"Yue, wake up." Ivan spoke softly.
"...." Getting silence in response, he was about to flip a lid.
"Yue, today is an important day, we're gonna have to get up early if we're gonna make the most of our time."
"...suuuuu~....suuuu~..." The sounds of her sleeping only got louder in response.
Feeling the soreness of his arm, Ivan finally had enough.
"I said wake up!" That anger was projected as he swung the arm Yue had been sleeping on; she panicked at the loss of the arm before accidentally falling out of bed.
She glared at Ivan with discontent as she rubbed the back of her head. One of these days she feels like she'll hit the ground the wrong way, but Ivan probably didn't care much about that as her regeneration would just heal her.
Ivan climbed out of bed alongside her and got ready for the day ahead. Cleaning himself while taking account of the things he'll be bringing with him. Doing a brief maintenance check just to make sure everything worked well.
Allowing Yue to suck as much blood away from him as a way to make amends for partially being responsible for her fall from the bed. It would take a while to get back to the 199th floor from where they were at so he'll feel better by the time they get there.
Ivan nodded satisfied as he eyed the contents of his satchel. He had a long debate about whether to bring his backpack alongside him. In the end he decided to do so, if a powerful monster really did reside behind those doors then he could just leave his bag to the side before they entered.
He adorned his gear tightly, making sure that they weren't loose enough to get in the way of his movement. And while Ivan wasn't familiar with making clothing, let alone clothing that'd fit a girl, he did indeed provide Yue with some equipment.
At least he did his best to abide by her requests. For starters he went ahead and gave her his spare chain mail, though as a mage she shouldn't even be anywhere near an enemy with a sword but it was better to be safe than sorry.
And though he was aware of her regenerative properties he'd like to leave it at a last resort if necessary, if the situation were to arise that she ran out mana then she'd need the appropriate defense.
He looked over at her to make sure she properly fastened her gear. Nodding satisfied at the sight of her in a white mage's robe, Yue did a little twirl as she stoically looked back into a mirror. The robe ended at her knees as she insisted she needed the mobility so she can run while casting spells. She pulled the hood up before deciding that she preferred it to be down.
Exactly for the same reasons she denied a helmet, she couldn't see a damn thing. No matter how many attempts Ivan made, just making a comfortable helmet for a head other than his own was way more difficult than he thought.
Hell, it was already difficult making the brown boots she adorned on her feet. As he needed to get just the right shape and size to ensure her feet wouldn't get sore or anything of the like.
It was quite an awkward experience but in the end they got it done. As for the knee-high black socks they were something of her own creation as Ivan just couldn't work out how to make them. That as well as the short black skirt she wore.
Rather than an alchemist's assistant she ended up looking more like a mage's apprentice but then again it's not like Ivan's warmonger look inspired the telltale signs of an alchemist as well. But hey it was a look they were both satisfied with as Yue's stoic expression turned into a warm smile as she turned towards Ivan.
She pulled something out of her pocket as she made a move towards her hair. Ivan watched on curiously as her long hair was reigned into a neat ponytail that went on till it reached her waist. She explained to him that hopefully her hair wouldn't get in the way should they need to move.
Yue took no hesitation in teasing the stunned Ivan, who rather held the new look in high regards.
CLAP!
Clasping his hands together, Ivan made a move towards Yue as they stared into each other's eyes. Today they were prepared for anything. Whether what they met on the other side of those doors were demons or death itself didn't matter to them.
What mattered is that whatever it is dared to get in their way.
Yue and Ivan nodded solemnly at each other before making their way to the exit of the safe room. Ivan took one last look at the room before slinging his backpack over his shoulder, feeling a warm hand wrap around his own as he looked down at Yue, returning her warm smile with a smile of his own.
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With their preparations finally complete, Ivan and Yue descended down to what they believed was the final floor. The staircase before the 200th floor was a long spiral that spanned on for what felt like forever.
But once they made it to the end the doors to the final fight became apparent to them. At the end of the hall they were faced in stood a majestic pair of double doors that spanned for 20 meters. Lined in gold and decorated with ornate patterns and moldings made to look like seven serpents defended the center. The main part of the door was seemingly made of a hardened material that looked awfully similar to polished granite.
There were no handles on the doors as the main function of them seemed that they must be pushed. Ivan had a feeling they'd be unable to push open the doors from the inside so as to make escaping difficult.
Ivan and Yue nodded to each other before both resting their hands on the doors. Pushing with all their strength as the light that seemed to be stuck in the room flooded outwards. It was a bit blinding but both Ivan and Yue knew they needed to be cautious so they made sure to keep their eyes open in search of potential foes.
Once the doors got pushed open to a certain degree they continued to move back all on their own. Ivan and Yue knew they must make their move so they went ahead and jumped in, assuming defensive positions as they gauge the situation. Or more specifically they gauged the room they were in.
What opened up to them was a massive open room, empty save for the pillars that dotted the area. Each pillar had a spiral pattern engraved into its stone face. It gave off the impression that each pillar was a massive tree with vines entwined around its trunk. The pillars were all spaced evenly apart from each other, and extended all the way to the ceiling thirty meters above.
The ground was unnaturally smooth, as if it had been paved. All in all, it was a very majestic room.
Ivan eyed the empty room before his eyes trained on the grand doors that stood at its end. The ten-meter-tall pair of double doors also had something engraved into them. There was a heptagon carved into each, with a peculiar pattern adorning each vertex of the shape.
"Yue, get a look at those doors. Do you think that's where…"
"...Where the maverick lives?" Yue finished his words with a stern expression.
But no matter how one looked at this situation, this room was perfect for some boss fight. The only problem was, where is the monster?
Well he held no doubts the moment they approached the doors one would phase into existence just like what happened on the 65th floor. And insinuating by the serpent moldings that were on the entrance doors he got a bad feeling that what would appear would be akin to a certain legendary beast from myth.
He turned to Yue as she did the same, and both showing a resolute expression they took another step in.
BZZZZZZZT
The massive pillars they thought were there for decoration started glowing one by one, as if responding to their step. This didn't deter the two as they continued to walk towards the doors, but this time with a little more carefulness.
Each pair of pillars snuffed out like a flame as they passed. It wasn't until they cleared the last set of pillars that something finally happened…
BZZZZZZZT!!!
A massive, thirty meter large magic circle appeared in the air between them and the doors. It pulsed malignantly as it shot out gouts of dark red light.
Ivan instantly recognized the circle as he grabbed Yue by the waist and slung her onto his back. Backing away swiftly as he prepared for whatever was going to appear. It was a magic circle very similar to the one the Behemoth was summoned by, however its size was three times larger than that one, and the inscriptions on it were far more complex and precise.
Yue noticed Ivan's trepidation before wrapping her arms firmly around his neck. "We won't lose." She whispered confidently into his ear. Ivan stopped his movements before letting out a hearty laugh. Ready to fight to the death with whatever blocked their way.
Finally, it let out one last incandescent burst of light. Yue and Ivan both covered their eyes to preserve their sight. What stood before them was a monster thirty meters in length. It had six heads attached to very long necks, each of which had a different-colored pattern engraved into its head and a pair of dark red eyes. It resembled the mythical Hydra.
"Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" It let out a peculiar howl and focused all six pairs of eyes on Ivan and Yue.
The red patterned head opened its jaw and unleashed a torrent of flames. A vertical wall of fire raced towards them.
"Water Castle!" A surging current of water appeared from Yue's direction and doused the wall of flames before it could touch them.
As soon as he was certain all the flames had dispersed Ivan moved forward and touched the wall of water with his gauntlets.
BZZZZZT!
His hands sparked for a moment before the wall of water became solid ice and shot out of its formation to pierce the red-head of the Hydra.
STAB!
The crudely formed spears of ice did their job as the red head of the Hydra was sent flying from its neck. But even that celebration was short lived as the previously silent white head sent out a long screech, a white light enveloped the destroyed red-head before it reattached itself to the severed neck and came back to life.
"Glacial Sleet." A blanket of spear sized needles shot from Yue's hands and made their way to the green head. The white head sent out another long screech and the head of the green Hydra once again returned to the body as if time had rewound.
Ivan threw a canteen into the air as it exploded into a mist of water and transformed into ice needles that made their way to the white head which he assumed was the healer of the group. However that attack was defended against by the yellow head that had placed itself in the front and revealed itself unscathed to the two.
So far Ivan and Yue made a note in their minds to remember what ability each head possessed, the white head is the healer, the red head uses flames, the green head shoots wind, the blue head is an ice user, the yellow head is the tank, now that left one head with unknown abilities.
Ivan used the moment the yellow head took a lunge at him to climb up its neck, jumping from head to head as the others attempted to bite at him, meanwhile Yue was dealing with the green and red head that had been healed.
After some circling back and jumping around the heads that tried to bite him ended up tangled in their own mess of necks.
Ivan peered over at the blue head as he noticed it charged an attack in its mouth, he swung on over and with both of his hands activated his transmutation right on its neck. The head of the blue Hydra swelled for a bit before the ice amassed in its mouth became boiling hot, but in no way was Ivan going to allow it to spit out the boiling water.
He jumped onto its head before straddling its mouth closed, laughing heartily as it bashed around in an attempt to buck him off. Slowly the movements of the blue headed Hydra slowed down. Ivan confirmed its death just to make sure by activating his transmutation once more.
BZZZZZZT!
Sparks flew as the water amassed in the monster's mouth transformed into ice, the only problem was that the ice continued to grow bigger and sharper. Combined with its saliva the blue headed Hydra laid there silently as the ice started piercing its skin and showing itself to the outside.
Ivan finally let his boots touch the ground as he moved away to evade the now untangled yellow headed Hydra. Pausing in his steps as he now noticed that 6 out of the 7 heads were now focused on him.
That left the black headed Hydra that had been doing nothing till now. Ivan looked over at Yue before he heard a scream. Yue's scream.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
Ivan responded to the cry as he rushed over to her and carried her in one arm while touching the black headed Hydra with his other.
BZZZZZZZZT!
Steam arose from its head before it slammed against the floor lifelessly. Ivan dodged between the remaining heads' attacks as he ran far away for cover. When he decided he was far away enough he manifested his Hands of Mana to envelope both him and Yue in a fortified dome.
"Oi, Yue! Wake up!" He slapped her cheeks to force her out of her stupor. The light returned to her eyes as she lifted her hands to touch his face. Then, she let out a sigh of relief after confirming his existence.
"I'm so glad.... I thought I'd been… abandoned again. Alone in the darkness…" Yue shivered slightly as the memories replayed in her mind. Ivan questioned her about her words, she in response told him of the visions put in her mind of him having locked her up back in the slab and leaving her.
The absolute terror of something like that happening to her had paralyzed her thoughts and stopped her from moving.
"...Ivan…" Yue called out to Ivan who had come to the conclusion that the black headed Hydra was capable of casting illusions or some sort of debuff.
For Yue Ivan was the man who had saved her from her three hundred year old prison. She was elated at having a companion that didn't shun her because of her race, one that in fact happily accepted her and became understanding when it came to her needs.
Ivan looked over at Yue who seemed as though she was on the very verge of tears. In the span they had been together she had shown him many expressions, but never did he see the fear and sadness that struck her face.
Ivan brought his face closer to hers, hesitating a bit before continuing with his motions.
"...Ah!?" He kissed her on the lips.
"Yue, thank you for saving me. If it weren't for you who knows how many times over I would have lost my mind, succumbing to the allure of the amulet and dying alone in this hell. Thanks to you, I have a reason to continue forward."
Her eyes opened wide as she stared blankly at him. Ivan only grinned at her expression and held the urge to laugh out loudly, as her usually empty expression was gone and in its place was the most radiant smile he'd ever seen,
"Alight, Yue! Let's get out of here and explore the surface together!"
"Yeah!" There was more enthusiasm in Yue's voice than usual.
The dome opened up as Ivan and Yue made swift movements out, splitting directions and taking half of the Hydra's aggro each.
"Crimson Javelin! Force Lasher! Glacial Sleet!" Spell after spell erupted from Yue as she sent a barrage of attacks at the Hydra. Her spells managed to break through the yellow head's tough defense. It recoiled a bit before making its way over to the white head. Ivan, seeing its movements, ran towards the front of the Hydra, ignoring all defense.
Lights erupted in the room as a barrage of elemental attacks were sent his way, but even these did nothing to falter his steps as he formed wall after wall. Sometimes making ramps to jump over attacks instead of defending.
That combined with Yue who stood behind him using her own spells to counter the rest of the heads made it so Ivan could reach his goal. Seeing the rest of the heads distracted by Yue he ran under the body of the Hydra before crawling to where he last saw the white head positioned.
THUMP THUMP THUMP
The white head turned to its side to see what had hit it.
SPLASH!
It screamed woefully as the boiling hot water entered its eyes. The yellow head that was awaiting its heal turned towards Ivan and moved in to squish him with its head. Ivan used that opportunity to climb up on the blinded white headed Hydra.
BANG!
The wounded heads collided together as a loud banging noise resounded through the air.
"Yue! Now!"
Ivan yelled out for Yue as he ran towards her.
"Thunderlord's Judgment!" Six spheres of lighting encircled the Hydra as Ivan made a cover for him and Yue to hide in.
The spheres started linking together by lines of lightning to create a larger sphere cage of electricity. Then in a flash all the spheres lit up in a magnificent light before the Hydra that was entrapped in the encirclement was engulfed in a giant blue orb of electricity.
BOOOM!
The air turned quiet as the howling of the Hydra faded away in their ears. Ivan supported the fatigued Yue as he revealed his neck to her. She graciously smiled before taking him up on his offer.
Ivan peered out of the cover cautiously. Not noticing anything strange he supported Yue by her bottom and inched towards the Hydra's carcass.
He poked away at it before sighing in relief. Ivan looked down at his companion before showing a smile of pure joy. Though she was a bit tired it was time they made it beyond these grand doors.
Ivan motioned for Yue to get off his back as they decided to hold hands this time, readying themselves for whatever was behind the doors
And with a solid push, they gently opened the doors—
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How embarrassing! Confessions of love are embarrassing!
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