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Chapter 31: A Chaotic Day on Star Island Outskirts’ Beach (Extended)
It was supposed to be a serene day at the beach. The sun beamed down, the waves gently lapped the shore, and Team Vapor had everything set for a relaxing outing. Vapor, of course, took this chance to flaunt his expertise in fishing. After all, he’d been perfecting his craft since the days of Nightmare.
With his trusty rod, Vapor stood ankle-deep in the shimmering water. “You guys don’t understand,” he said, squinting at the horizon. “Cooking fish isn’t just a skill—it’s an art form. And no offense to your world-famous chefs, but I’ve got this down to a science.”
Austin rolled her eyes, digging aimlessly in the sand. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t overcook it, Mr. Fish Whisperer.”
Rosie lounged under an umbrella, enjoying the breeze. “He’s not wrong, though. I’ve had his fish. Gordon Ramsey would probably cry.”
In no time, Vapor reeled in a giant, shimmering fish. Everyone marveled at its size—except Vapor, who simply nodded. “This’ll do,” he said, immediately setting up a fire pit.
As the fish sizzled over the open flame, the smell wafted through the air, making everyone’s stomachs growl. Mira, lying on a towel nearby, perked up. “Okay, I hate to admit it, but that smells incredible.”
Vapor plated the perfectly cooked fish—crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside—and handed portions to everyone. “No veggies,” he declared proudly. “Just pure, unadulterated fishy perfection.”
The first bite was life-changing.
“This... this is insane!” Geo exclaimed, practically inhaling his portion. “What did you do? Bribe the fish gods?”
Nica, who usually acted like a 12-year-old, suddenly became serious. “This is so good it’s unfair. I’d punch someone for a second helping.”
Mira, savoring hers, nodded solemnly. “If Nightmare tasted this, he probably would’ve given up his evil plans and joined us instead.”
Rosie smirked. “Vapor, you should open a restaurant. Call it ‘Vapor’s Victory Fish.’”
Vapor shrugged. “Why would I do that when I can just keep this masterpiece exclusive to us?”
But the peace didn’t last long.
Out of nowhere, Wousay appeared in her latest over-the-top robot, crashing onto the beach. “Aha! You thought you could have a day off, didn’t you?” she yelled, her voice crackling over the speakers. “But I—”
“Oh, come on,” Nica groaned. “We’re trying to eat here.”
Mira didn’t even bother sitting up. “Can we just skip the part where she threatens us and get straight to the beatdown?”
Wousay’s robot unleashed a flurry of attacks, sending sand flying everywhere. Vapor sighed, placing his plate down carefully. “I’ll handle this. No one messes with my fish day.”
In an instant, the team leapt into action. Wousay’s chaotic antics were met with overwhelming disinterest from Team Vapor. Austin dug trenches in the sand to trip up the robot, Geo threw rocks with pinpoint precision, and Rosie casually knocked missiles back with a flick of her wrist.
“Is this even a fight?” Mira yawned, watching as Vapor zipped around, dismantling Wousay’s machine like it was a minor inconvenience.
Within minutes, Wousay was buried in the sand, her robot completely totaled. She poked her head out, looking dazed. “How are you all this strong?!”
Vapor dusted off his hands, picking up his plate again. “Because we’ve got priorities,” he said, biting into his fish.
As the sun began to set, the team gathered around the fire once more, laughing and recounting the chaos of the day. Even Wousay, still buried in sand, begrudgingly admitted that the smell of Vapor’s cooking was torture in itself.
“You win this time,” she muttered. “But next time, I—”
“Next time, bring a plate,” Vapor interrupted, smirking.
And with that, their chaotic beach day ended just as hilariously as it began.
