Civilization

"What was that?" - Rosanna

"Don't know. Be careful, it sounds like the Guiafairo screech. Maybe there are others above us?" - Travys

"Only one way to find out right?" - Song

"Let's keep moving up slowly." - Ian

"What about the items we just got?" - Rebecca

"How do we split it? 3 daggers and a skill book." - JenJen

I went to grab both a dagger and the skill book in order to see the stats.

[ Poison Fang

Attack: 20

Agility 10

10% chance to apply poison damage

A dagger made out of a fang of a Guiafairo. Its blade is as sharp and can poison enemies however, the edge is blunt. One would prefer to stab with this dagger than to slice. ]

[ Skill Book: Extreme Speed

100% Agility for 5 seconds

After 5 seconds - 50% Agility for 1 minute

This skill book allows the user to obtain the skill Extreme Speed. Extreme Speed will give the user a way to go above their limits momentarily however, the user will also experience severe drawbacks once the skill finishes. Open the book and say the skill name in order to learn it. ]

"Travys, I would like this skill book. You can have the 3 daggers." - Ian

"Kingston, now we both know that is not how it works. We flip for the items. Can we agree on that?" - Travys

"What are we flipping?" - Ian

"The book itself. I don't know if you have ever done this before but, whenever there is an item in a party that can be used by more than one person, then we must flip something to determine the owner. In the case of a weapon, then we flip something nearby that can be flipped, or spin the weapon on the ground, taking to account which side will be upright after the spin." - Travys

"Alright. I can agree to flip the book. However, I want either Kaede or Howard to flip it. Is that okay with you?" - Ian

"That is fine. JenJen, can you give it to Kaede?" - Travys

"Sure. Kaede, here. Just toss the book into the air." - JenJen

"Just up?" - Kaede

"Yep." - JenJen

"The top of the book with the words is Heads. I'll give you the first say whilst it is in the air." - Travys

"Alright. Kaede do it whenever you are ready." - Ian

Holding onto the book, Kaede toss it into the air. As it spins around in the air, Travys and I call out which side we want to bet on.

"Heads" - Ian

"Tails" - Travys

Falling to the ground, the both of us look in anticipation and with the words of the skill book facing me, I smile to myself.

"Well, can't do much there. Kingston, you will take the skill and I'll take the 3 daggers." - Travys

"Thank you. Extreme Speed." - Ian

[ You have acquired skill - Extreme Speed ]

Extreme Speed (Active) 10% Max MP - Upon activation, acquire 100% Agility for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, reduce Agility by 50% for 1 minute. Cooldown 1 hour.

"Alright, let us move up and find out what is happening above us." - Ian

"We keep the same formation. Just be on guard since we don't know what is in store for us." - Travys

Following Travys, Howard, and Luna's lead, we venture up the stairs, however, I already knew what was above us. Looking at the way the light shines upon the wall, I could see that there was a ceiling above us, it was faint, but the Eye of the Roc was able to pick up on the small details far away. The stairs lead to a floor of some sort and the screech must have come from the floor above us.

Advancing forward, the exit could be seen, and it wasn't just me that realized there was a ceiling/floor above us. Looking through the gap, I could see that the lighting has changed slightly. I could faintly make out a blue flame instead of the amethyst flame that lit up the Abyss, but it was made more prominent as we got closer.

"Kingston… I feel danger the closer we get to the end of the stairs." - Rebecca

"Something is there?" - Ian 𝘧r𝑒𝘦𝒘𝘦𝙗ｎovel.𝐜o𝒎

"Not something but someone or maybe many someones? I can't tell. It is very mixed up and my head is muddled. I-I'm sorry." - Rebecca

"Relax, it's fine. Whatever is in front of us we should be able to handle it to some extent." - Ian

"I hope what you say is true because we are about to find out." - Travys

Looking forward, Travys peeks above the gap and looks around carefully. His head just barely sticking out, just enough, so he could see. Howard and Luna were the next to peek over, but Luna was already slightly agitated at that point, meaning there is something close by.

"I see 6 figures fighting a giant Guiafairo, I think. The monster is constantly moving at fast speeds, attacking at maximum velocity before launching off the ground the second it lands. It seems the 6 figures are huddled in a circle and are trying their best to fight off the monster but it also looks like they are losing." - Travys

"Can you see anything to do with the 6 figures? Facial features? Race features? Gender? Injured? Weapons? Anything will do." - Ian

"It looks like they are all unarmed…" - Howard

"He is right. None of them have a weapon unless the weapon is something small like a knife or gauntlets. I can't seem to make out any body features. It is too dark here, and the only light is 4 small blue flames along the wall. I can just barely make out the figures already." - Travys

"What's the plan?" - Tsugi

"Surely it is to wait for them to either die or kill the monster right?" - Song

"No, that's a stupid idea. We should go help them." - Rosanna

"How would we help? We don't know them and they don't know us. They might even misunderstand and think we are attacking them." - Kumiho

"They might also think the same if we wait until after they defeat the monster." - JenJen

"Usually, the common courtesy is to wait and then approach as peacefully as possible. However, I don't know how they will react while we are in the Abyss. It was different with Kingston's group since we met at the start where there was nothing of value to compete over but it looks like this is a boss-level monster. The loot from the monster might cloud their judgment, and it might make them our enemy." - Travys

"I think we should go and help them. From what you are saying it looks like they are struggling against the monster already. If we come and help, we can use the fact that we are saving them as a way to help. The argument about the loot might come up but if it does and things go south, there are more people here, and they will be worn out from the battle. We just need to kill them and that's the end of it." - Ian

"I feel danger from the 6 figures and the monster." - Rebecca

"So they have noticed our presence but chose not to do anything?" - Howard

"Maybe they are waiting for our help?" - Kaede

"No, that's too optimistic. There is no way they are waiting for our help but if they notice us and aren't doing anything then I would assume they would fight us the moment their battle with the giant Guiafairo is over." - Ian

"That, I agree with." - Travys

"So, let's fight them before they fight us. It will be a 3-way battle between that group, the monster, and us." - Song

"We have the advantage since we are well rested." - Tsugi

"Start with the arrows. Any long-range ability should be used first and aim for the monster. There is no point in fighting the other group if the monster isn't dead." - Ian

"Alright, after that we go at this defensively. Wait for the monster to attack us. It won't be long, especially with its high movement speed in the air. I would assume it will attack us after attacking the other group." - Travys

"Alright, same positions then but this time, Kaede is up next to Song and Tsugi. The girls will shoot and then retreat to the stairs before shooting again. Agreed?" - Ian

"Done. Let's do this." - JenJen

Moving up, Travys, Howard, Luna took positions right outside the stairway. Song, Tsugi and Kaede took positions slightly behind them but also protecting the sides. I am in the middle and with my high Agility, I was ready to counter any attack the monster tries to make on us.

I notice the other group rearranged their positions since we had just appeared, but the dimmed room made it hard for me to see them. It was the opposite for them though, with the blue flame blazing above our heads, they could see us clearly and make preparations for our potential engagement. Looking back, I see the girls taking aim, and with in a second, they let their arrows fly upward toward the giant flying monster above us.