Millenium : The Awakening of Heroes

Six hours had passed since the trial began, and Ikku continued to maintain a steady pace.

Around him, several candidates struggled to stay afloat, while others had already succumbed to exhaustion, their bodies drifting on the water's surface. The scene was merciless, and every meter he advanced served as a grim reminder of how relentless this trial truly was.

Ikku glanced at those around him. Despite the grueling conditions, some candidates still seemed full of energy, as if they hadn't even reached their limits. Among them were Yumé and Kenny, swimming with an ease that was almost unsettling. Not a trace of fatigue crossed their faces. Their strength and endurance were nothing short of remarkable.

Yumé and Kenny... they're truly incredible, Ikku thought. Not even a hint of exhaustion. They really are special. Kenny was right.

For a brief moment, Ikku's mind wandered to his past. He realized that without his encounter with Jack, he would never have been able to endure this long. If I hadn't met Jack… I wouldn't even be capable of a tenth of what I'm doing now, he reminded himself, steeling his resolve.

As they pressed on, cries of agony suddenly rang out ahead, echoing across the water. Ikku furrowed his brow and looked around. "Did you hear that?" he asked, concerned.

Kenny responded calmly,

"Yeah, I heard it too."

Yumé nodded in agreement. The three of them scanned the horizon, trying to discern the source of the commotion. That's when they saw something moving beneath the water's surface a cluster of jellyfish, lazily drifting but terrifying enough to make the candidates ahead freeze in panic.

"A school of jellyfish… and they don't look friendly," Ikku remarked, a shiver in his voice.

"Well, of course, something like this had to happen. Wouldn't want things to be too easy," Kenny quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ikku took a deep breath.

"We need to stay calm. If Dôma made it through, we can too."

Yumé nodded.

"He's right. Even though there are a lot of them, they're spread out enough. If we keep some distance between each other and swim carefully, we can avoid them."

"Good thinking," Kenny agreed. "I'll take the lead."

"Alright. I'll keep a safe distance behind you," Ikku replied.

"And I'll follow behind Ikku," Yumé added.

With the plan set, they got into position, forming a cautious line. Kenny led the way, his eyes fixed on the water, watching for any suspicious movement. Ikku followed, measuring each stroke with care, while Yumé brought up the rear. The spacing between them allowed for smoother navigation, but avoiding the jellyfish proved to be far more challenging than they'd anticipated.

Several times, Yumé narrowly dodged one of the creatures, coming within mere centimeters of contact. Behind them, more screams erupted, accompanied by splashes. Several candidates, less fortunate, failed to avoid the jellyfish. Their cries of pain were harrowing, as the venom caused excruciating agony, followed by paralysis. In open water, paralysis was as good as a death sentence.

Ikku clenched his teeth at the sound of yet another scream, but he couldn't afford to look back. He couldn't lose focus. They weren't out of danger yet, but as long as they stayed coordinated and sharp, they had a chance to make it through.

Just a little further… almost there, Ikku thought, pushing himself forward. Finally, they emerged from the cluster of jellyfish, a wave of relief washing over him.

"Can you still see Dôma?" Ikku asked Kenny, catching his breath.

"Yeah, and I've got even better news," Kenny replied.

"What is it?" Ikku asked, curiosity piqued.

"The island… it's finally in sight. One more hours, and we'll be there."

Ikku let out a sigh of relief. Fatigue was beginning to set in, and he knew he didn't have the same stamina as Kenny and Yumé. As they continued swimming, a shadow suddenly surged from the depths of the sea. It was quickly spotted by Ikku and the others.

"What is it this time?" Yumé asked, her tone defensive.

"No idea," Ikku replied, eyes locked on the water. "But we'd better stay alert."

The shadows multiplied, closing in on them at an alarming speed.

"Watch out, something's coming!" Kenny warned.

All three braced themselves for another threat. But when they finally saw what it was, they were caught off guard.

"It's… dolphins," Ikku observed.

The tension immediately dissipated at the sight of the creatures. The dolphins were a dazzling sight, leaping and swimming gracefully around the candidates.

"Incredible!" Yumé exclaimed, awestruck.

"Much better than jellyfish," Ikku added with a chuckle.

"Don't lose sight of the goal," Kenny reminded them firmly.

The dolphins continued their playful display, diving and resurfacing alongside them.

"They're amazing," Ikku whispered. "I've never seen this species before… They're white with red stripes."

"Red stripes?!" Kenny's thoughts raced, his expression shifting to alarm.

"Damn it!" he shouted, spinning around in panic.

"IKKU! MOVE AWAY!!"