Roughly an hour later, they were finally nearing the cruise ship as Sophie's ability cannot match the original speed of propulsion from the ferry's engines. Noah was currently leaning on an intact segment of the railing, surveying the water.

Suddenly, the ferry began to vibrate. Followed shortly by a keening sound after which the stern of the boat started to visibly sink.

What's happening?

Noah released the rail as cries of alarm, and questions began from every corner of the ferry. The faint orange glow disappeared, then a roar of annoyance echoed out from Ronan in response to all the complaints from Ronan.

"Fuck off all of you useless fucking blanks!"

Noah hurried to where he heard the shout come from, only to find Ronan standing on a dry part of the deck at the water's edge. He was once again glaring at the crowd of survivors with Mister Kim attempting to keep him calm with Su, Alex, and Josh at his side. He arrived in time to overhear the end of their conversation.

"... I don't need to explain anything to these fucking blank bastards. But I will anyway, the boat just ripped a hole in the bottom which Sophie is fixing. Now you know what's happening, you can all fuck off and let the lady work without staring over her shoulder and getting in her way," Ronan said in annoyance.

"Thank you for your explanation, Mister Ronan. Everyone, let's leave Miss Sophie to work in peace. We will only be a distraction," Mister Kim ushered everyone away as the crowd of survivors murmured amongst themselves.

The survivors looked warily at Noah but noticeably warmer than before he shared his food with them, whereas they seemed to accept Mister Kim and the giant Alex as one of their own. Chloe was conspicuously absent from the crowd.

It can't be helped. I still haven't earned their trust. They also have good reason to distrust ability users if Ronan is an example of most ability users.

"Come to butt your nose in too?" Ronan rudely asked Noah.

"Is the hole fixable?" Noah decided to ignore his rudeness.

Sophie emerged from the ocean with a gasp of air, wearing only her black lower underwear as water droplets fell onto the ferry's deck. That was when Noah noticed the pile of clothes neatly folded at Ronan's feet and Sophie's cutlass in his hand. He now understood Ronan's motive in driving away from the crowd.

Sophie didn't seem to mind that her breasts were exposed as her voluptuous body glistened with water, even pumping her full chest further in Noah's direction after seeing him standing there.

"I did my best, but all I could do was slow it down. We just have to make it to the cruise ship before it completely sinks, or we'll all be swimming the rest of the way," Sophie answered while she continued to stand with her incredible body on display.

Noah began to blush before facing away, which caused Ronan to chuckle in amusement. He cast a quick sideways glance towards Sophie as she bent over to collect her clothes from the floor.

"Keep your eyes to yourself, Ronan," Sophie admonished.

"You know me, Sophie. I don't screw the crew. You're making the poor boy nervous," Ronan said.

"You can't tell me he hasn't seen a naked woman before," Sophie laughed, which Ronan grunted to in reply.

Sophie unceremoniously put her clothes back on. Noah only turned around after she was dressed. Her shirt wetly clung to her body, offering him almost the same view as before she was clothed.

"Ahem, there's no time to waste then. We'd better get this boat moving again as fast as possible," Noah changed the subject back as he cleared his throat while tugging awkwardly at his collar around his neck.

"There's always time," Sophie said seductively while biting the nail of her thumb as she gave Noah a wink.

"Let's get back to work," Ronan interrupted Sophie's flirting.

Sophie gave Ronan a sideways glance before walking back towards the stairs. She then ran her hand over Noah's chest plate as she walked past while maintaining eye contact. As Sophie neared him, she leaned in to give him a brief kiss on his lips. Once again, causing him to blush before looking at the floor.

Ronan watched it happen with a smirk but wisely kept his thoughts to himself before twirling the cutlass then following Sophie up the stairs. Ronan began to whistle merrily as he passed by Noah.

The water's edge was creeping slowly towards where Noah was standing as an orange glow of lifeforce once again caused the propeller to start turning in the water. He chose to ignore the sinking deck because he believed they would make it to the cruise ship before they need to abandon the ship.

I don't know how I should react to what just happened. I think I should pretend that it never did.

Noah looked around at the destruction caused by the Kraken. The walls had collapsed in places. Even part of the ceiling had fallen from the floor above, forming a perilous ramp into the water.

"I don't think we're going to make it to the cruise ship," Noah said out loud as he changed his opinion.

Noah gritted his teeth before letting out a sigh as he returned outside to the deck to try and ignore the possibility of the ferry sinking before they even drew near the cruise ship. He stood watching the waves and wildlife outside. As he thought that ignoring what happened was a good idea, the suspended ramp behind him collapsed into the water, quickly followed by more confused shouts.

On second thought, it's not just a good idea. It's a great idea.

Noah hummed as he turned his back to the carnage then began to whistle merrily while walking up the stairs as survivors came rushing down past him.

The orange-lifeforce flowing through the ship hasn't faltered, so Sophie must have expected something like that to happen sooner or later. If they're not going to worry about it, then there's nothing I can do.

Before the Arrival, I was unemployed, with no skills, no girlfriend, no close friends because I'm new to the city. My family lives spread out all across the country. I have no idea if they're still alive, or how to find them. I don't even know if I'll survive today. So I can't help anybody right now. All I can do is hope.