Somnia Online by K.T. Hanna (reading strategies book txt) 📕

Death by drowning was a bad way to wipe.

Luckily with a lacerta tank, at least he was clear from drowning. She glanced through the rest of the list, making sure no one was missing anything, everyone had food to replenish, everyone had picked up their stack of health and mana or stamina potions from the guild bank. Or else from Rashlyn and Mellow who were handing out Fable’s stores.

Neva? Are you busy? Murmur sent the small luna a message.

Neva: Neva too busy for you.

Murmur rolled her eyes at the pun. Seriously, sometimes…

How are our stores for potions? Murmur knew they had to be running low at the very least.

Neva: Hmm, not too horrible. Two of our other groups are close to forty-eight, and have been bringing me back a lot of higher-level items. They keep saying they’re finding them while they’re killing stuff, but I’m quite sure they’re deliberately hunting for the parts. So, unless you go through the several hundred I have in there in the next hour, I’d say we’ll be fine. I’m really close to leveling up my skill. So just keep sending all those parts. And be careful.

There was a hint of worry to the words Neva sent, and Murmur had to admit she didn’t want to give the luna a reason to worry. But knew she would anyway. Thanks, Neva. You’re awesome.

Neva: I know.

Murmur eyed the churning water around them. It was like the creatures underneath knew they were about to venture inside. Like they couldn’t wait to try and gobble the adventurers up.

“Everyone potioned up? Buffed up? Weaponed up?” Murmur spoke in a crisp and clear voice, allowing it to carry around the sandy area. Nods greeted her, even if Risk and Masha seemed strangely angry underneath. That was something she’d have to keep an eye on, or else perhaps, just watch her back with.

The raid had got some sleep, as much as they could, given the stupid constraints placed on them for this raid.

“Devlish,” she called out. “Lead on.”

The lacerta flashed her a smile before moving out toward the skeleton of once-regal castle and through what might have previously been a tall arched window. The stone floor inside sloped, as if the water had rotted away part of the supports. There, just above the corner that began to dip into water itself, was a huge trapdoor.

Devlish yanked it open with Veranol and Esolan’s help, before they jumped down and vanished from sight. She could hear splashes as they landed and had to take a breath herself before she followed them. While they landed knee-deep in the water, they could back up into the room that had been under the one above, but sand had taken over what had once been stone.

The whole raid gathered at the edge of the first room. It was dark, but fluorescent moss clung to the walls in places giving it an eerie green-blue glow. Beyond where they stood, the floor sloped down until the rest of it was fully submerged in water. Murmur could swim, in the real world. She was fairly sure she’d be able to swim here. But the whole thought of being underwater chafed at her.

Above them, the entrance closed with a resounding bang, letting her know there was probably no escape from there. They were stuck now, in the depths of a water palace, and the only way out was down.

The water just beyond them churned, like something was about to bubble up from down below. Murmur felt herself bracing for something, even though she didn’t know what. She had to be careful with her sensing net, make sure she wasn’t unduly affecting those around her, but all she could tell was that they had incoming.

Claws scraped against the stone floor as muscly scaled arms reached forward through the rough water, digging nails into the ground to pull themselves up. Murmur stood her ground, even as Snowy growled next to her. “S’okay, boy,” she whispered softly to him, hoping she could convince herself at the same time.

Slowly, the creatures pulled themselves out of the water. Stocky, powerful legs like those of a crocodile, with claws that dug into rock. Their bodies lifted off the ground more but had the same flat reptilian look, with sharp ridges all the way down their backs about two inches high. Multiple rows of teeth stood out as one of them yawned widely, and the four eyes on their skull allowed them a full three-sixty view of their environment.

Next to her, Sinister shivered. The crocohusks conned orange, so they were at least level fifty-one, but Murmur was willing to bet they were higher than that. Full on raid trash. The bestest encounters ever.

The largest one that emerged from the water opened its mouth in a roar. It reverberated through the chamber, bouncing off the stone walls and shaking the occupants inside. Murmur shook her head, and Snowy nipped at her fingers in a friendly warning and she realized she’d just been about to push out a wave of relaxation on her raid. When was she going to get rid of that habit?

As long as you’re working actively to break it, I think your friends should be happy. Yes?

But Murmur wasn’t so sure. Could a slip up like that really be forgiven now she’d been made aware of it? She didn’t think so.

Still, the creatures in front of her were about to attack, and while only seven of them had emerged to be counted, she was positive from what her thought sensing net told her, that there were many more behind them. Not only did they look formidable, they had a presence about them. Strength and power leaked from them like a plumbing job.

Murmur muttered under her breath. “I’d be willing to bet they have the same speed as crocodiles, if not faster.”

Devlish raised his shield, and it was like it flipped a switch.

The first three of the crocohusks moved so fast, Murmur had difficulty tracking them.