Legacy's Wake

Joker, catching the flicker of insecurity on Kyora's face, decided to prod her just enough to ground her before she spiraled. His words were smooth yet laced with a calculated softness, a careful mix of provocation and reassurance.

"I do understand our mistake. Well—Tarot's mistake, to be precise. But let's all take a breath and focus on fixing this instead of losing our heads. Storms don't last forever, after all," he mused, coughing lightly into his hand before adjusting his hat with a slight forward tilt, giving a respectful yet amused nod.

Kyora, however, was far beyond calming down. She threw her arms up, exasperated, her voice cracking under the pressure.

"I don't care about the damn storm, Joker! The artifact! A.R.T.I.F.A.C.T! It's busted—shattered! That thing was a treasure, tied directly to Phalris! If she loses it and goes on a rampage, the monarchs are gonna come down on us like an execution squad!" She forced herself to keep it together, but panic was clawing at her throat.

"And let's not forget—Tim is gonna be livid when he finds out! That guy might be an idiot when it comes to breaking stuff, but this artifact? He kept it together, even in pieces, like he knew something bad would happen if it was destroyed! And now? Now it's gone! And we're about to be absolutely screwed!" Her fingers dug into her face as she practically screamed, the weight of the disaster crushing down on her.

A few feet away, Hollow had been soaking in their chaos like it was the best entertainment he'd ever seen. He grinned, practically vibrating with excitement before deciding to cut in.

"Hey, hey—hate to be that guy, but lemme just put y'all at ease real quick," he cooed, voice laced with smug amusement. "No need to sweat over those monarchs, pals—Phalris? Oh, she's a real sweetheart. Super chill. Patient. Lucky you, huh?" His grin widened as he rocked on his heels, his tone dripping with mockery.

"But the storm? That's a problem for you to figure out. 'Cause guess what? That little accident of yours? Worked out perfectly for me. So, if ya don't mind…" He gave them a cocky salute, then moonwalked a few steps back before smoothly pivoting on his heel, tossing a lazy wave over his shoulder.

"Consider this my cue to bounce. You fine folks can deal with the royal guard—oh, my bad. I meant my slaves."

And just like that—he was gone.

Vanishing into thin air right as Ralphie lunged in with a kick, his foot slicing through nothing but empty space.

For a moment, silence settled over the group. Nathaniel remained composed at the back, smoothly holstering his pistols before letting his arms relax at his sides, his demeanor completely unshaken.

"That guy gets under my skin. I can already tell I hate the air around him," he remarked, his tone level—unlike the others, who stood frozen in anxious uncertainty.

"That Hollow…" Celeste muttered through clenched teeth, her arms trembling as she forced out his name. Rage burned in her eyes, raw and unforgiving. "I'll make him pay for how he tricked me… for what he did to Stitch. Next time I see him—his head is mine!" Her voice shook with fury, her entire body tense with barely contained wrath.

Near the docks of the Cascade Cradle, Admirals Lucina and Faustina stood side by side, their gazes fixed on the restless waters as they communicated with headquarters through their encrypted network. The rain drizzled lightly over the harbor, adding an air of solemnity to their conversation.

"That's correct, Chief," Lucina confirmed, her tone firm yet composed. "Hollow has been released and was engaged by the Phoenix Pirates. Unfortunately, our intelligence is limited. One of our undercover operatives managed to gather only fragments of information before the risk of exposure became too great." She paused, listening intently to the voice on the other end of the transmission.

"Understood. We'll conduct a deeper investigation and secure more intel where possible," she continued, her fingers lightly tapping against her sleeve. "However, there's another issue that requires immediate attention. We've yet to locate a direct entryway into the Tideborns' city. Based on our analysis, it's highly probable that the entrance lies somewhere beneath the water. Given Hollow's movements, we suspect he may be using it as a hideout or as a strategic base of operations."

Faustina, arms crossed and expression unreadable, finally spoke. "If that's the case, we'll need specialized divers and sonar equipment to properly scan the depths. Blindly searching an underwater city isn't an option—we need concrete leads before we make a move."

Lucina gave a slight nod. "Agreed. If Hollow is operating from there, storming in recklessly will only backfire. We'll need to verify his presence and ensure we're not walking into an ambush. Our best course of action is to identify access points, confirm his alliances, and determine whether the Tideborns are aiding him—or if they're just as trapped as the rest of this city."

She turned slightly, glancing at Faustina. "If headquarters approves, I suggest deploying reconnaissance units with stealth submersibles to scout the waters. We need answers before the situation escalates any further."

The line remained silent for a moment before the Chief's voice finally responded. Whatever their next orders would be, the admirals stood ready.

High in the mountains, Aurora and May remained concealed behind a rugged rock face, their eyes fixed on the city below—the place where the mimics had taken Yumiko.

Determined to stay out of sight, May pressed herself against the cold stone, carefully peering around the edge to observe the townspeople going about their daily routines.

"I don't know if these people are friendly," she muttered, voice low with uncertainty. "No telling what they'll do if they spot us. There's so many of them… but we have to find Yumiko. We need to figure out where they're keeping her—and what they want from her."

Beside her, Aurora crouched low, her expression tense as she kept her focus ahead. "I know," she whispered. "I just hope they haven't hurt her... or worse."

To be continued...