—
Sue me, I'm lazy. Before this, I was supposed to add in some bits about them going down into the dungeon, blah blah blah, Bell and Lefiya were going to be left at the encampment as the others go down below to fight, but Fels the magical sage of spooky land comes and is all like "nah yal are goin down" and he yeets them through a portal - which you'll see when Bell and Lefiya arrive.
—
Something is wrong...
"Keep your eyes open, we still don't know what we're walking into."
Finn tightened the grip on his spear as he continued forward, his group of adventurers following close behind.
The dungeon had opened up into a series of paths, and like a winding maze, twisted and turned in seemingly no direction.
Almost any other party would've certainly been lost, and yet Finn remained focused, drawing from his memory a path forward using the mapped sections of the floor.
Every turn he took was the best option, each step he took was premeditated and thoroughly thought through.
They continued to march forward in silence, wary of every flickering light, of every moving shadow.
This isn't good... all of my senses are telling me to turn back…
Behind him he could hear he anxious shifting of his subordinates as they followed him.
That information we received from Loki isn't exactly encouraging either…
The slight clink of armor and equipment filled the empty hallways, but that was it. There were no other noises, no other sounds from monsters, nor from the dungeon itself.
And yet we can't afford to retreat after coming so far…
"Hold."
Finn halted his approach, holding a hand behind him to stop his teammates, his eyes towards the end of the tunnel. The faint glow of light could be seen ahead of him, along with the opening to a much larger cavern.
"Get ready. On my mark..."
A bead of sweat slowly rolled down his temple as he focused his senses ahead, listening for any movement, feeling for any unwelcoming presence.
"Go."
"Capt-?"
Raul stopped abruptly, inches away from bumping into Finn. His eyes fell to Finn's signal before his body moves.
"Get ready...!"
He crouched down slightly, readying himself for anything that would come towards them.
Behind him, his comrades copied his movements. Nervous murmurs and whispers drifted to his ears as he remained facing forwards.
Trust the captain. Trust the captain... trust the...
"... on my mark..."
He almost missed his captain's words as he remained lost in thought.
Without turning his head away from Finn's back, he relayed the commands behind him.
"Go!"
A single word fell from Finn's lips in a forced whisper and Raul moved. He grit his teeth together nervously and he grasped his sword in his hand.
We'll be fine… with the Captain on our side… we'll win!
"What the hell? It's completely empty!"
The group had rushed the room, sweeping out into a protective semicircle, their eyes scanning the empty cavern for any threats. Their bombardment and support squads were centered behind the Vanguard's front line, huddled together in the heart of the formation.
This isn't right...
Finn held his position as those beside him did the same. Spears nervously jittered against shields as the captain's uncertain voice spread something reminiscent of fear through the less experienced adventurers.
The stone ceiling arched over them like a massive dome, and all across the walls smaller tunnels broke off and led into shadowy paths. However, directly in front of them, one pathway stood out to Finn.
"That's where we need to go... that's the way down."
The floor sloped downward as they moved forward, giving way to a massive pit that sunk into the ground. It glowed lightly as an ominous orange light seemingly floated up to them, undoubtedly from some unknown source far below. As Finn peeked over the edge, he felt the sudden chill of vertigo as he peered into the endless chasm below.
"Finn..."
The prum turned around as the massive shadow of the Freya Familia captain moved next to him.
"Yeah. They're coming, aren't they?"
Ottarl nodded as he unslung his great sword from his back.
"Prepare for battle!"
For the first time since their entry to the floor, overwhelming noise began to fill the room. A wave of various sounds rushed them coming from every direction. The sound of steps came from every tunnel entrance, all of them running towards them.
This is it.
"Hold your positions!"
He shouted at the top of his lungs as his allies readied for battle.
With a tremendous battle cry, countless figures burst into the room, flooding the cavern from all directions.
"For Enyo!"
They charged forward - a seemingly endless mass of bodies all coming together in one massive group. Figures in white robes and masks rushed towards them, weapons drawn and voices screaming aloud. The very ground beneath their feet shook and trembled as the sudden army of enemies made themselves known.
But still, it wasn't their arrival that worried Finn - it was what followed.
"No... way..."
"You've gotta be joking, right?"
Monsters had begun to pour out from the tunnels, howling and screaming as they leapt into the air, chasing after the figures in white. Wyverns, dragons, even those massive rhinoceros monsters all surged forward in one huge flood of bodies. Above them, swarms of Virga alongside giant spiders had begun to crawl down the walls.
"A… pass... parade...!?"
Screams arose from the rear ranks of their enemy as the monsters caught up to them, shredding through their lightly armored bodies like paper. Blood sprayed into the air alongside shrieks of pain, but nonetheless the remnants continued their hectic charge.
"Uuuoaaaahhhh!"
Ottarl released a deafening roar as he began to move. All around, adventurers picked up his cry, their voices rising into the air in one unified wave of sound. Within a few seconds, the sound of swords and spears clashing filled the room. Bodies collided with one another as blood began to cover the ground. Finn's body moves on its own, his spears cutting into the enemy ranks with deadly efficiency. Blood splattered his clothes as bodies fell to his feet. Around him, the high ranking adventurers shouted at the top of their lungs as they tore through the vastly weaker enemies.
Wait... a vest...?
Finn's spear cut through his enemy's white robe, revealing a black vest strapped with multiple tubes and vials.
"Look ou-!"
Finn's warning died in his throat as an explosion rocked the entire cavern. The enemy in front of him had erupted into flames, throwing him and several other adventurers to the ground.
"What the… what the fuck is goin-"
"Don't stop moving!"
Out from behind the smoke rising from the mutilated corpse, more of the cultists continued to advance, and for the first time, Finn looked into their eyes. And what he saw terrified him.
Widened and glassy, bloodshot and shaking. The enemy pressed forward in a surge of explosions, not even stopping as they trampled over each other's bodies - dead or alive.
Unwavering conviction founded on insanity - it was pure fanaticism. That was what they were up against.
In this type of battle, strategy and tactics are useless…!
Finn picked himself up as the sound of the battle faded away. The screams of his enemies, the cries of his comrades. It all fell away as he raised his thumb to his forehead.
"Hell... Fineg-"
"Wait, Finn."
A hand shot out, grasping his arm and stopping him from completing his spell.
"Ottarl? What are you doing!?"
"This isn't the final battle. Not yet."
He's right...
This was just the enemy's greeting party. Their true boss fight was still waiting for them below.
Damnit… I need to keep thinking!
"Take your familia and go. Gather your forces and jump down - we'll hold them here!"
Finn nodded as he began to retreat. His senses had calmed down, and his mind once again began to think.
"Thanks... Ottarl..."
The King didn't stay to hear his words, leaping back to the fray with his sword drawn.
"Loki Familia!"
Finn raised his spear into the air as he shouted out.
"On me!"
He began to fight his way back towards the center of his formation, pulling his teammates back to follow him. One by one, he pulled familiar faces from the crowd to join him as he fought through to this destination. Bete along with the Hyrute twins were the first to join him. Their bodies were already splattered with blood from enemies and monsters alike. Behind him, Gareth and Riveria ran full speed, Ais in tow.
Where's...
"Raul!"
"Leave him! That idiot can take care of himself!"
Damnit...!
Finn clenched his jaw in frustration as he continued forward.
There...! Almost...!
"VISCUM!"
A bone chilling voice rang out above the noise of the battle, shouting out a cryptic command.
"Wha-!"
A huge explosion blew dust and rocks all across the battlefield as an enormous, writhing pillar-like object rose out of the ground in a cloud of smoke. The towering shadow loomed over the battlefield, seeming to reach all the way to the ceiling.
"What the hell is that..."
"Don't stare at it! Keep moving!"
I'm sorry everyone...! Hold on as best as you can!
Finn kept his eyes down as he continued to push one foot in front of another, each step taking him closer to his goal.
"Violas!"
A couple of the plant like serpents had risen from the ground, their jaws opening to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth.
"You're in the way!"
Bete leapt forward, his greaves glowing with fire, and slashed through the incoming creatures.
With one final push, Finn leapt into the air and begun his free fall into the unknown.
"That was..."
"Chaotic...? Insane...?"
Finn collapsed on the ground, his spears falling out of his hand beside him.
"Did… did we all make it?"
The noise of his comrades gasping for breath brought his attention back to his surroundings.
He began to look around as he began his head count.
Riveria, Gareth, Bete, Tione, Tiona… Raul?
"Raul?"
He turned his head side to side, checking for any sign of the young man.
"Ais too!"
Riveria jumped to her feet as they realized they were missing two members.
"There's no way..."
"That stupid kid… he's gotta be here...!"
Even Bete seemed nervous, his tail moving side to side anxiously.
"... He was right behind me...!"
"Guys!"
Tione's voice directed them back to the stairs as footsteps began to echo from above.
"Thank Loki..."
Two familiar figures stepped towards them, covered in blood and scrapes.
Raul had her arm slung around Ais' shoulder as the two slowly stepped towards the rest of their party.
"A wall of Violas appeared just as we were about to follow you guys, and..."
"Ais had to bail you out, huh?"
The young swordsman hung his head, hiding his face from Bete's question.
"Ahh don't listen to him, he was just as frightened as the rest of us that you weren't going to make it."
"What a load of crap. I just didn't realize Ais needed to hold his hand to get him down here!"
"W-Wait what? I don't need anyone to hold my hand!"
Finn sighed as the two began to argue, a slight smile on his face as he relaxed, letting his head rest on the wall behind him.
"At least you guys are safe."
"But what about the others?"
It was only the Loki Familia that had managed to escape the hectic battle, and even then they were still missing several members.
"I think it's our enemies who should be worried."
Riveria tilted her head as if to look through the ceiling towards the distant battle.
"They're the ones with nowhere to go. He's still up there, remember?"
Gareth laughed slightly at her words.
"Remind me to thank him when we get back to the surface, he's the one to told me to make a run for it."
If only Loki could see us now...
They had all changed so much from the years far behind them. Back then, they seemed to fight more than they actually worked together - and yet here they were now. Finn smiled at the memory.
But, there was no time for nostalgia. It was time to move on and face the enemy in front of them.
"Break times over. We're moving towards the center of this floor, that's where the next path down is, and that's where we'll find our goal."
The 59th floor was an interesting one. It was hot and humid, filled with jungle trees and towering vegetation. The massive sloping walls formed a natural coliseum with only one way in, and one way path out.
The only thing out of place was a massive tree like structure that extended from the center of the floor. At the top was a light red bundle of petals that swirled together into a tight ball.
"Is that... a flower bud?"
"Move in. Slowly."
Together, the Loki Familia members began to advance, cuttingthrough vines and leaves, trudging through the undergrowth towards the center. They grasped their weapons nervously as they advanced on the unmoving structure.
The closer we get, the more my thumb starts to ache...
"Finn? It's-"
Moving.
As they stepped closer and closer, the flower bud began to convulse until slowly it unraveled.
"Get ready!"
The leaves peeled back and away, and the stem started to tremble.
"What the hell is going on..."
"Is that... a person?"
Before their very eyes, the leaves had peeled away to reveal the slumped over figure of a sleeping woman. Her long flowing hair framed her doll-like face as she remained at sleep. Her torso seemed to be stuck in the plant, her body melded with the stem at her waist. In the center of her forehead, a gleaming red gem sparkled in the low light.
"Is she being absorbed? Finn we have to help -"
"No. Wait."
Their party halted their advance, and as if on cue, she opened her eyes.
Silently, her body straightened, her blank expression turning to face them.
"Captain, she sees us…"
"Steady..."
The figure's eyes widened as they fell upon them.
"She doesn't look right..."
"Captain! Your orders!?"
"..."
"Fuck this! I'm not waiting around to die!"
"Bete! Wait!"
Nervousness and uncertainty had begun to spread through their ranks like a wildfire as each and every member waited for Finn to speak.
For the second time that day, he felt the tinges of fear, of uncertainty, eating away at his senses.
"Everyone... prepare to-"
"Aria..."
The figure spoke. Her voice was distorted, as if multiple voices overlapped with one another, all speaking at once.
"Aria...!"
Finn turned his head to Ais, who stood next to him, her sword already drawn.
"Finn... this is it... that's our target…!"
He nodded hesitantly. Behind him, Riveria spoke calmly.
"We're with you, to the end."
The rest of the group stood behind him, awaiting his orders.
With a smile, Finn shook away his last remaining doubts and fears. He turned to face the monster before them, brandishing his spears in both hands. His Familia was counting on him, and he wasn't about to let them down.
"Then let's go on an adventure."
