The storm was howling.
Sand rose in gigantic columns, whipping through the air like invisible blades.
The camel struggled forward, every step a battle against the wind.
ARATA narrowed his eyes.
"…I take it back.
This desert is very clearly trying to kill us."
Rin, firmly clinging to the front of the mount, observed the cyclone growing on the horizon.
"Analysis in progress…
The sound source is abnormally powerful.
It is neither a weapon nor a conventional meteorological phenomenon."
A sharp crack split the sky.
BANG.
The sound echoed like artillery fire.
The camel reared violently.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" ARATA shouted.
"Sound identified," Rin replied.
"Biological bone-clapping."
"…Huh?"
The storm suddenly tore apart.
At the center of the cyclone, a colossal silhouette emerged.
A gigantic bird stood motionless, watching them.
Its massive beak slowly opened.
BANG.
The sound made the very air vibrate.
ARATA felt his stomach tighten.
"Tell me I'm dreaming."
"Negative.
You are fully awake."
"GREAT."
The creature moved.
Each beat of its wings ripped the sky apart.
It dove toward them at a terrifying speed.
"RIN!!
EMERGENCY PLAN!!"
"Calculation complete.
Escape probability: 0.3%."
"I HATE YOUR PERCENTAGES!!"
The bird opened its beak wide.
A yawning abyss—dark, endless.
"…It's going to eat us," ARATA stated.
"Confirmation," Rin replied.
A titanic suction pulled them in.
The camel vanished into the darkness.
The world flipped.
TOTAL BLACKNESS.
—
An impact.
Then silence.
ARATA groaned as he pushed himself up.
"…Am I dead?"
"Vital status: stable.
Conclusion: no."
"Too bad."
A strange light pulsed around them.
The walls seemed… alive.
They contracted slowly, like breathing.
"RIN…
Tell me we're not where I think we are."
"If you are thinking we are inside…
Then yes."
"…Inside WHAT?"
Before she could answer, a voice rang out.
"Hey."
ARATA froze.
"You guys new?"
They turned around.
A bearded man was sitting there calmly, leaning against the wall.
He was chewing on something, looking perfectly relaxed.
"You've got to be kidding…
More castaways?"
He stood up with a sigh.
"Well.
Welcome.
You survived the entrance—that's already something."
"…Excuse me?" ARATA asked.
Before the man could answer, another figure moved behind him.
A young man was sitting there, absent-minded.
He lifted his head.
His eyes met ARATA's.
Silence.
Then suddenly—
"BY YOUR BLUE, CAPTAIN!!"
He jumped to his feet and snapped to attention.
"Immediate report!
Uncontrolled drift!
Critical situation, but under control!"
ARATA felt his heart stop.
"…Hastur."
Rin immediately analyzed him.
"Identity confirmed.
However…
cognitive anomaly detected."
"Captain!" Hastur continued enthusiastically.
"Where exactly are we?"
The bearded man burst out laughing.
"Oh, that's a good one!
He forgot his own name, but kept his sense of theater!"
"WHAT!?" ARATA shouted.
"WHAT IS THIS PLACE!?"
The bearded man shrugged.
"The inside."
"…Say that again."
"Yeah.
Until we find something better."
A deep rumble echoed.
The walls trembled.
"Oh," the man said.
"She's falling back asleep."
"SHE!?" ARATA and Rin said at the same time.
Hastur nodded seriously.
"Captain.
I like this place."
"Of course you do," ARATA replied hopelessly.
The bearded man crossed his arms.
"Hang on tight, kids.
Getting out of here…
is going to be one hell of an adventure."