Join the fray.

You burst into the chamber ahead with your rapier at the ready, and with a small army of scantily clad women present to back you up. Despite the slimness of the passage, the room is wide and tall, with nearly half of it being consumed by water. The pond is where the previously mentioned stream comes to an end, and it would be a beautiful sight if not for the encounter happening at its edge. The first thing you see is a hint of cyan--something glowing in the dimness of the mushroom-light chamber. It's Alice, but not all of her. You see her head at least, and not far from that there's a torso and a right arm, one of which is wedged under some rubble.

Near that is Luna, still garbed in her beautiful swimsuit. She sits near the head, protecting her as best she can while she watches the fight unfold. Her eyes catch yours, and her expression of fear is replaced by that of relief. She smiles, and her lips part to gasp in surprise.

In the center of the room, however, is Ariusia, also still dressed, and she's locked in combat with a foe. It's a creature entirely of rock and earth, and it stands tall at an alarming height. Its mass alone would easily crush anyone beneath it. The creature's entire body is like armor. It has no eyes to be seen. Though as terrifying as it could be, you've fought enemies just like it before, as from what you can tell, this is an elemental of stone. It has numerous cuts on it by Ariusia's blades, though it doesn't seem hindered by the damage. On the other hand, the mantis girl is winded and partly bruised.

"Go!" you announce as you throw the point of your rapier forward. "Entangle Bolt!" A wave of energy strikes the ground before its feet.

The moment it steps, blue tendrils burst up and grapple its legs, causing it to fall to the ground with a deafening crash. Next Eva throws a hand forward, and sends a Magic Bolt directly into its fallen body. Amara hurries over and begins to heal Ariusia. Meanwhile, Niki is already leaping forward with her trident up in the air. She crashes down on its back like a meteor, splintering open its body. And lastly, with your blade burst into pink flames, you thrust the rapier through its head, neck, and into its torso, and with a burn and crack, the creature crumbles into debris.

You flick your wrist, and your weapon's fire fizzles into smoke. "You all right?" you ask the others.

Ariusia squats. "Phew... Thanks for showing up when you did."

Amara giggles. "Thank you for needing a heal."

"That's a weird thing to say, don't you think?"

Luna remains where she is, placing a hand upon Alice's head. "Oh thank goodness you're all here."

"Not all. Not yet," you say. "We still need to find Fang, Tom, Vodrani, and I guess the rest of Alice. What happened?"

The head speaks. "I came apart in the chaos... though I do not think the rest of me is far. Within this room I have nearly half my body. Would you please help me back together?"

"Of course I will," you assure her. First you take her torso, which isn't far, though it is unclothed. You then slot her right arm in. Lastly, you lean down to where her head lies, and pop that on top. You heave her over your back, and you allow her to cling there like a backpack. "Here. I'll carry you."

You turn to prepare your next step, though a moment later, you feel her hand squeeze and a quiet moan tickles the side of your head with her breath.

"You all right?" you ask back to her.

"I, uhm--" she tries to say, though seems a little embarrassed. Her words whisper into your ear. "Once in awhile, I f-feel someone doing something... with the rest of my b-body. Mm~! I can feel it. Fingers on my legs. And then once in awhile, a touch on my, uhm. Well, ah~!"

Her sounds are a little distracting, especially given how softly they brush over your shoulder. "We should hurry then," you say. "Luna, Ariusia. You ready?"

"Lead the way, Kyle," says the moth.

"Go on! I'm pissed off now. This place things it can take me out with monsters like that? I'll cut this whole place to pieces," says the mantis.

Alice whimpers. "D-Do not worry about me. I can manage."

"All right then. I'll go extra slow," you tease, knowing full well what excites her. "Maybe the stranger who has your parts will be nice, and put off whatever heinous thing they have planned next."

"On s-second thought, we should hurry."