~Brrrmmm~~~

The aircraft flew across the waters at a steady pace. And throughout the flight, no one was permitted to stand. Suppose you feel like taking a piss, too bad. Do it in your pants!

The aircraft danced chaotically until Bain, and the others felt its abrupt descent.

Wow!

Those flying the aircraft didn't even tell them to brace themselves.

The aircraft descended at an incredible speed, giving the illusion they were about to crash. And while in this illusionary state, a bright light quickly engulfed the scene.

It was now that many realized the walls they were leaning on were see-through. And now with the outer surface of the ship moving upward like a shuttered window, many could see the outside world via the transparent walls they were leaning against.

"Look! That's the famous 'Cotton Cloud' Waters surrounding the Mainland!" Someone exclaimed.

Bain knew a thing or 2 about these Cotton Cloud waters.

In this world called Blue Sails, the waters were vastly different depending on where one went.

In some regions, the waters constantly thundered on by deadly purple thunders from the skies. In other regions, the seas completely froze ice solid by nightfall, only to magically regain their fluidity by day.

This world, called Blue Sails, was more massive that went beyond one's imagination, so much so that the waters around made even the largest landmass look like an island.

The mysteries of the seas went far beyond what Bain could imagine.

As for these Cotton Cloud waters, they looked like sky cotton clouds, cute and fluffy in appearance. But as they say, appearances could be deceiving.

.

The deadly Cotton Cloud Waters…

Looking below, Bain could see that these strange cloud waters flowed towards the edge of what looked like an incredible fluffy waterfall surrounding the entire Mainland!

That's right.

The Mainland was far below, surrounded by this waterfall from all angles. But maybe what was more fascinating was that the cliffs leading downwards to the Mainland were naturally molded like stairways.

If a ship were to sail on the clouds, it would leave the edge and fall straight down as though it were falling off a waterfall, before landing on the next 'step' below. And from there, it would repeat the same thing repeatedly until it got to the bottom.

It was like an ant trying to go down a stairway… Only ants were more fortunate in having natural abilities to prevent them from overturning when going down.

Bain estimated over 300 steps of this nature leading down to the Mainland.

Again, one should know that these step-waterfalls stretched out for miles. So for days, it's possible for a boat to sail downwards without seeing the Mainland at all!

For those sailing downwards, this was a bummer, but for those on the Mainland, this natural set-up was great since it allowed the natural sunlight to fall on the mainland.

Can you imagine if the Mainland was akin to the bottom of a glass while the cliffs were its walls? If that were the case, the place would always be dark with how far below it was.

One can only say that mother nature knew best. With the step-waterfall terrains stretched out for as far as the eyes could see in all directions, It gave the illusion they weren't that far down below.

But even then, prisoners dared not risk going up the strange stairway waterfalls because of the insane pressure and specialties involving these Cotton cloud waters.

One would think they would be fluffy and easier to manage than traditional waterfalls. But that was where they were wrong.

People have tried, and after only 2 minutes against the current, all the flesh on their faces was gone, leaving only skeletal bones…They died, still confused about what went wrong.

Ships would shatter, underwater submarines would break, and nothing seemed to do the trick if one was going against the natural directions these fluffy clouds were moving.

Even the Absolutes dared not try it. And that's why they chose this particular spot!

Ships can only sail downwards but never opposite, regardless of engine power.

…

So deadly?

Everyone watched the famous Cotton waters, seeing particular creatures jump out of these waters sky-high from time to time.

Maybe only these creatures would survive these waters if they went against the current.

Other ordinary sea beasts would have to stay obedient, letting the water currents carry them to heaven knows where. But these strange sea creatures had adapted to these waters and could move however they pleased.

Bain thought all he saw was already eye-jarring. However, the incoming view left his mouth hanging open.

This… This is the Mainland?

He thought Mainland 01 was just a single island… a single landmass. So why did he see a collection of over a hundred islands scattered about?

Some land masses looked the size of a small country, while others were just the size of 20 or 25 cities in one.

Additionally, he noticed that the waters below had turned normal, no longer like the Cotton Cloud ones.

So after the last step-waterfall, the waters somehow regained normality and clarity?

(Q0Q)

At this point, it would be a lie to say Bain wasn't shocked. It was only now that he fully understood that Mainland truly was a separate world on its own.

This was a bubble the prisoners could never leave. Even by air, the Absolutes monitored what left and what entered the Mainland. No one… No one could leave before their time!

Ah-

Bain suddenly recalled the words the guards spoke earlier.

'Before boarding, we were told to follow the only 2 rules we were expected to follow.'

Rule number 1… He couldn't leave before his sentence was up.

And rule number … Should in case he 'assisted' a lady in reproducing, all newly born children must be sent out of Mainland 01 and shipped to Mainland 02, the mysterious orphanage Mainland, they say, was run by the Absolutes.

Whether they would truly take care of these children, no one truly knew.

Things concerning both Mainland 01 and 02 were very secret and discrete. They were told to send the children to a place called the 'Central Neutral zone.'

.

So this was it… The famous Mainland.

Bain and the many other prisoners were still immersed in his thoughts when suddenly, the aircraft shook dangerously, and a harsh voice echoed.

[This is your captain speaking. Rise & shine, shitheads!.. Slept well? Then wake your stupid asses up!]

Eh?

Bain stared at the X-crossed belt against his chest, realizing it had now unbuckled on its own. He had a bad feeling about this. And soon, his fears were proven right.

~Bam!

Many people fell on their chins while listening to the Pilot's cold voice.

[Hahahahaha~... That will wake you all up… Now then!... Today is the first of your many wretched lives in Hell. And because I'm kind, here's a little tip from me to you… The last few of you lot to get off my precious ship... will die!]

(*** Even though they were in an aircraft, the Captain still referred to it as his precious ship.)

Many were stunned beyond words.

What? You want them to jump out this high without any gear?

The Captain didn't seem to care.

[Welcome to the Mainland, you bloody bastards… Now get off my ship!]

…