{CHOMP!}
They were swallowed by a huge Abomination, and the strange part was that they hadn't sensed it till it was too late.
"Shit! It smells like fish here." Zane blocked his nose. "Did we just get eaten?"
"Yeah, we did."
"This looks like the jaw structure of
Deep Lurker was a well-known aquatic Abomination, mostly found in Aquatic Gates that were made of oceans. A swamp couldn't possibly be deep enough to accommodate such an enormous creature.
"Maybe it's a mutate? A mutation that allows it to live in shallower waters." Captain Henry added.
"Could be. Then it's also possible this is an Aberration."
"Sorry to break it to you but could you theorise later? We have a few teeth to break."
"That's my line, stand aside." Billy, the big guy came forward. He took out his twin battle axes, which would normally need one person to use both of their hands to wield just one of them, and swung at the gum of the Abomination. Not letting him do all the work, Amaya took out her whip, Zane his wrist blades with a flick of his hands. Both Billy and Zane slashed the gum while Amaya pulled on the teeth attached to it. After attacking it for five minutes, they could only scratch the gum.
"Not so hasty now are we." Captain Henry closed on to the trio. "A Deep Lurker has exceptional defences, even on the inside. The better way to get out when you are swallowed is to wait for to be digested."
"Are you nuts! We will die that way."
"Not if you do this." Captain Henry crouched down, and cut the tongue of Abomination. He then lay down on the flesh.
"What is this, your coffin?"
"The Deep Lurkers do their digestion in their mouth only," Dylan explained. "That means the gastric acid comes to their mouth regularly. One of the reasons why the insides are so tough. You cut the tongue and lay inside, the flesh closes while you are inside. You protect yourself from the gastric acid, Deep Lurker gets irritated by the wound on its tongue and spits you out. Of course, you have to get out of the tongue before it does so, and there will be a residue of acid, so be careful."
"Huh. You learn something new every day." Lilith said.
Trusting the two capable men, she laid down together with Dylan.
"Couldn't you have made yourself one?"
"Why, are you shy to share a bed with this sissy?"
Rolling his eyes, Dylan stood up and closed the flesh on Lilith, burying her alone.
"Oof, talk about being cold." At the remark Zane made, Dylan gave him a cold glare and then cut himself another cavity and lay down, closing it quicker this time.
"Tch, such a bore." Zane too cut himself a coffin.
Soon enough everyone had buried themselves in the tongue of the Abomination, and sure enough, its gastric acid came surging not much later. They could feel the Abomination grow restless because of the wounds on its tongue, now contacted with acid, were sure to make any sane person nuts.
"Get out, now!"
On the signal of Captain Henry, they got out of the 'coffins' and stood up, readying themselves for the spit. Some of the residue acid smeared on them, slowly melting their skin. They could fend off a small amount like this with their fortitude, except for one person.
"Yikes, get off me!"
Zane suddenly set himself aflame, evaporating the acid on him.
"That's bette-!"
{PTUI!}
The Deep Lurker spat the contents inside of its mouth out, including other Abomination Corpses and a shining bead. They hadn't seen this one before as it was hidden below the tongue.
Seeing the bead, the experienced Evolutionaries knew that it was the natural treasure they were looking for. The reason they couldn't find it before should be due to this Deep Lurker Mutate. Captain Henry swam forward and grabbed the bead that was bigger than his head, and put it inside his storage.
Unfortunately for them, the Abomination realised it had lost the bead and swam towards to group to swallow them again. This time, they knew it was coming for them, so the group of experienced Evolutionaries retaliated. They were elites for a reason.
Zane used his pyromancy to boil the water around the Abomination while Amaya slowed it down by creating a current. Captain Henry and Billy dashed forward with their weapons, clashing head-on with the Abomination. Captain Henry hit the Deep Lurker mutate with all his strength, which halted its advance sent sent it upwards. Billy, making use of the chance, stabbed both of his axes deep into the Abomination's flesh, and slashed downwards, creating a deep and long gush on the lower jaw of the Deep Lurker. Just then, a shimmering bolt embedded itself deep into the jaw from the open wound and exploded. It was the Ether arrow of Lilith. The inconspicuous katana, and slashed at the Abomination from where he floated. The water parted as his slash came advanced, and cut deep into the wound.
Understanding that it couldn't win this fight, the Deep Lurker Mutate turned around in a swoosh, its tail causing a wave that sent the Evolutionaries away and run.
"Hah! Swim with your tail tucked between your fin, you overgrown angler!"
As the threat got away, the group swam upwards to the surface.
"Can you tell where we are?" Asked Captain Henry. But instead of Amaya, Billy answered.
"Not necessarily," Amaya spoke. "There are four possible Aberrations on the Island and many more Abominations. We drew the short stick."
"We will have to do it somehow, let's go."
With Captain Henry at the front, they raised themselves above the surface and stood on it, a small trick that many Evolutinaries could use. Setting their gaze on the Island, they dashed for the shore.