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>>1906521
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>>1906521
>Wait for Cody, he should be diving down here with fresh air to breathe.
>Try to pull the water around Atlas, get him to stop or move toward you.

>>1906521
>Wait for Cody, he should be diving down here with fresh air to breathe.
>Try to pull the water around Atlas, get him to stop or move toward you.
i somewhat doubt cody will jump but pulling Atlas to us is a good idea

>>1906521
Cool, I feel like adding myself to the votes, been going through the archive to catch up because I needed something to do. In the hundreds somewhere.
>>1907096
>>1906566
seconding these

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You remain in place, and keep perfectly still. There's no hope fighting it alone, especially when you don't have an air supply to pull from. The monster can't see you, so the best thing to do is to keep it that way.

You'll just stand right here until Cody comes down with some fresh air and some backup. He should be down here any minute now anyway.

...
Any minute now.
Cody will come by.
With air.

Right?
Well, yeah. Of course he will. He's probably just gathering the air up, right now.

Thud.

That wasn't you, and it was too small to be the monster.
You quietly turn your head, and get a feel for whatever that figure behind you is doing.

He appears to be trying to surface by jumping off the lake's bottom, and then flail uselessly as he sinks again. No wonder this guy can't swim; he sinks like a brick! You think actual bricks might have a better time trying to swim than Atlas is having right now.

This is a problem, he's going to attract the monster.

Quietly, as to not draw any presence to yourself, you reach out with your watery grasp. You take his hand, and feel him trying to resist at first. You start to draw Atlas closer toward you.

He hits the grass with a gentle thud, and you push him down to keep his profile hidden.

..
Silence.

The monster either didn't see that, or didn't know what it was. You're going to consider that a success in any case.

Atlas then starts to try and talk to you.
Quickly, you clasp his mouth shut.

Shoot, it's moving now. It's spinning around, and slowly inching toward you.

You reach into the dirt and try to find something that may be able to ward the creature away.
..There, that might work.

You pick up a dislodged spear, and slowly hold it over your head.

Just as you predicted; a gigantic green tentacle moves forward to feel its prey. The slimy appendage gently rests on the tip of the spear. It feels the point, and prods the metal hilt.
Within the blink of an eye; the monster grabs the spear and drag it off into the unknown depths. You can hear a light hum as the monster accidentally pokes itself with it.

Then, silence again.

>Cody where the fuck are you?
>Time to send a signal?
>Stay here, stay hidden.
>Make the monster try that again, go for another arm.
>Other?

Magic sonar huh? Neat.

>>1908909
>Cody where the fuck are you?
>dontpanicdontpanicPANIC

>>1908909
>Cody where the fuck are you?
>dontpanicdontpanicPANIC
>Stay here, stay hidden.

Packing tonight, will continue tomorrow morning. Keep those votes coming!

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You keep Atlas down in the dirt, and make sure to keep your.. ear.. or eyes. or whatever you're using to see right now alert for the monster.

Right, it can't be your eyes, because those are closed right now. Is it an extension of your hearing? Sense of touch? Now isn't the time to be thinking of these problems. Now is the time to be concentrating on the monster.
Which is hard when Atlas still hasn't got the hint. He still keeps trying to stand up against your strength holding him down. You can tell that his inability to swim has weakened him heavily. He doesn't seem has agile as he once did, and you're easily able to hold him down. Maybe it's because he can't breathe?

Well, that makes two of you. Cody, where the hell are you? He should have jumped in by now, and you're expecting a big pocket of air from the surface to fuel your counterattack on the beast.

That's the theory, anyway. You're not really sure how that will play out, but anything is worth a try at this point.

Hummmmmmmm. The beast groans. It may still be stuck on that spear that it sucked up earlier.

If that's the case, then the best time to attack would be right now. At the same time, you need to get a signal to Cody about how much you need air right now. You're still doing fine, but you can tell Atlas is getting weaker. You would have thought someone who is akin to an ancient god would have some training on holding his breath at this point.

Why are you thinking about this so intently, all of a sudden?
Oh, maybe it's because you're starting to feel that pinch in your lungs, as well.

Now isn't a time to panic, of course. As long as you stay calm, you'll have plenty of air to wait out the monster. You just have to be patient.

You reach into your coat and pull out your greatest friend in time of need; alcohol. You pop the lid open and-
And the difference in pressure from the bottom of the lake to the inside of the canteen immediately causes water to come rushing in, and scattering the liquor in many different directions. You try grabbing a hold of some of it, but it's so watered-down as to even be 'liquor' anymore. Your tongue can't even feel a bite.

Panic.
Now is time to panic.
You feel your heartrate starting to increase, and your thirst run out of control. Panic, yes. That is the right course of action right now.

Splash.
SSssssss.

Twenty feet above you, someone about your size just jumped in.
Thank god, Cody. You would have gone mad if you were down here for even another minute without distraction.

Cody appears to be displacing a huge amount of water on his way down. Behind him, he drags a bubble of air from the surface as reinforcement.

Mmmmm.

This hasn't gone unnoticed from the monster.

>Quick! Jump up with Atlas and grab a breath of fresh air!
>Distract the monster while Cody tries to get to Atlas!
>COVERING FIRE!
>Do nothing, wait for the monster's next move.
>Other?

>>1913873
>Distract the monster while Cody tries to get to Atlas!
try moving random (sharp) junk in water currents?

>>1913873
>Quick! Jump up with Atlas and grab a breath of fresh air!

>>1913873
>Distract the monster while Cody tries to get to Atlas!

>>1913873
>Distract the monster while Cody tries to get to Atlas!
>>1914747
>try moving random (sharp) junk in water currents?

This is why I waited to vote. Seconding.

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That's not good. You can't see the monster, but you can only assume that he noticed that one.
On the other hand, now would be as good of a time as any to jump for the bubble. If the monster is still grappling with that spear, then it's your chance to get some air.

Atlas has lost the strength to fight against you holding him down. Which is both amazing and frightening. Amazing because you were certain that his strength is limitless, and frightening because this means you're not entirely sure how much longer he can last down here. What happens to someone in this world when they drown? Do they die? That's a question you rather not be asking yourself.

Which is good, because you're starting to feel the lack of breath eat away at your strength. You're certain that you couldn't take the beast in a one-on-one, nor could you find some way to cover Cody without even being able to see the monster.
Not to mention that every instinct in your body wants you to abandon cover right this instant and go get a breath of air. You've held your breath before, and have done it for quite a long time. This may beat your previous record, and you're doing it completely unassisted.

There's Cody, you just caught the slightest of glimpses of his figure backdropped with the bubble he's dragging behind him. You can tell that he's lost at the moment, too. He doesn't have the seemingly strange sixth-sense you've picked up, and he has started to swim parallel to the lake floor.
The monster would have to be an idiot to not notice that.

You have to calm down, and think. The spear trick worked out great last time, but how else are you going to fool that monster using that trick the second time? It may be a dumb idiot, but-
Oh, there's something.

You concentrate, and kneel on the lake's floor. Buried in the mud, there's a peculiar object that doesn't belong at the bottom of the sea. You grab the water surrounding it, and cause it to dislodge from the sand.

It's a cart, filled with weapons. This must be how the back-lines were carrying their armaments to battle. Inside there are still quite a few spears, swords, bows, arrows, and axes. Perfect.
You almost instruct the water to push the cart out of its rut and toward the monster. It rolls on its own momentum into the inky abyss.

There's the loud chatter of metal as something quick snatches the cart right out of the blue.

MMMMMMMMMMMM.

He hated that one.

The sound of the monster struggling with its new prey is overwhelmed by the loud crunching and clashing of steel. The weapons on the cart individually create their own little crash as they land on the seafloor.

Quickly, you grab Atlas and hoist him over your shoulders. The lack of air is really starting to get to you as well. You can feel the water propel both of you upward, and you intercept Cody.

>Cont.

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You tap his arm, and he nearly jumps ten feet away. You direct Cody downward, and lead him to a great hiding place behind a gigantic stone.

Cody lowers the air bubble over you and Atlas as he touches down on the seafloor. You immediately drop Atlas, and he flops to the ground in a heap.

"Holy shit, Jack." Cody hits the wet dirt behind the rock with a huff, "What the fuck was that thing?"
"That's a Kraken, Cody." You finally take out your emergency-emergency flask, and take the long-needed drink you've been waiting for. "Aye'll worry about that inna second, what's wrong with Atlas?"

He's not moving, and you're not sure he's breathing.
"Sssshit." Cody immediately stands up and jumps over to Atlas. "Water in his lungs. What the fuck you do to him, Jack?"
"Aye, dindn't do anythin'."

"Can you see that thing, Jack?"
"Aye can see a little ways. But its kinda far away right now. Aye gave it somethin' to chew on."

"Hold on, I can pump the water from Atlas' lungs, but shouldn't we worry about that thing right now?"

>No, it hears through the water.
>Yes, Aye'll go back out and fight it.
>One thing at a time.
>Aye dun know. Let's just get to the surface
>Other?

>>1918296
>No, it hears through the water.

I wonder if Cody would be capable of placing airbubbles around the area as distractions and collapse them to mess with the Krakens' hearing.

>>1918296
>No, it hears through the water.
>>Mostly.
>One thing at a time.
yeah, let's save Atlas from a stupid death first

>>1918296
>>Go find Atlas, make him stop walking.
>>1919331
>this

>>1918296
>No, it hears through the water.
>One thing at a time.
>Pump out water, pump air in? And his heart..?

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"No, it hears through the water. Aye dun think it hears real well through air." You grit your teeth, "One thing atta time, get Atlas up n' around again."
"Got it. Keep an eye on the monster."

Cody quickly kneels next to Atlas, and puts his ear to his chest.
"His heart is still tickin', but his lungs are mostly water." Cody sighs, "Jack, where is the monster?"

You put your ear to the wall of water surrounding the bubble of air. In the distance, you can hear him. He's still fumbling around noisily with the metal implements you provided for him.
Let's see if you can still 'see' him.

You stick your head into the wall of water, and concentrate.
He has unfolded himself, but still appears to be unaware of your presence. His arms must reach almost a hundred feet long, and culminate in a massive globe of flesh which you can only describe as 'terrifying'. His figure appears backdropped between a cloud of dark mist. Slowly, it starts to envelope him once more in a protective layer. The majority of the dark mist appears to be pouring from the stump that was once his eighth arm.

Well, at least he's not interested in you at the moment.

You look back to Cody, and see that he's making something akin to progress.
His hands glow green, and water appears to be pouring from Atlas' mouth.

"What're ye doin?"
"Filling his lungs with air, trying to displace the water. Give me a hand, pull the water out."

You sit on the other side of Cody and start to slowly draw the water from his beached lungs. You're amazed this guy could inhale this much water.

Cody instructs you to stop, and he leans his head against his chest one more time.

"How's he?"
"He's still not breathing, but his lungs are dry." Cody's hands continue to glow green. "I can get him breathing again if you can keep lookout."
"Aye it's fine, the monster is distracted."

"You sure?" Cody seems nervous, "Go check again."

You shrug and approach the wall of water once more. You're just about to stick your head through when-

When you can feel him.
You try to concentrate and feel where the monster is right now. He's moved, there's no doubt about that. It's just how he's moved is the problem.

Instead of facing toward you; he's instead opted to sit alongside the bubble of air. His long tendrils sit lengthwise, and the mass of flesh you can only assume to be his body is almost right next to the bubble.

He seems to be looking for you, and he's so huge that he appears to be having problems moving around.

Then again, now would be a great time for a surprise attack on the beast. The thing that you can only assume is his 'head' is right next to you. Plus, you're right next to your source of air.

>Attack him right now!
>Wait for Atlas
>Tell Cody what you're thinking, get his ideas
>Stay perfectly still, tell Cody not to talk.
>Other?

>>1922528
>"Cody, how much longer?"
>>"He's right here."
>Attack as soon as you can

>>1922528
>Wait for Atlas
>Stay perfectly still, tell Cody not to talk.

No sense in attacking if Atlas isn't up yet

>>1922528
>Wait for Atlas
>Stay perfectly still, tell Cody not to talk.

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You take your head out of the water, and then slowly back away from the wall. Gently, you tiptoe backwards and kneel next to Cody.

"(Cody)." You whisper, "(How much longer?)"

"Just a minute, he's starting to breathe again, why are you-"
"(Shh.)" You put up your finger. "(The monster is right thar. Right outside.)"

Cody's face blanks, and you're certain he's not paying attention to the patient right now.
"(The fuck you want me to do, then?)" Excellent question, Cody.

"(Get Atlas up, and we'll worry 'bout it then)."

Cody nods and continues what he was doing; drawing water out of Atlas' lungs. Atlas slowly starts to move, and can even raise his hand. Cody tries to keep him still while he works his magic.

Okay, he's not in great shape right now. Maybe, just maybe if he can stand up in the next five minutes, then you can-

"(Jack)."
"(Yar?)."

"(That's not your hand on my shoulder, is it?)."

You look behind him, and notice something gently moving past him. A long tendril gently probes the river floor, but doesn't find anything of interest.

You stay perfectly still, and Cody gets the hint to do the same. Slowly, the green appendage withdraws back into the watery depths from which it came.

There's a sigh that escapes your mouth, and you feel yourself about to speak.
Cody, on the other hand, still has the same wide-eyed stare he had previously.

You feel something.. different upon your back. Cold and slimy. It gently brushes past your back, and you can hear it trying to grab several metal pieces of debris lodged in the mud.

Time seems to slow down as you feel the cold radiating off its slimy probiscous. There hasn't been much that has given you a scare here in this land, but this has to take the cake.

A draft of wind nearly knocks you off your feet as the tentacle withdraws back into the water with a mass of metal refuse in tow. Either he has a taste for metal, or it is having a very hard time trying to understand what is going on right now.

"Jack." Cody is sweating bullets, but you can't blame him. "Are you alright?"

"Fer fuck's sake, aye don't know." You take out your flask, and drink whatever is left at the bottom of it.

Atlas' hand moves to grab at the dirt, but it doesn't seem to carry much strength to it. He's at least breathing, so that's a good start.

>We need to get this on the road, is there anything you can do to get him back into shape?
>He'll be fine here. Get Cody and face that thing.
>The monster likes metal, huh? Maybe it just likes things that make a lot of noise.
>That gives you an idea.
>Other?

>For whatever crazy idea you have. roll 1d100, best of three.

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>1927373
>The monster likes metal, huh? Maybe it just likes things that make a lot of noise.

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>>1927384
Guys.

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>1927373
>The monster likes metal, huh? Maybe it just likes things that make a lot of noise.
>That gives you an idea.

>>1927407
I hope my roll means Jack soon gets to say "One ping, and one ping only."

Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>1927373
>The monster likes metal, huh? Maybe it just likes things that make a lot of noise.
>That gives you an idea.
tell me we have another loaded cannon somewhere...

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"So, the monster likes metal, eh?" You're starting to get a wild idea, again.
"It might just like things that make a lot of noise." Cody trys picking up Atlas, but he's way too heavy for that. Atlas gently shoves him away, and keeps coughing.

"Aye might have just the thing fer him."
You didn't think it would get much use, but it was something you've been holding onto for a long time. A kind of implement that you thought would be a neat trap for Atlas. You didn't have much use for it other than throwing it at him, but you at least have a good excuse right now.

You concentrate on your ring, and pull out the ace up your sleeve.
"The hell is that?" Cody seems perplexed.
"It's a mine, Cody."

Indeed, a globe with spikes poking in all directions around it. Any of the wrong presses against the pikes would cause it to become extremely incandescent.
"A 'mine'? You mean like.. for ships? Where did you get something like that?"
"Konditorei had it on their airship, aye think they use some kinda magic to make it float in the sky, but aye thought to keep it around." You take another drink from your flask, just to solidify how great of an idea this is, "Y'know, just in case."

"R-right." Cody seems oddly nervous, "So how are you gonna get that to the monster, Jack? I thought those things exploded when-"
"It's fine, watch."

You slowly walk over to it, and carefully lift it by the holding block situated on the bottom.
"Aye, see? Just gotta hold it right. Ye ready, Cody?"
"Ready for what?"

You take out your pistol. Then, you aim it up at the sky, and smile wildly at Cody.
"Yar, aye'll go first."
With a gentle pull of the trigger; two extremely loud shots ring off into the abyss.

mmMMMM.
The monster's arm reaches back into the bubble of air. Gently, you oblige his curious tendencies. You slowly hand him the massive metal ball, and then wait for the tentacle to wrap around it fully.

The beast snatches it up with a jolt. It quickly consumes the metallic orb as if it were a fish or maybe even yourself.

THUD.
HHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

The ocean above you turns pitch-black from the monster's blood pouring out of whatever kind of wound that just gave him.
"Jack, goddammit, why don't you ever-" Cody readies his pistol, and takes a green glob of air as he follows behind you. Quickly, you and him jump into the ether to face the creature.

Cody grabs onto your leg, but that doesn't bother you a bit. You can see the monster perfectly fine through his thick smokescreen of ink and blood. It's not doing great, there now exists a massive gap where its mouth once was.
You need to think of a way to finish this before the monster finds a way to recover.

>Cut through the gap and slice him in half!
>Work on the arms, try to cut off his other seven while he's weakened.
>Explosives worked great! Maybe you can try to get something from the surface.
>Beach him. Use the water currents to displace him onto shore.
>Other?

>>1928486
>Beach him. Use the water currents to displace him onto shore.

>>1928486
>Beach him. Use the water currents to displace him onto shore.

Considering how water encloses the explosion so well on a direct hit, the Kraken is probably far, far too concussed to magic.

>>1928486
>Beach him. Use the water currents to displace him onto shore.

>>1928486
>Beach him. Use the water currents to displace him onto shore.
This exposes it to all offense we have at our disposal. Lighting should work again too.

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You slice through the water with precision as you sight your goals on only one thing: the monster.
His arms writhe and fumble as it struggles to orient itself toward you, and to give himself an extra push.

You signal to Cody to hang on tight, and you try a most daring plan.

The nearest 'beach' was the cliffside that you were surveying the battlefield from just the other day. That's not too far away from here. Maybe, just maybe- you can..

The water wraps around your hands like a blanket, and you can feel it starting to grip the monster.
MMMMMMMMMM

It hates it, but you're going to keep doing it anyway.

You start dragging it along the seafloor as it struggles and fights to get away. For something that should be mortally wounded, it sure has some fight in it. It uses its tendrils to try grappling you, but is far too weaked from the split down its jawline to make any serious effort.

Yar, you've caught other fish like that before.

With a hoist, you throw it clean out of the water and let it land with a splat just outside the lake.
"Stall it." You grab Cody by the collar, "Aye'm goin' back fer Atlas."

"Got it." Cody leaps from the water, and assumes a fighting stance on land. The monster attempts to push itself back into the lake, but finds itself unable to even move its own mass.

Quickly, you backtrack through the now pitch-black waters of the newly formed lake. You have a general idea of where the air bubble is, but are finding trouble navigating through all the dirt and ink the monster threw in order to try and save itself.
Even without your eyes, it's a bit of a challenge.

You punch through what you hope is the wall into the bubble of air. You land with a thud, and quickly go to inspect Atlas.

Alas, he's still not awake. He's not moving, either. Damn it. You were hoping to have the expert demon slayer when it came to slaying demons, but you'll just have to do with what you have.

Quickly, you hoist him over your shoulder and make a break for the surface.

--

With a thud, you drop Atlas on the shoreline. In the distance, you can still see Cody squaring off against the beast.
He's having a hell of a time, but it's far easier for him to fight the creature on the surface than in the water.

The beast has taken to flailing its arms around seemingly at random. Maybe it's looking for water, maybe it's a last-ditch attempt to defend itself. Either ways, it's keeping Cody on his toes and away from the massive split in its head.

"HEY!" You yell at the boat in the middle of the lake, "YUUKI! LOUISE! WE NEED'YA"

No response.

>Go back up Cody.
>Get to the ship, alert the others.
>At least get Louise to teleport there.
>Make some kind of impromptu flare?
>Other?

>>1929839
>Go back up Cody.
>Make some kind of impromptu flare?

>>1929872
I wonder if Cody can pull off a thundercrack

>>1930493
I mean he doesn't do electricity, but a loud burst of air maybe

>>1930495
You mean a Sonic Boom? From Cody doing things that break the sound barrier?

It would make sense, guns usually do that so it's not like it would be a new idea to him.

>>1929839
>Go back up Cody.
>Make some kind of impromptu flare?

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"YUUKI!"
Damn it.

You turn your pistol to the skies, and fire several times into the air.
"YUUKI! DORJE! HEY!"
Why can't they hear you? They can hear just as well as you can. Are they too busy scanning the water for the monster?
Whatever, you have important business to tend to.

Quickly, you move to help Cody. He's been trapped by several of the monster's arms, and is struggling to free himself.
You jump in with your cutlass, and quickly slash off another one of the monster's arms!

"YE FERGET YER SWORD, CODY?"
"I DON'T HAVE A SWORD!" He throws the severed limb off of himself.
"WHY DUN YE HAVE A SWORD?!"

"NOT NOW!"
Cody takes two more shots at the next massive strike heading his way. That merely deters the monster, and it instead slams down next to him. The stone beneath his feet cracks and shatters with a massive blow.
"CODY, YE GOT A WAY TO SIGNAL THAT SHIP?"
"GIVE ME A SEC!"

You take the heat off Cody, and try for another one of the beast's limbs. The random flailing, while not being very precise, is certainly effective at deterring the two of you.
"JACK, KEEP HIM OFF ME"

Cody turns away from the monster, and you notice something in his hand glowing. Quickly, he throws a green boomerang into the air.

BANG!
BANG! BANG!

The sound dwarfs any kind of noise your pistol could have made.

"Back to work, Jack!" Cody spins around and unloads several more rounds into the beast.
The beast is down to six limbs, but it has started to throw its weight around in a last-ditch effort to return to the sea. It gently shoves painfully across the rocks, and leaves a trail of black blood behind it. It would be almost pathetic if it weren't for the fact that it would likely not make the same mistake twice if it reached water.

Not just that, the wound the mine made in its face.. it seems to be healing.

"Jack.." Cody stops, "Why is the monster glowing?"
Oh shit, can this thing use magic, too?

bbzzzZZZZZZZZSSHRRRKKKK

A bold of blue flies straight over your head and strikes the monster. The monster quits glowing, and buries its tentacles in the dirt to shield itself.
Louise is here, probably the first person who can instantly go anyplace she wants. She holds her hands out, and is panting.

"Louise, turn it to ash!"
She starts to glow again, and throws another bolt of blue toward it. The lightning runs across its skin and immediately follows its limbs into the ground.

Suddenly, the monster starts to glow once more.

>ALL THREE, ATTACK, NOW
>Stay back! It can't keep this up forever!
>Most important thing is to keep it from going back into the water
>Keep the wound open! Make sure it can't heal itself!
>Other?

>>1931073
>ALL THREE, ATTACK, NOW
>Most important thing is to keep it from going back into the water

>>1931073
>ALL THREE, ATTACK, NOW
>Most important thing is to keep it from going back into the water

>>1931073
>ALL THREE, ATTACK, NOW
>Most important thing is to keep it from going back into the water

Rolled 97, 99, 17 = 213 (3d100)

>>1932403
>Two 99's in a single thread
the dice gods taunt my attempts at suspense.
Writing.

>>1932403
Please tell me that's our allies...

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"LOUISE, CODY, ATTACK RIGHT NOW!"
"Got it!" Louise happily exclaims. There's a flash of yellow as she takes her gigantic axe out from her ring.

Cody seems less enthusiastic than Louise. He limps to his feet, and pulls out his pistol with a lack of enthusiasm.
The monster realizes what's about to happen, and fires a blade of water straight at your team! The magic water has assembled into nothing short of a guillotine that slices clean through the air!

Louise recognizes the danger, and counters sharp object with sharp object! She immediately leaps up and slashes the incoming wave with an impressive feat of nimbleness and skill!

The monster glows once more, but is struck with a green bolt of wind from Cody. It loses its footing and falls backwards onto itself.
Which gives Louise the perfect opening! She starts to glow an angry shade of yellow, and closes in on the grounded tenacles. With a fell swoop, her sparking electric axe cleaves off one of the monster's appendages!

It screams a foul, and angry squeal which pierces the air! Louise stumbles backwards at merely hearing such a loud, awful sound.

Using its remaining five limbs; it does everything in its power to make distance between the little girl with the big axe and the gaping wound in its face, not to mention the closest thing you could describe as its junk. It slips awkwardly along the shale cliff, and flails in a fountain of black ink.

Louise naturally doesn't want to get near it, but then gets another brillaint idea:
Just shock it.

She glows that angry blue color again, and unleashes a bolt of pure electricity right at the monster! This causes him to jump, and escape the rut he was stuck in. In just a few more feet, the beast is going to plunge straight into the water!
It would probably realize that it needs to hide at this point. If it finds its way back underground, then there's no telling how long it would take for it to regenerate and come back to the surface.

Quickly, you make a snap decision. You jump OVER the monster!
-Then dive right back into the water on the other side of him.

Concentrating on the liquid, you start to slowly raise a pillar of water out of the lake. Soon, the aqueous pillar is as high as the cliffside, and you're riding on top of it.

Slowly, you direct the pillar toward the beast, and begin pushing the monster back onto shore. You use the water like a wall and direct it straight into the monster.

It struggles against your push, and tries to orient itself back away from you. At the same time-

>Cont.

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"JACK! DUCK!"
Duck?

You look toward Louise, and notice that both her and Cody have hit the dirt. You quickly do the same.

BOOM!

A symphony of blasts goes off, and the monster tumbles backwards as the strength of a dozen explosions ripple across it!

You turn around and notice that the ship has finally pulled close enough to fire the cannons on-board! Yuuki leaps from the deck and lands next to you with a thud.

Which is the perfect time for the monster to make a counter-attack! It lashes out, and tries to grab Yuuki around her arm!

"NO YOU DON'T!" Louise immediately zaps forward and lunges at the monster.

With the mighty clang of a greataxe; the monster loses three more arms, and even part of its body!

You quickly sprint forward with intent on destroying the beast. It tries to fight you with the few arms it has left, but is far too imbalanced to fight against you right now. You close the distance and give it a good slice right down the center!

The severed half flops backwards, and dissolves into a slimy ooze.

"Holy shit." You almost fall to your knees.
Yuuki quickly catches up, and helps you to your feet.

>I need a drink.
>Faint.
>Ask someone to make SURE the monster is dead.
>Time to sleep, right here.
>Other?

>>1932446
Louise rolled the 99
Poor monster rolled the 17

In short, that's how a final boss can get massacred with just a few bad rolls and a few almost-critical rolls from the heroes. Thinking back, I don't think the monster rolled high enough to damage anyone.

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>Ask someone to make SURE the monster is dead.

>>1932772
I'd like to think my magic-pseudoscience technobabble helped as much as my 99 but for some reason I doubt it

>>1932770
>I need a drink.
>Ask someone to make SURE the monster is dead.
>I need a drink.
>Find Atlas, ask if he officially concedes
>I need a drink

>>1932770
>I need a drink.
>Ask someone to make SURE the monster is dead.
>Find Atlas, ask if he officially concedes
>>Check if he's still alive, or needs more help
>I need a drink.

>>1932770
>Ask someone to make SURE the monster is dead.
>Find Atlas, ask if he officially concedes
>For the sake of the others to start celebrating
>I'd better wake up to a drink
>Collapse

>>1932772
A dangerous, creeping threat that is only barely escaped is a fine result. If it never lands a hit it sticks as an unknown level of threat. Not necessary to deal significant damage like an rpg boss.

>>1932770
>>1932790
>This

>>1932770
>I need a drink.
>Ask someone to make SURE the monster is dead.
>Somebody get Cody a sword
>Find Atlas, ask if he officially concedes

Posting update in the morning, had to pack tonight.

Rolled 77, 9, 30 = 116 (3d100)

>>1937961
unlucky rabbit.

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You cough, and cough. The panting barely has enough time to escape your lungs.

Hack...
Wheeze..

Okay.
THAT was a close one, and that-

"Aw shit." You mumble.
"What? What's wrong?!"

"Yuuki, could ye be a dear and make sure the monster is dead?" You cough, and then sit down. "Aye need a drink n' maybe a few years of rest."

"Right, right. Leave it to me."

Yuuki walks to the edge of the cliffside, and peers over.
"Y-yeah." She looks a little sick, "I think he's definitely dead."

"Aye, great."

"I don't know if that's great, Jack. I mean, that's kind of cruel to do to-"
Just as Yuuki is about to give you some kind of stupid lecture; you see a shadow start to rise behind her.

"YUUKI! DUCK!"

You struggle to stand, but find that your mind is acting faster than your feet. You nearly slip and fall down as you draw your pistol.

"What?" Yuuki, instead of listening, proceeds to go wide-eyed as her gaze fixes on you.
Slowly, the shadow of three long tendrils looms over Yuuki.

"DAMN IT LASS, DUCK!"
As if time has slowed down for her; she turns with the urgency of a sloth. Slowly, the limbs start to descend.

SMASH!

Yuuki jumps back, and quickly brings her spear to bear.
The tentacles writhe, and then fall limp under a gigantic, flaming stone.
Another wave of firey lava collides with the tentacles, and traps each one of them in a boiling cast of lava!

"Uh.." Yuuki stares on with confusion, and you spin around to see what is going on.

Standing slightly off the ship is Kayda, and you see Dorje standing right next to her.
Dorje and Kayda are holding hands, and seem to be channeling the fiery boulders onto the beast! Dorje is plucking stone from the cliffside, and Kayda coats it in a flame so hot that it melts almost instantly! Their clasped hands are glowing a glistening glow of red and orange.

The monster wheezes boiling stone as it flops into its footprint. What remains of it becomes encased in what can only be described as stone in liquid form.

Dorje and Kayda sigh in relief, and Yuuki sinks to her knees. Yuuki should have known better than to turn her back on the body of a beached monster, but everyone has their off-moments.

Kayda suddenly realizes that she's still holding Dorje's hand, and quickly snatches it away from him. She turns away and storms off in a huff.

Ha, Cute.

>Cont.

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What isn't cute is that the quickly-cooling stone appears to be cracking in several areas. Some of the places where the rock hasn't fully cooled appears to be writhing.
"Oh come on." Yuuki huffs, "It's not seriously still alive, is it?"

That's a scary thought. That in a few days whatever is left of the thing will just break out of the stone and crawl back into the ocean. You suppose the best thing to do is bury it under a mountain, but you're not sure that Dorje and Kayda alone can melt enough stone to do that.

"Halt.. Halt." You hear an exasperated voice interject itself.

"Atlas?!" Cody jumps up and rushes to the side of the massive mountain of a man.

Indeed, it is Atlas. He appears to be sluggishly shuffling instead of his normal gait, but it's him. Over his shoulder he carries what appears to be some kind of rod which seems to glow in the light.

"You didn't do what I asked.. I told you to get a demon hunter and seal it once and for all, not fight it by yourself." He huffs, again. "You want to know why Silver is so valuable? I'll show you."

He approaches the still-writhing mess of red-hot stone. Quickly, he slams the silver pike straight down into the bulbous section of it.

Immediately, all movement under the boiling lava stops.

He stumbles on his feet a few more paces, and then sits down in a huff.

"Silver is important and valuable because it's the only way to keep huge demons at bay." Atlas is panting, he coughs slightly. "Silver holds them in place, and allows the barrier to dissipate them."

He coughs once more, and tries to stand up. You decide now is as good of a time as any to ask an important question.

"Hey Atlas, ye surrender?"

Atlas looks up at you like you're the craziest bastard he's ever met.

"Yes Jack." He wheezes, "Yes sure, I surrender. You did good, and I'm so happy someone managed to-"
He flops backwards, and lays still. Yuuki is the first one to jump to his side.

"Oh thank goodness, he's breathing." Yuuki sighs.

"Aye know. Can't kill a man as stubborn as that. Aye should know."

>Try standing up without fainting.
>Try drinking without fainting.
>Just accept it and go to sleep
>Sit here for a few more minutes. Just a few
>Other?

>>1938441
>Just accept it and go to sleep
>Get comfortable first. Maybe in our princesses arms.
>"Start the party without me."

>>1938441
>Sit here for a few more minutes. Just a few.

>>1938441
>Try drinking without fainting.
>Try to find your summoner and consider taking a nap on her
>> Remember Atlas doesn't have one and shake Aligot around for a temporary solution

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"Hey, Yuuki. Go get Aligot an' ask him if he has a way to recharge 'im. He needs me more than aye do right now."
"Right! Right."
Yuuki takes to her feet and charges off toward the rear-guard where Aligot is situated.

You feel too exhausted to even stand. You need to rest, and you need to rest for a very long time.

"You okay, Jack?" Cody slumps onto the ground, as well.

"Yar. Aye'm fine."

"Right. I think I'll.. I think I'll just take it easy here for a few minutes."

With that, Cody rolls over and stretches out on the stone.
You would like to go to sleep, too. There's just one thing that you're missing before you do.

"JACK!" Out of the corner of your eye, you see someone jump from the deck of the ship all the way to the cliffside. Tuile seems to have a worried expression on her face as she quickly closes the distance between you and her.
That's what you were waiting for.

"Hey honey." You struggle to stand to your feet, but find yourself almost slipping. "It's good to see- oof."

You trip over a stone, and fall almost face-first into the dirt. Quickly, Tuile catches you.

"Jack, oh my god, are you okay?!"
"I'm fine, sweetie." You find yourself pressing firmly against her chest to help right yourself. Gently, you stand up. "Just'a little tired, is all."

"A little tired?" Tuile huffs, "You turned Biscotti from a land-locked country into a coastal city, do you realize that? That you summoned enough water to give us a port?!"

"Lass aye didn't summon the water, just sort of-borrowed it. Are ye mad 'bout those other things? The damage? The lake?"
"No, Jack. I'm worried!" She tugs at you, tightly. "Are you feeling okay?! How's your temperature?"

"Tuile, Tuile, not now. Aye'm fine."

"You don't look fine." She still seems a little nervous.

"Aye'm doin' okay, Lass. Aye just gotta, take a drink."

You pull out your emergency-emergency-backup flask. Quickly, you down the entire tiny container.

"And then, aye gotta- rest fer a while."

You take exactly two steps before falling sideways right onto Tuile. Her cleavage rapidly converging on your face is the last thing you see before feeling a pair of arms wrap around you. There's some excited commotion which sounds way off in the distance to you.

Yep. Today was a good day.

>Thread End

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Everyone. Thank you so much for participating in Dog Days quest.
This main story has been going on for three years now. Can you believe it? When I started, I was still a student finishing his senior year in University. This is by far the biggest project I've ever done in my life. At least the one that has lasted the longest. It's been an amazing run and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

As of right now, according to emacs: Dog Days Quest is made of 61,703 lines, 548,483 words, and 3,063,993 characters. I'm sure someone can do the math and compare that to War and Peace, but I'm too tired right now to do it.

Does this mean the quest is over? Nope. Now we begin the one or two epilogue threads I have planned. Is it going to be anything major? Nope, just a few loose ends to tie up and some more fun with the characters before I let them rest for a short while.

Thanks to everyone for participating. Once again, please be sure to contact me or let me know what you thought of the quest and the main story.

There's a hurricane that maybe-maybe-not is going to hit me. So Tuesday's thread maybe slightly postponed. If it is, then I'll continue when it's most convenient. Thanks!

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>>1940261
This is probably the last quest that I am still following, and I am happy that you did it so well. For years this has been a constant happiness through some unhappy times and I am glad you stuck through it.

Thank you, and stay safe.

>>1941139
And I am so happy that other people have enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. Thanks for sticking with me all this time!

>>1940261
Having a good time. Wish it'd never end, but alas.

And as an off hand suggestion, Atlas getting Madeline as his "summoner" would be a nice thing. Their combined practical knowledge is fantastic. Teamed up they'd probably start killing demons with mushrooms.

>>1941312
>Having a good time. Wish it'd never end, but alas.
Worry not! I'll be back to some more questing sooner or later.