Stepping through the swirling pool of darkness, we were sucked into a momentary void before being spat out into a tunnel.
With no defining features, the smooth walls of the cavern stretched far into the distance, with no indication of where the darkness began or ended.
With nothing setting off my instincts, I continued to walk onwards.
"This must be the path to the next floor..." She mentioned, while trying to discern anything that might catch her eye.
Despite lacking any source of light, we had no trouble moving through the space.
Ari and I walked through the tunnel for about another minute before, for the first time since stepping into the dungeon, the sensation of warmth brushed past me.
While I couldn't see the source, the feeling grew from a slight tingling on my face to a noticeable change in the ambient temperature as we had reached a point wherein there was no longer any snow.
At the peak of this heat, we found ourselves against a sparkling black wall giving off enough heat that Ari felt that she would be sweating if she wasn't a game right now.
As I reached for the wall, the ground below us cracked and splintered like dirty matte coloured glass, giving us no time to react despite our abilities.
The floor gave away and we were pulled down into the void below, ending with a massive splash.
Even with a dull sense of smell, the stench of Sulphur and rotten eggs accompanied the knee-high water we landed in.
She pulled back her cloak and shook herself, drying off her hair and tail.
Afterwards, she again mentioned that the heat was growing more unbearable and that we should leave.
Lucky for us, there were several openings out of which the thick and hazy steam that rose from the water was flowing out of.
Following the path the plumes took, we managed to get through a crack that looked to be formed from a cave in which the rubble stacked atop each other but still left enough space for someone determined enough to drag themselves through.
With a smaller build, it was easier for Ari to go ahead of me, squeezing through the crack while I waited on the steam-filled side.
"This is strange…" I thought to myself, wondering why I would put my faith in a stranger.
Assuming that they would find a way for me to escape the cavern when they could easily leave me behind and be on their way.
"I mean, sure we fought together, and we're still travelling together but, like why?"
"Is there something she still wants from me or maybe she wants to use me to help her get through the next fight…"
"If you're done babbling, how about you come out here already?" Ari shouted through the gap.
Clearly annoyed by me talking to myself.
So I tried to ask her if there was a way for me to get through…with there being a few too many seconds of silence before she answered.
"You could probably blow the crack open, that should widen the gap enough for you"
"Oh, I see. Then, could you step back for a moment?" Even with the mounds of rubble between us, I could hear her shuffling footsteps grow fainter and fainter.
When I felt that she was far enough, I pulled out my shortsword and tried to slash at the rubble.
With the force of my attack knocking my sword arm back as a loud clang sounded through the cavern.
"Figures trying to cut up stone wouldn't work. If I still had some of my Gas Vials left over it would have been easier to get an explosion. As for scrolls or magic spells, I don't really have many options in the way of blasting my way through. Which means I'll have to get creative"
"Hurry up in there or I'm going to leave you behind" Ari's patience was not infinite so I needed to get a move on.
My first attempt, while crude, would be the most practical in terms of the gear I had on me, that is to say not much for what I needed to do.
Using my "Frost Effect" on the mound of rubble, the surface of the rocks quickly gave off a large amount of steam that gathered around me like a heavy fog.
But I persisted, putting more MP into the skill, until I could see the prompt for the Frost Affinity status effect appear, with a thin film of ice covering the rocks, without melting.
With that done, I took a step back and braced myself. Then I threw a punch at the wall, and activated two other skills:
"Rush of the Rimelord" and "Drakeblood's Maw" with the former ability propelling me towards the rubble with surprising speed, while the latter activated once I made contact with the wall.
Giving off a deep bellow, then a heavy boom.
A large blast rocked the cavern and scattered a shower of rubble as a cloud of mist flowed out the now gaping hole with nothing left of the mound.
Ari wore an unsure expression as I walked out of the cavern to join her outside.
Looking as though she had a strong question to ask but nothing coming out of her mind, or maybe I wasn't paying attention with eyes focused on the expanse in front of me.
What seemed to be a constant haze that stretched as far as one could see, with that same scent hanging in the air.
The surroundings were a scape of cooled and grey stone forming ridges and hills around and over which flowed thick streams of red hot magna.
Any snow that fell from above quickly turned into the mist that covered the hills, before condensing and forming streams that flowed downhill alongside the magma.
In the highlands where the lava could only flow around, there were large pools that would occasionally spurt boiling water into the air.
While the earth was stable as we hadn't experienced any tremors since we arrived, there was no way that this place wasn't near an active volcano.
Though I found myself being able to handle the environment just as I did when I walked through the blizzard on the first floor.
Ari would mention how the heat had been getting to her, making her avatar's body feel somewhat sluggish and drained.
The last thing you want when your speed is your defining trait in a battle.
So we wasted no time in moving along, following the streams down hill, the further we ventured, the wider and faster the waters began to rush.
By the time we reached the foot of the mountain we had emerged from, I was using my "Frost Effect" skill to cool her down, which helped a lot with her complaining as well as her harassing me for not going through the same torture.
At the lowlands, we found the streams converging into two large rivers that flowed down an even steeper side of the mountain, and between them, a sight to behold.
What looked like a hill, but one completely artificial.
A grey and white stone fortress that was immersed in the thick haze, obscuring it until we had gotten closer.
Walking through the field of rising steam pillars, showering us with hard water and a pleasant touch.
Ari was finally relenting with her asking me to use my skills at her comfort, however this was only after she decided to walk much closer to me.
'You're basically like a walking fridge, don't complain' The air was off a clearer scent as he arrived towards massive grey stoned doors.
The coarse exterior was cool to the touch, requiring a little effort to swing open, drawing in a current of cool air.
'Seems like someone already beat us to it. We'd better pick up the pace'
While the doors were of a sandstone texture with the hue of grey-coloured snow, once they walked in.
The only thing lighting the space were candle stands of dull grey in the shape melting icicles holding onto a small bluish flame that glowed from within.
We followed the guiding lights into an opening. An icy cavern of silver and teal decor.
Adorning the sapphire and violet-coloured gems that were studded into the statues seated within the space.
With their path opening up in a progressively larger hall.
The room was lit even brighter as the persistent sound of the living echoed.
"Subjugation Event. Beyond this point, you will not be able to leave the area before the prey has been hunted"
The banner popped up the moment they found themselves in the company of white haired giants.
In groups that feasted to their heart's content, every table was lively with merry and surprisingly an intoxicating tune that was sung by the guests.
With the joy of reveling in both drink, warmth, song and sex, the intrusion we made was hard to ignore in spite of how insignificant we stood among them all.
The furthest figure I could see in the room was a giant seated in his throne.
Being the first time a boss monster actually spoke with us, it completely threw me off.
The greying and wrinkled giant was the first to notice.
Through the mask of his wild and unkempt hair, eyes of deep glimmering silver glow.
Raising a hand to his court in a bid of silence before removing his crown and pulling back the excessive length of locks behind his ears and fitting the crown better.
His voice was like a heavy weight cast upon us, speaking with no misstep, he questioned us if 'they' came on the orders of their Lord.
To reclaim the realm he had conquered, the knights that serve the king stood at attention beside the throne, descended to the foot of the throne, brandishing their swords to guard him.
But he instead called them aside.
Reminding them that he doesn't have the right to stand as their King if he lacks the strength to cleave the vermin at his feet in two.
A swirling storm of boreal winds gathered in front of the guards as the King descended to the centre of the room.
Summoning thunder that scorched the stone floor and blew away everything in his path.
From the centre of the swirling ice storm, a massive blade, as tall as the very knight knights that would guard him took shape.
The knights each cleared the way as they stood at attention, allowing the King to approach the storm and pass through its violent walls.
Emerging from it in a blast that shut the heavy stone doors of the throne room, extinguishing the torches.
The only light that illuminated the room came from the glow of his piercing blue eyes, the same glow that would cover his blade as he hoisted it up.
"Come, little ones."
"Floor 6 Boss: Hríð, the Storm-King. Level 32."