CHAPTER 34(The Water City)

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and appearance+ Monster Sources)

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CHAPTER START---

Within a damp tunnel descending further into the dungeon, the Loki familia main team accompanied by Yang can be seen walking at a casual pace. As they proceed further the tunnel begins to show more signs of water ahead, puddles and moss spots all across the floor until eventually the lower end of the tunnel is covered in 2 inches of water.

Bete: "Ugh, we're here."

Yang: "Don't like water?"

Tiona: "Dogs don't like water hahaha."

Bete: "I'M A WOLF!!"

Yang: "Just give me a second I'll fix it."

With quickened steps, Yang takes a place in the middle of the marching order as he focuses a bit of magic into the flooded chamber. Before anyone can even realize it as they were walking in step they were now walking on the surface of the water.

Gareth: "Wow, he actually can do this, haha this makes things much easier."

Finn: "If I hadn't seen him do at least this much he wouldn't be here. This boss is no joke."

Yang: "I'll be fine, I've got a day to beat it so it's no problem."

Lefiya: "You need to take this more seriously! Do you even have a plan?!"

Yang: "Jeez relax, I've got one. Use my wind to deal with the antimagic mist, avoided the fire, try to drag it to the surface, win. Simple plan."

Yang was only met with deafening silence and truly flabbergasted looks from his temporary companions. The entire group had looks of shock and disbelief across their faces, all except Finn who quickly decided to rectify this problem. In one swift motion, Finn punched Yang in the stomach at a speed far beyond anything Yang had ever seen. Before he could even react he found himself doubled over on the surface of the water.

Finn: "How did that feel?"

Yang: "Arghhhh."

Finn: "Exactly, it hurt, a lot. This boss powerful and you intend to go in and hope for the best. Most people don't fight it because of its strength plus the environment makes it neigh unbeatable and you expect to waltz in there and just beat it. We're here because WHEN you concede defeat we can use your water walking to make short work of it as a team. But if your lack of experience keeps showing as it just did you'll die before we can even save you. I get that you're new and breaking records but it's multiple levels ahead of you. Nobody expects you to actually win this. Hell, we're expecting some miracle that your goddess knows that we don't to somehow have you survive this. Even if you're strong. Always assume your enemy is stronger. That is what will keep you alive. Now get up and let's keep moving."

Yang: "Ugh, yeah."

Slowly Yang made his way back to his feet and fell back into step with the rest of the group. He retreated into his mind and considered the words of Finn, 'He's right, I've never dealt with anything above my level and I was just going to wing it, ugh I'm a moron. Ok time for a better plan.'

Not long after Finn gave Yang a reality check the group found themselves at the proper entrance to the 25th floor. Before them, was a small hill descending to the shore of a lake that was miles wide with the far shore completely missing. Small islands can be seen on the lake, some of these islands had trees whilst others had various rock and crystal formations on them. The shore of the lake on either side held forests, nowhere near as large as 'The Forest labyrinth' but the trees were almost 20 meters high. Once more Yang found himself in awe at the magnificent sight before him. From the warm breeze passing over his face to the bright light of the crystal in the ceiling much like that of the 18th floor, everything was magnificent. As he stared in awe Finn began to speak once more to the group as he points to the edge of the lake which appears to be missing a proper shore.(It looks like an infinity pool)

Finn: "See that?"

Yang: "Yeah what is it?"

Finn: "Over the edge is the waterfall. It drops all the way to where the boss of these floors resides in the basin. To either side of this lake in the forest are tunnels that connect all the floors. They vary in water level and some are completely filled at certain points. You can also dive into the lake and swim through connecting tunnels at the bottom to dive to the 26th-floor lake which is about double the size, then you have the same options to get to the 27th floor from there. DO. NOT. DIVE. DOWN. You don't have the diver skill from what I recall and not only do we not know what's down there but only two of us have that skill. Tiona, Tione, bring up the rear until we're out of these floors."

Tiona & Tione: "Got it."

Yang: "Diver?"

Tione: "It lets us fight like normal underwater, it doesn't let us breathe but we can move much better than we would without it."

Yang: "Hm that's useful."

Finn: "One more thing, Riveria would you please."

Riveria: "On it."

Casually Riveria walks to the shore before doing a short chant and sending a small orb of fire at one of the islands on the lake covered in crystals. As the attack hits with a small explosion at first nothing happens until suddenly the island itself rises almost 10 feet out of the water as it reveals itself to be the shell of a massive turtle.

Finn: "Check islands before you land on them, please. The bigger turtles are called dragon turtles(D&D 5e Dragon Turtle), these are just regular 'Crystal Turtles'. They hold grudges and are angry, avoid them. Alright, any questions?"

Yang: "Yeah, why not just go over the waterfall to get to the boss, and did you say 'Bigger turtles' that things 20 ft long?"

Finn: "Do you mean aside from the fact that we can't all fly, or, the 1KM drop over the edge?"

Yang: "Oh, right, never mind then hehe. Alright, so let's go."

Finn: "When we get to floor 27 we can make camp and you can start your, whatever you want to call it tomorrow."

Yang: "Yeah thanks, and I will beat it don't worry."

Finn: "Once none of my friends get hurt it doesn't matter to me."

Yang: "Fair enough."

Finn: "Alright let's go. Bete, check out the tunnels and find us a good one."

Bete: "On it."

Only moments passed before Bete found the least water-filled tunnel and Finn proceeded to lead the group down the path. Almost 10 minutes into the journey Bete spoke up once more.

Bete: "Stop."

Gareth: "What is it?"

Bete: "Shhh, up ahead, I hear splashing."

Finn: "Tione you're upfront with me. Everyone be on guard."

Tione: "Alright captain."

As everyone got into position the splashing began to echo louder, and louder, and louder throughout the cave. Before the group was a decline of almost 2 feet making it above the knee height with water. With weapons drawn everyone was in their battle stances and ready to fight when suddenly a 10ft long 'Aqua serpent'( Danmachi Wiki Aqua Serpent) lunged out of the water and directly at Tione. Reacting quickly Finn thrusts his spear forward and destroys the monster's head and more serpents rapidly approach splashing wildly in the water. As Tione crouches slightly and prepares to pounce forward a voice echoes through the tunnel for all to hear, "FREEZE!".

With a word the water in the tunnel around the group became extremely cold whilst less than a foot ahead of Finn and Tione the water on the floor can be seen clear as day as frozen, the monsters were frozen in the water and some of the creatures that were in mid-air we frozen in place before they shattered and disappeared as ashes.

Seeing the combat is no longer necessary the group all looked at Yang, some of them surprised such as Gareth whilst others are simply more annoyed. Before he can even notice Tiona is the first to move, with a swift and somewhat playful jab on the shoulder she shakes the group of their stupor.

Tiona: "What the hell, why'd you make the place SO, DAMN, COLD."

Yang: "Uh, Sorry?"

Tiona: "Ugh, don't do that when I'm standing right here, I don't like cold."

Yang: "Uh I'll fix that."

As Yang speaks he begins radiating heat causing everyone to take a step or 2 closer to him.

Yang: "My Cryo works better if enemies are already wet so I had to try to keep directly around me warm, sorry I couldn't do it completely."

Riveria: "Cryo?"

Yang: "Yeah, I can't just make ice so I need to either make water and freeze it or freeze existing water."

Riveria: "Hm, that's the first time I've seen magic like that. So you did 'Cryo' and 'Fire'?"

Yang: "Uh yeah I pushed Cryo forward and used heat around me to not freeze you guys."

Lefiya: "Not freeze us much you mean," she says while playfully glaring at Yang."

Yang: "Ugh, sorry about that."

Bete: "That was all of them, the tunnel is completely silent."

Finn: "Then let's keep moving, good work Yang."

Yang: "Thanks."

Immediately the group proceeds further into the tunnel across the now icy floor as they move another step closer to the 27th-floor monster rex, Amphisbaena

CHAPTER END---