It was 23:19 and Gregory and the chicks were becoming a bit annoying. They kept telling me to rest but to be honest my magic was so efficient now that it felt as if I started using [Waterfall] 20 minutes ago. My clone had also corrected the moves the labyrinth did. All 3 of the changes went through the core 8 so they needed to be corrected. I can’t communicate with the clone because I’m currently on the first floor. Gregory had also left a clone behind by shadowmelding it into the shadow of the pedestal so whenever 00:30 hits he will take over. Well, his clone will.
Guys, please shut up! I’m fine I’m not tired!
“You have only rested to let us eat; you must be tired!”
“You are not overdoing it to keep us safe right?” Crissy was making a familiar face. A face of someone being worried. Can’t they put that energy into something else?
I can take over Agnis!
Don’t kill yourself by overdoing it.
Guys listen! I told you I’m fine! I could probably do this for 4 more days. Let's just focus on what’s going to happen the next hour. I can’t flood all the floors but I can pull water up on the places where we might need the elevator to move.
My passengers could run if they wanted to but none of them can run as fast as I can so they were reluctant to do such. During the day bigger and bigger Breathless have been appearing as well as the whale monsters. I don’t know why this is happening now. Is it related to us as intruders or is there another reason?
Guys, I’m going to make a detour I need to check something.
I sent more shadow clones out and I made them find the entrance to the labyrinth. There was no water on this floor so I found it swiftly and found the entrance. The empty space in front the entrance was crowded with Breathless and I could spot a gigantic one where the ruined city was.
Is this how they got wiped out?
Possibly but they had been fine for so long, why did this become an issue 600ish years ago?
We all fought off the Breathless that tried to attack us. I decided that it was unwise to go back to the ruined city so I went back into the labyrinth. What is the reason that these things started to appear suddenly? Does trying to solve the labyrinth summon them? Did one of those ancients made it to a console? My clones had found 6 more of these consoles but we had only ever used 1. Most had a lot of monsters in its proximity. Does it attract monsters? Because our hideout kept enduring attacks by monsters. I hopped into an elevator that could bring me to the 2nd floor.
It’s almost time, I have drawn various maps of every cube we need to pass through. Every cube has a number.
I held these maps in front of me with 2 tails while running. I can count on Greg to draw maps. The maps are uselessly detailed though. He could have just drawn a simple map...
00:30 hit and nothing happened seemingly. I’m sure one of Greg’s clones knows what moved and is fixing this.
You’ve been quiet Raishin, are you ill?
Ehh, no I’m just enjoying the ride.
I noticed that all this time I had Raishin and Hayley squished together. So, this is why he was quiet…
Hey Woofus sit still I’m trying to focus!
“Give him to me, thank you for carrying him all this time.” Crissy received Woofus who had been napping for quite a while but was awake now and was trying to escape.
Alright, got it! You can finish most of this labyrinth until this point here you then have to wait till 08:00 till floor 3 floods or you will have to force this elevator up to floor 2. From there on you will be able to get through the rest unless you take too long and floor 2 floods. We will have to wait a whole day if that happens, which is unfavorable.
Hey I was thinking. This labyrinth. It needs a group of people to solve, do you think it's only solvable by leaving people behind? We have the luxury of using clones but not everyone can do so. I had already started running. I assume Greg’s clone was solving the labyrinth.
Don’t go too fast.
How can you still communicate with your clones?
Gregory pointed at his shadow. It had left a thin trail of shadows behind.
I connected all my shadow clones with a shadow. I currently am not bound by the restriction these floor try to force upon us.
Ooh, that is a cool cheat!
So OP!
It should be fine now!
“How long till we can get out?” Hayley said as she tried to combat her drowsiness.
33 minutes.
I sped up and followed the path Gregory had laid out. It had some minor errors but nothing problematic. I forced water up to push up the tube that could bring me from the 3rd floor to the 2nd floor. The path had first brought us all the way down to the 4th floor then to the third floor then back to the 4th and now we needed to get to the 2nd floor. It seems that the exit is on the 2nd floor. I had to dodge more Breathless which seemed to increase in numbers.
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03:41 and we reached the exit. It had a large treasure room and a transporter in the back.
Phew that was rough.
We’re rich! Greg and I ignored all the gold and silver and went to look for historical records, manuals and magic skills.
Hey! Don’t ignore the treasure! We’re broke!
YOU are broke! I have 12 gold to my name.
What!? I only have 80 bronze…
Broke as always.
How much do you have Agnis?
No comment…
Hehe, you’re broke too aintcha?
Just drop it Raishin… I opened a dimensional pocket and let Raishin throw stuff in.
Pick whatever you want ladies, it’s a reward for surviving all this. Did you find anything useful Greg?
Hmm no historical records sadly. This seems to be a manual on how to build a labyrinth like this…
How useless. What else?
Some magic skills but these are water based and this one is wind based.
I looked at the water based one. [Tsunami] eh? This is useless for me, what’s this one? [Acid Rain]? Interesting, this one is [Mudslide] also has earth as a component. I assume for me it will be more like muddy water than a mudslide.
Greg, this is [Mudslide] you missed the earth runes here, I can’t use this.
Right, I want to remind you that I can’t read all this, the manual had schematics and I just picked out runes that looked familiar.
Right, I forgot, I will take these 2 magic skills. Oh, this skill is called [Submarine] it makes a comfortable air bubble that has high maneuverability it seems.
“They come with descriptions?” Crissy seemed curious and looked at the scrolls with the magic skills on them.
Eh, no I can read what it does based on its runic structure.
“What? That is possible?” Crissy studied the magic circles but she didn’t seem to be able to determine what the skill did by just looking at it.
Agnis, you never told me that you studied magic runes?
Ehh, that’s what I assume it does based on its name haha I was joking, me being able to read what it does from its runic structure? Pff how do you guys believe that joke!
I think I messed up; Greg isn’t buying it. how am I going to tell him that I spent over half a year studying the runic compositions of magic circles without mentioning Witchaven. As I had told the Misha Headmaster, humans are quite useless if it’s about advanced magic.
Everything is loaded in! let’s get out of this place!
Good idea! Before this place throws other things at us!
Wait! I want an explanation!
I grabbed everyone with my tails and took the teleporter after confirming that we robbed the place clean. A white flash and we were in another ruined city. I confirmed that we were outside of the dungeon. There was air here. Did it teleport us to the nearest safe spot? The chicks sat down. They didn’t do much but they seemed tired. I inspected the area. I wanted to explore this other city but I had enough of all this. It’s time to get out of this whale.
“Haroldus! Come back!” I boxed him in with [Frost walls].
Right, Crissy I need to confess something.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“Oh, you’re confessing to me?! Oh gosh, I don’t know what to say!” Her face turned a bit red and started to act a bit bashful
Ugh, this is my fault, I had to word this differently. It’s about Woofus.
“Huh, what’s with him?” Her bashfulness turned into worry.
I sighed. This might come hard to you.
I shattered illusion layers that I had placed on Woofus after I had saved him from the water dogs. He looked a bit transparent.
You see… Woofus didn’t survive his encounter with the seals and waterdogs. I don’t know how or what but he turned into a spirit. He did want to continue the adventure so I let him… I’m sorry for keeping this from you. You seemed quite attached to it but I’m afraid he has already passed away.
Crissy looked at Woofus. A lot went through her mind. It seemed as if she was about to cry but held it in. Hayley approached her and gave her a hug.
“I don’t know why, but I already suspected something like this. He acted different since you had saved him, he ate so much bread, stopped listening to me and was even fine underwater. He felt… like a different dog…” Crissy collapsed to the floor and started to cry.
Even as his spirit self Woofus was up to no good.
Woofus look what you’ve done! Look at Crissy! She’s in pain and all you can think of is causing more trouble!
Woofus conveyed more retarded statements.
You can’t be serious! More adventure? Didn’t you have enough?
Noow he was just being an asshole.
Ugh, Crissy, please your last words, it might seem cold but this guy is pissing me off, I’m sending him to the spirit world.
Crissy wiped her tears and approached Woofus. “I don’t know what happened to you after you died but you are not my Harol… Woofus anymore, Haroldus was sweet, caring, and obedient. I won’t let you tarnish his good character by pretending to be Haroldus, my Haroldus…”
Crissy started to cry again. “Goodbye, I hope you can adventure to your heart's content in the spirit world.”
Crissy turned around and started to sob. Hayley consoled her again. Woofus made insensitive comments as a response.
Really Woofus? That’s what you have to say? Enjoy the spirit world! I pulled the spirit energy out of him with frost magic and he got sent to the spirit world.
This was the first time a spirit had pissed me off. Although he might not be a real or traditional spirit.
“What did he say?”
I’m sorry, it’s best that you don’t know…
Wow that must have sucked…
At this point it’s better to not say anything Raishin…
Crissy was inconsolable for half an hour and I used this time to find out where in the stomach of the whale we were. I had an idea. I don’t know much about whale anatomy but the stomach shouldn’t be too far from the lungs. If I could set off an explosion and knock the wind out of the whale it might surface to get some air. After that, We have to make it spit us out. I also have an idea for that. I used the map that I had found in the ancient city and directed my attention to where I suspected the lungs would be. It seemed we were close. Now how to bring this news to my allies… Crissy approached me.
“Hey, I’m sorry for being such a mess and all of this, it must have also been hard for you, thank you for allowing Har…Woofus to have one last adventure.” She looked at my tails. I need to find out what it is with chicks and fluffy tails.
Don’t force yourself, it is good to cry and get things out of your system once in a while.
Thank you, I’m fine now, kinda, can I hold your tails for a bit? They bring me comfort.”
On one condition!
“What is it?”
Don’t freak out what I’m going to tell you guys next.
“I think I will be fine; nothing can be worse than losing Haroldus.”
Uhhm, I can think of many things but if you say so. Alright guys gather round! There is a public announcement I need to make! Hayley you might want to sit down for this one.
Oh no is it what I think it is?
Yup! So currently we’re in the stomach of a giga whale at about 7000 to 8000 meters under water. So, our first hurdle, the labyrinth, is cleared now we need to get to the surface and out of this whale, preferably in that order.
“We…we got eaten?! So are we still going to die?” Crissy started to hyperventilate. I tried to calm her but she passed out from hyperventilating.
Hayley seemed defeated. It was good that she listened and sat down. I checked Crissy’s state and she seemed fine although a bit tense. I handed her to Greg who took out some scented potions and made Crissy inhale the scent. Her body relaxed.
“So, we’re still going to die…”
Nope! Maybe! I have an idea though, we will knock the wind out of this whales lungs so that he has to surface, then we make him spit us out. And boom we’re free!
Aren’t you conveniently forgetting that it might be quite pissed, and for a good reason, after all that?
Then we will just kick his ass!
Yes! This all was frustrating for us it’s time to vent on this asshole!
I don’t have a better idea and your idea seems good enough to work, how are you going to knock the wind out of the whale though?
So, I have stored a large volume of hydrogen gas…
Right, blowing him up, why am I not surprised?
I need Raishin our explosion expert though.
Ooh, what is the plan!
So, when we find a good spot, I will release the hydrogen gas. I will mark the spot. I want you to compress it with wind magic and send a [Fusionado] at it. It is important that you keep compressing it. It should create the biggest explosion you’ve ever seen!
Compress and [Fusionado]! I can do that!
Are you sure it isn’t going to outright blow a hole through the whale?
Nah deep see creatures are sturdy, It might blow a hole in its stomach at best.
I’m just curious what you just described sounds a bit similar to how the sun works, are you trying to set off a mini sun?
I have no idea what you’re talking about it’s just a big explosion!
I’m slowly starting to think that introducing you to physics was a bad idea… I should start making contingency plans for when you inevitably create a black hole…
Hmm, Black holes do fall within the specialties of 9t, creating suns is more a 6t or phoenix thing.
Yes, that’s exactly why I need to create a contingency plan for it.
“Your plan isn’t going to blow up on us, right?”
Don’t worry Hayley, Greg will make sure we don’t blow ourselves up!
Ugh, I will do my best.
So where will we set it off?
We have to get out of this cave first and somehow combat the stomach acid of the whale. I can’t access my leyline energy that well I can however do this!
I dumped metal bars next to Greg.
What is this? Help me create a metal shell that can protect us.
I took out my blacksmithing supplies, lit the forge and started smelting metals and making sheets.
Oh, I completely forgot that you’re a blacksmith! I can weld the metal together!
Gregory formed the metal into chucks that would be easy for me to smelt and form. I would create sheets and other metal components to create the metal shell and Raishin welded them together. My clone gave him instructions on what to weld and where.
“This is… unexpected…Is there anything you guys can’t do?”
Eat soup.
Get a girlfriend apparently.
Swim.
“There really is no boring moment with you guys is there?”
We like adventure and being flashy!
Our metal shell was finished after 3 hours. It was quite ugly but it was functional. It didn’t need to be watertight because Raishin or I would use [Air ball], but as I had read it would protect us from the strange stomach acid. It was decided that I would make the [Air ball] and Raishin would be the engine. Greg would keep the metal shell in place when Raishin and I had to briefly get out to set the hydrogen bomb off. Crissy had woken up in the meantime.
“Couldn’t you make this thing a bit prettier?” Hayley said with a disaproving look.
But it’s not a pretty metal shell contest!
How about this! I patted the metal shell and put an illusion on it and it looked like a big tadpole.
“Oh, how cute! That’s better!” Hayley seemed strangely obsessed with how the metal shell looked but she seemed happy with a tadpole.
As long as it works it doesn’t matter what it looks like. Raishin and I rolled the tadpole to the edge of the bubble and welded the fins on it.
“Hey! Tadpoles don’t have weird fins like those!” I patted the tadpole and the illusion hid the fins.
What a tough customer…
“Come on Hayley, cut them some slack, they’re doing their best.” It seemed Crissy had turned into the voice of reason, how much they’ve changed since we left from the beach.
Wait, you two have been gone for almost 2 days now isn’t there anyone going to be worried about you?!
“We had planned to have a beach weekend with the 2 of us, as long as we return today it shouldn’t be a problem. I do have to do something on the Uni tomorrow though. It will start next week.” Crissy was inspecting the tadpole and poking it. It surprised her that it even felt like a tadpole and not like metal.
“Ugh, I was hoping to lock down a hunk during this beach weekend and brag about him when uni started but I guess I got something interesting instead… Hey Raishin how about you pretend to be my boyfriend for a bit?”
“Hayley!”
Uhh, I don’t mind but I have no clue where we will end up after this so you will have to ask my buddies.
Am I seeing this correctly? Is Raishin growing up?!
Oh, come on! Give me some credit!
Good job Raishin!
Hehe thanks.
We finished the tadpole and I was ready to blow up a whale. Greg and the chicks went in first.