The System message made Lars stop, and he turned to look back at the companions.

"What is a Prequice?" Brandon asked.

"I will check the codex to see if it has updated," Kyto replied as Lars stepped back out of the water into the corridor entrance.

Kyto read the Codex entry out to the group.

"There is a picture of a serpent-like beast. It does not give a size but does have a description. Prequice frequents the seas of Hrytal. They are amphibious, territorial predators. However, they spend most of their time in the water due to their requirement to stay cool. Once they detect a threat, they become voracious and stop at nothing until it is removed. Warning - Prequice do not just bite."

"What does it mean by not just bite? What else can that thing do, and where the hell is Hrytal?" Brandon asked. Lars stood looking out over the expanse of the chamber again, trying to spot the beast.

"All very good questions, but I have absolutely no idea. The Codex has no other information," Kyto replied.

"I wish the Codex was more helpful," Tiddles huffed.

"If it needs to stay cold, though, maybe that is where you can come in," Kyto said, looking at Tiddles.

"How? It is not as if I can burn in water," he replied.

"No, maybe not burn, but you are fire elemental-based, which is the opposite of this thing by all accounts," he replied.

"I may be, but I would need to be able to fight it and don't fight in water."

"If we can draw it onto the land, you can damage it."

"It is getting it on the land, though."

The companions stood silently for a few moments when the sound of rumbling began in the corridor behind them. The sound was identical to that from Kyto's burial, and as they watched, the mist, accompanied by a cloud of dust, was forcefully expelled from the corridor. The rumbling stopped as soon as it had started, and Tiddles headed back up the corridor to check.

"Blocked," he said as he came back.

"Fuck. We are trapped in here now," Kyto said as the dust cloud that had billowed towards them settled.

"We do not have much choice now than to go into the chamber," Sniffer said with a grin, trying to hide his visible nerves.

"If we can get to the island as a group, that will be our best option. We will move together," Kyto said.

They turned as one, looking over at the first island. "Let’s go," Tiddles said as he stepped into the water.

The rest of them began to move. The water was bitterly cold, and as soon as Kyto placed his foot into it, the cold penetrated his boots. "Damn. Sometimes, I wished you spoke, Lars. You could have warned us."

Lars looked sideways and smiled at him as he walked into the water, showing no signs of discomfort. As they stepped further, the water got deeper. It was only a short time before it was up to their waists. Tiddles was strolling along quite happily, not feeling the temperature difference. Numbness was starting to creep into Kyto's legs as he moved toward the island slowly. The beast surfaced in the distance, its head lifting above the mist, and they heard the blast from its nostrils.

"Not far," Brandon said.

The dirt island was within touching distance now as the water reached chest height. Lars carried the lantern and reached out, placing it on the island before leaning forward and pushing himself out of the water. The shelf of dirt-packed land bore his weight effortlessly as he clambered to his feet. The group followed suit until they all stood on the island. It was not large, only having a diameter of several metres. The beast was still swimming near the end of the cavern.

"I am freezing," Brandon said, shivering. Even Lars's stoic form now showing signs from the freezing bite of the water.

Tiddles shook like the beast that he was, flinging the remaining water from his body. The remaining companions covered their faces from the spray.

"Fucks sake," Sniffer muttered, glaring at him.

"What?" Tiddles replied, showing no sign of remorse for his actions.

The next island was a further 40 feet offset to the right side and looked the same size as the one they now stood on.

"Wish these were larger. There is not much room to fight on," Tiddles said.

Kyto did not respond as he moved to the island's far side. "Let's get a move on before we freeze to death," he said in a hushed tone. The beast was still well over one hundred feet from their position, but every step they took drew them nearer. Its size was becoming more apparent. Its thick body was wider than Tiddles's form. They could still not see how long it was, having not seen its whole body out of the water. The green light from the luminescent mosses was being reflected off the mist, giving everything a sickly glow.

Kyto looked down into the water; it was black, and no light penetrated it to be able to see its depth. Lars sat on the edge, swung his legs into the water, and slowly lowered himself. He shook his head as he continued lowering his body, and they all knew he could no longer touch the bottom.

He slowly pushed off from the side, allowing his momentum to carry him towards the next island. Kyto placed the lantern down, unable to take it with them while swimming, and lowered himself, calling his familiar light to contrast with the green. He was not a proficient swimmer, only having swum a couple of times before, and his stroke when he entered the water caused splashes and considerable noise over the silence of the mist. The others are silent in comparison, sliding through the water.

Sniffer turned and glared at Kyto and his splashing form. He could do nothing as he knew no other style as he paddled towards the island. Kyto was lagging the other four as a roaring sound erupted from the cavern's end. Lars reached the island, pushed himself upwards again, and kneeled, looking towards where it came from. He turned with a panicked look and urged them to swim faster. The beast was coming, Kyto's ineffective ability to swim having attracted the beast towards them as a flailing deer would a crocodile. The crest of water created a huge v shape and split the mist as the beast powered through the water towards the source.

Kyto paddled for all he was worth, his frantic splashes continuing. He was positioned on the other side of the island compared to the beast and pushed himself as fast as he could while the others had reached the relative safety of the island. The beast's form suddenly disappeared under the surface. "Hurry," Sniffer shouted, no longer caring about being quiet amidst the beast's movements.

Panic-stricken, he thrashed onwards, now only a mere few feet from the island. Lars was leaning out towards him, his arm extended, and as Kyto reached it, he grabbed hold. Lars yanked him towards the island as fast as he could.

The beast erupted from the depths, its jaws open, showing a massive set of sharp teeth as they slammed downwards where Kyto had been only a moment before. Lars fell backwards, dragging Kyto onto the island, the others back peddling away from the edge. He coughed and spluttered, having taken in a mouth full of water as Lars pulled him, climbing to his knees as Lars stood drawing his pistol. Kyto stood and turned, stepping back with the others. "Sorry," he forced from his lungs.

He drew his knife as the others were all now armed. The beast had vanished, no longer visible on the surface, and they stood in a closed group looking out around the island. Kyto focussed on Tiddles pushing mana into him, carefully checking his own mana levels. He tried to pull in mana from around him, but there was no source in range apart from the companions. "Shit, I need to manage my mana carefully. No sources apart from you," he said.

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"Well, let’s not get injured then," Brandon replied.

At that moment, the beast appeared, only its head slightly visible and looked at them through one of its eyes as it circumnavigated the island where they stood.

"It is fucking watching us," Sniffer said as its head disappeared again.

They continued to stare at the water’s surface, only seeing the ripples left as the beast submerged again. Moments passed, which felt like hours as they waited, and then it appeared. It had swum away from the island as when it appeared; it was heading straight towards the group, and its head lifted from the water. As it did so, its jaws opened, and it stopped moving as it pulled its neck backwards before spitting a brilliant blue liquid at them. The liquid's colour, accentuated by the green luminescence, flew as a direct jet. Tiddles reacted first, diving out of the way, Lars not far behind. Sniffer, Brandon and Kyto were not as lucky as the liquid struck them. Sniffer took the spray on his left arm and Brandon across his face as he crouched to dive. Kyto, on the other hand, had taken the full force of the spray, throwing him backwards across the island, the force making his shield trigger its blue flash visible against the lancing water spike. He flew several feet, landing heavily on his back and knocking the wind out of him.

Sniffer and Brandon both screamed in pain from the jet of water, Sniffer's arm now hanging limply at his side and Brandon holding his face in his hands.

"I can't see," Brandon cried. The beast then struck, its head lunging forward, its thick body and neck propelling it like a spear towards its prey. Its mouth opened as it moved for Brandon. Tiddles reacted first, throwing himself at the head of the beast, his jaws opening as he struck it from the side, clamping down onto its face. The beast's head was larger than Tiddles, and he looked puny. Tiddles had activated his flame bite as he struck, and his elemental power surged through his body. His jaws clamped onto the scaled skin but did not cut through easily like he would most materials, the thickness of the plates on its face seeming to give it extra protection.

The beast swung its head violently in response, and Tiddles tried to cling on as he was swung from side to side by the beast's movements. Brandon had been saved from the bite but was in no fit state to fight. Kyto had seen his and Sniffer's bars plummet as the water struck them. Sniffer screamed, raising his right arm, which he held the pistol, and began opening fire, along with Lars. Kyto pushed some strands at Brandon to ease the pain and then directed some at Sniffer. His pool was depleting, and the shield activation had drawn more away, saving him from the jet.

The beast continued to shake its head, and Tiddles lost his grip, his jaws sliding from the beast's face, and he was cast away like a rag doll. He landed, sliding on his side, scrabbling to return to his feet. The beast, no longer having its face bitten, turned on Lars. Lars kept firing, pistol held in both hands, rapidly pulling the trigger and shooting into the beast's head and neck. The gun clicked empty, and Lars at once dropped it, pulling his blades as the beast's head dove at him. He moved sideways, his adjusted speed from being in the party saving him from the vicious teeth as the bite missed him. He stabbed with his blades, which were almost ineffectual against their scales, barely marking the surface.

"Go for its eyes," Sniffer shouted as he tried to shoot the beast one-handed. His aim could have been better normally, but even worse, firing with a single hand. The rounds hit the monster at such a short range and could penetrate its scales. His pistol clicked empty a moment later. Tiddles stood again and launched with his insane speed, attacking the beast's head once more. He had extended his claws fully and would not bite, attempting to puncture the beast's thick-scaled skin. His form struck the side of the beast's head, knocking it. The beast felt the impact and his claws digging into the scales as he activated Flaming Claws. His front paws dug into the beast's face, and he hauled his body upwards, kicking out with his rear legs and trying to get a purchase. His attack duration times were restricted, and as he managed to get his hind paws in contact with the beast's head, the skill deactivated, and his claws no longer penetrated.

Kyto felt helpless and stood there with a knife in his hand. He pushed mana into Tiddles, healing him of the minor damage he had received from the fall. It was nothing with his new armour boost from the extraskeletal addition he had obtained, but he did not want him weakened in any way. Tiddles reactivated his skill, clawing again at the beast as Lars continued to strike on its other side. The beast swung its head again and, this time, struck Lars, throwing the big man backwards across the island. Lars's health dipped from the strike, but it did not stop him from standing immediately and returning. Sniffer was trying to hit the beast in its body with his weapon, but again, it was ineffective, and he only had the use of one arm. Kyto rapidly threw some strands at Lars and topped up Tiddles's mana pool. The beast's elemental power dropped with every skill activation.

Lars threw himself at the beast, and his hands flashed as he struck out. He was trying to get at the beast's eye as it reared its head from side to side again, trying to loosen the grip of Tiddles. As it swung its head towards Tiddles's direction, his reactivated skill allowed his rear paws to sink into its head. The beast wailed or hissed whatever sound they were not sure it was so unearthly as Tiddles clawed upwards towards its eye. Each movement required him to trigger his skill to allow his claws to penetrate the beast's scales. Time stood still as the fight continued, Lars and Tiddles fighting with all their skill and power against the beast's form. At last, Tiddles managed to move in range, and his claws scraped across the beast's eye. The beast flung its head back in pain, and as it did, the ferocity of the jarring movement cast Tiddles off its face like a trebuchet would lose its load. He sailed through the air and landed with a massive splash in the freezing waters several dozen feet away.

The beast turned and raised its head towards Lars, opening its mouth again and releasing its deadly spray. Lars was too busy trying to move towards it to strike its neck and did not notice the movement. The jet flew like a bullet at Lars but never reached its target. Sniffer had thrown himself before the spray, taking its full force on his chest. His health bar zeroed instantly, and a cross appeared by his name. Brandon was still out of the fight. Even though Kyto had reduced the pain, he sat confused and blind. Kyto watched as Lars realised Sniffer's sacrifice, and the big man’s face turned from its calm stony expression to one that at any other time would have scared the living shit out of him. He had never seen a face show as much rage and hatred as Lars did now, the sheer demonic look that filled his eyes, making them appear like black coals.

Lars leapt at the beast, his mouth open in a rage-filled scream, and it was at that moment that Kyto heard a sound come from Lars for the first time. The man had never spoken or made a whisper, but the rage-filled hate leaving his lungs sounded like a thousand warriors screaming on a battlefield. Kyto had always thought the large man was completely mute, but this was obviously untrue. The sheer aggression that overtook his usually calm and controlled actions suddenly replaced his fluidity and control. The frenzied warrior struck like nothing ever witnessed before his speed, none paralleled with relentless ferocity. His blades were not penetrating the beast's head, but the repeated impacts affected its momentum, the power visibly making the beast react. Lars did not stop.

Tiddles had recovered from his swim and climbed back onto the land, seeing his best friend and father figure, Sniffer, lying dead after seeing his health drop. One frenzied warrior was terrible. A frenzied warrior and a grief-stricken beast were something entirely different. Tiddles flew like a rocket at the beast, not at its head but its neck behind its head, biting with such force that his teeth sunk deeply into its neck with the activation of flame bite. He tore his head sideways, ripping several scales in his huge mouth away. He bit again, the beast making another terrifying sound, but the brawlers did not stop. Strike after strike, bite after bite. The beast did manage to land a bite on Lars, but Kyto threw strands into him. The big man did not fall and did not even seem to notice its huge teeth as they tore into his arm, still moving with a blur of blades.

Tiddles was slowly working deeper into the beast's neck, with every bite tearing more of its flesh and scales away. The wound was now gaping, and its blood, a sickly green colour, was being spilt onto the surface of the island. Lars caught a head swipe to his side, knocking him off balance, and Kyto threw strands again as his health dived. He quickly jumped up again as Kyto shouted, "I am out."

A weak, terrified voice answered. "Use me."

Kyto turned to where Brandon sat, unable to partake, and without another further consideration, drew from him. Lars was striking again, forcing the beast's now weakening form backwards. It kept trying to strike and went to lift its neck into the position to use its jet attack, but Tiddles had performed enough damage to prevent it from raising entirely. Its head fell from the excess strain it tried to place on it. As it did, Lars jumped at the chance, and its head turned as he plunged his dagger into its one remaining good eye. The beast threw its head away with such force from the blow that it opened the wound on its neck even more, and Tiddles took the opportunity to dive at the enlarged wound, ripping ferociously into the softer internal flesh. He chomped away at its neck as more of the ghastly green liquid leaked from the wound. A stream of green liquid suddenly erupted. Tiddles had punctured something vital as its blood pumped from the wound, spraying the area with its green stain. Both Lars and Tiddles were covered now. Even Kyto stood off from the main fight and was not out of the range of the squirting liquid.

It thrashed its head as it visibly weakened, dropping nearer to the ground until it eventually came to rest. As it did, the weight of its body in the water dragged its head backwards to join its body in the depths, leaving a smeared stain of green on the earth.

Their displays triggered.

Congratulations, you have successfully defeated the level 1 dungeon boss.

You may collect your rewards and proceed to level 2.