On the airship's bridge, Charles frowned as he watched the airship being forced lower and lower by the oppressive rock layers until it seemed almost to skim the water's surface.
In this situation, everyone felt an inexplicable sense of oppression, as if they were being squeezed into an ever-narrowing pipe, destined to be completely immobilized.
"Captain, the East Sea is really oppressive! Don't the people who live here feel awful?" Deep complained irritably, scratching at the gills on his neck.
Charles flipped through an island guidebook in his hand. "It's only like this in the Futan Sect's territory. Other places aren't so low."
"Don't those octopus-heads ever... Oh, right. They can live underwater. Of course, it's much easier for them to get around."
"We're almost at Divine Descent. Enough talk," Charles said, reaching out for the black microphone. He shouted into it, "Rovs! We're on their turf now. Battle stations! Don't let them ambush us!"
