Welcome to Aquaria

It was early in the morning when Lucas rose. He sat upright and looked around the room to find Sam and Steven fast asleep.

"I should just go without them. They have done a lot, and I'm grateful for that," Lucas said as he picked up the Alpha Box and quietly walked up to the door, only to find it locked.

"Going somewhere?" Sam asked. "Wait, you weren't planning to go without us, were you?" Steven added. "After everything we talked about, you were still planning to leave without us? Too bad for you. Sam thought you would do that, so he hid the keys," Steven said, showing Lucas the keys to the door.

"Fine, you got me. I'm sorry," Lucas said. "Can we get going?"

Sam and Steven quickly packed up some things from the room and followed Lucas.

"Well, now that I think of it, how are we going to get to the Atlantic Ocean?" Steven asked.

"We'll board a boat; that should be easy and affordable," Sam replied.

They walked through the streets and eventually stopped at the seaport. "Okay, I actually know a guy who can lend us his boat, but it's going to cost me a lot—probably all my savings," Steven said as he led the way.

Steven walked up to a bushy, middle-aged man. They exchanged pleasantries, and Lucas could see Steven giving the man something, which the man quickly put in his pocket. Steven walked back to them with a smile on his face.

"Well, everything worked out nice and smooth. We have the boat," Steven said, throwing the boat's key to Sam. "You drive," Steven said as they all boarded the boat, ready to sail into the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.

Lucas stood on the dock, his eyes fixed on the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Beside him stood Sam and Steven.

Their boat, the "Maverick's Revenge," bobbed gently in the waves, its sails billowing in the breeze. They bustled about, preparing for departure.

"Are you ready for this, Lucas?" Sam asked, his voice low and serious.

Lucas nodded, his heart racing with excitement. "I was born ready."

Steven clapped him on the back. "Then let's set sail!"

Sam cast off the lines, and the "Maverick's Revenge" began its journey into the Atlantic Ocean.

Days passed in a blur of sea and sky. Lucas marveled at the dolphins playing in the boat's waves and the seagulls soaring overhead. Sam taught Lucas how to tie knots and navigate by the stars. Steven regaled them with tales of his street fighting days.

One night, a fierce storm rolled in, its waves crashing against the boat. Lucas clung to the rail, his heart in his throat, as the winds howled and the lightning flashed. Sam and Steven worked tirelessly to keep the boat afloat, their faces set with determination.

When the storm passed, the sun rose over the waves, casting a golden glow over the sea. Lucas felt a sense of awe wash over him. He had never felt so alive.

As they sailed deeper into the Atlantic, they encountered some sea creatures: giant squids, their tentacles writhing like snakes; schools of bioluminescent fish, their bodies glowing like stars; and even a sea serpent, its coils rippling through the waves.

The "Maverick's Revenge" sailed on, its crew undaunted by the wonders and dangers of the sea. Lucas, Sam, and Steven stood at the bow, their eyes fixed on the horizon, their hearts full of wonder and their spirits soaring.

"Stop the boat!" Lucas shouted. The boat came to a stop, and Sam and Steven walked up to Lucas and stood beside him.

"What? Why did you say we should stop?" Steven asked, his eyes scanning the ocean.

"We're here. This is the spot. I sense more alpha energy here. I will have to go in now," Lucas said, ready to jump into the ocean.

"Why here, of all places? You know there are strange sea creatures that can swallow our boat in one gulp, and then we'll find ourselves in its belly," Sam said, frightened.

"Quit your yapping. No one forced you to come; that was your decision. Besides, you won't be going into the ocean. Lucas will be doing that," Steven replied.

"Yes, I will. Stay away from the water to be on the safe side, you know," Lucas said.

"Wait! Aren't you forgetting something?" Sam said, holding out an oxygen tank. "Take this. It's a wristband; it will tell us the depth you've covered and also detect when you're dead by checking your pulse," Sam said, handing the wristband to Lucas.

Lucas took the wristband and put it on. "Well, I won't be taking the oxygen tank. I live only on alpha energy; it enables me to breathe underwater," Lucas said as he picked up the Alpha Box. "Farewell." Lucas gave a thumbs up and dived into the ocean.

Lucas had covered much distance when he got to a level where everything was pitch black. He could not even see his hands, but he kept swimming deeper into the ocean.

Lucas had gone so deep that the water pressure began to increase. The only thing running through his mind was the alpha energy he could sense. "I wonder what kind of monster would be so deep in the ocean that it could have alpha energy in it," Lucas thought.

Lucas began to tire out as he was now getting slower. His body began to creak, his skin started peeling off, and he kept wondering if he was now blind or if what he was experiencing was due to how deep he had gone.

*****

At this point, Sam and Steven could no longer get a signal from Lucas's wristband. They both feared Lucas was dead.

*****

Lucas could now see a bright light heading towards him. By the time the light got even closer, he noticed it was a humanoid creature with scales all over its body.

The creature stopped a little distance away from Lucas, inspecting if he was dead. The creature, noticing he was still alive and breathing, saw him as a threat, knowing it was impossible for humans to come this deep into the ocean and still be alive.

Immediately, the creature turned and swam away hurriedly. After some time, Lucas could see the same bright light heading his way, but this time it was different; it wasn't just one but many.

The creatures, with the ability to move fast underwater, attacked Lucas, striking him from different angles. It was impossible for Lucas to fight back. Lucas received a heavy blow to the head that left him unconscious.

Lucas opened his eyes and found himself tied up. He looked around and found himself in a whole new civilization underwater. Lucas noticed he was now able to speak freely. "What... what is this? I have never seen anything like this," Lucas wondered.