BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
Another missile slammed directly into the airplane.
The entire aircraft shook violently.
CRAAAAASH!!
Chen Wei was thrown sideways and grabbed the nearest seat.
Chen Wei: "WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!"
Leo: "Because apparently today is the day everyone decided to kill us!"
Outside the aircraft, another missile passed through the smoke.
Inside the enemy fighter jet, Poison Girl watched the damaged airplane carefully.
Poison Girl: "Pilot... Is our job done?"
The pilot glanced at the radar.
Pilot: "Yes. We've delayed them enough."
Poison Girl: "So they'll crash?"
Pilot: "Most likely."
He pointed toward the radar.
Pilot: "There is a small island nearby. The airplane was already scheduled to land there because of the ordinary passengers onboard."
"They'll either make a crash landing in the sea..."
"...or they'll reach the island."
Poison Girl smiled beneath her mask.
Poison Girl: "Either way, they've lost time."
The enemy aircraft turned around.
Pilot: "We're returning to headquarters."
The fighters disappeared into the clouds.
---
The Bermuda Triangle
Far away...
The strange airplane continued flying toward its destination.
But ahead of it was something impossible.
The Bermuda Triangle wasn't simply a region of ocean.
It looked like a gigantic circular depression in the sea.
The ocean around it rose like enormous walls.
Water continuously poured from the surrounding ocean into the massive abyss like countless waterfalls.
And somewhere in the center...
Something was hidden.
Leo stared through the window.
Leo: "...That's the Bermuda Triangle?"
Chen Wei slowly leaned beside him.
Chen Wei: "It looks less like a triangle and more like the world's biggest bathtub."
Leo: "A bathtub where airplanes go to die."
Chen Wei: "You really know how to make things better."
---
Somewhere Else...
A dark chamber.
A massive throne stood at the center.
The alien Queen sat upon it.
Around her stood countless masked generals.
Behind them...
An entire army of strange alien soldiers waited silently.
The doors opened.
CLACK...
Poison Girl entered.
Her clothes were damaged from the battle, and she was visibly exhausted.
She walked toward the throne.
Poison Girl: "I did what you ordered."
"Now... pay me."
The Queen made a small gesture.
A container was brought forward.
Poison Girl looked at it.
Poison Girl: "Good."
She reached toward it.
But—
CLANK!
Two soldiers suddenly grabbed her arms.
Poison Girl: "What are you doing?!"
The Queen remained silent.
Another group of soldiers approached.
Poison Girl immediately understood.
Poison Girl: "Wait..."
"Don't."
Her mechanical arms were seized.
Poison Girl: "Please... stop!"
The mechanical limbs weren't simple equipment.
They had been surgically integrated into her body.
Metal components were connected deep within her muscles and bones.
As the soldiers began removing them—
CLANK!
Poison Girl screamed.
Poison Girl: "AAAAAH!!"
Blood began flowing from the places where the mechanical limbs had been attached.
The same blood that had once circulated through her biological body also stained the mechanical components.
Poison Girl: "PLEASE! DON'T TAKE THEM!"
But nobody stopped.
One mechanical leg was removed.
Then the other.
Her arms followed.
Poison Girl collapsed onto the floor.
Poison Girl: "Please..."
"I don't want the money anymore."
"Just let me go."
Nobody answered.
A man in a long laboratory coat stepped forward.
His face was hidden behind a strange mask.
He was known as Dr. Veyron.
The scientist responsible for transforming Poison Girl into what she was now.
He had once conducted experiments on a human girl...
And created a living weapon.
Dr. Veyron slowly approached her.
Poison Girl: "No..."
"Please... don't."
Dr. Veyron raised a syringe.
Poison Girl: "PLEASE!"
CLICK.
The injection entered her neck.
Her body immediately tensed.
Poison Girl: "AH—!"
The Queen watched silently.
The two poison-filled containers attached to Poison Girl's back remained untouched.
For now.
Poison Girl's voice became weak.
Poison Girl: "...I just wanted to leave."
Her eyes slowly closed.
---
Back in the Sky
The damaged airplane was still flying.
Leo finally stood up.
Leo: "Okay."
"I've had enough."
Chen Wei looked at him.
Chen Wei: "Enough of what?"
Leo pointed toward the cockpit.
Leo: "Everything."
"I don't care anymore."
"I want to get off this airplane."
The pilot looked backward.
Pilot: "Then you're in luck."
Leo: "What?"
The pilot stood up.
Pilot: "It's time for us to leave too."
Leo: "...Leave?"
One of the Wind Martial Artists opened a compartment.
Inside were several parachutes.
Wind Martial Artist: "You people came here through World Safety, right?"
Leo nodded.
Wind Martial Artist: "Then please..."
"Save this world."
He handed Leo a parachute.
Wind Martial Artist: "We're leaving the aircraft."
Chen Wei stared at the parachute.
Then looked outside.
Then looked back at the parachute.
Chen Wei: "Wait."
"Are you telling me we're jumping?"
Wind Martial Artist: "Yes."
Chen Wei: "Into THAT?"
He pointed toward the enormous Bermuda Abyss.
Wind Martial Artist: "Yes."
Chen Wei: "You're insane."
Another Wind Martial Artist calmly replied:
Wind Martial Artist: "Probably."
Chen Wei: "At least you admit it."
The pilot walked toward the aircraft door.
Pilot: "There's only one route into the center."
He pointed downward.
Pilot: "Through the middle of the Bermuda Abyss."
"The surrounding waterfalls make normal flight impossible."
"And whatever is waiting down there..."
He paused.
Pilot: "Be careful."
Leo sighed.
Leo: "Fine."
Chen Wei grabbed Leo's shoulder.
Chen Wei: "If I die—"
Leo: "You won't."
Chen Wei: "How do you know?"
Leo: "Because you're too annoying to die."
Chen Wei: "...That's strangely comforting."
Lily and Yuna were already preparing their parachutes.
Lily: "Are you two coming?"
Leo: "Yeah."
Chen Wei: "No."
Lily: "What?"
Chen Wei: "I was just emotionally saying no."
Yuna: "Jump."
Chen Wei: "WHY IS EVERYONE SO CALM?!"
The airplane door opened.
WHOOSH!!
Wind violently rushed into the cabin.
Pilot: "GO!"
One by one, they jumped.
Lily—
Yuna—
The Wind Martial Artists—
Leo—
And finally Chen Wei.
Chen Wei: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!"
Leo: "STOP SCREAMING!"
Chen Wei: "I'M TRYING TO!"
They disappeared into the clouds.
---
Somewhere Nearby — Azure Isle
The damaged airplane continued on its final route.
Ahead was a small island surrounded by rough ocean.
The aircraft descended.
WHOOOOOSH!!
Its wheels barely touched the ground.
SKRRRRRRRRRRT!!
The airplane crashed across the island's surface.
Pieces of its outer body broke apart.
Metal tore away.
The wings were almost completely destroyed.
The aircraft finally stopped.
Silence.
The passenger door opened.
An ordinary passenger slowly stepped outside.
He looked around.
Then looked at the ruined airplane.
Passenger: "...Was there a storm?"
Another passenger stepped out.
Passenger: "I think this airplane needs therapy."
A third passenger looked at the wreckage.
Passenger: "How are we alive?"
An elderly passenger adjusted his glasses.
Passenger: "Honestly..."
"...that was the smoothest landing I've ever experienced."
The passengers looked at him.
Passenger: "What?"
---
The Bermuda Abyss
Meanwhile...
Leo and Chen Wei finally reached the enormous depression.
They landed safely near the edge.
Leo slowly stood up.
Chen Wei collapsed beside him.
Chen Wei: "Never."
"I am never flying again."
Leo didn't answer.
He was staring downward.
The center of the Bermuda Triangle was horrifyingly silent.
Water continuously poured into the gigantic abyss from every direction.
ROOOOOOOOAR...
But beneath the waterfalls...
Something else could be seen.
Hundreds of destroyed ships.
Broken aircraft.
Old submarines.
Fragments of machines from different eras.
Some looked decades old.
Others looked impossibly modern.
And scattered between the wreckage...
Human skeletons.
Countless skeletons.
Chen Wei slowly stopped complaining.
Chen Wei: "...Leo."
Leo: "I know."
Chen Wei: "How many people came here?"
Leo stared into the darkness.
Leo: "Too many."
The waterfalls continued pouring into the abyss.
And somewhere deep below...
Something moved.
TO BE CONTINUED...