Chapter 15: Shinryaku! Hebi Musume

Ramses's View.

The ship reached the temple, and Pisti transported the four of us to the garden of the dungeon. It wasn't really a garden, but there were four square pools of water with a small water tornadoes on the center of each pool. It was night time, and it got real cold. My current attire wasn't fit for cold temperatures. Night times in Heliohapt were extremely cold, so we wore thick blankets that came from Imuchakk. We took a rest near the entrance. Franklin said he wanted to make sure Goap would be Amihiha's Djinn, so he wanted everyone to rest. This man is caring and selfless. Strangely, I feel like he's hiding a selfish side, but I shouldn't mistake it with atonement or generosity. The soldiers aided us in nursing Amihiha back to health. Amihiha suffered some serious physical injury. The Rampaging Unicorn injured some of her bones, and the strain on her arms from attempting to pull out the beast's jaw took a heavy toll. The horn toss ensured her temporary muscle injury.

While everyone slept in their own tents, I found myself sleepless. It was as if I wanted to do something before I die. I got out of my tent, welcomed by the night time coldness. Right now, I wore the robe that most royalty in Heliohapt wear. I wore a tunic that started at my shoulders; a sash wrapped around a few inches below my shoulders. It's a one piece outfit, with a long robe covering my short pantaloons. I retained my sandals and bandages. I looked out and saw Franklin, restlessly training with his giant dual-bladed tool and weapon. He looked at me with those green eyes and greeted.

"Hey Ramses, why are you still awake?" he said to me.

I scratched the back of my head, thinking of an answer.

"I don't know, I just can't sleep," I replied.

Sharp metal clanged on the ground. Frank put his giant dual bladed weapon on the ground with his left hand and pointed at me with his other hand.

"Want me to tire you out so you can sleep?" he said. He grabbed one of the blades and pointed it at me.

A smile crept up on my face. With a single unsheathing, I already answered his question. A tornado formed around my sword, transforming into a slender Eastern country styled blade.

"Nice Katana, Ramses," he said.

Are those the name of the swords in the Far East? It doesn't matter, I must focus on the battle.

"Swordplay only,"

"Gladly,"

He charged at me full speed. I quickly blocked that attack with my own sword swing. What I found strange was that he's using both halves together. I quickly swatted off his blade and attempted a lunge, only to be dodged easily. He swung from his right with the fused blade, but I blocked it. The sword scraped my blade from that one slash, then I suddenly blocked three quick strikes, and I saw him doing the ending posture of an X slash. I was surprised from that extreme agility. I went back into fighting position, while he withdrew his weapon.

"Where did the first strike come from?!" I said to the Undead Marauder.

"I simply swung diagonally upward with my sword, then I unfolded it quickly and did an X slash with both blades,"

He unequipped his Djinn Weapon and put his Metal Vessel in his pocket. I raised a brow, wondering what kind of move will he do next. He beckoned me to come, signalling with his index finger.

"I can't fight you without you holding a weapon, Franklin," I said to him with a serious voice.

"Come on, you don't think I'll use swordplay? Just try to hit me anywhere,"

I ran forward and swung my blade from my right hip horizontally. He seemed to have spotted my preparatory motion and responded by quickly pulling out his scissor from his pocket, hopping away slightly, and kicking his Metal Vessel with his right foot when he landed on the ground with both feet. By the time he kicked it, his weapon reemerged, stuck to his ankle. The sudden strike surprised me, and the force of his strike made my blade flinch. I raised a brow in confusion.

"The Parthevian Sword Dance technique?" I asked.

"I don't know what that is, but I just improvised with my newfound magnetic ability with my Metal Vessel,"

When Armakan took me to Parthevia, I saw some belly dancers who fought with a fusion of dancing and swords. They used all of their limbs to fight with a sword, even managing to hold one with feet. If his is improvised, I can see through its sloppiness and show him how I do it. With that acknowledged, I did a quick roundslash with my blade, which was easily blocked by him. I started to utilize the wind to hold it behind my foot and kicked him with my sword kick. What surprised me was that he also knew how to do the Mantis Double Flip Kick: A kick that starts out with a jumping sword kick that reaches high, followed by the other leg, also kicking high into the air while also leaning backward, doing a back flip, only with a sword in each leg. When he kicked high, he also tossed his swords up into the air and caught them in each hand right when he landed on the ground.

"Sharrkan taught me a bit on this Parthevian Sword Dance," he said proudly. I twitched from what he just said.

"Idiot! You just said you didn't know what that fighting style was?"

He stood straight and scratched his back with the blunt edge of one of his swords.

"I did?" he said awkwardly,"Whoops?"

This guy is a forgetful idiot sometimes, and he even forgets and doesn't know what he says. Why did I appoint him as a leader? I gritted my teeth in anger, but he still stood from afar, awkwardly. He broke the silence.

"Weeeelll, I guess I should hit the hay. See you tomorrow, Ramses,"

With that, he walked away, oblivious of my anger. After a few seconds, I sighed in defeat and walked back to my own tent. It was already late at night, so I guess I should rest up. Speaking of rest, that fight really did tire me a bit. I think I should thank Franklin tomorrow. I lay down, blanketed in my sheets and let the comforting darkness of the night consume my eyes as I slowly fell asleep.

A Kou Vessel a few miles away from Goap. 3rd person perspective

Ren Kougyoku. Her slightly darker red hair is styled in her trademark elegant fashion. She wears an elaborate pink and pale yellow dress with huge sleeves and a green sash that is loosely wrapped around her hips. Despite being a princess, she's actually a King Vessel, with her Metal Vessel being the hairpin that holds her beautiful hair together.

Kouen, her brother, and the General Commander, through the suggestion of his adviser, Koumei Ren, sent her to Goap to find the alien King Vessel. The General Commander utilized this recently discovered dungeon to find that alien, and learn of his world. Hakuei was busy peacefully expanding the empire, Kouha, ever since that event, started training endlessly, and Koumei was basically too lazy, and he wouldn't have an adviser around for a few days. Kougyoku wasn't busy, and all she was doing was lonely activities. With the help of Judar, he managed to drive out her sister into his given mission. Kouen would later return to his office and comment about his goatee. He'll be planning to find a way to go to that alien without having to stay to keep order to the Kou Empire.

Kougyoku was also warned about his other King Vessel comrade, his potential Household, and the rumored Magi, so Judar reluctantly joined her alongside Hakuryuu, and some more Dungeon Monsters. Even if she had attained full Djinn Equip, she wasn't sure if her Magoi was enough to take down all four of them, considering one of his friends conquered Andras.

"You know, I joined not because En told me to, but because I want to crush those weaklings like how I did with that little midget,"

Kougyoku disagreed with his idea of carnage, despite it being part of his personality. Her disagreement was shown through her mad face.

"Judar, we're just exhausting them and apprehending them. We won't know more about their world if we kill them," she replied.

He sighed angrily, hating reason and just wanting to let out his powers on what he wishes. But he had to pretend to be friends with Kougyoku to keep his alliance with the Kou Empire intact. With them going against him, he'd already be defeated. The crimson princess looked at Hakuryuu. She remembered him always being diligent in spear training, but he has somewhat grown colder and distant ever since he returned home with Zagan, and his Household(of monstrosities).

Judar pondered for a bit. He knows that he didn't summon that dungeon.

Yunan, you queer looking Magi, are you trying to help them?

Tomorrow. Franklin's view.

It was already early afternoon, and Amihiha has finally healed from her wounds. Thanks to medicine, as well as some of Emiline's healing magic, she got into full function in no time. I wanted everyone to take a day off before heading into the dungeon. According to Pisti, the time in the Dungeon's is far different from the real world. Sinbad, after he captured Baal, actually took 2 months, despite his journey lasting for a few hours. So, the young Artemyran handed Emiline the Eye of the Rukh to contact Yamraiha if they needed a ship back to Sindria.

We approached the large door of the dungeon. It was like a mirror, a water-like mirror. I could see my reflection, but once my finger touched it, small circular waves fanned out. No matter what faces me, I will push them aside for the sake of Amihiha becoming a King Vessel. With a deep breath, I entered through the dungeon's door, with my friends following my steps. As I entered, my eyes were consumed by great light. Next thing I knew, I was underwater, but for some reason, I saw the distant Earth by my feet. I opened my mouth in surprise, with bubbles coming out. Strangely, I could still breath, but the way I floated was as if I was underwater. I looked behind me and saw Emiline looking around frantically, unable to apprehend the current situation. Ramses had a calm look on his face. Amihiha playfully swam around, much to the our confusion. I turned away from Amihiha's silliness and looked at the Earth. After a few seconds, that same light consumed our vision, and then darkness was left.

I slowly opened my eyes, and realized I was actually underwater. I started to slowly sink to the bottom of the sea. I looked down and saw the deep blue abyss. Out of panic, I swam up to the surface as fast as I could. When my head was free from the horrific blue sea, I realized that I was in a large cave filled with water. The cave was illuminated by bright cyan sacs attached to the ceiling of the cave. If I become a zombie, then I'd sink, and who knows how long it will take me to climb up 20,000 leagues under the sea? I never took swimming classes, but I improvised, learning from how people swam via observation. I was kept kicking my feet downward while swiping my arms to the side to keep in place. I heard water splashing to my right and I turned to see Emiline and Amihiha, with Ramses hitching on her back. I was relieved to see them in good condition.

"All of you are okay!" I said with a smile.

"Well... can't say the same for Ramses," said Emiline as she squinted her eyes and moved her pupils to the left. Ramses was basically hyperventilating.

"I saw Ramses panicking and flapping his arms underwater, so I put him on my back," Amihiha said with a smile on her face.

Emiline rose out of the water, using Gravity Magic to fly. She reached into the pocket of her robe and threw out a blue magic carpet. She smiled as she telekinetically lifted the party up into the carpet. Thank you booby lad-er Lady Yamuraiha for donating a magic carpet to Emiline. The carpet was big enough to carry all of us. Much to my relief, I didn't have to swim that far; I'm no Michael Phelps. Our Magi flew around the vast cave, which she said was "as large as the Lake of the Woods,". We spent an hour searching for any door outside of water, but there were none.

"Judging by no outer entrance through land, maybe there's an exit underwater," Emiline said as she looked at the ocean.

"Well, considering it's a dungeon..." I grabbed my scissors out of my pocket and pointed at the water.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Emiline said, unsure if I should electrify the lake.

"Yeah... I guess," Dammit! She made me nervous.

Regardless, I shot a surge of black lightning into the water. Suddenly, bubbles started to form, large ones. The top half of a beautiful lady emerged from the water. She had white skin, large breasts, covered by clam shells, and bright blue hair. Her eyes were closed, making her seem suspicious. In fact, she's already suspicious. Underneath her torso is probably some sort of giant demon thingy. I aimed at her, and spoke to her.

"Hey you, if you have some sort of giant demon half, why don't you just reveal it instead of seducing us?"

No response. With that, I shot a little thunderbolt from my scissors, and she yelped in pain. Was that suppose to make me feel sorry? I don't know if I should approach it or not. I could probably be eaten by some sort of giant fish. I kind of feel sorry for harming her/it, because she/it was shivering pain. I turned to Emiline.

"Hey Emiline, can you use Gravity Magic to float me down to her?" she raised a brow,"If she's one of those giant monster thingies, then instantly pull me up,"

She thought for a moment, and ultimately accepted. I floated down slowly toward the seemingly suspicious lady in the water. Her eyes opened, revealing snake-like eyes bathed in blood red.

"I really hope you're other half is not some sort of giant monster,"

Finally, she smiled gleefully, like how Amihiha would, and finally spoke.

"You know, I'm just embarrassed to show you my other half," she said rather cutely. Not buying it. Dungeon monsters are always out to kill any challengers. She's just pretending to be cute.

"Are you by any chance some sort of Scylla? Like you have octopus legs?" I asked. I can't believe I remembered those monster girl mangas I read in the past. In a world like this, Scyllas are most likely to exist.

She blushed with a deep crimson and hid her face with her hands.

"Please don't look!" she shouted.

I looked at Emiline and gave a signal to lower me into the water. I held my breath and saw what was underneath. A large serpentine tail was underneath, paddling underwater to keep herself floating. There was a loincloth covering where her nether regions would be. After a few seconds, Emiline lifted me out. She still expressed embarrassment.

"Uh, okay. So?"

"I'm just so ugly!" she bawled.

As she approached me for a hug, I remembered I left aside my Limiter Gem in case she would consume me. When she went in contact with my skin, she shivered from my cold body. She backed away slightly.

"W..why are you cold?" she asked.

"Not important right now. The most important thing is can we trust you?"

Emiline, Ramses, and Amihiha all shouted "Whaat?!".

"Franklin, what you're doing is foolish! Trusting a Dungeon Monster?!" Ramses shouted from above.

"That girl might transform and eat you," Amihiha followed.

I can't believe I said that. With that, I pointed my scissor at her, causing her to flinch in fear. If she was a monster, would she attack back if she felt threatened?

"If I were to shoot you with a million volts of lightning, will you survive and retaliate, or die?" I had a cold look in my eyes. She was now crying from my threat.

"I'm not a Dungeon Monster! I actually entered this dungeon before you guys, and I got mutated by the monsters here,"

Ugh, I don't want to imagine that. There must have been some sort of- What am I thinking?! Was she raped by monsters?! What kind of dirty mind do I have?!

"So... where are you from?"

"I um... came from... Los Angeles," she said timidly.

What the hell?! We have another person from my Earth?! Emiline and I were so surprised that if this was a cartoon, our wide mouths would go all the way to the center of the Earth.

"Are you telling me you're from Los Angeles?!" I twitched madly. Before I replied, I regained my composure quickly.

"What's a car?" I tested her.

"It's a vehicle that is run on gas and moves on four wheels," she said with slight confidence.

I grabbed an eyeball (literally) and wiped it with my cape before putting it back on. Thank goodness I'm a zombie with regeneration, because my eyesight came back in a pinch. She clearly had a face of fear from my eyeball wiping. It was as if she's stuck in a horror movie.

"What the hell are you?!" she shouted as she flinched back.

"I'm a zombie, a sane one that doesn't give two jack shits about brains or flesh," I said roughly, causing her to flinch back,"If you wanted my name, I'm Franklin Steinherz. What's yours?"

"Amelia Anguem," she said while looking away in fear.

"Okay Milia, if you have been here before, then do you know a way out of this room?"

"It's underneath here, if you can follow me, then that would be great."

Then she looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

"Can you please not zap me? You already ruined my rest," she whined.

I sighed and nodded, securing her safety. I looked at Amihiha and nodded, confirming that she should let go of her grip. I dropped into the deep blue lake, with the snake girl taking the lead. She swam quite fast. Geez, now a monster girl is in front of me. What's worse is that she came from the modern world.

I sunk down slowly, as if I was doing a slow motion free fall. I didn't feel that scared, because I can't drown while I'm a zombie. I was kind of scared because of what lies in the depths. She might be trapping me, considering that I can't use my Djinn with precision. If I shot a lightning bolt, then I would get zapped, and I might zap Amelia. She might be telling the truth, but if she isn't, then I might have to kill her. Actually, I don't know, maybe she might attack me because someone is controlling her? Either way, I'd feel sorry for killing her. She seems to actually show fear, but she's also trying to help us in order to prove she's an ally. Is she an ally? Is there going to be more monster girls?!

It started getting darker, and darker, and darker. I was pretty deep underwater, and for some reason, I was immune to atmospheric pressure. I suddenly realized that I wasn't wet, and I was covered by a Borg. I looked behind me and saw Emiline, Amihiha and Ramses, all in Borgs provided by our Magi. There was also a light orb right above us. Emiline squinted her eyes at the snake girl. I'm guessing that's some sort of projectile?

We followed her through the dark depths of the deep sea. I'm not sure how she could see forward without the light.

"How long did it take you to learn how to swim?" I asked her.

She looked back, whilst swimming forward.

"I spent a really long time adapting to my snake body," she said with a smile.

After a few minutes of travelling in bubbles, she bonked her head on something. A giant kraken like creature was what she bumped into. Amelia quickly swam toward me. Quickly, Emiline and the others jetted out of the depths, using her strength magic to propel herself to the surface as fast as possible.

"You forgot me you klutz!" I shouted.

Too late, the party was already out of sight. I looked back and saw the giant kraken approaching slowly. At least Emiline kept that light orb... It dissipated, and so did my Borg. I was inside utter darkness under the sea with a snake girl hugging me, and a kraken about to kill me. What's worse is my clothes are wet again, and jeans underwater is really bad. My day has just gone from bad to I'm doomed, even as a zombie.

A/N: How about some Cliffhangers? Anyone? Anyone? Whatever. So, the snake girl was inspired by a random manga I found in the interwebz (Warning: Has Adult content, but no Adult huggy times) Monster Musume or something like that. Either way, I hope you enjoyed my story. Review if you wish, and thanks for reading.