The cruiser moved smoothly across the ocean.
Everything felt calm… too calm.
Stefan stood near the edge, watching the endless water. There were no sounds except the engine and the waves. No monsters. No movement.
Behind him, Nami sat beside Rex.
Something had changed.
Rex was still small and cute, but his flames were different now. They burned brighter, smoother, and stayed close to his body instead of spreading wildly.
Nami: "You evolved…"
Rex wagged his tail slightly.
Stefan glanced back.
Stefan: "Still small."
Nami: "But stronger."
She watched the flames carefully.
Nami: "He has control now."
Stefan nodded.
That mattered more than size.
Nami suddenly looked at the ocean again.
Her expression turned serious.
Nami: "Stefan… if animals evolved on land…"
She paused.
Nami: "…then what about the ocean?"
Stefan's eyes narrowed.
He looked down at the water.
Stefan: "…There should be monsters."
Nami nodded slowly.
Nami: "Exactly."
A silence followed.
Because if that was true—
They were not safe at all.
Stefan turned immediately.
Stefan: "We check."
---
They found a small underwater camera.
Stefan activated it and lowered it into the sea.
The screen flickered… then showed dark water.
They waited.
Nothing appeared.
No fish.
No movement.
No life.
Nami frowned.
Nami: "That's not normal…"
They lowered it deeper.
Still nothing.
Just darkness.
Endless.
Empty.
Stefan turned it off.
Stefan: "…That's worse."
Nami didn't argue.
Because she understood.
If nothing was there…
Something stronger might be.