"Does anyone see Arthur?" screamed Valkyrie as she ran from railing to railing. Tela had taken to the air to fly over the water to try to find the leader of Camelot.

Ema wrung her fingers together waiting for signs of Vex.

Argent stared out over the water watching for signs of his friend. Moonglow walked about checking and helping with the wounds from the fight.

Vex climbed onto the back platform and Valkyrie ran towards him. "Where is Arthur?"

"I... The Kraken swallowed him and Kelrick. It swam too fast into the deep. I couldn't catch up to it and lost it." frowned the giant in the robot.

Tears welled in Valkyrie's eyes and it flowed unhindered down her face. When Tela and Ema came to find out what was going on, they tried to comfort their queen but they too shed tears.

Argent punched a floatation device in anger. Moonglow pulled the girls to the dining table so that they could sit.

Shane was already sitting at the table with her laptop. The sound of her fingers flying over the keys echoed in the awkward silence and sobs. The frown on her face changed to a small smile. "We got the last signal before Kelrick's body went out of range. Captain, can you follow these coordinates?"

The captain looked at it and went to move the boat to that coordinates.

Shane was discussing with Vex and they never tested how deep the body can go. He would need to dive down and see if he could find any trace of Arthur or the Kraken.

Bjorn took a bottle and stayed at the front of the boat, drinking with his legs off the side.

"He won't perish here. I believe in what my grandmother told me. He is destined for more than this," said the kitsune while stroking Valkyrie's back.

"Vex is going to start a grid search. We will try to find where Arthur is and mount a rescue," reported Shane before she went to get a drink from the kitchen.

Vex jumped back into the water.

----------------------------------------

"Arthur, Arthur, wake up." Kelrick tried to wake the unconscious man. Arthur had managed to complete the transfer and Kelrick was inside the Doll's Heart again. The elf didn't want to take control of his body unless it was a life-threatening situation.

While he couldn't see from Arthur's eyes, he could hear that something was moving around.

Something poked his body, Kelrick could tell that it wasn't a hand. Slowly Arthur made a noise of waking up.

"Before you open your eyes, there is something or someone near us. Thank you for transferring me back to the Doll's Heart. I didn't think the swordfish body could last. The attack damaged the tubes for the liquid and the core crystal was subjected to crushing."

The redheaded young man slowly opened his eyes, it focused on the only thing that was moving in the room. It looked humanoid but had a head of an octopus.

The creature tilted its head and said something that Arthur couldn't understand. He shook his head and stared at the thing.

It tried a different language and it sounded like bubbles. It tried again and it was higher in pitch that the man covered his ears. It cleared its throat a few times. "English?"

"I understand English."

"I am not good with English but will try. Name is Ugu. I serve while you are here."

"Where am I? I remember being swallowed by a giant octopus."

"Giant octopus is Kraken. Kraken is used for guarding or fetching. It went to fetch you. We got signal that offering was ready. You are offering."

"There might be some mistake, I was on vacation on a boat with my friends. What do you mean by offering?"

"Leader will explain when I bring you there. There is some food on the table. I will be back later," said the creature and it waved a tentacle as it walked out of the room. The archway was covered by a seaweed curtain.

The leader of Camelot looked around and noticed that he didn't have any weapons on him. He might have left his sword on the boat when he dove in after Kelrick.

"Have you seen that creature before Kelrick?"

"I have not seen that creature before. I believe the Japanese call them the Tako. I don't know if they have any mana ability but the Oni, Kitsune, and Kenku can cast spells. I wouldn't be surprised if the Tako can cast spells too."

The food turned out to be a mix of fruits and some underwater plants that he didn't recognize. He ate some of the fruits that he recognized just to keep his strength.

"Do we know how long I have been unconscious?"

"A day at least. I wasn't sure of the exact when but I was also out for a little bit after the transfer. Which is odd since you have more than enough mana. I suspect they had used a spell to make you unconscious or a mana-restricting spell."

"This race is underwater. Do you think there is a labyrinth down here that we don't know about? Or something that even the GM or the Veiled don't know exists?"

"That's possible. We just have to wait and see."

Nearly half an hour later, the seaweed curtain parted and the Tako looked in. Arthur looked over and waited. He hadn't seen them before so he wasn't sure if he could recognize Ugu from the others.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

The humanoid waved for him to follow.

Outside the room was a rough tunnel with sparkling stones on the walls. He touched the wall and brushed against one of the stones. It was a mana crystal. This tunnel would be a mining location for harvesting mana crystals.

There were a few other Tako with different hues on their skin. Some were gray, some were nearly black, and there was even a white.

They led further downward until they entered a cavern where Vex would be able to stand up without a problem in his original form. Arthur saw a large head of a Tako behind a throne made of coral.

The young man followed and stopped when his guide stopped. They spoke in a bubble and gurgles. Arthur had decided to use a language spell so he understood what they were saying while he acted like he didn't understand.

Ugu was telling the one on the throne that he didn't understand their language.

The leader pointed to Arthur, "He looks too thin. It would take too long to fatten him up. Send the fetcher to get a bigger offering."

Ugu seems nervous, "Our deal with the surface has always been a signal, an offering. If we send the Kraken up to get another one, we would be breaking the agreement."

Arthur took the time to look around, noticing the amount of mana crystals all over the walls and ceilings.

A loud grumble caused the two Tako to look behind the throne. "Leave us." came the voice from the thing that Arthur thought was a statue. He saw the eye move and look directly at him.

The two Tako hurriedly leave along with the handful of guards who were hiding behind some boulders that were spread around the cavern.

The mental voice entered Arthur's mind, "I don't think they realize that you made a mistake as an offering. If they had offered you to me, I would have killed them instead. What are you called little one?"

The Kraken head thing didn't sound gruff. It sounded like a curious old man. "My name is Arthur. Are you the same as the Tako?"

"No, I am not but we are somewhat related from a common ancestor many eons ago. You can call me Khlure. I sent the Tako away because I sense that you have an unusual mana capacity. I wanted to have a chat with you before I decide what to do with you."

"What would you like to know?"

"You do not seem to be carrying any items, so I suspect you have something within you."

"That is correct, I have a type of mana crystal that is merging with my heart."

"That is quite an unusual item. What else do you have or can do?"

"I can release mana to use for spells. Do you have a labyrinth down here?"

"You know about labyrinths?"

"I do. I have been to a few and have survived the trials inside."

"I see. Has there been anyone out there that boasts that they have claimed a labyrinth or more than one labyrinth?"

"Careful here, we don't know what Khlure is thinking but it seems to know a lot," cautioned Kelrick.

"Who is that? Ahh I see, you have the Doll's Heart. Not just a mana crystal."

The young man's heart sped up. "You aren't a normal Veiled creature. Is there a reason you are asking about the claiming of the dungeon?"

"I will be forthright with you if you are with me. I am the only one of my kind here. I cannot claim the labyrinth because the key was lost when human divers took it away many years ago. If there is a Guardian in the world, it would be good to have them claim the dungeon so that one day I can return home."

"I see... I am a Guardian. As far as I can tell, the only one."

"Claiming one labyrinth is not going to be enough."

"I own three. And I possess what is called the Guardian Ring."

"You... do?" The creature turned its whole head over to look at the young man with both eyes. "Show me."

"If you can see inside of me for the Doll's Heart, then you should be able to see it."

Khlure stared into his chest and a tentacle rose to scratch the side of his head. "I did not expect it to hide within the Doll's Heart."

"I think the labyrinth being down here would make it hard to get to. I appreciate you telling me about the existence of one but do you want me to claim it? I have been able to move the gates to my archway so I can get to the labyrinth from one location. If I were to claim your labyrinth, we would need to have your people move into it before I move the gateway."

"It would take time for the Tako to be ready for moving. You can start by claiming the labyrinth. I can start moving my things first and inform them to prepare. I can reach out to you when we have completely moved into the labyrinth."

"Ok. I can do that. Would the Tako be upset that I didn't become the offering?"

"They heed me even if they have their leader."

"Where is the archway?"

"Behind me."

Arthur walked around to see that Khlure was half in the ground and there was a massive archway behind him. "Are you trapped in the ground?"

"Yes, unfortunately, but when you claim the labyrinth I could use it to extricate myself then I can use my mana to shrink down."

Arthur walked over to the archway and looked around until he saw a fossilized clam. He touched it and called up the gatekeeper. The clam opened up. After the clam took a little blood the labyrinth was claimed. The archway lit up and Khlure touched it to have the gate pull him into the extradimensional space.

He comes back out more to size. Khlure was still twice as large as the other Tako but this time he could walk around. He stretched and walked around a few times. He seemed happy.

"When I first arrived, I was trapped by the cavern collapse. Water had come into the cavern. The Tako were able to exit. The current took quite a few things away including the key. The gateway closed afterward and has not been open since."

"Thank you for helping me with my people. I will reach out to you telepathically when we are ready for the gate to be moved," he said as he reached out to shake hands.

Arthur took his hand and smiled, "I have a group called Camelot. When I move the gate, you can see what it is about. I won't force you to join us but I would like it if you did. I want to form a group of races that would work together."

"Even if we do not join your group, our labyrinth is yours already. You have my friendship."

Arthur blinked as he felt a surge of mana within him. He looked inwards and saw something had changed with the Guardian ring. A second section was filled in.

"It would seem you are close to completing the merge with the Doll's Heart and you are finding the pieces for your Guardian Ring," mentally congratulated Khlure.

"I don't understand about the pieces. Do you know anything about it?"

"The stories spoke of the Guardian Ring having the power to control labyrinths. The stronger you are, the more power you get. In addition to that, the ring needs to be awakened and it requires powerful mana creatures to pledge some sort of allegiance to you. You have two awakened, who would have pledged before me?"

"That might be the giant that I saved from the void."

"You... saved a giant? Oh my, you are an unusual fellow. Luck is with you. I look forward to seeing what happens in your future."

"Thank you. Do you know anything about undead?"

"Only that you should never underestimate them. They seek to turn everyone into undead and will find ways to do it. They are the enemy of life so in essence they are the enemy of all the races."

"I see. ummm... Is it possible to have the Kraken give me a lift to the surface? I would like to get back to the boat before my friends think I am dead."

"We can do that, but be careful up there. Someone signaled us to fetch an offering. It was too early for it. I will make sure that we stop responding to the offerings. As far as I am concerned that deal is broken when they sent a Guardian to die."

"What happened to the other offerings if you don't mind me asking?"

"I ate them."

Arthur made a face and Khlure laughed, "I won't eat any more humans. I promise. I would like to try other food that you have up there one day."

"Deal! Also when the Kraken brings me up, have it release me close to the surface and leave. I don't want my friends to attack it thinking it was back to get more of them."

Khlure nodded and escorted Arthur out of the cavern to the holding area where several Kraken were kept.

Several Tako looked over with curiosity but bowed when they saw Khlure.

Arthur knew that someone here was the contact for the signal. They might have been bought and this should be looked into later. For now, he owned a fourth labyrinth. And he was going back to the surface.