### 1st Ascension. Dead Heat Summer Race. Beach. Coastal Operations and Other Lies I Tell My Master. The sun hammered the beach, making the wet sand steam. Artoria Alter stomped through the shallow surf towards the Master, kicking up glittering spray. Her black swimsuit clung to her slender body like a second skin, and her frilled skirt whipped around her supple thighs with each angry stride. Her perfectly coiffed short ivory hair remained untouched by the sea spray. "Tsk... Look what the tide...