"Sorry, Kona. I didn't mean to upstage you last night," Victoria shoots Elsbeth a withering glance, but she responds with a shrug and several gestures.

"Were you going to keep it secret forever?"

But the half-Faunus wrapping her arms around her neck is all she needs to know about how she felt about the incident. A low purring in Kona's chest and her constant mewling to Serenity about wanting one of her own was funny for a while, until she realizes that the two of them couldn't do so on their own.

"Vicky… you think we can borrow--"

A flash of light and the clatter of metal precedes two sabers levitating behind Vic's back. A raised eyebrow dares her to finish the request. Kona hisses in suprise, hiding behind Serenity who giggles along with the others.

"So," Dawn begins after sending messages to her War Party, "Any idea of the due date?"

The smile freezes on Victoria's face and her gaze falters to the ground, "About five more days…"

Richter, Rachel, and Dawn all realize the implication of the time frame. If Ardacen is coming back at all, then he'll be in time for a little suprise the next morning. If not, well, none of them try to entertain the thought.

Not wanting anyone else to find out, everyone acts normally and continues on with Dawn's plans. That means that today, they would be pushing deeper into the dungeon, and that Victoria would be replacing Ardacen on the four person squad. Dawn reluctantly gave in to her protests, arguing that nothing would effect the development of the baby, not even combat. When the other Arceans agreed, the three remaining players and the Valkyrie headed off to Kes Mud.

"I gotta admit, Vic," Dawn says while leading the group through the streets of the fourth floor, "Your new Skill is awesome."

At first, the discovery of this area was disorienting. Stumbling into the ruins of an underground town wasn't what they expected to do, but after the area they had found in Rentas Cave, it wasn't too much of a stretch. Instead of several connected chambers, the fourth floor is one, large, uninterrupted space. The ceiling is maybe more than fifty feet high and covered in miniscule stalactites. The ground is actually flooded with water that glows a very dim mauve color, much like the Mana Radiated Iron. A few tests show that the only noticeable effect it has is a slight increase in MP Regeneration. It might have had a stronger effect on Ardacen had he been here, but by an odd measure of luck he wasn't in the party for this dive. The village itself is propped up like a pier supported by five foot rock pillars.

Evidence of the use of materials from the previous floors' creatures remain in the construction of the box shaped structures probably created using an Ability like Ground Shift. The roofs are lined with the smooth, almost oily Beelest pelts to keep the dripping water out and the crystals from the Crystaceans are used as decorations and jammed into the stone with barely visible writing carved around them. Any metal they find is rusted and falling apart, though they still glow faintly with purple radiation.

For a while the group feels relief, since there didn't seem to be any monsters. But what came shambling out of the wood work is just as bad. The humanoid citizens of the town are still around, though undead and showing the blistered and splitting skin of Mana Radiation, just like the creatures from the second floor. Even though they're radiated and undead, everyone can still make out features like flat faces with small, sharp, upturned noses and large anime size eyes. Their ears, too, are large like Elvish ears, though wider and similar to the way bats ears would look on the side of a person's head. Slivers of cold fear run up the backs and necks of the party as they stare at the faces and into big, empty sockets, dripping with glowing puss like thick tears. These mana zombies only have enough cognitive ability to swing their claw-like fingertips. If the claws were not a natural part of these people's anatomy, then that means only sharpened bone remains from years of scratching at the stone buildings, grating off the skin and flesh until the protruding bone is left.

"Damn," Dawn readies her Thunderstruck and Stalwart Shield, "I hate to say this, but… clear them out. Even if we fix the leyline, best case scenario, these people probably won't be in good enough shape to be social."

As slow as they are, the zombies' assault is akin to meat sauntering into a grinder thanks to Victoria. Its for the best, really, because Richter and Rachel's combat styles both focus on dealing damage to precise, vital spots, areas these zombies seem to be lacking. Further frustrating the situation is the fact that they're not weak to radiant damage like any good zombie should be. That isn't to say they have a Resistance to it, but one would think it a given that monsters of the undead variety would most likely be the elemental opposite of holy or radiant.

Still, obliterating undead citizens of a mana radiated dungeon village seems almost mundane to the task appointed to Sonny and her squad. Dawn's thoughts drift dangerously and she has to snap back into focus as she realizes that the population of hostiles in the wide, wood planked streets has been steadily increasing and her team's efforts have been matching their enemies accordingly. This over exertion could hasten fatigue and with just the four of them they could easily become overwhelmed.

"Where the hell are they all coming from?" Dawn screams, forming a back to back square against the others in the center of an intersection.

"We need to move, Commander," Victoria suggests, her two, flying sabers slashing on their own as she wields a tower shield in one hand and one of the new, Dwarven single-edged longswords in the other. The sword is angular and geometric like a crystal, an obvious nod to the kinds of things that have been influencing the majority of Dwarven culture based in the underground. Instead of curving elegantly like a katana or an Elvish blade, the edges angle in a third way up and again two thirds up like steps. It is wide at about three inches, with a thin band of a hilt just slightly wider to protect one's hand, and it barely tapers down into a stubby tanto point. The spine is thick and flat. The black leather chord wrapped handle was meant for two smaller hands, but Vic holds it comfortably with one. At the end is a heavy, cylindrical pummel, like a tuna can, meant for bashing. Luminescent grey like the bridge, the only drawback is that it only looks to be made of Mythril, although one could argue that this new alloy is just as, if not sronger, than the rare metal. Of course, the creation of Greyladium, named after constructing the bridge, wouldn't have been possible if Dawn didn't earn the Feat, Metallurgy, after reaching level thirty in Blacksmith. The knowledge and understanding of many years of smelting and blending metals flooded into her head like standing under a waterfall.

"I should have been born a Dwarf," Dawn exclaims, catching the weapon in the corner of her eye and spinning her own weapon on its vertical axis. She swings it with great force into the hip of a zombie. The flat, hammer side shatters the mana infused bones and folds the monster in half. "Who ever heard of a Halfling Infernus Blacksmith?"

Vic looks over her shoulder as both of her sabers shoot out and she holds a trio of zombies at bay with her shield, "I believe I heard a joke some time in officer training regarding your particular blend of races. Something to the effect of a horny little devil."

"Thanks for reminding me of my dry spell, Vic," Dawn says sardonically, "Not everyone was lucky enough to score a boy toy. Then again, he actually managed to get you pregnant, didn't he?"

"He certainly did."

"Dry spell?" Rachel asks, " Don't get me started, girl."

"Yoo hoo! Ladies?" Richter had drawn out his rapier and summoned both mage hands, using them to hold back a pair of zombies by their faces as he swings the thin blade at reaching hands and exposed necks. "Just putting this out there, but, I'm offering myself up for any much needed services. I mean, I just want to be, like, you know, helpful?"

Dawn and Victoria simultaneously use Shield Bash, an Ability stemming from the Tiered Skill, Shield Mastery. Much like Tiered Spells, the owner of Shield Mastery learns a related Skill in succession every few levels: Shield Throw, Shield Bash, and Shield Parry. Their glowing, yellow shields crash like eighteen wheelers into their targets, pulverizing their remaining internal organs and bones and sending them flying into groups of others. As one, they follow up with with a combination of similar strikes and Skills, mirroring each other perfectly. The only difference is their finishing moves, a line of flames engulfing Victoria's sword and a radiant explosive smash from Dawn.

Rachel nudges the half Elf's elbow, "Think you can handle either of them?" His jaw slacked low, Richter squeeks out some kind of vowel sound and Rachel laughs.

Dawn points in a direction and everyone glows a dim yellow.

[Maneuver Bonus: +10%Agility until you reach Reposition point. +5Dexterity for 5minutes when you reach Reposition point.]

"Move."

With the Maneuver Skill creating the destination point in the distance, no other words need to be said and the others follow her orders in a heartbeat. The twin Shield Bashes created an opening you could drive the vardo through and they follow the Valkyrie and Infernus down the street. With increased Agility, the four of them glide past most of the zombies, avoiding and parrying attacks or debilitating them with knee strikes and slashes that lop off hands.

"Give us a boost, Rach." Dawn stops at the base of a three story building, the only large building in the chamber, followed by Vic and Ric. Through the slats they can see that the building itself extends down into the water.

"Catapult!" Rachel's Spell conjures the purple, arcane form of a sedan sized mangonel style catapult. Its easily recognizable arm and bucket is already locked and ready to fire. Much like Ardacen's Basic Enchantment and Konas's Basic Conjuration, Rachel's Basic Transmutation is a Tiered Ability that grants her three Spells. Rope Trick, which allows her to fully control up to fifty feet of rope as long as she holds one end, Control Flames, which works like Manipulate Water and Ground Shift but with five cubed feet of fire, and Catapult, which lasts until dismissed or destroyed.

Vic is first and she jumps into the bowl shaped bucket. With another command phrase, it launches her up into the air and on the roof. She does this for Dawn as Richter covers them with his bow, firing a ghostly grey arrow that splits into a dozen more and bursting upon contact with the shambling creatures. He swears through gritted teeth, forgetting the effect arcane has on this type of creature.

After Rachel gives an initial Leap, a Skill imparted by boots given to her from Ardy, the two rogues use their Blink Steps to teleport up the side of the building, catching windowsills and repeating the process until they reach the top.

Rachel takes a moment to collect herself, "How does Ardy do it multiple times in a row in the air like that? I have to catch my breath…"

Dawn looks over the edge and notices the ever increasing amount of zombies surrounding the building. "I think he just signs his Spells. Where in the many hells are these damned things coming from?"

Each street in view is teeming with them now, and the creaking of the boards under their weight worries the group, although they believe that the building they're in might be fairly safe since the foundation is at the cavern's floor.

"Um, Dawn? I can, like, fly around to see if I can find their origin?" Rachel does a twirl to accentuate her cloak.

"How long is the cooldown?"

"I can use the wings for an hour," she says, placing her hands on her hips, "Then I gotta wait, like, twelve hours to use it again."

"Okay." Dawn takes out a waterskin and the others follow suit. After a quick drink, still surveying the sea of shifting, swaying heads, she cocks her head to Rachel, "Find the mob generator, if there is one, and the exit to the last floor. Can you Stealth in flight? Good. Don't attack them, I don't want you attracting too much attention to yourself in case you need to make an emergency landing. Whisper us only if you can do so quietly."

***************

"Dola, are you going to be alright?" Sonny asks, rubbing the poor Kobold's back as the motion sickness hits him harder with each passing second. The bucket they managed to find is just large enough to fit his head in as his dinner makes an impromptu reappearance.

"Sorry, Miss Sonny. Dola no think Kobolds were meant to be in the air… urk…"

"Oh, Dola, I actually think it's just you. Lydia? Lavina? Mika? How's it going?" She turns her torso towards the trio as they fiddle about over by a large, wooden ship wheel with multiple spokes and just about the height of the Lupine Faunus who is actually on the floor, on her back, and under some kind of massive table. The table is actually a console full of glowing crystal shards, levers, and a few magic circles in stacked layers floating a few inches off the surface. An arcane globe the size of a basketball sits at the far end to the right.

"Listen, if Lydia has no idea what to do then how are we supposed to fix this?" Mika asks in her gruff tone. "Little bun-bun and I may be Tinkerers, but that doesn't mean we know anything about airships."

She sounds annoyed, but her eyes haven't stopped darting about the place since they arrived, soaking in every inch she gets within range. In fact, she volunteered to help when Sonny came back with the news that they had finally found the Sor Estoc. When they arrived back on it, her first thought was that it was smaller than she imagined it would be.

According to Lydia, of the seven known airship sizes: fighter, frigate, destroyer, cruiser, battleship, carrier, and dreadnought, this light cruiser class airship was meant to be a multi-use platform for a variety of missions. Tiny, compared to the other known cruisers, it's still fairly larger than the destroyers. Although, destroyer, frigate, and fighter airships were focused primarily on combat, cruisers in Arc had many purposes. Not that there are many still flying around Arc, since the last great airship designers and builders died off around the same time as the Heroes disappeared and just trying to get the remainders to operate is almost Quest worthy.

The only recorded Dreadnought, the Terra Morto, could be seen on an ancient tapestry inside the Military Academy of Coronus, though not much else is known about it. The Sor Estoc, however, had been specifically outfitted for battle against the Wraith and stocked to create a forward position in the Denagrin Plains.

Although none of the items in stock survived the passage of time, the airship itself is in near perfect condition, much like the city of Denagrin. Well, except for the helm which, at some point, became completely disconnected. Turning the wheel does nothing but satisfy the urge to pretend one is some kind of sailor. Any attempts to steer or land have been met with flashing red lights from the console and all of its crystals as well as ominous, strained noises from the ship.

"Hedgar was the only airship engineer in our group, the country really, and he… well…" Lydia shrugs her shoulders high and buries her chin in her chest, ruffling her snowy white feathers. "He was called an… um… something-smith."

"Aerosmith? Aerialsmith?" Lavina asks, poking her head from under the console.

"What the blazes is an Aerosmith?" Mika jerks her head back in confused disgust.

Lavina slides back under, "No idea, figured it sounded nice. Like someone who builds aerial ships."

Sonny smiles, continuing Dola's backrub and looking out for the three returning Kobolds who she sent to explore the remaining corners of Sor Estoc. There is an expansive cargo space, especially since they dumped out all the rotten food and rusted lumps of metal, the crew's cabins ready for one hundred and seventeen occupants, and a single, functioning canon. Had the Heaven's Eyes group brought the ship back to civilization, they would have become celebrities of every explorer society in Regalus. For the people of Linqs, it's just another piece of their puzzle, another tool in the bag. As soon as they can get this thing working right it'll be just the thing they'll need.

The wind whipping past as they sailed through clouds like small waves of an otherwise calm sea, creates a spark within Sonny's core. If she didn't have to comfort Dola, she would probably be out on the deck or surfing Meteora along side the ship. Instead, she stares wistfully out the windows next to the ill lizardman.

"Linqs will prosper while Ardy gets a way to travel where he needs to go and return safely. Who knows, maybe we can use it to ferry more people back here?" Her words bounce off of the heaving Kobold's head, but they bring the Machina much comfort. She has yet to decide which path she will take herself. Explore the world or settle the frontier?

***************

"There are, like, three generators at the far end. Those two corners and one in between them. They look like brick archways with a yucky, slimey green portal inside. But, I just couldn't find the exit. Maybe we have to destroy the generators first?"

Dawn watches Rachel land gracefully in the center of the roof of the tall building. Her golden wings shrinking on her back as the cloak grows down to her calves. Rachel glances around.

"Vic and Ric?"

"Exploring the building." Dawn jerks a thumb at an ingress point, a simple doorway with no door left on the hinges. "It was weird. Did you notice an entrance on the side of the building we scaled?"

Rachel shakes her head, looking over another side near a corner to see if she can spot one. Dawn continues, "Nothing, no other way to get in. Just this one on the roof. Weird huh? So, I sent them to see if there's anything inside."

"Any word yet?" Rachel uses the down time to take pot shots at all the zombies. Dawn sees this, nods in approval, and does the same on her side with Divine Flash, golden, fiery light exploding out of each target's chest .

[You deal 94 piercing damage!]

[You deal 201 radiant damage!]

"Show off," Rachel teases and Dawn responds by sticking out her midnight sky blue tongue. "Say, Dawn? Can you believe Ardy and Vic?"

She shakes her head with a grin, "Leave it to Ardy to be the guy who turns a game like this on its head."

"How do you mean? It's just a VR baby, not like it's going to be the first. Or the last for that matter. You think players can get knocked up?" Rachel takes a moment to pat her belly with both hands.

"Gods I hope not. I'd hate to see what this world has in the form of contraceptives. Sheepskin made from real--" she shudders "Anyway, I meant look at the big picture with Vic. She's a Valkyrie, a supposedly infamous race in the game, and she's royalty. Former or not, we still don't know or understand all the politicals of this world. Of the royals related to Vic we've met so far, I don't believe any of them have produced any heirs."

"What about Lady Anne and her son?"

Dawn shakes her head, "Step-son. And Lord Bertrand in Rentas isn't part Valkyrie, nor was his side chick as far as we know. What was her name again?"

"No idea."

"Anyway, this could have major implications when we reconnect Linqs with the rest of society. I mean, with us here they're just another happy, expecting couple. But maybe their child will be the rightful heir to Kes Rentas? Maybe we'll have some kind of conflict with Lord Bertrand? And then what about the child itself. When he or she grows up, what kind of impact will it have being half Valkyrie and half… oh, what is he again?"

"Ifrixian?"

"Ifrixian!" Dawn punctuates her exclamation with an extra forceful Divine Flash. "That's just in-game! What about IRL? Shit, how's this going to look on the show?"

The conversation drops hard like a lead weight and the two continue their assault in silence except for Dawn's chanting of her Spell words. Rachel pauses, mid throw, and lets her hand drop down.

"You think… maybe… you're, like, looking too deeply into this?"

"Maybe. It is just a game and he's having fun. They're both having a blast, that's for sure. You didn't meet Victoria before Ardy arrived in Linqs, though. She wasn't playful like she is now, nor did she seem happy. No, they're good for each other, I think. Ardy needs more reasons to play other than his--"

The sounds of footsteps racing up a set of stairs could be heard over the sea of groaning zombies and the two turn their heads toward the doorway. Victoria is first to trot out, followed by Richter as he drags his feet and waves his hands in defeat, bracing himself by grasping above his knees and taking ragged breathes.

"So, interesting fact about the building… It's actually a lot taller than it appears. It goes several floors well below the ground level of this chamber. The stairs, however, alternate in a clockwork pattern between each floor, forcing us to cut across the trap filled rooms to the next set." She jerks a thumb at Richter, "He's been having a time of clearing them out."

Dawn cocks her head at him, "Why's he out of breath? Were you running?"

"We had gotten to what had to be the fifth floor below the water when we noticed massive cobwebs all over the walls, much like Spindle's Chamber in Rentas Dungeon." Her hands on her hips and eyes closed, she shakes her head, "But when we finally spotted the stairway leading to the next floor, something alerted our prescence to the first and only monsters we encountered in the building."

"Like, what were they?" Rachel asks, mouth agape and eyes wide. Her tiny fists quiver as she holds them tight near her chest. "Were they massive?"

"Nothing bigger than two hands together." She says as she mimics the creatures with her wrists together and fingers wriggling like legs. "But their eyes were glowing purple like the iron and water."

"Numbers?" Dawn inquires.

"Maybe a couple hundred."

"They… they…" Richter finally catches his breath and leans back to stretch his muscles. "They didn't follow us past the second to the top floor, but we didn't want to take any chances by walking."

"Shit," Dawn says to herself, and then again out loud to the others, "Sounds like they were protecting something and I bet it's the way to the last floor. Okay. If they're not going to come out to play, then I want to fix the leak in here, stop more zombies from coming in. I doubt that they'll just drain out, but we don't have any big AoE Abilities. We need casters to clear them out. As for the spiders and how to get to the last floor… I may have an idea…"