322 The Sky Floor (1/2)
'Right, let's go!' Bowzer shouted in excited.
”Argyle's right, let's hurry up and get going to the next floor,” Jack agreed. ”And with two more able bodies, then we'll have no trouble clearing the next four floors with ease.”
”I'll clear the way. It'll let me get used to battling with one arm and I need all the EXP I can get.” Kims giddily ran toward the exit of the fifth floor.
Argyle raced after Kims while Tralon chatted with Vixus and Jack threw the two crippled councilmen onto Bowzer's back. With the updated team of six powerful party members, excluding Vixus's beasts, they were more prepared than ever.
Once everyone was gathered at the circle, Tralon activated it and sent the team onto the next floor.
As the purple energy dispersed and the party arrived at their destination, they were all dumbstruck by the new world around them.
Beneath their feet were clouds, yet they were firm enough to walk and run on. Surrounding them was a crystal clear sky, proving to everyone that they were above the cloud line and high in the air. In the distance, different species of birds and flying creatures roamed freely.
”What is this…” Kims was in awe.
Vixus was focused on a nearby beast passing them by. ”A griffon?! Why are there griffons on the sixth floor of the dungeon?!”
”Actually, this is the eighth floor,” Jack explained, catching Vixus and Kims even more off guard. ”You didn't realize it before, but the first four floors will always appear in a random order which changes every nine days. The same goes for the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth floors. Currently, we're on the eighth floor, a place we called the sky floor.”
”The sky floor… And the griffon?!”
”Vixus, you'll have to keep calm in these next few floors. These four floors are all different environments, suitable for different kinds of beasts. And when this place was being built, we stuffed it full of every kind of beast we could get our hands on at the time, that was an idea of your ancestor's. So, now that I think about it, we'll probably find some beasts in here that might have gone extinct in the outside world, or at least are extremely difficult to find.”
”Jack, are you saying we have access to beasts that no one else in the world might have?” asked Vixus with an obvious intent behind his words.
”How about this, each of you can take a single beast with you today so long as there are at least two more of that species left behind. We don't want to accidentally force a species to go extinct,” laughed Jack, scratching his head.
”What different environments are these floors, Jack? Do you remember? I want to know which would be best to choose from.”
”Personally, I also need another flying beast. And though a griffon is a great choice with a sixth level bloodline, I may want something different,” Jack added with a wry smile.
Vixus squinted at Jack. ”You remember the exact types of beasts there are, don't you?”
”Mostly, but not all off the top of my head,” answered Jack. ”But I remember enough to know exactly which flying beast I want. Anyone else want a beast from the sky floor?”
”I do!” Vixus's hand shot up.
Since no one else raised their hands, Jack looked to Kims first. ”Which floor do you want to choose from?”
”Which would you recommend?” questioned Kims. ”I don't care what magic type they are, I just want something that can pair well with my fighting style, fast and merciless.”
”Hmm… Then I would choose from the sky floor if you're after speed. But if you want power, the magma floor will work too.”
”Then if I don't see one I like here, I'll get one from the magma floor.”
With that decided, Jack then turned to Tralon. ”I never asked earlier, but do you even have a beast companion?”
”Not since my first companion perished during the Godly War.” Tralon shook his head, a sad look in his eye.
”Would you like another one?”
”If I see one that catches my attention, I'll let you know.”