57 Kuraokami

Dust flew up when the platform struck the bottom.

Leira coughed, "My health please"!

Dani sounded like she was gonna shot out a lung, "Don't worry... It's all fake... The glass too".

Leira further wondered what else in this studio was a lie.

"But treat it like it's real," said Logan pointing at chewed-up bones across the dungeon floor.

Blood from Leira's stomach and head drained to leave a woozy feel. Creeping next to Dani didn't help either. Two giants at the platform entrance watched them. A loud rumble was heard in the distance that caused Leira to scream.

"Sorry," whimpered Leira.

"It's pretty big," said Andres.

Dani began charging her gun, "Obviously. Look at how big these tunnels are".

In Leira's confusion, Logan shouted, "Time to slay a dragon".

Nobody could detect the creature nor tell where the rumbling came from. All the discovered was an immensely powerful dragon. Water gushed against their feet. Logan reached down into it.

"We need to run," said Andres as he crept to a tunnel.

The water swirled around, slamming against the walls. Dani began pulling on Leira to start running. Feeling the water seep through her toes, Leira began to question reality once more.

Dani having realized Leira was confused made clear, "The water is real. And this creature is bringing more of it".

After setting up a trap Logan caught up to the rest of the crew. Waves, averaging half the size of a man, came soaring through the tunnels. Each time they would knock down Dani and Leira. The walls were flat and there was nothing to climb on.

The water was now more than 10-feet deep in the 30-foot wide tunnel. Waves got wigger with the rolling growl of the dragon. The team swam in search of an escape.

Dani swam past Andres who was struggling, "Logan, what's the pl-"?

The water smacked her words as the dragon dived through the tunnels. The water encased it like a torpedo being shot from a submarine.

Dani rolled to her back, waiting for the dragon to come. Upon sight, she shot a bomb at it.

Unharmed, the dragon shot back an ice blast that froze all of the surrounding waters in its trajectory.

Andres created a shield that still resulted in them being struck against a wall. Luckily it lowered the damage and prevented freezing.

Due to the waters between them was completely frozen, the dragon swam through another tunnel.

"Get on the ice," yelled Logan.

After climbing up, they realized the tunnel was half-flooded.

Logan took the opportunity to create a stone platform high in the walls. It was small and required team effort to climb, but it was just what Logan needed.

The dragon swung from a tunnel, knocking off a chunk of ice. Its hissing mumbled away.

Andres held Leira tightly in a corner as Dani and Logan prepared to end this thing.

The snake-like dragon came forward as Dani used magic to dry the platform. The water rose above the ice.

The dragon snapped towards them, catching Dani off guard.

Logan's trap went off, electrocuting the water and the dragon. It bashed its head into each wall possible. Stones were trembling to the dragon's fury.

"Dani!" he yelled.

She shot its neck with a lightning bomb that blew its head clear off. The flash blinded the team.

Dani stumbled to the ledge. Right when she fell, Logan pulled her in by the arm. He guided her to the wall where she took a knee.

Dani latched onto his leg, "Logan, sit"!

"I'm fine!" he answered, still blinded.

Even Leira tried to blindly pull him in. For the entire 10 minutes, they were blinded, he never gave in.

The water receded past the ice, allowing Logan to dispel the electricity from it. Leira understood that if it wasn't for the ice, they would've been electrocuted by the lightning attacks.

They waited for the water to fully drain before melting their way down. They found the collar engraved with the name "Kuraokami".

Logan removed the jewel from the O, "So this is what we need to use the elevator".

"Thank God," sighed Dani as she walked off with Leira and Andres, "This place still reeks".

Logan cast a spell on the dragon's head that channeled dark energy through his arm. His fall alerted everybody to come to his side. He trembled into the mucky ground like a fish out of water.

"You alright?" asked Andres.

Ignoring his friend, Logan shot a syringe of terror antidote into his leg. The medicine took effect, quickly allowing him to regain full control of his body.

Dani kicked his shoulder, "Is that the power you got in October"?

He answered as Andres helped him up, "It's a pain. The terror it inflicts can nearly take me out instantly. But I still have two syringes left to get us through the game".

Dani held her chin high, "Nice. Can't wait to see it".