Chapter 66: The Nemesis Court
The Void Eel struck first.
It erupted from the coral formation, its body a streak of translucent liquid. Nathan’s [Mana Arrow] passed straight through it—the eel was incorporeal, and the shot punched into the stone wall behind it without resistance. The creature phased through the water, through the coral, through everything, and its jaws opened wide.
Mirko intercepted. [Impenetrable Fortress] flared, and the eel’s incorporeal form bounced off the mana barrier. It solidified for a heartbeat—just long enough for Nathan to register its core, a pulsing point of pale grey light in its chest—and then phased again.
"It only solidifies when it attacks!" Nathan called. "Wait for the opening!"
The operative was already moving. He raised one hand, and the water around him began to churn. Currents formed sharp, directed streams that became blades of compressed water. He sent them slicing toward Elise.
He had identified her as the party’s controller. Smart move.
Mirko was already there. [Impenetrable Fortress] caught the water blades, the mana barrier rippling under the impact. "He is targeting our mage. I recommend we discourage this."
"Working on it," Dillon said. His Cloud Serpent was already streaking through the water, its static energy amplified by the wet environment. It arced toward the Void Eel, and when the creature phased, the electricity followed—static discharge latching onto the eel’s incorporeal form. It solidified involuntarily, its body convulsing.
"Now!" Nathan’s [Focus Shot] charged for ten seconds. Moonlight’s Tyrant’s Eye swirled, piercing through the water’s distortion. The arrow punched through the Summon, and the creature dissolved into drifting light particles.
The operative staggered. His summon was gone, forced back into his mark.
"Left side!" Garrett’s voice cut through the water. Nathan turned—the operative had been trying to shift position, to retreat toward the exit portal, and Garrett had spotted the movement before anyone else. Red was already moving, its sleeker wool cutting through the water as it blocked the operative’s escape route.
Kuro activated [Invisibility] and vanished. She materialized behind the operative on his coral ledge, her daggers drawn. But the operative sensed her.
He felt the water’s displacement, the subtle shift of current, and then he twisted aside.
The daggers raked his shoulder instead of his back.
"An assassin skill" the operative muttered, pressing a hand to the wound. "The reports mentioned her. Annoying little bunny girl."
He raised his hands in surrender. His summon was gone. His water magic was faltering. The party had him surrounded.
"You’re Cross, huh" he said. There was something almost like satisfaction in his voice. "The Bunny King. Heh. The Court’s been watching you. Since your duel at the Veiled Colosseum. They’ll be pleased I confirmed your location."
"Who are you working for?" Nathan demanded. "What is this Court?"
"The Nemesis Court serves the natural order. We’re everywhere. We’re nowhere. And your party... you’ve been marked as... interesting assets to achieve" The operative smiled. It wasn’t a pleasant expression. "The Shepherd will be pleased."
Nathan felt a cold shock. "The Shepherd?"
But the operative was already reaching into his robes. He produced a small black stone, its surface crackling with faint shadow.
"Until next time, Bunny King."
He crushed it. His body dissolved into darkness and vanished. The stone crumbled to dust in the water.
He was gone.
The chamber was silent except for the distant rush of currents and the pounding of Nathan’s heart.
---
Floor 5 passed by almost like an afterthought.
The Tide Warden rose from the depths of the final chamber—a massive construct of living water and animated coral, its body constantly shifting and reforming. It controlled the currents, whipping the water into vortexes and undertows that threatened to dash the party against the walls.
But the party was operating at full capacity now. The operative’s words had driven them to fight harder.
Mirko’s [Aegis Strike] disrupted the Warden’s current control, shockwaves scattering its carefully maintained flows. Elise’s Frost Golem froze sections of its body, ice crystals spreading through the water and trapping the creature’s limbs. Dillon’s Cloud Serpent crackled with static, shorting out the smaller water elementals the Warden summoned to defend itself. Garrett and Red held the flank—Garrett calling out positioning adjustments without waiting for Nathan’s orders.
Nathan charged [Focus Shot] for thirty seconds. Moonlight’s Tyrant’s Eye swirled, piercing through the Warden’s shifting form and finding the core—a dense knot of compressed water magic at the creature’s center. Kuro marked it with [Weak Point Sense]. The party converged.
Mirko’s tenth [Unstoppable Force] strike crashed down. The core cracked. Nathan’s arrow followed a heartbeat later, punching through the fracture.
The Tide Warden collapsed into still water.
[Ding! Tower of the Sunken Depths Cleared!]
[Overall Clear Rank: B]
[Reward: Tide Warden’s Core Fragment (Rare Material) — A piece of the Warden’s heart. Holds powerful water-manipulation properties. Valuable for crafting or sale.]
[Ding! Level Up! Level 35]
[Ding! Level Up! Kuro: Level 18]
Nathan pocketed the core fragment and extracted.
---
The sea-cliff was cold and windswept. The sun was setting over the water, painting the waves in shades of gold and amber. Seagulls wheeled overhead, their cries distant and indifferent. Behind them, the portal to the Sunken Depths pulsed silently, waiting for the next party.
The party gathered on the cliff’s edge. No one spoke for a long moment.
"This Nemesis Court," Nathan said finally.
"They seem to be Targeting us," Elise said. Her voice was calm, but her hand was tight on her staff. "This wasn’t a random encounter. They had an operative stationed in that Tower specifically to guard whatever they’re doing on the higher floors."
"And he mentioned ’The Shepherd’." Nathan’s voice was quiet. "Their leader maybe?."
"She... Perd" Kuro said aloud, but a sharp paid shot through her head. "Kyaaaa!!"
The Bunny girls system flared:
[Warning! Cognitive Attack! seize Line of information!]
"Kuro! Are you okay?!" Nathan rushed, surprised by this Unfamiliar warning notification from the system. But the pain Kuro felt had subsided.
"I... I am okay, summoner."
Mirko remained silent. Nathan was unsure what had happened at this moment, but one thing was sure. A New Change had opened up in the bunny girls System.
"They’ll come again," Garrett said. He was standing near Red, his hand resting on the Mad-Sheep’s crimson wool. "Stronger next time. That operative was Level 40-ish. If he’s just a common grunt..."
"Then the Higher ranks would be stronger," Dillon finished.
Nathan looked at the horizon. Somewhere out there, beyond the sea and the setting sun, the Tower of Ash was waiting. The Elite Class Tower was further still. And now the Nemesis Court had confirmed their interest.
The threats in the outer regions now had a name and a structure. They had a philosophy—twisted and cruel, but coherent.
"Let them come," Nathan said. His voice was steady. "But first, we report this to Helena and Valerie. The guild needs to know what we’re dealing with."
The party nodded. Together, they turned from the cliff and made their way back to the transport. Old Marren was waiting, silent as ever, the engine already humming.
