Chapter 144: The Abyssal Rave and the Shark-Tank Diplomacy
With the Moon still glowing with the word "GOAL" and the world's football stadiums officially converted into high-tech gardens, Volt turned his gaze toward the horizon. The influence meter on his wrist was no longer a number; it had evolved into a vibrating diamond that displayed the message: [CURRENT POWER: UNQUANTIFIABLE JAZZ].
"Father," Anos said, pointing a gloved finger toward the deep blue of the Atlantic. "The surface world is now saturated with creativity. However, 70% of this planet is covered in water, and the inhabitants down there are living in a state of 'Primal Boredom.' The sharks are still biting things just to feel something, and the jellyfish have the personality of wet napkins. It is a narrative wasteland."
Akuto, who was currently wearing a wetsuit made of liquid obsidian and carrying a surfboard that doubled as a heavy-metal guitar, let out a war cry. "An underwater wasteland? Not on my watch! I've already engineered a 'Hydro-Funk' frequency that can turn sea salt into disco-dust! Let's go down there and give those krakens a reason to party!"
Volt stood at the edge of the Obsidian Spire, which was currently hovering over the Bermuda Triangle. He adjusted his shades, the Author's Mark glowing with a deep, oceanic teal. "Ahmed, my friend, you've seen us conquer the land and the sky. Now, we're going to rewrite the very chemistry of the deep. Influence check: 300 Million!"
Phase 1: The Descent of the Neon Leviathan
Volt didn't just dive; he commanded the Obsidian Spire to transform. The massive tower retracted its wings and reshaped itself into a Gigantic Mechanical Shark with glowing violet eyes and a sound system capable of making the tectonic plates dance.
As they submerged, the pressure of the deep ocean attempted to crush them. Volt simply tapped the glass of the observation deck. [Edit: Water Pressure = Massaging Vibrations]. Suddenly, the crushing weight felt like a luxury spa treatment for everyone on board.
"Look at them," Vanessa whispered, pointing at a school of terrified tuna. "They've never seen color like this."
"They're about to see more than color," Volt promised. He activated the Aura of Anachronism. In a flash of light, the murky, dark depths of the Mariana Trench were illuminated by miles of underwater fiber-optic cables that grew out of the coral like glowing vines.
Phase 2: The Great Shark-Tank Diplomacy
At the bottom of the trench, they were met by the Council of the Deep—a group of ancient, scarred Great White Sharks and a Giant Squid that looked like it had been grumpy since the Cenozoic Era.
"Who dares bring the noise of the sun-dwellers to our silent kingdom?" the Giant Squid vibrated, its ink clouding the water.
Akuto jumped out of the airlock, encased in a bubble of breathable dark energy. He strummed his surfboard-guitar, sending a ripple of neon-pink sound waves through the water. "The 'noise' is called a beat, Grandpa! And you're off-tempo!"
The sharks charged, their rows of teeth glistening. But before they could bite, Anos appeared between them. He didn't use his sword. He used the God-Slayer's hilt to tap the water. [Edit: Aggression = Professional Ballroom Dancing].
The transformation was instant. The Great White Sharks suddenly found themselves wearing tiny top hats and monocles made of air bubbles. Instead of biting Akuto, they began a synchronized waltz, their tails moving with elegant precision. The Giant Squid, caught in the rhythm, started using its tentacles to play a set of holographic drums that materialized out of the silt.
"This is... unacceptable..." the Squid muttered, even as it performed a flawless drum solo. "I feel... fabulous."
Phase 3: The Abyssal City of 'Atlantis 2.0'
With the local predators successfully "Zazz-ified," Volt decided to complete the masterpiece. He reached out with the Author's Mark, grabbing the raw thermal energy from the underwater volcanoes.
"Let there be light," Volt commanded.
The thermal energy didn't erupt as lava. It was rewritten into Solidified Liquid Light. A massive city of translucent towers rose from the seabed. The buildings were made of "Breathable Water," allowing humans and sea creatures to mingle in the same streets. The coral reefs were upgraded to glow in 16 million colors, and the seaweed was turned into "Gourmet Pasta" that replenished the stamina of anyone who ate it.
The Grand Overseer, who was being forced to wear a mermaid tail and act as a "Life-Guard," blew his whistle. "Volt! You've turned the ocean into a seafood buffet where the food is also the guest! This violates every law of the food chain!"
"The food chain is a boring trope, Overseer!" Volt laughed, sipping a cocktail made of fermented starlight. "In my story, the sharks eat pizza, and the pizza is made of happy thoughts!"
The Final Ripple
As the rave reached its peak, thousands of people from the surface world began arriving in "Bubble-Taxis" to join the party. Humans were dancing with dolphins, and the 8-bit knight from the previous chapters was seen trying to play "Tag" with a bioluminescent anglerfish.
The influence meter hit 400 Million. The status of the world was no longer just 'Legendary'; it was now [STATUS: NARRATIVE NIRVANA].
Volt looked at the camera, his reflection shimmering in the deep blue water. "Ahmed, the ocean was the last place where 'Normalcy' tried to hide. Now, there isn't a single drop of water on this planet that doesn't know how to party."
Anos stood beside his father, watching the horizon. "Father, the influence is so high that we are starting to attract attention from the Outer-Galaxy Gaming Guild. They believe this planet has become a 'Level 99 Fun Zone' and they want to challenge us to a match."
Volt's grin widened, his teeth flashing in the neon light. "A Gaming Guild? Tell them to bring their best controllers. We're about to turn the Solar System into an Arcade."