A cetanthro that looked a lot more like a fish than a person barreled through a brick wall, sending debris spilling into the water. Owin skidded to a stop, dropping both alchemists. Ernie grunted as he thumped on the ground.

Ocean Mob

Grinatora

Huso Molin Brute

Level 20

The huso molin shook its head, tossing small bits of brick into the water.

“That’s the chest guardian,” Ernie said, trying to pull himself away.

Katalin groaned and stirred, but still had yet to wake.

“He shouldn’t be this far over.” A spurt of blood escaped Ernie’s wound, blossoming in the ocean water. “Kat, wake up!” Even his yell was strained and accompanied by another grunt.

Owin held the trident, watching the huso molin as it whipped its head around and took in its surroundings. The massive cetanthro was about six feet tall and ten feet long with pillars of muscle and sinew for legs. There were no arms near the front, only small fins that wobbled as the huso molin turned. Its face was pointed with a slightly upturned snout.

“Elf,” Grinatora said in a deep, booming voice.

Owin pointed at himself. “Goblin.”

“Kill it,” Ernie said.

Muscles flexed through the cetanthro’s legs. Owin tensed, readying the trident. Was the chest guardian weaker or stronger than the wandering boss?

Grinatora barreled forward, running as if there wasn’t water slowing him down. Owin slipped to the side and jabbed with the trident. The prongs ripped through the huso molin’s fin, stabbing into flesh. Grinatora was too fast and too big to slow down even as the trident tore down his side.

Owin fought to keep the trident in his grip as the boss ran past. The trident caught something and pulled Owin off his feet, back toward the swarm. Ernie crawled over to Katalin and poured a health potion in her mouth. He gently slapped her until she gasped and woke up.

Owin planted his feet on Grinatora’s side and yanked, pulling bones and flesh out with the trident. He fell to the ground as Grinatora slammed into the front of the swarm following them.

The sudden disturbance to the swarm caused the itajara in the front to stumble and immediately turn on one another. Punches were thrown, jostling more of the swarm, until the smaller cetanthro drew weapons and started stabbing and slashing.

“Oh, shit!” Katalin was on her feet, though her face was contorted in pain. “It worked!”

“You said it would,” Owin said, running back over.

Some of the swarm fanned out around the edge, rushing toward Owin and the alchemists.

Owin grabbed the hammer and let it rest on his shoulder. “I thought you said we were out of health potions.”

“Now’s not the time to get angry about that. Let’s go.” Ernie leaned partially on Katalin, but they moved too slowly up the street.

Owin handed the trident to Katalin and picked Ernie up again, even as he protested. “How far to the end of the city?”

“Shouldn’t be much farther,” Ernie said through clenched teeth.

Katalin kept one hand on Owin’s shoulder as she watched the frenzied swarm fight behind them. “More cetanthro are breaking through.”

“I’ll hold them when we get to the edge of the city.” Owin thought through his whole arsenal. What could hold off a swarm? His knives were probably his best option to move fast enough to dodge and attack. If he wasn’t in the water, the Thunderstrike Maul would be the perfect weapon.

“How’s your health looking?” Katalin asked, squeezing his shoulder gently.

“Twenty. The slugs are still crawling around.”

“For another couple hours,” Ernie said quietly from his shoulder.

“That should get you up halfway, assuming you don’t get hit. Stop getting hit,” she said.

The road curved back and forth a few more times before the city abruptly ended. The shipwreck crumbled ahead, even dropping bits of debris as Owin looked. A building sat in the distance, far off where the bow of the ship lay wrecked. Between the edge of the city and the other building was hundreds of feet of open space with debris raining down.

Owin gently put Ernie down. “Why did you lie about the health potion? Why not use it on yourself?”

Ernie glanced at Katalin and sighed. “I would’ve used it if you needed it, Owin. I wanted to keep one safe for Kat.”

Katalin gently slapped him in the back of the head. “Idiot.”

They didn’t have time for a conversation. Even if they did, what did Owin hope to get from one? Ernie did a lot of things with only Katalin in mind, and Owin couldn’t blame him for that.

“Are the stairs in there?” he asked.

“Yeah, but there is a floor boss guarding the stairs,” Ernie said. He wrapped something around his midsection, slowing the bleeding even more.

“Get to the building. I’ll catch up and fight the boss.”

“This is beyond dangerous,” Katalin said. “You can’t get hit or you’ll die.” She crouched and grabbed his cheeks. “I don’t want you to die.”

Owin smiled. “I won’t.”

“You only fight until we’re far enough that you can catch up,” Katalin said. She patted him on the head. “You’ve been enough of a hero today.” She grabbed Ernie’s arm and started dragging him away. He took the trident to use as support as they set off across the open plain.

Grinatora led the swarm, leaking blood from the gash at his side. The swarm had thinned significantly from the frenzy, but there were still at least thirty cetanthro heading straight for him.

Owin spun and threw the hammer as far as he could toward the building. It looked like it was about to soar through the water as it glowed, then it suddenly slowed and dropped to the ground.

It didn’t matter. He grabbed the lich bone knife and Naxile’s knife. The boss was the most dangerous, so he would kill Grinatora first, then whoever was the closest. Katalin’s frenzy poison had hit most of the itajara, leaving the swarm full of smaller cetanthro.

Owin let out a deep breath. He hopped between his feet. Low health, aches all over his body, a weird feeling of flowers crawling in his stomach, and the need to protect the alchemists all swirled in his mind. So much to think about, and yet, he had no time to think.

From the moment he awoke in the goblin caves, he had been fighting and killing. There were moments where fighting was terrifying. He was afraid for his own life, and even more for the lives of those he cared about. In the ogre cave before he fled, Owin had never felt such fear, knowing he was going to lose Artivan. When Katalin detonated the pipe bombs, he had thought he had failed her and the Nimble Hogs and was terrified of what would happen.

So many times he had been scared. More than scared.

But most of the time when he had to fight, he was happy. When they had fought Siora’s team in the hobgoblin village and butchered the Void Nexus heroes, Owin had no fear. When he fought Graliel and ripped the cathkabel apart, he had fun.

Ernie and Katalin were safe, which meant Owin only needed to relax and enjoy himself. He adjusted his grip on both knives, flipping them into reverse grips. The small boost to his dexterity had helped his speed, multiplied even more by his Goblin Cunning. While it was difficult to move as fast and smoothly through the water, he still had a boost to help him, and he intended to make use of it.

“Water elf,” Grinatora bellowed.

Owin leapt as high as he could, hovering briefly while suspended in the water. Grinatora slowed, titling his massive head up to watch Owin as the cetanthro continued swarming past.

Without arms, Grinatora was defenseless from above, allowing Owin to easily land on the guardian’s head. Both knives easily punctured his skin and tore through the huso molin. Owin jumped off Grinatora before his corpse fell. Phyraena had rushed past, chasing after Ernie and Katalin. They left their backs defenseless.

Owin didn’t jump far enough to make it to the front. Instead, he sliced through a smaller cetanthro, ducked under a swing, and dashed between fish until he reached the front. A little hop brought him to their head level where he stabbed both knives into two different phyraena eyes. Owin spun himself in the air, tearing the knives out of the cetanthro faces before landing in front of the swarm.

He spared one look over his shoulder. Ernie and Katalin were about halfway to the building. They had to swerve to avoid a larger piece of debris that had fallen from the wreck above.

“Maybe one day one of you will wake up like I did. But for now, you’ll respawn.” Owin took another deep breath then dove right back in. The swarm had brought every mob within Estanormina, even those that didn’t look equipped to fight. The cetanthro mobs were all about numbers rather than skill or weapons, making it easy for Owin to slip between and stab or slash. They were slow to respond, and by the time they did, he had already moved on to his next target.

The swarm’s advance slowed as more cetanthro turned toward him, ignoring the alchemists as they had grown too far away. Blood spilled into the water, even as Owin failed to kill most of the cetanthro he attacked. A single slash or stab brought some down, but most kept moving and swarming even as he cut their ankles or stabbed an eye. He wasn’t aiming, and even if he was, he wasn’t sure he would hit his target.

It lasted for a few minutes before Owin escaped the swarm. He shook his head, throwing guts out of his hair. Ernie and Katalin stood outside the building, watching from a distance. The cetanthro swarm was a collection of blood and limping fish. If he got experience from fighting, it would be worth finishing the fight. He saw the draw to clearing the floor as many heroes did, from what he had heard.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Owin slipped both knives into his belt and grabbed the nearby Thunderstrike Maul. The swarm was much smaller as they barely advanced toward Owin while he stood still. Many of the standing cetanthro were severely injured, limping as they continued their mindless march.

The next time he was in Estanormina, he would need to find the chest that Grinatora was guarding and the secret, wherever that might be. But for now, the alchemists were waiting and there was no reason to keep fighting. Ernie had warned him about standing his ground against the swarm, even if he had been handling himself just fine.

Owin rushed across the open plain, hopping to the side as debris continued falling. It wasn’t falling so fast to make it dangerous, but if he had gotten caught outside the city while fighting, it would have been another obstacle to avoid.

By the time Owin reached the building, he had lost the swarm’s aggression. The cetanthro swarm had stalled part way through the plain. Some lingered while most turned back toward Estanormina.

“I have to say, that was a better showing than the Golden Bull we had hired,” Ernie said. His knife wound was properly wrapped now, stopping any more bleeding. He was still hunched over, but he seemed less hobbled than before.

“He was a soldier who could mostly tank attacks,” Katalin said. “You just—” She made a sound and mimicked stabbing with a knife over and over. “Maybe your lack of a class is somehow helpful. Makes you unpredictable.”

“I have a class.”

Katalin flatted his hair as she patted him on the head. “Deficient wizard isn’t a class, you moron.”

Owin laughed. He approached Ernie and put his hand on the alchemist’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. We should have gone above.”

Ernie pushed Owin’s hand away. “You made up for it.” He slowly started nodding. “But yeah, I do know what I’m talking about. Maybe you will both listen to me in the future.”

“Wouldn’t count on it,” Katalin said.

“Figured.” Ernie shifted uncomfortably. “I’d never seen the cetanthro act like that before. You acted smart. And damn fast.”

Katalin grunted and nodded.

“We’re both alive and safe, and you made it out unharmed. I’d say that proves you can handle this. Got it?”

Owin nodded. “What’s the boss inside?”

“A cetanthro.” Ernie coughed and flinched. “Surprising, right? Last time, we chucked some grenades through the door then rushed to the void nexus.”

“And we’re all out of grenades. Unless you want to count yourself as a grenade. I’ll throw you inside.” Katalin gestured to the door. “Yeah?”

“I think I can run faster than you can throw me.”

Katalin shrugged. “I’d still do it.”

Owin set the Thunderstrike Maul at her feet. “Keep my weapons safe.” He pulled out the lich bone knife and Naxile’s curved knife. “I’m having fun with these for now.”

“We need to find a better way to carry your weapons,” Ernie said. “This is not efficient.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t cut your own belt,” Katalin said.

Owin ignored the alchemists and kicked the door open. It didn’t budge.

“It opens this way, moron,” Katalin said, pulling the door.

“Oh.”

The floor inside was spotless checkerboard tile, giving the whole room a clean, sophisticated look. A round planter dominated the middle of the room, holding a few tall pieces of kelp and a myriad of other plants Owin had seen on the previous floors. The black doorway, the void nexus exit, stood out on the back wall, right beside the stairs down.

A cetanthro crouched at the planter, adjusting the position of a small flower. He looked like the phyraena from earlier, though he was as big as the itajara.

Ocean Mob

Barracuda

Phyraena Wizard

Level 20

Barracuda slowly stood to his full seven foot height. He wore a long coat that became something like a cape with how low it hung. His scaly, muscular chest and abdomen were exposed, looking entirely too human for a fish. He held a pure white wand relaxed in one hand, like it was barely balancing on his finger.

“An outsider,” he said in a deep, calming voice. “Who are you?”

“Owin.”

“A water elf?”

“Goblin.”

Barracuda kneeled and turned his head. His gills flared as he tried to get a better look at Owin. “What is that?”

“A goblin?” Owin pointed at himself. “Me.”

The phyraena stood back to his full height. He adjusted his sleeves, revealing fins on his forearms. “What is your purpose here?”

“My friends need to pass.”

“And you do not?”

“Oh. No, I need to pass too.”

Barracuda nodded slowly. “We will battle. I cannot allow the passage of any outsiders. Please, invite your friends inside. They can witness our battle, and if you fall, they will take your place.”

“You won’t attack them during the fight?”

“Only if they do not respect our duel.”

Owin pushed the door open. “He wants you to watch our fight. Just don’t get involved.”

“Nice,” Katalin said, immediately barreling inside.

Ernie walked slowly after her, keeping his hand pressed over his wound. “This seems like a bad idea.”

“I will respect your safety,” Barracuda said.

“Sure you will.”

“It won’t be a long fight anyway,” Owin said.

“Hm. A confident water elf.”

“I’m green!”

Katalin snorted. “They all think you're a water elf, huh?”

“A worshiper of the Abyss,” Barracuda said. “You would do better aligning yourself with a follower of Elysium.”

“There weren’t any available,” Katalin said.

“Okay,” Owin muttered.

“Hurry this up so we can get moving,” Ernie said.

Barracuda walked to the stairs, readjusted his sleeves so they stayed put, then brushed his jacket aside, revealing his chiseled abdomen. “Are you ready, Owin?”

Owin flipped Naxile’s knife into a reverse grip. A fish wizard was new to Owin, and he wasn’t sure what to expect. Their spells would likely work well under water, unlike Bolt or any fire spells.

“Ready.”

The last third floor boss Owin had fought was Charzosk the scaltari, who had died in one hit from a charged Thunderstrike Maul. The knives Owin was now holding weren’t as strong as a charged Thunderstrike Maul, but they were better equipped for underwater fighting.

The lich bone knife had a lot of potential, knowing how strong liches were, but he hadn’t noticed anything special with it while fighting up to this point. Naxile’s curved knife was about as ordinary as weapons came, but he hadn’t found a better second knife yet.

Barracuda lifted his free hand. His webbed fingers spread out, pointing at the ceiling. “Arcane Enhance.” A purple ball appeared in his hand, warbled, then cascaded down his body, leaving a purple haze surrounding his entire body. Barracuda pointed his wand. “Ice Bolt.”

White energy swirled at the end of the wand and launched at Owin. He barely had time to bring his knife up to block the spell. It hit with enough power to knock Owin back a step as he redirected the ice into the wall behind him.

“That’s not a wizard spell,” Owin said.

“Magi use ice,” Katalin said.

“Wands can hold magus spells?”

“They can hold any spells,” she said.

“Not any, but close,” Ernie said.

Barracuda dashed forward, enhanced by his spell, and became a purple blur until the huge fish form appeared right before Owin. He ducked under a fist that churned the water with its power. Owin leapt backward, planted his feet on the wall, and launched himself straight at Barracuda’s long face.

Before Owin reached him, Barracuda twirled the wand, casting another spell that chilled the water surrounding him. As soon as Owin hit the cold water, he slowed considerably.

“Get out of the Ice Aura!” Katalin shouted.

Still enhanced, Barracuda moved incredibly fast through the slowing aura and punched Owin. Without the enhancement, a normal wizard’s strength wasn’t enough to scare Owin. With the enhancement, the mob’s strength was more deadly, especially while he was at low health. He twisted just enough to block the hit with a knife and his chitin pauldron. Between the two Owin only took a few points of damage as he was pushed out of the aura and back to the ground.

“A water elf fighting without tricks?” Barracuda asked.

“Goblins don’t need tricks.”

“Well that’s just bullshit,” Ernie said, causing Katalin to laugh.

Barracuda pointed his free hand and his wand. “Arcane Blast. Ice Bolt.”

The arcane blast came from his free hand first, giving Owin plenty of time to slip past, still avoiding the swirling Ice Aura spell. The spell smashed into the wall where Owin had been standing, shattering bricks. The wand gathered Ice Bolt and launched it at Owin as he was already dashing, letting him easily dodge both spells.

Journeyman wands had four charges per day. All of the ice spells had come from Barracuda’s wand, meaning it had one charge remaining. The cetanthro left the Ice Aura, which had already started to wane. It had been effective at stopping Owin from reaching him, but with only one charge left, Owin could easily wait it out.

“A quick elf,” Barracuda said, still appearing calm.

Owin pushed all of his strength into his foot, launching himself at the fish. The tiles cracked under his feet as he cut through the water. As predicted, Barracuda used his last charge to cast Ice Aura. Right before hitting the slowing circle, Owin threw the lich bone knife, which sliced through the water, unaffected by the spell.

The white knife embedded itself right between Barracuda’s eyes. The cetanthro stumbled and reached his free hand up to touch the handle of the knife sticking out of his face.

Owin slowly dropped back to the tiles. “It’s over.”

“It’s not.” Barracuda ripped the knife free, causing the cetanthro to stumble again as blood gushed from the wound. He moved to throw the knife, but instead pushed it. “Gale Burst.”

Wind magic died quickly in the water, but the force of it caught the knife with enough power to send it flying at Owin. His Goblin Cunning allowed him to lean his head to the side in time, but the sharp bone still sliced through the edge of Owin’s ear

You have been tainted by the undead

Damage from undead sources is doubled until your health is restored

At least now Owin knew what the lich bone knife did that was special. He grabbed it from the ground behind him and faced Barracuda. The boss stood calmly even as blood leaked from the wound on his face.

“Your wand is out of charges,” Owin said.

“So it is.” He slipped it into his jacket pocket. Barracuda waved him closer. “Let us finish this, water elf.”

Owin dashed forward, dodging as Barracuda launched another arcane spell. Owin twisted through the water, landing on unsteady feet before leaping. He knew the jumping was predictable to those who had seen him fight enough, but a third floor boss had no way to stop him as he drove the lich bone knife into the side of Barracuda’s skull. The knife, having already tainted the cetanthro, did double damage as it shattered Barracuda’s skull. Owin launched the fish to the side, sending Barracuda right into the planter he had been caring for. He trampled the kelp and flattened the flowers as his corpse came to a rest in the middle.

Owin landed unsteadily on one foot then slipped and fell onto his bottom. “I ruined the plants.”

Katalin snorted. “They’ll respawn with him in a half hour. Nothing to feel bad about.”

Owin held up the white lich bone knife. “The first hit with this taints the target and makes undead damage double until health is restored.”

“Does the description say that?” Ernie asked.

“No. A status notification told me when it cut my ear.” Owin hopped to his feet. “I guess I need to avoid undead.”

“There aren’t any on the fourth floor,” Katalin said.

“Loot and we can go,” Ernie said, pushing himself to his feet with a grunt.

Owin grabbed the white wand from Barracuda, then shook the body to see if any other loot dropped out. There was nothing.

“Bad luck,” Katalin said. “Bosses usually give a gem or gold.” She shrugged. “Always the chance that no loot is dropped."

Journeyman Level Wand

Spells: Ice Bolt, Ice Aura

0/4 uses remaining for today

Note: Use of wand without charges will result in health drain

Note: Ice Bolt requires a verbal command

“Two wands might make you actually seem like a wizard,” Katalin said, flattening Owin’s hair again. She laughed before hurrying back to Ernie to help him walk toward the stairs.

“One more floor,” Ernie said with another grunt.

“Are you okay?”

Ernie nodded as Katalin took his arm. “Just sore.”

“Are you sure?”

Ernie nodded. “We’re all getting through this, Owin. I’m not dying over some damn mushrooms. Got it?”

“Yes.” Owin felt a twist in his gut. The last time he had been on the fourth floor of a dungeon, Artivan stayed behind.