"What were you even thinking going off on you're own like that?! You may be a level six but that doesn't mean you can just rush off into a horde of monsters on your own! You nearly got Bell and Elilly killed because of your actions! What do you have to say for yourself!" Asfi yelled berating a nervous Ais.
Down below in the valley hundreds of monsters lay dead. Cut down by the raging swordswoman in a matter of minutes. Ais was a boon to the party's strength, there was no doubt about it.
The problem arose when Ais forgoed the party aspect of this whole mission. Which could lead to a whole slew of problems in the long run if this situation wasn't nipped in the bud immediately.
"I-I wanted to test my new level up," Ais mumbled.
"You broke rank and nearly got two people killed because you wanted to test yourself?!" Asfi screeched.
Bell and the others jumped slightly in fright at the pitch of her voice. While Ais seemed to be sweating nervous bullets down her face.
"I don't know how things are done in the Loki familia. But breaking rank and running off on your own is not and will never be allowed in my formation! I don't care what level you are you will follow that rule to the letter! Am I understood?"
Ais quickly nodded knowing she messed up. She didn't mean to get Bell and Elilly nearly killed. All she wanted to do was see how much stronger she got.
With a sigh, Asfi pushed her glasses up. "Now, with that out of the way. It's obvious that you're most likely strong enough to handle this mission on your own if needed. The thing is you're not on your own, you have us with you. But from now on we'll utilize your strength to carve us a way forward. Now come on, your little escapade has caused enough delay."
Asfi slid down the slope and back into the valley. Hundreds of monsters lay dead at her feet. But noticing no one else sliding down with her she turned her head and gave a sharp whistle.
"Get down here! We have to make sure these monster stones are crushed so we don't have to deal with an irregular!"
That seemed to kick everyone in gear as they soon slid down after her. Right as Ais was about to slide down she was stopped by a bulging arm stopping her.
"Hold up a second. You and I are gonna have a little chat first." Bell said.
Ais swallowed as the object of her intrigue looked at her. His eyes blazing with a suppressed fury. She didn't respond verbally, only giving a nod as she noticed it was only the two of them still atop the cliff.
"I don't like you. I don't like your familia. And I'm mad, really mad at what you did." Bell began. "Part of me, a really big part wants to yell and cuss you out for the stunt you pulled. But I'm holding back because we are on a mission. One where people could die at any moment. So, I'm willing to let this go. But don't expect it to happen again. Just stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours, and we'll all go home happy in the end. Understand?"
Ais swallowed again before nodding. "I do...and I'm sorry for nearly getting you killed. It wasn't my intention."
"Doesn't matter what your intention was. But like I said I'm willing to let it go. Now come on, we have more work to do."
Without another word, Bell slid down the slope and to the bottom of the valley. Leaving Ais to stand there for another second.
Feeling sad and guilty for her actions. She had truly just wanted to test out her level up to see how much stronger she grew. She didn't mean to make everyone mad.
'I'll just have to work harder then. I'll work harder and protect them to show I'm sorry.'
With that declaration running through her mind Ais slid down the slope and arrived at the bottom of the valley soon after.
.
.
.
.
The destruction of the monster stones took an arduous forty-five minutes. Even more time wasted but Asfi knew this was needed. If any monster stumbled upon this sea of monster corpses it may very well begin to cannibalize them.
If that happened then the monster would turn into an irregular. Becoming stronger and faster maybe perhaps gaining some intelligence. If it ate enough it could become a serious problem for them or other adventures. So while the task was slow and tedious. It still needed to be done.
"Ugh, why are there so many!" Lulune complained.
"That's what we're here to find out." Keaks snickered. "Unless you're already too tired and need a nap."
Lulune scowled as she picked up a stone and threw it at him. "Shut up!"
Keaks smirked and ducked his head. Feeling the time stone fly harmlessly over him. "Bad aim, looks like you really do need that nap."
Lulune grumbled while Bell was off to the side carving more stones out. He'd much rather be seeing what drop items he could get from them. But like Asfi said time was of the essence and even this was wasting it.
"You carve pretty well for your first time down here," Jose said crushing a few stones beneath his boot. "Almost like you know exactly where to look."
Bell crushed the Bug Bear's stone before wiping the blood on his pants. "The guild's lessons are very informative."
"Must be a quick learner then."
"I have been called very astute by my advisor."
Jose chuckled before he moved on, and Bell let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He had never thought someone would pick up on the fact he knew where to look for monster stones in monsters he hadn't seen before.
Whether or not Jose believed him Bell didn't know. But he'd stick to his story until he couldn't anymore.
.
.
.
.
Once the monster stones were all destroyed the party regrouped and looked at a map of the floor. The 24th floor was mapped out by the Zeus and Hera familia 864 years ago during a joint expedition. Upon their exploration did they realize this floor was half the size of Orario and the last floor before it led into the Water Capital.
"So where to now Asfi? Black Robe said it was something by the pantry making them act up this way." Lulune said. She was holding the map in her hands with the three pantries marked.
The 24th floor had three of them. One in the southwest, one in the southeast, and one to the north.
"Which one should we hit first?" Lulune asked.
"Why not just follow the monster's trail?" Bell asked pointing at the tracks.
Asfi couldn't help the smile that imprinted itself on her face. "Good idea, I was just getting ready to suggest it myself."
"So if we follow the monster's trail." Falgar began.
The group looked at the paw prints to see where they were going.
"Then we head north." Thane finished.
"Looks like we'll find out what causes the outbreak up ahead then," Jose added.
"Everyone get into formation. Sword Princess, you will take the lead from now on." Asfi ordered.
Ais nodded and took her place at the speartip while everyone else filtered behind her in the same formation as before.
.
.
.
.
As the party advanced Asfi hung back and spoke to Bell in a hushed whisper. "So what's your take on this whole situation? You know the dungeon better than anyone?"
"I'm not sure." The boy replied. "Neither of them mentioned anything like this. Whatever is going on in the pantry is something undocumented-
"Or made deliberately." Asfi finished. "What evidence do you have to suggest this theory?"
"Lulune told you what happened on the 18th floor correct?"
Asfi nodded. "She did, had high praises for you but said you went missing near the end."
"It's because I was forced away. There was a woman there, with red hair. She's the one who killed Hashana and was after Lulune. Seeing as I was the town's healer she decided to get rid of me."
"So she's the reason you went missing for a short while?"
Bell inhaled a sharp breath as his leg tingled. "She did, sent me into the woods and played a demented game of cat and mouse. Then Shakti and Nine Hells saved me causing her to retreat."
"So you think she's a part of this?" She said noticing how he tensed.
"Could be, I mean she was connected to whatever caused that big monster to spawn along with the plant monsters. But if she isn't then this could spell a whole other slew of problems."
"Like the dungeon evolving?"
Bell shrugged. "That's one possibility."
Asfi swallowed the lump in her throat as the idea crossed her mind. It wasn't a pleasant one, far from it. The dungeon evolving, after who knows how many thousands of years.
She shook her head to brush the thought from her mind. "These plant monsters, tell me about them. Lulune only saw them but wasn't part of the fight against them."
"They have the strength of a level three-four. Blunt attacks don't really do much against them. They're also attracted to magic, so Meryl will need to stick to Dodon like glue. Oh and also their magic stone is in their mouth."
"Unsettling, but thank you for the information. I will begin planning countermeasures."
Bell then clicked his tongue and smacked his head. "Ah, crap. I'm an idiot."
Asfi quirked a brow. "An idiot? Why would you be an idiot?"
"We should've kept the monster stones to use as bait. They had traces of some magic in them. Ugh, why didn't I think of that beforehand?"
Asfi shook her head and patted his shoulder. "Nothing we can do about it now. We'll just have to soldier on through."
Bell sighed and mentally kicked himself for his oversight. Asfi made her way further up the formation to discuss strategies with Falgar.
Bell meanwhile looked around for Elilly. He hadn't yet thanked her for saving his life. Which he saw as a gross oversight on his part. The woman had jumped down into hell without a thought for her own safety to protect him.
Once he found her he sped up to catch up with her. But when she took a single look at him her eyes adverted and she quickly sped away.
Bell's brow furrowed in confusion. Had he done something wrong? Why did she decide to walk away from him?
"It's nothing against you," Nelly said. "Elilly just has problems with how she looks. Thinking she's too bulky to be a real girl. Even though she is the girliest one out of all of us."
Bell nodded as he looked back at Elilly. Noticing how she was doing her best to try and avoid everyone's gaze. "Oh, I just wanted to thank her for saving me."
Nelly smiled. "Wait until we're back on the surface. When she gets into one of these moods it's very hard to approach her."
"Oh, ok," Bell grumbled. He sighed before speaking again. "You know my Grandpa always said a certain number of guys like muscular girls. Should I tell her that when we reach the surface?"
Nelly side-eyed him before giggling. "I think it's very kind of you to try and bring her some comfort. But maybe don't word it so crudely."
"Well, how else could I word it?"
"Maybe try using more broader terms besides muscular." Meryl jutted in. "So that way it won't feel like you're singling her out."
Bell glanced at the Prum mage. A rare sight in Orario. Riding atop Dodon's shoulder which she just barely took up.
"Uh-huh, alright I'll think of something then. But first and foremost I'd like to thank her for saving my life."
.
.
.
.
Thirty minutes later the group arrived at the northern pantry. Or at least they should have been. For some reason, their path was blocked off with no clear way forward.
"Lulune, I thought you said this was the right way?" Asfi asked.
Lulune looked at the map before looking back up. "It is, we should be at the entrance to the pantry."
Ais furrowed her brow and stepped forward. Pressing her finger to the wall that was blocking their way.
"This is flesh," Ais said. "Or something close to it, it's gelatinous."
Something ticked in Asfi's head. "Falgar, Thane take the others and scout out the other entrances. Under no circumstances are you to engage with them. Meet back here once you are done."
"I'll go too," Ais said.
"Hold it right there," Pock said. "I know you're strong but would you stop trying to baby us? We can take care of a little bit of scouting."
"Pock, you don't have to be so harsh," Pot said. She then turned to Ais. "Ignore him, you've been nice clearing the way for us. Why don't you sit back and relax while we do the scouting."
Ais wasn't feeling tired, or any fatigue really. But Asfi made a simple gesture of her head to a rock and Ais got the message loud and clear. She was to wait her for the others to return.
With Asfi's orders given the rest of the group headed out in search of the other entrances. Leaving behind Bell, Asfi, Ais, Nelly, and Lulune.
Ais, Nelly, and Lulune sat on a rock nearby while Bell and Asfi examined the fleshy wall. Bell's medical mind churning with the possibilities this could spell.
"I think I have a theory as to what's going on," Asfi muttered. "But first, are there any records of this happening before? Any stories?"
Bell shook his head. "Not that I've been told."
Asfi sighed and adjusted her glasses. "Such a huge collection of monsters weren't all spawned at once. Or even in quick succession, I think all the doors to this pantry are covered."
"Meaning if their food source is blocked off then they herd together to look for a new one. Like a squirrel in winter when it can't find the acorns it buried."
"Meaning the poor adventurers get swept up in a monster horde as the monsters make their way to a new pantry. A mass monster migration."
"My gods," Bell muttered under his breath. Unnerved at that sudden prospect.
"If that's the case," Lulune said approaching. "Then what the hell is on the other side of this wall?"
Nobody answered as they all stared at the wall. Anxiousness filling their chests as they could do nothing but wait until Asfi's theory was confirmed.
.
.
.
.
"So it's true, all the entrances to this pantry are blocked," Asfi muttered.
The scouting party had just returned. It didn't take them long to find the other entrances. And when they did they saw the same fleshly wall blocking the entrance as well.
"So what's on the other side then?" Lulune asked.
"We'll find out once we head inside." Asfi pointed to a part of the wall that was round while Falgar nodded. "Over there seems to be a door, but it doesn't seem like it'll open for us."
"Shall I cut it open?" Ais asked.
"Really all brawn aren't ya Sword Princess?" Pock quipped. "Asfi why not have Meryl do it?"
"Very well, I would like to see how well it holds up against fire. Meryl, Magic please."
"Should I make it a big one?" She asked.
"Yes, with a long chant," Asfi confirmed.
Dodon set Meryl down and the prum began to chant. As she was chanting Pock took a spot next to Ais with his hands behind his head.
"Apparently Meryl has the makings of a good mage. Bet you don't see that every day, a prum being an upper-class mage?"
Ais looked down at Pock who balanced his mace on the ground. "She has a bright future unlike me and my sister. I'm sure you figured out by now we're the only level twos in the forward formation."
Ais tensed knowing she had been caught but Pock only laughed and rolled his eyes. "You're an open book. Just as open as Mister silent and brooding over there."
Ais looked to Bell who was standing away from everyone. Arms crossed and eyes narrowed at the fleshy wall.
"But if you're going to protect anyone protect Meryl. Unlike me and Pot she's a precious prum who can't be replaced. She'll be a beacon of light to others one day. Though she's not as big as that commander of yours."
"You know Finn?" Ais asked.
"That's a stupid question, ain't a prum in the world who hasn't heard of him. Not a clue what kind of talent he was born with. What's his big idea going and naming himself the hero of the prums? Nobody asked for one."
Pock clicked his tongue and scoffed. "Giving false hope and making people think prums can do anything. Doesn't that make it seem like the rest of us weren't trying already?"
"Um...do you hate Finn?"
Before Pock could answer Meryl finished her chant and casted. The fireball exploded against the gelatinous flesh and melted. Leaving a hole in the wall for the party to walk through.
"Let's go, all units maintain formation." Asfi turned to face Ais. "No running off, not in this."
Ais nodded as she took her place in the lead. Upon entering through the hole the party's eyes went wide in curiosity. A long tunnel with meaty walls like the wall outside. With glowing flowers on the sides and roof to light the way.
"These meaty walls...it's like there's something's coating the dungeon," Tabitha said.
"Never seen anything like this before," Jose added.
A sound of sucking flesh came from behind and everyone turned around to see the hole in the wall spinning to a close.
"The wall," Golemth said.
"No need to worry, we can always blow another hole in it. We haven't lost our escape route." Asfi commented.
Lulune was too busy looking at the wall to hear the commotion. She only had one dangerous thought on her mind.
"Hey guys." She shakily said. "I just thought of something creepy. What if this meaty, twitchy, and gross wall are really part of some monster? And we just walked into its stomach."
"Hey!"
"Cut it out!"
"That's not funny you little rat!"
"Quiet!" Asfi hissed.
.
.
.
.
The group walked down the long hallway. Guards up and eyes shooting to each shadow on perceived movement. There was always nothing there, but it didn't stop everyone feeling on edge.
After a few minutes, however, they reached a fork in the road.
"Lulune, map. What's it say?" Asfi asked.
Lulune took a look at the map before looking back up. "It's not on the map."
Asfi sighed. "Which means conventional maps are useless now. Lulune forgo the map and start making one of our own."
"You got it, boss!"
Lulune whipped out a feather pen Asfi had made as well as parchment. She began writing down the path they had taken and where they were now at the fork in the road.
Ais looked over at the paper while Bell was off to the side impressed. He didn't know how to make a map, and from what he was hearing Lulune knew where any direction was without a compass or any other help than what was in her head.
Keaks spun her around a few times to show off some examples. Which quickly earned the two smacks on their heads from Asfi telling them to knock it off.
"Anyway, all I really do is keep north in my head wherever we go. As long as I'm not on the sea when it's cloudy or kidnapped with a blindfold I can't get lost. It's not that hard either, anyone can do it really."
"I can't," Falgar said.
"Me neither," Asfi added.
"That skill of yours is pretty much useless anywhere else in the dungeon ya know." Keaks teased.
"Hey shut up!"
Lulune shook her head and continued mapping. But she was surprised when Bell approached and crouched down next to her.
"Can you teach me that little trick of yours? The whole compass inside your head thing."
"Uh, sure. But I've never taught anyone before, so I don't know how I'll do."
Bell chuckled. "That seems to be the case with most of my teachers."
Lulune smiled as she kept working on the map. Ais meanwhile looked down the hall and got ready to face the unknown. Modern-day adventurers rarely faced the unknown these days. All the floors they're able to get to having already been mapped out.
But now, for the first time. Ais felt a shiver run down her spine as she stared at the darkness. The pantry had become a place where even she could now lose her life if she wasn't careful.
An unexpected death could be waiting for them at every turn. One wrong step, a breath taken too early or too late. A sneeze or cough. Even blinking at the wrong time could spell her end.
So with those thoughts in mind. The party proceeded even deeper into the pantry.
.
.
.
.
"Revis, adventurers have made their way inside."
Revis sat with her back against a wall. Holding a circular crystalline object in her hand. She took a bite into it and it easily broke off. She chewed and swallowed before turning her attention to the robed man.
"Why should I care? Just send some Viola's after them. See to it that it's down."
The man in the white robe clicked his tongue before walking off. Standing next to Revis was a tall shirtless man with long white hair and the top of a deer's skull on his head.
"It seems people have caught on to our activities Revis."
"The Viola's will be enough." Revis waved off.
"And if they interfere and make an attempt on her?"
"Then we'll crush them." Revis declared crushing the sphere in her palm. The stick paste that came from it stuck to her hand.
.
.
.
.
The party was silent as they made their way deeper and deeper into the pantry. Their bodies tense and sweat pouring down their backs.
The unknown gave off an oppressive feeling. They were flying blind and they knew it. Relying solely on Lulune to map their path and escape route. Bell couldn't help the nervous smile etched on his face.
'Is this how you felt Rose? When you and the others went down to floor 60 and below. Is this how you felt fighting the Leviathan? I wish I could ask you, but you're not here. I wonder how you would feel if you knew I was nervous.'
Bell swallowed a lump in his throat. Feeling as if each step brought him closer to the reaper's scythe. Hovering over the blades edge did the party find something odd.
"Is that ash?" Pot asked.
In front of the group was a big pile of ash. Scattered on the floor around the tunnel they found themselves in. Asfi and Falgar approached the ash to examine it more closely.
"Yeah, it looks like a few monsters broke it. But what killed them?" Pock added.
Ais's eyes widened feeling a slight shift in the air and her head quickly shot up.
"Above us!" She yelled.
Asfi and Falgar quickly looked up before jumping back. Around twenty Viola's slammed into the ground where they had previously stood. Their vines started to swing wildly.
"What the hell are those things?!" Lulune yelled.
Elilly jumped forward and used her shields to block oncoming attacks. Feeling the tough vines slam into her shields like raining arrows.
Falgar withdrew his greatsword while Pock and Pot got ready to attack. Meryl began to chant her magic.
"Wait!" Ais shouted. "Blunt weapons don't work on them! Use blades instead and don't use magic! They're attracted to it!"
Meryl ceased her chant as Pock and Pot dove out of the way from an incoming vine. It landed between the two of them causing the siblings to separate.
"Pock!" His sister yelled.
Ais went to help but a glare from him stopped her. He nodded his head to Meryl who was being shielded by Dodon. A dozen vines heading toward the big man.
Ais was quick on her feet and arrived in front of the two. Her sword hand was quick as she disposed of the vines in seconds.
"Are you two alright?" Ais asked.
"Y-yes," Meryl replied as Dodon nodded.
Asfi, already knowing where the monster stones were reached into her satchel and withdrew her burst oil. Carefully hand-crafted grenades by herself truly. Made from materials outside the city along with flowers found near a volcano and her own homemade liquid concoction to create an explosive.
Only she can create these scarlet bombs. When the casing shatters and the concoction is exposed to air the contents inside detonate causing an explosion strong enough to kill monsters from the lower floors.
"The monster stones are in their mouths! Form teams of three or more and engage!" She ordered.
Sounds of agreement were made as the party did as ordered. Lulune, Falgar, and Keaks formed a team and focused on one.
"Lulune distract the vines. I'll hold the main body while Keaks hits the monster stones." Falgar ordered.
"On it boss!"
"Get ready to see my master marksmanship!"
Lulune dodged and weaved around the vine that flew at her. Falgar dug his feet into the ground and pushed against the snapping maw aiming for his face.
While Keaks waited for the perfect shot to be lined up, and when it did he threw the stone in his hand and shattered the monster stones instantly.
"Heh, now how's that for an expert marksman!" He cheered.
In another battle, Elilly, Pock, and Pot were facing another Viola. Elilly standing protectively in front of the two prums.
The other battles around them had ended. Mostly thanks to Ais's quickness on the battlefield. Along with the fact Bell was able to take down two by his lonesome. Using quick bursts of his magic to bait them.
"Only one left," Elilly said. "Both of you fall back."
But Pock didn't listen. For a reason unknown to him he charged forward at the Viola. Mace gripped tightly in both hands.
'Huh? Why did I charge?'
He leaped into the air, heading right into the Viola's mouth. His sister and the others shouted after him. But he tuned them all out.
'Ah right, I want to get stronger.'
He landed inside the Viola's mouth. Causing his sister's eyes to widen with horror as the monster chomped down and slithered past her and Elilly.
Pock's mind flashed back to a conversation about Finn. The so-called Braver who claimed himself as the hero of the prums.
'Braver my ass, who does he think he is declaring himself as our hero?!'
Pock maneuvered his mace to hold the monster's mouth open. Not allowing its jaws to fully clamp down as he reached for a knife that was under his buckler shield.
'Doing this and that and making a name for himself as some hero! Well nobody asked for you! You make prums believe they can do things and all that ends up happening is they get disappointed!'
Pock gripped his knife tightly and stabbed the monster stone. Seconds later the Viola turned to ash and Pock slammed into the ground.
'So why in the hell does he light a fire under me each time I hear he does something?'
"Pock!" Pot yelled.
"Are you ok?!" Keaks added.
Asfi immediately marched up to the prum and smacked him upside the head. "The hell were you thinking?! I just yelled at the Sword Princess not to pull a stunt like that and you go and pull this?!"
Pock nervously laughed while Bell crouched down next to him. He gave him a quick check-up before shaking his head.
"Beyond all odds, he's not injured. Though what you pulled was pretty stupid."
Pock scoffed. "I don't wanna hear it Mr. I broke the level-up record. Not all of us get to grow as fast as you. I did that so I could get stronger."
Asfi promptly smacked him upside the head again. "With a stupid stunt like that, it's a wonder you didn't get devoured! When we get back to the surface you're going to be stuck catering to Lord Hermes every whim."
Pock shuddered at the thought while his sister just hugged him. Glad that he was ok and not injured. Asfi just frowned and shook her head. But was secretly relieved he was alive.
"That knife," Ais muttered.
Pock held it up and chuckled. "Yeah, it's a replica. My little brother got one made for a memento when I leveled up." He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "No one asked him, but he went and became a hero for all prums."
"Would you-would you like to meet Finn?" Ais asked.
Pock blushed and looked away. Scratching his cheek in nervousness. "N-no not now. I don't want him to see me as I am now. B-but maybe an autograph would be nice?"
The familia around him grew teasing and devilish smirks as his sister giggled and he deadpanned. A flash of anger rushed through him as he began wildly swinging his knife.
"You bastards! Stop staring! I'll give you something to smile about!"
His familia ran away giggling like school girls on the playground. But Asfi put a stop to the playfulness with a push of her glasses and a clearing of her throat.
"We need to keep moving. There's a very likely probability that we drew more here because of our battle. Best we are gone before they arrive."
The atmosphere changed back into one of guardedness. The group fell back into formation once more as they descended ever deeper into the unknown.
A certain healer having no idea what was in store for him.
Do my eyes deceive me? Am I, am I being fair in how I treat Ais? No this cannot be. She did something dumb and got yelled at, and then someone else did the same thing and got the same treatment. And Bell didn't do an aha gotcha moment that I'm so known for doing.
Something is wrong with me. I must be sick or something.
Anyway joking aside it's only fair both got yelled at by Asfi. Doesn't matter what level you are if she's leading the mission. That aside you may have noticed I've taken some conversations from the manga and I'm going to admit it helps move the story along some. However, I'm not going to use it as a crutch it's mainly there to help me get to the fight.
Other than that I don't really have much to say as the party gets closer and closer to the pantry and whatever horrors await.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you later.