Realm Wars

Upon entering the pentagrams, Ryu and the others were shocked to find themselves underwater. 

"Hmp! Hmm!" Kai was gesturing with his hands before he took in a water-breathing potion. "That good for nothing little. .. at least warn us that we'll be transported underwater."

Ryu took in his mermaid breathing potion while Seraphina just cast a spell around her.

"Where are we?" Ryu was sure that they were in the deepest part of the sea. It was pitch black, and the only light came from the flickering sea creatures.

"Look there." Seraphina pointed to a strong blinking light at least kilometers from them.

"I think that is where the others are going too," Kai said as the mercenaries swam deeper into the sea towards the only stable light they could perceive.

Eventually, the group followed the crowd. Ryu could only hope that he'd spot Cecily and Rosa at some point. But in the meantime, even with all troubles, he still enjoyed the sceneries even just a little. It was his first time underwater, and the farther they went, the greater the pressure.

But all of them were experts, so it was no problem deflecting the water pressure that seemed like a mountain on their shoulders.

"Wow. Look at that. How deep are we that we see the seafloor!" Kai exclaimed. 

There were rows and rows of corals and sea creatures that, upon seeing them, immediately scurried away. The floors were covered with sand, and elevation was uneven like the next moment, it was a hill, and the next, it was a hole.

After kilometers of swimming, they finally reached a sunken door. It was the only thing that was glowing nonstop in the dark sea. Its sides were flanked with two giant columns, and its two huge doors were made out of rock enveloped in vines and moss. 

It gave the feeling of ancient and rot, but everyone felt that they couldn't even scratch it.

Ryu took a closer look despite the many mercenaries and adventures hindering his way. Upon closer inspection, there were carvings on the columns and doors.

A carving of the tail of what seemed like a serpent coiled around the columns, and the head of a dragon was intricately sculpted on the face of the door.

"Is Tethyt a dragon or something?" Kai couldn't help but ask. All these dragon carvings were hitting his fear spot.

Ryu didn't answer. In his dream, Tethyt was not a dragon but a mermaid or an octopus-like creature.

Seraphina shook her head. "Tethyt is born from waters. It said that she was a mermaid. Others described that half her body was an octopus. She's fond of dragons, probably that's why."

Kai chuckled without humor. "Of course she is. Collecting dragons like they were pets. I wonder what it felt like to be so powerful that you could play with others' life and collect dragons as servants."

Seraphina opened her mouth, but Pink appeared before everyone again.

"Congratulations for reaching the entrance to Tethyt's Islet! I commend your bravery!"

Rather, they have no choice. There was no way out but the throne room, like Pink said.

Pink coughed between its tiny paws. "The islet of Tethys is separated into four islets, and a boss guards each islet! Defeat the boss, and you advance to the next islet unit you reach the throne room where the exit lies."

"What is this?"

"What do you mean a boss?"

Everyone was confused. They thought that they'd only have to enter Tethy's palace and barged in her throne room and steal a bunch of treasures along the way. How did it suddenly turn into this?

"I told you. This is Tethy's playground."

Ryu and Kai glanced at Seraphina.

Pink continued unminding the discontented frown from the mercenaries' faces. "Judging by the door, I think the first boss is. . ."

Pink shook its scale, and all held their breaths.

"A legendary beast in times of the Gods. It could circle the world from tip to tail. No one saw it, but everyone knows its name!"

Seraphina draws in a cold breath. "Leviathan!"

"Bing bong! Correct!" Pink laughed. 

"What?!"

"How on earth are we going to defeat that?!"

"Defeat it?" Pink went on its back and laughed. "The Leviathan already reached maturity thousands of years ago. Even my master was almost killed when she fought it. Not to mention you guys. You'll be dead for sure!"

Everyone lost their colors. The Leviathan was just a rumored beast. It said that its power was second only to the Queen of Beast. They didn't know that it truly existed! How on earth were they even hope to compete against it?

Someone from the mercenary raised a hand. "I. . .  I want to forfeit. I want to get out."

And the others started raising their hands as well. What's the use of treasures if they weren't alive to enjoy it?

Pink swam back and forth. "Hohoho! The thing is, you can't! You're trapped in here until you reach the throne room!"

"N-no way."

Everyone's faces changed. In short, whether they like it or not, they have to reach the throne room.

Pink hiccupped and composed itself upon the grave faces of everyone. "But of course. Where's the fun in that if all of you will be wiped in an instant, right? So the boss in each islet will place a handicapped, as per my master orders."

It then rubbed its fins. "Hmm. .. if I'm not mistaken, the Leviathan is mostly asleep, and it doesn't wake up unless there is a huge commotion. If you manage to slip past it without as much as a sound, then you're safe to enter the next islet. Simple as that."

Everyone present was hesitant still. That was only one boss. How about the others?

Sensing the distress of the masses, Pink looked at them. "The islet is wide, and there are places, areas, and rooms where many treasures lie. There are so many routes and paths to take. Usually, some of you would make it to the throne room without even fighting nor seeing the boss. It depends on your luck, really."

"Is there another way to get out? What if we get stuck here? What about our realm?"

Pink raised a hand. "Relax. Since this is my master's domain, Time here is different in the world above. One year here is equivalent to just one day in your realm."

Some breathed a sigh of relief, and Ryu felt the needles sticking in his heart lessened, for he knew that Ferris's time was stopped here.

Pink then grinned. "But sadly. You could get stuck here if you couldn't make it to the throne room. So I suggest you all form groups! Your chances of survival will definitely increase!"

With a final twirl, Pink turned to bubbles before it completely disappeared.