Part 22

After a Fortress floor in which giant Earth Plants were roaming around the floor, the party found themselves in a castle surrounded by the undead. These people were the guards that still guarded their castle as well as their king and queen. Believing that the party were intruders, the alarm was sounded and so every guard charged the party. Unfortunately for them, they were beyond any threat to the Warriors who easily handled them with Diaja spell and their physical weapons. In the end not a single guard was left standing. The party ended up finding the treasury with a nice Rune Axe, another Golden Apple, another Silver Apple, another Zephyr Cape and another Soma Drop waiting for them before finally reaching the throne room where the king and queen waited for them. The king was cursing his men while the queen tried to calm him down. At the sight of the party the king turned into a Pharaoh and tried rushing the party, but Mari's Diaja vaporized him. The queen in her sadness transformed into a devil wizard and tried casting a spell, but she was put out of her misery by Rosch. After finding the stairs, Mari wanted a moment before they moved on as she wanted to pray for all those guards that died and were finally able to pass on. Everyone ended up praying with her as they all felt sad about guards' fate.

After a brief stint in an Earth Cave floor, the party discovered to their horror that the 36th floor was another one with magma in it. Cursing their luck, they ended up running all over the place before finding the stairs and going down. They felt immense pleasure seeing another ice cave floor so they found a pile of snow and again put their feet in to cool off. A black dragon decided to interrupt their break and it paid dearly for it. After getting shocked by Mari and pinned down by Lewyn, Rosch and Kelin cut his head off and put it on display so that no one else would disturb while the party was cooling off. After finally being able to feel cold in their feet, everyone got up and started searching around the place. They ended up meeting another black dragon that guarded three chests with Sage's Staff, a Soma Drop and a Golden Apple in them. They picked up the treasures and went on their way, soon finding the stairs and climbed down.

After two more cave floors, they were at their next checkpoint, the 40th floor. Knowing what was waiting for them by now, they made a quick rest, took healing items and restocked their magic and then pressed on until finding the dark blue flame. As if it noticed that the Warriors were beyond any care at that point, the flame just growled before transforming into a creature that words could hardly describe. It had giant wings like in dragons, weird shaped purple hands and devil horns on its head with some kind of bracelet on his neck waving in the air. It quickly got to attacking, forcing everyone to spread around and missing out on Invisra and Protera. Neither Rosch nor Mari could cast defensive spells as that thing kept everyone at the distance. Every time it hit the ground it left scratch marks behind. Lewyn and Kelin kept missing their attacks as the monster kept flying in the air and dodging magic. An attempt to make it stop flying failed miserably as the monster knocked out Kelin's sword and slashed Rosch badly. While Mari was trying to heal Rosch, Lewyn jumped on its wing to slow it down and to actually hit with his punches. Unfortunately, even with him onboard it, it still dodged most of it and any attack that did hit also hit Lewyn. Once he was thrown off, the fight went into desperation mode as everything that was collected on the journey was used in hopes of slowing it down. Spells failed to hit, tonics failed to improve the situation and healing items weren't enough to salvage the situation. Soon enough everyone was exhausted, wounded and started making mistakes which were punished brutally. Mari and Rosch were starting to run out of magic. In an desperate attack all 3 men jumped on it. While swords did penetrate, it wasn't enough and they were knocked out and slammed into the wall. Rosch was much further thrown away and was isolated, making him a prime target for the monster to finish off. At the last moment the monster was interrupted by Mari's Holy spell. She was glowing brightly as she screamed: "COME HERE, YOU BASTARD!" The last thing everyone heard were Lewyn's pleas to stop before they were overwhelmed by a brilliant white light. By the time the dust settled, the monster was gone and the only thing standing was Mari before she collapsed.

"Dammit!", screamed Lewyn while running to her aid. Kelin got to her first. "Is she still breathing?"

Kelin: "Barely. Where is that thing?"

Lewyn: "Here, take mine. Come on, girl."

Kelin took the Phoenix Down from Lewyn and crushed it over Mari. By then Rosch was limping over to them.

Rosch: "How is she?"

Kelin: "Slightly better. You got anything left in you?"

Rosch: "Just about. Curaga!"

Rosch casted his most powerful healing spell, Curaga, to Mari who woke up and started coughing blood onto the floor.

Lewyn: "What the hell were you thinking?"

Mari: "Ending that thing... That was worth it."

Lewyn: "Not at the cost of your life, it isn't."

Mari: "It was either one of us or it."

Lewyn: "Now look here-"

Kelin: "Save it, Lewyn. If you got time to complain about her actions, then you got time to worry about the real problem."

Rosch: "Yeah. I am starting to get worried. What exactly is waiting for us on further floors? This thing was way beyond what Fiends could pull off."

Mari: "I agree. If I have to almost die just to kill one of them, I dread to see what else is waiting us on lower floors."

?: "Then let me alleviate your fears."

Lewyn: "That voice. It can't be.

Everyone turned in the direction of that voice. They saw a mysterious man in a black hood.

?: "Greetings, Warriors of Light."

Lewyn: "It's you. You are the voice I heard back then. Does that mean you have come here to make your promise?"

?: "That is correct, Lewyn Marciano. I came here to congratulate you all for your work that you have done here. Thanks to you all this place will no longer exist."

Kelin: "What do you mean, no longer exist?"

?: "When each of the Fiends awoke, they turned their lairs into sources of their power. As a side effect, that created the dungeons that you have visited so far. All about them, including the fact that the layout of floors had no rhyme or reason, was the work of the Fiends. Creating their own armies on different planes so that they could be used in the world conquest someday all while using trapped monsters from different worlds to power all of this. That was quite a devious plan from them."

Mari: "What about places we visited? Like Feyhome Forest and Ristior?"

?: "They do exist. Tiamat, as the first of the Fiends to be awaken, had the longest time to develop her realm. The size and strength of it has now reached the mass that it can now influence other dimensions as well. It was even able to use the dead to extend its reach. But don't worry. Once you leave this place, this will all disappear. With the defeat of Death Gaze just now, it means that there is no longer anything capable of maintaining it. As we speak, the floors are starting to disappear. You do have time to rest as it will take hours until it reaches this floor."

Kelin: "There are no enemies beyond this one?"

?: "No. That teleportation circle will take you straight to the surface. So take it and finally leave this place. If you don't believe me, just check around. There are no stairs leading down anymore."

Kelin: "Why are you telling us all of this? What is your goal?"

?: "To fix the issue existing for 2 millennia now and to eventually offer you all a deal."

Lewyn: "You trying to make us laugh? Why do you think we would accept anything from you?"

?:  "I know you won't now, but I also know that we will reach that point soon enough."

Lewyn: "I wouldn't keep your hopes up if I were you."

?: "I am not worried. If there is one thing I have, it is patience. Now I do have to apologize to you, Lewyn Marciano. That scene you saw wasn't meant for you."

Lewyn: "I sure hope not. What exactly was that?"

?: "Do not worry. All will be revealed in due time. Now I am leaving you with the final message. Each dungeon has 4 of these "guardians", let's call them that. Once you defeat all 4 of them, the dungeon will disappear so you don't have to wonder how long will it last every time. You just need to worry on defeating them. Now, if you will excuse me."

Kelin started running while yelling: "Wait!", but failed to reach the mysterious man as he vanished into thin air with one last message: "I will see you at the end." Everyone wondered what all of this was about. Kelin ended up searching the floor, but failed to find the stairs. The only thing he found was a sword that he picked up and took it back to the party. With having no other choice but to accept the message as true, everyone stepped into the teleportation circle and teleported. They ended up being teleported outside of the cave like in previous cases. The only thing that was different then was a beautiful blue light rising out of the mountain. Everyone limped inside the cave to find the Lufenian and ask him some questions. The man had very little answer as, until the party came out, nothing different happened. Then, all of a sudden, the cave started shaking and the man ran outside only to see the same sight as party just did. The party thanked him for his answers and then went outside to prepare the camp. But being way too exhausted and still wounded, the task seemed too much for them right then. That's when Mari suggested something. With all the witnesses saying that Ristior existed, maybe it was worth the shot? Wishing for a nice bed right about then, everyone pulled their cards and imagined Blue Star Inn in their minds. When they opened their eyes, a familiar inn appeared in front of them. They limped inside.

Innkeeper: "Welcome to- Wait, what happened to all of you?"

Kelin: "Ask later. Right now we need any bed you can offer."

Innkeeper: "Well, your previous room is now occupied, but I can give four single bed rooms if you want."

Kelin: "Deal. Can we get them right about now?

Innkeeper: "Sure. Let me help you limp along."

Each of the Warriors got a single room on the second floor. Without all the precaution thrown out to the wind, they crashed into their comfy beds and slept through the night and most of the day.

The first one to awake was Mari. After slowly climbing down the stairs, she noticed that there was someone different at the reception. After hearing the explanation about it was her shift on the reception, she also explained that the innkeeper was probably in the dining area at that time. Mari thanked the receptionist and went to the dining area herself. There she was greeted by the innkeeper.

Innkeeper: "Ah, the sleeping beauty finally wakes up on her own. I was starting to get worried."

Mari: "What do you mean?"

Innkeeper: "Haven't you noticed? You have slept for nearly 20 hours. It's almost 8 PM."

Mari: "Seriously? Wow, we have been so exhausted after that fight."

Innkeeper: "You alright there?"

Mari: "Yeah, I had my fill of healing potions and rest. I just need something to eat now."

Innkeeper: "Put in the order. I can keep you busy until the kitchen finishes your order."

Mari: "Thank you."

After hearing her order and going to the kitchen to place it, the innkeeper returned.

Innkeeper: "It should be done in 30 minutes."

Mari: "Good. No offence, but I hope it will be worth the taste after waiting for that long."

Innkeeper: "Don't worry, it will. But I guess you weren't impressed by the meal last time."

Mari: "Not really, no."

Innkeeper: "Well, this time I am not rushing to get it made with magic. It will be properly made now."

Mari: "What do you mean?"

Innkeeper: "Oh I guess you don't have such capabilities in your world? To instantly finish cooking food."

Mari: "Of course not. I could only imagine the horror in cooks if they ever find out about that."

Innkeeper: "Ah, I wouldn't worry if I were them."

Mari: "What do you mean?"

Innkeeper: "I wouldn't want to bother you with unnecessary details that you won't need."

Mari: "Relax. We wouldn't be here if we believed that this was all illusion."

Innkeeper: "You sure?"

Mari: "Yes."

Innkeeper: "Alright. As I explained last time, this city was made specifically for mages. Here, the magic flows freely and can be utilized for anything you desire like transportation or experimentation. In fact, there is so much of it that it's too saturated which leads to some bad side effects. No better example than with the food. If you try to use magic to instantly cook, you lose so much flavour in the process."

Mari: "Is that why food tasted so bland last time?"

Innkeeper: "Yes. Just because we have the ability to alter the laws of nature into our benefit, it doesn't mean we should always do it."

Lewyn: "Good to see some words of wisdom from you, innkeeper."

Mari: "Oh, Lewyn. Did you sleep well?"

Lewyn: "I slept like a baby. I was worried more about you."

Mari: "As you can see, I am fine now. I seem to have recovered well."

Lewyn: "I don't know about that. The fact that you ignored your own safety when you are our healer is a worrisome sight."

Innkeeper: "What do you mean? What happened before you came here?"

Lewyn: "This idiot here nearly sacrificed her own life to destroy a powerful monster that was giving us a trouble. I don't think she realizes how much we would miss her if that came to fruition."

Mari: "I hate to spoil the mood, but if that monster appeared early in our journey, I would have abandoned the party. No way I would have risked my life against something so powerful with my weak self."

Lewyn: "Mari, if that thing appeared that early, I would have been the first one to run away. So I can't blame you for that decision."

Mari: "Wait, really?"

Lewyn: "Yes. No point in risking my life against something so far beyond my league."

Mari: "That makes me feel better. Thanks."

Innkeeper: "I am curious though. How exactly did you end up here in the first place? You said you didn't know about this place until you arrived here."

Lewyn: "Apparently, the dungeon was messed up somehow as it started sending us in different places and dimensions."

Mari: "Yeah. We even had encounter with those that passed away."

Lewyn: ...

Innkeeper: "Something wrong there?"

Lewyn: "No, just... don't want to speak about it."

Innkeeper: "Fine. I will change the subject."

Mari: "I can ask about the obvious thing. How are we going to pay for our stay here?"

Innkeeper: "That's what's this is for."

Lewyn: "That? That just looks like a piece of wood with a magic circle on it."

Innkeeper: "That's what you think. Just press your hand."

Lewyn: "Fine. Here. Now what?"

Innkeeper: "Now you-?"

Lewyn: "Wait, what the?"

Mari: "What?"

Lewyn opened his arm that was on that block of wood. In his arm there was a sun medallion.

Lewyn: "It can't be. I thought I lost this."

Innkeeper: "What?"

Lewyn: "This medallion. It was a gift from my master back when I was at the monastery. But how?"

Innkeeper: "Let me guess. That was on your mind just now."

Lewyn: "Yes, how did you know?"

Mari: "Ah, I see now. Tell me, how much is our tab currently?"

Innkeeper: "After calculating the price using the currency from your world, it's currently around 2000 gil. 1000 per night. Now if you can't pay the current tab, we can-"

Mari: "This enough?"

Innkeeper: "Hm?"

Innkeeper looked at Mari who was now holding a bag of coins. "Identify. Huh? There's like 5000 gil in there."

Mari: "Consider it advance pay for accommodations and some info. For instance, what did your eyes glow just now?"

Innkeeper: "It's called Identify. It can help with identifying objects and beings and their stats."

Lewyn: "You know, we picked up some items along our way. Can you help with that?"

Innkeeper: "Of course."

Mari: "Good. Tomorrow morning then. For now we eat. Go ahead and order."

Lewyn: "I will."

The next morning everyone assembled at Lewyn's room to see what exactly were their treasures from their time at Whisperwind Cove. The innkeeper, who finally introduced himself to the party as Homer Falkenhayn, used Identify to see what exactly were those items and to whom they should go to. The first items on the menu were the apples. 2 Silver and 5 ones ended up going to Rosch as, according to Homer, he would get the most benefits from them, while Kelin would get none and Lewyn was approaching that limit too. The next items were the 5 Soma Drops. That one had a lot of deliberation about to whom it should go to, but in the end the agreement was made on Rosch again. While Kelin was starting to learn white magic, it was doubtful that he could ever reach the same levels of power as Mari and Rosch and Mari's magic reserve so was higher than Rosch's so to him they went. And the most easiest decision to made were about the two swords that they have found, identified as the Deathbringer and Lifebringer. Since others weren't using swords and Kelin still refused to change his Ice Blade, both ended up going to Rosch again. According to Homer, Lifebringer was stronger than Deathbringer and Sun Blade, so that was the one that Rosch ended up choosing. As for the two spells that could have been casted from the blades, those ended up being Death and Holy. The party didn't want to learn either one as the bad memories of fights against Astos and Mari's near death were still fresh in their mind. After all of this was done, Kelin went on shopping spree. With his white magic powers now active, he wanted to see what he could get for himself. Unfortunately, he was a bit disappointed when it was revealed to him that he could only cast limited number of spells up to level three. Not even Dia spells were available for him. Nevertheless, he decided to pick up as much as he could. The spells he ended up choosing were: Cure, Protect, Blink, Invis, Silence, NulShock, NulBlaze and Cura.

After spending one more night at Blue Star Inn, they had to say their farewells to Homer, but promised to return again someday. They returned back to the same place that they left, the clearing outside the cave, and saw that magic was still seeping away from Whisperwind Cove. They all boarded the canoe and went on their merry way. Several days later, they were celebrated as heroes back at the capital as the blue effect was visible even from there. However, heroes didn't stay there for long. After having a good night sleep at the royal castle, they boarded the Sky Empress and pressed on west. Initially they wanted to go straight to Earthgift Shrine, but Kelin had convinced everyone to make one small detour. They visited the dwarves at Mount Duergar where they showed the adamantite found at the Flying Fortress. The dwarven eyes gleamed at the sight of this rare material and promised Kelin that in one week time they would create the finest blade for him.  Kelin was happy to hear such words and left the metal in their care under one condition. They were to incorporate his 3 previous blades into this new sword somehow. The dwarves accepted the challenge and took from him the material from his 2 previous swords and his Ice Blade. Kelin decided to borrow Deathbringer for the time being.

After this short stop, Sky Empress flew straight to their destination, Earthgift Shrine. While landing, they couldn't miss the clouds gathering around the Chaos Shrine in the distance. It seemed time was of essence. As soon as the airship landed, the party went straight into the cave housing Earthgift Shrine where they were met by a familiar figure.

Dragon: "Ah, the Warriors of Light. And here I thought you worms decided to give up."

Lewyn: "Don't worry. We came here to fulfil your wish."

Dragon: "Really? You really think you can get rid all of us?"

Kelin: "Of course. Why do you think it took us this long?"

Dragon: "Ooh, tough words from people who couldn't wait but to run away. Let's see how tough you truly are. See you at the last floor.

Mari: "Don't worry. We will leave last alive as our parting gift."

With a glare in his eyes, the dragon's illusion disappeared and Warriors entered through the door. Even with the floor arrangement now different compared to the last time, they blazed through the first four floors. Compared to their counterparts at Whisperwind Cove, all enemies that failed to escape party's sight was so weak that even Mari had no problem killing them in one hit. The enemies that did escape helped the party in finding treasures that they missed last time. They found two Silver Apples and an elven cloak. With the record time and nary a scratch on them, they were on the final floor.

On the final floor they couldn't fail to notice that the layout was changed completely. Originally it was a floor filled with hallways that led to 4 separate rooms. Now it was just one hallway leading down into 3 separate room that were blocked off by barriers. It seemed the bosses of this place didn't want to prolong this any further, a sentiment shared by the party. And so they stepped into the first room with a dark flame standing in the middle of the room. As soon as they approached it, it started speaking. "You've done well to come this far... but you will go no further!" The flame transformed into a strange green humanoid being that was hanging by the floor with claws as its hands and a snake tail. The party felt no fear as they plunged straight into battle.

The creature stood no chance against the Warriors. As soon as Protera and Invisra went up, the only attacks it had left were spells Earthquake and Death and they failed to hit anything, giving the party ample opportunity to fight back. The snake tail was vaporized by Mari's Holy, Rosch's Blizzaga froze it into place which allowed Kelin to climb onto the ice and cut its body in half, separating it from the ceiling. Lewyn managed to hit it straight into the face while it was falling, crushing its skull. In the end, it was up to Kelin to finish it off and with his strike, he accidentally triggered the spell Death in his blade and killed the creature instantly. He was not happy with what happened just then. Nevertheless, the barrier that prevented them from moving forward had disappeared and so the party pressed forward onto the next enemy.  

The dark flame in the next room waited until party's buffs ran out before starting to change while yelling: "There are none who can stop me in all of creation! You, too, shall fall before me!" Its actual form was hideous. Small orange body with green bat wings, single purple eye and purple teeth as its face and a small purple tail. The party felt disgusted just looking at it and immediately went on the attack. The monster tries to stay airborne, but Mari's Holy knocked him down. It barely got time to cast Earthquake as Rosch, Lewyn and Kelin were pummelling it while Mari casted Invisra and Protera. As if wishing not to ever see it again, the monster died really fast under the pressure of so many strikes at it. Without missing a beat, everyone pressed onward as the barrier disappeared, allowing them to approach the final room.

As soon as they stepped into the final room, the flame started speaking.

Flame: "Unbelievable. It is almost as if those weaklings from several months ago are completely different people. Even the girl feels much stronger when compared to that time."

Mari: "We learned a lot from the battle with Cerberus. Now you don't stand a chance against us."

Flame: "And you think that won't make me fight you? Little girl, it seems you still need to learn about a little thing called pride. Just because you defeated Cerberus, Echidna and Ahriman, that doesn't mean I will surrender and let you beat me so easily. Our master deserves from us nothing less than our best. And so..." At this the flame started transforming into a big yellows two-headed dragon. "In me are all things great and small extinguished. Die now, Warriors of Light!"

The dragon opened with a breath attack, but Mari's Protera stopped it from doing any damage. Rosch casted Thundaga to distract it long enough for Kelin and Lewyn to approach it. Kelin stabbed one of the heads through their eye, making it scream in agony. Meanwhile, Lewyn's punch sent it flying backwards. Rosch's and Lewyn's strikes sliced one of the heads off, allowing Mari to finish it with Holy. As the dragon started to disappear into the mist, it smiled and said: "Heh, beaten again.", before disappearing in to the mist. With all 4 bosses of the Earthgift Shrine now dead, the party stepped into the teleport circle that appeared to exit that place. They ended up back at the cave that was now violently shaking. Everyone immediately ran outside to avoid falling rocks. Outside they also saw the sight that they missed last time. As the entire mountain shook, it started shining brightly in yellow colour, a similar sight as at Whisperwind Cove. It seemed that was the result of destroying Fiend's lair every time.