Sense of Demise

Ugh. I'm so hungry...

What's wrong? You don't look so good.

Well, if it isn't you, bro. There's this problem at the Dragon Palace, and there ain't enough fish to go around. It's tricky for some of us to get a proper meal.

Oh no... But even if you don't have enough fish, can't you ride it out by eating something else?

I mean, we got this crop at the Palace called Coral Wheat, but... That's also having one bad harvest this year.

It's like somethin' picked and ate all of the edible bits.

That's a shame... *nom nom* ... Seriously. *gulp*

That voice...

Phew. That was quite filling.

Oh, hey, Nagi! What's with the new look?

Oh, you don't know? This is a camouflage ability, something all Abyss Creatures innately possess.

It allows us to take in nutrients in the sea without moving too much, so it's super efficient...

And it's bouncy and fluffy to the touch, so it's something you can enjoy too, Aldo.

Uh, okay? I mean, it does look good on you.

It looks good...?

I didn't even think of that, but I guess I'm kind of glad.

Huh? That sounded like someone's stomach.

Not mine, bro. I sure am hungry, though.

So that means...

Yeah. It was me.

But didn't you say you could take in nutrients efficiently in that outfit?

I don't know why, but no matter how much I eat, I'm still hungry... It's all because I can't get second helpings at the Dragon Palace anymore.

Hmm. It seems like this is a bigger problem than I thought...

Okay. I'll take a trip to the Dragon Palace and see if there's anything I can do.

Hey there. Do you know anything about the recent fishing troubles?

Huh? Ah, you're a landlubber. Heck, if we knew what caused it, don't you think we'd have fixed it by now? All the elders say it's because of the Sense of Demise, but I dunno...

The Sense of Demise? Not exactly the most imposing sounding name.

Have either of you heard of it?

No...

Nah, I got no clue.

I might have heard the name somewhere... But I can't remember.

... Is it something I can eat?

I... I don't think it's edible, no.

You're right about that. If you ever meet the thing, you're the one who'll get eaten.

It's a monster from some old folk tale. They say it takes away everyone's food in a single bite. Apparently, it leaves nothing but scraps in its wake.

The details are different depending on who's telling the story, but they say it actually existed a few millennia ago...

Really?

Heh. Hook, line, and sinker. You didn't really believe that old folk tale, did you?

There's no way a monster like that is real. It's just the elders spinning their fish tales again.

Anyway, I'd better go. Boy, am I hungry...

What a joke. Maybe I should ask someone else...

Well, that story may not entirely be a joke.

Minister. Decided to visit this era today, have you?

Ah, Captain Nagi. And greetings to you too, Aldo, Mr. Sea Turtle. I'm afraid neither era has fully stabilized yet. I must thus crack the whip on this old body to make that happen.

So, what makes you say that the story isn't a joke, Minister?

Yes, about that.

There are in fact several mentions of this Sense of Demise in official files from our era. There isn't much, though, given that the Leviathan was on a rampage around the same time, around one thousand years ago.

But it does tell of several Senses of Demise devouring all, decimating the food reserves of the Dragon Palace in the blink of an eye.

Huh. So it we shouldn't just dismiss it as a folk tale, then?

Precisely. Perhaps it survived for a thousand years, perhaps it traveled through spacetime. Regardless, it is, without a doubt, a Sense of Demise behind the issue of the lack of fish and crops. I have my subordinates investigating this era as we speak.

I see.

So... What does this monster look like?

Unfortunately, there's very little record of its appearance.

Really?

What's going on?!

My, my! Three witness reports all at once!

...I guess we'll need to investigate them one by one.

I agree. Let's go to each of the places where they saw the monster.

Oof. Now that's what I call a good meal...

It left a trail of all the things it ate...

Oi, maybe it's that one! Right over there!

Doesn't really look Sense-y... But let's check it out!

Are you...the Sense of Demise? The one who ate all of the food here?

Huh? Of course not. If I had a name like Demise, I'd probably be bawlin' my eyes out right now.

I was just eatin' everything I could while there was still food around.

That makes sense. Do you know anything about the Sense of Demise, then?

Sense of Demise, eh? I swear I've heard that somewhere... Oh yeah! My great-great-great grandpa said something about it in his sleep once! The thing's got a bunch of long legs, apparently.

Wouldn't exactly call that a trustworthy source...

Hey! I'm doin' you a favor here! You got a problem with that?!

Yikes! N-N-No problem at all!

Well, I guess it wasn't him. Let's go check the other locations.

*lick* *lick* *lick* Muah!

She looks to be....licking something. She's really going for it.

Oi, maybe it's that one! Right over there!

Not sure if talking to her is a good idea... But here we go!

Um, excuse me...?

Hey, are you the Sense of Demise? The one who ate all of the food around here?

Oh, please. I don't know what you're on about. I'm just licking an Atlantis Pearl to keep my mind off of my hunger. Gotta make sure the kids are fed first, you know?

And I'll have you know that I came all the way here from the Western seas, accompanying the previous Otohime.

I remember... She came to these seas with me.

Oh. Then there's no way she would be from the folk tales.

Do you know anything about the Sense of Demise?

Hmm. Well...

There was a time I asked around here for nursery rhymes for my children. One of them used to say: "Go to sleep, or the blubbery monster will get you!" I believe that rhyme was referring to the Sense of Demise.

I see... Thank you.

I better ask around too... For some nursery rhymes for those future little ones.

Well, I guess it wasn't him. Let's go check the other locations.

Honey... Didn't we eat already?

Don't be silly, darling. I'll have dinner ready in a jiffy.

But honey... *burp* I'm rather full right now.

Oh, that's just your imagination. You really should try to remember things better. Now, I have to go check on that pot.

It looks like she's making him eat a whole lot...

Oi, maybe it's that one! Right over there!

This might be it! Let's go check it out!

Are you...the Sense of Demise? The one who ate all of the food here?

Nah, I don't think so... Oh boy... As you can see, I'm not used to eating so much.

...I can see that. Do you know anything about the Sense of Demise, then?

Well, my family has a fairly long life span, so I can recall a few legends. Some say part of its body is as clear as glass, while other say the entire thing is transparent.

It would'a been nice if we knew which story was true...

Hahaha... There have been too many tales told to know which ones are true... *burp*

Well, I guess it wasn't him. Let's go check the other locations.

I guess that means none of them were the Sense of Demise.

But I can't think of any other suspects...

But that old guy there fits the bill for "a bunch of long legs." I'd say it's him.

The lady's see-through fins... Aren't they "as clear as glass?" Perhaps she's the suspect.

Oh please. The "blubbery monster" sounds exactly like the Walrus' pudgy tummy.

Grrr!

Hey, calm down. There's no need to fight...

Wh-What is this?!

My body...!

I'm... I'm disappearing?!

Where did everyone go...?!

Was that the wave of history being rewritten?!

I see I was too late...

It's my fault, Lady Sheila. It must be 'cause I took too long...

It's okay, Chiyo. It's not the end yet. Let's get to the others first.

Sheila! Weren't you in the Dragon Palace in your era?

*huff* *huff* Lady Sheila... Yer too fast...

I came here to take the Minister's place. I am the Otohime of my era, after all.

But enough of that. Something's happened. The Sense of Demise has been wreaking havoc in my era!

No wonder we can't find it in this era!

So because food supplies were devoured in your era, history changed enough that these people don't exist anymore...?

Basically, yes.

I've occasionally stopped by to have some of your food... But I never would have thought the Sense of Demise would do the same exact thing.

However, not everything seems to have gone to ruin in this era. The buildings are intact, and I can still feel a sense of life among them.

So we can still correct the rewritten history...?

Right!

We need to hurry. We have to get to the Dragon Palace in the past and find the Sense of Demise!

Wait just a minute. "Bunch of long legs"... "A blubbery monster"... And a "see-through body"... Strange. We got someone fittin' the bill in our midst.

But that means...

H-Heh, no way. That can't be! No way Captain Nagi's the ever-hungry monst, The ever-hungry...?

Oh. Oh! Oh no! I better get after 'em!

Darn it... Where are you, Sense of Demise!

It wasn't in the Inner or Outer Walls! Just a trail of whatever it ate!

Yikes... If we can't find it, then that means the culprit is...

Stop right there! Sense of Demise!

Vice-Captain... Everyone... I didn't realize you traveled to this era.

There is no doubt about it... That there is the Sense of Demise!

"Bunch of long legs!" "Blubbery monster!"

"See-through body!" And finally, an "ever-hungry monster!"

I see. So that's who it was!

I finally get it! I should'a figured this out from the start!

...Everyone, what's wrong? Why are you all so tense?

Ugh! I feel ashamed as a fellow tentacle wielder!

W-Wait! I betcha there's a good reason for all this! Right, Aldo?! You understand, don't ya?!

...... I finally get it. The enemy was here, all this time.

This is where you end, Sense of Demise! For the sake of the Dragon Palace!

Yikes! You're on their side, too?!

......

... Okay. I understand.

Aw no, it's all over! Cap'n Nagi, ya gotta get outta here!

What are you talking about...? I'm fighting too.

But the odds are completely against ya, Cap'n! I mean, Aldo, Sheila... They've even got Chiyo!

...What are you talking about? I don't get it.

Hey, get out of the way! You're in danger!

No I'm not! She's my Cap'n, so I gotta...

No, no! Behind you!

Huh?

...... Ahhh! Wh-What is this thing?!

It's the Sense of Demise! We told you!

Golly! What's that glob in the middle of its body?!

...It looks hard. I wonder if I can eat it.

Wait. That's a machine from the Future! What's going on?!

I dunno, but we gotta defeat that thing!

Aldo. I'm ready whenever you are.

Okay! Let's do this!

This is for all the food...!

Phew... All that exercise made me hungry.

All right! This should correct history!

...Now we won't need to worry about food.

Geez... All of you could'a told me! I thought Cap'n Nagi was the one responsible...

Ho ho ho! What are you talking about? There is no way our dear captain could...

Hmm...

I guess it's not entirely impossible!

You know, since we've averted disaster, why don't we celebrate a little?

A party! Aw, I'd love that!

Then how about you come to our era? We can return the favor with some food.

Sounds good! Let's get back to the Dragon Palace in Nagi's era, then!

Gosh. I'm glad that there was still so much food left!

Ho ho ho... Thankfully, we had plenty of provisions prepared for such an occasion.

I knew we could count on the Minister! The Sense of Demise ain't worth fearin'!

But that machine inside the Sense of Demise... What was that?

It reminded me somewhat of the catastrophe we now know as Leviathan.

Then, does that mean...

The Leviathan that came to this era got stuck inside it?

So it got created the same way that giant sea serpent did.

But Sea Turtle, where did you get the idea that Captain Nagi was the culprit?

Ugh... I know I was wrong. Could we forget all of this? Please?

But Nagi does sort of look like a Sense of Demise in those clothes. You said it was camouflage, but you must have had some idea of what you based it on. How did you come up with it?

Oh... I think this outfit was left to me by Otohime.

By me?

No... I mean the previous Otohime.

Oh. That half-naked gentleman...

What do you mean you "think" it was left to you?

My mind was so clouded when it happened, I don't remember it clearly...

But when I first met Otohime, I think he was wearing the hide of a sea monster he defeated long ago.

Hmm... Come to think about it, a really good hunter in my village wears the hide of the biggest game he ever hunted. Maybe it's the same kind of thing.

...I'm starting to remember, even if it's only part of it.

Ugh... I'm so hungry... Everything is going dark... This might be the end for me!

Hm? What's this?

How dare you lie flat in the path of Poseidon!

Who's there...?

I see. Starving to death, are you? Allowing your death would be synonymous to admitting scarcity in the seas I reign over.

......

Hmph. I suppose I have no choice.

Take this as a parting gift. This cloak was made from a Sense of Demise, felled by my very hands. A perfect death robe for a nameless soul like yourself, no? Hahaha!

...*nom*

What?

*munch* *munch* *munch*

Hmm?! Wait, what are you...

Phew... That was yummy... I feel rejuvenated.

What the... Did you...just eat the Sense of Demise?

Hah...

Hahaha! How amusing! I like you!

Now, what is your name? Would you consider joining my forces in battle?

Me? I'm...

I remember... That thing I ate back then was a Sense of Demise! So that's where I'd heard of it before...

So that's why you looked so alike!

Huh... So that's why the previous Otohime was half-naked all the time.

But that would have been ten years ago. There was no reason for him to stay half-naked... Unless he actually preferred it that way!

Yeah... Come to think of it, Otohime always stayed half-naked, no matter how many clothes he received as tribute...

But he really did let me eat his cloak that day... He used to be very nice.

I hope I get to have a meal with him like this someday. Maybe then he'd go back to the nice Otohime I knew.

...Yeah. Someday.

Now come on! No more glum faces! We have plenty of food to finish!

L-Lady Sheila! Please, ya gotta slow down a little!

I'm gonna eat more, too. Bring more in, please...!

*nom nom* *munch munch* *gobble gobble* *gulp*

H-Hey, take it a little slower! You're gonna really start looking like the Sense of Demise at that rate!