The Styx’s waters roiled beneath them. Suddenly, a massive white trunk emerged from the water and slammed into Silvally from below, carrying it and Gladion. He watched as branches arched across the cargo bay, obscuring his Pokémon from his sight. He quickly returned them each to their Pokéballs and turned around. He was rapidly approaching the roof of the cargo bay, and if he did not act he would be crushed between it and the pillar rising beneath him. Gladion called forth Doublade and waited. The moment it was within his range, he cut through the hull, plunged the blades into the cut, and pried it open with their strength. His arm caught onto the splintered steel and tore the skin with the rapid ascent. His blood dripped onto the white platform below him. But at least he was alive.

He continued to rise. The deck shrunk from view and he could see it— hundreds of tendrils much like ascending in unison. They wove together into one unified structure. A mountain range of stony branches, as far as Gladion could see. Even the Styx itself was lost to Gladion now through the forest of intertwining roots. He could try to fly down, but what use would that be? In a matter of seconds, he had been locked into a labyrinth. His ally was gone, his enemies were gone. He was all alone, and he could do little else than wait.

Gladion took a seat. He was still bleeding badly. He tore a strip of fabric from his jacket— it was okay, he already did that anyway as a fashion statement, it was on-brand for him— and wrapped it around the wound. The black cloth turned red almost immediately. It’d have to do.

He drew a heavy sigh. His ascent slowed and finally stopped. And at last, he looked around. The branches had all coalesced into what almost looked like a range of stony mountains. Several other platforms had conjoined with his own, creating a wide platform that continued upwards into the cluster of branches above. And behind him was a steep but manageable decline. With reasonable caution, he could make his way back down. Make his way back to the Barque. Back to her. And so he took his first tentative steps.

- Ragnarust Round 4