Approach the Maelstrom.

It's actually quite exhausting to swim through the water versus walk along a road. Every muscle of your body is engaged. Though you can tell that without your necklace, besides the fact that you'd probably be crushed by the water pressure and/or suffocate, you'd also struggle immensely to maneuver like you are now. While the others do definitely move easier than you do given their garb, you can also tell your body has grown much stronger since first coming to Abso. It feels kind of good. Your muscles burn, and though your level doesn't increase, that doesn't mean you can't improve and get stronger.

Your group keeps high above the surface in order to more easily spot your destination. Because of that, you finally spot it.

In a valley between deep sea mountains, there appears to be a terrifying, massive, whirlpool as dark as night even with the dark-vision granted to you by Candy's magic. In the center, however, there's a hole. It doesn't seem like the water is draining into it either. Definitely, this is one of the stranger sights you've beheld. The whirlpool moreso acts as a deterrent for any living creature to approach, though if you can maintain a steady decline straight downward, you should be able to enter into whatever subterranean lair lies beneath.

"Be careful," you say. "Let's hold hands and swim single-file down from above. Don't get close to the whirlpool itself or who knows what'll happen."

Kailani looks to your hand with a flushed face. "H-Hold--"

"You remember Candy was joking about that marriage thing, right?"

"Oh! Yes of course." She nods and takes hold. Snow grabs onto her trident on the other end. After that, Candy, who offers her staff for the cat to hold.

Selinda brings up the rear, offering a single tendril for Candy to hold onto.

"I kinda like this," says Candy before giving the tip of the tentacle a squeeze.

"I'm glad to hear it," says Selinda with a spark in her eye.

You lead the way. Rushing water drowns out nearly all noise beside the massive Maelstrom which slowly surrounds you all as you descend. "Keep holding on tight!" you command as the hole approaches.

It's so loud. So powerful. I can feel its pull from here, almost like if we were to stray any farther, we'd be pulled apart.

Kailani behind you puffs out her cheeks as she struggles to keep herself steady. Behind her, Snow, is in a stranger situation, grasping a the shaft of two weapons, one in either hand, instead of anyone's grip directly. Perhaps Kailani was eager to hold your hand instead, and Candy to Selinda's tentacles, putting Snow in such a situation, or it may have just worked out in such a way given everyone still needs their weapons, and not everyone has a way to sheathe theirs.

Suddenly, Snow gasps. "Ah!" Her legs are pulled back, and before she knows it, it's like the whirlpool itself is grabbing her by the ankles.

"No!" you shout. "What the hell is up with this whirlpool?!"

While her front half is fine, the bottom continues to be pulled away as if in the eye of a tornado starting to pick back up again. Her face goes red as she uses all her might to heave herself closer, like a chin-up using a trident and staff. But as she does, her silken loincloth starts to tug back. Her body may be strong enough to escape, though her clothing certainly is not. Soon the colour in her cheeks is no longer only from exertion. Her eyes glance down, and she gasps as her bottoms are pulled down from her hips. Then her knees. She finally catches them with her feet, but now with that distraction she's starting to lose herself again.

"I've got you!" Selinda shouts. Then with all of her might, using the mass of her towering height, the giantess envelopes the entire party in her tentacles and thrusts herself towards the hole. "Hold... on... tight!" she screams before everyone pops straight into the center of the Maelstrom.