — "Them? Oh—the EDEN Government. Who cares?"
He waved dismissively.
"But leaving that aside… I heard you've been training hard."
Ato's face reddened.
Ato — "About that—"
Suddenly—
Lancer, the sniper of Lito's crew, sprinted toward them, panic stretching across his face.
Lancer — "THE THREAT… THE THREAT ARE HERE!!!"
Lito — "Threat?! Why are they here?"
Ato — "Threat?"
Lito — "I'll explain later. For now—GET TO THE SHIP! Lancer, has everyone on the island evacuated?"
Lancer — "Yes! They're in a safe zone. And it looks like the Threat aren't here to destroy the island… They're here for something else. Or maybe for yo—"
His expression hardened.
Lito — "Okay, okay—everyone MOVE!"
They ran to the ship. Lito's crew—Lancer, Uranus, Vermeil, Leon, Reno, Jako, and Sakoto—were already aboard.
Lito — "Is everyone on the ship?!"
Lancer — "Yep!"
Lito — "Good."
But then—
A deafening BOOM split the sky.
A massive explosion erupted behind them, and a whole section of the island vanished instantly—swallowed by light and then by the sea.
Lito — "Huh!? Those bastards…" He turned to Ato. "ATO—it's time."
Ato — "What time?"
Lito — "It's time for you to set sail."
Ato froze for a moment…then breathed deeply
Ato — "Okay. I'm ready."
Lito — "Lancer, give him a boat."
Lancer — "On it."
Lancer released a small boat into the water.
Without a word, Ato leapt down into it.
Slowly… slowly… he drifted away, farther and farther, until neither the ship nor the shattered island was visible anymore.
Scene changed to Lito and his crew
Lito- "Huh (sighs)."
Lancer-" Why that face it was your decision right."
Lito- "Yep no time to be sad for now we have to deal with them. Let's go Lancer, Uranus, Vermeil, Leon, Reno, Sakoto, Jako-