The setting sun cast a golden glow over the beach as Senku and Taiju made their way back to their camp. The waves lapped lazily against the shore, and the seabirds called out in the distance. It was peaceful—until Senku stopped mid-step, his sharp eyes locking on something unusual farther down the beach.

"Hey, Taiju," he said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Stay here for a second."

Before Taiju could question him, Senku dashed ahead, the sand kicking up beneath his feet. A figure lay motionless near the water's edge, her long, pale hair spread around her like a halo, her body barely covered by the sand. She looked ethereal, otherworldly, and far too still.

Kneeling beside her, Senku shrugged off his lab coat and draped it over her delicate, naked form, shielding her from the chill of the evening breeze. His sharp eyes scanned her condition—her breathing was shallow, her body weak, but she was alive.

"She must be connected to that signal," he murmured softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But where did you come from?"

The girl stirred faintly, her lips moving, but no sound escaped. Senku leaned closer, his sharp mind already working to piece together her silent words.

"She's trying to say something," he muttered, more to himself than to Taiju, who had now caught up and stood a few steps back, hesitant.

Senku's gaze remained locked on her face as her lips moved again. His expression shifted, a mix of surprise and intrigue. "Sure, what the heck, I get the gist," he said, his voice soft but edged with excitement.

"Senku, what are you talking about? She's not saying anything," Taiju pointed out, puzzled.

"She is," Senku replied confidently. "It's a root dialect, probably an ancient derivative of Japanese. She's doing her best to translate, and I can fill in the blanks."

He turned back to the girl, his tone gentler now. "So… you're a princess of Atlantis, huh? And mercenaries broke into your city and stole your power source…"

The girl nodded mournfully, her movements slow and weak. Her hands trembled as she clutched at the pendant still hanging around her neck—a small locket that Senku immediately recognized as something far more modern than her apparent origins.

"Fascinating," Senku breathed, his eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Symbiotic tech, huh? Even though your personal Medusa was stolen, you've survived—swimming all the way here and escaping the pressure of the ocean."

Taiju scratched his head, still trying to make sense of the situation. "How do you even understand her, Senku? She's not making a sound, and what she's mouthing makes no sense to me."

"Well, that's why you've got me," Senku said with a sly grin. He glanced back at the girl. "Huh? So that's what you want, eh?"

Before Taiju could question him further, Senku leaned down and pressed a kiss to the girl's lips. Taiju's jaw dropped, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.

The girl's eyes fluttered open, and color returned to her cheeks. She coughed violently, her voice finally breaking free. "I… would like to go… there…"

She pointed weakly toward the distant mountains, where the jagged silhouette of an ancient ruin loomed against the horizon. Her voice, though faint, carried a regal determination. "The Castle of Skye. It… it's time to defeat Rachelle and her mercenaries, who have darkened Atlantis for so long. And… according to Senku's great mind…" She paused, her lips trembling. "This world could use some light."

Taiju looked between the two, his confusion evident. "Senku, what just happened? Did you actually—"

"Relax, Taiju," Senku interrupted, standing and dusting off his hands. "It was basic CPR, more or less. Call it an advanced scientific method for restoring her energy. Now…" He turned back to the girl, his tone suddenly serious. "You're not going anywhere just yet, Princess. You've barely adjusted to the surface world."

The girl, Kia, tried to stand, but her legs buckled immediately. She fell back into the sand, her hands trembling. "What… what's wrong with this place?" she murmured, her voice tinged with panic. "Is your gravitation and oxygenation generator malfunctioning?"

Senku crouched beside her, his expression softening as he helped her sit up. "Ah, that explains it. The oxygenation systems keeping you breathing underwater and the anti-gravity tech countering the water pressure—you don't have those up here. This is the surface, Kia. That's the sky above you."

Her wide, tear-filled eyes turned upward, taking in the vast expanse of blue for the first time. "The sky… the sun…" Her voice cracked as tears spilled down her cheeks. "It's… beautiful."

She wiped at her face, trying once more to stand. "Nevertheless, I must get to Skye…"

She stumbled again, and this time, Senku caught her before she could fall. His hands steadied her, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Let me help you, Princess. I'll get you to the Castle of Skye. And as you've probably guessed, my mental fortitude is ten billion percent up to the task. Together, we can take down these mercenaries and bring Atlantis back to the surface."

Kia hesitated, her piercing blue eyes searching his. "You are… very charming, scientist," she admitted. "Very well. You may assist me. But know this—I will decide how far you are allowed to progress. Your mind is valuable, and I… would be saddened if you were to die."

Senku grinned, his excitement barely contained. "Don't worry, Princess. I promise not to die. Now, let's get to work."

Kia allowed him to support her as they began their slow journey toward the mountain. Taiju watched them go, his brow furrowed.

"Senku! Should I tell someone? The authorities?" Taiju called after him.

Senku turned sharply. "No! Don't tell anyone. For all we know, it could be our own people sending mercenaries down there. But tell my dad to look into it. I'll be in contact, as always."

He turned back to Kia, his grin widening. "We're going to Atlantis. Get excited!"