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Finding My Husband in Another World Season 2: Chapter 5: Boss Battle

"That's it, we are officially lost. We've back tracked at least twice the distance we traveled in and still no way back down to level three. They did warn us not to go above that level." Chaza complained.

"I don't understand. My mapping skills are almost on the same level as my singing skills but all these interconnected rooms has somehow confused even me." Skit added.

"Okay, let's take a quick break. Chaza, what have you observed about this level?" I asked.

"There are no hallways just room after identical room. Also we haven't encountered a single monster."

"We also haven't encountered any other adventurers, even though several dozen have been lost up here." Rider added.

"There's also the light. It's like walking on a really cloudy day. There is no visible light source but everything is still lit up." Skit added.

"It doesn't feel right. Toque is kobold. Kobolds know about underground places. This not feel like underground place."

"You know, if we had been reborn in a futuristic world I'd swear we were trapped in virtual reality or a holodeck." Rider added looking around.

I looked at him in shock. "Chaza, what's below us?"

"The floor."

"Below that?"

"The third . . ." She grinned. "One exit coming up."

She slammed Knockers into the ground hard enough that we all felt it, but there didn't seem to be any damage.

"I don't get it. No way is stone stronger than my Knockers."

"The hole is there it's just hidden. Everyone feel your way to the edge and drop down."

We crawled forward and started to drop.

"We need to hurry, the hole is magically sealing. Rider said, while helping Toque through. "Tiger, your turn."

"You first."

"Get through! I can always blast open the hole again." he yelled. I dropped through and caught Rider as he came down. "Good, you've learned to listen to reason."

"Not reason, Love. I just know better than to take valuable time arguing with you."

"We're on the third floor and I've checked the markings we're a good way from the stairs upward." Skit said running up.

"The magic likely let us walk between rooms until we were isolated and then kept us in the same room."

"So how do we beat it?" Chaza asked.

"We shut down the magic. Skit, I need you to deliver a message to the one in charge. Tell him level four is a giant illusion trap. I'm going to attempt to dispel it, but rescue teams are going to be needed to get any adventurer survivors out."

"You're going back up there aren't you?" Rider asked.

"I have to."

"I know. That's why I'm coming with you." he said, as he tied a rope around himself and then around me. "Ren, it'll be up to you Chaza and Toque to pull us back if we aren't finished before the rescue parties arrive.

"Understood. Be safe, my loves." Ren whispered.

I turned and headed down the corridor toward the stairs not wanting to see the worry and tears in Ren's eyes.

***

"It's not fair! We solved the fourth floor. Prowl dispelled the illusions. Then we helped to get everyone out. Then they make us sit here while they map the fourth flour, and clear out the fifth as well."

"Chaza! Shut up. If you don't, I will whip you." Rider yelled.

"You wouldn't dare."

"If you continue to disturb Prowl's rest you'd better believe I would."

"Prowl wouldn't allow it."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. I can't remember a single time that he's actually said no to Rider." Ren said, quietly.

"Would you all quiet down a little? You're being loud enough to wake the dead." I yelled.

"Cheri, you're alright!" Rider yelled pulling me into a hug.

"Mind filling me in? Last thing I remember was having to put more mana into dispelling the magic. Did I finally find my limit?"

"Not even close." Dawn answered. I was surprised to see all of my summons in the tent, and Dawn had vastly reduced his size to fit. "However, actually channeling such a massive amount left you suffering from mana sickness. It took a great deal of my power to heal you, so don't try that again. Next time dispel a room at a time."

"We got most of the adventurers out. I'm not going into numbers because it will upset you, but there were a few deaths. Some actually made it to the fifth floor only to be turned into zombies. The teams did their best to capture them, but so far no spell has been able to turn them back. However, everyone has been accounted for." Rider explained.

"Yeah, but they used finding the missing to completely explore the fifth floor." Chaza pouted.

"They were right to keep you out." I said. I couldn't help seeing Rider's grin of triumph. "You wouldn't have left enough to identify and you don't exactly see taking prisoners as a good idea. And for the record, if Rider whipped you I know he had a very good reason."

"What!" Chaza yelled.

"I would have expressed my disappointment with him in private later however. I'm sure what he said was just a spur of the moment threat. He is much more inventive than that."

"I know you consider him your mate but what gives him the right-"

"Do you really want me to establish everyone's position of importance?"

"Actually I think I would." Chaza said, sounding huffy.

"Fine. I'm in charge, not by choice so much as I seem to be the only one all of you listen to. Second is Rider."

"That's not fair, I have a higher rank and more experience." Chaza protested.

"You may have a higher rank but in terms of experience Rider is on the same level or perhaps even higher than I am. You seem to keep forgetting he is also from another world. Then comes your position. You're third because of your rank and experience. Ren is good and closing in fast, but I don't feel he's ready to challenge you just yet. So of course Ren is next."

"I'm sure I could challenge her, I just don't want to." Ren said, grinning.

"Skit is next basically both because of rank and because he hasn't been with us long enough to rank higher."

"That's understandable. I'm just really happy you feel I'm valuable enough to be on your team."

"Then Toque."

"Toque is part of team? But Toque is just master Rider's pet."

"Yes, but that still makes you part of my team. Finally there's Sky and he doesn't actually have a rank, preferring to be independent and having the freedom to listen to whom he wants to. Now, if it is night all of you go to bed. If it is day either get out or find something to do quietly. If you are my mate then crawl into this bed and hold me until I fall asleep again. Though I don't think it'll take long." I didn't tell them that I was barely sitting up and my vision was darkening at the edges for the whole thing.

"Master Rider, I'm going to heal him some more, I suggest you continue channeling his mana into glass storage crystals, but be careful. We don't need both of you suffering mana sickness." Dawn said, as I continued to sink into unconsciousness.

***

We were all tired, mostly from walking and finding every treasure chest empty. Skit was down to just strumming his lute in a simple song that would keep us alert. The only enemies we'd encountered had been zombies and skeletons. True, being mostly demi-human, they were more formidable.

When we reached the floor Chaza had gone into berserker mode smashing anything that moved other than us, fortunately. Ren would follow up with his blades if any zombies survived and Toque was doing a good job of smashing skeleton heads with a frying pan. Rider kept busy covering us using glass and ice bullet skills. Fire was too dangerous with Chaza running around. My job was to keep Chaza purified and healed.

The adventurer clerics discovered that if one used purify on an infected individual before they turned into a zombie the infection was cleared from their system.

Knockers thudded to the floor. "That was a good warm up. I don't sense any more enemies out here, just one big one behind this door. Everyone ready to take on the boss?" Chaza asked, enthusiastically.

Skit struck a sour chord and let out a strangled whimper. That's when I noticed his fingers were bleeding.

"We need to take a break."

"Well we have two rooms left or right? The left one is empty and the right one has a chest, but if it's like all the others on this floor it's empty as well." Chaza pointed.

I glanced into room with a chest. "Empty room, it's less likely to be trapped." I entered and immediately recognized illusion magic was at work. Though I probably wouldn't have if not for the fourth floor. I easily dispelled it and found a cloaked figure in front of a chest.

"Come on damn it, I didn't come all this way and spend all this time to go home with nothing."

I heard the lock pop.

"Yes! Oh no, not again." The cloaked figure stood up. She wasn't much taller than Skit or Ren. "God's damn you! What sort of dungeon is filled with nothing but zombies, skeletons, and empty chests?"

"This one, apparently." I answered.

She whirled around brandishing a pair of daggers. "How can you see me?" The demi-raccoon demanded.

"I dispelled your illusion."

"Impossible, that spell was unique to my clan."

"Really? And you think that would stop me? I'm the one that dispelled the entirety of the fourth floor."

"You're the fool that let the adventurers get to the fifth floor before I was finished? Damn you then. Do you know how hard it was to slip past the lich boss to get up here?"

"Ooo it was a lich? I've never smashed one of those before. Prowl, do you think this boss will be another lich?" Chaza asked, excitedly.

"Chaza, we rest first."

"Come on I can take anything this dungeon has to dish out on my own."

"Maybe, but at best we've been able to tell level seven is the top. That means this boss is going to be extremely hard to beat. Besides, last I checked you never turn down a meal when Rider is the chef."

"Okay, a quick break then."

"You can join us for the meal, if you wish." I said, to the raccoon.

"I- Wait, this is a trap."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, we're going to feed you a nourishing meal, then go beat the boss, and get to the seventh level and take all the treasure before you can. You can enjoy the meal with us, giving you a chance to safely rest then sneak past the boss as we're battling in order to get the treasure first. Or you can take your chances, perhaps being killed or worse and try your luck now."

"Why would you help me? You've already figured out I'm a thief."

"We keep everything in a group pocket dimension, so we don't have anything to steal. Besides, if you didn't know I'd dispelled the fourth floor it means you've been in here for a while living on rations. I just figured you could do with a good meal."

"Fine, but don't expect me to pay for it."

I held up two silver coins. "It's free, otherwise you couldn't afford it." I flipped the coins back to her.

"How did you do that?

"There's a number of ways. In this case you thought your illusion magic was the best I used an illusion to talk to you, invisibility to remain hidden, and a bit of luck to find and lift your only coins. After that it was back into place."

"You know invisibility magic! Can you teach me?"

"No, I'm a summoner and it's a skill I get from them rather than something I learned."

"Oh." She said sadly, "It's just I'm not allowed to return home without a new powerful magic, or enough treasure to buy my place in the clan."

"You could join our team. It'd be nice to have another girl around to talk to." Chaza offered.

"Chaza!" I yelled.

"Come on Prowl, she would be useful. She can pick locks, how many times have you yelled at me for breaking them off?"

"You don't break the locks you bust the whole damn chest and usually anything it contained."

The raccoon gasped "I'll consider your offer. Only because the idea of destroying treasures is so horrible to me."

I used my eye to check her level. She had impressive skills but no adventurer rank so she'd slipped in on her own.

"My Lady, Master Rider has ordered Toque to give water and bread to clean . . . pala? Plate? To clean something." Toque passed her a glass of water and a basket with three bread sticks."

"A kobold? I thought they could only be owned and trained by those with dragon blood. Is this Rider dragon born?"

"No, Toque is a special case." I looked around at my team. "Actually we're all sort of special cases. So we've sort of banded together to form our on little family. Chaza is my slave, no matter how many times I try to free her. Rider is my mate. Ren was Rider's servant until I freed him, now he's our lover. Skit was abused and disrespected by his fellow guild members, but he has a good heart so I took him in. And Rider made Toque his tamed companion after we killed the bandits who had killed his whole tribe and enslaved him. My tamed companion is guarding our tent in the adventurer's camp since he doesn't like being confined."

"Heh, what is he a cloud leopard or something?" she laughed.

"Uh, yes actually."

"That's- I was just kidding."

"Still true. Sky was attacked by a large bird. I found him and nursed him back to health. Because of that he agreed to form a trainer pact with me."

"So what's your story?"

"Nothing special really. Sold into slavery at five, escaped within hours, formed a summoning pact with the gods of the moons. You know, nothing exciting."

Her plate fell out of her hand, fortunately she'd already eaten the bread sticks. "You are the master of both Lunarii and Stellarii?"

"Yeah, as well as-"

"Lord Prowl, I beg of you, please forgive any transgression I may have made and please allow me to follow you until a more worthy member of my clan can take my place." She said, falling to her knees.

"Tiger, what the hell is going on?" Rider asked, as he approached with our food.

"I honestly have no idea. Please get up. I would consider it extremely rude if you let your meal get cold."

"I'm so sorry my lord." She quickly got up, took the plate from Rider, and sat on the empty chest.

"Tiger, you always find the most unique individuals." Rider said, as he gave me a plate as well.

He sat next to the raccoon. "So, what is your name?"

"I- I'm sorry, but I can't tell anyone that. You can call me Locke."

"Okay, we understand the whole keeping your name secret thing. I'm Rider, Our leader is Prowl, only Ren and I get to call him Tiger. Ren is our fox blade master. Chaza is the dog girl with the hammer. Its name is Knockers. It's best to treat it as a party member."

"Is it alive?" Locke asked.

I glanced at the hammer. I hadn't considered that possibility. "I don't know and if I asked Chaza would say yes whether it was or not. Though that would explain a few things."

"Continuing on the squirrel boy is Skit. He's a bard and an archer. Finally Toque is my pet Kobold. I'm teaching him to cook and he's doing really well, but he has an instinct for fighting. Now what is this business about a prophesy?" Rider slipped in. I'd wondered why he was repeating so much information.

"The one who controls both moons and has tamed death itself will be the one to bring peace to the world."

"See? It's nonsense, I don't control the moons just the beast spirits associated with them. I certainly haven't tamed death, and sure peace would be nice but even if I ruled the world complete peace is impossible." I grumbled.

"Don't worry, whether the prophesy is true or not, my Tiger can't stop himself from helping those in need."

"Rider, you're in charge. I'm going to go get some sleep." I stood up and slipped into the pocket dimension. Only to find Rider and Ren had come with me.

"Sorry, I know you just wanted to get away but-"

"I know, I asked you a long time ago to make sure I wasn't doing it because of negative thoughts. That's not what I'm doing this time. I just- Damn it! I just want to make some money, do a bit of exploring, and then find a nice place to settle down. Maybe have a garden, to grow fresh vegetables for you, and just live out a nice peaceful life with you two. Is that so much to ask?"

"No, but we both knew resurrection meant there would be divine strings attached." Rider said, as he hugged me.

"But there were so many useful skills and buffs I had to give up on in order to secure that peaceful life, only to find out it was all wasted."

"Prowl, I know I can't understand everything you've been through, but it seems a lot of the skills you may have given up can still be obtained if you form pacts with the right beast spirits. I know it doesn't seem like it but there are spirits with offensive capabilities you've just been fortunate in the ones you've made so far being support types. After all you've needed all of them to survive so far." Ren pointed out and I pulled him into the hug.

"We're lucky to have such a wise fox." Rider said.

"I'm the lucky one. I never imagined with the way Prowl was constantly looking for you, his husband, Once he found you there was enough love to allow me to share it."

Rider smirked. "You know, in the years that you and Prowl were together, I often imagined you two doing things."

I tried to look away.

"I know you didn't. You were saving yourself. What I need you to know is I enjoyed those fantasies because if I were to share my tiger with anyone it would be with my best friend in this world. Now before our Tiger turns to a complete emotional marshmallow we really should get some sleep. You wouldn't want to start lying now?"

"Probably a good idea. I'll bring Toque and Skit and Chaza in once we're rested. That way no time will pass. While I'm here and they're resting I can set up a few potions and things to have ready for our battle."

"What about Locke?" Rider asked.

"As tempting as it is I'm not ready to give her full access to everything we own. I know Chaza thinks we should let her join but, I just feel there is something off about her. Maybe she'll prove me wrong but I'm not just going trust her until this feeling is resolved. So hopefully an infusion of mana and a quick heal will be enough to get her through."

***

"So you can all access the same pocket dimension?" Lock asked as I infused her with mana.

"Yeah, but it requires one of us to remain in the real world as an anchor."

"But you were only gone for an instant."

"An instant here. Rider, Ren and I slept for the equivalent of half a day. Not sure how long the others spent since I was busy with other things." After I had things set up as I said I updated my journal and lost track of time.

"And there is air to breath?"

"Only in our pocket dimension. I have my wind elemental recharge the air every chance we get." Rider replied.

"And I couldn't go because I'm not officially part of your team?"

I glanced at Rider.

"Exactly. Well that and the magic ritual that ties you to that pocket dimension also requires time to set up."

I nodded, knowing the time Rider was talking about was actually the time needed to decide if we could trust Locke or not.

"It's okay, with the healing and mana infusion I should be just fine. It's amazing you can do that by the way."

"It's nothing, really. I have to expend massive amounts of mana almost constantly or risk mana sickness."

Locke shook her head as if what I said just didn't make sense "Okay are we ready?" I asked.

"Um, I sort of peaked in, just to see what the boss was, before I went to open that empty chest."

"Anything you can tell us will make this easier?" Chaza quickly asked.

"At the back of the room is a giant troll and scattered around are a large number of lizard men so Toque may need-"

"Toque fight. Lizard men not Dragon not Kobold, they pretenders."

"Okay but they are armed. Given the enemies in this dungeon I'd guess they are all zombies, but considering it's a boss they're likely high zombies." Locke continued.

"High zombies?" I asked.

"They move much faster and still retain a kind of knowledge of how to use weapons. It is mostly clumsy flailing but it still makes them dangerous." Skit piped up, filling his role as our primary source of knowledge. I detected a note of challenge in his voice as if he feared we might be replacing him. I just nodded.

"So what amazing plan do you have to make this battle simple?" Chaza asked.

"Chaza, that better not be sarcasm." Rider growled.

"Not at all, Prowl always comes up with a plan that makes these battles easy to win." She replied, "Then I ignore the plan and charge in bashing everything until it's all dead." She grinned and hefted Knockers to her shoulder.

"Okay. Rider have Arctic freeze the lizards to the floor then you and Skit start taking them out with arrows and glass bullets. Clear a path to the troll first then work from the back to the front. Ren, you and Toque work from the front toward the back. Toque, remember to really bash their heads good."

"Toque hit until brail jelly leak out."

God it scared me sometimes how simple he made killing sound, even if zombies were already dead. "Chaza, I can't believe I'm saying this; charge in there as fast as you can and try to bash that troll's head to a mush. Locke, follower her and use those daggers to cut the tendons just above its heels I don't know if zombies need them or not. I'm hoping they do and cutting them will keep it down. Once you've done that get clear. Either get back to help Ren and Toque or hide until you can escape."

"And what are you going to do fearless leader? Stay back where it's safe and keep us healed?" Chaza asked.

I pulled a wooden staff from the pocket dimension. I'll be helping Ren and Toque plus healing where needed."

"I wondered where that went. You asked me to cut that up and burn it after you'd gone but when the time came I couldn't find it. I figured you'd gone ahead and disposed of it." Rider said, indicating the tree I used as a staff.

"So, that means I am pulling items from that world into this one. Good to know."

"Tiger, when this is over we're going to have a few words about that. Like if you'd suspected the possibility we could have used one of those cars and you could have summoned the petrol for it."

I shrugged. He had a point but all the vehicles in that museum had been exotic sports cars even driving slow and having most of us sit on the top wasn't really an option given the roads we had to travel. "Are we ready?"

"Let me get in place to unleash the deep freeze. Chaza and Locke be careful, the floor is going to be a solid sheet of ice so take that into account when charging forward"

I placed my hand on Rider's shoulder so he could draw mana directly from me.

"Lord Arctic master of the eternal cold I call you to aid me in bringing the ultimate cold to our enemies," Chaza and Ren pulled open the doors to the room, "and unleash flash freeze!"

Everything paused as the room was suddenly covered in ice.

"Go!" I yelled dashing forward and slamming the heel of my staff into a lizard zombie's head. The creature shattered like glass. I glanced around and found everyone shattering zombies. Everyone except Chaza who was racing toward the troll as it slowly stood. It seemed completely unaffected by the Ice.

"I may have overdid it, just a little." Rider yelled.

"That just means we can help Chaza if we finish that much faster."

"I'd hit this place with Inferno, but the resulting explosion would likely destroy a good part of hill and all of us as well. Damn! Heal Chaza!"

I was already healing her before she hit the ground.

"He clipped her with his club. Any ideas on how to take him down?"

"Activate appraising eye. Pop, lend me your power and heighten my senses. Chee activate advanced warning and buff my speed. Going stealth."

I ran toward the beast. I jumped and used Knockers as a spring board as Chaza swung sending her spinning away. I landed on the troll's cudgel and sprinted up his arm. He barely had time to react as I slammed my staff against the base of his skull.

"Sacred Holy Dragon Dawn I summon you and cast ultimate purification!"

It felt like I imagine being hit by lightning would feel. Fire surged through my body, and down my staff into the troll I was flung away and I know I hit the wall. I was still awake but everything was blurry and I needed to do something, but it was hard to think. I heard a crunching noise and cheering maybe? It was hard to tell with all the noise. It was making it hard to think. Wasn't there something I should do?

"Prowl! Can you hear me?"

"Jor . . ." my mouth didn't seem to want to form words. Was it my Wolf speaking?

"Tiger! Cast heal on yourself."

Heal? Was that what I needed to do? "Heh." Pain spiked through my face as I felt someone moving my jaw.

"Come on Love. He. El."

"He." I moaned. I hurt so bad. "He el." I screamed as pained arced through my body. God, this was going to kill me long before the actual damage. I slammed my gauntleted wrist against the floor. Then I did it again this time hearing the breaking of glass. "Re gen." I slumped as my entire body went numb. My vision cleared and I watched in morbid fascination as my twisted legs straightened. I heard someone puking but I could still feel Rider holding me.

I lost my vision completely as the regeneration reached my face. Soon after I felt normal again. I took a deep breath and did my best to see if anything was missing. Everything seemed to be there except some memories, well up until we were preparing to enter the zombie trolls room. Locke was just starting to say something and then it was a complete blank. I opened my eyes. Lying in front of me was the troll's body. Chaza seemed to be covered in gore but everyone else was spotlessly clean, even the stones in the room seemed to have been scrubbed and polished.

"Something bad happened, didn't it?" I asked.

"Foolish tiger, you almost got yourself killed." Rider said, while hugging me tighter.

"That doesn't sound like me. That's Chaza's thing."

"Well you certainly cleaned things up. That little ultimate purification not only knocked the troll down so I could end him but it erased all signs of the lizard cubes so we won't get any reward for destroying them." Chaza growled.

"Chaza, shut up." Rider growled back.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what I did but I shouldn't have worried you like I did." I said.

"It's okay, you were able to activate the regen spell so you should be alright." Ren said, as he knelt beside us.

"Oh, that explains why I can't remember. I must have been really badly injured." I said, as he helped me to my feet. I glanced back at the wall and immediately turned away wishing I hadn't from what I saw there must have been more of my body splattered there than what had made it to the ground. I was lucky there was enough of me left for the regen to even work.

"As the prophesy foretold. You have tamed death."

"Locke, don't mention that again or I will deal with you. It upsets my mate and I will not allow that. Especially right now." Rider yelled.

Locke huffed, "Fine, anyway I snuck a peak upstairs. No treasure just a summoning temple."

"What kind?" I asked, as Chaza picked up my staff.

"Don't know and don't care." Locke replied.

"Damn, I'd swear this thing was destroyed, considering the amount of mana you put through it, but it looks completely undamaged." Chaza said, handing me the staff.

"May I?" We all jumped as Dryad formed and held out her branch like hands. I quickly gave her the staff.

"Hmm this one is not from this world. It is a strong spirit killed in winter when a larger sibling died and fell breaking them. Even though you cut them you did so with care and respect concentrating its spirit and giving it purpose." The wood began to glow. "It is now as strong as it can be. It will not break nor can it be cut. More importantly I have opened its mana paths so you will be able to channel through it without the backlash. Continue to give it purpose and it will serve you well." She pushed the staff back into my hands and disappeared again.

"Okay, am I the only one that though that was weird?" Skit asked.

"You get used to having things move around on their own like that. It just means they were interacting with one of their summon spirits and the spirit didn't feel we needed to see them." Ren replied.

"So they are both summoners? That is strange usually two beast summoners can't stand being in the same room with each other." Locke said.

"Prowl is a beast summoner and Rider is an elemental summoner." Chaza laughed.

Locked looked like she really wanted to say something, but turned toward the exit. "There's really nothing left in this place for me. I'll meet you outside. I have a little business from before we met that I need to finish up."

"You can all probably go with her. If there is a summon spirit-"

"Not a chance. We're sticking with you." Skit insisted.

I shrugged. "Probably not much to see but it's fine if you want to watch us talk to ourselves."

***