Chapter 7: Amami Shōtō

Proving Grounds: Forgotten Planet; ?????

1821Y 05M12D 1700H

The Boat grounded off coast because of a storm, they had no choice but to swim ashore. The sky was dark and rain fell hard on them.

Luci panting as she dragged herself on land. "Is everyone alright?"

"Yeah, I think so..." Baby following shortly behind. "Anyway, Luci where are we?" She sat down to catch her breath. Luci looked around, nothing but ruins. "Got no idea... the boys?"

"We are right here, Luci." Acki carrying Menan on his shoulder. "He really likes to drown."

"Okay, lets —" A placard was thrown in the middle of them saying. 'Amami City', There was a second part saying ' Naz...' but was partly destroyed.

Shiro walked in saying, "なつかしい ( natsukashii )." In a low demonic voice. The group looks at him but he instantly disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"That was scary..." Luci walks towards a small shelter; took out her map. Baby saw her and ask. "Why don't you put that on your HUD?"

"I have it in my HUD but this feels more natural to me. Well if that sign is correct along with my calculations, we should be south of Japan — Amami of Ryukyu Islands, I guess." Luci raised her shoulders. "We go north to this Kyushu, then head west to Korea."

"Let's find a place to rest first." Acki pointing towards a city just ahead of them.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten Planet; Ruins of Rota Island

1821Y 05M12D 1700H

"Azi..."

"What is it Cat, I am very busy," Azaleah hovering beside the slideway, consoles and data windows surrounding her. "Ya'r, just standing there Azi," Smirf complained like a child. Azaleah rolled her eyes in disbelief. "I am extrapolating, we need this ship on water as soon as possible."

"Why can't it be a plane Azi?" Sparkling at the poor fairy.

"Cat, we are not building a ship from scratch, because that takes a certain amount of skill. Rebuilding a plane? I can give you blueprints, equations, books, manuals, etc. but I don't think you can rebuild a plane big enough to house your wagon, and the three of us then fly across the Pacific." Fuming with anger. Smirf started to become teary-eyed. "Am sorry Azi — Ah was just askin'."

Azaleah sat down on her shoulder. "You just came in a bad timing, and ask a stupid question — not that I am not used to it. Lots of problems arise on a plane. Just trust me, It is better this way... We okay Cat?"

"Okay, Azi Am sorry."

"Burn some fish today, Mat has been working really hard haven't seen him take a good rest. We will be sailing tomorrow."

"Azi, will we see the others again?"

"Hmm, well... Mat instructed me to give out a signal if ever they are in the vicinity, they will know we are near."

"Ah see, hope to see em soon." Smirf started to walk towards the kitchen.

Azaleah hovered over the Frigate, then sat over one of its cannons. "This thing still needs a lot of work, just need to make it seaworthy for now." Showing a slight grin.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten Planet; Japan, Amami Ōshima,

1821Y 05M12D 2000H

Orbs of pink light shine around ruins, illuminating it.

"Render — Grand Arrow," Menan firing off a beam from his gauntlet. "Why the hell are we fighting this plant?"

The group is attacking a four-story tall decomposing tree, mutants embedded in its trunk as well as its roots making it able to move on the ground. It flails around its branches capturing anything it can then throwing it inside a mouth like structure on the center of its branches.

Acki cutting tried cutting off the flailing branches. "It is just growing new ones!"

"Don't come near it, keep your distance... Luci anytime now." Baby going around the monster, as Ca'li drew her crossbows and fired on it. Shiro running and jumping around the branches cutting anything he can.

"Keep it steady... Sage Art — Ballista," Luci fire off, piercing the aberration. Mutants infested with parasitic plants started to pour out of the hole. Baby jumps away, "Ca'li — Lluvia," she rained arrow on the mutants but the horde just ignored the attack.

"Zombies!? Lol, they should be undead right not... Half plant - half mutant and looks more disgusting." Menan cutting some down but the plant part of the mutant keeps re-attaching the severed parts back and sometimes fusing with a different one.

Baby seeing a drawn-out pointless battle ordered a retreat.

. . .

"Again, why are we attacking that thing?" Menan panting.

"One, we accidentally came across it; two, whenever there is a unique monster there is something special it is guarding. We just don't know what it is." Luci watching at her console as Nar'vash survey the surrounding area. Acki came and check too. "Found anything?"

"None, so far..."

"Fire... Or something of the sort."

Everyone looked back at Menan.

"Fire, we need fire attribute to defeat that... those I cut with Great Sword had a hard time regenerating compared to those I cut normally."

Everyone thought about it.

"I don't have a spell that can disintegrate the whole monster in one go." Said Luci, then continued on her surveillance. Everyone look at each other then said nothing. Baby, step forward. "We don't need to kill it, our priority is to find a way to get off this island."

Suddenly Shiro appeared shaking his head then threw out a placard saying 'Naze Port' then threw another one 'Amami Airport'. He came near and stab the later with his katana.

"I see, guess we are trying for a plane then?" Acki scratching his head.

Shiro laugh ominously pointing his katana towards the north end of Island.