Alright, that's all the Monsters in this spot taken care of, time for Devour and Drain. Though, since they're all dead, there won't be much to gain through Drain.
Flying Monsters are harder to paralyze, they tend to keep their distance once they realize they're in danger, so I have to strike as soon as I have an opening.
Well, it's fine, my MP is a bit of a lower priority than my physical stats are.
My current MP is adequate enough to use my Skills relatively freely, at least to an extent, especially since I can recover my Mana faster using Desecrator.
"Alright, let's keep going, shall we? Let's take a break after the next group of Monsters, if that's alright with you guys," I suggested as I stretched my arms up.
"Well, besides Will, we haven't really done anything so far, so none of us are particularly worn out. Let's take a break whenever you feel like you need one," Replied Lector, after glancing at the others.
"Mhm, I'm good to keep going for a while without a break," Nodded Elicia.
"Same here."
"Me too."
"Cool, then let's keep going," I responded, leading the way as we began to continue on.
As the others followed after me, I glanced back as a loud cracking sound suddenly echoed out, my eyes widening.
"Watch out, the ground's collapsing!" Exclaimed Lector, rushing forward as the cracks around the spot where I'd killed the last Monster began to deepen and spread.
Elicia and Will were quick to follow after him, hurting across the unstable ground, Ferna close behind.
Suddenly, as she stepped on a deepening crack, that spot gave way, a startled cry ringing out as she began to fall through with a look of alarm in her eyes.
"No!" Yelled Elicia, as I raced back as fast as I could, leaping forward as Ferna began to plummet and grabbing her right wrist just in time.
"I got you! Just calm down, I'll pull you up and-...!" I began, before trailing off as the edge I was standing on broke apart, finding myself plummeting along with her.
I swung Desecrator towards the ground, the blade starting to dig in, only for that spot to collapse in as well, Ferna and I falling into the darkness below.
I quickly sheathed Desecrator before pulling Ferna up and holding her in my arms, tensing my legs as I glanced down and braced myself, a slight shimmer coming into sight.
"Hold on tight!" I exclaimed as we closed in on the bottom, Ferna wrapping her arms around my shoulders firmly, right as a loud splash echoed out.
My feet slammed against a body of water, sinking in upto my chest before my feet thudded against the ground at the bottom of the water, my knees buckling slightly before I lost my balance and collapsed, the two of us falling into the water.
"Th-That was scary...," Stuttered Ferna shakily, as I got back onto my feet and helped her up.
"Yeah, that was a long drop, I can't even see the opening we fell through. How are we supposed to get back up there?" I frowned, shuddering slightly.
This water's pretty cold, not freezing but still quite chilly. The water's running, so this must be some kind of underground stream.
There was a massive number of Mana Crystals across the edges of the stream, by the walls on either side of it, lighting up the area.
The walls were strangely smooth and even, and extended up pretty high.
While the bottom of this area is lit up by the Mana Crystals, it was pretty dark further up. Wait, if I squint, I can kinda see a glimmer of light up there, that must be the opening we fell through...exactly how far did we fall?
What? I can survive a fall that high? I mean, I guess the water did break my fall a bit, but still.
"Hello?!" A voice suddenly echoed out from above, vaguely sounding like Elicia.
"Are you two alright?!" Came Lector's voice.
I can barely hear them...
"YEAH!!! WE'RE ALRIGHT!!!" I called back at the top of my lungs.
"Can you get back up here?!" Elicia's voice rang out.
Hm, that shouldn't be a problem.
I can use Desecrator to stab into the wall and climb up bit by bit. Or I could bite out chunks of the wall with Devour to make divets to grab and climb.
Yeah, that sounds like the better option, it'll be easier for Ferna to follow me too.
Speaking of whom, she still looks pretty shaken...well, either that, or she's cold from the water. Maybe both.
"YEAH, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO!!! YOU GUYS TAKE A BREAK UP THERE, WE'LL REST A BIT DOWN HERE TOO, AND THEN CLIMB BACK UP!!!" I yelled, coughing slightly at the end, my throat a bit sore.
Don't think I've ever yelled that loudly before.
"Okay, got it! We'll be waiting!" Responded Lector, before Ferna and I waded over to the edge of the lake, climbing out of the water and leaning against the wall.
While I'm not exactly tired, that long fall kinda stressed me out, and it looks like it's the same for her too.
"H-How are we going to get back up?" Stuttered Ferna, shivering as she sat down and leaned against the wall.
"I'll use Devour to carve out divets across the wall that we can use as footholds. I can carry you on my back while I climb if you don't think you can climb up that high," I offered as I sat down beside her.
"Y-Yeah, okay, thank you. I might be able to manage it myself, but I'll probably be extra nervous, knowing how far of a drop it is if I fall," She replied with a sheepish smile, before sneezing.
"You okay?"
"Y-Yes, just cold. W-We should get out of these wet clothes, it's pretty chilly down here, we don't want our body temperatures getting too low," She pointed out.
True, and I've got basically an unlimited supply of clothes thanks to Treasury, so we can change into dry clothes right away.
"Yeah, good call," I nodded, as I took my hoodie off and set it down on the ground.