Last Son: Book One

Chapter 35 Mama Neptune's Maw

The vessel is going further into Mama Neptune's belly and a horrible smell is causing the crew members to vomit overboard, the Captain says to the crewmen. "Aye, mates! Don't be vomiters! The crew members are still vomiting, Samael then says to the Captain. "They must have weak stomachs." Zack starts to vomit, and Samael also says to the Captain. "It looks like—Zacky cannot handle the smell either." The Captain looks at Samael, and says; "Aye, mate! Watch your tongue. That's my brother you are talking about." Samael smirks at the Captain, walking away, and calls out for Abbie. Abbie then appears on his right side and gives him the updates. "Adventurous! I have collected information about the current situation you, the crew members, and the Captain are in—I also know the best route for an escape." Samael shrugged everything else off about the crew members, and the Captain, and demanded Abbie give him his escape route. "Abbie! I don't care about the others. What I do want from you—Is the escape route." Abbie then said; "Adventurous! The Captain spared your life—and I think it was noble of him." Samael dismissed her words and said with authority. "Escape route. Abbie!" Abbie said as she appeared on his left side. "Adventurous! The Escape route—you need to stay on the vessel. And wait until she blows." Samael answered back with a temper. "What do you mean! Until she blows?" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! Until she gets ready to spew out venom." Samael answered back. "You mean—suicide is our only way out?" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! I'm sorry." Samael paced back, and forth on the vessel. The Captain approached Samael and spoke to him about the current situation. "Aye, mate! Uh... what's the plan?" Samael answered back. "I don't have a plan." The Captain swallowed his pride and said to Samael in a humble voice. "Well—dear lad. What can we do?" Samael answered back. "We just wait." The Captain swallowed his pride again and said with a humble voice once more."Well—dear lad. Wait for what?" Samael is annoyed with the Captain's meekness and says bluntly. "For her to spit us out." The Captain then asked with curiosity. "Aye, mate! Spit us out—in what way?" Samael laughed and said. "Her poison." The Captain's modesty was swallowed, and here came out his pride that was buried deep down in the core of his stomach as buried treasure. "Aye, mate! What are you talking about lad? Me and my men will not perish from this vermin!" Samael looked at the Captain and said; "I told you so." Samael spoke again and laughed. "If only you have heed to my warnings." Samael looked at Abbie and said; "You noble fool!" Abbie was displeased with Samael and disappeared momentarily, and the Captain answered back. "Aye, mate! I am not a fool." Samael nodded and said; "Well Captain! What are you exactly?" The Captain looked at Samael with bitterness and shouted to his crew members. "Aye, mates! We will see daylight—and the beautiful deep blue sea!" Samael laughed, walked away, and sat down someplace quietly. The Neptune Mama's bowels are moving, and releasing gases from her small craters which cover the entire digestive system. The Captain commanded the crewmen on the lower decks to fire the cannons, and so they did but strange noises were coming from the craters, and Samael had his eyes shut, and the noises kept on. Abbie appeared in front of Samael and said; "Adventurous! The cannons are making things worse for you, the Captain, and the crew members." Samael chuckled and answered back. "Why are you telling me? Go tell the noble—fearless Captain!" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! I am only programmed to communicate with you, and the Captain seems determined to fight against Mama Neptune's belly. He believes that by firing the cannons, he can force her to release us. However, it seems to be having the opposite effect. The noises from the craters are growing louder and more ominous." Samael sighed and rubbed his temples, realizing that the Captain's stubbornness might cost them all their lives. He stood up and made his way towards the Captain, determined to make him see reason. As he approached, he noticed the crew members looking at him with a mix of fear and admiration. They knew that Samael had a way with words and hoped he could convince their leader to change his course of action. "Captain," Samael called out, his voice firm but respectful. "We need to reconsider our strategy. Firing the cannons is only aggravating Mama Neptune further. We must find another way to escape her clutches." The Captain turned to face Samael, his eyes filled with determination. "I will not back down, lad. We have come too far to give up now. We will fight until the very end." Samael sighed, realizing that reasoning with the Captain might be more challenging than he anticipated. But he refused to give up. So Samael swallowed his pride and reflected on Abbie's words about the praise she gave to the Captain; "The Captain spared your life—and I think it was noble of him." So Samael said to the Captain with such humility; "Captain, I understand your bravery and determination, but we need to think about the safety of the crew. We are outnumbered and outmatched in this belly. We must find a way to outsmart Mama Neptune, not provoke her further." The Captain's expression softened slightly as he listened to Samael's words. He glanced at his crew, who were anxiously awaiting his decision. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded reluctantly. "Very well, lad. I trust your judgment. What do you suggest we do?" Samael's eyes lit up with a spark of hope. "We need to find a way to neutralize Mama Neptune's venom. If we can somehow counteract its effects, we might have a chance to escape unharmed. Abbie, do you have any knowledge or information that could help us?" Abbie appeared on Samael's right side, her eyes filled with determination. "Adventurous! I have been researching Mama Neptune's anatomy, and I believe there might be a way to create an antidote using certain plants and minerals found within her belly. However, it will require careful extraction and experimentation." Samael turned to the Captain and said; "Captain, if we can gather the necessary ingredients and work together, we might have a chance to survive this ordeal. We need your leadership and the skills of our crew to make it happen." The Captain looked at Samael, his gaze filled with a mix of determination and a newfound trust. "Very well, lad. I will put my faith in your plan. Let's gather the crew and start working on this antidote. We will fight Mama Neptune with our wits, not just our cannons." And so, the crew rallied together, their spirits lifted by the hope of finding a way out of Mama Neptune's belly. Samael, the Captain, and Abbie led the charge, working tirelessly to gather the necessary ingredients and conduct experiments. As they delved deeper into the belly of the beast, they faced numerous challenges and dangers, but their determination never wavered. With each passing day, their knowledge grew, and they came closer to creating the antidote that could save them all. It was a race against time, as Mama Neptune's belly grew more volatile and treacherous. But they refused to give up, fueled by their unwavering belief in their resourcefulness and the strength of their unity. As the crew worked diligently on creating the antidote, they encountered various obstacles and setbacks. The gases emitted by Mama Neptune's belly continued to affect them, causing bouts of nausea and weakness. However, they persevered, using their knowledge and skills to overcome each challenge. The Captain was concerned about the well-being of his crew members and said to Samael. "Aye, mate! My men are ill—we need that antidote!" Samael took charge of gathering the necessary plants and minerals, carefully selecting those with potential healing properties. Abbie provided valuable insights and guidance, using her extensive database to identify the most promising ingredients. The Captain, although initially skeptical, wholeheartedly supported Samael's efforts, inspiring the crew with his unwavering determination. Samael commanded Zack to gather all the ingredients they had found and start testing them on sick patients. Together, they established a makeshift laboratory within the vessel, utilizing the limited resources available to them. They experimented tirelessly, combining different elements and testing their effects. It was a race against time, as the crew's condition deteriorated with each passing day. The Captain was sore with the results of the ingredients they had found, and the effects it's causing the ill members of the vessel. Finally, after numerous failed attempts, they stumbled upon a breakthrough. A combination of rare seaweed, a mineral found in the belly's walls, and a secret ingredient known only to Mama Neptune herself showed promising results. The concoction had the potential to neutralize the venom and alleviate the crew's symptoms. Samael was exhausted after days, weeks, and possibly months just trying to find an antidote to kill this virus. Samael said to Abbie; "What kind of seaweed is that... Abbie?" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! The particular seaweed we discovered was an anti-Neptune." Samael answered back. "You mean... She produces her own antiviral?" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! It looks like the venom is so toxic. The venom can kill the host if she doesn't maintain the anti-Neptune that streams through her cell membrane." Samael answered back. "So how can we escape from her belly?" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! Everyone needs to take this antiviral." Samael answered back. "What if this anti-Neptune has a reverse effect? Later down the road." Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! Life or death inside the host or out there—Where is life." Samael answered back. "Yeah... well I'm not dying inside of her. And I for sure ain't dying out there." With renewed hope, they prepared the antidote and administered it to the crew members. Slowly but surely, the effects of the venom began to subside. The crew regained their strength and vitality, their spirits lifted by the newfound hope of survival. As the crew members recovered, their determination to escape Mama Neptune's belly grew stronger. Samael and the Captain devised a plan to use the vessel's cannons not to provoke Mama Neptune but to create a distraction. They would fire the cannons in a specific pattern to draw her attention away from their escape route. Abbie, with her vast knowledge of Mama Neptune's anatomy, guided them towards a weak spot in her digestive system, a narrow passage that led to her esophagus. With the crew's renewed strength and the antidote coursing through their veins, they set their plan into motion. The cannons roared, shaking the belly of Mama Neptune, while the crew members made their way towards the escape route. Samael led the charge, his determination unwavering, and the Captain followed closely behind, his trust in Samael growing with each step. As they navigated through the treacherous terrain of Mama Neptune's belly, they encountered various obstacles. The walls of her digestive system were lined with sharp, jagged rocks that threatened to tear the vessel apart. But the crew members worked together, using their skills and resourcefulness to maneuver through the narrow passages. One of the crewmen shouted; "Captain! Sally will not make it. It's too narrow!" The Captain stared at the jagged rocks that threatened his vessel and shouted; "Aye, mates! Fire those cannons." Samael warned the Captain about his act of bad oversight. "I don't think that is a wise decision." The Captain answered back in an upsetting manner; "Aye, mate! If I don't we might make it—but not my Sally. So I will do whatever it takes to save my vessel!" Samael answered back, hoping the Captain would change his mind. "What about—your brothers?" The Captain dismissed what Samael had said because his only concern was keeping Sally intact. "Aye, mates! Fire the cannons." The cannons rumbled and the vessel shook as the crew followed the Captain's orders. The deafening noise reverberated through Mama Neptune's belly, causing the walls to tremble. Samael watched in horror as the jagged rocks became dislodged, hurtling towards the narrow passage that Sally was navigating. The crew members shouted in alarm, but the Captain's gaze remained fixed on his beloved vessel. Samael's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the danger that awaited Sally. He knew that if he didn't act quickly, they would lose not only the ship but also their crewmate. With a surge of adrenaline, he sprinted toward the Captain, determined to stop him from making a disastrous mistake. "Captain! We must stop the cannons!" Samael yelled, his voice filled with urgency. "If we continue firing, we'll be responsible for Sally's demise!" The Captain turned to face Samael, his eyes fierce with determination. "I won't lose my vessel, lad! We'll find another way!" Samael refused to give up. He knew that convincing the Captain to change his course of action would be difficult, but he had to try. With every ounce of his being, he summoned his persuasive skills, his words laced with desperation. "Captain, I understand your love for Sally, but we can't sacrifice a crew member for the sake of the ship. There must be another solution—a safer way to save her." The Captain paused, his stubbornness warring with his concern for his crew. He looked at Samael, searching for a glimmer of hope in his eyes. After a long, tense moment, he finally relented. "Very well, lad," the Captain conceded, his voice tinged with regret. "Cease the cannons!" As the crewmen on the lower decks, ceased firing the cannons, a loud noise echoed throughout Mama Neptune's belly. The jagged rocks fell, and the crewmen were in fear, The Captain regretted his decision to fire the cannons, and Samael worked quickly to save his life, and the members of the vessel. "Captain! Get hold of yourself. Get your men to slice those rocks." Samael said in a demanding manner and the Captain answered back. "Aye, mate! Our swords. Will not split those rocks." Abbie appears in front of Samael and says to him. "Adventurous! I can assist you." Samael answered back. "What can you do?" Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! I can make weapons for every crew member." Samael answered back. "Good. I'll guess... I'm going to do most of the work, defending this ship." Samael leaps into the air, as he uses the Azureus orb to equip his Pterodac sword and pierce the fallen rocks. "Ahhh!" The crew members watched in awe as Samael effortlessly sliced through the fallen rocks, clearing the path for Sally to continue her journey. His sword glimmered in the dim light of Mama Neptune's belly, a testament to his skill and determination. The crew cheered, their hope rekindled at the sight of Samael's unwavering resolve. So crew members took the swords that appeared in front of them, and supported Samael in this battle against the fallen jagged rocks. As the crew members lined up behind Samael, their swords drawn and ready for battle, they charged forward, slashing through the jagged rocks with all their might. The air was thick with determination as they fought their way through Mama Neptune's treacherous digestive system. The crew's synchronized movements and unwavering teamwork allowed them to make progress, despite the perilous conditions. Gradually, they carved a path through the fallen rocks, ensuring Sally's safe passage. Samael's skill and leadership inspired the crew to push past their limits, their determination unyielding. As they cleared the path, Sally sailed through the narrow passage, her crewmates guiding her with precise movements. The vessel emerged on the other side, battered but victorious. The crew cheered and embraced each other, a moment of triumph in the face of adversity. Their escape was not yet complete, as Mama Neptune's fury still raged around them, but their spirits were lifted. They had overcome insurmountable obstacles together, and their unity had carried them through. Samael and the Captain exchanged a nod, a silent acknowledgment of their shared trust and respect. Together, they sailed onward, their eyes set on the horizon. Mama Neptune's belly may have threatened to consume them, but they had emerged stronger and more determined than ever. With each passing day, they grew closer to freedom, their bond as a crew unbreakable. Now Mama Neptune is flaring up from within, as the fallen jagged rocks hit the vessel, and she releases gas from the craters, and now the venom pours out of the holes as well. The crew, battered and exhausted, looked on in awe and horror as Mama Neptune's fury intensified. The vessel rocked violently, threatening to be engulfed by the raging storm within her belly. The crew members clung to whatever they could find, their eyes wide with fear. Samael, his determination unwavering, turned to the Captain. "We cannot withstand much longer. We need to find a way to escape this madness." The Captain, still reeling from the onslaught, nodded gravely. "Aye, lad, but how? We are at the mercy of this tempest. We can't outrun her, and we certainly can't fight her head-on." Samael's mind raced, desperately searching for a solution. Then, a flicker of an idea sparked within him. "We must use her own power against her. The venom she spews is our key to survival." The Captain's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, lad?" Samael's eyes gleamed with determination. "We have witnessed firsthand the effects of her venom. It corrodes, it destroys. If we can harness its power and direct it towards one spot, we can create a rupture, a route of escape." The Captain's eyes widened in realization. "Aye, lad, a controlled explosion of sorts. But how do we gather the venom and channel it?" Samael's voice held a sense of urgency. "Abbie, we need your assistance. We must find a way to collect the venom and convert it into a destructive force." Abbie is processing the information that was given to her but her database is coming up with an error. "Adventurous! I don't have anything." Samael answered back with anger. "What do you mean, Abbie?" Suddenly Mama's Neptune belly was darkened, and the crewmen were even more fearful, as silence was in the air, and Samael heard a usual voice calling out to him in the darkness. "Son of High Priest. Come." Samael witnesses the [great light] and steps closer to the sound of her voice. "Samael." Samael's heart raced as he cautiously approached the source of the voice. The darkness seemed to engulf him, but a faint glow emanated from the center, drawing him nearer. As he stepped forward, the glow intensified, and she spoke again. "Samael." Driven by curiosity and a sense of destiny, Samael found himself compelled to follow the voice. As Samael moved closer, the glow transformed into a radiant sphere of light, casting intricate patterns across the surrounding darkness. It was as if the very essence of Mama Neptune's power was concentrated in this mystical phenomenon.
"Samael," the voice whispered again, this time right beside him. He turned his head and saw a figure materialize within the brilliance. A woman, her features ethereal and otherworldly, stood before him. Her eyes shimmered with ancient wisdom, and her voice carried a sense of immense authority. "I am Mama Neptune," she said, her voice resonating like the crashing waves. "I am the embodiment of the ocean's fury, the guardian of its secrets, and the keeper of its darkest depths." Samael's breath caught in his throat. He had heard tales of Mama Neptune, the legendary deity said to possess unparalleled power and wisdom. Yet, standing before her, he realized that the legends did not do her justice. I have summoned you, Son of the High Priest, for a purpose," Mama Neptune continued. "Within my very being exists a terrible force, a venom that can consume worlds if unleashed. You must harness this power, for only you possess the strength and purity of heart to wield it wisely." Samael's mind raced, trying to comprehend the magnitude of the task laid before him. He had always yearned for adventure and purpose, but this was beyond anything he could have imagined. With the fate of countless lives hanging in the balance, he knew he had to accept this responsibility. "What must I do?" Mama Neptune gave Samael the instructions to save the ocean creatures, and the land creatures and it only took strength and purity to destroy the host before the host caused the entire world to be extinct. "Samael you must destroy my heart." Samael took a deep breath and then nodded as he looked at her and said. "I will." Mama Neptune revealed to Samael the secret chambers of her heart, and he heard another voice coming from behind him and said to him. "Son of High Priest—Azazel." The voice from behind Samael continues with a tone of warning as Samael takes his Pterodac sword, and grips it tightly. "Don't do it." Samael dismissed the warning, heeded the voice of Mama Neptune, and stabbed the heart of Mama Neptune. The sea creatures moan in the depths of the ocean, Mama Neptune wailing due to the discomfort of the Pterodac sword, piercing her heart, and moments later she explodes. Samael is on his knees, still in the secret chambers of her heart, and blood rushes towards him, his eyes are shut as he hears a voice. "Son of High Priest—Azazel." Abbie appears right behind Samael and says to him; "Adventurous! Are you okay?" Samael said quietly as he opened his eyes; "I... killed her." Abbie answered back. "Adventurous! You saved the Captain and his crew members." Samael answered back with grief and closed his eyes. "You won't understand. She protected everyone." Samael his eyes remained shut, and said. "Not me." Abbie appears on Samael's right side and says to him. "Adventurous! What should you do? With her body." Samael opened his eyes and looked at Abbie as he said to her. "I will give her—a proper burial." Samael raised Mama Neptune from the ground and held her in his arms, Samael made his way out of the creature's belly, and the sun sheen, the wind sang, and the ocean creatures harmonized with the melody that was in the air. Now as Samael held Mama Neptune in his arms, he stood before a large crowd and stood on a new territory. The crowd chanted; "Is that." The crowd whispers one to another, gazing upon the corpses of Mama Neptune. "Is that—Mama Neptune?" Samael continues to push through the crowd and eventually discovers a river up ahead that connects to the ocean.