1 Awakening and the Flood

"In the beginning, there was nothing. Then came the Big Bang. No one knows exactly what it was. Some say it marked the ending of the old universe, while others believe it was the beginning of our universe. Whatever the truth, the end of one thing often paves the way for the creation of another.

"So, who am I?" you ask. I lack a name or a place of origin. You can perceive me as a guide or a storyteller. I observe and weave narratives. I am the Puppet Master, leading you to experience the tales that unfold in our vast universe. In this expanse, countless questions await answers, and numerous answers beg to be questioned.

Our current destination is Nautiquarium, a breathtaking world submerged underwater, with its surface covered by a staggering 90% of aquatic expanses. Its beauty is undeniable, but it conceals dangers—much like a captivating rose hides thorns. Join me as we delve into this realm, where stories are poised to unravel amidst the enigmatic cosmos.

*Thud*

"Ha... what a weird dream." When I opened my eyes, I was on the floor. I had fallen from the bed in my sleep. As I woke up and tried to remember the dream I had just had, I couldn't recall anything. All I could remember was that it had been weird.

*Woof*

I looked in the direction of the sound; it was Rex. "Good Morning, Rex." Rex is my dog; he is a German Shepherd, and he is very smart and loyal. I've had him for six years. He has silky smooth brown and black fur and brown eyes; he is a very handsome young fellow. When he saw me, he ran towards me and started licking my face. "Haha, all right, all right, boy, let's refresh ourselves and go for a walk."

I was currently staying at a beach resort after working nonstop for the last five years. I wanted a break from city life, so I used some of my savings to book myself a vacation at a beach resort for a whole week.

I am not married, and I don't have a girlfriend. I invited my parents for this vacation, but they refused, so it's just me and Rex. After having breakfast, Rex and I were walking along the beach. It was very beautiful; the water was blue and crystal clear, something you don't often see in the city.

It's been two days since I arrived here, and since then, all I've been doing is eating, sleeping, swimming, going for a walk, and playing with Rex. There are also many different activities you can do, like scuba diving, water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, etc. I was planning to do all these things in the subsequent days, but it looks like nature had other plans.

Suddenly, I heard a thunderous sound. I looked up, and it was starting to get dark. "It doesn't look good, Rex; let's go back to the Resort."

*Woof*

After going inside the resort, I was having a drink in the cafeteria when one of the attendants approached me, "Good Afternoon, Sir. Hope you are having a good day."

"Good Afternoon. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Sir, there has been a storm alert for a few days. We request that you keep your outdoor activities to a minimum if possible."

"I see. I will make sure to remember that. Thank you."

Great, the vacation that I spent my savings on is being interrupted by a storm. Just my luck, I guess. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise coming from the outside.

"What's going on?" I asked the attendant.

"I am not sure, sir. Please stay here. I will go and take a look."

After saying that, he left to see what was going on. I was curious, so I followed him.

"Let's go and see what's going on, Rex."

*Woof*

I went to the beach, and what greeted me was a massive tsunami. The tranquil sound of crashing waves was suddenly drowned out by a deafening roar, an overwhelming force that seemed to shake the very earth beneath me. I stood frozen for a moment, confusion and panic warring within me.

Then, reality crashed down like a hammer as I saw it—a monstrous wall of water, impossibly huge and terrifying, rising from the horizon like an ancient beast awakened from its slumber.

My heart pounded in my chest as I turned and sprinted towards the shoreline, desperate to escape the path of destruction. I barely had time to react, to grab the collar of my loyal companion, Rex, and drag him alongside me.

The tsunami was upon us, a towering mass of water, a force of nature that defied comprehension.

The wave crashed down with violence beyond imagination, a deafening roar that echoed in my ears as if the very world was tearing itself apart.

I was engulfed in a churning maelstrom, tossed and turned as if I were nothing more than a ragdoll. The cold water swallowed me whole, its icy grip sending shivers down my spine.

Through the chaotic swirl of water and debris, I caught glimpses of others, like me, caught in the unforgiving embrace of the tsunami.

Fear-stricken faces flashed by, eyes wide with terror as they fought against the relentless current. The world was a blur of crashing waves and swirling darkness, a nightmarish dance of water and wind.

In the midst of the chaos, a desperate voice pierced the cacophony.

"Is anyone here?"

"We are here! Help us!"

The one who was calling out to people was the attendant that I met earlier. He was on some kind of Motor Yacht. I tried to wave with my left hand; on my right hand, I was holding Rex.

"We are here, we are here."

Finally, he saw us and told the captain of the Yacht to steer near us. When he got close, he yelled, "Grab my hand!"

"Take care of Rex first."

After saying that, I lifted Rex; the attendant grabbed him and placed him on the Yacht. Then he offered his hand to me again. I grabbed his hand and managed to get on the Yacht. I was breathing heavily.

"Tha-Thank you for helping me and Rex. We thought we were goners."

"Don't worry, sir. We are all on the same boat, no pun intended."

I smiled at his silly joke and asked him, "So, where are we? And how many people are on this Yacht?"

"There are around 10 to 12 people on this Yacht, and there are two other boats besides this one with us. I guess, in total, there would be around 30-35 people."

I took in the scene as he had described. Two more boats accompanied ours. One had the appearance of a rugged fishing boat, worn by the stories of its catches. The other looked like a boat that carried goods—probably supplies to the nearby beach resort that I was just on. But something odd hung in the air.

Despite the flooding, the water held no debris, only the people aboard these boats. Others were missing, as if swallowed by the flood. And then, as if by magic, the sky cleared. The dark, heavy rain that surrounded us gave way to a stunning clarity.

The relentless downpour ceased, revealing a vast expanse of tranquil blue. In the blink of an eye, we transitioned between two worlds. One of chaos and darkness transformed into an epic tale of calm and light.

*Roar*

Then, an unfamiliar sound shattered the serene hush. It reverberated like an otherworldly roar, and I quickly realized I wasn't alone in hearing it. A collective gasp swept through those aboard the yacht as they turned, their expressions etched with pure terror.

I followed their wide-eyed stares, and a surge of fear surged within me; their reaction was warranted. Before us glided a colossal serpent-like creature, a leviathan stretching some 30 to 35 meters (about 98 to 114 feet) in length. Its coloration bore the deep navy of the abyss, interwoven with hints of enigmatic green.

Then, as if conjured from the fabric of a nightmare, more of these massive entities emerged from the depths, joining the first in an eerie aquatic procession.

In an instant, our surroundings transformed into an otherworldly theater, circumscribed by a gathering of around twenty of these majestic, yet terrifying, creatures. It was a spectacle that defied the realm of reason, filling us with a potent blend of dread and disbelief.

"What the hell is going on here?"

The monstrous creatures moved with eerie grace, their scales glistening under the sunlight. As they swam near the boats, their massive bodies created ripples on the surface, causing the vessel to rock gently.

The attendant who had rescued me and Rex from the tsunami approached his expression a mix of astonishment and terror. "I've never seen creatures like these before. We need to stay calm and figure out what to do next."

As the colossal beings continued to swim near the boats, the yacht's engines roared to life, propelling us away from these giant serpents. Soon, the other two boats followed suit, but these enormous creatures seemed indifferent to our presence; they were merely swimming in the area.

Hours passed, the tension growing with every moment. The yacht's crew attempted to communicate with the other boats via radio, hoping to coordinate a plan of action. But the communications were not working, and it was evident that the other boats were facing similar issues.

A whimper from Rex drew my attention. I looked at him, noticing his anxiety. I patted him on the head and reassured him, "Don't worry, buddy. I am here with you. We will find a way to get back home."

"There's an island!" suddenly someone shouted. Indeed, there was a landmass visible in the distance. However, it was peculiar—it appeared to be a swamp-like area, devoid of trees, rocks, or any significant features. It was as if a patch of soggy ground had emerged out of nowhere, its greenish-brown color indicating its wet and squishy nature.

The situation was growing increasingly bizarre, leaving me to wonder aloud, "Now, what have we gotten ourselves into?"

...

In a dimly lit room adorned with countless books, a mysterious figure sat near a crackling fireplace. The room exuded an air of ancient knowledge and secrets waiting to be unveiled.

"Ah… you are back," the figure spoke, its voice carrying an enigmatic timbre. "The journey has only just begun, and the story of Nautiquarium is poised to unfold in ways we could hardly fathom. As the Puppet Master, I invite you to delve deeper, to uncover the truths that lie beneath the surface, and to embrace the challenges and revelations that await Rex and his companion on this remarkable journey."

With that, the figure's words seemed to echo in the very fabric of existence, hinting at the vast and mysterious tapestry that awaited Rex and those around him in the enigmatic world of Nautiquarium.