The trio rushed through the door and were almost knocked over as a barrage of undead fish engulfed their feet. Melly watched Clemiticus kick a recently deceased barracuda back down the stairs as they reached the next level.

Bing!

“Melly has entered: Merfolk catacombs level two.”

“Clemiticus has entered: Merfolk catacombs level two.”

Melly fought back bile as each step sent another splash of muck to overwhelm her senses. The mermaid statues had crumbled and were now scattered in assorted piles.

“Got any ideas?” asked Melly.

They could see the end of the corridor far in the distance. The corpses of their previous kills still littered the floor and were being nudged by the rising tide.

“Oh yeah!” Thea replied.

The young town planner pointed at the fallen mermaid statues as she ran and shouted, “gather material!” Each time she passed a crumbled statue she repeated those words again and again.

A resounding crash shook the catacombs.

“What on Fanswald is going on?” shouted Melly. She turned quickly and saw a flash of orange.

The Emperor had reached the second level.

“Go!” Melly ordered.

The trio ran through the entrance to the second floor and Thea spun in place.

“What are you doing?” asked Melly.

Thea poked and prodded invisible buttons then held out a hand before the approaching undead Lich.

“Create structure: Wall!” Thea commanded.

Instantly a large stone wall blinked into existence covering the entrance to the level. The stone from the statues had been fused together to create a thick barrier.

“Keep going!” Thea said, “this won’t hold him for long!”

Clemiticus nodded then leaped up the spiral staircase. Melly grinned at Theas’ quick thinking then followed the swashbuckler.

Bing!

“Clemiticus has entered: Merfolk catacombs level one.”

“Melly has entered: Merfolk catacombs level one.”

The wall bellow gave them only a few moments but it was enough. They barely made it through to the end of the first floor when a crash echoed down the corridor. The oceanic current couldn’t be stopped.

A sudden horrifying idea flashed in Melly’s head, ‘when we get outside, will the water stop?’

She followed Clemiticus as he ran outside the catacombs and into the bright hot sun.

“Clemiticus has entered: the Coral Desert.”

“Melly has entered: the Coral Desert.”

Thea turned around once again and fiddled with an invisible menu, “create structure: Wall!” Thea repeated. She was quickly rewarded with another makeshift barricade. “That’s the last of the stone.”

Thea looked at her handywork and brushed dust off her hands. “That should do it.”

Clemiticus and Melly shared a look. They knew that it was far from over.

“We need to keep moving!” Melly said.

Thea looked at the two and their determined expressions and gave a nod. Then the trio continued to jog up and away from the catacombs pit. Before they made it a hundred feet, they heard a low rumble from below.

“Uh oh,” said Clemiticus and winced. “Keep going!”

Melly turned to see a deluge of water surging below. She had been right; it hadn’t stopped.

“Nooooo! What are you doing?” the Mercrab shouted.

A shiver ran down Melly’s spine. The Lich was still coming for them. The Emperor’s voice had lost its nasally teen accent and now had a deep rich tone.

Water flowed in waves carrying death, sharks and turtles closer with each second. The stretch of desert before them was vast and carried on for miles.

We’re screwed! Melly thought bitterly.

Snap!

The claws of the undead Lich reverberated as the orange Boss charged sideways towards the trio.

“Got a plan Clem?” asked Thea between gasps of air.

He laughed maniacally. “Keep running, and…”

“Don’t die?”

“Yup!”

Melly couldn’t argue. She could barely breathe. Even with the bonus stamina stats she laboured through each step as she ran.

“Another fifty feet!” Clemiticus yelled.

Fifty what? Melly wondered, for what?

A shadow fell over the trio causing Melly to glance up. She gasped.

Directly above her was a sight she would never forget. A large ship floated a hundred feet in the air carried by an immense blood red balloon. Each side of the craft had long wooden bird-like wings. They moved with the air currents stabilising the ship. A large tail swayed up and down propelling the craft forwards.

“Greetings you wonderful bastards!” shouted Nuecus.

A rope ladder rolled down and bounced along the sandy floor. Clemiticus pulled on the ropes then passed Thea the rungs. She started to climb immediately and Melly followed close behind. Water rushed its way past the swashbucklers’ feet who turned with his shield to fend off a hungry undead turtle.

“Hurry up lad!” Derrick called out as the girls scrambled up ahead of the lone pirate.

The dancing swashbuckler took one last look at the angry Lich then pulled himself up.

“Nooooo!” the Emperor shouted in fury. The giant orange Mercrab scooped up a nearby turtle and hurled it towards them.

“Dodge starboard!” Rupert called out.

The craft leaned to its right forcing the ladder sideways. Melly’s hands held on tight as the power of inertia gripped her. She watched as an undead turtle flew past. It glared at her in fury as it soared.

Thea screamed. Melly swore. Clemiticus laughed.

The trio swung wildly as a sea of death surged below.

“Nooooo! What are you doing?” the Emperor repeated.

Can someone shut that bloody crab up, Melly thought.

The flying ship ascended and the rope ladder eased allowing the three to climb onto the deck and out of harm’s way. When Clemiticus finally made it aboard they pulled the ladder up behind him.

“Uggh!” Derrick groaned while holding his nose and said, “I would give you guys a hug but you smell rancid!”

“Dad, what are you doing here?” Melly asked, her eyes surveying their new magical ride.

He jabbed his thumb towards Nuecus and said, “we heard the fairy thing say something about a world ending event. And since we were testing out this bad boy out anyways, we steered it straight for you.”

“Awesome mate!” Clemiticus cheered and grasped the dwarf’s hand, shaking it, “Nice work!”

“What?” said a horrified looking Derrick, who was reeling at his now muck covered hand.

“Ahem!” Rupert coughed. He was standing behind the helm, “we still have a problem!”

They all looked over the side and watched as the undead ocean spilled out into the distance. The Emperor was shaking its claws up at the craft and yelling his two lines.

“Fairy?”

Blue lights flashed amongst the crewmembers revealing Fairy who was looking just as concerned as the rest of them.

“You guys messed up big.”

Clemiticus sighed, “We know. What should we do?”

The fairy watched the Mercrab and said, “You must take him down. I’m afraid that this sea will spill out into the actual ocean and infect the entire world. We need to stop him here. If the ocean falls the land falls.”

Clemiticus looked around the ship then asked, “We got cannons on this thing?”

Nuecus smiled wickedly.

“I’ll take that as a, yes?”

“You will be happy to know that this rotten ship’s got a fancy supply of crappy fire power baby!” Nuecus replied cheerfully.

“Um, cool!” Clemiticus answered.

Derrick and Rupert shared a look as they both yelled out, “Ready the canons!”

Crewmen rushed about the deck then scrambled down the stairs to the firing ports below. Melly felt the wood under her feet vibrate with the weight of heavy guns being positioned.

“Rupert,” Derrick commanded, “take us lower!”

The mercenary pirate gave the dwarf a salute then pulled on a lever.

Melly clutched the edge of the ship as the vessel descended to firing range. Nuecus hopped unsteadily along and plucked an old wooden stick from a bucket. Derrick followed and flipped his multi-tool into axe mode.

“That smelly creature’s going to throw a tasty seafood buffet of nastiness our way!” Nuecus shouted.

A confused Melly shook her head and drew her bow.

Thea turned to the boat and said, “Reinforce structure.”

“Nooooo! What are you doing?”

Bing!

“Clemiticus party has engaged the event: Land Dwellers Extinction.”

“Clemiticus party has been temporarily designated as: Raid Party.”

“All crew members aboard receive party type buffs and benefits.”

A wicked smile washed over Clemiticus’ face as he drew his magical dice from his pocket.

“Who’s a lucky boy?”