Scylla’s heads reared back in a chaotic frenzy, each one snapping and twisting as the beast realized its impending doom.

Suddenly, Monsoon bolted forward, his sleek blue fur shimmering as if in response to the imminent danger. The juvenile Wavewolf's instincts kicked in, his eyes locking onto the water below. With a single powerful leap, he dove into the pool with a splash, vanishing beneath the surface just as the ceiling rock came crashing down.

The impact sent a shockwave through the cavern, the sound of stone colliding with water echoing off the walls. Jagged debris splintered off, scattering across the chamber in all directions. Jack shielded his eyes, but the sight of the massive boulder sinking into the now-turbulent waters remained clear in his mind.

For a brief moment, the waters were still, the cavern falling into a tense silence.

Then, out of the chaos, Monsoon surged upward, breaking the surface with a ripple of water. His golden eyes glowed with intensity, and a faint aura of magic shimmered around him. The wolf's body pulsed with Tidal Empowerment his abilities magnified in the aquatic environment. He circled the pool with swift, fluid movements, his Liquid Senses attuned to every disturbance in the water.

Cael, who had stayed in the shadows, crouched at the edge of the cavern. His dark eyes gleamed with interest, taking in the scene as he blended into the environment. "That wolf's abilities are developing fast," he muttered under his breath, but his focus shifted to the stirring waters beneath the fallen rock. "But I doubt that monster is finished just yet."

The pool bubbled, and one of Scylla's heads broke through the surface, snarling in defiance. Despite the boulder that had buried part of her body beneath the water, the monster was far from dead. Three of her heads thrashed in the air, spraying water as her eyes burned with fury.

"Great," Jack muttered, gripping his weapon tighter. "She's still got fight in her."

As Scylla's heads began to lunge forward, Monsoon acted first. With a fierce growl, the Wavewolf charged, activating Riptide Charge. His body blurred, propelled by water energy, as he surged forward like a force of nature. He collided with one of Scylla's heads, sending it crashing into the water. The impact knocked it back momentarily, but the other heads quickly lashed out in retaliation.

Jack didn't hesitate. "Now, Cael!" he shouted.

From his shadowy perch, Cael sprang into action. He moved swiftly and silently across the uneven cavern floor, his dagger drawn, its edge gleaming with lethal intent. In a single fluid motion, he leaped, a dagger aimed at the base of the neck. Bypass Armor activated, and the blade found its mark in a vulnerable gap between Scylla's tough scales. The head jerked violently, but Cael was already gone, fading back into the shadows before the sea monster could retaliate.

Scylla roared, the injured head thrashing wildly, but the battle wasn't over yet.

Jack gripped his weapon, taking a step forward. "Time to finish this."

Jack narrowed his eyes, focusing on the one head that hadn’t yet lashed out—the humanoid one. It was remaining eerily still during the fight as the other heads roared and attacked, its black eyes observing with cold intelligence. Jack had a hunch. This was the core, the true center of Scylla’s power.

"This is it," he muttered under his breath, determination flaring inside him. With a burst of energy, he dashed forward, water splashing under his boots as he closed the distance between him and the monster.

The humanoid head finally moved, its lips curling into a snarl. It bared its fangs, venom dripping from its elongated jaws as it locked onto Jack’s approach. But Jack wasn’t slowing down.

With a shout, Jack launched himself into the air, his spear poised above his head. Berserk activated in his blood, the Skill enhancing his strength. Time seemed to slow as he soared through the air, the glowing tip of his spear aimed directly at the center of the humanoid head’s skull.

Scylla’s eyes widened, realizing the danger too late. Her other heads flailed in desperation, but they couldn’t reach him in time.

With a powerful thrust, Jack drove his spear deep into Scylla’s humanoid head. The impact was brutal—bone shattered, and the monster let out a deafening scream, a sound so loud and primal that it shook the entire cavern. Her many heads writhed in agony, the serpentine bodies convulsing as Jack twisted the spear deeper into her skull.

Black blood gushed from the wound, spilling into the pool below. The humanoid head’s eyes rolled back, and Scylla’s entire body shuddered violently as the life drained from her. Jack held on, his muscles straining, but he could feel the beast weakening beneath him.

Finally, with one last tortured roar, Scylla’s heads collapsed. The massive body slumped into the water with a heavy splash, sending ripples through the cavern. The serpentine necks, once full of vicious energy, now lay limp and lifeless.

Breathing heavily, Jack pulled his spear free from the monster’s skull, black ichor dripping from the blade. He staggered back off the creature's body and swam the short distance to the edge of the pool. Pulling himself onto the stone floor he collapsed to the ground, watching as Scylla’s corpse sank beneath the surface of the pool, disappearing into the depths.

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Monsoon dove after the sinking corpse without hesitation. His sleek blue fur cut through the water like a blade, disappearing beneath the rippling surface. Jack stepped closer to the pool, his gaze fixed on the swirling water where Monsoon had submerged.

Seconds turned into minutes, and the water remained still. Jack exchanged a quick glance with Cael, who stood silently nearby, his dark eyes observing the pool with the same quiet intensity.

Then, a ripple broke the surface.

Monsoon surged out of the water, his fur dripping as he leaped gracefully onto the cavern floor. Clenched between his sharp teeth was something small but radiant—a glowing object that shimmered with a soft, ethereal light. As Monsoon padded forward, Jack’s eyes widened in recognition.

It was a pearl.

But this wasn’t just any ordinary pearl. It was large, the size of Jack’s fist, and pulsed with a faint, otherworldly glow. The soft blue luminescence it emitted cast a ghostly light over the cavern, illuminating the walls in shimmering patterns.

Monsoon dropped the pearl at Jack’s feet, his golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Jack crouched down and picked it up, holding the weight of it in his hands. It was cool to the touch, and as his fingers brushed its surface, a strange sensation washed over him—like a gentle ripple of power stirring beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.

“This… came from Scylla?” Jack murmured, glancing down at the water where the beast’s body had disappeared.

Cael stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the pearl. “That’s no ordinary treasure,” he said quietly. “It holds magic—powerful magic. Likely tied to Scylla’s essence.”

Jack turned the pearl over in his hands, feeling the faint hum of energy that pulsed within it. He could sense something potent, something deep and ancient within the pearl. It wasn’t just raw magic—it felt alive, almost sentient, as though it carried the remnants of Scylla’s strength and fury.

“Think it’ll be useful?” Jack asked, looking up at Cael.

The Night Goblin’s expression remained neutral, but there was a glint of curiosity in his dark eyes. “If you can tap into its power, yes. But such things come with risks.”

Lyla handled the pearl next, her eyes bright with wonder “This is incredible. I can feel the Water mana inside it. It almost feels like its calling to me”.

Before Jack could ask what she meant a sound caught his attention. From the debris and wreckage of the cavern, another pedestal began to rise—a second Pedestal of Sacrifice. This one was more elaborate, its surface inscribed with intricate runes that glowed with a soft, ethereal light. The pedestal seemed to materialize from the very essence of the cavern, its appearance accompanied by a low, resonant hum.

The party's eyes widened in surprise and apprehension. The pedestal had emerged almost as if it had been summoned by the pearl.

Lyla, initially hesitant, approached the pedestal with caution. The glowing runes on the pedestal pulsed in rhythm with the pearl's aura. Lyla felt an inexplicable pull toward the pedestal, a sense that it was beckoning her to place the pearl upon it.

"What is this?" Lyla asked, her voice tinged with unease. "Another Pedestal of Sacrifice?"

"It seems so," Jack said, his voice low. "If we’re going to use it to make a new item we should probably use the pearl as part of it."

]He gestured towards Lyla's staff.

“I’ve already got something from a Pedestal. It’s your turn now. That staff yours could probably get a good upgrade if you merge it with the pearl”.

Lyla seemed doubtful. "We’ve only used a Pedestal once. We don’t know what I might end up with. It could be dangerous."

Cael nodded in agreement, his hand resting on his dagger. "But it could also be a chance to unlock the true potential of the pearl. We should at least consider it."

Despite her reluctance, Lyla could sense the urgency in her companions’ voices. The pedestal's presence felt like a significant opportunity they couldn’t afford to ignore. With a deep breath, she held up the pearl and her staff, both glowing with a soft magical light. The pedestal seemed to hum in anticipation.

"Alright," Lyla said, her voice resolute. "I’ll do it."

She approached the pedestal and gently placed the pearl onto its surface. As soon as the pearl touched the pedestal, a brilliant flash of blue light erupted, filling the cavern with a dazzling radiance. The light coalesced into intricate patterns that danced across the walls, and the pedestal itself began to glow with an intense blue hue.

Lyla’s staff, still held in her other hand, was drawn toward the pedestal. The staff’s magical aura intertwined with the pedestal’s light, creating a harmonious blend of energies. As Lyla touched the staff to the pedestal, the light surged and enveloped her.