[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190924/544c85ab5c75bc61a4bb5ce40dc0caa6.png[/img]
[color=salmon]Word Count: 1048 (+6 exp)[/color]
[color=salmon][u]Level[/u]: [b]8[/b] - [u]Total EXP[/u]: 88/80
[b]Location:[/b] Edge of the Blue[/color][/center]
Watching fusions happen was always interesting. It didn't seem like either Kamek or Blazermate had suddenly gained the ability to revive the dead unfortunately, but hopefully whatever they had gained was to their benefit. They were starting to look as mishmashed as the Koopa King though, but the Cadet tactfully did not comment on it. As for Nadia, now with just the one spirit fused to her she looked a lot more normal in comparison. The scars' color change made them look like fashion marks (though he hadn't minded them in the first place), and the swirl patterns on her skin really suited her - as did the longer hair. 

He didn't tell her that she looked good like that because it wasn't the time or place, not really, but the dopey smile on his face he looked at her probably said as much.

The question about being paid he couldn't bear to answer though, given so far he'd yet to receive any money that wasn't donated by Princess Peach herself. He was happy to hear the answer though, grateful the princess would continue to fund their adventure. 

With most of the spirits dealt with the Cadet made good on his offer and squeezed the crab monster spirits in his hands. The items formed against his waiting palms, the first what looked like a regular little carapaceon claw with the meat still inside it. Among the rot, decay, slugs, stench, damp, and general unpleasantness of the Carcass Isle, this little piece of food seemed like a miracle. Was he selfish if just ate it and didn't offer to share? Maybe, but his stomach was telling him not to worry about that right now and so he didn't. It was delicious.

The other item was no edible, but it was familiar and the Cadet couldn't help but grin at the sight of it. He was either really lucky, or he had some kind of secret super power that manifested equipment from his home world. It was comforting to see, the same way that hyrdo mimic Gobul had been, strangely. The Cadet regarded the helm, 

He tipped his head back and forth in thought for a few moments before he swapped it for the one he currently wore, trading Health Boost for Defense, and an offensive skill for a defensive one. If they were facing down a guardian it would be tough, and the Felynes were tied to him - so it was fortunate that he could get just a little but tougher to make sure he stuck around to save someone else without having to take a ride on the Palico express himself. 


With Hatty dealing with the last humanoid the crew moved on, deeper in, into tunnels that grew even danker and darker than the ones they'd already traveled through. Then, light - luminescent plants and animals in the other pitch black underground cavern. Illuminated by the colorful neon glow were dozens, if not hundreds or more creatures prostrating on the ground, all facing the same direction. Some were familiar enemies, and others the kind Ace Cadet had never seen before, but they all were posed much the same. 

[color=salmon]"...ominous,"[/color] the monster hunter muttered, eyeing the creatures suspiciously. None turned or so much as acknowledged the Seekers. He might have thought they were dead, save for the subtle rise and fall of their bodies as they breathed. The Cadet didn't say much more, getting a weird feeling as they continued on and content enough to listen to the weird pep talk Bowser was giving Rika up at the front of the group. 

Eventually they all arrived at a dead end, but undeterred they pushed through the earth wall and arrived on yet another corpse strewn beach. By all accounts emerging onto a beach after going down a well into the island's underground shouldn't have been possible, as Nadia pointed out - but so many things over the last couple of days should have been impossible too. [color=salmon]"Just chalk it up as another crazy, weird thing we gotta deal with,"[/color] he said, shrugging one shoulder. It was his own way of trying to ease the tension, though it failed in this case. He was uneasy, as pretty much all of them were, and the tension only grew when one of the corpses started to move.

At first, the Cadet assumed that the huge pale beast was just feigning death, and was now getting ready to leap at them. His hand moved to the Nightsky Ripper, but the monster didn't get up. It's abdomen was moving, as if something was inside and pushing it's way out. At this point he was thoroughly confused. Was this not the guardian? Was it hiding in the deathly water just off shore waiting for it's moment, or... was it really this humanoid thing that had just crawled it's way out of the corpse?

He sucked in a breath, only releasing it after several of the others seemed to come to the conclusion that this thing was indeed Galeem's champion. It was weird, right? That Galeem would pick something unborn as a guardian? The thought that the thing ([i]not a baby,[/i] the Cadet thought, mentally disagreeing with Sakura's words even [i]if[/i] it had technically just been born) was as powerful as a black dragon seemed insane. But they were about to find out if it was true.

Cautiously the men started moving, the ladies staying put for now. A humanoid monster was not what the Cadet had expected, but he'd just have to adapt. He was good at that. Start with a supporting role, swap weapons and move in when he could, rinse and repeat. He drew the greatbow from his back, nocking a special arrow and then aiming up at the sky.

[color=salmon]"Let's get this show on the road,"[/color] he breathed, taking the chance to spread the Haste Rain over his allies while they were all still grouped together. It granted them speed, to get to those tactical positions Geralt mentioned, to give Link an easier time if the Hylian intended to go in now, and to all of them in general when that thing inevitably turned around and attacked. After that he nocked a few more arrows, taking aim at the orphan and waiting for his cue.