STONE-COLD:LONESOME ROAD

Leave The Door Open (Part 1)

As the boat sliced through the warm, turquoise waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, the crew went about their tasks with practiced ease, while Mashiro, Milo, Ranheim, Stratzo, and Reshiro remained focused on their mission. The atmosphere aboard the vessel was a blend of anticipation and unease. They were nearing the coast of Argentina, where they hoped to find further clues about the powerful energy source they were tracking.

Despite the calm surface of the sea, a sense of foreboding lingered among the group. They had all been trained to expect the unexpected, but nothing could fully prepare them for the dangers they were about to face.

The sun was setting, casting an orange glow over the water as the boat continued its journey. Milo was on deck, taking in the serene beauty of the ocean, when he noticed a peculiar change in the water's surface. Small waves began to form, rising and falling rhythmically, but there was something unnatural about their movement.

"Mashiro, Ranheim, come here!" Milo called out, his voice tinged with urgency.

Mashiro, who had been deep in conversation with Ranheim, quickly moved to Milo's side. Stratzo and Reshiro followed suit, their expressions shifting from curiosity to concern.

"What's going on?" Mashiro asked, his eyes scanning the water.

Before Milo could answer, the sea around the boat began to churn violently. Waves crashed against the hull with increasing intensity, and a thick mist rose from the water, enveloping the vessel in an eerie fog.

"Stay alert!" Mashiro commanded, drawing his artifact, Virtual Insanity. "We're not alone."

Just as the mist thickened, a figure emerged from the water. The figure was tall and imposing, with an aura of authority that seemed to command the very elements. The figure's skin had an almost translucent quality, glistening as though it were perpetually wet. The stranger was wielding an artifact that appeared to control the water around them.

The figure's voice boomed across the deck, amplified by the sound of crashing waves. "I am the guardian of these waters. You have trespassed into my domain."

The crew and the group exchanged wary glances. Milo's heart pounded in his chest as he gripped his artifact, Two Months Off, ready for whatever was about to come.

The figure's eyes, deep and intense, locked onto them. "I am called 'Leave The Door Open,' and my artifact allows me to manipulate the water to create powerful tidal waves and aquatic constructs. You will leave this place now, or face the wrath of the ocean."

Before anyone could react, the figure raised their hand, and the water around the boat surged upward, forming a towering wall of liquid. The wall crashed down onto the deck, sending everyone stumbling and soaking them to the bone.

"Get below deck and secure the cargo!" Mashiro shouted, struggling to keep his balance. "We'll deal with this threat!"

Ranheim leaped into action, using his artifact, Love Dramatic, to create a fiery barrier around the crew's quarters, protecting them from the onslaught of water. Milo and Stratzo moved to support Mashiro, who was already engaged in a fierce battle with the aquatic user.

"Watch out!" Milo yelled, as a massive wave swept across the deck.

The figure from the water, Leave The Door Open, was agile and commanding. With a flick of their hand, the waves obeyed, creating water whips that lashed out at them. Mashiro responded with Virtual Insanity, countering with enhanced speed and strength to dodge and strike back.

Milo focused on using his artifact, Two Months Off, to concentrate light into powerful beams. He aimed carefully, trying to break through the aquatic user's defenses. The water around Leave The Door Open swirled and twisted, forming a protective shield that absorbed the light attacks.

Stratzo joined the fray, using his ability to fire hardened crystal shards from Goin' Underground. The shards zipped through the air, but the water shield seemed to nullify their impact.

"We need to find a way to break through that shield!" Mashiro shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the waves.

Ranheim, from his position on the lower deck, shouted back, "I'll keep the crew safe! You guys handle this!"

Just as the battle seemed to be reaching a stalemate, Leave The Door Open summoned a massive water vortex. The vortex twisted and surged towards the boat, threatening to capsize it. The group fought desperately against the powerful currents.

Milo, sensing that the battle was reaching its peak, concentrated on his artifact's power. He channeled a concentrated beam of light with greater intensity, aiming directly at the heart of the vortex. The beam cut through the water, creating a path of illumination amidst the swirling chaos.

Leave The Door Open, visibly strained by the concentrated light, struggled to maintain control of the vortex. The pressure on the figure's artifact was immense, and it was clear that the water manipulations were beginning to falter.

Suddenly, the aquatic user unleashed one final, powerful wave that crashed onto the deck, sending Milo and the others sprawling. The force of the wave was overwhelming, and it seemed as though the battle might be lost.

Just as the figure prepared to deliver a finishing blow, a tremendous explosion erupted from below deck. The force of the explosion caused the ship to lurch violently, and a massive column of water surged upward, engulfing everything in its path.