Chapter 170 - Pits of Tartarus

(Ikarus) "Just... wow. This must be what ass the fuss is about, right?"

(Petra) "Heh, presume so Ikarus. It's surprising the air is safe to breathe though"

(Zeki) "Now this is more like it! A place filled with deadly lava and no souls in sight, I'm right at home!"

(Ariza) "Uh, you actually like this place Zeki? It's like we're in actual hell right now"

(Charlotte) "I really hope we find my Lord soon"

(Nathan) "We definitely will Lotte, there's only an endless ocean of lava between us now. That'll be nothing for this group"

(Geld) "My master did say this place is a thing of beauty but I don't see it I'm afraid"

Having just entered through the gate, what presents the party is a hellish looking area filled with a reddish brimstone floor and lakes of lava far as the eye can see, the ceiling as well is covered head to toe in brimstone. This is the true Underworld everyone recognizes and thankfully, we've now arrived.

It reminds me a little of that block game that has sold more copies than any other game on the planet, albeit much more intimidating and deadlier. I mean, we did enter this place using a portal as well so I think you can see why I'm remembering such an odd thing.

"Hey orangey, before I decide to try flying over this lake, I'm guessing gravity is stupid again?"

To be honest, Zeki does have a point here. The area we've arrived at is completely surrounded by lava with no other islands in sight, we're going to have to cross it to get anywhere. I'm still going to have a little fun with him first.

"Have a test kid and we'll find out firsthand then"

"Are you seriously trying to kill me or something orangey!?"

(Ariza) "You're such an idiot at times Zeki. We're resistant to it, remember?"

"As if I'm falling for that, I'll drown in that!"

To prove a point to the idiot, I crouch and grab a cup full of the magma within my hand. It surprisingly feels a little slimy considering it's freaking molten rock.

"See kid? The gravity situation is still the same though, I really just wanted to see if you'd sink or not. You could change gender since those jugs with definitely act as a life jacket"

Zeki just scoffs at me, can't say I blame him but it would be good to see if those things would help him float. I mean, they shouldn't but this world is weird enough already.

"Heh, didn't you want to someday swim in a volcano Ikarus? Looks like it's the perfect opportunity, shame we turned that bikini into clothing though"

And of course, my lovebird can't help but get involved as well now. She does have a point but given the chance, I'm not actually going to try swimming in that, right?

"Eh, the appeal has slightly died down a little Petra, seems pointless if the other three can't do it as well. Anyways, does anyone have any idea how we're all going to get past this, WITHOUT swimming through it? You know which direction to head as well Geld?"

"Queen Ikarus, I'm sorry, but I'm as clueless as you lot on this. My master didn't give me the specifics once again"

Turns out, Geld's master is as useless as the rest of us. Normally, I'd force myself not to moan but this time around, it's completely justified, we really have no idea where to go.

"So, what the hell do we do then? It's obvious we'll just have to wing it and pick a direction but I'm not swimming through all that crap. I'm pretty sure we'd be able to get through it but still"

If we're trying to be realistic and use physics, there's no way you'd be able to swim through it even with fire resistant because it's freaking lava! Of course, realism doesn't really exist when you're a multiple tonne phoenix hiding in a hybrid human body though.

"Heh, we could try using these Ikarus"

Petra walks over to what looks to be a door sized plank of wood just sitting around, then places it on the lava. For some reason, it's floating with no issue.

"Why aren't they setting alight?"

"Heh, maybe the fires down here only burn living material Ikarus? We obviously get excluded"

Huh, that's probably the reason but we should try and just move on now. There is four of those 'barges' and multiple oar looking planks around as well so this looks like the way we're getting across this place, seems dangerous as hell but gravity is still stupid inside this place after all. Flying isn't possible.

'This place could've been filled with dangerous enemies, and it still may be, but now we all have to row across an ocean of lava. We're going to be down here forever at this rate...'

__________

"Row, row, row your boa... eh, I'm not that bored yet. Hey Petra, can you sing for me or something?"

"Heh, have you ever heard me sing before Ikarus? I can try if you want but it might sound like a dog howling though"

Splitting into pairs excluding Geld who's on his own barge, we're all sailing across the endless molten rock and I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation. Mostly because of how unstable this sort of thing actually is, can't help but worry when just under half this party would die pretty much instantly if the fell right now. It's not like I can use a revive even if I had one, can't imagine it would work all that well considering what lava would do to the body.

"You can't be that bad at it Petra, bet you sound like a goddess or som-"

"Can you please just stop talking orangey? It's way too freaking hot down and I'm stressing out enough about this fucking trip"

I rudely get cut off by Zeki a raft behind, obviously he must be feeling the tension a little as well as everyone else.

"Fine then kid, I'll shut it for a little bit"

'I guess this isn't a situation for that Ikarus charm then, let's just hope we get across this soon enough'

A little time passes till we're completely out of sight of the island we arrived on and I start to feel the door beneath us rocking a little bit. Just because my love for this woman is endless does not mean I won't get pissed in a situation like this.

"Petra, I love you and all, but if I fall off because of you pissing about, I might end up hitting you"

"Heh, don't blame me Ikarus. Thought you were the cause"

"If you're not doing it, then who-"

Suddenly, a creature spanning the size of a dragon pops up from under the magma causing a tiny fiery tidal wave to rock around the 'boats' we're currently on.

"...Is? Fuck me, is that a goddamn hydra!? How the fuck are we supposed to fight that like this!?"

"What the fuck is a hydra orangey? What creature has four heads like that!?"

"Uh, he doesn't look best pleased"

"Lotte, we may be fucked here"

"We'll survive Nat, we have to"

"Damn it master, couldn't you have warned us about this?"

The Lernaean Hydra was, or is a water monster from legend with a canine like body that has multiple snake like dragon heads slithering up from under the water, at least that's the description I'm getting staring at the bastard right in front of us! Looking at what we can see swimming around in the magma, clearly this guy is half dead judging by how decomposed he looks. Regardless of that, this is a deadly serious situation.

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https://i.ibb.co/z8nJx9S/Hydra.jpg

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We're in a right pickle here. Sure, us birds will be fine falling in that if the planks of wood topple over, but what about the other three? We're not losing anyone here so it's time to be obnoxious as hell, it's safe to say that creature doesn't look pleased people are on his lake.

"You lot at the back, don't make a sound or do anything!"

"..."

Thankfully, the non-fire-resistant members of the party listen and all the heads on the hydra immediately seem to despise the waving of my arms, hopefully he'll just fixate on this beautiful couple ahead of him.

"Heya big guy, over here!"

"Heh, guess we're doing this the Ikarus"

Now that I definitely have the monster's attention, it's time to try killing the beast, at least it seems that way considering how much the heads are now hissing at us.

As of right now, Zeki might as well join the others in being passive as his attack of flamethrowing towards the creature is pointless, so Ariza kicks of the actual preceding's pulling out her bow making sure to fire several arrows at once towards the beast.

Petra sends her sword flying to slash at the necks of some of the heads while I wildly swing Excalibur around making sure some of the magical cuts fly off and land against it. All three of our attacks seem to be working tremendously as two of the four heads have been cut off.

However, one of the remaining heads in particular has had enough of our little game and plans to simply just crush us lovebirds...

(Petra) "Ikarus!"

Pushing Petra off the side of our makeshift barge just in the nick of time, I feel the weight of the creature's head crash into me breaking the wood and causing both of us to be forced into the fiery abyss. Except this bastard clearly has a thing against me now.

"Mmpf!"

Almost as if the hydra predicted where I'd end up in the lava, I feel a bite sink into my leg and suddenly the entire world is falling as I'm being dragged to wherever it is this bastard wants me to go. Vison is completely non-existent except for orange and breathing is an impossibility within these hellish depths, this would make for such an epic tale if I wasn't in such a deadly situation though.

Getting dragged to the bottom of the lake, the hydra just won't let my ankle go despite my best attempts to break free, almost like I'm wearing concrete boots or something. Panic obviously starts to set in while I'm practically being drowned in a pit of lava.

'Fuck fuck fuck! I'm actually going to drown like this!'

[<Ikarus needs to calm herself and think about this logically, you still have more than enough time get yourself out of situation>]

Strangely, hearing a robotic monotone voice while having a full-on panic attack helps more than words can describe. Could just be my will to live kicking in as well but there's no fucking chance I'm going to die like this, I just refuse to die in such a stupid way.

'Guess you're right, can always cut the leg if neede-, hang on Aesa, I need aspect, now!'

[<Confirmed, glad Ikarus came to that conclusion herself>]

Still clutching onto both my weapons, I start wildly swinging into the thick magma once again just hoping for any chance to free my leg, all while slowly losing more and more air in my lungs. It's nothing graceful but it's the only chance I have, honestly shocked my weapons aren't melting as well but pretty sure enchantments are the reason for that.

Thankfully, I feel my ankle finally break free as Excalibur definitely hit something, I'm hoping it was the hydra bastard but if I'm a foot down right now, I couldn't care less right now!

Using all the strength left remaining in my body, I start trying to swim up through the dense liquid rock and find it's harder than you could ever imagine. Seriously though, try swimming through something like slime and you'll understand what I mean.

Just as I feel like I have to breathe in, my arms break the surface and finally, sweet, ashy Underworld air. I've got to admit, my adrenaline is through the roof!

Still catching my breath, the body of the hydra slowly rises to surface bobbling along clearly showing that I must've struck it. I'm a little annoyed aspect had to be used but this place isn't worth risk taking any further.

"*Huff huff*... that shit was intense! That fucker nearly got me... give me a second Petra and you can ride on me if you want"

Ahead of me, Petra's still on the lake in her scarred phoenix form, don't like her hurting like that but it was always better for floating I suppose. To think we used shitty planks of wood when we could've just done that, I guess it wouldn't have stopped me being dragged down though.

"Heh, it's fine Ikarus so please just get on... phew"

Doing as she says, I climb up onto her back and take a seat, bet it looks like I'm riding a black rubber ducky or something from the side.

Considering how tightly that bastard bit onto my ankle, it doesn't seem to be bloody or anything like that. Of course, I'm more focusing on how relieved everyone looks from me not drowning there, even Zeki looks like he was just stressing out a load. I'd rather tease Petra about it if I'm being honest.

"Heya Petra... you weren't worried or anything, right?"

"Heh, why would I be worried Ikarus? There was no way that creature could ever bring you serious harm"

'Look at her putting on a tsundere act for me, as if I can't tell what she really thinks'

Despite me trying to get her to show a little bit of that concern she definitely just had, I don't care that much about it so I just make sure to give her head a hug as softly as I can. She's definitely in pain right now, that much is guaranteed but she seems to appreciate it.

"Let's just keep moving and get to land already, I already hate this place more than words can describe now..."

__________

"Finally, fucking land! I don't care what anyone says orangey, we're going a different way back then doing that shit again"

(Ariza) "Agreed Zeki, all of us were terrified when you fell in Ikarus"

"We thought you nearly lost you Ikarus-sama"

"My master would've killed me if any harm came to you, I was literally about to jump in and help!"

(Nathan) "Geld's not kidding Ikarus, he did look like he was about to jump in"

(Ikarus) "As if some four headed loch-ness monster creature is going to be the end of me, you lot worry too much"

(Petra) "..."

It's taken this long for the adrenaline to die down and for people to speak again but, I'm pretty certain tensions are better simply because we've just arrived on a new island. The rest of that journey was peaceful enough after taking care of the hydra in all fairness. I think Petra's still a little shook up despite me being alright and switching forms again.

Before we start to search this new landmass though, feel like I can't leave this as it is. While everyone's going off ahead, I give her a slight tug on the arm.

"You can relax now Petra, I'm fine, see? I can give you a spin or dance if needed!"

"..."

She doesn't give me verbal response only giving me a little smile, I can definitely tell she's related to Mute at times when she goes silent like this. Unlike her sister, Petra seems to get like this when in a large group or just down to stress really.

"I love your smile Petra but can you give me a response please? I'm not sure if you're okay or not"

"..."

'Still no words! She's not actually pissed at me or something, right? The smile seems genuine though'

"This isn't some sort of depressive silent treatment I'm unawa-"

Completing taking be aback, she goes in for a passionate kiss swooping me off my feet and nearly making me fall over. The way she does this has always made my heart flutter but this is definitely not the time for something like this, right? Or is it?

"Of course, I was a little worried Ikarus, this was just me thinking of a way I could kiss you really"

As if I'm falling for that! There's no way she's gone silent because she wanted a kiss! She clearly was worried more than a little!

"E-Erm... don't change the subject! You seem a litt-"

And again, she's attacks me with another kiss! I really should be annoyed at her but as if I could be annoyed at this pain in the arse smothering me with smooches right now! Urgh, conflicting emotions...

"Heh, does that answer it again Ikarus? How many more times do you need confirmation?"

"Urgh, I just won't ask then"

I don't even know what goes through her head at times so best just let her get on with it, our relationship dynamic has always been a little weird so no problems if she doesn't want to discuss it any further. Unless, the kissing is actually her way of saying she's fine? Eh, guess I'll never really know.

"*Sighhh*, let's just catch up to everyone Petra. I love you more than words can describe but you really confuse me..."