8-11: Battle With The Unseen II

A horrifying shriek that echoed not only in the cave, but also in the girls' skulls. The creature itself, finally visible, was just as horrifying.

Large and intimidating. Scaly, green skin, digitigrade legs and an unnerving human-like upper half. The head was beastial in shape, but it's facial characteristics were hidden due to an improvised helmet.

It's arms were lanky, unnaturally long, an extremely skinny, like there wa no muscle. It's fingers were also fittingly long, with sharp claws instead of nails.

Whatever this creature was, one thing was certain. It must have been born in the underworld.

The creature growled, it's head tilting violently. It seemed like it was examining the fear-filled girls. It's movements were chaotic and unnerving, constant twitching, and the noises...

While the upperclassmen had steeled themselves, their juniors weren't of the same mindset yet. Aviris was the only exception, Veronica has been attempting to steel herself, Eleanora was trying to figure out how to keep herself and the baby safe while trying to minimize casualties for the whole team, and Cassidy was struggling.

Though, they didn't get the time to prepare themselves as the creature suddenly stopped and hunched over. It was completely still. Not even the movement of breathing.

Successfully, it lured the younger girls into a false sense of security, lowering their guard. In a split second, it leapt towards Eleanora. Surprisingly, Veronica reacted quick enough, getting between the two and blocked the attack. With a quick shove, she pushed the thing back and used the tip of her blade to keep distance.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-Yeah. Yeah." Eleanora responded taking a deep breath.

"Everyone, stay defensive!" Lilith ordered.

The group silently understood, taking defensive positions where they would best be used. Of course, Seraph, Sable and Sirtia joined Veronica's side. Kazue was a bit behind them with Aviris, supporting the frontline. Eleanora and Cassidy stayed back, where their magic was best used for immediate use.

The creature watched, twitched and groaned. A thing of nightmares. It needed to die, but how? What's the best way to kill this thing?

Eleanora doesn't have anything they could use. Cassidy's magic could be used, but a space like this would be horrible. Kazue has some magic, but how much of it would effect this thing? Can it even bleed?

There was much time to think as it launched a second attack, aiming for Sirtia. She deflected the creature's attack, and launched to the other side of the cave. It seemed confused, and tried to attack her again, only for the same thing to happen again.

Veronica wondered something. Is the creature trying to attack the weakest link? And is it's choice based entirely off of basic perception? If Sirtia weren't here... either Eleanora or Cassidy could've been considered the weakest link. And since Sirtia was behind everyone else...

It was just a theory, and it could be vastly wrong, however...

"Avi, see if you can get behind it, I want to know if that thing has a weak spot. But—if it so much as thinks of moving in your direction, get back here." Veronica ordered.

Aviris nodded her head and looked around the cave, trying to find the best way to get around it.

"I'll need a distraction." She said.

"Leave that to me." Cassidy confidently said, stepping forward.

With a moment of focus, she used her magic to create a void, but instead of sucjing things into it, it spat things out. It was an assortment of random objects, and an occasional weak spell.

A storage for forgotten things. At least it was being kept in handy. Thankfully, it was enough for Aviris to get around the creature.

Cassidy closed the void and panted as the spell took a lot of energy our of her system. Meanwhile, Aviris got the attention of everyone silently, making a gesture indicating that there could be a weak spot.

Which left one thing left. Actually killing it.

Veroncia, in her idiotic wisdom, charged the creature, testing for it's reaction.

Everyone was stunned. Not only was Veronica being essentially suicidal, but the creature defended, not attacked. Her sword, as sharp as it was, didn't go through the creature's claws, but it did leave a gnarly chop.

Veronica quickly pulled back and swung upwards. The creature dodged, but reacted late, being cut by her attack.

It really can bleed.

"We can kill it!" Veronica yelled, filled with adrenaline.

The group tried to attack all together. The creature was smart, and attempted to retreat, but Aviris was blocking the only exit.

It wasn't nearly as terrifying when it was scared of you.

Though, it was infinitely more terrifying when it lashed out and stuck it's claws through Sirtia.

The group screamed out, but Sirtia just held onto it, keeping it stuck with her surprising strength.

"Kill it!" She yelled.

Veronica ran over behind the creature, determining the best place to kill it. And, with a quick thrust through it's neck, the creature recoiled in pain, digging it's own claws out of Sirtia and violently seized on the ground as Veronica kept twisting the sword.

She stayed on guard until the creature was being consumed back into the dungeon, and the next floor was open.

"Sirtia!" The girls rushed over.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just a flesh wound." She brushed off the massive, gaping holes in her abdomen as if it were just a minor inconvenience. "You all keep forgetting that I can't die. As long as you don't exorcise me, that is."

The girls embraced Sirtia anyways, who relented and hugged back.

And finally, the girls could breathe fine.

"Honestly that thing was terrifying. If you hadn't thought of something..." Cassidy said, leaning on Veronica.

"I know. So, what's the plan? Check the next floor, or just leave?" Veronica responded, then asked Seraph what was next.

Seraph was pensive, deep in thought.

"I want to leave. However, we should check out the next floor, just in case something like this is there..."

"We can always leave at any point." Kazue added

"Let's put it to a vote." Eleanora started. "If you think we should investigate further, raise your hand."

Veronica, Cassidy, Aviris, Kazue, Sirtia and Sable raised their hands.

"Well, looks like we're out numbered, Seraph."

"Yeah..." Seraph sighed. "Just this one, then we leave. Understood?"

"Yeees!" The girls said.

Then, onto the next floor. A dungeon inside of a dungeon. Surprisingly fitting.