With a combined effort from Cesar and Armis, the towering gate slowly creaked open, revealing what lay beyond.
Anticipation hung heavy in the air as Alan and his group braced themselves for whatever awaited them on the other side to jump on them and tear them apart. However, as the gates swung wide, all they found was the same monotonous repetition of brick and stone, albeit in a relatively expansive hallway.
Alan stepped forward, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as he searched for any sign of danger lurking in the shadows. Despite his efforts, the illumination from the torches lining the walls left little room for anything to hide in the darkness of the corridor.
Alan redirected his attention to Felix, who was also scanning the area, and quipped in a teasing yet curious tone, "So, where's this Lord you were talking about? Is it invisible?"
But before Felix could respond, Lyco approached Alan with the Academy Manual in hand. Reading from it, he explained, "According to the manual, on the 10th floor of the Relic Castle, a lord of rodents spawns every time the gate is opened, challenging the resolve of those who wish to proceed."
"Eekk, another rat?!!! C'mon already, enough with the rats," Aurelia said with a grossed-out expression, pretending to hide behind Armis.
Lyco shot her a sarcastic gaze and teased her mockingly, "Yeah, like we've got a choice, you idiot."
"Yeah, but still, the question stands, where is this giant rat?!!" Armis yelled with anticipation, his voice echoing in the empty corridor. Just as he turned toward the gate leading to the next floor, a glow began emanating behind him. Startled, everyone stepped back, but Armis remained standing there, unaware of the red light flashing behind him.
Alan's eyes widened in shock and astonishment, mirroring the reactions of everyone present, as they witnessed a red glow coalescing at a point in the air behind Armis.
Suddenly, with flashing displays of crimson light, a giant rat materialized, towering at least 15 feet tall behind Armis.
The rat, with ferocious glowing eyes and a muscular body covered in pitch-black fur, stared menacingly at Armis.
Behind them, Lyco, with a shivering and fearful voice, played up the situation, teasing Armis as he pointed at the ginormous rat. "Look, Armis, there he comes to say hello," he said. Before Armis could turn to face the menacing presence behind him, everyone was startled as the rat swung its tail to the front.
To their horror, its tail transformed into a giant serpent, baring its fangs at them with the same ferocity as the rat. Armis turned to observe the monstrosity in front of him as Lyco finished his tease, "And look, he brought a friend."
Armis sprang into action, unleashing a resounding battle cry that echoed through the corridor. "Everyone, get ready!" he commanded. In response, the entire group swiftly moved into position, dispersing in different directions to strategize their attack.
As the monstrous rat lunged at Armis, he braced himself, letting out a fierce grunt. With swift movements, he shed his robe and summoned his armor, readying himself for the impending strike. The rat's claws collided with Armis's armor with tremendous force, but he stood his ground, planting his feet firmly to prevent being pushed back. Despite the impact, Armis remained steadfast, determined to withstand the onslaught of the rat's attack.
Armis's eyes widened as he watched Alan leap into action, charging at the rat from the side with his blade poised. With a powerful thrust, Alan stabbed the rat's neck, forcing it away from Armis. With remarkable agility, Alan then somersaulted into the air, using the momentum to twist the rat sideways, exposing its vulnerable stomach.
"Relecta, now!" Alan called out.
Without hesitation, Relecta reached into her utility belt and withdrew a vial of poisoned water. As she poured the contents into the air, she focused her energy, commanding the water to transform into sharp, deadly darts. With a sharp grunt, she released the darts, aiming them directly at the rat's exposed belly.
The darts struck the rat's belly, penetrating its thick skin and causing the surrounding area to darken into a deep purple hue.
With a piercing shriek of agony, the rat thrashed about wildly, pulling Alan away with its powerful claws. Alan managed to maneuver in mid-air and landed safely near Aurelia and Lyco. As Armis joined them, Alan outlined his plan:
"Good, now that it's poisoned, we just need to wait for it to exhaust itself so the poison can take effect."
As Alan spoke, Felix and Cesar charged at the rat from behind. With lightning speed, Felix lunged at the rat, but the serpent tail retaliated, striking towards him. Thinking quickly, Felix hurled his shield at the serpent, deflecting its attack and sending it recoiling away.
Capitalizing on the moment, Felix leaped onto the serpent's back, using it as a makeshift platform. With a powerful jump, he delivered a thunderous drop kick to the rat's neck, sending it crashing forward.
Without hesitation, Cesar positioned himself in front of the falling rat, delivering a bone-crushing punch to its snout, nearly shattering it. The force of the blow sent the rat hurtling backward, where Lyco stood ready. With a mighty grunt, Lyco manipulated the earth beneath the rat, causing it to collide with the ground with spine-jarring force, launching it into the air once more.
Aurelia dashed forward leaping after the ascending rat, her whip crackling through the air as it latched onto the rat's neck. With a swift movement, she tightened her grip, pulling the creature downward. Armis leaped after her, grabbing hold of her feet and adding his strength to her efforts. Together, they slammed the rat's head into the ground with a resounding crash.
In the blink of an eye, Alan dashed forward with Relecta perched upon his shoulders, her hands manipulating the water from her vial into a powerful cannonball. With a fierce battle cry, she launched the projectile at the rat's head with incredible velocity, tearing through its skull and sending brain matter and blood splattering outward as the creature's lifeless body was flung across the ground in a trail of blood.
The group encircled the lifeless, blood-soaked body of the rodent, their expressions a mix of relief and triumph. Alan meticulously scanned the creature for any signs of life, but finding none, he remarked with a hint of disappointment, "Guess that poison wasn't necessary after all. What a waste."
Armis stepped forward, planting his foot on the rodent's body with pride evident in his voice, "That's the power of Team Goliath for you."
Beside him, Felix shot Armis a disapproving glare, silently rebuking his careless comment. Armis quickly averted his eyes, attempting to downplay his words. Sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, Lyco swiftly climbed onto the massive carcass and let out a triumphant cry, teasing Felix with a playful tone, "First victory goes to TEAM GOLIATH!"
Laughter filled the air at Lyco's playful antics, momentarily distracting the group from their surroundings. Suddenly, without warning, the serpent tail of the rodent lunged at Lyco.
Alan's keen eyes caught the danger just in time, and with lightning reflexes, he leaped forward and snatched Lyco away from the snapping jaws of the serpent. The air resounded with the sharp sound of the serpent's bite as it narrowly missed its target.
The group recoiled in alarm, their guards immediately raised as they backed away from the menacing creature. Alan landed safely with Lyco behind the monstrous rodent, gently setting him down as he struggled to catch his breath. Lyco, still shaken by the close encounter, leaned on Alan for support, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Alan swiftly scanned his friend for injuries, but his attention was abruptly drawn back to Lyco, who nearly collapsed into his arms. Startled, Alan gently laid Lyco on the ground, only to discover his feet swollen and discolored, with pus and blood oozing from a wound that resembled a burn.
Realization dawned on Alan in an instant. The serpent's fang must have grazed Lyco's feet before he could pull him to safety. Panic surged through Alan as he shouted from behind the monstrous rodent's body, his voice tinged with urgency, "Lyco's been POISONED!"
Alan's urgent cry pierced the air, amidst the hissing of the serpent, sending shockwaves through the group. Armis's eyes widened with fury as he glared at the serpent, his fists clenched in rage. Aurelia's quick response cut through the tension as she pointed towards the corner of the corridor where their belongings lay.
"There's antidote in Armis's knapsack!" she yelled.
Alan's heart raced as he turned his gaze towards their belongings. With determination, he leaped towards them, his outstretched hand reaching for the knapsack. But before he could grasp it, the monstrous serpent, drawn by Aurelia's shout, focused its attention on Alan. With a terrifying display of strength, it hurled the lifeless body of the rodent towards Alan, trapping him beneath its crushing weight before he could even react.
"NO!!! BOSS!!!!" Relecta's cry echoed through the corridor as she attempted to leap towards Alan, but Aurelia held her back just in time to prevent her from being attacked by the serpent.
The group watched in horror and helplessness as their two friends lay defeated by the Lord of Monsters, the lowest level of the Relic Castle. Armis's eyes burned with a mixture of humiliation and rage as he witnessed the scene unfold before him.
Suddenly, with another display of gruesome strength, the serpent ripped itself free from the lifeless body of the rodent, blood splattering in all directions as it transformed into an independent creature, glaring and hissing ferociously at Armis and the others.
Armis's gaze darted back and forth between the lifeless body of the rodent, beneath which Alan lay trapped, and Lyco, unconscious and slowly succumbing to the poison coursing through his veins.
Without wasting any time, Armis, in rage let out his command to the group-
"Relecta!!! Get the antidote and get to Lyco, Aurelia!!! Get to Alan!!! While we try to distract it, You two!!!," Armis shouted at Felix and Cesar, gaining their attention, "With me!!!"
Following Armis's lead, Aurelia and Relecta dashed towards their belongings, while Armis launched himself at the serpent, his battle cry ringing through the corridor. "Come here, you overgrown worm!"
As Armis collided with the serpent, striking it in the center of its gut, the creature shrieked in agony. But its pain only seemed to fuel its fury. It lashed out at Armis with renewed ferocity, Felix, seizing the opportunity, lunged at the creature with his shield, but the serpent, now more agile than before, evaded his attack and struck back, sending Felix hurtling into the wall.
Just then, Cesar leaped at the serpent, his claws sinking into its hood as he tore through its tough skin. The creature writhed in agony, unleashing a hiss that reverberated through the corridor. Suddenly, it turned its attention to Cesar, launching a forceful shot of venom that caught him off guard, sending him hurtling backward to the floor, poisoned and incapacitated.
The serpent's deafening shrieks filled the air as it glared menacingly at Armis and Felix. Seeing Cesar down with swollen and burned arms from the poison, Felix's anger boiled over. Without hesitation, he lunged at the serpent, determined to take it down. With fury burning in his eyes, Felix wasted no time in waiting for Armis's command as he lunged at the serpent.
Armis trailed closely behind Felix, who leaped into the air and launched his shield at the serpent with a spinning motion. The shield struck the creature, momentarily staggering it, but it quickly regained its composure. Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the shield, Armis lunged at the serpent, hoping to deliver a powerful blow with the back of his armor.
However, Armis's attempt was met with shock as he found himself ensnared by the serpent's lightning-fast movements. In a blur of motion, the serpent coiled around both Armis and Felix, tightening its grip with bone-crushing force.
Aurelia abruptly halted in the midst of their mad dash toward safety, her voice ringing out in concern, "ARMIS!!!!" Her cry foolishly drew the serpent's attention toward them, prompting it to spew venom in their direction in a split second.
Just in the nick of time, Relecta sprang into action, conjuring a shield of water to intercept the poisonous onslaught. The shield successfully deflected the venom, but the force of the impact sent Aurelia and Relecta hurtling into the nearby wall with a resounding thud.
With their comrades incapacitated and the menacing serpent poised to strike, Armis and Felix faced the creature's deadly gaze as it prepared to unleash its fangs upon them. Just as the serpent moved to attack, a commanding voice pierced through the chaos.
"CAVAE AQUA!"
In an instant, water materialized out of thin air, forming a massive bubble that enclosed the serpent's head and mouth, trapping it within. The creature struggled within its watery prison, desperately seeking air as it thrashed about.
Armis and Felix turned to see the source of the commanding voice and were astonished to find a petite girl in a straw hat, clad in a white and green overall, wielding a wooden wand. Her tanned face adorned with freckles bore a determined expression as she shouted at them.
"You two!!! C'mon now's the chance!!"
Her urgent plea spurred Felix and Armis into action. With a shared glance filled with determination, they focused on the task at hand. Armis, fueled by rage and adrenaline, summoned every ounce of strength within him.
With a primal battle cry, his eyes bloodshot and expression intense, he pushed against the serpent's binding with all his might.
With a forceful thrust, his hand pierced through the serpent's skin, tearing through flesh and meat as he fought to free himself from its constricting hold.
The snake writhed in agony, its muffled screams drowned out by the suffocating water sphere enveloping its head. With a burst of strength, Armis seized the serpent's tail and ripped it away, freeing Felix from its binding. Together, they landed beside the girl who had intervened.
The serpent attempted to retaliate by swinging its tail at the rising Armis and Felix, the girl stepped between them. With her wand raised, she chanted a spell into the air.
"Scutum Aqua!"
A barrier of shimmering water materialized from thin air, forming a protective shield in front of them, deflecting the serpent's tail with ease. Without hesitation, the girl followed up with another incantation, "AQUA SUFFOCANT!"
At her command, the water surrounding the serpent's hood rushed into its mouth, inflating it like a balloon. Turning to Armis with urgency, she warned, "This won't hold it for long, but now's your chance!"
Responding swiftly to her words, Armis and Felix sprang into action, charging at the serpent. Despite its agony, the serpent refused to yield easily. Writhing in pain, it began to slither around, attempting to throw off Armis and Felix from their charge and becoming a moving target. Its swirling tail nearly struck Armis and Felix as they narrowly dodged, but they stumbled and fell to the ground.
They observed in horror as the snake forcefully expelled water from its nostrils. The girl turned to Armis and Felix, urgency in her voice. "Quickly! It's freeing itse—"
But before she could finish her warning, a thunderous battle cry reverberated through the labyrinth walls. Their eyes widened as they witnessed the lifeless body of the rodent convulsing and shaking violently.
Suddenly, it erupted from the middle, its innards and blood splattering in all directions. Amidst the carnage stood Alan, his blades in hand, drenched in blood, panting heavily. With calm ferocity in his eyes, he glared at the snake.
With seamless fluidity, Alan surged forward at a blinding speed, his movements devoid of any unnecessary motion.
Closing the distance in mere moments, he launched himself at the serpent, his blades extended like deadly projectiles. As he reached it, he tore through its head, his blades cutting through flesh and bone effortlessly.
With a deafening explosion, the head, filled with water, burst apart, sending blood and water cascading in all directions. The girl, Armis, and Felix stood in astonishment, mouths agape, as Alan landed gracefully ahead of them. Despite the raining blood and flesh, Alan remained composed as he turned towards them.
Quickly reacting, the girl summoned another water barrier above them, this time without uttering a chant.
Armis observed Alan, his demeanor now a mask of calmness and serenity. Despite his blood-soaked body and the blood-drenched visage, Alan's gaze held a contradictory, almost lifeless intensity as he stared at the headless body of the serpent. As the creature's body began to disintegrate in a blue glow, Armis, Felix, and the girl stood nearby, their marks glowing as they absorbed the life force of the fallen creature. The absorption of the Lords of Monsters of the 10th floor, empowered their weapons and healed their bodies, infusing them with newfound energy.