Dungeon Sniper

"Ready?"

"Wait. What about our clothes?"

It was the morning after we had come back from catching the D-Bug. Elysia and I were standing in front of the Flood Gate, ready to enter Level Three. Before leaving Benedikt's lab, uninhabited now and forever, we had agreed to leave every gear and weapon behind. Elysia did not seem bothered by the agreement and dispensed with everything she had on her: the few military knives and a pistol, all unnamed like some savage would treat her tools. I, on the other hand, could not leave my 'friends' in the dusty bas.e.m.e.nt, so I brought Hunter, Niper, and Tolliver along with some bull-rats. Muk had probably melted to nothing along with the Ant Queen by the nuclear detonation. Poor Muk.

"Boys and their toys."

Elysia had clicked her tongue derisively, but that was it.

The last Transcendence between Levels taught us that, for some miserly reason, the Gates did not allow the transfer of items acquired from a lower Level. But I had my hope that the Flood Gate would be different. Perhaps the bypassing of soul exchange also extended to some regulations regarding item exchange.

And just now, Elysia had questioned about our 'clothes.' We were both wearing the comfortable, sporty stealth suit made and given by the great mastersmith. I remembered that our attire had not changed when we had Transcended from Level One.

"I think clothes are safe, although I wouldn't mind watching you taking off that suit—"

"Let's go."

"Right."

Why were clothes okay and not weapons? It felt as if 'someone' was trying to control the 'weapon balance' of a game, if this world, the Dungeon, were just a game, of course.

... If?

"Beta. The key," Elysia urged me gently, helping me break away from a reverie, which I had been having too much lately.

I blinked and nodded as I took out the gold, butterfly-shaped key from the back pocket. It was no longer glowing like the night before. Instead, it looked like an ornate art piece with a key blade at one end. I would have kept it for a souvenir, but I had a feeling that it would not be around by the time it performed its duty.

I found the keyhole on the otherwise smooth and unadorned surface of the metallic Flood Gate. Again, the Gate looked sturdy enough, but I assumed that they, Benedikt and company, had not had either time or reason to decorate it, what with a mad Ant Queen breathing down their necks.

As a result, I expected nothing dramatic as I had seen at Level One, where the Gate descended smoothly down and opened to reveal a darkness so black that seemed to suck in everything and everyone in the vicinity.

I inserted and turned the D-Bug forcefully. Praise the Dwarven technology, I thought, as the key turned smoothly without even a sound of creak.

Then came a series of distant, heavy cl.i.c.k.i.n.g sounds, followed by the two doors opening inwards... revealing the color of blue.

Not the beautiful autumn sky blue. Not the refreshing sea-color blue. Wait, yes, it did remind me of a sea.

A deep sea. Ominous, repelling, and foreboding.

I had no idea what the color beyond the Gates meant. Level Two was a desert wasteland, but the color shown through the Level One Gate was black, not sandy brown.

Perhaps the colors represented the atmosphere, the degree of danger, of the Level ahead. Was the color black a warning enough for all that happened at Level Two? Oh, yes. Did the deep-sea blue color feel more reassuring than the color black? Was such a comparison even possible?

"It's okay, Beta."

Elysia held my hand. I turned to her and blinked at her warm smile.

"Don't be afraid. I'm right here with you."

"I'm not afraid," I scoffed, all bravado.

Elysia saw through me and smiled even more broadly, only to let it falter after blinking uncomfortably.

"You don't think we're going to fall or anything, do you?" asked Elysia with a hint of fear.

That was the least of my worries, to be honest.

"Why do you ask?"

"Just a hunch."

"Wait. Should I be worried? Because how Elves are keen with their senses—"

"It's probably nothing," Elysia shook her head absentmindedly.

"You couldn't possibly be afraid of heights. I saw you climb through... you climbed... you're afraid of heights," I concluded somberly.

"Everyone has a weakness," said Elysia quietly.

"Right. It's no laughing matter. So, when you saw me flying around the arena at Colosseum Ultimatum—"

"Let's not talk about that right now," shuddered Elysia.

"You piloted the Dwarfighter inside the topmost seat. Were you scared then too?"

"I'm okay with heights... generally. It's just the falling part that I can't stand."

I was genuinely glad that I was getting to know Elysia better.

"How many times have you fallen before? I mean, was there a particular instance that made you afraid of heights like that?"

Elysia did not seem too eager to answer the question.

"Being a Runnel, you face challenges daily, and that includes tracking criminals by traveling on treetops... three times, I had fallen."

"Were you hurt?"

"Not severely... But it left a scar."

I blinked.

"I didn't see any scar on your body."

We were alone, just the two of us, the night was long, the shower was warm, the bed was a little small, but no problem... so, yeah.

"Inside. It left a scar inside."

"You mean like a trauma?"

"No. It's more like a 'trill.'"

"I don't understand."

"I can feel if a great fall is about to come. Like, right now."

.

.

.

"Well, I don't want to downplay your phobia or anything, but it could be a false alarm, right? Has it always been one hundred percent accurate, your pre-fall tingle?"

We had been sitting down in front of the open Flood Gate for some time now. Elysia was always calm, and if she was shaken up right now, she was doing the best she could to hide her panic attack.

I now realized that when she held my hand, she was more afraid than I was. It was only natural that I comforted her this time, so I extended my hand to clasp it over Elysia's.

Elysia brought her palms to her face, and my hand grabbed the sand instead.

"It's helped me prevent pretty dangerous falls from time to time," murmured Elysia, her voice muted behind her delicate hands.

"So what do you want to do? I'm not leaving if you're not coming along. You know that."

Elysia removed her hands from the face and blinked at me. A faint smile rose afterward, and I smiled back fondly.

"Thanks. I am never leaving your side either, Beta."

"Good. Because I would never let you."

"All right, enough sweet talk. Let's talk plans."

Elysia wiped the smile off her face and looked into the air, serious and contemplating.

She was just getting embarrassed, that was all.

"We're certain that our clothes will remain even when the weapons are gone?" asked Elysia broodingly.

"There's a chance that the weapons will be safe too, with this particular Gate."

"I don't think so, Beta. Give up."

"These are my friends. They're my comrades, Ellie!" I protested, hugging Niper and stroking the long, smooth barrel of Hunter affectionately, no homo and no innuendo intended at this particular moment. And as for Tolliver, he was practically a little baby. Please.

"If you'd rather let your 'friends' melt through the passing, then be my guest. Ignore their scream in agony all you want."

How could someone so beautiful be so cold-hearted and callous? Oh, right, she was an Elf. She never had an imaginary friend growing up. How could she? Her entire race lacked imagination. And for someone without any imagination, that bit about agonized screaming was quite poignant—

"What do you mean screaming in agony? You didn't hear such a thing."

Elysia looked up from her thought. I did not like that she looked slightly apologetic.

"What is it?"

"... When we passed through the Gate from Level One... I heard."

"Heard what?"

"Our weapons breaking. Almost like sizzling into dust. Now, I wouldn't call it 'screaming'—"

"No! Not my babies!"

I hugged my guns even tighter. Elysia blinked, exasperated and humored at the same time.

"But you're right, Beta. Take your chance and hope that they survive this time."

Was she mocking me? No. Elysia could be cold, but she was never nasty.

"You know what? Maybe I will take that chance. Either way, they turn to dust through the Gate or rust for eternity without anyone maintaining them here."

"Well, Dwarven weapons rarely rust—"

"Or are you suggesting that we stay here for a little longer, you know, plan ahead for a few more days?"

I was still hugging my prized weapons then.

"There's nothing here, Beta. You know we have to move on."

I loosened a little at Elysia's soothing voice.

"You're right... And as for your apprehension about falling, I think I have a solution."

I went back to the seated Dwarfreighter and took out a set of cloth attachments. The wing parts of the stealth suit.

"I'm not wearing that thing," Elysia shook her head violently as soon as she saw what I held in my hands.

"You're not. I am. You'll just need to hug me tight if we fall."

"When we fall," hissed Elysia.

"Yes, in case that happens. Just know that I got you, in any circ.u.mstance."

Elysia watched apprehensively as I attached the wing parts.

"Should I name the stealth-slider suit? I've never named an armor before."

"What do you have in mind?" asked Elysia absentmindedly.

"Wingman."

"No. Drop it."

I shrugged and stood in front of Elysia. Elysia swallowed and tiptoed to run her arms around my neck. Her hair tickled my nose pleasantly. She smelled fantastic, as ever.

"Ready?"

"It's probably a good thing that I'm looking backward, not forward," whispered Elysia.

Even at this point, I was grinning, finding Elysia's hysteric fear both amusing and cute.

I took a step forward, expecting to place my foot on the sure ground.

... Well, let me just say that I was wrong, again, and Elysia was right, again.

With an inadvertent gasp, the freefall began.

.

.

.

"It's happening, isn't it?" shrieked Elysia through the wind rushing past our ears.

It was indeed a good thing that Elysia was not looking down below as I was doing. She had that added fear of falling on her back, but at least she could close her eyes unlike me who had to navigate in the air for a safe landing spot.

The thing was, there was no land in sight.

A vast sea lay beneath me. The salty smell was evident in the winds up so high. The view was nice, and I could even see the cloudless sky over both sides of the horizon.

[Skill activated: Wind Reader]

[Skill activated: Aerodynamics Artistry - Level A]

As soon as I saw the wind track, I turned my body. It was not as easy with another person almost choking me to death with her desperate arm lock, but I managed.

The falling speed was still a lot faster than I hoped, but at least I could control it for now.

"Ellie?" I spoke to the trembling Elfina's ear.

"Are we dead yet?" screamed Elysia.

"We're alive, and we'll be alive. There's a tiny problem though."

"We're going to die!"

"No. Calm down. I'm not seeing any ground around us. So we're going to have to dive. Into the water."

"I don't want to die!" cried Elysia. This was so unlike her.

"Stop flailing, or we will die for real, woman!"

Without any obstacle that changed and affected the wind stream, the sea breeze carried us over the sea smoothly. It was still too fast for my taste, but now we were actually gliding instead of falling.

My feet grazed the surface of the sea. I estimated that we were flying at about sixty miles per hour.

"I know you're a good swimmer, Elysia."

"Don' let go of me! Don't, I swear—"

"You're literally inches away from the surface. Open your eyes and check for yourself."

"You're lying. I can still hear the winds slashing at my ears—"

And now she did not hear anything because I dropped her into the water. I rolled and fell into the water myself as soon as I let go of the panicky Elfina.

Elysia and I broke the surface at about the same time.

"The water... it tastes like salt," said Elysia numbly.

"Welcome to the sea, my lady," I laughed. Elysia, still bewildered, laughed along, her hair wet and face glittering under the benevolent sun that watched over our graceful flight.

We survived a thousand-footer fall. I let out a hoot of exhilaration. Meanwhile, Elysia kept tasting the seawater, frowning and amazed by the new experience.

The excitement died down, followed by a slow but definite chilling of the body. I learned that none of my firearms made through the Transcendence. I felt sad, but the upside was that I had no three weighty metal weapons weighing me down... right in the middle of a vast, landless ocean.

"What now?" I sighed, suppressing the chattering of the teeth.

"You're sure you didn't see any land when you were up in the air?" asked Elysia warily. I shook my head in dismay. She swam closer to me and we held ourselves together for whatever warmth we could share between us.

A few more minutes passed by in silence. I could feel Elysia shuddering next to me, and she did me.

After a particularly strong jerk, followed by an uncontrollable shake, I turned to Elysia and hugged her.

"Elysia, I just want you to know this."

"What's that?" asked Elysia sharply. Oh no, was she losing her consciousness? I was speaking right next to her face.

"Ellie, babe, I was about to say—"

"No, look. Over there."

Elysia pointed to the horizon. I saw nothing at first. Then a dot.

[Skill activated: Eagle Eye]

Then a ship.

"What were you saying, Beta?" Elysia turned with a bright smile on her face. I was sure she was looking at the same smile on my face.

"That I'll love you for the rest of my life."

"You mean the few minutes we had before that ship came for us?" giggled Elysia as she kissed me heatedly.

We were saved.

The next twenty minutes or so spent in watching the galley ship sailing toward us felt like an eternity, but we saved our energy to stay afloat with the minimal movement and were prepared to holler at anyone aboard the ship for the rescue call.

When the ship came close enough that I could make out the dozen crew standing on the deck, I realized that they were not passing in our direction but were coming for our way.

We felt really saved then.

The ship stopped about a hundred feet before us. I watched a small boat carried down onto the surface by the rope. Four persons were aboard the small rescue boat.

Four Reptils, to be exact. In fact, the entire crew was made up of Reptil males, it seemed.

Elysia and I tensed a little as we watched the small boat sailing toward us. Then our tension broke when the Reptils waved their arms at us amicably, reassuringly. We could even hear their voices now.

"Hey ho, stranders! Hang in there, mates!"

"I told you it was no bird, Louwiss!"

"And you said it was another Goblin freak falling from the sky. Do they like Goblins to you, hmm?"

"Lamarkus, Louwiss, behave yourselves in front of our new friends," chided the older Reptil who seemed to be in charge of the group.

The Reptils helped Elysia and me get onto the boat with strong, short crocodile arms. They even gave us blankets to dry ourselves. I almost teared up at the hospitality.

"Where are you from, strangers?" asked the leader Reptil.

"Level Two," I answered through the chattering teeth.

"Oh my, hear that boys? We better take them to the captain."

The three peddlers answered 'aye aye' in unison. The small boat sailed fast and steadily toward the mother ship.

I had stopped shuddering when we were carried upward onto the deck of the galley. Twenty or so sailors were watching us intently. I wished I could read more into their reptilian eyes, but judging by the warm welcome at the rescue boat, I was not worrying too much about the curious stares.

The leader of the rescue squad patted my shoulder gently as he hurried down to the bas.e.m.e.nt chamber of the ship. Elysia and I waited patiently, nodding and waving back at the few who greeted us gregariously.

Then the large trapdoor on the floor opened and emerged a Reptilina, bigger and looking tougher than the other Reptilina I had seen before. I figured she was the captain.

"Guests! Welcome to our humble home, the Drowning Salamander!"

The Reptilina flourished her hands. A trinket of bracelets and other jewelry clanked as she slithered toward us. I smiled politely back at the female captain.

"My name is Laracroft, the captain of this ship. Now, Laqan was telling me that you guys come from the exotic Level Two?"

"Actually, we're from Level One originally," I answered meekly. I was quite fl.u.s.tered with all the attention. Besides, these Reptils looked like good people.

"Goodness gracious, multi-Transcendents! Imagine the ruckus they'll cause at the market," exclaimed the captain with her husky voice.

I was still smiling. So they were taking us to a market. I hoped they had some good food because I could use some after all those blue crystal energy bars and drinks.

"Boys, treat our guests nicely. No, you're our dear friends from now on," hissed Laracroft delightedly.

I felt so relieved that I had not seen what was coming next.

The Reptils, smiling and whistling, handcuffed us in shackles. It happened so fast that neither Elysia nor I could react in time.

"What's this?" said Elysia sharply.

I looked down at the shackles then up at the wrinkly, probably middle-aged captain.

"You, um, always put shackles on your friends?"

Because if that was the custom here, then, oh well.

I still wanted to hope for the better.

Laracroft smiled broadly and hissed excitedly once again.

"Not just friends. Our special, lucrative slave friends, you are!"

The Reptils around us cheered and clapped heatedly.

... F.u.c.k. Not this shit again.