CHAPTER 51 - REAPER LEVIATHAN

A few seconds later, everything fell silent again, so quiet, it was as if the Sunbeam had never exploded. The world returned to its usual stillness, as if nothing had disturbed its peace.

"The canon... it's completely returned back to normal."

"Alien tech is on another level..."

"If that's the case, then the Aurora might've been taken down by this alien artillery tower!"

"Yeah, this must be the foreshadowing the devs left in the story. These crashes weren't random, they were all shot down!"

"Damn alien!"

Everyone started discussing wildly again, their eyes drawn to the towering structure. There was something deeply ominous about it, like malice was etched into its very frame.

Natalie couldn't help thinking the same thing.

All those human ships crashing one after another... it had to be this alien turret shooting them down.

But the problem was, there was no way to shut it down. The entrance to the tower was sealed off by a force field. She'd need some kind of key, and she had no clue where to find it. All she could do was stare at it helplessly. So frustrating!

Tony's plot design... it really tugs at the heartstrings!

Natalie took a deep breath and shook off the thought.

At the moment, she had two choices, head to the Aurora, or dive to the underwater sanctuary.

Of course, she could also just stay on her island and keep playing her farming simulator... but that didn't really suit her style.

Where should she go first...?

She hesitated. The sanctuary was located 800 meters deep in the ocean. Just thinking about that depth made her scalp tingle.

Forget that for now, let's check out the Aurora.

Even though NeasJ had run into a Reaper Leviathan near it before, that was back when the ship hadn't exploded yet. Now that the Aurora's blown up, such a massive blast, it probably killed the thing, right?

Yeah, that had to be it. She was almost sure of it.

Compared to diving into the deep sea, exploring the Aurora sounded way better!

After mulling it over, Natalie finally made her decision.

"Alright, everyone! I'm heading to the Aurora to check it out!"

"Wow, Natalie's so brave!"

"Wait, isn't there still a Leviathan over there?!"

"She probably thinks the explosion killed it. Maybe she's hoping to grab some loot while she's at it!"

The chat guessed correctly. Natalie, being shameless as ever, didn't even try to deny it.

"Yep, exactly! That Leviathan's probably toast by now, so it should be safe to go!"

Just as she was about to set off, Cortana chimed in.

"Warning: The Aurora's surroundings are highly radioactive. To proceed safely, you should first craft a radiation suit."

Cortana then listed the materials she needed.

The Aurora was nuclear powered, and its reactor core had exploded. Radiation was definitely a concern.

"Okay, I'll gather the materials first," Natalie replied, nodding in understanding.

Ten minutes later, she boarded the Seamoth and set off toward the Aurora!

The wreckage wasn't far from the escape pod she had originally landed in, just about 80 kilometers from her current island. Not too bad.

She pushed the Seamoth to full speed, skimming over the waves. After a while, the outline of the Aurora finally came into view.

Its fires had mostly died down, the surface damage now clearly visible. The wreck seemed ready for exploration.

"Low levels of radiation detected in the area," Cortana warned again. "Please ensure your radiation suit is equipped."

"Already done," Natalie said. She had crafted the suit quickly since the required materials weren't too complex.

Now, wearing both a radiation suit and helmet, she approached the wreck.

As she neared, she noticed that sea life had vanished. Not a single fish in sight.

Worse still, the once clear blue waters had turned murky yellow, full of debris, silt, and toxic particles, it was like swimming through mud.

Visibility dropped drastically. Even with her lights on, she could barely see a few meters ahead.

Then, the ground started to tremble. It felt like constant mini earthquakes were rumbling through the seabed. On top of that, the water temperature started rising.

"What the hell is going on?" Natalie muttered nervously. "Cortana, give me a status update!"

"Analysis complete," Cortana responded. "Water temperature has risen to 35°C. Seismic activity is present. Toxic gases detected, HCl, NH4Cl, NH3. Radiation levels are above safety thresholds, but your protective gear and the Seamoth's oxygen filtration system are keeping you safe.

"These are residual effects of the Aurora's explosion. Life signals in the area are near zero. Local ecosystems are suffering irreversible damage."

"Nuclear radiation, huh... So it's basically like a nuclear meltdown site. No, it's probably worse than what happened at Chernobyl!"

Natalie trembled slightly at the thought. This place was like the end of the world, radioactive, boiling, quaking, and full of danger. A true nightmare.

"I don't know if I want to explore this place after all..."

"But then again," she reasoned, "with radiation this intense, there's no way that Reaper Leviathan could've survived!"

The chat started to encourage her.

"Exactly!"

"It's now or never, Natalie!"

"Ofcourse it would be dead!"

Encouraged by the barrage of support and logic, Natalie nodded resolutely.

"Alright then, let's go!"

She gripped the controls tightly and pushed forward toward the Aurora.

Because of how murky the water had become, she let the Seamoth float near the surface like a boat so she could see more clearly.

As she got closer, the Aurora's massive form finally loomed fully into view.

It was enormous, like a steel island rising from the sea.

Even bigger than the real island she had explored earlier.

The wreck's size was so overwhelming that, under its shadow, the sun seemed to vanish. For a moment, it felt like night had fallen.

Looking up at the towering wreckage of the Aurora, Natalie couldn't help but gasp."Guys, are you seeing this? This ship... it's beyond massive!"

The colossal mothership loomed like a mountain, a testament to humanity's future technological prowess.

"The Aurora... Who would've thought humanity would reach such heights one day?"

"Just looking at it gives me chills. The design is wild! Absolutely majestic!"

Her chat exploded with awe. Compared to this, even the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, which spans a mere 300+ meters, seemed like a toy. The Aurora was easily double its size, a true beast among machines.

In Subnautica, Tony hadn't just built a game, he created a world where players could truly feel the grandeur of mankind's future.

"To think we'd get to see a futuristic carrier like this with our own eyes..." Natalie muttered.

She guided her Seamoth around the left side of the wreckage. The crash had devastated the hull, massive sections of metal were torn open, only a skeletal frame remained in many places, and fires still licked the jagged edges.

"Is it even possible to board something this wrecked?" she wondered aloud.

Luckily, a massive hole gaped in the side of the hull, likely torn open during the crash. Without hesitation, she piloted the Seamoth inside.

The interior opened into a cavernous space. Half the deck had collapsed, but the other half seemed intact, far in the distance.

"Looks like we can board it after all!" she cheered, steering the Seamoth towards the deck.

But suddenly.

ROOOAAAR!!!

An earth shattering screech echoed from behind her.

"That sound... No way, it's that Leviathan again!"

"The same one that ambushed NeasJ?!"

"Even after all that radiation, it's still alive?!"

Panic swept over Natalie.

"No, no, no! Not now!" she cried, slamming down on the throttle. The Seamoth surged forward toward the deck, but just as it reached the edge.

BANG!

The entire sub jolted violently. It wasn't a collision. Something had grabbed her.

"No! It's got me!" she screamed.

The Seamoth trembled violently. Inside, Natalie was tossed around like a rag doll.

Then, a terrifying alien face slammed against the sub's front window.

The head of the monster completely filled her view. Like a shark from hell, it had pitch black compound eyes, rows of meter long serrated fangs, and four massive jaws clamped onto the sub like mechanical claws.

The chat exploded in chaos.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!"

"Right in my face, what the hell are the devs on, are they trying to kill us?!"

"I SCREAMED IRL!"

"AAAAHHHHH!!" Natalie wailed, unable to control herself.

"Warning: Hull integrity critical." Cortana's voice rang out in the cockpit. Natalie gripped the controls desperately, trying to shake free, but the sub wouldn't budge.

"Warning: Seamoth collapse imminent. Eject immediately."

Without a second thought, she slammed the eject button.

BOOM!

She shot out of the Seamoth like a cannonball, barely escaping before the entire sub was crushed like a soda can in the monster's jaws.

"Move! Move!!" she yelled, swimming furiously toward the deck.

Five meters. Four. Three...

She grabbed the deck edge and hauled herself up, panting and soaked.

"I'm alive... thank god I'm alive..."

But just as she dared to breathe.

ROOAAARRR!!!

A thunderous roar rang out above the waves. The Leviathan leapt out of the ocean, arching through the air.

"AHHHHH!!!"

Natalie's legs gave out from terror and she collapsed.

The Leviathan slammed into the deck,just meters away, its gigantic body shaking the entire structure like an earthquake. Metal groaned. Debris flew.

"THIS THING CAN JUMP?!"

"DEAR GOD!"

"I'D RATHER BE HAUNTED BY A SILENT HILL GHOST THAN SEE THAT AGAIN!"

The live chat was pure chaos.

In the sunlight, the full form of the beast was finally revealed.

Its body was a terrifying combination of sleek muscle and reptilian horror. Streamlined like a sea serpent, its blood red scales glistened, and its length, mostly submerged, was estimated to be at least 60 to 70 meters.

It was massive. Elegant. And horrifying.

Natalie, still trembling, raised her scanner.

[Scan Complete – Reaper Leviathan]

[An apex predator with enhanced eyesight and echolocation. Emits deep sonar like roars to track prey. If you can hear it, it can hear you.]

[Equipped with four powerful jaws capable of seizing targets with terrifying grip strength. Measures approximately 65 meters long. Known to ambush from behind.]

[Composed entirely of muscle. Lacks a centralized brain. Driven purely by primal instinct.]

[Prey: Anything that moves. Hostility Level: EXTREME THREAT.]

"Reaper Leviathan..." Natalie whispered, barely able to get the words out.

Only now did she understand why Tony had so casually mentioned, "Oh, there's a Leviathan near the Aurora."

This wasn't a normal creature.

This was a final boss.

She stumbled back in fear, her whole body shaking.

But then... the monster paused.It stared at her with its black, unblinking eyes.And after a long moment, it turned.

Using its massive tail fins, it dragged its enormous body back into the water and disappeared beneath the waves.

Natalie collapsed onto the deck, gasping.

"Holy hell... that scared me so bad I could cry..."

"NOPE. I'M OUT. I'M NEVER EXPLORING THE AURORA. EVER."

"That thing was designed by the devs, right? Do they hate us??"

"Bro, that was worse than any horror game."

"Silent Hill ghost? I'll take it. But this thing? I'm logging out!"

One thing was certain, Natalie had just stared death in the face.

And survived.

1885 Words.