Chapter 6 – The First Dive into Europa's Ocean
"The enormous eye emerged from the chasm of Venus, clearly visible even from the observation windows of the orbiting spacecraft. It was nearly the size of a five-story building, glistening and slowly shifting as if scrutinizing its surroundings. Behind the eye, a colossal body bathed in acidic vapor began to take shape. Its surface reflected a sickly yellow-green light—its skin appeared like a fusion of iron, steel, and solidified magma.
The creature's body resembled that of an ancient reptile, but far more terrifying—covered in natural armor made of hardened metals. Extending from its sides were massive limbs and legs shaped like tentacles, composed of hardened metallic structures that looked like solidified molten steel, laced with glimmering aluminum-like veins. Along these limbs were clusters of small eyes, each darting in different directions, giving the impression that the creature could see everything at once. This was not just a lifeform—it was perhaps one of the oldest and deadliest predators ever to dwell on Venus."
One of the massive tentacles slithered upward, its tip covered with clusters of small eyes that focused intently on Riko and the other four explorers—analyzing them, as if evaluating their worth.
The tentacle began moving toward them.
"Run!!" Riko shouted, and the others took off in panic.
Though the tentacle moved slowly, its weight crushed the rocky terrain beneath it, cracking the hardened surface and releasing jets of acidic gas that hissed violently into the air. The corrosive mist shot toward them, forcing the team to dodge and flee with all their strength.
The synthetic organs within their bodies began to respond—Voltacore Nexus surged with electricity, channeling bursts of power into their muscles, enhancing their speed and reaction time. Micro-nano bots deployed automatically, repairing internal damage and sealing wounds on the fly.
After a desperate sprint, they finally reached a safe distance. The tentacle slowed, straining at its limit, unable to extend any farther. Yet even from that distance, its terrifying length was undeniable.
Venusian creatures in the area scurried away in all directions, fleeing the predator. As the team watched, the tentacle retracted—this time grabbing a slower, unfortunate creature, dragging it back into the enormous chasm... toward the waiting jaws of the monster.
Riko and the others gasped for air, thankful to have survived the encounter. Though their hearts still raced and their legs trembled, they knew they had narrowly escaped death.
Global Reactions
As soon as Riko and the team returned safely to the spacecraft, live chat across the Galactic Streaming platform exploded:
> @StarSeeker99: "Did anyone else see that EYE?? That's not a creature—it's a god!"
@VenusWanderer: "We must never anger it. It could be the guardian of Venus!"
@AstroNerd25: "Judging by its size and acidity resistance, it's likely a hyper-evolved extremophile. This thing adapted to the Venusian hellscape!"
@HolyLight777: "This is the beast mentioned in the lost prophecies of Solaris... The Eye of the Sky!"
@MartianMilitia: "We need missiles. Big ones. Now."
News anchors around the world broadcast the footage on repeat. Scientists debated on live panels. Governments issued statements urging calm while secretly convening emergency meetings.
Military Concerns
The United Earth Defense Council (UEDC) held a press conference:
> "We are aware of the threat. Venus is a high-priority target for colonization and evolution-based adaptation programs. A special strike team is on standby. If the creature proves hostile again, we are prepared to neutralize it."
But behind the scenes, some officials hesitated—killing it might unleash unknown consequences. Was it alone? Was it intelligent?
Meanwhile, Earth's largest defense satellite network began repositioning toward Venus. Rumors swirled about testing a new prototype weapon called "Orbital Helios Lance."
Transition to Europa
The live broadcast from space now shifted to Europa, the icy moon of Jupiter, believed to harbor a vast subsurface ocean. As the spacecraft entered Europa's orbit, global excitement soared once more. Around the world, people turned on their screens—eager to witness history unfold.
Meanwhile, the first dimensional gate on Venus was being constructed. However, due to Venus's unstable and extreme atmosphere, it was decided that the main dimensional hub would be installed on Mars. Anyone wishing to reach Venus would first need to travel to Mars.
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[LIVE STREAM – Europa Exploration Begins]
A woman with silver hair appeared on the screen, clad in specialized space gear. Her confident smile greeted millions.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Dr. Elara, biomechanical specialist and lead of the Europa ocean mission," she said clearly. "Today, we touch water that has never been touched by man… perhaps never even by light."
She then introduced the special Europa armor, engineered by a joint team from Earth and Mars:
The armor is coated in neuro-carbonic gel to adapt to extreme pressure.
Integrated micro thermal circuits keep body temperature regulated.
Equipped with active electromagnetic shields to defend against Jupiter's radiation.
It also synchronizes with the five enhanced evolutionary organs, which were further upgraded:
Pyrothermis Core is now more efficient in extreme cold.
Voltacore Nexus is shielded against Jupiter's interference.
Aqualung Synthesizer can now process foreign liquid elements with high toxicity.
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[LANDING]
The pod touched down on Europa's frozen surface. A vast plain of blue-white cracked ice spread before them, colder than Earth's polar regions. Faint vapors rose where the armor made contact with the brittle surface.
Dr. Elara and her team activated a high-pressure drill, aiming to penetrate 10 kilometers beneath the surface. Tension rose as signals from deeper levels began to weaken.
Global chat exploded with excitement and jokes:
"I hope they catch some tasty Europa fish!"
"I'm more scared of finding a cosmic squid."
"Watch the fish be so alien it kills your appetite."
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[SCIENTIFIC BRIEFING – DR. ELARA]
With calm enthusiasm, Dr. Elara addressed the audience:
> "Europa's subsurface ocean is believed to host hydrothermal vents, similar to Earth's deep-sea trenches. This means there's a chance of microbial or even complex life evolving in isolation.
The pressure, heat, and unique chemical conditions might support lifeforms with radically different biology than ours.
Thanks to our five-organ system and this armor, we hope to observe an untouched alien biosphere, hidden in darkness for millions of years."