The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 65: Brutality

Part 2/4

“Here we are. Fresh sea, the blowing wind, the crisp air,” John said as he stepped foot on the sands of the beach. They were on a small peninsula jutting out of the land that curved like a hook. There didn’t seem to be too many aquatic beasts, that was, until you looked deeper into the water.

Ben took the white graduation robe off of his body and tossed it to the side. John did the same with his clothes, until they were both in their underwear. John put his foot in the water gingerly, and receded it as the stinging cold pierced his skin.

“Dang that’s cold! Even colder than back home,” John shivered.

Ben cracked his neck, did a few stretches, and then leaped right into the water.

SPLASH!

Ben stayed submerged for a few seconds, his hair floating to the top, before he finally emerged. He let out a gasp, and shook his hair around.

“That’s cold!” Ben gasped. John groaned.

“Alright, I’m coming in.”

John ran forward and jumped into the water too. As his body splashed into the cold ocean, he opened his eyes to see a myriad of sea life beneath the depths. Coral reefs and seaweed hung around at the sea floor, and there were small dolphin-like creatures that roamed about.

John lifted his head out of the water to take a gasp of air, and he turned to Ben, who seemed to be getting used to the freezing temperatures.

“So, what exactly are we taming?” John asked Ben. Goosebumps raised off his arms. Ben shrugged.

“Anything, really. But preferably something big enough to carry a big platform on its back,” Ben replied back. Ben’s implant glowed, and a ball of watertight kelp grew along his spine. A tube of kelp sprouted from the ball, and Ben grabbed the tube.

“It’s not much, but it’s better than holding our breaths. The plants will slowly produce oxygen. Think of it as an oxygen tank.”

The makeshift oxygen tank grew on John’s back as well.

“So what’s the plan if we run into something to tame?”

Vines that carried black berries sprouted along Ben’s arms.

“The knockout berries. I’ll just pop them in whatever’s mouth, and it’ll fall asleep,” Ben explained.

“And what about me? What am I going to do?”

Ben smirked, “You’re still good at swimming, right?”

John smirked back, “Yeah… Why do you ask?”

“Nothing. You’re just gonna be bait.”

“Wait what?!”

Before Ben could explain himself any further, he put the tube in his mouth and submerged himself. John rolled his eyes.

“Oh Ben. Fine!”

John dunked his head into the water as well. His brown hair floated like seaweed. John turned to Ben, who was already swimming far below. John pushed his arms out and made a powerful stroke, propelling his body toward him.

Ben waved his hand toward the seabed, and John nodded back.

As they swam further and further down, the waters got colder and the waters darker. It was getting harder to see, but Ben and John could still make out the shapes of the creatures and plants below.

There were these giant Anglerfish that roamed about. The lights sprouting from their heads lit the way. John pointed at the Anglerfish and looked over at Ben. Ben shook his head. Not powerful enough.

They continued swimming around, looking for something big and strong, until a shrill cry struck the water. Their bones reverberated and John’s eyes widened. Water poured into his sockets and his eyes began to sting.

John looked over at Ben, who was smiling. Ben pointed at something. John clenched his fists as he saw the aquatic beast make its way over to them. It was a Plesiosaur. Its long neck stretched so far that it was as long as a house, and it had razor sharp teeth that were crooked and jagged. It opened its mouth and began to swim faster at the two, its limbs acting like paddles. Ben prepared an array of vines, and John began to make a swim for it.

CRASH!