BAB3 -Chapter 7

# Chapter 7: Dungeon Domination 2

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**Cosmos Academy Dungeon Floor 2: Savanna Oasis.**

The group emerged onto a sun-drenched plain, where orangish-red grass rustled in a gentle breeze and sparse, scattered trees dotted the horizon.

A single blue-shelled locust buzzed past—only to be sliced cleanly in two by Kimi in a flash.

**Crystal Locust (F-Rank) Lv 3**: *A crystalline swarming insect with a ravenous hunger for meat.*

“I want this floor,” Kimi said with a dangerous spark in her eye.

During their first dive, these very locusts had swarmed the floor above, just after she and Xay defeated the boss.

Piper Laurent had orchestrated an Encroachment by luring the boss of the second floor up.

She’d enlisted Anton Morwen to control the timing. But Anton had his own agenda—he planned to leave Xay to die.

Neither of their plans worked out, of course.

Instead, Xay and Kimi forged their bond, and Xay summoned the Scarlet Katana for the very first time.

That battle also revealed a critical insight into the locusts: they were especially weak to flame.

The next several minutes were harrowing—for everything except their group.

Kimi lit up like a bright red torch, incinerating anything that moved.

As they all sprinted forward, thousands of locusts burst from the dry grass at sporadic intervals, swarming in from every direction.

But Kimi was beyond merciless.

She slashed her katana faster than the eye could see, unleashing *Burn Wave* after *Burn Wave* into the flammable masses.

***Burn Wave** - Emit sweeping waves of intense flames with arc slashes.*

The burning locusts panicked and flailed, crashing into one another and spreading the flames deeper through the swarm.

The beautiful warrior-ballerina reveled in the heat, twisting and turning on the balls of her feet as she cut down monsters by the thousands.

“Go, Kimi, go!” Tyra shouted, laughing as she slid easily across the grass.

Willow scouted from high up, while Dragon—now about six feet long thanks to *Adaptive Size*—flew protectively just above Xay, Lexi, and Tyra.

***Adaptive Size** - Adapt and alter physical size freely.*

While Kimi worked around them, Xay navigated using his *Extrasensory Perception*.

The floor was designed to seem endless, with dozens of shifting heatwave mirages dancing in the distance.

But Xay could sense the true path—leading toward a sheer rock face far to the right, not any of the shimmering lakes surrounded by inviting fruit trees everywhere else.

With the dry heat in the air, they might’ve been tempted to veer toward one of the mirage lakes, but Rox’s red juice was surprisingly thirst-quenching.

As they drew closer to the rock face, Xay realized it was moving—the entire rock side was totally covered in a writhing mass of squirming blue locusts.

“Need a hand?” Lexi asked, reaching for her bow.

“No thank you,” Kimi replied gracefully, stepping forward and coming to a halt ahead of the group.

She raised her arms to either side, sliding one foot behind the other before launching into a fluid series of pliés and coupés—activating *Eclipsing Clone*.

***Eclipsing Clone** - Perform an evasive Pas de Bourrée, instantly generating light-based afterimages that can solidify into clones with every directional shift.*

Kimi danced sideways with elegant steps, her afterimages solidifying into four perfect light clones.

Kimi’s clones were essentially glass cannons. Each one had access to her flame and light-based techniques, but their durability was poor.

The strength of their attacks was also divided between them—so with four clones active, each could only wield a quarter of Kimi’s power.

Without needing a command, Kimi and her four clones surged forward, waves of heat billowing off their bodies.

Every locust on the wall took notice, rising in unison to form the densest swarm they’d seen yet.

Undaunted, Kimi and her clones exploded into the mass, five instances of *Blazing Zangeki* cleaving rapidly through the air in a hundred and fifty directions.

***Blazing Zangeki (Striker Sphere)** - Rapidly execute a series of crossing, flaming slashes from all forward angles.*

Even with the weaker versions of her techniques coming from the clones, it was an absolute slaughter.

Xay, Lexi, Tyra, Dragon, and Willow stood frozen, mouths agape, as a literal wall of fire surged ahead of them—locusts burning by the thousands.

After only a few moments, the wall was cleared—nothing left but scorched dirt and drifting ash.

A dark tunnel appeared at the base of the rock face, revealing the path forward.

“Well, that was something,” Xay laughed. “Have I ever told you how hot you are?”

Kimi giggled, her clones disintegrating as the flames around them abated. “Yes, but I enjoy it when you do.”

“You’re so fucking hot!” Xay shouted dramatically.

“C’mon, Lover Boy,” Lexi laughed, pushing Xay forward. “We’re still on the clock.”

Just inside the tunnel entrance was the first Safe Zone. Kimi wasn’t tired in the least, so they continued forward at a quick pace.

The tunnel past it was narrow and exceedingly dark, but none of them faltered.

Kimi led the group, using the faintest glimmers of light to maintain full awareness of her surroundings.

Behind her, Lexi walked light-footed, able to see through darkness in calm contrast.

Tyra had her senses fully synced with Willow through *Companion Connection*, her sharp vision piercing the gloom easily.

***Companion Connection** - Share senses, abilities, and traits with a connected companion beast.*

Xay and Dragon took up the rear. Xay’s *Extrasensory Perception* mapped every turn and uneven surface with ease.

And Dragon’s large, slitted silver eyes took in a range of colors from the world that none of them could ever truly understand.

“Ambush ahead,” Xay warned as they approached the end of the tunnel. “A group of Glinteye Tarsiers.”

**Glinteye Tarsier (F-Rank) Lv. 10**: *A carnivorous, nocturnal creature with enormous eyes that can emit a debilitating light.*

Xay had recognized the creatures from one of their early Monsters 101 classes with Chad.

The tunnel spilled out into a small wooded depression surrounded by tall, spindly trees.

Unlike the sun-drenched plain on the other side of the rock face, this area was cloaked by deep night, illuminated only by a massive moon hanging low in the sky.

While the others hung back at the lip of the tunnel, Kimi strode boldly into the center of the bowl, allowing the monsters to spring their trap.

She lowered her stance, angling her katana into a draw-ready position. A heartbeat later, sixteen beams of blinding light erupted from all around her.

With a flash of her blade, Kimi activated *Glimmering Grand Pas*—and stepped through their attacks.

***Glimmering Grand Pas (Striker Sphere)** - Quick step through light, tracing explosive, omnidirectional slash projections over a wide area.*

It was over in an instant—sixteen slashes, sixteen monsters cut down.

She’d only used half the technique, though, holding back the explosive projections that normally followed each strike.

Next came the second part of the trap: dozens of Vampire Moths swarming out from the trees.

**Vampire Moth (E-Rank) Lv. 6**: *A bloodthirsty insect that drains the life of its victims with its razor-sharp proboscis.*

Several *Burn Waves* later, the group was moving again.

They pressed on, passing several more would-be ambushes and shimmering mirages before finally reaching the second Safe Zone on the far side of the night-shrouded area.

It was a sectioned-off, crystal-clear spring hidden at the root of a collapsed tree near another sheer rock face.

Kimi was eager to continue immediately, but Xay persuaded her to take a short breather before taking on the boss.

“Your abilities aren’t just powerful—they’re beautiful,” Xay said, settling beside Kimi.

A faint flush rose along her neck. “Thank you. Watching you fight actually inspired some of my advanced techniques.”

Xay’s brows lifted in surprise. “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever done a Grand Pas.”

Kimi giggled, covering her mouth with one hand. “No, but you’re quick on your feet and you adapt in the moment. My creativity just happens to come from dance.”

Xay nodded, finally catching on. “Well.. it’s cool.”

“..Now kiss,” Tyra whispered, grinning as she suddenly popped up behind them.

Xay sighed and chased her off with a Jetnir Orb, earning laughter from both Lexi and Kimi.

After their quick break, the group finally passed through the gap into the boss area.

It was an open field, split perfectly between night and day, with both a sun and a moon suspended in the sky.

Just ahead, the hulking Queen Crystal sat at the heart of a ravenous swarm of buzzing locusts.

**Queen Crystal (D-Rank) Lv 18**: *Queen of the Crystal Locusts. Able to control and replenish the swarm.*

She looked exactly as Xay remembered.

Jagged crystal formations jutted from her back and limbs, while two curved antennae twitched and flicked restlessly through the air.

Chitinous plates, etched with pulsing red veins, lined her razor-sharp mandibles and the hooked claws at the ends of her spindly legs.

Kimi wasted no time, recreating her clones and charging into the swarm with her blade ablaze.

She incinerated swaths of the smaller locusts before Queen Crystal even moved—then suddenly, the massive insect monster flapped her wings and lifted into the air.

But instead of attacking Kimi, she turned and fled in the opposite direction.

“I think she remembers us!” Xay shouted, laughing his ass off.

He wondered if the boss’s escapist nature was how Piper was able to lure it in the first place.

Unwilling to let her escape, Kimi spun and scattered into a swirl of tiny lights, activating *Iridescent Pirouette*.

***Iridescent Pirouette (Caster Sphere)** - Spin gracefully and scatter into a swirling mass of traveling lights.*

Kimi soared through the air and reformed directly in Queen Crystal’s path.

With a fluid motion, she angled the cutting edge of her blade up and slashed skyward—unleashing *Tenkiri Nova*.

***Tenkiri Nova (Striker Sphere)** - Release condensed light and flame from the tip of a blade in an upward slash, creating an explosive crescent of destruction.*

Unlike Xay’s *White Flare*—a thin, ultra-dense arc of incompressible heat—*Tenkiri Nova* erupted as a massive crescent wave of burning light from the tip of Kimi’s blade.

Where *White Flare* had perfectly split Queen Crystal in half, *Tenkiri Nova* consumed her wholly—then exploded.

*White Flare* was still the more powerful technique, but *Tenkiri Nova* was actually more flashy.

Kimi landed lightly, clearly winded.

*Tenkiri Nova* was incredibly mana-intensive, but there was no denying the results.

She’d be able to rest and recover her mana on the next floor. Either Lexi or Tyra would solo it—both of them were eager to test their new abilities.

Once Kimi’s clones burned through the rest of the locusts, a glowing exit portal phased into existence at the center of the clearing, accompanied by a wooden pedestal bearing their accumulated loot.

The second floor hadn’t been difficult, but the sheer number of locusts was so overwhelming that the group actually managed to gain a level.

**Level (+1)**

**All Stats (+300)**

- **Level**: 26

- **All Stats**: 5,300

When Xay’s Bloodline hit 50% Manifestation, *Balance* upgraded—now granting (+300) to all his stats per level.

Ignoring the loot once again, the group pressed on to the next floor.

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**Cosmos Academy Dungeon Floor 3: Forgotten Catacombs.**

The group reappeared in a pitch-black room, surrounded by thick, ominous darkness.

It wasn’t normal darkness either—it impeded Xay’s *ESP*, similar to Lexi’s room in the Nightmare Mansion.

“This place smells gross,” Tyra muttered, covering her nose.

She wasn’t wrong—the stench of rotting flesh hung thick in the air. Dust and damp musk layered the atmosphere as well, but the decay was overwhelming.

Kimi lit a small ember on her fingertip, intending to burn away the odor—but the darkness reacted violently, surging in like liquid shadow to smother the light.

With a grin, Lexi pulled her bow from around her waist. “I think that’s my cue.”

“It’s all you,” Xay snorted, standing behind her with the others.

Lexi extended her will into the shadows, manipulating the harsh darkness of the floor.

A bubble of clarity expanded outward from her, pushing back the murk. As a bonus, the stench vanished from their immediate surroundings.

It also revealed four undead, humanoid monsters huddled in the corner of the room—gaunt, rotting things, with peeling, grayish-green skin, half-severed limbs, and melted faces.

Tyra had to clamp down a scream.

**Zombie (F-Rank) Lv. 8**: *A mindless corpse that never tires. Inflicts necrosis on contact.*

Their initial reaction was delayed, sluggish under the sudden exposure—but the moment they registered the team’s presence, they lunged with a speed that defied their decayed appearance.

It didn’t matter, though—Lexi drew her bowstring, conjured four separate frost bolts, and loosed them all in a single fluid motion.

Each bolt struck its mark, detonating on impact into a flurry of razor-sharp ice shards, shredding the zombies apart with *Frost Shrapnel*.

***Frost Shrapnel** - Frost bolts detonate upon impact.*

“Well,” Lexi said, slipping her platinum blonde hair behind her ear, “let’s get this floor over with.”

The others couldn’t have agreed more.

They followed Lexi out of the room they’d arrived in and into a derelict, subterranean passage lined with ancient sarcophagi.

Lexi navigated from the lead instead of Xay, since she had a better view through the darkness.

They were apparently in a subterranean tunnel system with constantly changing paths.

With the limited visibility, the floor would’ve normally taken hours to clear—but Lexi was like a cheat code.

The group sprinted down the halls as Lexi fired exploding frost bolts at the several dozen roaming Zombies they encountered along the way.

The tunnels eventually opened into a massive, crumbling mausoleum. It was built out of the surrounding bedrock and backlit by floating green embers.

There was a large wooden door on the far side, but the path was blocked by twenty undead figures wrapped in writhing, stained cloth.

**Mummy (E-Rank) Lv. 15**: *An embalmed undead wrapped in cursed cloth.*

The group had encountered a few along the way.

The Mummies were slower than Zombies, but far stronger—and they could weaponize the cloth wrapped around their bodies.

Xay, Kimi, Tyra, Dragon, and Willow hung back, while Lexi stepped through her own darkness with *Dark Passage*.

She reappeared at the center of the mausoleum, making sure every monster could see her.

The moment they sensed Lexi, they charged—streams of cloth flying ahead to entangle her body.

Before a single one could touch her, however, Lexi spread her arms out wide and unleashed *Frost Geyser*.

***Frost Geyser (Caster Sphere)** - Erupt with frost, snow, and sheer cold in all directions, affecting a wide area.*

A veritable blizzard erupted from Lexi, filling the entire mausoleum and instantly freezing every Mummy mid-lunge.

By the time it was all over, Lexi left the mausoleum floor looking like a giant ice sculpture gallery.

“Light work?” Xay laughed, thoroughly impressed.

“Slight work,” Lexi smirked, pulling her longbow back, before swinging into the closest Mummy sculpture.

It fractured into chunks that crashed into another sculpture, setting off a chain reaction that knocked over all the other frozen Mummies.

They shattered, then dissolved into essence.

Lexi marched past the scene and straight through the wooden door on the far side of the room.

Beyond it was the first Safe Zone—a small, candlelit chapel with a basin filled with some kind of blessed water.

Tyra mentioned it could cure infections and remove necrosis—but none of them had actually been touched by anything.

Besides, it wasn’t nearly as potent as what Tyra could do on her own.

Lexi took a small break on one of the stone benches lining the room. *Frost Geyser* was as mana-intensive for her as *Tenkiri Nova* was for Kimi.

“That was incredible,” Xay said, sitting beside her. “After the Nightmare Mansion, I was a little worried you were going to go ‘all dark, all the time.’”

Lexi laughed. “What’s the matter? Can’t handle the Dark Empress?”

Xay flashed a mischievous, sparkly grin. “I can handle whatever you throw at me.”

Lexi leaned in closer, strands of darkness coiling around the two of them. “Oh yeah?” she asked, her voice low.

Without thinking, Xay multiplied his Jetnir Orbs, matching her strands as he looked into her bright blue eyes. “Yeah.”

“While this is certainly enjoyable to watch,” Kimi interrupted, clearing her throat. “I dare say, this isn’t the best place for such antics.”

“Boo,” Tyra jeered playfully.

“Right,” Lexi murmured, slowly withdrawing her strands of darkness. “Gotta stay focused.”

Xay did the same, releasing the four extra orbs as a slight flush crept onto his cheeks.

After Lexi’s rest, the group moved into the next section of the floor—a large, underground graveyard filled with roaming Zombies, Mummies, and a new type of floating monster.

**Wraith (D-Rank) Lv. 20**: *A spectral entity that drains vitality. Phases through walls and armor.*

It resembled an evil, twisted version of one of Ezra’s spirits. It was translucent, with a dark red tint, and constantly phasing in and out of the material plane.

They moved slowly, sporadically letting out ghostly shrieks.

Without wasting any time, Lexi stepped through her conjured darkness, silently maneuvering until she found the perfect angle—lining up as many Wraiths as possible.

She drew her bow, then charged and released a *Frost Lance Cannon*.

***Lance Cannon (Ranger Sphere)** - Unleash an overwhelming blast of condensed mana, frost, or darkness.*

A brilliant, dense lance of pure frost erupted forward with a small shockwave. It tore through and instantly obliterated each Wraith—and everything else—in its path.

The technique was smaller and faster than her old *Charge Shot*, but with more power and a longer length. She could also swap the affinity, even able to create a pure mana version.

It was only made possible by her powerful, crystallized mana channels.

Lexi stuck to the same strategy—staying on the outskirts of the graveyard and picking off several monsters at a time from the cover of darkness.

After a few dozen more precisely aimed shots from Lexi’s bow, the graveyard was finally cleared.

The area would’ve normally been far more difficult—Wraiths had their ghostly wail magical attacks, and effective hit-and-run tactics.

Combined with the other monsters roaming around, it could’ve been a real challenge.

Lexi simply ignored all of that.

Beyond the graveyard stood a white cathedral, its first chamber serving as another Safe Zone.

Lexi took another well-deserved break, recovering her mana before the boss.

They’d been making good time so far, just now reaching the three-hour mark since first entering the dungeon.

The second floor had taken longer than the first and third combined, simply because everything was so spread out.

Xay just hoped the Safe Zone they’d be in when they finally needed to sleep was a nice one.

After their quick breather, the team headed out through the door opposite the one they had entered.

Down a dark, spiraling staircase, the final chamber was a vast, circular hall entombed beneath the cathedral itself.

Blackened pillars rose toward a scorched, vaulted ceiling, their surfaces etched with dark runes.

At the far end sat a throne of fused bone and ashen gold. Upon it, a Lich King watched everything.

**Lich King (C-Rank) Lv. 23**: *An undead sorcerer bound to a phylactery. Wields necromancy and commands the dead.*

His flesh was parchment-thin, stretched tight over blackened bones. A shattered white mask obscured his face, but the glow of his red eyes still pierced through.

Above him, embedded in the ceiling behind slabs of dark, rune-etched steel, throbbed a massive red gem—presumably his phylactery.

It pulsed like a heartbeat, cloaked in shifting metal that slid and clicked with an uncanny rhythm.

As the Lich King slowly rose from his throne, lifting a wand in one skeletal hand, the last of the dead began to stir and the metal protecting the phylactery locked into place.

Glancing around the room and letting his cognitive threads spiral, Xay quickly pieced together the logic of the encounter.

The Lich would summon waves of undead while bombarding them with dark and necrotic magic.

Between each wave, the metal encasing the phylactery would shift, momentarily allowing a direct strike.

He figured it would take a typical party around three full waves to finally break it.

Lexi, however, had other plans. She aimed directly at the dark metal and loosed a clear, fluid-like projectile, its edges outlined in the absolute blackest of black.

***Penetrating Void (Ranger Sphere)** - Release an armor-piercing, defense-nullifying projectile of void energy.*

The strike ate straight through the metal, leaving a gaping hole that Lexi quickly filled with several exploding bolts, finishing with a devastating *Dark Frost Lance Cannon*.

The Lich King howled in rage, pain, and terror as its phylactery shattered, destroying it and all the undead it had just summoned.

“Well, that was certainly fast,” Kimi laughed.

“It was quicker than Xay beating the first-floor boss,” Tyra added happily.

“Hold on now,” Xay tried to get a word in but couldn’t.

“No, no, when they’re right—they’re right,” Lexi laughed, storing her bow on her waist with a flourish.

Xay sighed as the group entered the portal to the next floor.