Fall to the depths.

You drift down deeper for what feels like an eternity. The radiant fungi grow more distant as you descend, with the pit below appearing as nothing more than a gaping maw of pure darkness. It would be dead silent if not for the countless unseen streams of water pouring down to where you fall. You squint, and with your strengthening senses and the dim light from far above, you think you may spot the bottom, albeit a ways away still. All that tips you off is the glistening of water in the depths of this foul chamber. Thankfully a handful of your party members are garbed in enchanted gowns, causing them to shine like the moon would from rays of light, glistening in the otherwise unforgiving black. They appear like ghosts, though specters would likely care less about their shame. They hold their gowns between their legs in embarrassment as the momentum flutters them up. The rest, in swimsuits, are certainly not dressed for the worst, with you as the only one armed and armoured, but they follow regardless. Your army is unstoppable--unperturbed by the lack of equipment, and some perhaps even excited about it.

This is the energy you bring to the deep. It should threaten all away to the complete loss of spirit, though it does nothing to halt your party. Even those knew among your numbers are more than ready, which makes sense as well. Anastasia, Ariusia, and Meti worked for twisted management until recently. It's likely they've seen horrors as well.

The sound of water pouring into pools alerts you to the coming of the ground before your eyes do. After perhaps minutes straight of descending, you finally feel the cold touch of wet stone on the bottoms of your feet. Your party members join you, one at a time, landing close by with ease thanks to Meti's strange magical trinket. Though now that you're down here, you can hardly see much at all. Some of you have better sight, and while your Kitty Sense has been improving, it seems to more often than not act as a danger detector more than just improving your eyeballs. Still, you focus, and you try to perceive your surroundings.

As you do, you flinch at a flash of light. The area lights up, even moreso than the mushrooms could allow. After all this time in the shadows, your party covers their eyes and attempts to cover from the sudden blind. Crystals in the walls turn on like bulbs. It reveals that you're in a massive opening, though with various stone formations still causing pathways and such to spiral out from the area. But even between them, the area you're in is wide, apart from a massive stalagmite extending up from the center--unnaturally symmetrical and aligned. It feels alien, but so does everything here.

Sitting at its base is Gwynevere.

She rests back against the stone, of course as unclothed as the last time you saw her, but she is conscious. Her eyes peer up from long, white hair clinging to her wet skin, and while she isn't wounded, she's defeated. Next to her are Nelli and Anyana, and the latter lays back in a shallow pond.

"Hey!" Niki is the first to speak up. She takes a step forward and glares at the elf. "Where even are we, huh? Is this some kinda trap?"

Amara places a hand upon her companion's shoulder. "She does not look like she is in an antagonistic position."

Nelli is sitting, though more upright than the others. She peers over at the party but doesn't speak. Meanwhile, Anyana seems saddened. Mostly, however, she can't really move much give the body of water she's in is barely enough, and the nearest otherwise would **** her to crawl over.

Finally Gwynevere speaks, though her voice is quiet. "I did what I was tasked. My quest was a success. So why?"

"It seems like your patron betrayed you," Ariusia sneers.

"I wouldn't say that," Eva speaks up. "Like she said, she did what she was asked to do, and the entire point was for Seno'nojoch to consume the island or whatever. It was less a betrayal and more that he didn't care she was still there. Still a dick move, but that's the apathetic nature of these types of beings. She's a tool to him. She did the job. He did what he was going to do. That's why you don't make deals like that."

"Shut up," she snarls. "Do not claim you know anything about me."

"Gwyn. Where are we?" you ask.

She's silent for a time, but she does eventually reply. "Seno'nojoch."

"You don't mean--"

"Yes. We are within him."

"How big is this guy?!" Eva shouts.

"There are many ancient beings of Absoterra who still live. Some sleep, others are more active, though they are all different in nature. There are those who are powerful though are not much taller than you or I, while some are larger than islands. They come from different histories, but there is one thing the same between them. They are dangerous. But they can also offer incredible power, depending on which one you find, or who finds you. There are times where one has no other option to survive. We make do with the choices we make." She slowly pulls herself up to her feet, using the stalagmite behind her to balance. "And do not believe I am too weak to handle mine. With the power of Seno'nojoch, I am the most feared woman across the depths of the seas. My blade strikes unseen, and the ocean around me is mine to control. I am Gwynevere, or Demon King by those who fear me."

"And other names. Terrible names that families pray against before sleep," Nelli mutters. "Great titles for a great woman."

Anyana remains in her pond, laying flat on her stomach as she watches quietly.

"... Where are all our things?" you ask.

"They are near," Gwyn answers. "All ends up down here. You will not have to look far."

"So then how do we get out?"

"That I do not know."

"What do you mean?!" Niki yells. "Isn't this your guy? Your sea daddy or whatever?"

Her brow furls. "He is not--"

"Kyle can just Bunny Hop us out anyway," Eva says. "Let's leave this girl."

Just then, the entire cavern begins to rumble. It isn't enough to cause you to fall, though the vibration is deep, like the stone is growling from all directions--far above, and the very ground you stand upon. All pools of water in the area ripple. The streams that run down seem to do so with further vigour, as if the faucet had been turned. You feel a tension in your mind, and the others seem to as well, evident by hands upon temples. The crystals of light flash brighter for a moment. Then you look up to see the stalagmite widen. The stone stretches, as if made from something entirely different. A slit appears down the center, and a horrific, single eye, like that of a lizard, appears to loom over you. Its gaze is intense. You feel its subjugation, as if without words you're being told to kneel, though you remain on your feet.

Rocks burst from the sides as tendrils of black curl out from several places like spider's legs, though wriggling, more like foul serpents. Each one is as thick as your entire body, and they stretch out to the sides like a bird trying to intimidate by revealing its wingspan in full.

The voice that comes next is so deep that it's difficult at first to discern words from growls. It also comes from all directions, and the reverberation causes it to shake through your body, especially upon deeper sounds, and it does so with long, drawn out syllables. "You will heed my words." The first statement it makes it near deafening. "At last the Ouran Archipelago is mine, with the defeat of the Summerlord. You have done well, my subject. Luminos the Blinding was made a fool."

Gwynevere watches with trembling legs. She takes a knee before him, surprising your party. "Thank you, Seno'nojoch. I did what I was told."

"Yet you are here," he continues. "And with others."

"I requested aid in the Summerlord's defeat."

"Yet you remained. Now you are consumed. This is no fault of mine."

"Of course. I know this," Gwyn responds.

"... But you." Upon these words, the chamber shakes further. Though the eye is too large to fixate on any one creature, somehow you know he's attention is now upon you instead. "Your soul reeks of an ancient touch. The blessing of Goa is upon many here, though within you it is perverted. Within you are strange powers I have not smelled in many years. Your existence displeases me. Gwynevere, you are next to slay him where he stands. Then you may leave. I have spoken, and my task will be completed."

Suddenly, water from all around trickles uphill towards her, whipping up into the air like coiling snakes. Wind picks up despite the chamber being enclosed. Suddenly a typhoon surrounds her, causing everyone to reel back and defend themselves for the worst. Then in an instant, the water all drops to the ground with a crash, and the tide wafts all the way past your feet to the rock formation behind you. Now Gwynevere stands dressed as she did before all this transpired--her black dress, and in her hand, the magic rapier she uses. She seems reinvigorated, though still looks to her weapon with surprise and uncertainty.

You look to her. "Don't," you say.

She aims the tip of her weapon towards you. As she stares into your eyes, all the water in the area begins to churn, and it gradually once again trickles towards her.