Infinity in the Void – Freedom in the Abyss

The students took a bus to get to Houston, excited as well as nervous with the prospect of going on an Expedition.

The person who decided to go with them is none other than Francis, as the Ghost Maker cannot trust Charlotte with her beloved students.

"Alright everyone, we will be approaching Galveston very soon.", Francis spoke up, "Now, there are some last-minute changes such as me joining you, and the trip will be reduced to only ten days."

"Francis! Tell us a bit about the Captain!", a student raised his hand.

"Hah... since we have time to kill, okay.", she showed a small smile, "Sinclaire... I don't really know much about her, only recently I learned that her full name is Sinclaire Apocalypse."

"That has to be a fake name, right?", one student exasperated.

"Well, you have Armillys.", another student chimed in.

"Oi.", Armillys glared at her friend, "I got back and this is how you treat me, Ellen?"

"Come on now, we all know that Armillys is a very weird name!", the short-haired girl with sharp teeth giggles.

"Hmph! My name came from Amaryllis, the flower that symbolizes pride and determination!!", she yelled.

"Come on now, my adorable murder machine~! I'm just having fun!", she went in hugging the emerald girl.

"Get off me you buffon!!", she pried the girl off.

The whole bus laughed, and even Francis let out a chuckle.

"Anyway, yeah, you guys need to be careful with Sinclaire.", she gets them back on track, "She's a Hunter, and officially, she owns three God Slayers."

"THREE?!", the whole bus shook.

"You guys already know the coffin, but you probably didn't realize her coat is one too, and she has another one that she doesn't reveal.", Francis spoke in a hushed tone.

Then her phone rang.

"Yes?", she answered the unknown number.

[I actually have six God Slayers, I think, never really counted or categorized my ten weapons.], that was Charlotte, she was listening in this whole time, [You already know two, the third one is the Legacy of Monte Cristo.]

"Uhh..."

[Check under the carpet.]", she ordered.

Francis quickly flips the carpet over, revealing a gold coin emanating a distorted aura.

"What is this?", the Vice asked.

[The Vengence of Monte Cristo, it distorts causality to a worse fate. You should probably throw it away though, since the coin could blow up the bus.], Charlotte warned.

Immediately, Francis opened the window and threw the coin away. Leading the students to look at her with worry.

"Don't do these jokes ever!!", she yelled at the phone.

[You decided to alter my plans, this is just a harmless prank~], Charlotte snickered, [Well, put on the speaker, I want to talk to the kids.]

"Fine...", she sighed, she turned on her phone's speaker.

[Hello kids, it's me.]", her voice was captivating with its softness and serene tone, [Since Francis is forcing herself into this for your safety, I had decided to not use Ouroboros Omniscia to give emergency ration. So you all have to secure food for yourself.]

"What?!", one of them voiced their opinion.

[I have to make it fair since we have Francis with us, safety isn't the main concern. So, I gave you all another priority.], a giggle can be heard from the other side.

"What happens if a student goes unconscious because of the lack of food?!", Francis joined in.

[I have some medicine, nobody will die. At worst, we just throw them onto my ship and let the crew take care of them.], she brushed the topic aside, [If anything, I would be more amazed if someone actually got themselves killed.]

"Children, don't listen to her.", the Vice knows that Charlotte is enabling them to spite the Princess, which Francis found disgusting, "I will keep all of them safe."

[Oh, and this is for Francis. How do you want to get on my ship? I get to you or you get to me?], she asked, the wind blowing on the other side.

"What?", Francis frowned, not fully understand what Charlotte wanted.

[I can just ram my ship onto land, or should you guys get a boat to get you over to my ship?]

"You are intentionally making it confusing, aren't you?", Francis clicked her tongue, "Why can't you be normal for once?"

[Well, if you aren't choosing, I am going to crash my ship onto the shore.], and she ended the call.

"Hey— what?!", Francis yelled at the phone.

"Guys, I think we are going to die.", one student voiced his opinion.

"Nah, I'd win.", another replied.

 

=0=0=

 

"Utopia, what are the odds of them dying a horrific death?", I asked my companion as we idled around the coast of Texas.

"[Without Your Highness' involvement, the chances of them dying would be 10.2% with the Ghost Maker. Likely due to disease and carelessness.]"

Hmm, that's good enough for me.

The Amazon Rainforest is the second most dangerous place on Earth, beside Australia. There are a fuck ton of dangerous animals in it... and not to mention Avalon.

Actually!

"Avalon.", I summoned the hivemind of life.

A seagull landed on my shoulder.

"What is it, Charlotte?", they asked.

"Turn off your control over the animals of the Amazon Rainforest... wait, no, make them more aggressive.", I smiled, "I want it to be more... interesting."

"Rage?", another seagull landed on the railing.

"Fury.", a tabby cat slithered between my legs.

"Kill."

"Kill."

More and more animals gather, from crows and seagulls to mythical creatures like Caith Sith or even a La Lechuza. I could just murder them all with my Domination right now...

"Of course, Charlotte.", a snake snuggled up to me.

"We obliged."

"Obliged."

"Kill us."

"Us."

"Make us stronger."

"For every life that perishes." 

"We grow stronger."

I just stare at them.

"Alright.", I nodded.

With a snap of my finger, each and every one of them was cut off from the hivemind due to my Domination - Phantasmal Denial. Then the blue flame of Malice burns all of them into nothingness.

Hah...

"[Your Highness, they are coming close.]", Utopia informed me.

"Okay.", I stepped to the bow of the ship smiling, one leg stepping on the railing, "Utopia, ram straight ahead!!"

"[As you Command, Your Highness.]", and the ship went full speed.

A ship covered in fog going straight into Galveston, potentially destroying the infrastructure and letting the sea erode the land seems like a bad idea - because it is one. I am willing to do it because... well, like always, I have no good reason other than I just like doing these kinds of stuff.

Boom!!!

Yup, the ship cut into the land, followed by a tidal wave dragged along by the ship, flooding the houses and throwing debris onto the road - creating a blockage.

Hmm?

A man wearing a Special Force uniform ran up the ship with a gun—

I grabbed his face as he was about to hop on, slamming it against the metal floor, and cracked his skull. I stepped on his chest, then twisted his right arm and left leg, and mangled them up. With a light press, my foot cracked his ribs.

"You know, the human body is amazing.", I pressed my shoe against his throat, "As long as no major organs are damaged, humans can survive."

I tilt my head, "So, what does the Special Force want with me?"

This guy has white hair and blue eyes, plus the smell of werewolf - which is just more piss smell... huh.

"Th-the general wishes to g-give this—", he opened his mouth, reaching in with his unbroken hand deep into his throat. He took out a... capsule.

I used Malice Flame to burn off the saliva and blood.

"Hmm...", I broke it open, and took the letter inside, "Shit..."

"Utopia, send your projection drones to India, and have them be on standby.", I commanded.

"[As you Command, Your Highness.]", he replied.

Then my attention returned to the Special Force Werewolf...

"Hope.", I summoned a Dew of Hope, dripping down onto him.

He let out a primal scream of pain and anguish since Hope is kinda insane. It heals people, but the downside is they experience unimaginable pain, like, all of their past trauma up to the maximum. For me though, I just ignore it.

When you have a coat made of demon heartstrings that constantly beat, a rifle that constantly tells you to murder gods, and a coffin that constantly seduces you. Being traumatized by my own power is just pathetic.

"You can go now.", I helped him up.

"Was... breaking my bones that necessary?!", he glared at me.

Then I grab his throat, "Hey now, you jumped onto my ship without any warning, it is in my right to defend my property..."

Oh... I have a brilliant idea.

I stuck my hand behind my coat, pulling out three gold coins from the Legacy.

"Here, you can have this for your troubles.", I handed him the coins.

"These are—"

I kicked him off the ship before he could speak another word. Because my guests are here, their bus just rolled off the road onto the beach.

"Utopia, the speakers.", I commanded.

A microphone raised in front of me, and earmuffs to protect my hearing.

I took in a deep breath, "Greetings Libertas! I welcome you all to my ship, the Prydwen! Also known as the Flying Dutchman!!"

The front of the ship opened, and a path was laid out for them to enter. One by one, they get off the bus with suitcases, staring in awe at my ship.

"Let the show begin~!"