An echo of Truman's Fat Lady still reverberated throughout the ruined chamber, a lingering reminder of the monstrous presence freshly obliterated moments earlier. Charred remnants marked where the beast had fallen, smoke rising lazily from the shattered stone.
"Serenity, Harmony, Tranquility," Roy said into the comm, "is the report done for that ocean thing? What is it? How fast is it moving? Is it actually headed for us or just wandering into the wrong neighborhood?"
A brief hiss of static answered him. Serenity spoke first, steady and clipped. "Still compiling."
Words stacked on each other like Harmony was trying to outrun the problem. "I'm fighting the sonar buoys right now. They're being dramatic. Give me a moment." Harmony cut in immediately.
The softer voice of Tranquility followed, all business underneath the shyness. "We'll have it as soon as the feed stops collapsing. Your long distance is causing some connectivity issues."
A step forward broke the momentary lull. Impatience radiated from Eryndra, the usual lightheartedness absent from her face. "Alright guys, this is taking way too long. We need to speed this up, and I'm done waiting. You all ride with FDR. I'm gonna handle things from here, and there will be no debate, understand?"
"Spooky," Orin whispered.
Without waiting for any other response, she positioned herself in front of the Fireside Ascent, taking a low runner's stance before glancing back at FDR. A playful yet confident smirk crossed her face. "Try and keep up."
A sharp, mechanical chuckle escaped the Presidroid, arms crossing over its chest. Eryndra's vents opened partially, shimmering briefly as mana surged through her form. A rush of displaced air followed the explosion forward, the floor trembling under the acceleration.
The Fireside Ascent barely had time to register the motion before it lurched forward in pursuit. Precise adjustments from the FDR kept them in safe proximity behind Eryndra, but the slight strain in the Presidroid's movements was noticeable. Subtle tremors ran through its arms as the magic platform was continuously recalibrated, matching the blistering pace set by Eryndra's relentless sprint.
As Eryndra led them down, she darted toward each monster the moment it came into view, accelerating sharply beyond her already blistering pace. The first creature exploded into a smear, its remains splattering grotesquely against the stone walls, and before its carcass could fully settle, she was back at the front of the Fireside Ascent, hair billowing wildly behind her.
When a hulking monster emerged, its thick carapace blocking their path, she shot forward again. This time she split it neatly down the middle with a decisive slash of her arm, flinging both halves clear of the path. The Fireside Ascent glided between the discarded halves smoothly, without pause.
Further ahead, a pool of stagnant water spread across the dungeon floor. Without hesitation, Eryndra transitioned seamlessly from stone to water, sprinting effortlessly across its murky surface. A tentacled beast lurched upward, jaws gaping beneath her feet. In an instant, she plunged her arm downward, seizing the creature by its slimy appendages, and dove beneath the surface. With a violent tug, she yanked the beast from its underwater lair and hurled it into the far dungeon wall, where it exploded into a dripping smear upon impact.
Lynder squinted hard, head turning as the terrain ripped past in disjointed chunks of stone, water, and bone. His mouth opened once, then shut again.
"That was a… no, that one was a—hold on, that's not—" He tilted his head back slightly, offering an unspoken prayer to whatever deity handled patience. "I'm sorry, Roy. They're passing too quickly. I can't get a proper identification before she's already removed them."
Orin leaned forward eagerly, gripping the edge of the Fireside Ascent as if this were a game. "Don't worry, Guildmaster, I got this."
He began pointing rapidly, voice bright and confident. "Snake thing. Rat thing. Bird thing. Fish thing. Another fish thing. Bigger fish thing. Definitely a bird thing again."
Visibly annoyed, Roy lifted a hand towards Orin. "Stop…please."
"Long fish thing. Short fish thing. That one's angry. That one's wetter," Orin continued, now with more energy.
"Please stop," Roy said, more urgently now.
Fascination stirred within Orden as the chaos unfolded. "No, no. Continue!" Leaning forward, the eyes tracked the chaos ahead. "That one is a loud thing. That one is a crunchy thing!"
Clamped shut, Roy's eyes squeezed tight. "I am begging the both of you…stop."
A grin, encouraged, spread across Orin's face. "Oh, that one was a fast thing. That one was pretending to be a wall. That thing thought water would help. That one thing is now two things. Oh, and now it's paint."
Just in time to see another creature burst apart in the distance, Roy opened his eyes. Pointing forward weakly, he declared, "If either of you say 'thing' one more time, I am throwing myself off this platform."
Ahead of them, Eryndra struck again, the aftermath flashing briefly into view before she was already back in position, feet carving sparks from stone as she reset her pace.
Watching her in silence for a moment, Lynder rubbed a thumb roughly across his knuckles, as if grinding away the irritation in his bones. "This level of power is unnatural. What is she…."
After activating his ring, Roy turned and looked into a small portal materializing behind him. From it emerged the unmistakable sight of a Presidroid awkwardly dragging a large TV towards the portal's opening.
This act was immediately noticed by Takara, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Really, Roy?"
A defensive shrug came in response. "I just wanna watch some stuff. I've been stuck down here in this dank, dumb dungeon for over a day now, bored out of my mind. You guys get to have fun, I'm just sitting here looking stupid. Let me live a little!"
The Presidroid grunted softly, inching the TV into position as growing anticipation filled the air. Before anything else could happen, Serenity's voice broke urgently through the comm.
"Um, Captain, one of the deep-sea ocean monsters just surfaced. It's…uh, big."
Roy's reply emerged sluggishly, still rough from fatigue. "Huh? Like, how big?"
She paused for a second, multiple sonar windows opening around her flower as she rapidly assessed the situation. "Its full size is still unclear, but sonar suggests it is at least a thousand feet long…and just as wide."
"Pardon?" Roy said, voice carrying genuine shock.
"Oh, wonderful," Serenity muttered. "Now I've picked up about fifty more. Smaller, but still enormous. At least a tenth the size of the main one. And all of them are moving toward Otherrealm… no, wait, they're aiming specifically for the dungeon."
A sharp exhale left Roy's lungs. "Why is a sea monster acting like it has an appointment with my dungeon?"
Overhearing the question on the comms, Lynder spoke up calmly. "Likely it senses the concentrated mana from the large number of enemies. It wants to feed."
Groaning, a hand rubbed Roy's forehead. "So, basically, we're a barrel of cookies to that thing?"
Lynder gave a minimal nod, confirming, "Essentially."
A sense of seriousness entered Roy's voice as he straightened. "Serenity, if anything feels even ten percent wrong, you call immediately. I'll send Eryndra back in a heartbeat. She'll apparition-run straight through the rock."
"Understood." A brief hesitation passed over Serenity. "Perhaps we should contact the Security Council? With our manpower this thin, they might want to help."
A sigh escaped Roy. "Alright, contact Maelara, Siren, and Griff directly. Send drones immediately. And recall the Presidroids from Technomendia and Otherrealm, barring those currently assigned to Evarran."
Confirmation came quickly from Serenity. "Right away."
Hesitation returned to Roy, his tone shifting to something more personal, more quietly protective. "I also want at least three elite Presidroids and seven advanced Presidroids guarding you at all times, no exceptions." The voice firmed. "I want them protecting you like they're guarding the sun from ever knowing shade exists."
Serenity's hologram flickered slightly, a faintly embarrassed but pleased expression crossing her face. "Captain, they're your friends, they wouldn't—"
"This isn't about friendship," Roy interrupted firmly. "One cursed artifact, one careless moment, anything. Without you, I…" A pause followed, his voice tightening, vulnerable. "I can't lose you."
Serenity's hologram covered her face with her hands, feet swinging slightly in a moment of private delight before responding gently, "My word, Roy…understood."
A loud crash and an indistinct shout echoed through Roy's comm line. Roy stiffened, instantly alert. "Wait, what the hell was that?"
The comms channel crackled with another crash, instantly followed by a joyful, sharp cackle that Roy knew well. "That did not sound structural," Roy noted. "Serenity, what's that noise...?"
A half-second pause followed. "To clarify," Serenity replied, with suspicious composure, "Father Skeleton and Skellbro are currently having a disagreement."
Roy's eye twitched. "A disagreement?"
A muffled, furious voice suddenly cut through: "That's my TV! I was watching that!"
Something heavy scraped, then snapped free. Roy's voice jumped an octave. "Why are they in my room!?"
Silence followed. Then Father Skeleton's laughter rolled through the channel, wet and unbothered, like someone having the time of their life. "You can't own a rectangle that shows moving lights, my child!"
"Give it back!" Skellbro shouted. "I like the moving lights!"
Another crash followed, louder than the last. Roy leaned toward his comm like proximity might help. "Serenity. They're in my room! They're touching my stuff! Make them stop!"
No answer came.
"Serenity!"
More noise followed. Something metallic hit a wall. Something else shattered. "What are they doing with my TV," Roy yelled. "That was a good TV!"
A whoop escaped Father Skeleton. "It screams when it breaks!"
Dragging both hands down the face, Roy muttered, "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable." Jabbing the comm again. "Tell Father Skeleton his shower privileges are permanently revoked."
This time, Serenity answered, and there was no mistaking the amusement that was not hidden. "No."
Staring at the comm, Roy questioned, "No? Don't make me use a portal!"
"They appear to be enjoying themselves," Serenity said. "Interrupting now would be counterproductive."
"That is my room," Roy snapped. "That is my personal space!"
"Yes," Serenity replied. "It was."