Author's note:
This email issue on FF is really annoying...
Chapter 67: Forbidden technology
Philia:
"This… This is it." Her quiet words were completely unnecessary. Under the light of magic lanterns, the door at the end of the tunnel was as grand as she remembered.
The entire group of nearly fifty people stood stunned before the majesty that lay just out of sight beneath Daedalus street.
"No way…" Tsubaki, captain of Hephaestus familia stepped forward first to approach the door. A half dwarf, she was dressed like an amazon with only a wrap around her chest and a pareo skirt. The level five adventurer stroked the metal with almost a reverent hand. "It is… It really is entirely made from Orichalcum. The door is unbreakable."
Every person there had heard of Orichalcum. Every one of them knew how expensive it was. The one door before them was at least one billion valis, if not more. For only one entrance. There were reportedly entrances in the dungeon and maybe more in Daedalus Street as well.
"How long has this thing been growing for?"
Philia did not know the speaker but thought the question was valid. Instead, she turned to look for Heathcliff. The lone member from Freya familia stood out like a sore thumb. Calm, cool, and collected, he possessed a sense of self-dignity that the other adventurers had lost upon being greeted by the grand door.
"Well, are you all ready?"
For a long moment Philia thought that no one would say anything. However, Tsubaki eventually growled out an answer. "Ahh. Let's rescue Welf."
Heathcliff waved a hand and the object he held sparkled red. That was all Philia could see before it was hidden again. With barely a sound, the door flipped up, opening a path into the dungeon known only as Knossos.
"That's the door open," Tsubaki sighed. "Now, it was you, right girl? Our scout."
Swallowing, Philia nodded and walked forward. Between Heathcliff and Tsubaki she took the first step into Knossos. Intoning the short chant, she activated her only magic, "Astral eyes!"
Vision morphing, the light of magic lanterns become insignificant next to the blue glow that suffused the room. Once again, the door that now rested open above her was by far the largest source of energy. It was also nearly impossible to see the mechanism that was above it.
Lowering her gaze, Philia began to walk down the hallway. Unlike the dungeon that was constantly pulsing with blue energy providing infinite light and detail, the walls here were dark and dead.
This was indeed a manmade dungeon. Taking another few steps forward, the first line of blue light caught her gaze. "There, on the left is a trap. If you step on the tile, it will open the wall, and something will happen."
"Something?" Tsubaki asked cautiously, walking behind her.
Philia knew that the Hephaestus member was on edge, but Philia still glared at her. "I track energy flow not what is happening behind a hard metal wall."
"Fair enough."
Moving on in the awkward half-silence of the hallway, Philia continued to scan, searching for traps. The path predictably led them down and down, far deeper than the sewers. Down until they were level with the first floor of the dungeon.
"We're here… The first floor of Knossos."
Oppressive atmosphere surrounding her, Philia led them on, their only tool against the traps in place.
Ais:
"W-What is this?"
"I… have no idea."
It was not the answer Ais wanted to hear, but it was the predictable one. Giving a glance over at her red-headed companion, she found herself comforted by her presence.
In terms of leadership, Alise's style could not be further from Finn's. It was wild instinct versus cold calculation. Ais had been like Alise as a child, allowing her emotions to control every action that she made. Finn and Riveria had been the ones to help her control herself and turn her power into a deadly blade that only cut one way.
After spending time with the Astraea girls however, Ais wondered if she had done something wrong. If perhaps there was an even greater power in the emotions that she had sealed away and bubbled up only at inopportune times.
More important than her emotional state was the state of the pantry. Designed mostly for smaller monsters on the floor, the roof was only three meters or so. That was not the problem, it was the creeping green substance that covered the floor and walls.
Each step on it made the substance jiggle slightly. Like flies on a web, Ais could tell that they had been noticed already.
Sword out, she was already considering activating Ariel. Even with it she was a poor match against Revis. Thankfully, Alise who walked beside her with blade still sheathed had proven the monster's match.
She knows my mother… That single word that she had spoken had consumed Ais' every moment, not even asleep could she escape seeing that scene in her dreams.
"Remain calm, Ais. You'll get us both in trouble in you fly off the handle here."
"I know that. I will not fail you this time." Ais assured the familia captain. Holding a tighter reign to her emotions, Ais wondered if her hands would stop shaking at some point.
After another one hundred meters, Ais stopped side-by-side with Alise. "They are coming."
"Aye. Whatever they are." Finally, drawing her sword, Alise placed her free hand Ais' arm. "Stay back and watch for the first part. This is undoubtedly a trap of some sort."
"…Fine." Repressing the urge to rush forward, Ais stood still as Alise advanced slowly across the green plant material. After a dozen seconds, the forms of their attackers materialized.
They were monsters with long-plantlike bodies, their heads flowers. Roaring, they attacked Alise with the speed of level three monsters.
Alise almost dismissively swung her blade in an arc. The first three creatures splitting in half and beginning to turn into ash before hitting the ground.
Undeterred, the next wave attacked the adventurer. Each attack was more pointless than the next. In moments, the air was clouded with ash as Alise cut her way casually through the monsters.
Is this… everything? Ais would not believe that a monster as strong as this Revis woman would rely on monsters that a level three could fight on an equal footing.
Just as Ais was considering this, the form of Revis appeared at the end of the tunnel. She was approaching slowly wielding an odd crimson blade the colour of fresh blood. Contrasting strongly with the colour were green patterns like vines that gave it the appearance of being alive. Similar to their last meeting, she was wearing a tight outfit that hugged every curve of her feminine body.
"Well, well. You idiots actually followed me down here. Are you retarded?"
"Scared, sister?" Alise shot back, seemingly completely unperturbed at being addressed so. "Drop your blade and talk or I will make you."
"Ahaha! I admit, you have grown strong, ridiculously strong, my sister. However… you are in my lair now. Proceed with caution."
Then, without a word of warning, Revis turned around and dashed away.
"Shit!" Ignoring her own advice, Alise took off faster than Ais could run.
Getting outpaced instantly, Ais called upon her make up the distance. "Awaken tempest, Ariel!" The magic made up the difference in speed, but not enough to close the gap that had been created.
"Alise, wait!" Her words were cut as a wall of plant flesh closed off the path between them. Tsking, Ais came to a hard stop, coming up short just in front of the impediment. "Out of my way!"
Roaring, Ais swung hard at the flesh, trying to sever the obstacle. Filled with a sense of urgency, Ais did not notice the odd emotion that filled her: fear. Not for herself, but for her companions.
Her mighty swing created a large rent. The force of the wind briefly separating the two flaps before they closed together again. In short order, the planty material was sealing itself.
Do I keep swinging? Charge it? Lil Rafaga?
Options swirling through her mind, Ais struggled to come up with a decision as time ticked ever onward, each second an age in a fight between first-tier adventurers.
Deciding on slicing it off, Ais jumped in the air swung her blade in a diamond shape. As she started to fall, the center portion of the wall was blown out in the exact shape of her sword swings.
I'm through!
"Hisss…"
The hoarse sound from behind dashed Ais' hopes. Whirling around, she found a massive version of the smaller plantsnakes charging towards her. Its girth almost occupying the entirety of the tunnel. Using her magic wind as an aid, she pushed off from the center and threw herself against the wall.
Just as she thought herself clear, the monster shifted. Moving to scrap against the wall, Ais was trapped between the two.
An eternity passed for Ais as her body was roughly dragged against the wall of the corridor, plant matter and rock breaking away as Ariel tried to protect her.
When the monster finally passed, she collapsed to the ground, breathing hard. Briefly examining her body, Ais was glad that everything was still in one piece. The combination of her endurance and magic had dealt more damage to the wall than herself.
Glaring angrily at the worm, Ais shook off the bits of loose green plant flesh adorning herself and charged after it. The monster had broken through the barricade that had been set up without even pausing.
Pursuing the creature, Ais prepared herself to stab the tail and hopefully slow it down. Its current pace was fast enough that it was hard to get a good swing at it. The narrow tail whipped around and obfuscated possible angles of attack.
Focused extensively on the tail, Ais missed the change in sound. The tunnel had opened up and there was a pillar in the center of the room. The thirty-meter monster had used it to turn around and was now coiled to lunge at her.
Coming to a halt, Ais gasped in fear. If this thing dragged her against the wall or floor the entire way back, she would not come out of it in one piece.
Left with no choice, Ais met the charge head on. "Lil Rafaga!"
Concentrating her magic to the maximum, Ais lashed out with her ultimate attack. The wind spiraled to the maximum cut straight through the things mouth and body. Gore and viscera surrounded Ais without touching her. Walking straight through the monster's hollowed out body, Ais glanced back once to see it turning into ash. She hadn't even seen pieces of the magic stone remaining from how badly she shattered it.
Looking at the fleeting magic around her body, Ais stretched once, feeling the exhaustion creeping through her body. It had been a long pursuit and rough first fight.
"I'm… too weak still."
Level six…
She needed to hit that milestone. No that wasn't quite right. She needed to be level six today and wasn't. Gritting her teeth to ward off her disappointment, Ais charged again, searching for Alise.
Kirito:
"Well, we made it…" Rolling his neck, Kirito stretched out the day's kinks and bruises as he stared up at the waterfall from tis basin on the twenty-seventh floor.
"Ahh, it's my first time seeing it. What a beautiful view."
Giving Morte a sly grin, Kirito smacked him once on the back. "Get stronger and you can come by whenever you feel like it."
"Ahaha, or I can just hire you to bring me!"
Sighing, Kirito shook his head. "I'm afraid my time is becoming increasingly expensive. Anyone outside of my family is unlikely to be able to afford much. Definitely not a multi-day trip into the dungeon."
"Ahh, too bad then. I guess this is kind of like your bachelor party huh? One last night out with the guys before women consume your life."
Kirito chuckled. It may not be that bad of an analogy. Glancing backwards, he frowned at what the three men were doing. From inside their cart, they had removed nets of a bluish metal. Even to Kirito's highly enhanced vision, the net became invisible as it entered the water.
"What are those made of?"
"Why not ask them?" Morte teased.
Glaring at him, Kirito walked forward and repeated his question.
"These?" Gregory hefted one of them. "Why a form of mithril. Very sturdy, very expensive."
Kirito whistled in appreciation. It was the same metal that formed the basis for magic swords and most other magical items. The Hestia Knife was made from it as well.
"I've never seen it with that colour before."
"Ahh, that's because the color is determined by the smith's ability and intention or so I've heard. If you want a metal that disappears in water well, this is what you get."
Stooping down, Kirito pulled at part of it, testing its rigidity. The net was woven so that he couldn't even fit a finger through one of the holes. Slowly increasing the strength with which he pulled, Kirito felt his muscles begin to strain with effort before he reached the strength that the mithril began to give.
Stopping before the mesh would rip, Kirito stood up reassured. The plan would work. Wait, why am I relieved? Disturbed again, Kirito shook his head. He wanted the men to be happy, and he would have no problems if they had come here to slaughter monsters for fun so… why was this different?
Distracted as he was, Kirito missed the signs. It was the first thing he had been told of the Water Capital: Beware the water.
"Watch out!" Kirito scream was drowned out by an eruption of water as a large shape emerged. Gregory was too slow to dodge the shadow that emerged. The Aqua serpent's gaping jaws aiming for his head.
With no time to draw his blade, Kirito lunged. Grabbing it around the middle, Kirito dragged the monster and himself into the water, saving Gregory and dooming himself.
Midori:
Frozen in place, she could not move as a feminine voice played out over the speakers.
"Huh? Was that my mother? Mom, are you there? Am I… dreaming? What is this?"
The government official Kikuoka placed a hand on Midori's shoulder that was probably supposed to be comforting before responding. "You are not dreaming Miss Suguha. We have cloned your soul so that you may tell us of the situation inside the game."
"Cloned… My soul? I'm… not real?"
It really is my daughter's voice, her mannerisms… Midori could also tell that she had matured. She was confused but also had an air of self-possession in her words still.
"That is correct," Kikuoka soothed her, a happy smile on his face. "Your mother is here and would be ecstatic to hear about your adventurers in the game."
"It isn't a game!" Suguha yelled, her voice powerful. "I don't know what sick trick this is, but I refuse your deception! You think this love that I feel for Onii-chan can be replicated!? I will break out of this containment and make you pay for this!"
"D-Daughter!?" Midori finally spoke up. "I-Is that really you?"
"STOP IT! How dare you use my Mother's voice! I hate you! I hate you! I hate—hate—hate—hate—ha…" Repeating, the voice began breaking down. Fading into static, the speaker went quiet.
Strength leaving her legs Midori collapsed to the ground. "Ahahaha… you've strayed so far from God that you wandered straight into hell. This was supposed to make me cooperate with you? You'd kill yourself and destroy the entire thing if you had an ounce of humanity left to you."
"This was a bad first impression," Kikuoka admitted. "Your children are… strong-minded. Well, anyway, let's get you back to your room until you cool down."
Allowing herself to be led away, Midori did take one final look back at the machine. If I had been the one to… Shaking her head, Midori forced that hope down. She could not follow Kikuoka down that path, no matter how desperate she was to talk to her children.
Bell:
"Too slow…" Muttering to himself, Bell stroked the hilt of the Hestia Knife while maintaining a lookout at blank wall.
They were slowly crawling through Knossos, creating a map, and finding little. Terrified by the scale of the place, they were spending more time gaping at the sprawling architecture than advancing.
Each step through the halls that should not exist drained their resolve even more. Especially because there would have been casualties by now if not for Philia. Her Astral Eyes were able to detect every pit trap and false wall.
With it she had even managed to locate a small cache of emergency weapons that the creators had stored away. They had taken the weapons but none of them were of a particularly high quality. Despite that, Philia had been bouncing with excitement, repeating the word, 'treasure' in a sing-song voice.
The girl in question had calmed down and stopped them again with a raised hand. "Intersection ahead with doors… One of them is in the floor."
"The floor?" Tsubaki asked the leader of their expedition group. "Where does it lead?"
"How should I know?" Philia growled as she led them to the intersection in question. It was one of the large four-way ones. The members of the party drawing maps were updating as Philia marked a line with her knife. "This is the edge of it."
Tsubaki grunted. "Excellent craftsmanship. Even with you pointing it out, I can barely see the seam."
To Bell's eye, there was nothing there. It was more of the repetitive black floor that they had been covering for the last two hours.
"What's more," Philia spoke slowly, still feeling out the invisible trap, "is that we can not activate it. The activation… is remote."
"Remote?"
"I don't know how to explain it, but the part that corresponds to whatever the Freya member has doesn't exist."
"…Then how?" She muttered. Ruffling her hair with both hands Tsubaki let out an anguished mewl. "What the hell is this place!? I need Finn, I can't lead us through this."
"Don't you dare give up on Welf!" Bell snapped at her angrily. The entire raid had stopped to listen, their patrolling of Knossos ending as the monotony degraded their attention.
"Huh? You think you're special, boy? We all want Welf back, but what the hell is this place! I thought that it would be a small ass place! We've been here for hours already!"
"Then we need to move faster!" Bell protested. "If we keep dawdling—"
"Do you want to fall in a hole?" Tsubaki growled. Stalking forward, she planted a finger on Bell's chest "Tell me, can you lead a group in here? Have you seen any of the traps?"
"No, I haven't," Bell admitted, "But does that matter? We are adventurers! The dungeon is far more dangerous!"
"We are adventurers, huh?" Tsubaki let out a sharp, condescending laugh. "By that metric, we would have abandoned Welf for dead. You should get your arguments in line boy before you start arguing."
"You must admit though," Rain spoke up, placing a hand on Bell's shoulder, "that the current method could take weeks. We need a plan, no, that's not true, we need first-tier adventurers."
"Tsk, are you proposing to hold off until Loki familia returns? Even if a messenger reaches them that could be weeks!"
Lili gasped from behind him. "They planned it all… The timing was precisely aiming for the moment when retrieving Loki familia would be hardest. They knew that the location of Knossos was starting to slip out and made a gamble to kidnap the one person that can let them defeat all of Orario…"
Bell froze at that, looking between Lili and Tsubaki. "Welf's magic swords… are they really that strong?"
"Strong enough to set fire to the sea," Tsubaki cursed. Stamping her foot, she cursed again. "Ahh, damn it! I can't, I can't make this decision!"
"Was that planned as well?" Lili's voice caused Bell to jump again. The Prum was deep in thought, chin in one hand. "Kirito's mission… It couldn't possibly be…?"
"We don't need Kirito!" Bell yelled at her. "We can do this by ourselves! Come on, let's keep moving!"
Stalking forward, Bell made it almost halfway through the intersection before a soft rumbling sounded out. Eyes widening, he realized his mistake too late. Turning back to the raid group, terrified he stuck out a useless hand as the ground below him opened up.
Kirito:
It took only a second for Kirito to realize the truth. Fighting underwater is the worst.
The Aqua Serpent struggled and squirmed with seemingly limitless power while his own blade remained undrawable in its sheath. With a failing grip on the beast, Kirito was finally flung free.
He no longer knew where he was or even which direction was up. Senses alerting him, Kirito rotated to see the serpent looping around to attack him.
Growling, Kirito had no recourse but to shove his forearm in its gaping jaws to prevent the monster from ripping his head off.
Grunting from the sharp pain, Kirito could feel the hardened leather fighting against the sharp teeth to protect his arm.
Fumbling at his belt, Kirito grabbed his stone extracting knife and struck at the serpent's head. His slow, weak underwater strike deflecting off the hard scales.
Stop panicking! As his air began to run out, Kirito's panic was increasing exponentially. Forcing his knife hand still, Kirito took aim and lunged.
Sliding into the Serpent's right eye, Kirito's arm was freed as it roared and screamed with pain. Seeming to forget about him, the serpent swam away leaving a swarm of bubbles that obscured it for the few moments it needed to disappear from Kirito's sights.
Tracking the bubbles as they rose, Kirito swam up until… A roof?
Glancing around in the murky darkness, Kirito noticed that he was in some sort of tunnel. Walls all around there were only two directions to pick from.
Follow the monster or? Pausing momentarily, Kirito could only guess at how long he had before death. Taking one look back at the other direction, Kirito made up his mind.
I'll follow the monster. There has to be a way out…
As he turned to do so, Kirito froze, mouth gaping. Hanging in the water was the mermaid that ecchi monster lovers always envisioned. If Kirito had taken a picture of her from the waist up, one would struggle to notice the monstrous details.
Beautiful… Wearing no clothes, Kirito beheld her milky white skin and medium-sized breasts on full display. Her face held a weary curiosity as she looked at him.
Stricken by some odd emotion, Kirito waved at her. It! He reprimanded himself mentally. This was a bloodthirsty monster that would tear him to pieces if he let his guard down.
Tightening his grip on his knife, Kirito prepared himself to swim past the monster. He could not match its swimming speed and was quickly running out of time to—
The supposedly bloodthirsty monster raised both of its hands and happily waved with both hands. There was a radiant—very human—smile plastered on her face.
What…? What is this? Stunned, Kirito lost his grip on his extracting knife. It sunk slowly to the floor of the tunnel far below him.
Gasping, the mermaid took off with a speed that exceeded the Serpent's, whirling to follow her path with his eyes, Kirito had rarely felt so out of his league. If the mermaid wanted to toy with him before letting him drown, there was nothing he could do to stop her.
As she swam back up in front of him, she held his knife in two hands, proffering it to Kirito with another bright smile.
Not understanding what was happening, Kirito grabbed it and after only a short pause, shoved it back into its sheath.
Air!
With his lungs screaming at him, staring at the cute mermaid became a very distant second priority. Nodding at her in thanks, Kirito swam around her, searching for blessed oxygen to refresh the screaming in chest.
Kirito's greatest fear occurred when the mermaid grabbed onto his arm. Must be an enhanced species… Smart enough to play with its food.
Looking over her, Kirito was still formulating a plan when she gave him a happy smile, pulled their bodies together, and began to swim.
Ehh? Faces almost pressed together, Kirito could not move a single muscle. He was being carried through the water at great speed all while his 'saviour?' wore a great big smile.
It was only half a dozen seconds so before the surface approached and Kirito found himself soaring through the air. Landing on solid ground, his lungs inhaled by themselves.
Jerking upright, he stared wildly at the strange mermaid. She was still half in the water, one hand supporting her upper body while she waved innocently.
Returning the wave, Kirito spoke without thinking. "Thank you. You may have saved my life…"
"You're welcome!" Responding in a singsong voice, her previously flushed cheeks paled to a deathly white. Clamping her hand across her mouth, she dove back into the water.
"Hey, wait!" Reaching out a hand, Kirito was far too late to stop the mermaid. "What… was that?"
Words from a monster? Impossible… Isn't it?
Holding a hand to his head, Kirito felt his worldview lurching around him. "Does anyone… know anything about the dungeon?"
Alise:
With twin roars, the collision of swords shook the air with shockwaves. By merely swinging at each other, the infected pantry around them was being torn to pieces.
Aise and Revis themselves were slowly following suit. Alise's only real injury was a shallow cut across her cheek. That was in addition to a dozen myriad cuts that were only cloth deep. Her metal armour was holding on as the outfit around it was getting shredded. Revis' uniform was in a similar situation, the tight red leather was frayed in several places but was clearly far tougher than Alise's cloth.
Alise's only real blow up to this point was a long, shallow cut along Revis' stomach. Blood had pooled at the intersection, but the red leather had moved, adapting to the substance, and sealing it.
"RAAH!"
Meeting Revis' swing with a sidestep and a parry, Alise trapped it against the ground with her own blade. "Why are you fighting sister? Where have you been all these years?"
"Still talking, are you?" Revis growled. "I know you have more in the tank. Why not go all out? Why not slaughter me!?"
Alise physically recoiled in disgust. "What the hell are talking about!? Why would I want to kill my sister!? Are you still my sister!? Answer me!"
Revis just chuckled. "You really want to know? You want to know what happened?"
"Yes!"
Alise's simple answer seemed to have caught Revis off-guard. Using her sister's distraction, Alise raised her boot and stomped on the off-putting blade.
With a snap like wood breaking, she split it a hand away from the hilt.
Revis staggered back, holding the broken stump in front of her. "You bitch! Luring me in with honeyed words. I never expected that of Honest Alise's style."
Honest Alise… She had both hated and liked the name. "Rude. You started the fight. Don't get mad because you got careless."
"Hah. True. Besides, it isn't like the blade is special." Kneeling down, Revis planted the edge into the soft green plant material they were fighting upon. It writhed and convulsed, getting sucked into the blade.
Moments later when Revis stood again, the sword was whole, excess plant material sloughing off in clumps.
"Creepy," Alise commented, "also incredibly convenient."
"Always the pragmatist… Ah, Aria. I'm glad Viscum didn't turn you into mush."
"You…" Ais growled slowing to a halt.
Perhaps unnecessarily, Alise put her left arm out, stopping Ais from advancing. "Please stay back Ais. Watch out for interference, I will get her to answer your questions."
"…It will be easier together." Ais insisted.
"…No, she is too confident still. Something is wrong here."
For a moment, Alise thought Ais was going to blow-up again. Thankfully, she nodded after a long pause. "I won't hold you down like last time."
"That's my girl." Rubbing Ais' head briefly, Alise approached Revis. "I don't know what surprises you have prepared for us and don't care. I'm dragging you out of here."
"Then bring it, Alise." Revis growled.
Smiling in acceptance, Alise raised her blade and began chanting. "Arga, Arvana, Arvelia! Argaris Alvesynth!"
Now coated in her fire magic, Alise felt a new level of power flow through her body. The plant material under her feet was curling and burning away.
As she walked forward, her passing was a cleansing. The corrupting plant life writhed and recoiled as bare rock greeted her.
"Ahh, that magic…" Revis growled. "So much like Aria's…"
Alise sniffed at the comparison. "Don't compare my awesome fire to her wind! How rude!"
With each step that she took forward, Alise continued to corner Revis. Her older sister's gaze was starting to grow panicked, eyes flicking to edges of the room, looking for an escape.
Does she really not have a plan? It was why Alise was hesitating. She had been expecting Revis to have something to flip the script. A trump card more serious than the separation between Ais and herself earlier.
"Ragh!"
Revis, finally fed up with being escorted into a corner, lunged angrily at Alise.
That will never work…
Empowered by her magic, Alise caught the blow casually on her blade and then responded with her own swing. Revis, with wide eyes just managed to catch the attack on the flat of her blade.
The power of the blow was unstoppable. With a loud bang, Revis' body was thrown hard into the wall.
So this is how it ends… Almost disappointed with the outcome, Alise raised her blade and leapt forward.
The dust from the impact cleared and Revis' offhand was no longer unoccupied. Bang!
With nowhere to dodge, Alise's stomach suddenly recoiled in pain as if she was punched. Doubling over, she stumbled as another loud bang sounded.
Her whole world spun as her head erupted in pain. Holding a hand to it she staggered away moaning; Alise lost all vision of the room.
Bang! Bang!
With each instance of the sound, another part of her body erupted in pain. Falling to one knee, Alise wasn't even sure where Revis was anymore.
I need to… I need to—OWW!
"ALISE!"
Latching onto Ais' voice, Alise decided to dive in that direction. Her head was still ringing with pain, her magic failing around her. It may have saved her life as she felt an eruption in the ground behind her.
"I'll take it from here."
"No, Ais!" Still discombobulated, Alise tried and failed to regain her feet. Opening her eyes, her vision was a doubled, spinning disaster. She could only see pieces of Ais in front of her, facing off against Revis.
"Here I come girl!" Revis howled, lunging at Ais. Their blades met in front of them, Ais' wind-coated Desperate shivering from the force of the attack. "You're mine!"
Bang! Bang!
Two bullets soared into Ais from close range and… Nothing?
Gaping at her, Alise realized that neither of them connected. Deflected by her wind, Ais had completely neutralized the powerful weapons.
"Wait, what?" Revis recoiled in surprise.
Into the gap that her magic had created, Ais spun out of the hold and started to dance. Her blade surpassed the limits of level five.
It had the beauty and practice of a fanatic. The strokes of someone that had mastered the art of slaughtering monsters. However, it was so straightforward that any skilled adventurer would be able to predict every slash.
With her left hand still filled with the gun and shocked by its ineffectiveness, Revis did not respond properly. Flinching into a defensive situation, Revis' gun did a poor job of defense as an expertly placed swing of Ais' sword cut through the fingers holding it, sending both the gun and three fingers flying in the air.
"Damn it!" Swearing, Revis turned and fled, abandoning the tunnels entirely. "Get them Violas!"
A shuffling sound from deeper in the pantry sounded as hordes of the plant monsters raced out after them.
"Tsk!" Taking one step to follow after Revis, Ais looked back at Alise's still struggling form. Giving up on pursuing the woman, she turned and raced for Alise.
"Sorry," Alise winced, gradually finding her feet again. "That gun took me by surprise."
"It is fine. Let's clear this place out."
"Agreed." Getting up, Alise massaged her head once and followed Ais into the fray.
Leafa:
"Oww…" Massaging her backside, Leafa could not stop the glare that she sent Bell's way. She was one of several people stupid enough to run after the boy.
Besides Bell, there were the two Hestia familia supporters, Silica, and Liz. That was everyone.
"T-The roof closed already?" Silica whined looking up. "A-Are we completely trapped down here?"
"Probably," Liz growled. "We have no way of opening the doors."
Bell had the wherewithal to bow his head in embarrassment and mumble an apology. "S-Sorry. I should have expected this."
"Yes, you should have!" Lili exploded. "Ms. Philia told you about the floor!"
"Enough!" Leafa spoke up, panic raising the volume. "Can anyone here map?"
"…" Silence was the response she both expected and the one that she got. To her surprise however, Haruhime shakily raised her hand.
"I—while very inexperienced—have been studying on this topic and may be able to compensate."
"Better than nothing," Liz spread her hands with a sigh.
"Monsters," Silica hissed as Pina on her head let out a low cry.
Drawing her sword, Leafa turned to follow the girl's gaze down one of the tunnels. Like the floor above him, they were at a four-way intersection. If Leafa hadn't gotten disorientated, she believed it was tilted about forty-five degrees, so the hallways were not overlapping.
Down one of them, in some direction, red eyes were staring at them. "How are there monsters here?" Leafa asked pointlessly. She knew none of them knew anything that she didn't.
Lili still answered anyway, "Lili thinks that they must have been brought from the dungeon or maybe… they are breeding them here?"
"Does it matter?" Liz sighed, "Oi, Bell, make yourself useful and be a proper vanguard."
"Umm, I would… but there are monsters coming from the other side too."
We need a leader… Taking a deep breath, Leafa decided to take a shot at it to coordinate their loose efforts. "Bell, deal with that side, Lili support him. Harhime, level boost Bell. Liz, front line on this side, Silica will support you. I'll clear out the sides with magic."
Liz laughed. "No need to be so bossy. Besides, I wanted to try this out!"
Removing a cloth, Liz brought out a hammer with a short handle. With the head glowing with a golden sheen, it could have been Mjolnir from the Norse legends that she had read.
The monsters continued to approach, revealing the swarm to be filled with strange spider monsters. They were nothing that Leafa had ever seen or heard of.
"Here… we… go!" With a great heave, Lisbeth slammed the hammer against the floor. Just as Leafa had imagined, bolts of electricity crawled along the ground, biting into the approaching creatures.
They screamed and writhed as their flesh fried. In mere moments all the movement in the hallway was reduced to twitching legs that were stuck in the air.
"Umm, this side too Lisbeth?" Bell asked nervously.
"Sure, sure!" Another swing of the golden hammer and another cleared out passage. "That was easy! Come on, let's keep moving!"
Rubbing her head, Leafa silently gave up on the leadership position and handed it off to Liz for the time.
This is going to be rough…