>>5294189“HRRAAAAA!!” you roar, swinging your blade directly into the back of the third's neck. Your sword cleaves the beast's spine clean in two, its head hanging onto its body by only a sliver of meat. The Rak'kari champion turns as he hears your blade cleave the monster. The champion gives you a salute, then the two of you turn back to face the final monster.
“HYAAAAAA!!” Caulifla roars, firing a bolt of lightning from her spear directly at the beast. As she does, you see the lightning arc around her as well. Perhaps that'll teach her that lightning isn't the best element to use while submerged.
“GRRROOOOAAAAAA!!” the Mindslayer roars as its body writhes in pain, then after a half-dozen seconds the beast's ki fully vanishes. Sparks dance along its body as the lifeless Mindslayer drops towards the ground, your daughter turning to you and saluting you enthusiastically with her spear. Seeing this, however, the Rak'kari champion turns towards her. The monster lowers itself, covering its exposed underside with claws forward menacingly. It looks like he's about to attack your daughter!
“Hold!” you order telepathically, dashing between the Rak'kari champion and Caulifla. “That's my daughter. She just found that head wear, and is using it to breathe underwater as well. Like my suit protects me.”
“She's tainted by the Darkness.” the champion replies, not relaxing his stance. “It must not be allowed to spread.”
“She killed the beast who's head that was, and is only wearing its head to protect her from the Dark.” you say, not lowering your arms. “If you doubt me, ask her yourself.”
The champion glares at you, and not changing his stance abruptly ends the connection. Caulifla swims out between yourself and the crab-like warrior, not taking a fighting stance or even appearing concerned by his apparent aggression. They speak telepathically for nearly half a minute before his mind re-connects to your own, his stance immediately relaxing.
“I will trust your vouch for her.” he says. “But if she turns, I will not hesitate.”
“Fair enough.” you reply, giving him a shallow nod before turning back towards the Abyssal Trench. “Let's keep goi-Wait, more?”
“I do not see any more.” he replies, you adding Caulifla to this mental chat as you continue.
“No, just now. From the Trench.” you say, eyes widening as you sense them. Tens, no, hundreds of thousands of the frog-like Hydae are all swarming out from it. But they aren't alone, as two dozen Mindslayers have also just emerged from that darkness. And they're all heading right towards you all! “Hundreds of thousands of the Hydae, all headed right for us!”
cont
