The first chest creaked open with a groan, revealing another set of treasure—a small pile of coins, a polished door key, and a gleaming, intricately carved boss key. The key itself was larger than the door key, with twisting runes etched along its length. I turned it over in my hand, feeling the weight of it.

"Well, well," I said, smirking. "Looks like things are about to get interesting."

I tucked both keys into my pouch and eyed the remaining switches. There were still a dozen or so I hadn’t touched, but with the water system figured out, I had a feeling these switches were meant for something else. The problem was… I didn’t know what. Yet.

Testing them out one by one seemed like the only option, so I made my way to the next switch. I hit it with my boot, and for a second, nothing happened. Then I heard a low hiss—a noise I immediately recognized.

I turned around just in time to see them.

Four gnome-sized lizard creatures crawled out from hidden passages, their yellow eyes glowing with malice. Each one carried a tiny bow, arrows already notched and aimed directly at me.

"Great. Just what I needed," I muttered, quickly reaching for my mace.

That’s when I realized—I couldn’t unequip the boots. My feet were rooted to the ground, their immense weight keeping me planted where I stood. Panic flickered through me as I tugged at the clasps, but the boots wouldn’t budge.

I was stuck.

The first arrow zipped past my head, close enough that I could feel the rush of air against my cheek. The lizards let out hissing laughs as they moved to circle me, their tiny forms agile despite the water-soaked floor. I gripped my mace tightly, knowing that I’d have to fight them head-on, anchored by my boots.

"Alright, fine," I growled. "Let’s dance."

The nearest lizard lunged at me, its sharp teeth bared. I swung my mace wide, the heavy weapon forcing the creature back with a thud as it connected with its side. The lizard flew into the wall, dazed but not out of the fight. The other three closed in, firing their arrows from a distance. I raised my arm to shield myself, the newly acquired bracers absorbing the brunt of the blows, though the impact still stung.

I swung at the second lizard, but my movements were sluggish, every step weighed down by the boots. One arrow caught me in the shoulder, another grazed my thigh. I grunted in pain, struggling to maneuver. These things were fast, darting in and out, and my usual agility was completely shot.

One of them took the opportunity to dart in close, slashing at my legs. I managed to knock it away with a clumsy kick, but my balance faltered as the boots nearly pinned me to the ground. Another arrow flew toward me, and I barely managed to duck in time.

"Damn these boots!" I shouted, frustration boiling over as I swung the mace in a wide arc, catching two of the lizards off-guard and sending them sprawling across the floor.

The third lizard fired its bow, an arrow sinking into my side. I winced, feeling the sting of the wound, but I pressed forward, using the sheer weight of the boots to plant myself firmly and absorb the attacks. I swung my mace down hard on the last standing lizard, the impact knocking it flat.

One more left.

I turned just as the final lizard charged at me, its tiny claws outstretched. This time, I was ready. With a powerful swing, I brought my mace down in a crushing blow, sending the lizard crashing into the wall. It slumped to the floor, motionless.

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Panting, I stood still for a moment, adrenaline still surging through my veins. The boots kept me planted, unmoving, but I could feel the tension leaving my body as the last of the lizards were finally dealt with.

"Alright, boots," I muttered, catching my breath. "I take back what I said. You’ve got your uses."

But that had been way more difficult than it needed to be. I gave the boots one final tug, finally unequipping them and storing them in my inventory for now. No more lizard ambushes, hopefully.

I went through the door, and I was back in the bridge room still one floor below where I had originally fallen. The layout didnt make sense to me because there had been a literally maze of tunnels before I got to the original bridge, but it hadnt made sense to me. The beast that clearly swallowed me had not been that large, unless something else had eaten me in its stead.

I shook the thought aside as ultimately it dint matter it was a just a waste of time to thik about it.

I moved forward and just let every thought vanish. Or well I tried to. I can never quite seem to get my mind to not send me the thoughts I dont want. My stomach growled and I tried to focus on the last meal I had eaten, but instead I just kept picturing the stupid map and how little sense it all made.

I stepped through the door and found myself back in the bridge room, still one floor below where I had originally fallen. The maze of tunnels leading here had twisted in ways that defied logic, and the layout made even less sense now. The beast that had swallowed me wasn’t large enough to contain such a labyrinth—unless something else had consumed me instead. I shook off the thought; pondering it was a waste of time. I pressed forward, attempting to clear my mind, but the nagging sense of impossibility stayed with me.

"Don't worry, I too dream of maps," Crystal quipped, her wry smile drawing me from my reverie. I glanced at her—her translucent wings shimmered as she hovered beside me, casting a soft glow over the dim corridor.

The bridge ahead was different from the previous floors. It formed an X shape, with three exits, each door marked by intricate locks. I had only one key. If Elizabeth had actually used her brain, I wouldn’t be stuck in this situation.

“Hey! Listen!” Crystal’s voice suddenly sharpened with urgency.

I barely had time to react. Snapping my gaze forward, I ducked just as a spear whizzed by, narrowly missing my head. A lizard-gnome stepped out from the shadows, eyes locked on me. Instinct kicked in—I raised my palm and summoned a smite spell. The energy surged through me, and a bolt of light shot forward, striking the creature dead center. It screeched before plummeting into the abyss below.

With a shaky exhale, I approached one of the doors and unlocked it, figuring I’d just get on with things. Inside was a completely empty room. No enemies. No levers. Just bare walls bathed in dim light. According to the map, there was something significant in here, but I couldn’t figure out how to reach it. My hookshot clattered uselessly to the floor—it had nothing to latch onto. And no matter what I tried, the obvious fake wall wouldn’t give way.

Grimacing, I unsheathed my mace and swung at the wall with all my strength. It barely made a dent. Frustration boiling over, I grabbed an axe and struck with full force, but the blade just glanced off, doing nothing.

“There has to be a way,” I muttered, fists clenched.

“Maybe it’s not about force,” Crystal suggested, her voice soft but thoughtful. “Perhaps there’s a mechanism we’re missing.”

I huffed in irritation, my fingers twitching with frustration. "Fine. I'll deal with it later." The words tasted bitter, but I had no choice. I turned away, unwilling but resigned, adding this puzzle to the growing list of things I’d have to revisit—if I even made it that far.

Stepping back into the bridge room, the realization hit me like a punch to the gut: this useless room had left me stranded, with no solution in sight. A knot of anger tightened in my chest, heat rising to my face. The helplessness was suffocating, clinging to me like a damp shroud. Am I really out of options? I swallowed the panic creeping up my throat. No. There had to be something I missed.

I backtracked to the water and switch room, my footsteps echoing in the narrow passage. The air felt heavier here, almost damp, as if the room itself was waiting for me to act. My breath quickened as a wild idea clawed its way to the front of my mind. Maybe flooding the chamber could shift something, unlock a path. It was reckless, but I had nothing to lose. I pressed the third switch, my finger lingering for a moment as doubt flickered. Please work.

The familiar rush of water met my ears, louder and more ominous in the silence. At first, only a small trickle began to seep into the room, barely enough to ripple the surface. Anxiety twisted in my gut, gnawing at me—another failed idea, another waste of time. I clenched my fists, teeth grinding in frustration.

Then, quickly, the water began to rise.