An enormous dark shadow casted beneath the undulating yacht as salmon pink tentacles slithered out from the ebbing ocean.

Several figures abandoned the yacht, leaping into the ominous waters. Surrounded by the dark shadows, the people frantically swam outwards, but to no avail. Through the binoculars, Jericho witnessed the flailing humans being yanked into the waters by an unstoppable force. Lifeless bubbles emerged to the surface where the human's submerged. Popping on after another, the ocean waters return to its original state.

"We need to turn back. This route is no longer viable." Jericho murmured as he put down the binoculars.

"But we need to get to the city as soon as possible! We cannot miss out on the centerpieces!" Jay exclaimed in indignation, clenching his teeth at the thought of the gigantic tentacles. "I can't believe such a creature has appeared in the early stages of the apocalypse!"

However, he quickly composed himself before spinning the captain's wheel to change direction. The obelisk in Palican City was obviously a top priority to them, but it was ranked behind their own safety. After all, living is the basis for possibilities.

"It would have been unbelievable on Earth. But don't forget, we're citizens of Terra now." Returning to the yacht cockpit after informing the other passengers of their decisions, Esther explained her assumption to Jay and Jericho. "This planet is unlike Earth. Larger landmass suggests the inflation in population. The mutations occurring could be at an exponential rate."

Listening to her conclusion, Jericho was drowned by his own thoughts. He abhorred the naked feeling of weakness and the idea of an uncontrollable future. Maybe it was the subtle brainwashing of his organization, or maybe it was the negative influence due to his own insecurities? The only true freedom he has tasted was the first 6 years of his life as an orphan. He was a puppet, his strings pulled by the organization above him. His life was a play, orchestrated by high powers. He completed missions as requested, only to return to a mundane white room where he would sit and await his next activation.

Jericho stared at the mandarine sun embedded into the sky, his blank eyes seemed to not reflect its fiery glows. He was troubled and conflicted. The all seeing eye watching him had vanished due to the apocalypse, granting him the freedom he yearned. But at the end of the day, he was a soulless marionette without strings.

Who would help him make his next decisions?

Jericho trained his eyes onto the husband and wife discussing their next move as the corner of his lips curved upwards inconspicuously.

You know what, maybe they would.

"Okay Jericho, it's time to utilize your smart brain." Jay scuffed Jericho's golden hair, patting him on the shoulder.

Nodding, Jericho began to process every piece information he had memorized for his original mission. Palican City is a coastal city, which means it's mainly accessible through air or water transport. Since power is out, planes are out of the equation. With the district being obstructed by the tentacle monster lurking within the waters, only larger ship models could reach the port unscathed.

"Could you pass me that brochure?" Jericho pointed towards a magazine lying on a sofa chair. An image of a popular cruise ship was featured on the cover page of the magazine, while the headline were plastered with the words 'Vacation'.

"Bro sure." Jay sneaked in a typical dad joke and snickered before Esther snatched away the magazine.

Clinging onto the magazine, Esther decided it would be a good chance to lecture Jericho about manners. "Say the magic words?"

Jericho was caught off guard. Who knew an coldblooded assassin like him would one day be alluded to display politeness? But for some reason, it felt bubbly and warm.

Blushing unnoticeably, Jericho adhered.

"Please?"

Receiving the magazine from Esther, Jericho laid it open as he flipped through the pages with impressive speed, downloading the contents of all pages into his brain. "Here." His index finger landed on one of the page.

"The Utopia cruise liner?"

"Yes. Read the date of departures and arrivals. Please?"

Obtaining the approval from Esther and Jay, Jericho stood by the side to allow them to read the contents as he fidgeted his fingers.

"Fast thinking Jericho. You've really outdone yourself once again!" Jay praised. "The region they encircle is very nearby. Since the Utopia is a cruise ship to nowhere, it must have a holding pattern."

"Correct." Jericho raised his eyebrows, gazing at the endless ocean. "According to the dates as displayed, the cruise ship has a huge possibility of being stationary."

The yacht they had left behind to perish had become barely visible even through a binocular, consumed by the ocean.

Cotten candy clouds drifted across the clear sky as their yacht split open the ebbing waves, sailing towards the colossal vessel nestled in the middle of the ocean.

Imprinted on the hull of the cruise ship, "UTOPIA" adorned the plain exterior. Just as Jericho assumed, the cruise ship was docked and dead silent. The many smoke stacks etched atop Utopia kissed the blue sky above as the drifting clouds mimicked the white haze usually emitting from an operational cruise ship.

The aft of Utopia consisted of an amusement park where colorful slides cascaded down from the upper decks. Decks stacked atop decks majestically, portraying the sheer amount of dedication and resources required to engineer such an unfathomable structure. But despite the ethereal beauty of the floating wonderland, it was void of life.

The group armed themselves with armor and weapons, making preparations to board the cruise ship.

"It's been a while since I've put myself in such danger." Jericho hummed nonchalantly as he sheathed his dagger into a pocket he temporarily created.

"Indeed. It's incredibly risky, but it's the only way we can cruise past that creature's territory." Packing some bottled water into a backpack, Jay empathized with Jericho. "And at the same time, this risk is needed for us to evolve."

"Thousands of zombies... I can't believe this used to be the norm of Earth." Tying her wavy brown hair in a ponytail, Esther's faint wrinkles creased as she chuckled. "Hopefully we'll find more than one shard. By the way Jericho, have you developed any abilities yet?"

"I feel the physical enhancements already, but I'm not so sure about superpowers." Jericho flexed his hand, trying to activate any sort of sensation to no avail.

"Captain! We've found the tender port!" A cheerful voice emanated from the lower decks. Exiting the cabin, a young woman in a oversized hoodie jumped out and welcomed them. "Hi Idol! I'm Lisa! A single geologist!" Seeing a chic style of Jericho, her bright eyes lit up with stars.

"Hold up Lisa, what do you mean by that?" Twisting Lisa's ear, the athlete who joined Jay's group dragged her away. "There's no way you're laying your hands on a child you psychopath!"

"Just kidding Zhehai! Chill!" Shrieking as Zhehai yanked her away, Lisa quickly pulled out a piece of rock in her hoodie pocket before tossing it to Jericho. "Idol! Please sign this stone! It's one of your creation back in the cave—" Her excited voice was drowned out by the whirring of engine as they rounded the corner, leaving Jericho perplexed and a dirty stone in his hands.

"Oh, I remember that material. It came from the cave where you fought those zombies." Esther reminded Jericho.

"Is it?"

He scrutinized the material, discovering traces of his blade grinding against it. Back then, he was trapped in darkness and therefore was unable to identify his surroundings.

"Wait." Dumbstruck, Jericho seemed to have made a major discovery as he urgently stormed back into the cabin with the stone.

Smiling in amusement, Jay and Esther understood that Jericho might have made a breakthrough. Closing the cabin door, they descended to the main deck to coax some members into joining their risky adventure.

Sinking into the fluffy sofa, Jericho wiped off the excitement in his heart as he brushed his thumbs past the ashy texture of the ragged stone. He was no expert in geologist like that weird lady, but he certainly had enough experience to recognize its material.

Jericho slid his hands into his side pocket to retrieve the tiny shard Esther had collected for him. A sharp gleam escaped the diamond like shard as he pierced it with a dagger, integrating into his body.

'That's it! That's my ability!'

A flickering ball of light engulfed his hands, outshining the already illuminated cabin.