Chapter 111: Athena Familia vs Amphisbeana

Standing in front of the others I looked over them, since today is the day we are leaving on our expedition to take down the Amphisbeana. After three weeks of preparation it's finally time.

"Alright, let's move out." I said.

Once I did so I pulled up my hood and we left the Owl House and started heading towards Babel Tower.

As we did so I couldn't help but turn my gaze to Ryuu.

Since for some reason she's finally started wearing the same adventurer outfit she did during canon.

[Image Here]

Which I have no issue with, it's just...

Seeing Ryuu wearing that makes it hard to focus at times. Especially since she's wearing bloomers that leave little to the imagination.

I still can't wrap my head around where Ryuu got the idea to wear something like what she is. I thought elves are conservative, and yet here she is displaying a lot of her skin.

Maybe I'll ask her about it.

But not right now.

I need all my focus for the battle ahead.

Since it's not going to be easy.

Not in the slightest.

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(3rd person: POV)

Standing on the edge of a cliff in a large cave on the 27th floor, Morax looked at the scene before him.

A large lake with only one tunnel for both entrance and exit. He also noted several other tunnels that allowed entrance and exit to the large cave he was in.

But the tunnel of the lake is his main focus.

As Morax continued focusing his gaze on the lake entrance, Ryuu walked up to his side and stood by him.

Neither of them saying a word.

As the two stood in silence, they were suddenly put on guard when they heard a loud roar heading in their direction.

"Rarghh!!!"

"It's time." Morax said.

"Yes." Ryuu retorted, nodding.

A few moments after the two of them spoke Ryner, Rogue, and Gaul came running through the lake entrance tunnel. Since there were foot paths on either side of of the river.

The moment after the three of them entered the cave, a massive beast did the same thing.

It is the Amphisbeana.

Morax had instructed Ryner, Rogue, and Gaul to lure the Monster Rex to the specific area they are in as part of his plan to defeat the monster.

Now, it is time for phase 2 to begin.

The moment the Ampbisbeana was situated in the lake of the cave Morax raised his free hand, which was a single to Echidna.

Seeing it she raised Gloom in the direction of the lake tunnel entrance and chanted.

{Pierce, destroy, and rip apart. Hunt them down no matter where they may run or hide. Obliterate}

[Jiwald]

Using her magic Echidna destroyed the lake tunnel entrance, trapping the Amphisbeana in the cave.

Morax had researched this Monster Rex in detail, and he knew fighting it on the open water of the Water City would be suicide. That's why he created a plan to trap the beast so he and his familia can defeat it without having to worry about it trying to escape.

But trapping it was the easy part, now the hard part comes.

Letting out two ferocious roars the Amphisbeana turned its attention to the Athena familia who was scattered throughout the cave it was now trapped in.

Paying the beast no mind Morax pointed the tip of Vortex Vanquisher in its direction.

"Charge!" He shouted.

The moment he did so the battle began.

Taking off in a run Leonmitchelli approached the Ampbisbeana from the left side, while Diluc approached it from the right side. The two of them brandishing their weapons intending to strike the monster.

However before this could happen the Ampbisbeanas' left head unleashed its blue flame attack in the direction of Leonmitchelli.

Seeing this she immediately backed off. Running into one of the tunnels to avoid the attack.

This is another region the Athena familia chose this location.

They can use the multiple tunnels for cover.

And they had already done damage inside all of them so no monsters would spawn as they battled against the Ampbisbeana.

While Leonmitchelli escaped being burnt to a crisp, Diluc reached the monster and delivered a slash to it using Wolf's Gravestone.

He then backed off.

As he did so Morax and Ryuu prepared to launch their own attacks.

{Ground and soil, heed my command and come forth!}

[Geo Force]

{In the sky of a now distant forest. Infinite stars scattered in the endless night sky. Respond to my foolish voice, give me now divine protection of starfire. Give the mercy of light to the one who abandoned you. Come, wandering wind, the wandering traveler. Cross the sky and run through the wilderness, run faster than anything else. Imbue the light with stardust and destroy the enemy.}

[Luminous Wind]

When Morax finished his chant several large stone spikes launched themselves from the ground toward the Amphisbeana, while Ryuu sent her stardust orbs to attack it simultaneously.

Seeing the incoming attacks and sensing magic, the right head of the Ampbisbeana unleashed its crimson mist to diffuse the magic before it even reached its body.

Which worked on Ryuu's attack, but not on Morax's.

His stone spikes pierced the Amphisbeana's body and did damage to it.

Since Morax's attack wasn't pure magic, but rather he used his magic to manipulate and shape the nearby earth this time around. Thus the Amphisbeana's magic diffusing mist didn't effect it.

Receiving Morax's attack the Amphisbeana cried out in pain.

As it did so Rogue, Leonmitchelli, and Gaul came out of the tunnels they were hiding in and pressed the attack.

They delivered blow after blow to the Amphisbeana. Which worked in wearing the monster rex down, but it also made it angrier and angrier as the minutes went by.

Eventually the two heads released a simultaneous roar.

When they did so they swept out their necks, hoping to strike Rogue and the others. But when they did they retreated to the tunnels just like they had been doing.

Avoiding the attacks.

Though right after this happened the Amphisbeanas' left head looked in the direction of the tunnel Rogue went through and then unleashed its flame attack directly towards it.

"Incoming Rogue!" Morax shouted at the top of his lungs.

Hearing his captain and friend Rogue ran as fast as he could, the blue flames of the Amphisbeana chasing him.

Still, he continued to run.

Until eventually he reached a central point where all the tunnels that led to the cave where the Amphisbeana is currently trapped met.

The moment he did so Rogue dove out of the path of the flames, narrowly escaping their touch.

But he did.

As he took a few deep breaths to recover, he hoped the others could manage without him for a while.

Back in the tunnel Morax turned to Ryuu, who simply nodded.

She then left him to go and check on Rogue.

After this happened Morax focused his attention back on the Amphisbeana, who directed its gaze towards the sealed-off tunnel.

Turning in its direction, it started heading towards it.

"It's trying to escape. Cut it off." Morax shouted.

Just after he did so Echidna unleashed Jiwald, and Ryner unleashed Izuchi. But the Amphisbeana sensed the attacks incoming and dove under the water to avoid them.

Then a second after this happened blue flames broke the surface of the water, and went in all directions of the cave.

Backing up into the tunnel behind him, Morax watched as the cave became a sea of blue flames.

He could feel the heat from where he stood.

As the flames continued, he started to hear banging taking place inside of the cave.

"Damn!" He cursed, realizing the Amphisbeana was only trying to keep them busy enough to escape the cave.

Despite this, Morax isn't about to give up.

He waited until the flames finally stopped.

In that brief moment Morax ran back into the cave.

He then aimed Vortex Vanquisher like a javelin and hurled it in the direction of the Amphisbeanas' blue head, his attack striking it right in its left eye.

As the monster roared out in pain from having its eye pierced Morax jumped down and landed next to the lake.

He then spoke an incantation.

{I will have order!}

[Planet Befall]

The second after Morax completed his magic, a large magic circle appeared in the air above him and then a second later a meteorite exited it and went straight towards the Ampihsbeana.

Striking it directly.

As the explosion occurred, the cave shook but Morax remained steadfast.

But so did the Ampihsbeana.

Turning its one remainning good eye in the direction of Morax, the blue head prepared to unleash its flame attack at him.

Only for Millhiore and Ariane to come out and strike it at that exact moment.

Seeing his friends come to his aid Morax moved close to the blue head of the Amphisbeana and retrieved his spear from its eye.

He, Millhiore, and Ariane then retreated.

But not before the blue head of the Amphisbeana managed to get off a small round of flames in their direction.

Which managed to hit Morax on his left arm.

"Agh!"

Falling into the tunnel, Morax screamed as his left armed burned.

Seeing this Millhiore acted immediately.

She retrieved an anti-burning potion and tossed it on the wound. Which stopped the flames. She then retrieved a high potion and tossed it on the wound, repairing any damage.

"Thanks Milli." Morax said through gritted teeth.

"Don't mention it. Can you stand?" She asked.

"Yeah." Morax said.

He then stood to his feet, leaning on Vortex Vanquisher for support.

Once he did so the three of them moved to re-group with the others.

Arriving at where the tunnels met they were greeted to the sight of Rogue, who is still alive.

Making them all breathe a sigh of relief.

"Morax." Ryuu said.

She then ran over to him and checked his injury.

"It's fine. But let's head back in there and finish this. The Amphisbeana is trying to escape. And if it does defeating it will become that much harder." He explained.

After he did so his friends nodded their heads.

It it time to finish the battle.

The entire Athena familia entered the cave.

As they did so they noticed the Amphisbeana had completely recovered its strength.

Turning its attention to them, the blue head released its flames.

When it did Morax was prepared this time.

{Ground and soil, heed my command and come forth!}

[Geo Force]

He created a shield of earth to block the flames.

Then as soon as they stopped he lowered it.

"William, you're on." Morax spoke.

The moment he did so William stepped forward and took hold of his bow.

As he did so the Ampihsbeana prepared to attack him.

But before it could the others intervened.

Allowing William to focus.

Aiming his bow in the direction of the Amphisbeana William began chanting the incantation for his new magic, which he obtained from a reading a Grimoire he received from Echidna.

{The sun, the moon, and the stars heed my call. Grant me your power. Give me a weapon with which to slay my enemies with. A shot that will never miss, one that will chase my foes down and smite them no matter what stands in its way. A shot that burns brightly just as you three do when you appear. The sun, the moon, and the stars I implore you once again, give form to my weapon and grant it to me.}

[Starlight Shot]

The moment William finished his chant, an arrow of pure light appeared in his grasp. Notching it in his bow he then took aim and unleashed it.

When William did this the arrow of light rocketed forward and pierced the body of the Amphisbeana, causing massive damage and creating a massive explosion.

This is William's new magic [Starlight Shot] which allows him to created an arrow of pure light with incredible attack power.

As the Amphisbeana roared in pain, the rest of the Athena familia pressed the attack.

Using magic and weapons, until eventually the monster rex was on its last legs.

Seeing this Morax ran forward alongside Ryuu.

Then when the couple reached the beast, Ryuu delivered a slash cutting of its left head, while Morax used Vortex Vanquisher to sever its right.

Ending the beast and the battle.

As the monster evaporated and its magic stone hit the water the Athena familia celebrated their victory against their first-lower floor boss.