Exploring Through the Inside of Urayan Titan
(Dreamscape)
"Big brother, this is boring." An eight-year-old Rana whined as he and Rana are seen on a small boat with a younger Rex doing some fishing on a small boat with Azurda next to them and Cattleya on his back.
"Stop complaining, Rana. Being out like this is good for you, can't be all lazy at the house all day." Cattleya pointed out.
"But couldn't we have done something else than fishing?" Rana asked.
"I think it's fun, the calm peacefulness around us and fluffy yet wet cloudsea around her. Who couldn't ask for better?" Rex smiled.
"But we've been out here for forever and we haven't caught anything!" Rana pointed out.
"We've only been out here for 25 minutes." Rex deadpanned.
"And besides, don't you think it's fun being out on the cloudsea like we're adventurers taming the savage waves!" Rex stated to play pretend.
"If that's the case then I'm captain of this ship!" Rana declared.
"Hey, no fair! I want to be captain, it was my idea!" Rex complained.
"Well, too bad. As captain, I order you to clean this ship to be worthy of sailing the high seven cloudseas!" Rana pointed his finger at Rex.
"Huh? Now you're giving me orders? I'm the older brother, so I should be captain and you should follow me!" Rex proclaimed.
"Aw, it's nice to see two brothers having fun together." Cattleya complimented as the argument between Rana and Rex slowly turns to giggles.
"It does warm this old heart of mine to see them getting along so well." Azurda nodded.
Meanwhile, Rana's fishing pole is moving a little and bending like it's about to fall off as Rex quickly noticed that.
"Rana! I think you caught something!" Rex alerted his adopted little brother.
"Oh boy, I better reel it in!" Rana grabbed his fishing pole and starts reeling it in, but whatever the hook feels really hard to pull.
"AAH!" Rana screamed as he is being pulled by the pole.
"Hang on, Rana! I got you!" Rex wrapped his arms around Rana to help him pull.
The struggle was hard for the brothers they kept on repeating of pulling and being pulled by whatever fish of thing at the end of the line.
"Don't fight it too much, make it use up it's strength." Azurda said.
"We're trying, but this thing doesn't want to come out!" Rex groaned.
But then they managed to pull the hook out of the water and along came a small but dangerous looking crab monster.
"AAAAHHH?!" Rex and Rana screamed in fear.
"Hang on, boys!" Cattleya jumped from Azurda to the boys' boat.
Cattleya pulls out her giant sword and slams the blade onto the shell crushing the crab monster reached the flesh, killing it and would've sink into the Cloudsea if Cattleya hadn't move her hand faster to grab it.
"Hmm, this crab looks good for enough." Cattleya said.
Then an object fell from the crab's shell and Rana picks it up seeing it as some sort of shiny rock.
"Wow, look at this Rex. Think it could be a treasure?" Rana asked as he shows the rock to Rex.
"Could be, I bet there are a lot of cool stuff under the Cloudsea just waiting to be taken by brave adventurers like us." Rex believed as he looks down at the Cloudsea.
"Perhaps you two could try if you're interested in salvaging." Azurda said.
Rex and Rana look at each other with exciting looks on their faces and Cattleya kneel close to the boys getting the idea of what the boys want to do in the future.
"Rana! Rana! RANA!" Cattleya called out as everything became white.
(Dreamscape End)
"Rana!" Cattleya called out again.
Rana slowly open his eyes as he wakes up from a dream that felt like a memory of years ago with Rex and how they decided on becoming Salvages.
"Uh, what happened?" Rana asked, groaning a little pain.
"We were swallowed by the Urayan Titan after almost being killed by that weird metal snake close to the World Tree." Risty answered as she and Swan walks up to them.
"Oh yeah, is everyone here?" Rana asked as he got up with Cattleya's help.
"No, it appeared we got separated from them, but we should be able to find each other soon." Swan believed.
"Wow, I never thought I would ever find myself being swallowed by a Titan while out on the Cloudsea." Rana surprised as he looks around.
"You're telling me, I used to live on Uraya, but I never gone far down like in the mouth." Risty revealed.
"Come on, we should find the others." Rana suggested.
The small group starts walking around hoping to find the others through the darkness of the Titan's inside though Rana turns on the box light of his salvage suit and Risty brought her own ether flashlight, it was amazing and scary at the same time finding themselves inside the belly of the Urayan Titan.
"Hold on, I think I see something bright over there." Cattleya pointed at where the bright light is.
"Let's go!" Rana said and they rushed to the source of the bright light.
Much to their relief, the bright light is caused by Pyra with a large fireball floating above them and they see everyone else with them.
"Rex! Everyone!" Rana called out getting their attention.
"Rana, I knew you would be okay. And you're with the others, that's good." Rex smiled, knowing his little brother is okay makes him feel at ease.
"Meme! Tora is happy that friends are all together again!" Tora smiled.
"Yeah, I don't know about you guys, but being eaten alive is not how I want to go out." Ymir said as Agate quickly agrees.
"Well, we won't have worry about that for long once we get out of here." Risty stated.
"Do you have any clues of how to get out of here?" Cattleya asked.
"Poppi saw something flicking over there, perhaps that could lead us to the back." Poppi answered as she points the way.
"The back?" Rana puzzled.
"That's where the Urayanins live, but I believe we'll also find something else along the way." Risty mentioned.
"What makes you say that?" Pyra asked.
"Risty said that she used to live here." Rana answered.
"Wow, really? I bet you weren't expecting to visit your hometown like this." Pyra surprised.
"Yeah, and in case you're wondering, no. I never been this deep in the Titan, especially in the mouth of one." Risty clarified with everyone.
"Then would you mind showing us the way once we find our way to the surface?" Dromarch asked for assistance.
"No problem, shouldn't be too hard once we're in the area me and Swan are familiar with." Risty crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Good, we got a guide." Rana nodded.
With the entire group back together, everyone started walking while keeping their guards up just in case they run into anything dangerous though both Rex and Rana shared the same thought as this was not how they would visit another Titan they had in mind.
"Hey, Pyra." Rex said to his Aegis Blade.
"Yes, Rex." Pyra responded.
"That machine you tried to talk to, I think you called it Ophion. Did you know it from back then too?" Rex asked.
"Yeah, and it's a powerful machine that I should have been able to control on commanded, but for some reason it didn't respond to my voice like something happened to it." Pyra answered, trying to figure out why.
"Maybe it got damage during the time of 500 years." Ymir guessed.
"I'm not sure, I didn't build Ophion, so I wouldn't know how." Pyra sighed, then Rex grabs her hand.
"Don't worry, I'm sure whatever it is, we can fix it together." Rex determined with strength in his eyes which made Pyra blush and nods.
"Look alive, everyone! I think we're coming to an exit." Risty alerted the party.
They come out of the cave as they can also see the place is a little brighter and checking their new surroundings.
"There's some kind of dim light." Nia said.
"That's because the Urayan Titan's hide is translucent, meaning it's the flicking light the robo-girl was talking about seeing and the Titan is above the clouds now." Risty explained.
"That would also mean we're just a little closer to the surface." Swan added.
"Nice, won't be long now." Rex smiled.
"Yeah, it's good that we have you two with us." Pyra said looking at Risty and Swan.
"Great, now let's go!" Rana cheered.
"Hold it!" A man's voice shouted.
"Wait, that voice?" Risty shocked as she recognizes the voice.
Everyone looks up seeing three men and a bird man that is a Blade standing on top of a rocky bridge along with two humanoid Blades as well, they jump down from the rocky bridge for a closer look at the group.
"Boy, never thought to see him again like this." Risty exclaimed.
"Do you know him?" Nia asked.
"Yeah, that would be Vandham, a mercenary and a strong one too." Risty informed.
Vandham is a very large Urayan man beyond his prime with gray-brown eyes, a silver mullet with yellow and blue streaks, pointed ears, white scales on both sides of his face, and a large X-shaped scar in the middle of his face. He is a beefy and robust man, possessing a tank-like, bulky physique and incredibly massive muscles. Vandham's attire is a large set of strapped on green and blue armor, with silver and blue crosses all over it. He also wears matching leather fingerless gloves, and pointed, matching leather boots.
"Looks like a bunch of muscles I ain't seen yet and… Risty! What in bloody hell are you doing back here?" Vandham asked, surprise seeing the woman here.
"Let just say I got myself in something dangerous. Nice to see you too, Roc." Risty greeted the birdman Blade.
"Hello." Roc greeted back.
Roc is very tall, with a mostly humanoid figure. He has red, orange and green feathers on his limbs, head and wings, and smooth brown skin on his torso. His feet are those of a bird and his hands are clawed. He has long, pointed bird ears and pure white eyes edged in blue, and a beak in place of a mouth. Around his neck he carries a fully inflated bag of winds. His core crystal is tear-shaped and sits in a golden chest-piece fashioned in the likeliness of a hen.
"You got a lot of bloody nerves showing your face around here again, after that crazy stunt you pulled." Vandham glared at Risty.
"Oh, come on, it wasn't that bad." Risty shrugged.
"You were trying to rob a couple nobles of their money and became a wanted criminal and ran away from home." Vandham reminded her of the crime.
"Hey, you know why I had to do that." Risty angered.
"Why don't you tell me that with in the fight." Vandham pulled out two small, scythe-like weapons from behind as Roc and the others prepare themselves to fight.
"Looks like we'll be fighting." Swan sighed.
"I have to say, Risty. I thought I taught you better than to end up in a Titan's gut." Vandham said.
"Yeah, well, I guess you could say my luck change when Swan and I met these guys." Risty gestured to the others.
"Huh, that Blade…" Vandham looked at Pyra noticing her Core Crystal.
"An emerald Core Crystal!" Vandham realized what she is and laughs. "So, the rumors are true!"
"What rumor?" Rex confused.
"Rex, I believe must have spread about Pyra waking up after her 500-year slumber and you becoming her Driver." Cattleya stated.
"And fast too if it reaches to this Titan." Nia added glancing at Vandham.
"Yep, though I thought she would have a strong Driver and not a pencil-neck shrimp like you." Vandham mocked Rex.
"Hey, I survive sparring practice with my little brother's Blade and her muscles aren't for show." Rex pointed his thumb at Cattleya.
"Yeah, he's a lot stronger than you think!" Rana backed his brother up.
"Is that right? Okay, maybe you do have what it takes… a little bit, but that all depends on if a green horn can handle the power because I'll just take her if you don't impress me." Vandham threatened.
"All right, guess we're fighting." Rex said.
"Yew, Zuo, you take care of the others. I wanna squash the kid and give Risty a big scolding." Vandham ordered.
"Bring it on!" Rex taunted.
While Rex, Pyra, Risty, and Swan deal with Vandham and Roc. The group split up to fight the other two and their Blades: Ymir, Aagte, and Tora and Poppi fight with Zuo while Rana, Cattleya, Nia and Dromarch fight Yew.
"Any advice?" Rex asked.
"Just because with his strength, he swings them around and cut open anyone with those weapons and has a lot more experience too." Risty answered before charging at Vandham.
Risty swing her mace at Vandham though he catches it between his scythes and pulls it to the side for a strong headbutt, but she countered with a kick across the face though it barely fazed him.
"I see you gotten a little better." Vandham chuckled.
"Then check me out!" Rex jumped swimming down the fire sword clashing against Vandham.
Rex swings his sword against the large man though he isn't moving an inch from the spot as he keeps parrying away the little boy's attack, Swan tries to jump to help but Roc tackles her down and flies high to unleash a wind attack as Swan quickly dodges it and Pyra fires a few fire blasts at him. Roc spins around creating a small tornado around him to deflect the fireballs and saw Swan jumps at him throwing several kicks and he counters each of them, Risty clashes her mace against Vandham as he dodges it and parry another of Rex's attack before pushing him down with his shoulder.
"Rex!" Rana gasped.
"Best pay attention, kid!" Yew charged swinging the axe weapon at him.
Rana twirls the spear to block and push it away as he pulls himself up for a kick in the stomach and Cattleya comes in swinging her Giant Slayer sword at Yew sending him flying and crashing onto his Blade.
"What's the matter? Are you the Aegis and her Driver or aren't ya?" Vandham asked while pushing Rex back.
Risty swings her right leg with Swan's greave throwing some kicks though grab her leg and punch her on the head and he swing the weapon at Rex, but Pyra comes in with a forcefield saving him though she senses something odd.
"(Something feels different… This man, he's…)" Pyra thought before she and Vandham jumps back.
"That all you got, mate? Pathetic." Vandham insulted.
"We'll show you! We'll show you what me and Pyra are made of!" Rex unleashed a fire blast and Vandham dodged it.
"He dodged it!" Rex surprised.
"Course, I did. Any slower would bore me to death." Vandham said letting out a fake yawn.
"How about this then!" Rex fired more blast making Vandham move backward to dodge.
"Rex, wait! I can't supply power this fast!" Pyra tried to warn her Driver, but Rex is too caught up in the fight.
"Damn it, kid. I got to stop him!" Risty ran towards Rex as she also knows what Vandham is up to, only to be pinned down by Roc under one talon with Swan under the other.
Vandham kept moving backward until his back hit a rocky wall.
"Nowhere left to run. Eat this!" Rex prepared to fire another blast and this time even stronger.
And that is what Vandham was hoping for as he saw Pyra getting tired as she collapses causing the sword to close much to Rex's shock.
"Play time's over. Take this!" Vandham charged at Rex ready to slice his head off.
"Rex!" Rana screamed.
Then everything stops for a second or two.
"Ha! If you're a Driver, you're a new one for sure." Vandham said, revealing he stopped his weapon right at Rex's neck.
"Drivers, you see. We borrow our Blade's energy, channel it into our weapons, and let rip with an Art!" Vandham lectured as he pulls the scythe away from Rex.
"But you got to be careful – there's a limit to it. If you go in all bullheaded like that, kid, even that Aegis of yours is gonna run out of energy before long." Vandham explained.
This left Rex, Rana, and everyone in the party confuse as Zuo and Yew have stopped fighting and Risty let out a chuckle.
"Sheesh, you have just told us you wanted to test Rex out then threatening him." Risty said.
"Where's the fun in that. I thought I did pretty well." Vandham laughed.
"Okay, just what in Titan's foot is going on?" Rex asked.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Rex and Rana's party have discovered to be inside the Urayan Titan and fighting against Vandham who seems to know Risty more than they let on, and suddenly the old man is being friendly as the group will learn more about him.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!