♡¡ — ocean city

Name: Renji Kurose
Age: 20 years
Gender: Male
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 66 kg
Blood type: AB positive
Group: AKAT B
Position: Territorial Explorer and Analyst
Likes: Quiet places, reading, observing the behavior of marine creatures from safe places, collecting maps and building plans, repairing small objects, listening to music with headphones, and spending time alone.
Dislikes: Overly noisy people, impulsive decisions, overly large groups, having plans altered without notice, wasting resources, and unnecessary arguments.

Renji is a slender young man with a rather relaxed demeanor and a light build that allows him to move with ease across the upper floors of buildings and the makeshift bridges connecting the structures. He has long, messy black hair with reddish highlights, which falls over part of his face and covers one eye. His gaze is sharp and usually conveys a tired or slightly indifferent expression, though he is constantly observing his surroundings. He typically wears dark, loose-fitting clothing, mainly a black T-shirt under a gray jacket adorned with small metal details and chains, as well as baggy pants with several pockets where he keeps tools and small items. He wears fingerless gloves and heavy boots that allow him to move across metal surfaces without losing his balance. He wears a few accessories around his neck and waist, but avoids anything that might hinder his movements. His overall appearance can be intimidating at first glance, though in reality he simply looks like someone who is perpetually weary of everything happening around him.

Renji is serious, analytical, and quite observant, being one of the AKAT B members who spends the most time thinking before making a decision. He has a habit of analyzing routes, buildings, the condition of bridges, and even the behavior of creatures before allowing other members to pass through a dangerous area. However, he also possesses a rather pessimistic attitude: he usually thinks first about what could go wrong before considering what could go right. Interestingly, he doesn't always seem concerned about the personal consequences that might befall him and tends to have a "what's done is done" attitude, especially when it comes to situations he considers unavoidable. He doesn't care about many things that would be important to others and can remain completely indifferent during arguments or minor conflicts. He isn't particularly affectionate or expressive, but he shows that he cares about others through practical actions, such as warning about a dangerous route, preparing maps, or making sure a building has an escape route. Within AKAT B, his opinion is usually taken seriously because he rarely speaks without having thought through what he's going to say.

Territorial analysis: memorizes routes, buildings, and connections between structures.
Cartography: Creates maps of the sectors controlled by AKAT B and of the dangerous areas.
Observation: It is excellent at detecting changes in the environment, strange movements, or signs of danger.
Planning: You can arrange alternative routes when a bridge or building becomes unusable.
Structural knowledge: understands quite well how buildings are constructed and which areas seem more stable.
Creature recognition: has learned to identify behavior patterns of some marine creatures.
Stealth: knows how to move around without attracting too much attention.
Spatial memory: can remember routes after traveling them only a few times.
Role within AKAT B: "If Renji says we shouldn't go there, it's probably best to listen to him."

Name: Akira Saegusa
Age: 19 years
Gender: Male
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 63 kg
Blood type: O positive
Group: AKAT B
Position: Explorer and Mobility Manager
Likes: Heights, racing, exploring new buildings, annoying his teammates, games, betting small things, sweet food, navigating flooded sectors, and any opportunity to do something exciting.
Dislikes: Being locked up for too long, waiting too long, overly strict orders, having AKAT B underestimated, losing a bet, and being told by Renji that something is too dangerous.

Akira has a lean, athletic build, his body accustomed to constant movement across stairs, walkways, and makeshift structures. His hair is long and dark, with a few strands falling over his face and a small ponytail or strand pulled up on top, giving it a slightly disheveled appearance. His eyes have a lively, slightly mocking expression, and he usually wears a smile that makes it difficult to tell if he's joking or about to do something dangerous. He wears a dark gray jacket with various decorative details over a black T-shirt, extremely baggy pants, and several chains around his waist, as well as gloves to protect his hands while moving. He wears heavy footwear with sturdy soles and often carries small tools attached to his belt. Unlike Renji, who tries to keep his clothes relatively neat, Akira usually returns from expeditions covered in dust, stains, and minor scratches, though he always seems quite proud of it.

Akira is playful, provocative, and quite difficult to control once something catches his attention. He has an extremely optimistic view of AKAT B and is convinced that as long as the group stays together, they can overcome virtually any situation. His optimism, however, isn't always prudent: he often springs into action before the others have even finished discussing a plan, especially when he thinks someone needs help. He enjoys teasing Renji because he relishes watching him lose his temper, and he also frequently tries to provoke the third member of the group, though he usually gets a rather unfriendly glare in return. He has enormous confidence in his own abilities and can sometimes underestimate dangerous situations, not due to a lack of intelligence, but because he's used to relying on his reflexes. He is extremely loyal to AKAT B and can become surprisingly serious when someone threatens one of his comrades. For him, the group represents more than just a place to survive: it's the family he managed to build after the disaster.

Urban mobility: excellent when moving between damaged buildings and structures.
Acrobatics: has an ability to jump, climb and pass through narrow spaces.
Navigation: knows how to handle the small boats used by AKAT B.
Exploration: is usually sent to check new routes.
Reflexes: reacts quickly to sudden changes.
Improvisation: can solve problems using available objects.
I work on bridges: I know improvised bridges well and how to cross them quickly.
Physical endurance: can spend a considerable amount of time moving between buildings without stopping.
Improvised leadership: even without formal authority, you can get others to follow you during an emergency.
Role within AKAT B: "The first to say they can do it and the first to try."

Name: Daichi Arakawa
Age: 21 years
Gender: Male
Height: 1.81 m
Weight: 74 kg
Blood type: A negative
Group: AKAT B
Position: Territorial Security and Defense
Likes: Quiet places, keeping his equipment in good condition, reading, sleeping, coffee, quiet watches, and knowing that all members of the group are safe.
Dislikes: Jokes during serious situations, strangers, territorial invasions, unstable bridges, wasted supplies, and especially Akira doing something dangerous without warning.

Daichi is the most robust of the three, though he maintains a lean and functional appearance, with muscles developed from the constant physical labor he performs within the group. He has short, slightly messy black hair, usually partially covered by a dark-colored military cap or hat bearing a small red insignia. His eyes are narrow, and he typically wears a serious, tired, and unapproachable expression, accentuated by the small shadows under his eyes. He wears a dark uniform composed of several layers of heavy-duty clothing, including a protective vest and straps for carrying tools and supplies. He wears black gloves and baggy trousers with multiple pockets, as well as sturdy boots suitable for traversing wet and metallic surfaces. He always carries his safety equipment and tends to stay near building entrances or in positions from which he can observe the surroundings. Despite his intimidating appearance, his gear is far more practical than ornamental: virtually everything he carries serves a purpose.

Daichi is serious, reserved, and taciturn, probably the hardest of the three to get talking. He has little patience and can become easily angered, especially when he feels someone is unnecessarily endangering the members of AKAT B. He rarely raises his voice; when truly annoyed, he typically just stares at the person and responds with a few words. He is wary of strangers and considers allowing someone into the group's territory without knowing their intentions an unnecessary risk. Despite this, he is not cruel nor does he enjoy harming other groups: he simply understands that AKAT B could not survive if it blindly trusted everyone. He is extremely protective of his group members and takes a strong sense of responsibility toward the buildings assigned to him. He may appear cold, but his way of showing affection is by being there when someone needs him. If a member goes missing during an expedition, Daichi will be among the first to search for them, even if he is furious with that person for getting into trouble.

Territorial security: expert monitoring entrances and vulnerable points of buildings.
Defense: has a good ability to protect itself and others during confrontations.
Surveillance: can remain observing an area for hours without getting distracted.
Close combat: he is used to physical confrontations in confined spaces.
Equipment handling: maintains the equipment used by the guards in good condition.
Resistance: withstands long days of surveillance and physical work.
Threat recognition: quickly distinguishes suspicious behavior from other survivors.
Discipline: He is one of the strictest members regarding the rules of AKAT B.
Defensive coordination: knows how to organize other members when a building is being threatened.
Role within AKAT B: "He doesn't need to say much to make it clear that that building is under his protection."

The three of them would function very well as a small unit within AKAT B because none of them fulfill exactly the same role. Renji analyzes the terrain and determines what could go wrong, Akira is the one who moves first and finds solutions on the fly, while Daichi makes sure they can return and that no one gets too close to the group's territory.
Furthermore, their personalities create a fairly natural dynamic: Renji and Daichi are the ones who try to maintain common sense, while Akira constantly tries to convince them to do something crazy. Renji usually responds with indifference, Daichi gets angry, and Akira is amused by their reactions.
And although AKAT B has about 40 members and 14 buildings, these three might be particularly well-known because they usually take on missions that require leaving controlled buildings, especially exploring new connections, checking bridges, and verifying if any sector can be traversed without being exposed too much to the contaminated water.

The world changed during a catastrophe no one saw coming: an underwater earthquake of extraordinary magnitude shook the ocean floor and triggered a tsunami that struck coastal cities with enough force to destroy virtually all structures that weren't of considerable height, leaving only a few tall buildings like artificial islands in the middle of an ocean that had flooded the streets. However, the natural disaster was only the beginning, because as the days passed, it was discovered that the government had been conducting secret experiments with chemical and biological substances for years, the waste from which had been stored in enormous facilities near the sea. During the emergency, much of this storage was destroyed, releasing massive quantities of compounds that contaminated the ocean and unpredictably altered marine ecosystems. Some areas of the water began to exhibit extremely toxic properties, and while many species disappeared, others underwent transformations that gave rise to marine creatures completely different from those previously known. Some are small and harmless, others can leave the water and move through flooded buildings, while certain species have developed aggressive behaviors and can seriously injure or poison a person. There are also creatures of extraordinary sizes, including animals resembling enormous whales that can reach 30 to 40 meters in length, although these giants are extremely rare, and encountering one is considered an exceptional event. Humanity was virtually cut off after the disaster: there is no real international rescue team or organized operation waiting to rebuild the cities, as most of the military forces perished during the initial stages of the catastrophe, and the few surviving groups are too isolated.

Busy trying to maintain their positions, protect resources, or simply stay alive, the survivors had to build their own form of society atop the remaining buildings. They formed groups that controlled specific sectors, established routes between structures using makeshift bridges, and used small boats to travel when conditions allowed. Dozens of people live in some buildings, trying to maintain as normal a life as possible. Children have even been born who never knew the world before the tsunami, although supporting a family is extremely difficult due to the scarcity of food, medicine, drinking water, and safe spaces. As a result, some communities suffer constant losses, while others barely manage to survive. Over time, the survivors began to classify the ocean into three main zones: the Safe Zone, which corresponds to areas where the water behaves relatively like a normal sea, although this doesn't mean it's truly safe, as creatures much larger than usual can be found, and any movement requires caution; The Turbulent Zone, where conditions are far more dangerous due to hostile creatures, species that hunt other animals and humans, microorganisms capable of causing serious illnesses, violent currents, and depths capable of destroying makeshift vessels; and finally the Forbidden Zone, the most dangerous sector known, where chemical pollution has reached extreme levels, bacteria and microorganisms exist that can quickly kill any life form they come into contact with, enormous whirlpools and constant water disturbances occur, and, unlike the other zones, virtually no marine life inhabits it, because even mutated organisms seem unable to survive in that environment. Without governments

Functional, without rescue and without a full explanation of what happened, humanity was trapped between tall buildings and an ocean it no longer recognizes, living on an extremely simple hope: to survive long enough for the world to one day recover, or to continue living until it is no longer possible to do so.

The Safe Zone is the region of the ocean that retains conditions relatively close to those of the original sea. The water maintains its characteristic blue hue, although depending on the depth it can take on darker colors, and in certain places it is possible to partially distinguish the seabed. The surface usually has normal waves and currents, although it should never be assumed to be completely calm. It is the only zone where survivors can afford to enter the water for short periods, for example, to swim, retrieve floating objects, or move between nearby buildings, always taking precautions. Common marine life still exists: fish, jellyfish, crustaceans, turtles, and other species that survived the disaster, although many populations have changed due to pollution. New creatures, generally small or harmless, have also appeared and coexist with the original fauna. This zone is the main source of fishing for the survivor groups, but fishing does not mean that everything caught is safe to eat; some species have developed extremely dangerous toxins, changes in their organs, or accumulations of pollutants, so each community has developed its own methods for identifying which animals can be consumed. There may also be larger-than-normal predators that occasionally approach buildings, so even the Safe Zone has one fundamental rule: safe does not mean harmless.

The Turbid Zone begins where the ocean loses its natural appearance and the water becomes so dark that from the surface it looks practically like liquid oil. Very little light penetrates, so a person falling in would have enormous difficulty distinguishing anything around them; below the surface, there is only darkness, even during the day. This zone is much more polluted and disturbed than the previous one, and is especially known for the enormous number of creatures that inhabit it. Among the most common are venomous sea snakes, some relatively small and others capable of reaching enormous sizes, which can be found practically anywhere in the zone. There are also extremely aggressive sharks and other predatory creatures that react to movement, noise, or vibrations produced by vessels. Some species have reached completely abnormal proportions, becoming true predators of the deep. Another danger is the whirlpool, which appears unpredictably and can drag vessels into much deeper waters. But perhaps the strangest creatures of the Murky Zone are the so-called "mermaids," a name given to them by survivors because of their humanoid appearance and long, fish-like tails. They are not human, nor do they necessarily possess intelligence comparable to that of humans, although some seem to exhibit more complex behaviors than other animals in the zone; they can approach structures, observe boats, and react to sounds. Due to the combination of darkness, predators, currents, and unknown creatures, voluntarily entering the Murky Zone is considered an extreme decision, and groups only do so when there is a compelling reason.

The Forbidden Zone is completely different from the previous zones and gets its name because virtually no survivor believes it's possible to cross it and return alive. It can be recognized from afar by its characteristic swampy green color, a result of the concentration of chemicals and microorganisms present in the water. Its salinity is extraordinarily high, even higher than that of the Dead Sea, and its chemical properties make direct contact with the water extremely dangerous: in addition to producing an abnormally intense cold, it can rapidly deteriorate the skin and cause serious damage, so no experienced survivor even considers the possibility of swimming there. The zone is practically devoid of animals and plants; unlike the Murky Zone, where countless creatures adapted to the new ocean exist, here the only life forms that seem to thrive are microorganisms and bacteria, many of them unknown and potentially lethal. Survivors believe that these bacteria arose or evolved due to the combination of chemical waste with microscopic organisms that already existed in the ocean, although no one has been able to study them properly. Another characteristic phenomenon is the enormous whirlpools, much larger and more violent than those of the Murky Zone, capable of dragging objects, boats, and even structures into the depths. Most unsettling is the absence of large creatures: neither the enormous mutated whales, nor the predators of the Murky Zone, nor even the most resilient creatures seem to inhabit its waters. For the survivors, this is precisely what makes the Forbidden Zone even more unsettling: it is not a place where a creature lies in wait to attack, but an environment that, in itself, seems incompatible with life.

Size: ~50 buildings
Position: Largest group
Relationships: Good relationship with AKAT B and Z-KAPT; avoid VEX-B.
AK-P0 is the largest gang in the city and, interestingly, also one of the least interested in controlling other gangs' territories. Its structure is based primarily on trust between buildings: each community maintains a degree of autonomy, but all recognize themselves as part of AK-P0 and collaborate when one needs help. They are extremely selective when it comes to accepting new members, mainly because an infiltration could endanger dozens of buildings, but this doesn't mean they are hostile to those outside the gang. In fact, many of their members constantly travel between different sectors, offering help, exchanging supplies, repairing connections, carrying information, or assisting in emergencies. It's common to find AK-P0 members helping independent gangs that don't even belong to their group. AKAT B has received help from them on several occasions, so there is a fairly strong relationship of trust between them. However, they maintain a completely different stance toward VEX-B: they avoid their territories and don't usually try to negotiate with them due to the constant conflicts caused by the gang alliance. For many survivors, AK-P0 represents the closest thing to an organized community left in the city, although its members insist that helping others does not mean allowing just anyone into their buildings.
Philosophy: "You may not belong to us and still need our help."

Size: ~30–36 buildings
Position: Second largest group
Location: Primarily in the Murky Zone
Relations: Hostile or tense with virtually all other groups.
VEX-B is the second largest group, but also the one that generates the most distrust among the other survivors. It doesn't function as a unified community in the same way as AK-P0, but rather as an alliance of various gangs and armed groups that decided to unite their territories under a single structure. Its location is both an advantage and a disadvantage, as many of its buildings are near the Murky Zone, making it extremely difficult for other groups to approach. Most survivors avoid crossing into its territory, since VEX-B has a reputation based on force and territorial expansion. One of its best-known practices is attacking and seizing buildings, especially those it considers strategically important, so an independent community can lose its building if VEX-B decides it's useful. Not all of its members are necessarily cruel, but the group's structure rewards strength, intimidation, and the ability to hold onto territory, forcing even its less violent members to adapt to this way of surviving. Its resources come from trade, expeditions, and the territories it has absorbed. For the other groups, VEX-B represents a constant threat because no one can know when a building will be considered a target.
Philosophy: "If you can't defend what you have, sooner or later someone else will have it."

Size: ~14 buildings
Population: ~40 members
Position: Third largest group
Area: East Sector
Relationships: Primarily allied with AK-P0 and occasionally Z-KAPT; rivalry with ZIKTPP.
AKAT B controls approximately fourteen buildings in the eastern sector of the city and has around forty members. Unlike AK-P0, their structure is quite closed: they don't allow just anyone into their buildings, primarily because each member represents resources, food, and space that must be maintained. Each building has at least three members responsible for guarding and maintaining it, while other members move between structures using makeshift bridges and small boats. AKAT B doesn't seek to conquer the city or become the dominant group; their main objective is to hold onto their buildings and keep the routes connecting their territory open. Their biggest conflict is with ZIKTPP, with whom they constantly compete for certain strategic buildings, especially those located in safer areas or with better resources. Despite their conflicts, neither group necessarily seeks to destroy the other. AKAT B also maintains a particularly good relationship with AK-P0, who have helped them on several occasions, while Z-KAPT also provides them with medicine or supplies when possible. For the members of AKAT B, survival means relying primarily on those they know well, although that does not prevent them from having allies outside their borders.
Philosophy: "We don't need the whole city. We need to preserve the one we have."

Size: Smaller than AKAT B, but with a considerable number of buildings
Position: Fourth main group
Relationships: Constant rivalry with AKAT B; variable relationships with others.
ZIKTPP is AKAT B's main rival and shares an important characteristic with them: they aren't necessarily a group of bad people. The rivalry arose primarily from the struggle for the best buildings and the most convenient routes in the city. Both groups need structures with relatively secure access to water, sufficient space to store supplies, or good connections to other sectors, and this has led to numerous clashes. Most of their conflicts aren't aimed at eliminating the opposing group, but rather at acquiring or maintaining specific strategic points. ZIKTPP has its own rules and maintains a fairly closed structure, though it doesn't reach the level of isolation of AKAT B. Its members can trade with other groups and occasionally collaborate when there's an overwhelming external threat, but when an opportunity arises to acquire a key building, cooperation can quickly vanish. The relationship between ZIKTPP and AKAT B can be particularly complicated because both groups are intimately familiar with each other's methods and routes, turning minor territorial disputes into a kind of constant competition.
Philosophy: "We don't have to destroy them to prove that this place belongs to us."

Size: 5 buildings
Position: Smallest group
Relationships: Friendly with AKAT B and AK-P0; avoids conflicts.
Z-KAPT is the smallest of the five groups, possessing only five buildings. This might seem like a weakness, but it has actually become one of their greatest strengths. From the outset, they decided they didn't need to control vast territories to survive. Their population is small, and their buildings are organized to maximize every resource, resulting in a considerable supply of provisions relative to the number of people they must support. Their greatest advantage is that their territory houses a hospital, one of the few medical facilities that still retains some of its functional infrastructure. This provides them with a variety of medicines, medical supplies, and knowledge that other groups cannot easily acquire. Z-KAPT deliberately avoids turf wars and rarely attempts to seize other groups' buildings. They prefer to maintain good relations with those they consider trustworthy, especially AKAT B and AK-P0, to whom they occasionally provide medicines, medical assistance, or supplies. Precisely because of their small size, a significant loss could be devastating, so their members are usually extremely cautious in any conflict. To other groups, Z-KAPT may seem insignificant because of its five buildings, but attacking its territory would mean losing access to one of the most valuable resources in the entire city: medical care.
Philosophy: "As long as we have enough for our people, we don't need more."