A/N: And I'm back to continue the story, I always forget about these intermissions, so hey, two uploads today. Review next.

To Isshion: Nice to have you back, I understand the want to read other stories, just means when you come back to others, there's more to read, so it's a win-win.

[Nagi]: Nice to hear from you again!

Enjoy.

|Floor 26|

"Can we hurry this up? I hate the rain..." Artorias' foot constantly tapped on the wet cobblestone. This floor was in an endless downpour, similar to a rainforest as birds chirped and the occasional animal made a noise over the thunder.

He, Daora, Argo, Nagi, and Yuuki were all under a blue tarp as the blacksmith player worked their magic but passed the redhead a firm glare. "Hey, you try forging high-level gear for several frontline players in one session, then come back to me - I'll charge you double if you don't shut up," The girl with dyed cotton candy pink hair, Lizbeth, shut Artorias up as Yuuki giggled behind her hand.

"Girl's the best smith this high up, best ta make her yer friend, ArtY," Argo wagged her finger knowingly.

"Is it done?" Daora asked, strangely, the most patient aside from Nagi and Argo.

His answer came in the form of a silvery-grey glow that warped the metal on Liz's anvil, causing it to meld over all of Daora's Alpha Dire Wolf armour, himself wearing a burlap sack over his head in the meantime. The armour became visible once more, and while the fur retained its dark grey pigment, the underarmour was now fitted with silver platemetal, a chain linking the fur pauldron together, which was a new addition. Even his pants had rectangular plates for the hips.

Liz sighed a smile, "There, not only is it +5, but all its stats have increased; I swear, you've gotta find better armour than this, otherwise, I'll run out of avenues to enhance it," Dusting off her palms, she looked to the rest. "Now, what else? Or is that everything - ah!"

"Hahahaha! My strength grows thanks to the master smith, I told you she's the best!" Daora laughed loudly, startling some passing by while Liz's face turned a little pink as her hammer struck the back of his knee, bringing him down.

"Stop yelling, I don't need everyone gawking at me, idiot!" She huffed.

"Huh!? What the hell was that for!?" He raised a trembling fist to her, huffing streams of air through the gaps in the burlap sack while her own fist mirrored his, the two glaring at one another.

"You and your constant screaming, the last time you did that, you scared every customer away!" She yelled back while the others watched with a nervous smile between them.

"Think we should tell 'em?" Yuuki murmured.

"Nah, better this waY," Argo grinned ear to ear as she 'accidently' recorded the argument with Nagi shaking his head in his hand with a small laugh at the Rat's antics.

|Floor 27|

In some random inn under a night sky, two voices could be heard on the otherside of a door, the room meant for the members of the Sleeping Knights as they accompanied Nagi's party through the floor's questline to level up faster. Since they owned the room, they could hear what lay beyond the wooden texture, the boys were all listening closely, their faces scarlet at what they heard.

"I really don't think this is a good idea, Yuuki!" Artorias' flustered voice sounded as objects were knocked over inside.

"It's totally fine, just a little more, you got this!" She encouraged before yelping as something hit the floor hard. "Okay, m-maybe this is bad..."

"I'm so close though, just little more... almost...~!" Artorias tensed up.

"That's it, just keep going!" Yuuki yelled before the racket stopped. "You... did you...?"

"Ahahahaha! And... Done!" Then a fist struck wood and a loud crash was heard again, causing the boys to nearly make a sound.

"What are you idiots doing now?" Nori spoke up behind them, Ran and Siune with her. The girls' return startled them as Talken's hand slipped over the handle, causing the door to open inward, leaving them in a pile on the floor in front of as still decent Yuuki and Artorias, the pair blinking down at the boys, then to the girls.

"Uh... so, Mixing's finally maxed out..." Artorias coughed as half the room was covered in hundreds of potions of various colours that it was like a dragon's hoard had been crammed into the room. "...downside, I ran out of inventory space, rather, I can't carry anymore without being rooted in place,"

"Saaame..." Yuuki sighed, then stared at the guys for a second. "Wait, were you guys listening in on us? Why? We could've used your help!"

"Oh, I think I know why, hehehe," Nori brushed her raven hair back with a cheeky grin at the two potion brewers. "Had fun alone together?"

"Nori..." Ran pinched the bridge of her nose, blushing a little at the insinuation on what their friend and her sister were up to.

Yuuki and Artorias shared a confused look, then shrugged as Artorias dropped a whole bag's worth of potions atop the flustered boys who sat up to apologize. "Yeah, well, apologize for spying by dumping these to a merchant, I'm getting my money's worth before that Rat finds out,"

"Ahem," Yuuki pouted, causing Artorias to smirk worryingly.

"R-right, our money's worth," The redhead had to admit, her assertive side was pretty hardcore.

|Floor 28|

Along the shores of a lake, a bandit encampment was on high alert, searching for the intruders that snuck around the barracks they occupied. "Find the thieves, and claim the relic at all costs!" Their leader roared, making his men mill about at a greater pace.

While a small group marched past several overturned boats, the middle one slowly rose up with three pairs of feet, shuffling with the boat atop them toward the water. There was a blue shimmer as a buff was applied, and their feet, along with the boat sank beneath the waves before anyone noticed. Once under the water, two pairs of feet walked along the lakebed, the other pair unable to reach down any further and opted to swim.

Inside the boat's air pocket, Artorias, Argo, and Daora were seen with Argo in the middle, and Daora at the front.

"I really don't want to admit this is the dumbest most smartest thing I've ever seen because I fear that means giving Numbnuts here the credit," Artorias remarked dryly.

"Definitely both dumb and smarT," Argo nodded with a nervous smile.

"Funny how often those two traits align," Daora noted as their journey across the lake under a boat underwater continued.

End

Not alot for environments, I really am out of ideas for them, so instead, I'll keep to funny moments that happen on said floors. But by far my favourite was the final one, such an impossible situation but so much fun. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; seeya in the next chapter, Players!