Act Four: The Unthinkable Dissolving (2/3)

What in the world is going on here!?

We've had several of the same attacks now, and neither Osakabehime nor Yang Guifei were able to detect the attacks ahead of time...

We haven't even seen any actual void enemies this time, just their attacks... What is going ON here?

I don't know...but the fact is, if they wanted to sink us, we'd already be in Davy Jones's locker.

This is the most unpleasant thing I've experienced since my bout with puffer fish tetrodotoxin. I don't know if they're toying with us, or we're just getting lucky... Dammit, I hate this.

I'm back from patrol! You already got the data I sent you, right?

Yup, on it. I'm putting the images I processed up on the monitor now.

We still haven't seen scale or fin of any enemies here, but if we zoom in real tight on this one part...

...So it's nothing but shadows?

Exactly! There's a ton of sus grid spaces here, but I can't find the enemy that oughta be in the center of them anywhere!

We haven't seen a single attack from any of the small enemies, and we still have no idea where all these beam attacks are coming from.

...That does it. These waters are too dangerous for us to linger. For the time being, I say we head back to the previous area.

？！

Actually, Captain, before we leave, do you think we could try sending out a ping of our own, just once?

You think we'll be able to find these enemies that way? That doesn't seem likely...

I don't think it'll help us find these enemies, either. It would be great if it did, but there's another reason I want to try.

I want to try scanning the terrain here to see what's going on with these strange reverberations I've been hearing from the enemy attacks.

Like you said, Captain, if they'd wanted to sink us, we'd already be sunk by now, so I don't think sending out one ping is going to get us killed.

...I see. Okay, let's do it. Mash, get in a defensive position just in case.

Understood!

Okay, sending out one pulse...

...No retaliation so far...

Well, I just learned one thing. This area's exit is blocked off.

What!?

Here, I'll show you an updated map on the monitor.

There we go.

？！

...How can this be happening? The terrain itself is...changing?

This has to be deliberate, if not outright malicious... Who's behind this? Why is this happening to us?

I know that monstrous enemy ship wanted to stop us from going further, but we already defeated it...

Did I not already tell you? That ship was almost certainly being controlled by someone else.

And if that is correct, this mysterious entity can only be telling us one of two things:

"I'm going to kill you slowly," or "You shall not pass."

If it is the former, we are simply done for. But if it is the latter, it would be worth seeing what happens if we comply and cease our attac

Ah! Sorry to interrupt, but we have another incoming explosion!

What do you say, Captain?

All right... Let's give it a shot. Shut the engines down. Standby. Mash, keep your guard up.

Right!

...It looks like the attacks have stopped.

？！

Yeah, you might be right. But can you blame me?

I feel like a kid who just had his parent take away his checkers set. It's like our opponent's ignoring the rules and pinning me down by my head.

If I don't snap out of it, this might even start to wear down my confidence in my abilities as captain...

Since the attacks seem to have stopped, I'm going to lower the threat level for now and take a break for a while.

I need some time alone.

？！

...Nemo? Can I stay with you...?

Van Gogh... Sorry, but no. Not right now...

...Ehehe, right, of course. I'm sorry. I should have known better...

...

...I can't do anything to help... I want to pay Nemo back for helping me, but I can't...

Why not...?

...Iä, iä, ngluilllnyth, Xoth. Ch'ooboshuftaghuagl, y'ulnmghlirgh, nafh'fhtagn...