“Thank you for your patronage~!” Felicia waved cheerfully after Threy and Mako as they moved out of the mobile store and inn. A veritable pile of gold coins was stacked atop the counter from their more generous purchase. Threy just raised his arm for a lazy wave without turning around while Mako skipped backwards and animatedly waved her hands, just so managing to not stumble over her wagging tail.

“No problem~!” Mako laughed.

It was a beautiful morning and the chasm of the Cliffside Ravine stretched out before them, cast into gentle shadows of the sun as it had yet to peek fully over the edge. There was no question that their journey would be all about climbing and parcouring this time around. Starting straight away with the sudden drop that awaited them after the entry area. Green vines and ivy hung from the edge, down to the lower level with more following after like a row of oversized steps.

It was clear by the now empty holes that there had been a bridge connecting the ledge to the various parts of the ravine but that one had clearly been eliminated only a short while. Parts of it the duo could see scattered across through the bottom of the ravine while some sad remnants still hung from the other ledge the bridge had been connected to. Sadly it was nowhere near close to them to be used as a ladder instead. And so, the only track left for them was to go through the power levels of the ravine.

“How we doing this…?” Mako turned curiously towards Threy but he had already leapt down the ledge with a smirk. Hand on hat, his coat fluttered behind him through the air before he landed gracefully on next lower step.

“The fun way then~!” Mako grinned and leapt right after him, unwilling to let him show her up. “Woah…!”

A startled gasp escaped her as she fumbled her own landing, stumbling forwards before finally catching herself.

“Want me to catch you next time?” Threy teased her, already jumping down to the next step already.

“Well, if you’re already offering as much~?” Mako eyes twinkled mischievously, leaving him barely any time to react.

Wide eyed, Threy had to scramble to actually catch her instead of becoming her knocked down landing cushion. Innocently the tiny shark girl fluttered her eyes up at him as she landed in his arms, earning a deadpan stare in return before a soft chuckle escaped him.

“You wanted to do that for a while now, huh?” Threy asked as he set her down on her own feet again.

Mako cheerfully bopped her head in agreement, enjoying how she had to look up at him again to actually meet his gaze. She could barely remember the last time where that she had needed to do so before all of this chaos happened and it just felt… nice.

“Yup, gotta make the most of this after all!” Mako declared.

“Heh, no doubt about us winning this game then, eh?” Threy chuckled amused.

“Nope, not a one~!” She laughed and leapt down the last step ahead of him. Widely grinning she waved up at him to catch up. “Now hurry up, ya slowpoke!”

And Threy was certainly not going to let Mako call him that twice.

———

The two of them had already expected that a lot of climbing would be involved with this part of Meadow Beach but it was still something else to actually have to do it. Climbing up ropes of vines, ivy walls that acted like climbing nets and a crisscrossing maze of tunnels that branched off the side of the ravine and to seemingly random recesses and platforms all along its edge.

And of course, their path wasn’t free from obstacles either. Skeleton Pirates were guarding and patrolling the ravine and they were certainly tougher than the last few they had encountered. All that said, they also allowed them to finally test out their new weapon upgrades!

“I’m taking the first skeleton!” Mako hadn’t hesitated to stake her claim when the first tough looking skeleton had appeared in their way, twirling her new Explorer Trident with a bloodthirsty grin.

“And there goes my previously won initiative…” Threy mused lightly to himself as he leant against the side of the cliff and watched her rush ahead.

Already the better gear of leather armour and red marking made it clear that this skeleton was tougher than the ones before but it was also clear that it was smarter when it didn’t immediately just meet her charge with blade raised high.

“RAAAAH!” It rattled and used its buckler shield to block Mako’s rapid strikes. Or tried to at least as it was quickly overwhelmed by the onslaught shield arm knocked away for a moment, allowing the sharp spiral tips to pierce its armour before it was able to retaliate.

With a grin, Mako ducked under its own strike. What followed was a flash of blows exchanged, the skeleton doing its best to parry but there simply nothing it could do against Mako’s superior reach and power in the end.

Lightly, the shark girl hopped a step backwards after knocking its shield off course again.

“Let’s try this for the finale~” Mako’s eyes sparked and her trident turned into a rapidly spinning drill that shattered the skeleton as she shot forwards, strikings its chest.

“Wooooh! We’ve got Weapon Skills, too!” She cheered in victory.

“Good job.” Threy gave her an amused thumbs up as he stepped up from his role as spectator. “Then I guess the next one’s mine…”

With a smile he rubbed his chin as Mako grinned wide with an approving thumbs up of her own. She couldn’t wait to see what he had in store!

…

“That was so boring to watch…” Mako deadpanned five minutes later after the next poor skeleton had been brutally annihilated by Threy’s immediate Weapon Skill Shot. The two spinning shadow cannonballs smashing it against the wall. But within those last few moments it had managed to reflect upon its past, reaching enlightenment just in time to serenely welcome its inevitable fate with a peaceful smile.

“Also… really, really weird.” Mako sweatdropped, poking the still in-tact skull as it smiled with closed eyes. They were really expressive for being just bones.

“I wanted to see what my new Weapon Skill was…” Threy defended himself with a pout and blinked. Quickly he whirled around but then nothing was there.

“You saw something…?” Mako craned her head to get a better view of where he was looking.

“Nah, just felt like there was something…” He hesitantly answered after a short pause.

“Well, we better keep an eye out then…” Mako nodded slowly, a small grin tugging at her lips as she held back a particularly bad joke. She had no doubt that Maria would’ve already popped it by now, though.

“Yeah, let’s keep going.” Threy agreed, oblivious to her iron will.

———

“Nope, that’s about as far as we can go.” Mako called out from her side of the rocky ledge their journey’s end had brought them to.

After wandering through numerous tunnels, climbing dozens of ivy walls and going up and down vines they had finally arrived at this point overlooking the starting section of the Cliffside Ravine. They could see the next part from here! But a insurmountable wall stopped them from climbing up there and even the nearest ledge was either too far away to low to actually jump up or across. As Mako had learned first hand early on.

The climb back up to an amused Threy had been met by annoyed grumbling and her stubborn refusal to acknowledge her failing. She had enough success stories from her VTubing career to back her up! And so they hadn’t skipped past the clearly planned end point.

“Nothing on my side either.” Threy added a moment later as they met up at the middle of the ledge, turning to the very rather obvious object of importance they were meant to interact with here.

With its back to the ravine stood a statue of an eastern style dragon atop a pedestal, its serpentine body tightly weaving up and down in a way that reminded the gunslinger of a spring. Coiled up and ready to shoot forwards. Mako stood just a head above the pedestal’s topside and both protagonists wondered if she could have ridden the dragon if it had been real.

Now, they could just try poking, prodding, pushing and pulling at random to maybe solve this problem… and as much as Mako was itching to do just that, they both knew this was probably the best opportunity to get Key to stop sulking.

The small dragon bean hadn’t even so much as poked her head out from under Threy’s hat since they had left Zaunder’s Counter behind them and outside some light grumbling not a peep had been heard from her either.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Hey, Key. Could you come out…? The help of our trusted guide would be much appreciated.” Threy poked at her. Only for her to let out a cute huff.

Any further prodding just had Key pull deeper into the Realm of Darkness that were his pockets, Threy rolled his eyes and just took off his hat. Laying on her back, rolling out than rather into his hat as his Realm of Darkness pushed her out, Key blinked startled and stunned up at him. And then quickly narrowed her eyes with a huff.

“Muh, I can’t believe you just bound and gagged me like that…” Key grumbled annoyed as she demonstratively looked aside with a cute and haughty glare.

“Haha, that was a bit much.” Threy admitted with a sheepish chuckle, putting his hat back on and the dragon bean hopped onto the ground.

As Threy put down his hat Mako blinked startled behind him. Jaw dropping, she gaped in shock at his sudden bare head. She had kinda thought that thing was attached to him! Apparently not. But before she could get a good look at his head, obscured by his collar as it had been, he had already put it back on.

Her eyes narrowed, okay, she had a new goal now. Find out what his head actually looked like without his hat! And curse her short height for the very first time!

“W-wait… no! I didn’t mean that…!” Mako cried out in wide eyed horror at this blasphemous though that had come to her in that moment.

“Uh, what’s up with her…?” Key awkwardly sweatdropped at Mako’s horrified outcry.

“… I honestly have no idea.” Threy replied, feeling just as lost.

Mako’s sudden crisis of faith aside, the duo apologised to Key for hogtying her like that. Well, to the extent that they had. Because as funny as the scene had been in hindsight even to Threy and Mako, letting Key laugh like that while Felicia was barely able to handle all the insanity would have been in rather poor taste. Next time they would just make sure to stuff her face with food and not bother with the ropes at all.

“…nyuh, I was inconsiderate to Lisa.” Key reluctantly admitted before stubbornly looking up at Mako and Threy. “But I still want some cake as apology for getting tied up!”

“Fine, we’ll stuff your face with cake when we get the chance.” Threy rolled his eyes amused and Key bopped her head satisfied, not noticing the wide and evil grin that stretched across Mako’s lips. It immediately snapped back to a cheerful smile as Key blinked up at them.

“Hehe, great~! Then I’ll be so nice and help you out as your wonderful, trusted Guide~” Key chirped happily.

“So, what do we do with this statue…?” Mako asked her curiously, the small dragon bean easily hopping up onto the pedestal.

“This here is an Ocean Flow Statue! They are said to appease the ocean’s currents and change what direction they can flow. You… just… need to… turn them around!” Key explained, struggling and panting heavily as she tried to push the stature from the side until Mako helped her out. Now the statue had been turned around to gaze out towards the ocean instead.

“Now, what?” Threy had barely finished with his question when a blue aura flared around the pedestal and it slowly started sinking into the ground. The sound of rushing water echoed across the ravine and under some rather alarming rumbling the trio saw how parts of the ravine rearranged themselves.

Pillars of stone and earth rose upwards, sections within the walls sunk to open new pathways and water began to fill up the lowest level of the ravine.

“Hey, there’s a second one!” Mako called out, pointing to the other side of the ravine where a new ledge had opened up. And indeed, another Ocean Flow Statue stood there, looking towards them.

“Pickles’ must have had his minions move them all around when he took over. So, let’s get them back into their right positions!” Key declared.

“Aye aye~!” Mako grinned with a playful salute.

So, we’re actually calling him Pickles then…? Threy sweatdropped in the back as they got ready for even more climbing and wandering about.

———

As it turned out, the path leading up to the first statue had close behind them and so they had been forced to jump back down the lower levels of the ravine. There was no question as to where to go from there, however.

Revealed by the redirected ocean currents, a beautiful, carved gate of blue marble had opened up at the side of the ravine. With most of the previous vines and ivy walls no longer in reach, this was the only path available to them that was actually new.

It was curving tunnel that lead downwards, illuminated by dark blue gems set into the arching tunnel ceiling. Beautiful coral reefs, waves and other ocean themed artistry had been carved into the walls as the trio made their way through. Until it finally came to an end within a small chamber. And besides a beautifully ornate chest of blue coral and white ivory frame there was nothing else to be found. No other entrance. No other way out.

Only moments after they had entered, a green glow similar to the runic platform back at the cove’s seal began to rise from the spiral patterned floor.

“Woah…” Mako breathed out with sparkling eyes, Threy just nodding in awed agreement.

“Ooh, I can feel the magic flowing through the air!” Key gasped from back under Threy’s hat.

Slowly the glow began to coalesce, flowing together and forming a figure that they were quick to recognise as Lazuli. Her eyes opened, lively green grinning brightly at them.

“Phew, I’m glad you finally managed to get here! This is a little something I left here just in case, so I hope you can make good use of it! Sorry, but can’t talk any longer….” And with a sheepish grin Lazuli’s glowing apparition already dispersed back into the green mist. Gradually the glow began to ebb away before finally fully vanishing within the floor after only a few more seconds.

“Well… that was something?” Threy spoke up first.

“Yeah, this time it felt much more like it was Lazuli talking instead of Sarah, though.” Mako noted.

“Could be that it was more of a recording, then this would’ve been set up without Sarah really playing a part.” Threy mused thoughtfully, stroking his chin.

“Ah, we can just ask Sarah after we finally rescued her! Now, let’s see what’s in that important looking treasure chest here~!” Eagerly grinning, Mako rubbed her hands together and practically teleported to the chest, not wanting to wait even a second more to open it.

*Daran Dan Dadan!*

With a bright melody the chest opened, a blue glow shimmering within it, and a beautiful tiara of silver blue and embedded with a gorgeous sapphire gem rose up from within. Droplets of water slowly orbited around the tiara, vanishing inside the gem as soon as Mako touched it.

“The Aqua Tiara!” Key gasped in excitement. “It grants its wearer the ability to double jump with a burst of water! The small ring at its tip can also be given to someone else to use this ability as well!”

“Heh, looks like we found our first story upgrade.” Threy chuckled as Mako had wasted no time to start wearing the tiara, handing him the ring Key had mentioned.

“Ooh, I already have so many ideas~” Mako’s eyes sparkled in delight, doing a little hop and…

*Bonk!*

“Gah! Damnit, why does the ceiling have to be so low…?!” She cried out with wet shimmering eyes as she rubbed her aching bump, glaring up at the spot where she had hit her head at.

“Who woulda thunk not to use double jump in such a small space?” Threy mused out loud, giving her a teasing grin.

Mako just grumbled annoyed, a cute pout puffing up her cheeks, and briskly took the lead back out through the tunnel. Amused smiling, Threy followed after.

“I’m so glad you’re smarter than her or I would’ve been squished…!” Key whispered wide eyed into his ear and he had to keep himself from breaking out into laughter.

———

Double jump up the newly added pillar. And from there continue to climb up until the second statue was reached. That was about the original intent that had been planned for the solution of the ravine’s first challenge. A challenge that had quickly lost any and all difficulty as a simple fact had been overlooked during its creation.

Sure, neither Threy nor Mako really had the skill or the available space to wall jump their way up the ravine… but the Aqua Tiara’s double jump was incredibly potent as the duo was quick to learn. It wasn’t so much as getting jump a second time as it was a catapult that threw them towards whatever direction they wanted. And if, just for example, they pushed themselves off the side of the wall afterwards… it counted as a completely new jump and refreshed the Aqua Tiara’s ability.

“Hehe, we didn’t even need to try out my stacked double jump idea~!” Mako laughed victoriously as she and Threy posed dramatically atop the previously insurmountable wall leading to the second part of the ravine.

“Well, not yet. Could be we need to try that out later when there aren’t as many walls around…” Threy mused with a grin, trying not to laugh too hard at the absolutely horrified and disbelieving look on Key’s face. The expression had been frozen on the dragon bean for the last few minutes ever since they had skipped the remaining Ocean Flow statues they had been supposed to readjust.

A cute, little high-pitched whine escaped Key as she tried to not cry… and was clearly failing.

“Haah, okay… I think I’ll clear up the remaining statues real quick so that Key feels better.” Threy sighed and glanced at the distraught dragon bean. “That sound good?”

“Mhm…” She gave a weak nod with tears welling up in her eyes, not trusting her voice not to break. H-how could they just leave those statues disturbed? Those poor things were looking in the completely wrong direction!

“Probably for the best…” Mako sweatdropped awkwardly at Key’s reaction, feeling kinda bad for her but not at all guilty. Maybe they should see about finding her a therapist?

“And I swear, someone or something’s been spying on us.” Threy muttered under his breath, blazing eye narrowing at their surroundings. There were honestly far too many hiding places both high and low that were available around the ravine. And he was certain that it wasn’t a skeleton or any other mob or similar monster. There was just this strange itch to this feeling that he couldn’t shake off.

But for now he had to make sure that Key didn’t have a breakdown because they sequence broke the world.

———

It was a few minutes later, noon having just begun, and Threy had just turned the last statue back into its correct position. Two more had popped up after the second one and with each the ravine had become more flooded until the ravine was more of a lake. The water reached just below the entry area where Zaunder’s Counters was currently missing, having driven back to the inn. As a result of the rising water, the broken bridge parts had floated up atop its surface and now formed a shortcut from the wall back to the start. It was probably for the best they didn’t have to swim.

“We definitely skipped some mini bosses…” Mako noted with a sweatdrop as she and Threy wandered across the makeshift bridge, the shark girl gazing into the darkening depths of the newly formed lake. A large, stony figure could be seen slowly wandering across the ravine’s floor while a few skeletons looked very confused on what to do now. They weren’t exactly the best climbers, never mind able to swim out of there.

There were also those feathered, dark blue manta looking things that had started to pop out of the cliff walls to dive into the water. They looked beautiful but you definitely didn’t want to get hit by them as one skeleton loosing his head proved. Cliff Mantas according to Key, more of an obstacle than enemy.

“At least you didn’t also skip on saving those poor statues…” Key mumbled under her breath, sniffling lightly even as she felt a bit better now. Like a weight had been lifted from her heart.

Mako let out an awkward chuckle, having no idea how to respond to that accusation.

“I’ll see if I can’t bake you a cake back at Zaunder’s.” Threy replied in her stead, giving a light smile to the still red eyed dragon bean..

“Ooh! You’re lucky! Daniel’s cakes are incredible~!” Tania drooled in response, her eyes sparkling at the memories and she could swear she could already smell the warm, delicious scent of his freshly made baking.

“Hey, don’t drool on me…!” Daniel squawked, Key’s mouth already watering in anticipation and all the horror from before was left forgotten. She had apparently a very vivid imagination surrounding food.

But the trio wasn’t going back to Zaunder’s Counter just for Daniel’s amazing cooking. The Aqua Tiara held a suspiciously similar gem to the one sapphire they had found back at the beach area. And maybe now Felicia would be able to do something with it.

And if not, they still had Daniel’s cooking to look forward to!