A Marvel's Wolrd (3/3)

[ Arctic Ocean, close to the North Pole: 03/07/1920]

Navigating the frigid waters of the Arctic sea was a scientific exploration icebreaker designed to sail through frozen waters and support expeditions in polar regions.

And written on the bow, the front part of the ship, and also painted on both sides of the hull near the waterline was the ship's name, "探検者" (Tanken-sha).

It was a government research ship, captained by Captain Taro Suzuki, who led the crew that consisted of his sailors and a team of scientists sent for a government project.

On board, scientists were conducting secret research in a remote area of ​​the Arctic, with the aim of studying unusual geological phenomena. The reason the scientists were in the Arctic Sea was kept secret, known only to the highest levels of government.

However, there were indications that the research was related to recent discoveries of mysterious underwater structures in the region, with some suspecting that they were previously surface constructions that sank and were washed away by the sea, this was the theory most accepted by the scientific community.

But a small part of the population believed that it was the legendary Atlantis, even though the buildings were mainly located in the Arctic Sea, and not in the Atlantic Sea.

Although there was no official confirmation, rumors among crew members suggested that the government was interested in these submerged structures and their possible implications for the region's history and geography. As the expedition progressed, the mystery surrounding these discoveries only increased, fueling the crew's curiosity.

As the (Tanken-sha) cut through the icy waters of the Arctic Sea, the sailors chatted among themselves, relieving the monotony of the long journey.

"Man, I can't take this cold anymore. We've been here nine months and it feels like it's never going to end." Yamada said as he hugged himself tighter to try and get more warm.

"That's right, friend. It seems like we're trapped in this block of ice. I hope this government project pays off." Sato replied, also quite dressed up.

"I heard these scientists are looking for hidden treasure or something. Maybe it's the lost jewels!" A young sailor Tanaka said excitedly, although he also looked very cold.

"Ah, stop it, Tanaka. Do you really believe these crazy stories?" Yamada responded to the youngest of the three.

"And why not? If there are ancient structures down here, who knows what else we might find." Tanaka replied, still excited about the exploration.

"*Shhi* Here comes Captain Suzuki. Let's save these crazy stories for now." Sato said alerting the two.

"Captain!"3x, the three saluted their captain who waved to them and continued their walk.

Captain Suzuki went through the ship meticulously, checking every detail, from the engine to the last safety equipment. His serious expression never leaving his face, appearing to be unaffected by the extreme cold of the region.

Upon arriving at the hangar, where scientists were working on their cutting-edge equipment, Captain Suzuki observed the frantic back and forth of researchers. Suzuki addressed the scientists with a wave, recognizing the importance of their work to the success of the mission.

His presence there was not only to ensure the safety of the expedition, but also to ensure that each member of the team fulfilled their role to the best of their ability. The scientists, focused on their experiments, looked up and nodded in greeting.

"How are things going here?" asked the Captain, his firm voice echoing through the hangar.

"We're making progress, Captain." replied the head of the research team, Doctor Oda Shinro, a bespectacled man with a middle-aged appearance.

"The data we're collecting is incredible. We're closer than ever to unlocking the secrets of these underwater structures and what else is out there." He said looking at some countries with various printed data.

Suzuki nodded, satisfied with the answer. He had complete confidence in the competence of his team and knew they were doing the best job possible. However, the tension in the air indicated that there was a lot at stake.

"Continue with your work. We are counting on this to bring new light to our nation." He said before walking away, leaving the scientists immersed in their own world.

Far from the ship, but specifically close to the underwater buildings where researchers were taking various data using sonic frequencies, some silhouettes moved through the shadows of the abandoned buildings.

There were three in total, and everyone looked up, but specifically at the bottom of the exploring ship, getting closer to the surface, the sunlight illuminated the three figures a little.

They were two men and a woman, but they were certainly not human, at least not normal ones, because in addition to not wearing any diving clothing, resisting the extreme cold of the waters without protection, these individuals had blue skin and the sclera of their bones. completely black eyes with irises in a lighter shade of black.

The three beings moving through the shadows of the underwater structures were remarkably distinct in appearance. The woman, with an imposing and noble posture, stood out for her beauty and strength. Her hair was long and wavy, a silvery hue that shone in the diffuse light of the depths. Her height was impressive, exceeding the human average, and her physical structure was elegant and powerful, denoting a latent strength.

The two men beside her, clearly soldiers, displayed an aura of determination and preparedness. Their tall, muscular bodies moved with fierce grace, indicating remarkable martial skill. Their hair was short and dark, almost navy blue, in perfect contrast to the blue skin they shared with the woman.

These beings were Lemurians, a race of evolved humanoids who had adapted their abilities to survive in the extreme depths of the oceans.

The three Lemurians were dressed in a unique way, adapted for their forays into the depths of the Arctic sea. The noble woman wore a long, flowing robe made of a water-resistant material, adorned with intricate patterns that glittered softly in the light. Around her shoulders, she carried an elegant cloak, which moved gracefully with her steps.

The two male soldiers, in turn, wore clothes that were more fitted to the body, made of resistant and flexible mesh, which allowed total freedom of movement. Over their suits, they wore vests equipped with several compartments to store essential tools and equipment for their missions.

Each of the Lemurians wore a peculiar device on their faces, covering their mouths to their noses. This equipment, made of a transparent and resistant material, allowed them to breathe comfortably outside the underwater environment.

The antenna that came out of a compartment at the bottom of the ship emitted a sonic wave that swept everything around for a few kilometers.

*RUMBLE-Rumble-rumble*

Making everything shake, making the three Lemurians cover their ears with expressions of pain, but after a few seconds the sonic waves stopped.

"Taruu, a'sil macha sulee. Na're chel! Yarin!" {Ready, the machine has stopped, this is our chance! let's go} The woman somehow spoke, even underwater, the sound being melodious like sea currents and whale songs.

The two men waved and then the three began to swim, reaching the surface floating close to the ship, it was reasonably clear that day, without much snow falling.

"Ilik ma'shira kelmur. Ak'ra miira se'le."

Only to separate their hands, with a luminous navy blue sphere appearing, and soon the entire region around them was covered in a thick fog, making seeing the surroundings almost impossible.

*HONK-HONK!!*

The ship's horn sounded and then the anchor was dropped, trapping the ship in place.

With dense fog covering their approach, the three Lemurians silently invaded the ship's deck. The woman led the group, followed by the two warriors, moving with agility and determination. Their breathing equipment allowed them to navigate the unfamiliar environment, while the sound of the ship's horn drowned out their footsteps.

As they advanced through the ship's corridors, the Lemurians eliminated crew members quickly and silently, using their deadly skill to disarm any opponent who crossed their path.

"Na'tel nar'lim, ta'an kel'vun ma'shira, an'cha kelim sha'nahe nar'lim."{Let's split up, we have to destroy that machine, and get rid of the surface dwellers.} The woman said and soon the two men followed her command, separating and going in search of the ship's sensor.

However, when one of the Lemurian warriors turned a corner, he came across Captain Suzuki. The two faced each other, each recognizing the threat posed by the other. With a quick and precise movement, they each drew their weapon.

Suzuki carried only a pistol, while the much larger Lemurian warrior carried a saber, made of a dull metal that reminded the Captain of a sword shark's nose.

With a guttural growl, the Lemurian warrior prepared for the clash, his eyes fixed on Suzuki's. With an agile movement, he brandished his saber, while Suzuki raised his pistol, ready for the imminent confrontation.

The Lemurian warrior rushed forward with a powerful blow, his saber cutting through the air with ferocity. Suzuki dodged nimbly, moving with the dexterity of an experienced predator. The metallic sound of the saber meeting the pistol echoed through the ship's corridors, as the two adversaries faced each other in a deadly duel.

With a series of quick and precise movements, Suzuki managed to dodge the warrior's blows, maintaining a strategic distance between them. He then took advantage of an opening in the Lemurian's defense and fired his pistol. The projectile tore through the air towards its target, but the warrior deftly dodged, narrowly escaping the well-aimed shot.

With a roar of defiance, the warrior counterattacked with a series of fast, furious blows. Suzuki responded skillfully, blocking the attacks with his pistol and looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

In a moment of intensity, Suzuki lunged forward with surprising strength, pushing the warrior back with a powerful blow. The Lemurian, stunned by the display of superhuman strength, momentarily retreated, allowing Suzuki to seize the advantage.

With impressive precision, Suzuki disarmed the Lemurian warrior and immobilized him with a final blow. The defeated warrior fell to his knees before the captain.

Looking coldly at the being in front of him, Suzuki just pointed the pistol at the Lemurian's head.

*BANG!*

And he shot in cold blood, killing the being, or at least that was expected with a bullet going through his eye.

"AASRGH!!!" The screams of one of his crew quickly caught his attention.

*BAANG BOOM!*

Only for an explosion to shake his ship, he ran towards the upper hangar and there he saw, two more of the blue-skinned beings, but a man, injured but alive, and a woman, beautiful in his eyes, and both were about to to escape by jumping from the ship.

"Oh no!!" Suzuki shouted running towards them and jumping along, falling to the bottom of the sea, as his ship and crew sank into the depths of the arctic never to be seen again.