[Icas] FINALLY. Finally we are out of that accursed water room. I will ensure the guildmaster installs a few boats and bring in some of those aquatic kinds to get us across.

Being shorter than the other two, wading through parts of the previous floor had taken a larger toll on Icas. The goblin took a moment to pour water out of his boots and scrape off the excess mud on the dungeon walls.

[Kilian] Fels. Cast some life magic and dry us up. With this much water, I can't use my electric spells well.

[Fels] Understood.

Fire without flame

Drive out the water

Our bodies it cannot claim

Dry

As her chant finished, all steam started rising from all of them. Starting from their boots, the heated water quickly started to escape from all the nooks and crannies of their clothes. Soon they were dry and quite toasty.

[Icas] It's going to take hours to get all the mud that's caked on there but at least we're warm and dry. Thanks.

[Fels] Un.

[Kilian] Now that we can move on, the next level is the inverted forest. We'll avoid the tainted snowfall area for now. We are aiming for a few of the infant nymphs. Apparently they can be turned into good fertilizer or something. The rest of the time we'll be hunting slimes and whatever creatures comes by. Just make sure not to damage your equipment.

[Icas] Aye. Might be tough to reach the nymphs but at we won't get soaked on this level.

[Kilian] You can conserve your mana. Just use the weakest mana shields for the slimes. The Fels and I can handle nymphs with magic. We need your ice magic on our way back.

[Icas] Ugh. Right right.

The party trotted along, back and forth with no particular destination, killing everything in their path. If they were in another world, it would have been called farming. No, rather they were stronger than the creatures so it would have been mere grinding. But they were not in another world and had no idea regarding such often optimized and over analyzed methods. However grinding gets boring, even in such a world. Animals were easy enough once you spotted them, even if they were slightly mana enhanced. Slimes were easier as it just took one good swipe to remove a manastone undamaged, so long as you could coat your weapon in stone like Fels or a mana shield like Icas.

[Kilian] Hm. The nymphs sure are hiding well. The most they're doing is dropping a few slimes or heavy branches as traps huh. Well. I suppose we'll just have to make them come to us.

Kilian pointed one of his swords towards the tall inverted tree a small distance away and started chanting.

Condense and flow

Light that spark

Go where you will go

Arc

A bright line of lightning arced out of his sword and landed among the trees hanging overhead. Soon smoke and smoldering leaves could be seen. It didn't take long until Killian saw what he had been waiting for.

A group of entwined branches and roots in the shape that could only be described as some effigy of humans appeared running towards the fire. Panicked squeaking filled the air as some tried to put the smoldering fire out.

[Kilian] Fels. Now. Shoot them down.

[Fels] Understood.

Stones

Gather

Do what you couldn't

Fly

Stone Shot

Slowly, a handful of pebbles floating up from the floor and shot towards the panicking nymphs. A few managed to hit and knock one down. As it hit the floor, Kilian ended it with a quick stab to the center of it's body.

[Kilian] Good. Keep it up Fels. Icas, collect the bodies and keep an eye out for the surroundings.

Like this they steadily collected the nymphs one by one. As time went on, the fire spread and so did the smoke and ash.

[Kilian] It's getting difficult to see them. Let's call it here and head out.

[Icas] Wait. Something's coming!

Sure enough as Icas said something came. A large antelope with horns perfectly angled for goring was running towards them.

[Kilian] Tsk. Fels, in front. Icas support her. Dont worry about your mana. I'll cut it down.

Cut through flesh and bone alike

Lightning Blade

[Icas] I think it's gathering mana. I guess I have no choice huh.

Protect her

Mana Shield

Fels stood in front of the party, ready to intercept the antelope. With her strength and weight it should be possible, so long as her gauntlets took the brunt of the damage. Icas too reinforced her body with a layer of protective mana. Kilian stood behind her with his sword electrified and arcing here and there, ready to cut through the beast once it had been slowed. Although, both spells had their power and mana efficiency was compromised to increase the cast speed since it was only a moment away from collision.

Right before the antelope collided with her, it quickly veered to one side and -

Crshk

The mana that it had gathered was suddenly released and it flashed forwards. The golem girl was unable to adapt to such a quick change in direction and failed to intercept the attack with her gauntlets. One of the antelope's horns caught her side and gouged out flesh and stone and reinforced mana alike.

Kilian saw the flash and acted mostly on instinct and moved his sword. The sword made contact with the horn and flashed white hot. The horn, weakened by the charge hitting stone and the heat of the lightning blade shattered, allowing the sword to follow through and slice into the antelope's side. The sound of sizzling flesh resounded in their ears but it was clear it was not their victory.

Fels, although resistant to pain and damage was staunching the flow of blood from her side and looking a bit pale. The antelope on the other hand had a broken horn and a large but not fatal wound down it's side. The animal's muscles twitched as a result of the electricity and the pain but the electricity also cauterized the wound, preventing blood loss.

Kilian moved to stand between Icas and the antelope. Fels might be able to take a hit but Icas certainly would not fare so well. With his sword at the ready, he stared at the antelope. Time felt slow and sluggish as it stared back. The seconds ticked by. Killian was considering having Icas break the standstill when the antelope turned and trotted away, quickly becoming hidden behind the uneven ground and underbrush.

Icas let out a sigh of relief and moved to examine Fels.

[Icas] Hah. We made it huh. Well. Come on. Let go of the wound. Let's see. It looks worse than it is I think. Mostly stone but it still gouged out some flesh so it's bleeding quite a bit. I'm going to freeze it so you stop bleeding. It'll hurt but bear with it.

[Fels] Un.

As ice sealed up her wound, it was obvious to the other two just how uncomfortable it was for her as the normally straight faced girl showed a slightly pained expression.

Without saying anything, Kilian placed his shoulder under one of her arms to support her and Icas lent his staff to her.

[Fels] It is fine. Can still walk. Will heal.

[Icas] Don't worry about it. We'll be doing a lot more walking I'm sure after we get you healed up.

[Kilian] We'll get stronger. I'll get stronger. That won't happen again.

[Fels] ... Un.