“Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah. Let’s just get out of here. I don’t want to look at Vera anymore,” she said.
The party walked on, and Alina spoke again.
“That was...my former master. She’s Lady Luck, one of the highest-rated witches out there because of her luck stat. But I beat her,” she told him.
“You did. That was just amazing,” he told her.
“Yeah. I knew one day we’d fight like this. Just..didn't imagine it would be today,” she told him.
“But now that it’s over, we can move on,” he pointed out.
“Yeah, moving on. Something I’d like to do,” she said.
The group continued to walk through the mysterious black area, heading up the stairs to the next surprise. When they got up there, Kek was already on guard, and despite holding onto Alina for dear life, he certainly knew that if the time came, he would protect everyone. Val had her ax ready, and the look in her eyes was of determination. It was the first time he had seen the dwarf girl so ready to move forward and beat whatever was in their way.
26
The next hallway just had purple lights all around it. Kek and company walked through, but there was something eerie about the place.
“Something isn’t right,” Faye said.
“What do you mean?” Kek asked.
“There’s just...something about here that bothers me,” Val said.
She looked around, trying to figure out what it was.
“I noticed it too,” Faye said.
“But what is it?” Bre asked, lightly pressing her foot into the ground until she heard a crunch. She looked, and behind her was a scary bug-like creature.
It had three eyes, a large set of antennae, and when it opened its mouth, it had giant teeth. The party knew they’d have to run as fast as they could out of this godforsaken place. Kek grabbed Alina and Faye, and Bre moved too. Val saw the creature bolt toward her, and Kek had to stop himself.
“Get out of there!” he cried out.
That monster had to have been courtesy of Sephy. Yet Val just stood there. She was going to be eaten alive if they weren’t careful! Kek tried to move in, looking at her, but then Alina put her hand up.
“She’s responding to something, whatever it is,” she explained.
The creature bolted forward, but as soon as Val put her hands up, the creature stopped, moving toward her and instead begging to be pet. She moved in, petting the creature.
Kek couldn’t believe his eyes. Val was taming the creature! Alina looked confused, but then she shook her head, rushing over to where Val was.
“What the devil are you doing?” she asked.
“It’s something I chose when I last leveled up. Nature Talk. It’s a power that allows me to talk to creatures. I could learn it because of my mother,” the young girl explained.
Kek looked at the disgusting bug, and although it was terrifying, it seemed to trust Val. He looked at his HUD.
Nature Talk: A power only those connected to nature can possess. It allows the individual to converse with creatures, whether friendly or foes, and discuss intentions.
So she was communicating with the creature. Kek cleared his throat, eyeing the creature. He noticed that it wasn’t hurting the young girl, but instead saying something, moving its body in an animated manner, and allowing her to talk.
“It seems like it’s talking to her,” Alina said.
“Should we do something?” asked Bre, who was polishing her spear.
“Halt. I think she’s helping us,” Kek explained.
The group watched as Val talked with it, saying a few words. When it was all over, she turned to the group, smiling in excitement.
“It’s all right. He’s been ordered to kill us, courtesy of Sephy, but I told him who we are. His name is Mortimer, and he wants to join the party as a temporary member, and he can take us straight to the heart. He says that Lily isn’t doing well, being forced to work for Sephy and Darius, but he agreed to help us in any way that we need it,” Val said.
Everyone’s mouths were agape at the words the young ax wielder uttered. Kek looked at the creature and spoke.
“We do come in peace. Are the kobolds okay? I'm here to free them. It’s a dying wish from a friend,” he explained.
The bug creature looked at him, and then at Val, saying something.
“He says...they’re not doing well,” she explained.
“How so?” Kek asked.
The bug explained once more, and then Val spoke.
“Apparently, they’re being held captive and forced to work under duress. Lots have died, and if she sees someone as unfit for use, she kills them,” she explained.
“No...” Kek said, in shock at those words. He didn’t want his friends to die! He looked at her, and then at the party. They then all looked at Val.
She spoke to the creature, and the creature made a few grunts in response.
“He says that he’s more than welcome to help us. He doesn’t like Sephy either, and the other creatures don’t. But she is a tamer, so he can’t guarantee he won’t attack,” she said.
They all looked at one another, knowing the risk they were about to take. This creature could save their life, and help them defeat the enemy, or it could be the end of the line. Kek looked to the group, unsure of what to do. Alina spoke next.
“Her mother had this power too. Val is talking to it. She’s doing her best, and I think if we want this to work...we should do as he says,” she told them.
They all looked at the giant bug creature, and it made a grunt.
“We are going to follow you. If that's okay,” Val said.
The creature nodded, letting out a small grunt, and she then spoke.
“He says that’s fine, but to be forewarned that the road up here is hard. We'll be fighting Sephy and Lily soon, and then the final boss. So get ready. He says this pathway is safe, but he can take us to another safe place,” she explained.
The group then agreed, and they soon followed the bug creature out of here. Kek watched as the creature took them through a hole. They followed it, hitting a small clearing where some of the other bug-like creatures are. Val was essentially the translator for the party, and Kek was thankful for that. They would rest up here, and then get ready, because the final battles were coming up, and they would need to do what they could to survive.
27
The next day, they all were ready to go, but Kek knew what was coming. He saw Alina sitting outside the main area. He walked over to her, sighing.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. Just not ready to fight this next battle,” he admitted.
“Why? I thought you wanted this to be over?” she asked.
“I do but...I’m not ready for what’s to come. I don’t think Lily will survive this. I think...I think she’s going to die,” he said.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“It’s simple. I can sense it. She’s given her life up, and she did this to protect herself. Why it is, I don’t know, but I’m ready to put forward the fight of my life. I can tell that you’re worried too,” he admitted.
She looked at him, and she nodded. “I'm more worried about what will befall us. I’ll be fighting my archnemesis for the first time, and it’s scaring me,” she told him.
“I see. I’ll be there for you. I know it doesn’t mean much, but I will try to help,” he said to her.
She smiled, patting him on the head. “Thank you for that.”
“You’re welcome. I know I’m not the best with these things but...I’m glad to have you here,” he said.
“I am as well. It’s weird, knowing that this may be my final battle. I don’t know if I'll make it. To be honest Kek, I have a request for you,” she said.
Kek looked at the busty witch, and then she spoke.
“If I die...take care of Val for me. I know she’s young, and I mean, you could try taking her back to the dwarves, but who
knows if that might work. They honestly probably would rather have her explore the world. She’s still young in terms of knowledge. But, I think if you take care of her, she’ll be fine,” Alina said.
Kek never really had a partner before, but he didn’t want to leave Alina with an unanswered promise.
“That's fine. I’ll do that,” he replied.
“Thank you Kek. I don’t think I’ll make it. I used up a lot of power in that last battle,” she said.
“Well, when that happens, I’ll take care of everyone,” he said.
“Thank you. I mean, if you, Bre, and Val make it out, that would be great. I don’t know about Faye, but I want to believe she will,” Alina said.
“I want to believe as well.”
It was somber at camp, but then the next day everyone got themselves together. Kek had a feeling that this was going to be something that either would go well, or terrible. They walked through the pathway the giant bug deemed the right way, and when they got to the stairs, Kek could feel the foreboding presence.
It was her. Lily was up there, but it seemed like she was more powerful than she had been before. The giant bug let out a grunt, and Val translated.
“He says this is as far as he can do without risking the potential for turning on us. Beyond the door is Lily, but Sephy is controlling her. However, he says it may be possible to save her, but he’s not sure,” she explained.
So they would have to rely on a prayer or something for her to come out alive.
“Thank you. I appreciate this,” he said.
He had to keep Val safe. He could use her to save the animals that were kept here. When they opened the door, a sudden, overwhelming rush of power hit him, and he immediately felt as if his entire body had grown overpowered from the actions. He looked forward, and he saw something there, something grotesque.
It was Lily, but she wasn’t the thief from before. Instead, her body had fused with a tentacle monster, no doubt Sephy’s doing, and as she looked at them, she let out a maniacal laugh, tentacles darting right for them.
Kek dodged this, and so did the rest of the party. Faye barely managed to not get killed, and the creature laughed.
“You pathetic fools! You really think you’re going to beat me!?” she said.
“You hurt Kek one too many times. For that, you need to die!” Bre said.
She charged in, and Kek tried to say something, but it was too late.
28
Bre was on fire. She immediately lunged in, trying her best to hit the girl with everything she possessed. But Lily continued to parry the attacks. Bre was getting angry, and Kek could see the rage in her eyes.
“Be careful Bre!” he said.
“I am. This stupid bitch hurt all of us. She betrayed us for her own selfish fucking ends! I’m finishing this,” she said.
Kek looked at Faye, who sighed.
“I’ll go buff her,” she said.
Faye had the defensive spells, and as Kek looked at his HUD, he knew this would be a fight that would determine everything.
Name: Lily
Race: Human with chimera tentacle mix
Stats:
STR: 25, DEX: 20, WIS: 10, INT: 15, CON: 27, CHA: 6, LCK: 13
So the luck stat had gone way down, and the numbers had gone to other parts. That constitution meant that she’d be able to take some mean hits without getting hurt. Kek knew what he had to do. He had to brace himself. For whatever should happen next with this.
The two parties started to fight, with Bre using spear attacks and the tentacle monster slapping them away. But Bre started to grow tired, and she knew she had to do something, and fucking fast. She then started to Rage, boosting her attack, but sacrificing defense.
“No Bre! You can’t do this on your own,” he said.
“It’s the price I need to pay. I should’ve been better about reading this stupid bitch,” Bre said.
She soon began to morph into a stronger version of herself, red flames everywhere. She looked at the chimera, and then, she stepped forward.
“Why? Why did you betray us?” she asked her.
“Because Sephy told me that if I didn't do it, she would kill me. I...I wanted to see revenge. For my mother. For you. I wanted revenge, but I forgot about the conditions that this entailed,” she said.
“Yeah well, I have revenge at the forefront as well. I escaped from here, and I know that I wanted revenge. But...selling yourself out is not the way to go. I see a bit of myself in you, and although I never trusted you, I did pity you,” Bre said.
“Well you can take that pity and shove it up your ass. I’m going to take out you, and your stupid party!” Lily said.
Kek knew she was being possessed by Sephy. The party got ready, with Faye continuing the debuffing spells. Bre and Lily continued to clash, the rage growing within her.
“Fuck,” Kek said, looking at her with worry on his face. She was ready to destroy everyone, and he could see her strength at a super high level. It was near 50, higher than everyone, but her constitution was in the toilet, which meant that one hit, and she was done.
Bre raced in, parrying the attacks, and with one last scream she extended her spear, throwing it straight into Lily’s chest. Blood gushed out, and Lily let out a pathetic cry for help. Bre watched as Lily fell to the ground, blood trickling out of her mouth.
“Bre!” Kek said.
Bre stepped over her, watching the sight. She stabbed the girl once more, and she coughed up blood.
“I didn’t want to have to do this,” Bre muttered.
“It’s okay. You had to,” he said to her.
Bre was about to deliver the final blow, when a set of tentacles came up, hitting her in the chest. The air was knocked out of her, and she fell down to the ground, breathing heavily.
“Bre!” Kek said.
He went over to Lily, who had tears in her eyes.
“It isn’t me! It’s Sephy. She...made me do it,” Lily said.
“It’s okay. I’m going to take care of this,” he told her.
He extended his sword, looking at the tentacle part of Lily. That was the only thing keeping her alive, and with one quick dash, he stabbed his sword into her. Blood trickled out, and Lily continued to cough.
“Get rid of her...for me,” she said.
She soon fell to the ground, death hovering over the party.
Kek raced over to Bre, holding her hand as she lay there, coughing up blood.
“I'm sorry…” she said.
“It’s okay. You did your best. I’ll...get my revenge,” he told her.
“Thank you Kek. I know that you will,” she said to him with a deep breath.
Kek watched as she fell asleep, her eyes closing. He had known this would happen eventually, but Kek didn’t want to believe it. It hurt his soul to see her like this, but Kek knew for a fact that this meant one thing.
They were close to the leader, and he’d get his revenge.
29
Kek and the others buried both Lily and Bre together. Although they were at odds quite a bit, he did feel bad for what happened. He looked at Alina, Faye, and Val, the only ones left, and he wondered what might happen next with them. They had Sephy, but they also had Darius, the leader of this place.
He didn’t know Darius. If anything, he’d have to fight the man on his own. The somber atmosphere would probably only get worse if they didn’t leave this place. The party left toward the stairway, and Alina shivered.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“She’s up there. I know it. Kek, I'm going to ask you to let me handle this one,” she said.
He paused, thinking about that.
“Honestly, if the final blow needs to be dealt, I'll step in, but otherwise I’ll allow that,” he said to her.
“Thank you. Save your strength for Darius. He’s going to be tougher than this bitch,” she told him.
Kek was not ready to find out how tough the guy actually was, but he knew for a fact that it
was only going to get worse. He soon walked in through the door, and they saw a bunch of animals. They were all ready to attack, and it was by a miracle, and Kek and Faye’s dexterity, that everyone managed to avoid the initial goring. Kek looked at Val, who immediately spoke to them with nature’s tongue.
“Stop! We aren’t here to harm you!” she said.
The animals were still wary, but she continued to use nature’s tongue to ward them off. Kek looked at Alina, and then he ushered them over to the darkened figure.
“Go!” he said.
She nodded, rushing over. Faye and Val worked on the animals, Faye using a couple of fairy spells to stop them. Kek marched over to the hooded figure with Alina, but when they got there, the woman took it off, looking at the busty sorceress with a smile.
Sephy had blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and a sneer on her face.
“Glad you could join us,” she said.
“Sephy,” Alina said, moving her hands to her book and preparing.
“So, you’re going to actually fight this time. That’s cute,” the other woman said, getting her own book out. She summoned two animals with her “Summon animal” spell, and as Kek stepped back, he looked at his HUD.
Name: Sephy
Race: Elven dark sorceress
Stats:
STR: 10, DEX: 30, CON: 30, INT: 35, WIS: 40, CHA: 15, LCK: 20
HP: 150
The stats were super high, and Kek had no idea what in the world he was going to do here. After all, he knew that this wasn’t his fight. But, Alina started to concentrate, saying spells to the air, and summoning guardians of her own.
“So, you’re going to use the magic you forsook initially? When I first offered you a chance to join me, but instead you pussied out,” she said with a sneer.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to save everyone,” she said.
The two sorceresses started to fight, and the dark guardians came toward Kek. Alina used her magic to stop them, but Kek needed to do a bit of fighting on his own. He wasn’t able to damage them due to the high defense, but he was at least able to save his own HP with each and every single movement. He looked around, seeing the guys there, but also seeing the way Alina was looking.
Deeper Down_A Monster MC LitRPG Page 11