The vast Southern Ocean stretched endlessly, its steel-gray waves rolling beneath a sky that threatened a storm. The USS Grissom, a U.S. Navy resupply ship, cut through the cold waters on its scheduled mission to deliver vital supplies to Antarctic research bases. The crew had expected the usual challenges—unpredictable weather, treacherous icebergs, and the sheer isotion of the continent.

  What they had not expected was the barely-alive scientist they had just rescued from the icy depths.

  A Survivor’s Grim Message

  Lieutenant James Holden stood near the medical bay, his fingers clenched into a fist. The young scientist—no older than twenty-five—had been found barely alive, his body nearly frozen solid. The doctors had worked tirelessly to stabilize him, but he remained comatose. Whatever he had been through had nearly killed him, and his battered body told a silent story of horror.

  Captain Dougs Reeves paced near Holden, his hardened features grim. “You’re sure he was alone?”

  Holden nodded. “No sign of anyone else. The man was drenched, unconscious, and clutching a broken comm device. If it weren’t for that damn orca that pushed him toward us, we wouldn’t have found him.”

  The two men turned as Dr. Elena Vasquez, the ship’s lead physician, stepped out of the med bay.

  “He’s stable,” she said. “Barely. But before he bcked out… he muttered something. Just one thing.”

  Reeves’ brow furrowed. “What was it?”

  Vasquez took a deep breath, her face pale.

  “Turn back. Antarctica is lost.”

  A heavy silence fell between them.

  The Dilemma at Sea

  The officers gathered in the bridge, the situation weighing heavily on them. Antarctica was supposed to be uninhabited except for scientific teams. What could this man have seen to make him say something like that?

  “We have two choices,” Commander Alex Carter said, his voice firm. “We press on and complete our mission or we turn back.”

  “And leave the other research teams without supplies?” Holden countered. “We don’t even know what happened. What if it was just some accident?”

  “An accident that left him nearly frozen to death and whispering about Antarctica being lost?” Vasquez shot back.

  Reeves exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “There’s something wrong here. But we can’t just abandon our duty. If we leave, we leave everyone down there to their fate.”

  Silence.

  Then a voice crackled over the radio.

  “Unidentified vessel, this is the Pacific Star. Do you copy?”

  Holden immediately responded. “This is the USS Grissom. Identify yourself.”

  “This is Captain Mark Reynolds of the cruise ship Pacific Star. We’ve been informed of unusual activity around Antarctica. Do you have any updates? Is there a storm in coming?”

  Reeves exchanged gnces with his crew. The Pacific Star was a luxury cruise liner, carrying civilians on an expedition. If something terrible was happening in Antarctica, they couldn’t risk innocent lives.

  “This is Captain Reeves of the Grissom,” he said. “We’ve recovered a survivor who strongly advises turning back. We recommend you alter course immediately, I don't know what's happening there but shouldn't be something civilians to get involved in.”

  A pause. Then Reynolds responded.

  “Understood. We can take the survivor and any crew you wish to send back.”

  Reeves nodded. “Prepare for transfer.”

  A Choice That Seals Their Fate

  The exchange was swift but somber. The injured scientist, along with a handful of crew members, was transferred to the Pacific Star. As the cruise ship veered away, disappearing into the mist, the USS Grissom pressed forward toward Antarctica.

  Holden stared at the receding ship, a knot in his stomach still thinking whether he made the right choice or not.

  “Think we just sent them to safety?” he asked.

  Reeves didn’t answer.

  Hours ter, the Grissom neared the Antarctic coast. The research bases were in sight—except something was wrong.

  The structures were lifeless, dark, and partially destroyed.

  “No radio signals,” Carter reported. “No signs of life.”

  The ship’s radar suddenly spiked.

  “Unknown contacts!” a crewman shouted. “Dozens of them! Closing in fast!”

  The first explosion rocked the ship before they could react.

  From the blinding white snow, figures emerged, moving with inhuman grace.

  Elves.

  Mary’s Perspective – The Royal Knights Strike

  Mary watched the Grissom from a distant ice ridge, her golden armor reflecting the pale sunlight. She felt nothing as the attack commenced.

  “This is war,” she told herself. “There is no pce for mercy, close the distance and destroy them and ensure no words get back to those outside”

  At her command, the Royal Knights struck first. Lunar Priestesses raised their hands, casting void magic, severing all communications from the ship. The humans were alone.

  The ship’s anti-air defenses roared to life, firing at the flying elven warriors, but the High Elves countered with light magic, intercepting the projectiles midair.

  The humans were organized, trying to fight back, but they were hopelessly outmatched.

  “They’re strong-willed,” one of her knights commented.

  “Strength of will means nothing against overwhelming power, all strategies become meaningless when faced with pure power” Mary responded coldly.

  The Desperate Last Stand

  On the Grissom, Holden gritted his teeth as he fired his rifle.

  The elves moved too fast, their swords and magic cutting through soldiers like paper. Blood stained the deck as the crew fought bravely, but it was a losing battle.

  “Detonate the ship!” Reeves ordered. “We can’t let them take anything set fire to the ammo depot, THROW A DAMN GRENADE IF YOU HAVE TO!”

  Carter ran toward the control panel—only for a blinding arc of golden light to slice through him, leaving nothing but charred remains.

  Holden turned and fired at the attacker—Mary.

  She blocked his bullets with a flick of her sword. He didn’t even have time to scream before she ran him through.

  The battle was over.

  Mary stood over the fallen humans, her sword dripping with blood. The ship had been cimed.

  “We have more than enough information from those captured, the empire doesn't require the tricks of the magicless, Burn it,” she commanded.

  Lunar Priestesses gathered, raising their hands. The ship erupted into blue fmes, consumed by divine magic.

  A Silent Victory – And a Hidden Awakening

  The Grissom was gone.

  Mary stared into the fmes, but she felt no satisfaction.

  “Dyug,” she thought. “I hope you’re watching.”

  Far away, in a secret underground base in the Andaman and Nicobar Isnds, an elf y in a coma.

  For weeks, he had been unmoving, untouched by the world.

  But as the Grissom sank into the abyss, his finger twitched ever so slightly.

  Respro