We made it across the landscape to the Grand Harbor in a fraction of the time it took us before. Construct enhanced stats are no joke.

As we approach the harbor, we’re stopped by another calling out. “Halt! By order of the House Scorpaenid, declare yourself!”

What appears to be a guard approaches us, he’s one of the sea urchin people we’ve seen. Ilmarinen’s warnings about this kind of encounter left us prepared, however.

“Lucas Creo, level 17, main combat Talent: Anchorist!”

“Colton Kaine, level 18, main combat Talent: Mage!” We both present those parts of our status screen to the guard. He nods in approval.

“Everything looks clear here. You wouldn’t happen to know Ilmarinen, would you little Anchorist?” He looks… Reverential?

“He’s my mentor, Sir!” The guard’s skin under his spines pales at this claim.

“Oh. I’m… Very sorry for wasting your time like this! Please forgive the intrusion! I didn’t know you were apprenticed to the great Ilmarinen!”

Waving my hands, I try to calm the guard down. “It’s fine, it’s fine! No big deal, you were just doing your job. We’ll just be on our way though, we have a dungeon to conquer.” Giving him a grin, we begin to walk past him.

“Oh but, are you sure? Well, good luck!” The guard waves us past, still shaking slightly.

Once we’re out of earshot, I turn to Colt. “That was weird. Why do you think the mention of Ilmarinen made that guard act like that?”

Colt looks up toward the ceiling of the dungeon for a moment. “I’m not really sure, I guess he must be more important than we realized.”

With newfound respect for my mentor, we press on.

The Grand Harbor is truly an amazing sight up close. Every house is incredibly ornate, but all in their own styles. We see the same quartz house as before, as well as the nautically themed granite house with the giant sea serpent twining through it.

“Hey, Colt, look! The sign on this gate says Scorpaenid!” The large stone home looms in front of us.

“That’s cool and all, Lucas, but we can’t stop at every single house so that you can gawk, we need to get to the dungeon entrance. I want to go home.” He tugs on my armor a bit, pulling me along.

“Fine, fine. You’re right, I miss Earth too.” We continue along, following the map across the large expanse of gilded docks.

Eventually, we arrive at the dungeon entrance on the map. “Colt? Where’s the entrance?” He grimaces.

“I think down there.” He’s pointing into the water. Looking down, I can see magical lamps marking the entrance. I can tell they’re magical due to my new perk Mage’s Eyes.

Pulling out two waterbreathing potions from my hold, I hand one to Colt. “On three?” He nods to me.

“One, two, three!” We both take a swig of the awful draught, it tastes really fishy. Gagging a bit, I force myself to swallow. A strange sensation fills my lungs.

Condition Acquired: Waterbreathing 10:00

When focusing on it, I can see the time left on the potion ticking away. Colt is about to jump in before I stop him.

“Wait, Colt. This is like, my thing.” Taking Argo off of the hook on my ear, it expands to full size.

“Argo armed and ready for sinking!”

“Well, I can’t deny it will be faster this way…” Colt grabs on to me. We hop in the water. The weight of Argo pulls us down fairly quickly in the water. We still kick our feet above us to go a bit faster though. It’s a long way down.

Testing my first breath, the sensation is strange. The water seems to enter my lungs but evaporates before filling them, turning to air.

Colt has the same expression on his face that I assume is on mine. A bit uncomfortable and weird, but not intolerable.

Activating Dermal Denticles, the water seems to glide past me. Despite it physically affecting me, my clothes also seem to gain hydrodynamic properties as well.

It takes us about three minutes of sinking to reach the dungeon entrance. Colt keeps a hold on me to prevent himself from floating back up.

With a heave, I pull the door to the dungeon open. The hefty brass door opens with surprising ease underwater. A barrier of energy shimmers behind the door, the water going no further.

Tentatively, I step through the barrier, instantly drying as I do so. Colt follows suit, happy to be not-submerged anymore. The door slams shut behind us.

You have now entered the Grand Harbor Dungeon Proper! You may not leave until the boss is defeated.

Having been prepared for this fact, we stay relatively calm. Finally taking in the dungeon, we’re both in awe.

The walls are made of a blue-green stone, ornately carved with shells, sea serpents, fishes, and other various sea-worthy motifs.

Lamps with sea glass coverings bathe the dungeon in a whole spectrum of various colors.

Before proceeding, we use our various senses to check for traps. We were forewarned that they’re a possibility. Colt and Ilmarinen beat more caution into me in the past few weeks.

My Primordial Perception comes in handy as it allows me to sense through the stone around me. The entrance room doesn’t appear to have any traps that I can immediately detect, however, I note one strange factor.

“Colt, my senses can’t see past the door back outside. Guess we really are totally sealed in.” My knuckles clang dully against the cold metal door.

Using his own skills and perks, he seems to have the same result. “Well, let’s get a move on then, we’re burning daylight! Or something.” The entire dungeon has no apparent light source despite the lighting changing depending on the time of “day”.

Taking the opening hall slowly, we keep our senses attuned to the area, watching out for any traps or enemies. Colt has his Fallen Leaves shield active, just in case.

Taking a note from him, I activate Tide Shield. Water swirls around me, ready to block incoming attacks. Our preparation was not in vain, something disturbs the air within the range of my Primordial Perception.

With the assistance of Shaper’s Soul, I can tell that we don’t have much time before it’s on us. “Prepare yourself Colt, we have 5 seconds!”

His body glows green, skills arming. Hefting up Argo, the weapon hums with excitement. “I am raising a fist in a challenging motion, Lucas!”

Rolling my eyes, I shift into one of the stances Ilmarinen has shown me. The scuffling of limbs is audible now and coming at high speed.

A giant pink-orange form emerges from the darkness, its 5 limbs carry it far faster than it should be able to move. Its skin is sloughing off some wet, ashy substance.

The scent reaches me. “OH GOD, IT’S LIKE ROTTEN EGGS.” Covering my nose, I dodge to the side as it slams a limb at me. ‘Inspect’

Brimstone Seastar

Traits: Sulfur production, viscous ooze

Description: This seastar has small sulfur vents growing on its body which it uses for attacking, armor, and scent deterrent for predators. The sulfur and carbon mix with an ooze that secretes from its skin, creating a viscous, sticky black substance. It has grown to a large size feeding off other creatures within the dungeon.

Bile builds in my throat, threatening to empty my stomach. My eyes are leaking a steady stream of tears. Colt seems less affected than I am, he’s launching earth bullets and entangling vines at the seastar while dodging its hits.

Shaking my head, I push through the horrible odor, breathing through my mouth. It burns. Every entanglement that lands on the creature is broken by another of its arms. It’s just too big for Colt to wrap all at once.

Dashing in, I Plot a Course above the seastar’s ...back? Top? I’m not sure what to call it. Slamming a Devastating Strike into its back, Argo becomes stuck in the muck of sulfur and carbon.

Wrenching on my weapon, I can’t get it free in time before an arm slams into me. My body crashes into the wall, cracking the stone.

Falling to the ground, I attempt to stand up but my head is spinning. Drinking one dose of healing potion from my hold, most of the dizziness stops.

Cursing, I realize Argo is still stuck in the giant echinoderm. “Colt I shall hold him down! Strike now!” Colt glares at the anchor before looking to me with concern apparent on his face.

Giving him a grin, I swap to some spell work. Focusing, a Mana Dart condenses from my palm. Adding a spiral for piercing power, I launch the projectile. It strikes through the continually thicker coating of the seastar, catching flesh.

Its body trembles from the hit, but it only seems angered. It gives an idea, however. “Colt keep it busy!” He nods to me and ups the tempo of his spell casts.

Leaping into the air once more, I fire several Aquatic Scythes around Argo before using a Pressure Shot to clear away most of the gunk.

Grabbing my weapon once again, I jump off before I can be struck down again. Just in time, an arm sweeps over the top of the seastar once more.

Colt is looking worse for wear, having expended a good portion of his Wild Magick. Taking over for him, I sprint at the beast, coating Argo in an Aquatic Scythe. The watery blades help to cleave through the gunk coating the creature, allowing me to strike its flesh.

It swings at me once more, but I summon an Earthen Wall and use Rapid Inscription to add a durability enchantment. The wall holds, but cracks form in it. It won’t withstand another hit.

While attempting to reposition, a spray of the viscous, sulfuric gunk lands a direct hit on me. It burns to the touch. “Colt! The gunk is acid!” Tide Shield clears away most of the substance from my skin.

Vomit builds in my throat again with the stench so close.

Another arm swings down on me during my pause. I add thirteen Knots to a return overhead swing, pouring mana into Devastating Strike.

Once our hits connect, the ground under me shatters in a crater, my legs straining from the force.

The seastar reels back, a huge chunk of its arm blown off. Colt monopolizes. “Realm of Brambles: Fae Thorn!” The giant needle of nature magic stabs into the underside of the giant star, causing it to curl up defensively.

It slaps Colt away with one arm, sending him skidding across the floor. He sits up grinning, abating my fears. “I got it with my poison! It’s just a matter of time now.” Taking a swig from a mana potion, some color returns to him.

The creature spews large volumes of the sulfuric goo across the floor around our feet. Taking a few test steps, moving is much more difficult in such a sticky substance.

It’s movements are slowing down as well due to Colt’s Realm of Nettles: Insidious Poison.

Spraying the floor with Pressure Shot, some of the gunk clears, but there’s so much that most just moves back into place once the water pressure is gone.

“Colt, get on a platform!”

He jumps up on to compressed air, trusting that I have another plan. Using more high-pressure water, I clear out the floor around me and jump to dodge an attack. It takes three more spots of cleared ground and leaping before I’m out of range.

Colt bombards the seastar with various earthen bullet-type attacks to keep it distracted. Leaping up high in the air, I point my hand. “Flame Swathe!” Mana pours from me into the spell, fueling a massive jet of flame.

Anywhere the flames touch, the gunk hardens up, taking on a shiny, crystalline look. Once the fire reaches the seastar, its own armoring becomes its downfall. The hardened form of its sulfur-goo causes it to be stuck in place, struggling to break free.

Landing on the ground, my chest is heaving. My mana vessels are screaming from the rapid expense. Taking a mana potion and healing potion, the effects are reduced somewhat.

“Ready, Colt?” He nods. “Now!”

“Combo Skill: Devastating Maelstrom!” Winds catch my body, carrying me at high speed toward the seastar. Argo empowers heavily with force of Devastating Impact while I activate Storm’s Rage.

The attack connects, scything winds cutting into flesh while my hit shatters the shell formed around the creature. A concussive wave sends me back, my arms throbbing in pain from how much force I put into the hit.

The ground under the seastar shatters from the force, its body breaking apart from the sheer energy of the attack alongside the cutting winds. I’m no fool though. “Flame Swathe!”

The flame consumes the seastar entirely, its uncovered body catching fire easily. Only once it’s been burning for a few minutes, occasionally writhing, does The Construct confirm our victory.

Brimstone Seastar defeated! 2346 xp awarded.

Brimstone Seastar dropped: 24 Glints and The Mark of Brimstone

An intense burning erupts on the left side of my chest. Doubling over in pain, I fall to the ground. Unable to form words, I show Colt the source of the pain as he rushes over.

Unstrapping my armor and lifting my shirt up, a triangle with a cross at the bottom of it is now a black tattoo against my skin. It’s directly over my heart.

A bit concerned, I wait for any kind of Construct message to appear telling me what kind of terrible affliction I’ve been given. Nothing happens.

After a few deep breaths, I’m calm again now that the pain has receded. It also took a good minute or two to assure Colt that I’m fine. Notifications from The Construct resume.

Congratulations, Lucas Creo! Due to your incredible displays of skill and knowledge with your weapon of choice, you have reached level 50/50 in the Talent: Fledgling Anchorist! Talent upgrade will now occur!

Congratulations, Lucas Creo! Your Talent: Fledgling Anchorist has evolved into Adept Anchorist (1/50)! For reaching the Adept Talent Tier, you have been granted 5 unused stat points, double the original stat points given upon Talent milestones, and the perk: Plunder!

Level up! For continuing to practice and creatively use your magical abilities, your Talent: Fledgling Mage has reached (28/50)!

Skill level ups have occurred, check the Skills menu for further details!

‘Plunder? Perks’

Perks:

Plunder

Description: Everything is yours for the taking! As long as it involves monsters. Increased currency and loot drops from enemies. Small chance of plundering higher tier rarity loot. Charisma increased by 2. +2 Charisma per level up.

“Colt! I got a really useful perk!” He glances up at me from looking through his own notifications.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Plunder! It gives me increased currency and loot drops! Seems like sometimes it can even make them drop rarer loot!” He gives me an envious look.

“Lucas, that’s OP! You lucky bitch.” Laughing, I slap him on the back.

“Maybe someday you’ll be this good.” I flex my arms and do bodybuilder poses. He glares at me before shaking his head, chuckling, and going back to his notifications.

‘Status’

Status:

Lucas Creo

Age: 22

Race: Human

Status:

Level: 17

Exp: 3428/4414

HP: 2355/2355 (10.15 HP/min regeneration)

MP: 2440/2440 (13.60 MP/min regeneration)

Strength: 126

Endurance: 157

Dexterity: 88

Intelligence: 101

Attunement: 142

Willpower: 90

Charisma: 16

Insight: 102

Stat points: 10

‘...I don’t really want to put points into Charisma, but it’s so low. I’ll try to figure out something I guess.’ Deciding I’m all set, I turn to Colt.

“We used some potions, wanna restock? This horrid stench should keep anything else from approaching us.”

He considers for a moment. “Well, the smell is horrible, but I’m used to working with manure all day so it’s not that bad. Sure, let’s make some potions.”

Finishing the last of the brews, our potions are stocked back to full. It never hurts to be too cautious. At least Colt says that. I don’t mind a little danger, it gets the heart pumping.

We continue on into the dungeon, Colt keeping me from stepping too far ahead. Our perception skills and perks are on high alert once more. The small break let us restore our resources to full.

We walk through various halls and open rooms, each as ornately carved with sea motifs as the entrance was. It’s truly a beautiful sight when bathed in the multicolored lights from the sea glass lanterns. There’s just one oddity, we haven’t seen anything else.

“...Colt does this dungeon seem weirdly empty to you?” He nods, looking just as confused as I am.

“No traps yet, Ilmarinen definitely made me think there would be traps. The description on the brimstone seastar did say it grew from eating the other inhabitants.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s true, but there’s no treasure! Every room has been picked clean! Not to mention the entire place is spotless. It’s like something-”

“COME.”

A strange force pulls on our bodies, forcing us to the ground. We skid across the floor, the force pulling us deeper into the dungeon.

Frankly, it gets boring after the first five minutes of terror.

Our weapons don’t seem to pierce the floor and neither do spells. We can’t grab anything to stop the pull, so it’s reached a point of dull acceptance.

“Colt, I know this is supposed to be scary and all, but honestly? I’m bored now.” Colt doesn’t shake the sentiment, his eyes are still wide in terror.

“How can you be so calm!?” He’s still clawing at the floor, trying to find something to stop himself.

“Well, the way I see it, we’re probably just reaching the dungeon boss faster this way! We were gonna fight it anyway. Also, why did the brimstone seastar give us so little xp? It was definitely stronger than things we’ve fought before. Maybe it’s just that the fight wasn’t that challenging?”

He just looks at me for a moment before scrambling for a grip once more. “He’s gone insane. We’re both going to die and he’s gone insane. Great.”

Ten more minutes pass, and even Colt’s eyes have glazed over. “Okay, I agree with you, it’s boring.”

“Colt! Look! A door!” He glances up, then his eyes widen in shock.

“Ohgodohgodohgod!” The doors open as we slide towards them, finally we arrive in the middle of a room much larger than the others. The force ceases pulling on us.

Looking around, the room has statues of various sea myths I recognize, and some I don’t. There’s a mermaid statue floating in the air, what appears to be a hydra, but it’s a fountain, and even some hippocampus, the weird fish-horse hybrids.

“Appreciating my collection I see. You destroyed what was to be my latest addition, just as it reached maturity from my feedings. That leaves me very displeased.”

Looking up, there’s a tall but slender shark-man. His smile is made of rows of sharp, serrated teeth. His skin is a pale gray and his neck has gill lines on each side. He’s dressed in a sharp gray suit that compliments his coloration perfectly.

Walking towards me, he sneers. “An Anchorist? I suppose you may do. Your friend there, however? Fae disgust me.”

He raises a hand at Colt, a wave of force fires out faster than either of us can even perceive.

Colt’s body splits in two.

“COLT!” I move to try and help him, but a foot stomps on my hand.

“Where do you think you’re going? You will be the next addition to my collection. To make up for what you’ve taken from me.”

Gritting my teeth at him, a strange presence that seems… almost familiar, reveals itself in my body. Anger is building heavily within me.

Take my power, Lucas. Let it shape you.

“...Okay.”

Rage.

Pure, burning, unfiltered. Rage. It burns deep within me. Whatever hold this man, no this beast, had on me before, it’s broken.

The world goes red, power the likes of which I’ve never experienced floods my body. Standing up, the shark-man takes a step back. Some level of fear apparent in his eyes. “How did you- But you shouldn’t- But it said-”

Argo is in my hands and slamming into his face before he can even blink. His body rockets across the room, crashing into a wall, causing stone and glass alike to shower down.

Bellowing, I don’t relent. I’m across the room in milliseconds, pounding the man into the floor. Every hit shatters the ground. My body screams out against the punishment. I do not care.

“You will never harm anyone, ever again. DEVASTATING IMPACT!” As if a bomb went off, the room around us collapses.

Another familiar presence within me reaches out.

Lucas! Can you hear me?! You must regain yourself! You have taken on a force that wishes to alter your fate!

Restruct! You may not have this boy! His fate is not yours to mold as you please! Lucas, please, for me, for Colt, take reign of yourself! Do not let Restruct control you! I did not realize before, but The Restruct has had a hold on you for a long time!

Like a splash of cold water, realization returns to me. A strange energy permeates my body, controlling me. Fighting back against it, I push with all of my will.

The energy fights back, pain wracks my body. I scream out.

You are MINE, child!

“I AM MY OWN.” Slamming every shred of willpower I have, I force the energy out of my body. The strange voice not unlike The Construct leaves my head, no longer screaming of rage and control.

Lucas! I am proud. You have taken your fate back into your hands. For completing the dungeon, I will now teleport you and Colt back to your home. Please think of where “home” is to you.

Frantically looking for Colt, his body is still in two pieces. I sprint over to him, my legs failing on me. Holding on to him, our bodies disappear in a flash of light.

Reappearing, we’re just outside my house, back on Earth. Panicking, I push the two halves of Colt back together, he gurgles in pain, his body fading quickly.

Pulling out every healing and mana potion I have from my hold, I pour them both into Colt’s mouth and on his wounds.

Tears are pouring down my face as I grab and reassure him, telling him everything is going to be okay.

Fear grips my heart as Colt’s eyes close and his breathing halts. “COLT! YOU CAN’T LEAVE ME! NO!”

In a last ditch effort, I take out the sap from the tree where Colt first turned into a Fae out of my hold. Putting the bottle to his lips, some of the sap drips out and lands on his tongue.

A burst of green energy emits from his body, blasting me back. A circle of mushrooms appears around him as his body is encased in a maelstrom of wild green magick.

A strange crest of leaves and vines intertwined floats above the entire display before drifting down inside. The crest settles on Colt, sinking into his body. His eyes open in a flash, energy pouring into him.

Hope fills my heart once more, seeing him open his eyes once again. A few minutes later, Colt drifts back to the ground, his body looking completely whole. There’s a strange presence to him now.

Uncaring, I slam into him, tackling him to the ground. “Colt! I was so worried I didn’t know what to- and you were going to- Oh just fuck it.”

Lowering my head, our lips meet. His body stiffens for a moment before settling into the kiss. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer.

“I was so worried.”

“I know.” Our lips meet once more.

Distant, sweet sounds chime from flowers nearby.