...
"... Most likely? What does that mean?" Asked Axel.
"It means that the Trench is an unpredictable place. There are… factors which delay our return," explained Estris.
Kyrin rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to her. Those things rarely happen. We'll be back in a few hours max."
Axel frowned. "What kind of factors?" He asked, ignoring Kyrin.
"There are many. Just to name a few, first of all, the time flow is different in that place, the deeper we get, the lesser the time ratio compared to Atlantian Standard Time. There are Space Turbulences, due to which objects get pulled deeper into the trench, there are times we fall victim to one of the traps set by Kraken, we might also be attacked by high ranking members, there are also obstacles set up by the Kraken, furthermore, there are times when the Entity takes control over people, making them voluntarily go deeper…"
The list seemed to go on and on.
"..."
"… Can we wait until I get my rewards, or you could leave me behind?"
"No way." Kyrin looked at Estris in annoyance, before turning to Axel and Akiko. "Don't listen to her nonsense. Those things are probable only if we go deep to hunt Kraken high members. Right now, we're only going into the shallows just to get you some training."
Akiko looked at Axel with some panic while Axel just nodded slowly, as if accepting his fate. "Then, it seems we're in for a difficult trip." he muttered.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Axel shook his head lamentably. "You don't understand," he said, while Akiko also sighed, beginning to prepare her equipment, getting ready for what was to come.
In his life of 13 years, Axel has learnt one thing for sure. The world is hell bent on screwing with him. He gets into trouble even actively not looking for it, and even when trying to actively avoid it. So, going to such a place and not getting into trouble? Well, that's like jumping into sewage hoping to not get dirty.
Even Akiko, who has only known Axel for a short period of time, has begun to feel that things do never seem to go normally with Axel. But since it's Axel, he does manage to pull through every time. She just has to try and be less of a burden this time.
Kyrin, of course thought that the kids were talking nonsense. "Listen. This is just going to be a boring class in which we take to safe areas of the Trench and train you in the basics. As much as I want to take you deeper, we can't since you haven't gotten your mental blocks yet."
"Mental Blocks?" Asked Akiko in confusion.
Kyrin waved her hand off handedly. "Estris, go back to explanation mode."
Estris's emotionless look was still able to convey her annoyance to Kyrin. But she still began to explain dutifully.
"The deeper you travel, the more influence the Entity can have over your mind. Mental blocks are mind barriers to protect one's mind from the Entity's influence. Every person going into the deeper parts usually has a few mental blocks as precaution. Otherwise, there is a chance they might succumb to the Entity's influence."
"Then, why don't we have mental blocks yet?" Asked Akiko.
"Because boss wants to naturally raise your resistance against the Entity first. Also, metal barriers are unnecessary for the shallows. You can just use Psylocks." said Estris, giving glasses that could protect their minds.
Looking at Akiko's worried face, Kyrin shook her head. "Aki, you, at least don't have to worry about this."
"Oh? And I do?" Asked Axel. Even if it was an overpowered entity, Axel at least felt that he could have confidence in protecting his own mind.
Kyrin shrugged. "You might already know this, but Aki is incredibly gifted in mind arts. She can make do even without the barriers." Kyrin bragged.
Axel was silent for a moment. "...Mind art?" Occlumency? That's it? He was worried for nothing.
"Oh, I forget that the mind arts are obscure in the outer world. They're for protecting and strengthening our minds. Very useful skill." Kyrin gloated. "Though, it would take you decades to reach a sufficient level, so you should obediently get the blocks when we're ready to go deeper."
Somehow, Kyrin was feeling quite exhilarated upon this fact. "You know, all that talent is a waste if you can't protect your mind."
Axel's lips twitched. 'So petty.'
This is exactly why he doesn't want to reveal all of his cards to this bitch. She's unnaturally immature in some aspects.
Axel shrugged. "Well, as they say, you can't be good at everything. Imagine if Mind Arts was my strongest forte..." he shook his head. "Oh... how I wish it was true."
Kyrin glared at him. "It's already too unfair."
"Of course, of course. I'll just obediently get those mental blocks as soon as possible. Something wrong, Akiko?"
Sitting in the front seat, Akiko's shoulders were shaking from laughing silently.
"We're here." Announced the old man butler who had been flying the aircraft. This man seems to be the real master of stealth, always making people forget about his existence.
"Damn, where even are we?" Asked Axel in astonishment, looking at the scene outside.
Now this is how a place embroiled in war should look like.
In front of them was a huge wall, extending quite far on both sides. Numerous aircrafts and neptunites flew back and forth in the sky while was ground seemed to be crawling with soldiers.
Not far beyond the wall was the ending of the barrier that marked the end of the Kingdom.
"We're behind the Royal Castle, at the very edge of the Kingdom. This is our final line of defense."
"Damn. How does Kraken even cross onto this side?" Asked Axel in astonishment, looking at impressive defence of Atlantis.
"They usually can't. But there are always ways to let a small number trickle past." Answered Estris.
That was indeed true. Even in muggle world, there are ways people cross borders, let alone in a magical world like this.
Axel looked at the hundreds of thousands of soldiers below. If they have so many, then it makes sense that the Kraken also will have a similar amount on their side.
"How does the Kraken hire its members?" Asked Axel curiously. "I mean, sure some soldiers might get corrupted, but since you have preventive measures in place, it shouldn't amount to much, right?"
"Most of their members are acquired from the outer world. This is just one entrance to the trench. There's another at the Bermuda Triangle, the Devil's sea, the Nevada Triangle and several more. Furthermore, they buy the slaves in bulk from the Slave traders like the Mikhailovs from time to time."
"Fugg…" Axel whistled. The places Kyrin had named were places on Earth which were famous for strange phenomena and disappearance of people. "So, they actually have a numeric superiority against us?"
"Of course. It would be no fun otherwise." said Kyrin.
"They don't only have a numerical superiority, but their soldiers are also enhanced through inhumane procedures, given the entity's powers, and also used in sacrificial warfare. It's extremely disadvantageous against us, who can't afford to lose a single soldier. That's why we also started asking for outside help," said Estris.
"Of course, the outer world soldiers aren't disposable either," said Kyrin. "At least to most of us,"
'That is obvious.' thought Axel. She not only took bloody revenge, but also left the kingdom to take care of Akiko for her comrades. Few people would go that far even for their own people.
Their aircraft went through the security procedures and finally flew over the huge wall to show the scene on the other side.
"So, this is… the infamous Altina Trench."
Axel looked at the huge depression in the ground that had no end.
"Yep, that's it."
"So, how do we enter it?"
"Well, we just go down."
"What's below? How long will it take? Don't we need like, climbing materials or something?"
"It's not as you think," said Estris. "As you go down, you will be teleported to a separate dimension. Think of it as a portal."
"Ready?" Asked the old man pilot. "In we go," he muttered dryly, as if doing it for the million-th time. They began to descend at a high speed.
Axel shifted in anticipation. He knew there was a high chance that things might go wrong yet again, but this time, he was feeling positive for some reason.
'That's right, I'm not that unlucky.' He thought.
'Let's go in, enjoy, come out and get that reward. Who knows? I might even get a relic."
Just when Axel was daydreaming about what kind of relic he'll get, something happened.
His ring started vibrating. It was the storage ring that Martina had given him.
'What the—?'
Axel checked its content, only to see his pendant glowing for some reason.
'What's up with this thing?'
!!!!
Suddenly, the spaceship shook, as alarms began to sound.
"Uh… is this normal?" Asked Akiko.
"No fucking not." Said Kyrin. "Estris, what the fuck is happening?"
Estris had a strange look on her face. "It's… a space turbulence."
"Fuck!"
"Already…?" Axel only sighed lamentably.
The trip ended up getting screwed up before they even began.
….
The princess stood in her room, looking at the face of Chris Martin in absolute befuddlement.
Bloodline Invocation.
Those striking blue eyes, and the huge disturbance in the sea… there was no doubt. It couldn't be anything else. That was definitely the invocation of none other the Royal Bloodline!
And this was not a dormant or weak bloodline usually found in distant relatives.
"Who… How…" The princess's mouth opened, but she seemed to have completely lost the ability to articulate meaningful sentences.
Who is he?
How can he have the Royal Bloodline?
Why does he look like that?
Why did he hide his real appearance?
Where has he been until now?
Her mind was completely overloaded right now, thousands of thoughts, emotions, and contradictions going through all at once.
"It is indeed a lot of take in, Princess." The general had an extremely solemn air around him him. He had also received a similar shock when he seen this clip. Such is the magnitude of this wave. That's why he gave her a few seconds to process the information before beginning to explain.
"The Tech department searched far and wide, but they found no information about Chris Martin. They had already reported their failure to me. But in the last ditch effort, when running a search through our own system, they unexpectedly happened upon this footage, where it was revealed that Chris Martin was actually just a disguise."
"And when they ran a search on this new face, they were instantly flooded with a lot of matches."
The princess raised a trembling hand towards Axel's hologram. "Who… is he?"
"His name is Axel. Axel Hunt." The General took a pause. "And it would seem that he is your nephew."
