Joe thought back to Poppy’s warning about the glitchy respawn mechanics. He’d a sinking feeling that was why those ascenders hadn’t made it back from the common room to regroup with their factions. The thought made his stomach tighten. He turned to Rose, scratching his head.

  “So, how far’d you get on your first try?”

  Rose wrung out her hair, irritation flickering across her face. “Not far enough. I got about halfway. I wasn’t even near the trap when I had to turn back.”

  Luna tilted her head. “Why?”

  “There’s something waiting down there,” Rose said, her tone low. “A bioluminescent glow at the edge of my vision. It was blurry, but something about it didn’t feel right. No magic means I’m stuck relying on regular sight, and you know how murky everything gets underwater. It was waiting for me, Joe. We’d agreed no risky respawns so I wasn’t about to stick around and see what it wanted.”

  Luna’s scowl deepened. “So let me get this straight. You have to hold your breath, dodge a glow-in-the-dark sea monster, and solve a puzzle? Fantastic. Totally reasonable.”

  Joe shrugged, cracking a half-smile. “Right? Nothing like a little life-or-death multitasking. Tower’s really upping the stakes.”

  “Let’s even the odds.” TJ tapped the sheath of his machete with a cocky grin. “Me and Dawn will take care of the monster. Rose you can focus on getting to the lagoon.” He shot Dawn a look, eyebrows raised, clearly expecting her to back him up.

  Dawn stood with her arms crossed, staring hard at the water, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Hell no, TJ. I like swimming as much as cats do. I’ve had my fill of it…” Her voice trailed off, swallowed by the sound of the waves.

  Her eyes flicked to Joe for a split second, and he saw it—the glimmer of something raw, something unspoken. He thought back to their shared vision, the gray-washed memory of that brutal industrial school.

  Joe cleared his throat, forcing a grin to cut through the tension. “No worries, I’ll dive in. Just keep an eye out for any skinny dippers, alright?”

  Dawn grimaced, glancing at the factions milling near the water. “If I see any dangly bits or someone trying to pull a Baywatch slow-mo run, I’m done. Faith in humanity? Gone.”

  “You won’t catch me out there either.” Brian shrugged. “I swim like a stone. Growing up in the dwarf mines doesn’t exactly make you an Olympian.”

  “I’m in!” TJ interrupted, puffing out his chest. “Look, I’m the toughest here. If anything messes with Rose, I’ll smack it back from where it came.”

  Luna shook her head. “Have you ever fought anything underwater, TJ?”

  TJ’s bravado wavered for a second, but he quickly shrugged it off. “No, but I mean—how different can it be from dry land?”

  “A lot different.” Luna crouched to swirl her hand through the water. “Everything’s slower, heavier. And another thing…” She stood, flashing a confident grin. “Unlike you, Mr. Strong-and-Stubborn, I’ve actually fought underwater. Grew up on a fishing island. Handling sea creatures and gutting them? Second nature.”

  Joe caught the steady look in her eyes and a knot formed in his gut. The deeper you went, the darker it got. You’d lose your sense of up and down—a cruel trick of the depths.

  TJ seemed to catch on, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, fine. I’ll stick to dry land. Someone’s got to guard your clothes and gear.”

  Joe sighed, realizing he’d have to strip down. There was no point risking his gear to the lagoon’s death trap. Kicking off his boots, he gave his pants a quick shake and stripped down to his tighty-whiteys, tossing his gear into a pile.

  TJ grinned, barely suppressing a laugh. “You’re brave, I’ll give you that.”

  Before Joe could reply, Luna, unfazed, started peeling off her gear. Underneath, she wore long johns dotted with tiny red hearts. She beamed. “Got these with time credits. Self-cleaning, quick-drying—love-heart runes for the win.”

  Rose snorted, then shot Joe a mischievous look. “Any chance you’ve got a spare pair for him?”

  Luna rummaged in her bag, dropping a pair of white shorts patterned with hearts onto Joe’s pile. “Backup pair. You can keep ‘em. I prefer my cozy onesies to boxers.”

  Joe’s face flushed redder than the hearts on the shorts. “Uh…thanks, I think.”

  He waded into the waves to join Rose and Luna, who were already ankle-deep in the surf, the chill creeping up his legs.

  “Dealing with monsters while the runes block ascender magic is no walk in the park,” Lucky said, his tone unusually serious. “But you’re in luck—I leveled up my Druidic Eye skill, so I know exactly what’s lurking down there.” His eyes gleamed. “Strawberry Squid. Bioluminescent Class. Level 15. It’s got Dual-Eye Vision—one eye up, one down. Sneaking past it is going to be tricky but I’ve got just the thing...” A vial appeared in his paw.

  He offered it to Joe. He took it and turned it over, inspecting the blob of white slime inside. It looked harmless like Lucky—but he knew better than to judge by appearances alone.

  “And this is?”

  “Hagfish Slime.” Lucky leaned forward and rubbed his hands. “Rare consumable. Just add water.”

  Joe raised a brow. “That’s it? No special instructions? No side effects I should know about?”

  Brian leaned in, equally curious, while TJ eyed it with suspicion like it was a vial of spunk he’d been told he had to drink.

  Lucky’s whiskers twitched. “Just don’t drink it. You’ll be fine.”

  A low rumble echoed from the lagoon, followed by a faint, pulsing glow that painted the waves in eerie hues. The sight sent a ripple of tension through the factions on the beach, some of whom were already gearing up to dive in.

  Lucky’s eyes widened. “You better go. Those things’ll swarm if they think more ascenders are coming.”

  Joe’s pulse quickened, but Luna just grinned at Lucky, then nudged Joe. “Alright, squid-slayer. Let’s get Rose through this mess.”

  With a final nod, Joe and Luna flanked Rose, taking their positions as her guards. The plan was simple: get Rose to the tunnel and past the monster while keeping her alive. Simple never meant easy, though.

  One last breath, and they slipped beneath the surface. The cold water hit Joe like a punch, stealing his breath for a moment before his body adjusted. Below, the squid’s bioluminescent glow pulsed, casting shifting shadows that danced across the seabed.

  Joe met Luna’s gaze and uncorked the vial, releasing the hagfish slime. It unfurled, spreading into thick, ropey tendrils that clouded the water in a dense, murky haze. The glowing light around them wavered, distorted by the slime’s reach.

  The squid jerked, one eye twitching toward the disturbance. Its focus shifted, and Joe felt the pressure in his chest ease.

  Joe: That was easier than I expected.

  Luna: Yeah, a piece of cake. Too bad we don’t have lemon drizzle to celebrate.

  Joe stifled a laugh but kept his strokes smooth, letting Lucky’s earlier warning about the squid’s pressure-sense skill echo in his mind. Luna mirrored his pace with ease, guiding Rose along as they descended.

  The water grew colder with every meter. It seeped past his skin and into his soul. Pulsing blue and green lights from bioluminescent tendrils and coral formations painted their path in an eerie glow. But Joe couldn’t shake the dread pooling in his gut. Something massive moved at the edges of his vision.

  Joe: Did you see that?

  Luna: Yes.

  Rose swam ahead, her strokes smooth and deliberate, the tunnel entrance so close now.

  Joe: Why do I get the feeling the strawberry squid was a decoy?

  Luna’s blade glinted in the dim glow like a shard of moonlight ready to strike. Joe couldn’t activate Quick Wit but he still caught the jerky movements of other ascenders, their bubbles rising in uneven bursts as they struggled toward the tunnel. No magic to help them meant it was all muscle and lung power, and by the look of it, they were running low on both.

  Then everything went to hell.

  A massive shape burst from the darkness, moving faster than Joe thought possible underwater. His stomach did a flip as the creature zeroed in on Rose, its jaws wide and glowing eyes locked onto her like she was the main course.

  “Rose! Look out!” Joe wanted to yell but the garbled warning died in his throat as he yanked out his butterfly knife. He spun to intercept, but the water fought him every step of the way. His swings felt like trying to punch through jelly.

  Luna was faster. She surged forward, slicing at the beast with a swing that sent ripples radiating through the water. For a second, the monster recoiled, its glowing body twisting like it was deciding whether to retreat or double down.

  It doubled down.

  A second creature shot up from below, its glowing eyes locked on Luna’s back. Joe’s heart thudded in his chest as he watched her twist to face it. She managed one swing before the creature struck, a blur of motion that ended with a shimmer of bubbles where Luna had been.

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  Rose darted forward, trying to follow, but the second creature vanished into the depths, dragging Luna with it. A faint, shimmering glow surrounded Rose as she stopped, waving frantically to Joe.

  Rose: Don’t swim any further. It’s an invisible trap. Cross it, and you’ll be stuck, unable to resurface.

  Joe froze, his heart hammering in his chest.

  Joe: But Luna…

  Through the murky water, he thought he saw her—swimming, clawing her way back up toward him. But then other ascenders hit the trap, sending silvery ripples outward as they slammed into the invisible barrier.

  Panic spread through the group like wildfire. Joe’s stomach dropped as Luna reappeared again, hammering her fists against the barrier. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, her eyes wide with terror. It was the last thing he saw before she dissolved once more into nothing but bubbles.

  Rose’s eyes met his, wide with urgency.

  Rose: Go back before you run out of air too. I’ve still got plenty more in reserve.

  Joe’s vision blurred with rising notifications flashing in the edge of his vision: GORED appeared over the names of ascenders one by one as they drowned.

  His lungs burned, the desperate urge to inhale clawing at his chest.

  Joe: Let’s hope she’s respawned topside. Guys up top, let me know if you see her.

  Dawn: No sign of Luna yet, but we’re keeping watch.

  Joe gave Rose one last, reluctant look before turning back. Each stroke heavier than the last, his body screamed for air as his legs dragged like lead weights. The icy water wrapped around him like a vice, squeezing every ounce of energy from his muscles.

  The surface seemed miles away, dark spots creeping into his vision as his muscles burned. Don’t panic, he told himself, kicking harder. Don’t you dare panic.

  With one final, desperate kick, he broke through the surface. Air slammed into his lungs as he gasped, the salt spray stinging his face.

  He blinked hard, clearing his vision. Dawn, TJ, and Brian were waiting, their faces grim.

  Luna was nowhere to be seen.

  Joe: Hey, Gaia. We’re waiting on Rose to reach the lagoon. Luna should’ve respawned by now, but she hasn’t shown up here. Is she in the common room with you?

  Nick: No tag shows her location on my map. She’s not anywhere on this floor.

  Gaia: She’s not here either. Ryan’s in the bunks resting. I’ll start looking for Luna.

  Joe’s stomach dropped, the cold dread settling in like a weight. The realization hit him harder than the freezing water—Luna was missing.

  ***

  Joe quickly dried off and yanked on his clothes, hoping no one would notice the heart-patterned boxers Luna had given him. Thankfully, no one did.

  Lucky was off in his own little zen druid flow, paws on his chest, looking like a furry Buddha. TJ and Brian hovered near Nick, all laser-focused on the alliance chat, waiting for updates from Rose. Dawn stood off to the side, arms crossed, her eyes distant.

  Pulling on his hoodie, Joe messed up his hair but flicked it back into place with a quick shake. He hopped into his boots and made his way over to Dawn. “What’s the look for? You seeing ghosts, or just planning to yell at the ocean?”

  Her lips twitched, but her tone stayed serious. “The map’s still incomplete. I thought once Rose entered the tunnel, my interface would reveal more since we’re in the same faction. But there’s nothing.”

  Nick looked up from the chat, giving a grim nod. “Same here. No updates. All we can do is wait.”

  Waiting sucked. Joe shoved his hands into his pockets, resisting the urge to spam Rose with messages. Asking if she was okay every five seconds wasn’t going to help her hold her breath. Instead, he ended up pacing the sand alongside TJ, who was making his impatience as obvious as a bull in a china shop.

  “She should’ve made it by now.” TJ growled, his boots kicking up sand. “Joe, message her.”

  Brian, stroking his goatee like it might offer answers, nodded. “Can’t hurt.”

  Joe didn’t need any more convincing. He pulled up the alliance chat, ready to fire off a message until Halcyon decided it was his time to shine.

  “Keep it simple, chump!”

  Joe: Rose, how you doing?

  No response.

  Joe glanced at the group. They might as well have been holding their breath with her. The silence tightened around him, each second stretching longer.

  What if there’s no air pocket and it’s all a trap?

  “Then she’ll die and respawn,” Halcyon said, his tone almost...soft, like he was trying to be comforting. “Oh, and before you get your cute heart-covered boxers in a twist, even if there’s a problem with respawn locations, Rose has a good stash of respawns thanks to her race. She’ll probably get back to you unharmed.”

  Wow, thanks, Joe thought, biting back sarcasm. That makes me feel so much better.

  “Sarcasm doesn’t land as well, when we share the same body, you know.”

  Joe snorted. “Share? More like hijacked," he blurted out without thinking.

  The group turned to stare at him, eyebrows raised.

  Joe waved them off. “Self-coaching. Totally normal.”

  A notification blinked in his vision, and his pulse kicked up a notch. A message.

  Rose: Made it! Reached the air pocket. Give me a sec—need to start breathwork.

  The group let out a collective sigh, loud enough to jolt Lucky from his trance. The little druid blinked up at Joe, waiting.

  Joe filled him in, and Lucky stood, placing both paws on his chest like a tiny yoga instructor. “Tell Rose to inhale slow, hold, exhale steady. Don’t rush it, or she’ll pass out.”

  Joe relayed the advice and added to the chat.

  TJ: Rose, you still alive and kicking? Talk to us.

  Brian: If you can describe your surroundings I can help you locate red bamboo.

  Joe glanced at Brian, who had stopped stroking his beard and was gripping his vape of clarity like it was his lifeline. The big guy took a long inhale, his usual calm looking a little shaky.

  Rose: Thank Lucky for me. I’m doing okay, guys. Don’t worry. Just trying not to think about the ten minutes I spent free diving through what smells like crab farts.

  Dawn: Glad to hear it. Grab the algae, any loot, and get the hell out. Joe and TJ are pacing a hole into the sand. We’ll need a rope to rescue them.

  Laughter emojis flooded the chat.

  Rose: I can picture that. The lagoon’s prettier than it smells, though. Water’s so still it’s like a black mirror. Flowers everywhere—kind of weird-looking ones. Oh, and these indigo-colored rocks look nice against the red algae clusters. Pulling it off the rocks now...

  Brian rubbed his hands together like he was ready to dissect whatever she brought back.

  Brian: That’s red bamboo. Be careful. I won’t be able to ID it properly until you’re back here.

  Rose: It’s gross and slimy but seems harmless enough.

  Joe grinned eager to reply as he relayed bits of information to Lucky.

  Joe: Fantastic! Now pack it up and get back before something in the lagoon decides to make you lunch.

  Rose: Wait. There’s another patch behind some vines. Looks fresher. Might as well grab it while I’m here.

  Lucky tugged Joe’s sleeve, eyes wide. “Oh no, ask her to wait! What do the vines look like? Some plants down there have nasty defense mechanisms.”

  Joe winced, remembering his one and only encounter with poison ivy.

  Joe: Before you touch those vines, Lucky wants to know what they look like?

  Rose: Uh, kind of like seaweed with air sacs. You see them in rockpools.

  Once the information was relayed, Lucky’s eyes widened. “Tell her NOT to touch them!”

  Before Joe could warn her another message appeared.

  Rose: Shit, you guys see the timer. I’ve got two minutes before this place floods. Time to grab and run for the exit wherever the hell that is.

  Joe: Rose, don’t touch—!

  Rose: It burns. Smells like mildew. Glitter spores everywhere.

  Lucky clamped his paws on Joe’s arm, claws digging in as Joe relayed the message.

  TJ let out a low growl. “Glitter spores? Fuckin’ great.”

  Lucky spoke fast. “Tell her to stay calm. The cure’s nearby. Look for a bright-colored, thick-petaled plant. Those spores always have an antidote close by.”

  Joe: Spore sacs mean toxins. Rose, listen carefully. Don’t panic. Look around for a plant with bright-colored, thick petals. Neutralizers grow near the spores.

  Rose: I can’t see a thing. It’s like swimming in death glitter!

  Joe: You’ve got this, Rose. Lucky’s never wrong about plants. Usually. He learnt his lesson after Audrey II.

  Rose: Oh—wait. Found something! Bright-blue flowers. Thick petals.

  Joe relayed it to Lucky, who nodded.

  “Perfect. Break them open, drink the sap. It’ll neutralize the spores and stop her dying a slow, suffocating death.”

  Joe relayed the warning but left out the unspoken subtext. No need to freak her out.

  TJ: Chug it, Rose!

  Rose: Done! Tastes like someone fermented gym socks and called it a cocktail. But hey, I can breathe again! Time to loot and skedaddle. Got 50 seconds left before this place floods!

  Lucky cleared his throat. “Tell her to grab some petals. They’re a great laxative—though there’s a small chance of, uh, enthusiastic diarrhea.”

  Joe shot him a look. “Yeah, definitely not telling her that.”

  Joe: Lucky says grab some petals. They’re useful for…alchemy.

  Rose: Tell Lucky I grabbed some. Moving out now.

  The chat fell silent, a thick tension hanging over the group. Then, a notification popped up.

  [A member of the Titan Slayers shared system updates with alliance chat. Access: Yes/No?]

  Joe selected yes.

  [Ascender #50 achieved an Eternal Honor: Spore Survivor. Resistance to Airborne Toxins Increased. Bonus Skill: Toxic Rebound Unlocked.]

  Joe: Toxic Rebound? What’s that?

  Rose: Toxic Rebound: Absorb airborne toxins to fuel an AoE poison burst.

  Joe: Now that’s teamwork. Get the algae and get back.

  Rose: Already grabbed it. Both patches. Found some hidden stuff near the vines too.

  [System Notification: Rare Drop Acquired—Mote of Stillwater.]

  Joe: “Mote of Stillwater”? What’s that?

  Rose: No clue, but it’s shiny and looks important. Giving it to Brian later.

  TJ: Get your ass back here now, Rose.

  Rose: Uh…slight problem. I don’t see a way out. The air pocket’s a dead end.

  Joe blinked, feeling a cold knot twist in his gut. You’ve gotta be kidding me.

  Dawn and Nick had no new insights to share from their maps.

  “Lucky, ideas?”

  Lucky tapped his chin like a miniature philosopher before answering. “Check the lagoon. Look for anything unnatural—light, movement, anything off.”

  Joe relayed the advice to Rose.

  Silence dragged on, and the thudding of his heart seemed louder with every second. Finally, a reply popped up.

  Rose: There’s something…glinting in the center of the lagoon. It’s faint, but I can see it.

  Joe: A glint? What is it?

  Rose: No idea, but it’s the only thing standing out. Going to check it.

  Joe: “Glowing” and “pulsing” are trap keywords, Rose. Be careful.

  Rose: Got no other option, Joe. If this kills me, I’ll haunt you. Going in now.